I like thrift shopping. A lot. Last week I was in the little boys department looking for my favorite button-ups (for me) when I found the most adorable button up in greenish-teal plaid. I had to have it. It was a boy's size 8, which is too small for me, and too big for Penelope. I bought it anyway. It was just too cute. Maybe Penelope will fit into it in 6 years?
After I brought it home, I knew that in 6 years not only would fashion be different, but she'd be dressing herself by then. I had to make it fit her now so I could take advantage of my great thrift find. So, what do I always do? Make it work.
Sorry for the crappy before & during photos. I couldn't wait for decent lighting to work on the project. Here's what I did in list form:
- lay the shirt flat
- cut out the sleeves
- lay one of Penelope's shirts over the new shirt
- marked the waist & shoulder measurements & cut
- cut the sleeve to 3" long on inseam
- cut a 1" strip of biased tape - for sleeve hem
- cut 2 strips out of sleeve remnants for ruffle
- zig zag stitched edges of ruffle
- gathered ruffle
- attached ruffle
- stitched sides up
- gathered sleeves
- sewed sleeves to the shirt
- sewed biased tape to sleeve hem
- cut strip of jersey fabric for waist tie
- zig-zag stitched all seams
This project cost $1 to make & took just under an hour. I would've finished it sooner, if Chris hadn't started watching Lost. Sheesh. I paired her new shirt dress with skinny jeans (
Check out Susan's tutorial on skinnies) and saddle shoes on Friday (below) and then paired the shirt dress with bloomers, leggings and saddle shoes on Sunday (above). I love this color on her so much, but not as much as I love her. Ooo, she's such a cutie.
