"Totally Rad" Top and Shirt Dress Tutorial
Don't you just love the '80's? Me either.
But I'm too poor even to hit thrift stores right now, and the only tees I have left to refashion are my nephews old ones. :o(
So how can I make that cute for Paige? Here's what I came up with...
It became this cute little crop top!
(although...it wasn't supposed to be quite so cropped. Oops.)
After making the shirt a little too short, I tried again, and this time I left all the length, so it turned out to be a cute little run-around dress! (why didn't I iron this before photographing it??)
I can imagine how cute it would be with a girls' shirt!
It's very quick and easy to do. Only three steps!
You'll want to start with a shirt that is a few sizes too large.
1: Cut off the sleeves, leaving about 1/2" after the shoulder seams.
2. Fold the excess under and sew with a narrow zig-zag.
3. Then try it on your model (or use another tee as a pattern) pin, and sew the sides in.
And there you go!
"Necessity is the mother of invention"
I actually kind of like that it's made from a boy's shirt. Every long once in a while, Paige and I like to wear things that aren't pink. ;o)
Someday I'll find a large tee and make one for myself!
I love this version I found online. It would be so cute cinched with a little red belt!
I hope I didn't scare you with the term "crop top"! :o) I'm certainly no fan of a bare midriff. Although I've seen a few cute ones with tanks underneath, or tucked into a high waisted skirt! I'm really trying to warm up to the inescapable Kelly Kapowski fashion that's going on all around me. :o)
Have a fantastic Monday!!
This is super cute! I love the pictures with Pagie's pony and cowboy boots.
ReplyDeleteTe gustan los 80's?
ReplyDeleteParece que estara de moda otra vez
Grandes hombreras, rallas, mallones, y grandes moños en la cabeza o en los vestidos, faldas largas agarradas a un lado, pantalones bombachos, sombreros, chalecos, fleco en el pelo y mucho gel o fijador.
Tenis con calcetas y vestido o faldas amplias.
Angelina
Cute and easy! Love it! Can I just say....those boots on your daughter are TO.DIE.FOR!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a great idea! I have recently started sewing again because I just can't afford to do anything else. This is a great idea for the dozens of XL shirts I'm got sitting around the house. As always, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~K
Love, love the t-shirt dress with the boots. Totally adorable. I would love to have a dress in my size just like it. Do you make clothes for adults? Email if interested.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Paige's photoshoot with the cowboy boots and horse is SERIOUSLY the cutest thing ever. And the t-shirt dress is adorable!
ReplyDeleteYour talents are endless! That little girl is the cutest thing in those boots!
ReplyDeleteso cute! makes me with my daughter wasn't the oldest out of all her nephews! love the dress.. definetly my fave!
ReplyDeleteOh she looks adorable as always and momma I can see you taking the picture through her glasses! hehe I do hope that things get better economically, best wishes to you and your family, always your fan =)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea...I will have to hit up my nephews for some of their old tees! And yes, your girl IS a doll!
ReplyDeletemaddie-lus.blogspot.com
Those outfits are "Totally Rad"! You could also turn some of the bigger shirts into cute A-line skirts. Or cut out girly appliques from shirts she's outgrown and re-use them on them.
ReplyDeleteMy friends get together and have clothing swaps ( we bring adult & kid stuff, as well as books and random household items). We were worried the first would be a disaster, as we didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be a lot of fun and everyone left with great "new" stuff.
So cute and yet simple. I love the eighties look in the first outfit. Paige is a doll.
ReplyDeleteToo cute...but I must admit your "Kelly Kapowski" comment made me laugh so I had to compliment your humor! I wonder how many of your readers knew who you were talking about without googling her! Let's just say, I agree with you on the warming up bit!
ReplyDeleteI love the picture of her "taking a picture" of the "horse" in the field! Just so sweet! Darling! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAwesome pics!!! Have you ever entered any in a photo contest??? You always have such amazing shots! FYI SOME of us did love the '80s. My fav part(I think) was the BIG hair and the gallon of Aqua Net required to make it:)
ReplyDeletehaahaheeehe
Happy Monday
Denise: Thanks so much! I've never thought to enter any photo contests. And you're right, there were some good things about the '80's! I was born in '85 though, so I don't remember it much. Except the sweet cartoons! :o)
ReplyDeleteI was born in '86. I think the 80's were awesome, I wish I was a teenager during them, instead of a toddler. Instead I got stuck with the horrible 90's!
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you live in the middle of nowhere to always get such amazing field-ish pictures? It looks like Oregon (where I live).
haha! Amanda, I had to laugh when I read your comment. Our house is surrounded by the ugliest scenery ever, on all sides. I have to be super creative with photos! In the ones with Paige on the horse, I had to crop out a school, two apartment complexes, chain link fences, a day care, our church building, and an empty parking lot.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I am from the northwest! (wa), so we probably have some very similar terrain! I love OR!!
