T-Shirt To Skirt Quick and Easy Make Over

Thrifting with Evie the other day she nabbed up this “pink” t-shirt.  She loved it, it met her highest criteria ….it was pink.

Never mind it wouldn’t fit her for another 8-10 years it was PINK! Pinterest has had quite a few photos of t-shirt skirts and I thought well for .89 cents I can’t go wrong.

With so many making do & wanting to learn basic sewing I thought I’d show exactly how  I did this.  So, dust off those sewing machines dig through your t-shirts and lets get busy.

For reference, Evie wears a size 3 or 4.  The t shirt I’m using is a Junior large with a bit of a flare at the bottom (a ladies small would work also)

Measuring Evie, I knew I needed a finished length of 9-10 inches. Or, measure a skirt you know fits well) For the elastic I used  a 3/4 inch.  In my opinion anything wider would be to bulky for a toddler.

This t-shirt had a decent hem so I used it.

Lay your t-shirt flat ensuring the front and back hem is even & the shirt is not bunched in the back. Measure from the hem upward the length you need plus 1-1.5 inches.  From the hem toward the arm I measured 11.5 inches on the side marked it, & did the same toward the other arm.  Use a ruler or straight edge and draw a line between the 2 marks and cut. (make sure the shirt is not bunching underneath)

 

Turn the “skirt” part inside out and sew or pin about 1/4 inch. Pressing helps (please note I did not use the 4 letter word….. I R O N ) Once that is done, fold over 1 inch and stitch down all the way around creating a casing & leave a 1 inch opening.

Next measure your little one with the elastic around their waist making sure it will easily clear their hips.  You want it snug but not tight.  Use a safety pin to thread the elastic through the casing making sure it doesn’t twist.  Once it’s all the way through overlap the ends of your elastic and stitch through both layers, slide the sewn ends inside the casing and sew the casing shut.

I forgot photos of that part but I‘ve another shirt I need to redo & can provide more photos if needed

Once it’s all the way through overlap the ends of your elastic and stitch through both layers, slide the sewn ends inside the casing and sew the casing shut.

Put on your little one and watch the twirling begin!

Look through your donate pile there is always a t shirt in there. Look for shirts that are straight and have kept their shape.  Avoid plastic or vinyl prints as they tend to  grab and skip stitches. Kids outgrow clothing so fast why not save where you can?

Happy sewing!

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,thrifting,repurposing,sewing,t-shirt skirt

Monday’s Thrifty finds

 

After running a few errands to today Evie & I stopped into our local thrift store.

I think Evie is going to be a another sewing nut.  I’d seen the fabric in this sundress and was making plans in my head for it when Evie spotted it and shouted ”a Skirt Grandma a SKIRT FOR ME!!

I had already been planning to cut the top off and have a ruffled skirt for her & I think there may be enough left in the bodice for a skirt for Alix.

After looking closely I don’t think it was worn and washed but once.  Not bad for 80 cents!

 

Evie’s no different most other 3yr old little girls,  & holds the firm  belief the color pink was created solely for her.

So, in Evies little world, in her mind anything pink is or should be hers.

Do you have any idea how many “pink” items there are in a thrift store?

I found this pink t-shirt still with tags that will soon become another skirt for her

 

 

At the check out I found a new Easter tablecloth, it’s 50X70  & perfect for the kitchen table.  It was marked $3.50 with an additional 50% off. SCORE!

Since I already have a nice one I think it may become an apron and napkins….bread wrapper & dish towels, who knows!

Now to carve out the time to get it all sewn up.

What good thrifting deals have you found lately?

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,thrifting,frugal finds,sewing,Evie

Make Do Monday's Birdbath

We were sitting outside the other night having coffee after supper

& heard the dreaded engine sound

Our Neighbors Bobcat.

I do have to say he can make that thing dance,

knows exactly what hes doing and is

Very good with it

when working for others

Unfortunately as with most of us, the time he has to

complete things for himself is limited

so he's always in a hurry.

So, there is usually collateral damage

his yard, home & surrounding areas!

Being the kind/nosey neighbors we are, we went

across the field to see if we could help.

Turns out his water line had a break on his property...not by the meter

The water company would hire a crew to fix it...

for a price close to the national deficit.

Hence the Bobcat to dig up the line.

