Make More From a Shirt 1

 Hello Readers. I had this shirt that I didn't love and didn't wear. I decided to make a few things from this shirt. Today's project is a dickie to wear under other shirts to add interest at the neckline.

Before and after. 

There isn't anything wrong with this button-up shirt I just never wear it. It is a little stiff and never feels comfortable when I put it on.

I sketched out the shape of the dickie I wanted. I folded the shirt in half so each side would be symmetrical.

I cut the piece out of the shirt while it was folded in half. I curved the corners because I thought it would lay flat under other shirts.

Here is is my basic dickie all cut out. I need to do a little more to finish it.

I used my serger to finish the edges. These edges will not show when I am wearing it but I don't want it to fray.

I needed to add something to the dickie to keep it in position. These elastic straps will be under my arms.They will keep the dickie from shifting or riding up when I am wearing it.

I used my sewing machine to sew the elastic to the dickie. I went forward and backward a few times to make sure the elastic was well attached.

The straps are soft, stretchy elastic so they will never get too tight.

The elastic straps are on each side and are attached in front and back. They will keep the dickie where it should be under my sweater. 

This striped dickie is great under this simple sweater. It adds a little color and interest without me having to wear the whole stiff shirt. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Year End Update- This post got a lot of hits so you guys must have liked it? I like it too.

Sweater Weather

 Hello Readers. It is Thanksgiving this week in the U.S. and that shakes up the schedule a little. I didn't have that much time to sew but I did finish 2 small projects that made these 2 sweaters wearable again. It is getting chilly out there. I need warmer clothes.

Today is 2 posts in 1.

The first project was this purple shirt. Well, I only had part of it. I used the bottom of the shirt to make a skirt back in April 2022. But I don't throw away scraps so...

I had this very short shirt. It was just the sleeves, shoulders and neckline. I saved it because I loved the fabric. I thought maybe I could use the sleeves for something. Then I had an idea!

 

I decided to use my serger on the cut edge and use the shirt under sweaters. It would be sort of a dickie but with sleeves. 

 

The serger would keep the cut edge from fraying in the wash. 

 

This was a great partner for this purple sleeveless sweater. Let's look at sweater #2. 

 

This green sweater is a little too small but I love that acid green color. 

 

I cut the sweater open on the sides and along the inside of the sleeves. I did this so I could sew some wide ribbon into the sweater to make it bigger. This is just one long cut and I can add one piece of ribbon on each side. This is my favorite way to make sweater larger. It only takes 2 cuts and 4 new seams. Easy as pie!

 

This is a weird pose but it shows where the ribbon is. The ribbon gave me just enough extra room to wear this sweater comfortably. That's all for today. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.
*Year End Note From Chickie- These are 2 great fixes to give me more work clothes. I forget to make basics so when I do make them, I love them and they get a lot of wear.