t-shirt revamp

after this post, you'll never want to get rid of an old t-shirt again.  seriously.




i know, right?



okay, i bought this shirt for 5 bucks off the sale rack at gap back in 199somethin'.  and it has been unworn for at least half that time.  yet i did not give it away.  it sat in a drawer, then a closet, then a bin, but i kept it.  and now i know why.  it had a second life to live.  even better than the first. it was waiting to be an uber cute dress for my favorite girl. 



i picked a jumper out of gia's closet to use as a template, lined it all up, and traced one side.



cut that side.



folded it over (and pinned it) and cut the other side.



then i didn't like the armholes.  they were too big.  silly me.  jumpers are not cut the same as dresses.  so then i recut.



i repurposed the sleeves as - get this - sleeves.  they needed to be smaller though.  i lined them up with the body of the dress to determine size.  (this is when i realized the arm holes were too big.)  i cut them and sewed up the cut.

and the next steps i did at night, meaning no photos.  but i just turned the dress inside out, sewed up the sides (leaving the armholes open).  then i added the sleeves.  they were not easy (for me) but i just don't really know the tricks of this yet.  i need to learn though.  it would save me a lot of hassle. 



i cut strips from the scraps and made ruffles.



i pinned the ruffles down and handsewed them on.

amazing, right?  i am definitely doing this again.  maybe lots and lots.



not only does she look adorable. . .



but she loooooooves her dress too.



and the pink cowboy boots are fab.



the stretchy knit makes it a great playdress.



i couldn't match the stripes if i wanted the bottom hem to meet.  oh well.