Wednesday, June 2, 2010

A New Look for an Old Shirt

A librarian once told me that if you check out a book more than three times it is a book that you should own. Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts is now a library book that really needs to be in my own library. It’s thick glossy pages full of amazing images of luscious fabric and exquisite craftsmanship it is truly a feast for the sewer/crafter. Really…the woman is amazing. I love good design…and her book is full of it.

One of the projects that caught my eye…let me rephrase…one of the hundreds of ideas and projects I feasted on from this book…was a delightful little shift dress made from a mens button-down work shirt. Such a darling way to repurpose and recycle clothing. One of my favorite things! (See here and here!)

May 116

It just so happens that I have a bin filled with old work shirts worn in the orchards by my father in law that I plan to use in a bedspread for my boy. One could be spared for my girls “need” for another dress!!!

The dress couldn’t be simpler to make. Print out the pattern from a CD included with the book…May 115

lay the shirt out flat…May 120cut it out…sew it up…add the binding…and off you go! I did change the pattern a bit…and will adjust it again when I make another. The sleeves were too snug and made it tricky for her to get it on and off on her own…a necessity around here! Also the chest measurement was a bit snug as well…I’ll add a bit to that for the next one. The pattern seems to be designed for a very slender shape. But it is very easy to adjust…!

With the sleeves I just cut them to make a little cap sleeve. Really…I didn’t sketch it or anything…just saw that they didn’t fit and chopped them off. At first when I added the binding to the new sleeves they stuck out a bit like wings. Actually they reminded me of this!! So I just gave them a little tuck…while she was wearing it I might add…and it turned out just right!

May 373

All in all it is a fabulous little dress. Super simple, light and breezy for hot summer days, and just a great little play dress. Way to go Martha…or whichever fabulous staff member designed this dress!

May 370

May 375Happy sewing friends!

May 383 May 380 May 381 May 382

Comments (9)

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How delightful!! It is a lovely little dress, and I never in my life would have thought to repurpose a shirt in this way! Thank you for sharing!
Very cool. I will attempt to borrow this book from the library as well. Although I suspect the lineup is long.
great job of repurposing !
Great little dress. I love your color choice. You also have a fabulous garden!
jocelyn milewski's avatar

jocelyn milewski · 775 weeks ago

so cute! this is the very reason I want a little girl. So I can make her fun pretty dresses out of her daddy's old shirts!
Lovely! Sewing does provide a lot of reasons why I'd like it if bump turned out to be a girl!
genius!! and SEW cute too : )
That is so cute, I remember Julie Duncan making a dress for Natalie out of one of her husband's dress shirts...too cute. I'll have to get my hands on a copy of that book.
Wonderful idea and pattern!! Going to have to check out that book!

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