Make a T-shirt Dress

 Hello Readers. It is time for Dressember 2024. Dressember is an organization that works to fight human trafficking and forced labor in the U.S. and around the world. It is a $236 billion dollar industry according to the International Labor Organization. I try to raise awareness every December by wearing and refashioning dresses all month. Visit their website to learn more.

 Sometimes I can't believe how many old t-shirts I have, the thrift store has, the world has. They can seem plain, boring even seem useless but I wanted to find a way to use some of them. I decided to make a dress since it is Dressember. 

I had a small pile of t-shirts. Some were prettier than others but I think I can use all of them. 

I cut this shirt in half. It fit well and it would make a great top of my new dress. 

 

I cut the shirts where ever I could to remove the writing on the shirts. I wanted plain parts of the shirts. Sometimes the part I could use was narrow. 

If the plain part was wide I cut it into 2 bands. I was going to connect the 2 bands and make 1 larger band. 

I wanted the smallest band at the top and the largest band at the bottom. These will make tiers in the skirt of my dress. They need to get larger as they get to the bottom of my dress.

I put the top shirt and the first band together with the right sides facing each other. 

I connected one tier after the other. 

I liked the different colors together and there were enough to make the dress long enough. 

This dress was casual and fun. I liked how it turned out. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Year End Update***- This dress is an instant favorite. I have worn this a couple times already.

 

 

Alter Your T-shirt

 Hello Readers. If there is one thing I love to do, it is cutting up and refashioning clothes. I love to alter my t-shirts because you can do it with no sewing at all. It is quick and easy. They fit better and they feel better when I do a little cutting. It's so easy. You just need a t-shirt and a pair of sharp scissors.

Before and after. 

This is just a basic t-shirt. There is not anything wrong with it but I like to change my t-shirts up a little when I can. It's fun and easy and I always like the results. Let's get started.

I like to remove the neckband. I cut all the way around the neck close to the neckband. This opens up the shirt a little. The neck opening will be a bit larger and feel more comfortable.

I cut off the armbands next. I like to do this because it makes a looser sleeve and gives my arms more room around the bicep. This can make a t-shirt fit more comfortable if the sleeve is a little tight. 

These sleeves fit well but I kept cutting. I cut sleeve again. I cut along the top of the sleeve. I tried to match the location and direction of the shoulder seam. I cut the sleeve only. I did not cut the shoulder seam or armhole seam. Leaving those seams intact will help the shirt keep its shape. 

 

I tied the corners of my new sleeve cut in a little knot. It adds some extra interest to the sleeve and looks a little more feminine. The opening adds a little ventilation too. 

 

I cut the bottom of the shirt next. I wanted to remove the hem of the shirt. I cut all the way around the shirt. This only makes the shirt about 1/2 inch shorter. 

 

I cut a slit in the center of the front of the shirt. It made my slit approximately 5 inches long. My cutting mat has measuring marks on it. You can also use a ruler to get the length of cut you want. That made 2 little corners just like the sleeves.

 

I wanted to tie a knot at the front of the shirt too. It will work well visually with the sleeves. It will also add some shape to the waistline. 

 

Thanks for reading along. I hope you have fun cutting up one of your t-shirts. 

***Year End Update***- I love cutting up my t-shirts. I will never get tired of it.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Simplify & Create

 Hello Readers. I love striped shirts. This t-shirt was a hand-me-down and it fit great but that tie in front was throwing me off. It seemed too big when I tied it and too long if I let it hang down. Something didn't seem right. The tie is so big, it really calls attention to my waist/stomach. 

Before and after.

I couldn't tuck this shirt in because of these extra large tie pieces. I like to tuck my shirts in. Sometimes you have to cut things off in sewing.(And in life.) These tie pieces were no good for me.

From the inside the shirt looked like this. There was an opening at the hem where the ties were. I could have just cut the ties off but then this opening would be like a weird window for my belly button. My belly button is not for public viewing. After 3 large babies my belly button has retired and will never be seen again. 

I decided to remove the tie pieces and sew the shirt together. I just wanted a basic t-shirt shape. 

I used my serger to connect the front opening and close it up. 

What about these 2 pieces? They can't go to waste. 

I sewed them together. It is just the right size to wrap around my head.

I had a new headband to go with my new t-shirt! Thanks or reading along now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update***- These classic stripes are going to get worn to threads from me wearing it so much.

