Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A thrifted shirt should not look like a thrifted shirt

Some people have a problem buying used clothing. I am not one of those people. :)
I bought two shirts at Goodwill and while they were the light and airy summer type stuff I was looking for, they just lacked...everything that would make this a better looking shirt.

Let's start with this one. The dedangle-jazzled tank that had a section of bedangle-jazzle missing. Niiiiiiiice.


I cut all those off and was left with a very plain tank.


Until I saw this tutorial at Along for the Ride and made myself some rosettes! I pinned them on and then hand-sewed them. Let's just say it's a good thing no one will see the back side. Since the tutorial was for hair ties I, of course, made one to match my shirt! :) (and didn't photograph it? no cookie for me!)


The next shirt I bought because I was desperate and needed something lightweight and comfy and this seemed like it fit the bill. What I didn't know, because I didn't try it, on was that this doesn't fit anything.


I didn't photograph me wearing it so I tried to recreate it with a pixel drawing...I do not have Allie Brosh's skills for communicating feeling through drawings so forgive me.
It was loose and sacky, had three-quarter sleeves that came to just above my wrist (what?) and an insane plunging neckline. What to do with this mess?

For starters I cut it down the middle in the front.

I measured an inch in on those cut front pieces and pinned it so I could run a stitch along it - like a cardigan front.


And then I sewed. I am not a sewing fan, but Disney gave me the confidence to try it so I went ahead (with plenty of troubles, don't get me wrong)

Then I needed to massively shorten the sleeves so I stitched two rows on the top and bottom...

And pulled them into a ruffle/ruche thing. Looking at it now...I think I might add more ruffle / ruche things. But the sleeves are perfect length now!



And then I bought these super cute button earrings from Lovie and Boo to match my shirt re-fashions. :)


All in all, I think I need MUCH more practice sewing before I get good...or even...ENJOY it, but I did have fun fixing and designing the shirts. I shall try it again I think!

Linking to:

Creations by Kara

Today's Creative Blog

The Shabby Chic Cottage

The Shabby Nest

11 comments:

Natalie said...

I LOVE your shirt re-fashions! SO cute! I am very inspired to take a second look at my own closet now. I hope you enjoy the earrings I made! They look like they will work really well.

Megan said...

Nice! I was looking forward to seeing how they turned out. Love the ruching and the rosettes!

Bethany said...

Ahh I'm so excited to have found your blog! :) I LOOOOOVE it when I come across a thrift store re-fashion, it is my obsession. This is SUUUPER cute (ahh, can you tell I'm excited with the all caps?) I love those rosettes.

Wendy said...

Soooo cute! I just saw this over at creationsbykara!

I'm gonna have to be a follower now! :)

Olivia said...

very clever mrs! :) hope you kept the sequins though, I would have done! :)

olivia
x

Jennifer MacNeill said...

I've said it once and I'll say it again, you're amazing! You need to write a book:)

Brandy said...

You did a great job. I love them!!

momof3girls said...

very cute! Loved this project

Staci at Craftify It ! said...

Both refashions look great! I have a couple "boxy" looking shirts that might just work if I cut them down the center. THANKS!

Kara said...

Wow! I can't believe how cute the shirts turned out. No one would ever know they were thrift purchases. Very nicely done!!

FineArtPainting said...

cool and creative. our design style is the same, a bit of this, then try some of that, ... till we love it.
good for you!!

do let our readers know about how you pulled this project together. we/they LOVE tutorials:
http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-tutorial-linky-party-6/
(weekly party, so bookmark)

Rose