Making this Skirt Cuter Refashion #3

I think by now, we've all seen how to turn a man's shirt into a skirt, if not...go looking, I've seen some dang cute ones linked up on my Making the World Cuter Mondays! :)

Well I wanted to make one too, but I wanted to add my own cute twist with a little insert and a little ruffle and yee haw, and I've got myself a fun little skirt!
necklace c/o Paper Trail Gallery

First thing you need for this project is a man's shirt, raid your hubby's closet for something he doesn't wear anymore or Goodwill has a plethora of these for around $3 (at least in my area). I found a green gingham that I was drawn to. Be sure that all the buttons are there, or replace the ones that aren't. Next you need to figure out the fit-the easiest way I found was to button up the shirt and put it on as a skirt. Then I cut right under the button of the next button up that didn't fit around my waist-just know that once you cut off the sleeves and the top, it will fit quite a bit looser, so size it at where it will still button, but if it's snug that's okay!

Once you know where you need to cut the top off-go ahead and cut that off, and then cut off the sleeves while you're at it. Now re-try it on-see looser! (I said looser not loser, pinky swear!)

You can mark where you want the sides to be at this point and then pin down both sides like the picture on the right.

I actually pinned down the top first folding it down a full inch because I wanted a waist band look-you could add elastic through it if you wanted, but I didn't. I sewed right along the bottom edge of that and gave it just the look I was going for. Then just sew your skirt up both sides at the seam allowance of your choice and cut off the extra pieces of fabric.

Your skirt could be all done at this point if you choose-but I wanted to take it a little further...

I took one of the sleeves that was leftover and cut off the cuff. I unbuttoned the skirt all except for the top button and laid the sleeve on top and arranged it until it had a nice insert a little shorter than the bottom edge of the skirt. Pinned it, sewed it and trimmed it. Really easy.

Then I decided I needed belt loops and ruffles. So I took the collar and cut some strips off of it to make belt loops and took the other sleeve and cut strips to make ruffles. I sewed around the edges of the belt loop and then attached it to the skirt, you could make these all nice and straight but you know me and my yee-haw kind of look when I sew...fraying is not a problem in my book! The original plan was to sew the ruffles in all the way up to the top of the skirt, but I stopped after the bottom ones on each side...a little bit because I thought it looked better and a little bit because my baby woke up and said in his cute gummy grin way that it was time to pay attention to other things.

But there you go...a different kind of shirt skirt to make your wardrobe a little bit cuter. And seriously, I don't think there could be a lighter more summery skirt than one made out of a nice thin man's shirt. Super comfy, light and now....feminine.

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Check out these cute sites to make your world cuter!

Making this Sweater Cuter-Refashion #1

So I have been looking for a yellow cardigan that I could either buy and love, or buy and fix to love but with really no luck in my price range. My mom knew this and found this little lovely for me!So yes, it was quite large...and the sleeves were a bit much for me......and even the bows...I usually love bows...but these were shapeless and limp...and well just so much had to go!

This refashion was a challenge for me, but I think it was worth it!The first thing I had to do was make it fit.

So I turned it inside out and put it on.

Then using pins I pinned it to the size I would need it.

I sewed a straight stitch and then a zig zag on top of that where my pins were.

I then cut the sleeves off all together.
After all that, it fit just right, I was excited to get it right on the first try...but just to keep it real, that is about the only thing that went right on the first try!

I cut the extra pieces off next to my stitch first and then it was on to the sleeves (pain).

I cut off the bells-I just couldn't love them as much as it would have been easier to do so.

Then I pinned and repinned until I got the sleeve on just how I needed it so that it would fit.

Then I went to bed.

When I woke up I had a sweater that fit, but that still needed some cuteness.

I grabbed a couple pieces of fabric from a jelly roll I've been taking apart for a million different projects lately and made some quick bias tape with my iron.

Then I folded it over and pinned it on the edges of the sleeve.

I also cut the little bows off and pinned some more over the edges of the pockets.

Then I just sewed that on.
Then, because everything looks cuter with ruffles, I made some tiny ones & pinned them on.

I also added cute little buttons on the pockets to keep them from sagging.

I thought I would be done with that, but it still needed something so I used some strips of the sweater and rolled them into little roses.

Cute!

I hand stitched a bunch of those babies on and....

I am super happy that it turned out cute and not a complete failure after how many hours I put into it...what do you think? Was this making the sweater cuter mission a success?

Oh I hope so! :)

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Making this Skirt Cuter Refashion #2

Once Upon A Time my now pregnant sister got married, and I was her bridesmaid.

She got married on the beach, and we all wore white linen skirts.

It was a beautiful wedding, and I was happy to not be in a hideous dress made of taffeta or some other equally horrifying material.

But now-nearly 5 years later-the white linen skirt (from Old Navy) is a little drab.

Refashion Time!!!

1. I cut off the skirt to the length I wanted it.
2. With some of the lining of the length I cut off, I cut some thin strips (you can see where this is going right?)
3. I liked the raw edge of the skirt and lining of the linen, it gave a nice fray, so I just sewed an 1/8 inch line around the bottom to keep it from fraying any further than that-and didn't bother hemming it.
4. With my stitch width set to 4, I whipped up a bunch of cute little ruffles, this time sewing right down the middle of the strip.
5. I played around with the ruffles and pinned them where I wanted them.
6. Then I just sewed them on....and the reveal....

What do you think was mission 'Make this Skirt Cuter' a success?

I'm pretty thrilled with it! :)

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Making this Skirt Cuter Refashion

I've had this skirt from Express for as long as I can remember. It's knit, comfy and well made...it's like wearing sweat pants.

The problem is that it looks like I am wearing sweat pants, so I usually pair it with a tee shirt and zip up hoodie, and call it good. Well, I don't want to go out looking like I'm in sweats any more, so I decided it was time for this skirt to get cuter.
First, I cut it off to the length that I wanted it to be, and I don't have a picture of this, but I just sewed up a hem on the bottom with 2 straight edged stitches all the way around.Then with the remaining fabric, I cut 6 strips.

I turned my sewing machine stitch length to 4 and then I sewed a bunch of ruffles! :)

The actual hem of the skirt I made into a ruffle as well so that it could be on top an look all clean.
Taking the top ruffle I pinned it to the skirt how I wanted it.

Then I just pinned all the others below that until I had the look I wanted.

Finally I just stitched those on to the skirt, trying to stay close to the original stitch line on the ruffle.
And voila!What do you think? Was mission "Making This Skirt Cuter" a success?I think that it was, I didn't feel like I was in sweats at all! It felt very feminine & flirty, but still very comfortable. LOVE. :)

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