I think those shirts are adorable refashioned. I especially love the dress (complete with boots and pony). Seriously - how cute is your daughter?
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find that adorable navy and white striped shirt with the bow? It is really cute and would be fun to make. You have the most creative ideas and your daughter is a beautiful model :D :D
ReplyDeleteForget my last question about the navy and white t shirt...I forgot to open my eyes this morning. I should have looked a little closer...I found it :D :D
ReplyDeleteSuper cute!! The pics look just as good as the clothes. You have a good eye.
ReplyDeleteCute! I wanted to say, too, that I appreciate your comment about being too broke to even hit the thrift store. We've all been there, and it's nice to know that someone is honest enough to write something many of us have experienced in the past. Hurray for donated clothes from relatives!
ReplyDeletethat navy and white striped shirt dress is my favorite girl clothing thing you've posted. i have a baby girl and i think we don't own one thing that's pink for her! i love subtle patterns so that their little personalites shine through. paige always looks darling! :)
ReplyDeleteHey, if she ends up getting any plain shirts from your nephew you should check out: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/57272/transform-your-t-shirt-into-a-tunic/page/all
ReplyDeleteit is for making a t into an adorable tunic.
These are very cute. Someone mentioned it above - and I'm SURE you've thought of it, but some strategically placed appliques would be cute. Or rosettes?
ReplyDeleteBTW - I'm officially addicted to your blog. You've TOTALLY inspired me lately! :)
Ahhh! She looks so stylish and adorable!
ReplyDeleteI too can't quite stretch financially to thift shops at moment-and am also wanting stripy nautical- type top....so heres my idea to share I have an old white tee and am in process sewing on fabric strip stripes(try saying that fast!!:-))maybe you could play too!! love Melx
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [29 Jun 01:06pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
ReplyDeleteHave you done anything with the sleeve leftovers? Headband, ruffles? Sorry you can't thrift. That makes me a little sad. I sure hope this economy gets better soon.
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog. You have so many great ideas. You have the sweetest style. I love it all. Thanks for all you post and create.
ReplyDeleteI love the dress with the cowboy boots (and so much cuter because it's not pink)! Looks ultra-comfy too. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteToo cute!! I made something similar from scratch...hmmm maybe I should've done it the easier way...
ReplyDeletePerfect timing! I got my daughter's VBS shirt today and she's a 2T and the shirt is a 6-8! I snipped and clipped and sewed and viola! a most stylish Vacation Bible School t-shirt dress (kinda) I cut out the collar too and rolled a hem on it so it's even more 80's. Thanks for the idea on how to change it up!
ReplyDeleteDisney, this photo shoot made me smile. Very Hollywood :) I like the change for the day. Luv the outfits too.
ReplyDeleteI love how your refashions turn out! So very cute and inspiring. the 'dress' reminded me of something I saw yesterday over here http://www.thetraintocrazy.com/2010/06/school-clothes-the-green-dress.html
ReplyDeleteSeems like it would be pretty easy to make that boys t-shirt pretty feminine. :) But I also love it just how it is!
Why is it lame to read other blogs?? Isn't that what they're for?
ReplyDeleteHaha, Anon: that's not what I meant at all, sorry! I meant that other blogs are so great that I always end up with an inferiority complex when I read them. :o)
ReplyDeleteSuper cute top re-do! And my favorite part was the nod to Kelly Kapowski at the end of the post! lol :)
ReplyDeleteI think it looks so cute on your little Paige. Love it! :) Very creative you are, as always.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of in love with Paige's cropped top look in the first few pics. I swear I have pics of myself as a kid in a VERY similar outfit.
ReplyDeleteKelly Kapowski....? OK, Google is my friend....I'll look her up....
ReplyDeleteDisney -- Never compare your blog to others. It suffocates the creative spirit and it's useless. Besides, you're probably the only one comparing, not us, so repeat after me: I Will Not Compare My Blog To Others'. (And if you do, you'll have to write it 200 times as punishment! After school!!)
ReplyDeleteSuch great pictures, You must have an awesome camera too, love the quality and of course fabulous finds and ideas for a mom on a budget like myself!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this tutorial, Disney! My 2-yr-old daughter will get a lot of use out of her 2 big brothers' tshirts! You have done it once again :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea! I have actually done something similar when my Kindergarten aged grandson needed an Eagles shirt for his first school in Texas. They didn't have any small enough to fit him, so we bought the smallest one they had available, which was a medium (size 8 -10). Just like in your tutorial I altered the school logo shirt by using one of his shirts as a pattern. I took the sleeves off and reattached them after I narrowed the shirt to fit him and I also shortened it. After seeing your tutorial I now want to make cute dresses for my granddaughter out of adult sized T-shirts that Steff and I no longer want to wear. :) You inspire me!
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