We stayed to help him find the broken and temporally cap it.
As his wife & I "supervised" the destruction

I made comment I loved her birdbath collection

(she has like 6-7 of them in a small area)

& have been looking for a small one for my flowerbed.

She said "Take em....I'm throwing them out, they're old"

Music to my ears!!

Being the kind helpful & thrifty neighbor I am...

we hauled this Cast iron beauty back across the field to its new home.

A bit of time with a wire brush & a new coat of paint, she'll be better than new!
I love the detailing, I'm sure I'll love it even more
after we wash all the mud off.

Oh, the water line? It was fixed the next day....
so was the cable line....
the second power line,
the wood pile was re stacked.
The lawn?
It will take a month or so to recover!
Possibly longer, as the bobcat is still parked in the yard...
he's been busy....

Greens On the Side?

Isaiah & I popped into Goodwill this afternoon looking at this weeks markdowns. I was after flannel shirts, sheets and t-shirts for diapers......& boy did we score.

We went green literally & figuratively!

I found a queen size set of new-ish olive green flannel sheets, about 15 t-shirts

and the best was

I

I

I
V

A, J.Crew, 100% super soft Lambswool sweater

still with tags

the tag sale color at goodwill this week is

wait for it .......

Green!

Less than 2 hours of frogging and I have

1lb 4 oz, 100% Lambswool for $1.00!!!!!

The sweater?

A rich Hunter GREEN!!!!

I see a few pair of Woodland themed longies

on the needles in the near future!

I Love thrifting!

Dishcloths Anthropologie Inspired

I am so far behind!
I’ve been trying to clean up a bunch of smaller project that have been “marinating” for quite a while. I have the "Mindless Mitts" knit & ready to be sewn, also started the second “Ivory Bootie.” It just drives me nuts to pick-up a working project after a few weeks. Its almost easier for me to frog it and start over.

Yet, I keep having multi WIP’S
I’ve also been attempting to use up the cotton yarn from my Goodwill thrifting, after all... a score is only a score if you use it right? To date I have 8 dishcloths and still have ¾ of the bag to go. Here are the first few; some are multicolor from some of the smaller scrap

While knitting I like to troll my blog list….I was reading Pioneer Woman & she was talking about her finds while shopping at Anthropologie….the cutest measuring cups & spoons. Then I saw the dish towels….I LOVE dish towels and collect them where ever we go, they are my weakness. I love the older style tea towels…can’t stand the “toweling towels”

Anyway, I’m looking at these adorable towels and noticed……….there are no dishcloths! So, inspired by Anthropologie I came up with these!

Already listed in the Etsy store!


By the way, If you some how have missed the "Pioneer Woman", do yourself a favor and check her out, her blog is just plain fun!

Thrifting Thursday!

Great finds today! This pillowcase size bag of cotton yarns, soon to be dishcloths and washcloths!I estimate there is about $20.00 of cotton in there!

New Sheets( high thread count) half in the bag, the lady said she did not like the colors.....returning them was to much trouble so she brought them to Goodwill. There were also 2 packs of heavy cloth napkins...still in the package never opened. I think I see tote bags in the near future

MINE!

This is what I found when I got home. Let me preface to say he is always in a closed cage when I leave. Some how he has learned to get out. When I came thru the door I heard "Hi Baby!"

See those latches hanging down? It takes a 2 handed human to open them. Apparently just a sneaky Parrot to do the same!

Off to play in the dye pots!

Frugal Fun Finds Friday

A little wool on the hoof.... You have to influence then early right?
Frugal find of the day, ladies 100% cotton cardi, stain on the cuff $1.00. 7 Shell buttons alone are $2.50 for 4 at Hancock Fabrics.

As the front button placket was serged on I was only able to reclaim the back and sleeves, still it will be plenty for a sweater, booties & hat for Evelyn......someday.

The down side of reclaiming the yarn is the mess. Still worth it!

Thrifting Thursday!

On the way home today I had 10 free minutes so I popped in to my local Goodwill looking for more flannel sheets. Never made it to the back wall. They were just starting to unload a rack of men's garments & I got side-tracked. Flannel shirts would make cute diapers right? Look what I found, Men's XXL sweater, 77%Lambs' Wool & 23% Nylon!

Which soon became....I have not weighed it all but, the dark Grey skein in the top center is 3.5oz/100gr. Not sure what I'm going to do with it all but, for $1.99....I'll think of something!
What did you find today?