This might possibly be my favorite refashion I’ve done for Penelope to date. I had two shirts (that I loved quite a bit, actually) that both met sad fates.
The first (left) shrunk so small, I seriously didn’t have to take it in much on the sides (maybe a half inch) in order to fit Penelope. The second (right) got a few too many stains right at the bust line. It’s not like my bust sticks out at all, so it’s hilarious that that particular area was a magnet for stains.
It was sad to see them leave my regular wardrobe rotation, but at least I have a daughter who can wear them in hers! Here’s what I did:
- I took in the pink shirt about a half inch on both sides
- lopped off the bottom half of the pink shirt
- lopped off the top 7-8 inches of the striped shirt
- gathered the striped shirt with a baste stitch
- pinned (right sides together) the striped shirt to the pink top
- sewed the two together (using the jersey stitch which looks like this: –^–^–^)
- removed the gathered stitch
- ironed
The striped shirt came with the little sash, so I just wrapped that around her tiny waist twice & tied a little knot. I LOVE how this looks on her. Seriously, the bright pink is such a fabulous color on Miss P. Overall this refashion took about 30 minutes. It was so incredibly sweet to see her reaction when I presented the new dress to her. She squealed, “Ooo, mommy! It’s a princess dress!”
Aww. . . Pen, you know how to make your mom feel special. She was also surprisingly good about posing for me. Sometimes she’s so excited about pictures she doesn’t sit still for the 1/125th of a second shutter release, but she was more than happy to accomodate on Friday afternoon.
Speaking of cameras. . . I’m selling my Nikon D200. I’m also selling my Sony handycam 40GB hard drive HD video camera, too (as if that wasn’t a mouthful). Contact me if you’re interested.
That is darling!!! Must make soon…. and maybe a skirt my size? Oh yes. Thanks for sharing!
love love love! I will have to copy this, Sutton will love it too.
this outfit is so adorable! i would love that myself :) excellent job!
You are always so creative! This is an adorable creation! So Cute!
That is the cutest little girls outfit I have ever seen! Man I need to learn how to sew!
that is just so cute! i also love her camera poses… he he.
Oh my! That dress is so adorable! I love that it looks like a high-waisted skirt. And that photo with Penelope’s hands on her hips, it’s just too much! ha!
Wow this is so great! I love how it turned out and the contrast of the pink and the stripes!
This is too cute!! I love the pink and pinstripe combo!! Must copy this some day :)
Absolute genius. I HATE throwing perfectly good stuff away. I’m always thinking, how can I fix this? What can I do to it to make it wearable? This is a fantastic idea and turned out adorable on her! The skirt is to die for!
oh wow, that is awesome. i love the skirt especially.
Awww this is such a cute outfit!!!
Oh my gosh. She is DARLING! And looks stunning in your refashioned clothes. I love it.
Wow, this is adorable! Great job!!! And what a cutie Miss Penelope is. :) Xo, Katie
That first little pose is too much! What a little fashionista!!
I am dying right now. This is the sweetest outfit I have ever seen. Will you make my baby girl one of those skirts asap? I have several shirts you can choose from. :) You’re amazing.
Melissa, your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. I like to think that I can sew, but everything you do puts my skills to shame! Wonderful work!
LOVE this!! It looks perfect on her! The sash really makes it!! :)
i made a dress like this once. Pretty!
so cute, good job! love pens shoes too.
amazing … what an amazing re-fashion!!! you are so talented!!
Soooo adorable!!!
adorable. the clothes and the girl.
That is beyond adorable!!!!! What a lucky little girl to have such a stylish mama!
Goodness that is the cutest thing ever!
WINNER! That is great!
Love love love that skirt!
too amazing!!!
Seriously adorable!
This is beyond cute. And it’s such a good use of old clothing – I need to learn to use that sewing machine of mine. It’s just too handy not to!
– agata.
a-freaking-dorble! this is why i need a girl. someday. good luck with making that blessing outfit for your man child chunk too ;)
I will buy this dress. No? Fine, I will just have to make a mental note to make it, my hubby has a blue/white striped dress shirt that he has never worn for no apparent reason whatsoever, and I think that would be just fedabulous.
this turned out perfectly! :) too cute.
I am SOOO glad we met Melissa, you are as cool on your blog as you are in person! Even better actually!!! haha I love her little poses, the skirt is perfect on her.
OH MY GOSH I love it. Imagine that…
I have a pile of fabric and a pile of stuff to refashion. Okay I wont lie…more like an entire CLOSET. On my to do list is to make myself a striped skirt like that. I adore high yoke waisted skirts with tees. But I’m weak when it comes to the side zipper. Its my cryptonite. Haha
This is the best thing EVER. Could you please make a skirt like that in my size? I would really appreciate it :)
hate to beat a dead horse, but seriously…that dress is great. So sassy. That pink is so great with her hair color. Yay for you and the little lady.
Oh my goodness, so adorable! What a great outfit (:
So cute! What a lucky girl to have a mama to make such pretty things for her!
Pen is one lucky girl! She is going to be quite the fashionista. That skirt is too adorable! I am hoping I get skilled enough with my sewing machine by the time Veronica is her age:)
Spectacular. This is possibly my fave re-make of yours so far. I want one for me!
This is spectacular! I love it.
Darling refashion and girl!
that little skirt is to die for! how adorable! awesome work, once again :]
it’s so cute! love the color on her, and that skirt is adorable..
bellesme
<3 This wonderful JOB!!!!
cute cute!!! i love how that skirt turned out and penelope looks so cute in it. :-)
Hey fellow Esplin girlie!!! I’m sure we are related, some how..heeheee! I just found you and your fabulousness on Pinterest. Love that place :) I LOVE this dress so much I posted one I made on my bloggy. I hope it’s okay, I linked back to here. Thanks again for the inspiration. You are AMAZING!!