Crop a T-Shirt

 Hello Readers. I wanted to pair this sporty t-shirt with this ruffled skirt. I liked the contrast. The skirt was a little dressy and the shirt was more sporty. The shirt was a bit big and long though.

Before and after.

This shirt was a men's M. It wasn't doing much for me. It would be better if it was shorter so the skirt wasn't covered up. I wanted to crop it, that is cut it shorter. I don't mean a 1/2 shirt that showed my stomach and my mom tummy. I just wanted a shorter length shirt. Not all cropped shirts need to be revealing if that's not your style. It's your shirt. You pick the length.

I used a mirror to make sure I was cutting the shirt at the length I wanted. I was wearing the skirt so I could be sure how they would work together.I marked the shirt with chalk so that I could cut it the right length.

I put the shirt on my cutting table and made sure the shirt was spread out and smooth. Any wrinkles would mess up my cut.

I used my rotary cutter but scissors would work fine too. I cut straight across the shirt.

I pulled the newly cut hem to make the edge roll up a little. It looks more finished that way.  You can cut the sleeves shorter if you want and you can cut the neckband off too. It's your shirt, you can decide.

I liked my new sporty shirt. The skirt is so fun and I didn't want it hidden. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Year End Update***- This outfit was fun and casual. I love it.

 

Friends Part 2

 Hello Readers. It has been a long time since the TV show 'Friends" was on TV. A famous joke from the show was a play on the words moot and moo. You can see the YouTube video clip here.

 

 The joke was funny, the shirt was great but the pants fit weird.

 

My daughter gave me the pants and shirt but the pants did not fit me well. The waist and hips were loose, the thighs fit, The calves and ankles were loose and the legs were just too long. They needed to be loose all over or fitted all over. 

I decided to make them fit everywhere. I took them in at the waist and hips. I also narrowed the calves and ankles. I made them shorter too. 

The t-shirt fit really well but I did cut the neckband off so I could open up the neckline a bit. 

 

Another t-shirt idea is cutting the sleeves. If you want more room in the sleeves cutting the hemmed end off will help. The edge won't fray and when you cut it off the sleeve will stretch a little more and give you more room. Just cut the end of the sleeve off and give the cut edge a soft stretch. It will be looser and more comfortable.
 

The pants fit better all over now. And I like the shirt with the neckline low enough to wear jewelry if I want. (I am going to want jewelry.) Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- This was fun and irreverent and I love it.

 

Friends Part 1

 Hello Readers. If you ever saw the TV show "Friends" you might remember this t-shirt. It has been a long time since the the show was in prime time but I always liked the shirt. So, guess what I got as a hand-me-down? My own "Girls" t-shirt. 

Before and after.

 

This is the original shirt from the show.
 

This shirt was an XL. I could have kept it and just worn it loose and it would be fine. But I wanted a different look.

 

I took a little off each side of the shirt. I made a new side seam on each side. That helped a little. 

 

I also folded the shirt in half and made a seam down the back of the shirt so I could take out some excess fabric from that back of the shirt.

 

 Here is a look at the back seam. Lot's of shirts have seams down the back. It doesn't really stand out. And that is great. The front of the shirt is the fun part.

 

I wanted to wear this shirt with this skirt and I wanted a fitted look because I like it tucked in the skirt. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

 ***Year End Update- This is a favorite outfit, love all of it so much.

 

 

 

Refreshing an Old T-shirt

 Hello Readers. I found this Hamilton themed T-shirt recently at the local thrift store and since I loved Hamilton, I decided to bring this shirt home with me. It fit great but it seemed kind of washed out.

 

Before and after.

 

 

When I saw this shirt at the thrift store I knew it was for me. 

 

I decided to use this Rit dye. I mixed it up as directed and cooked it on my stove for a little while. I thought I would get a pale blush pink.

I put the shirt in the dye bath. I stirred and stirred. I realized I was getting a peachy color.

 

When the shirt was done, I rinsed and washed and dried it.

The color was brighter and the shirt looked less washed out.
 

 

I also dyed this little cardigan sweater at the same time. It was white but it became the same color as the t-shirt. 

Then I realized it was the same color as the dress I refashioned yesterday. I made a little peach colored capsule wardrobe without meaning to. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- This top just seemed to work with this skirt so well. I wore these together over and over.