Easy Upcycle T-Shirt

I had gotten some hand-me-down jeans for Hazel that I had just finished hemming with that fancy variegated cotton thread….

GAP shortened
GAP shortened

when I realized the $2.50 Joann’s Fabric sale t-shirt could use some bedazzling. These shirts regularly go on sale, and like I’ve said before, if you’ve got kids, there’s no better deal.

Boring to a T
Boring to a T

Hazel is like my own little Punky Brewster in that the more it clashes, the better. With that in mind, you can see why she would not let me toss this horrible bedazzling knit dress. We picked up the dress during the Christmas season at Walmart in a panic for clothes to wear to the Nutcracker.

Bedazzled
Bedazzled

So, it’s time for a mish-mash up cycle! That, and much like Hazel, I’m easily distracted from what I should be working on.

The dress fabric caused a huge mess, but I did manage to remove the bottom ruffle and enough two inch strips to make new binding for the t-shirt.

Fuzzy Mess
Fuzzy Mess
Ruffle
Ruffle
Hot Binding
Hot Binding

More distractions…

The Boy
The Boy

Now, to LA-style this shirt….cut off the sleeves in a sort of cap-sleeve angle…and cut out the neck line…

Cap'n
Cap’n
Ringer
Ringer

Pin classy ruffle to the bottom of the shirt and run it through the serger or zig-zag/overcast stitch.

pinned
pinned
Serged
Serged

Laugh at how it looks like a big, pink mouth.

Feed Me, Seymour
Feed Me, Seymour

Fold 2 inch strips in half, pin to sleeves on right side…both of these you want to pin to the right side, because that’s how you then flip the seam under and top-stitch it down.

Sleeve 1
Sleeve 1

Do not let serger feed dogs eat your pins. That is bad. Also, try to ignore how much lint cheap fabric is causing.

Hungry Dogs
Hungry Dogs

Ok, once they’re all attached…see how poofy the seams are? You’re going to want to top stitch those down.

Bulky
Bulky

Like so:

Neckline
Neckline
Sleeve
Sleeve
Butt Ruffle
Butt Ruffle

Now, take a photo of your proud daughter making a goofy face.

Cutie Pie
Cutie Pie

Then get distracted again by other cuteness…

Baby
Baby

and more…

The Boy
The Boy