I have been so inspired lately by all of the refashion posts I've been reading lately like this one... and this one too. And check out this tee from Dear Lizzy...LOVE!

I had to give it a go...and so for Earth Day, I dug through my husbands closet and came up with a shirt I knew he wouldn't want anymore...I think. By the time I started on this project, the two peas were begging for me to make one for them too and so another shirt was rounded up.

I took a fitted button down shirt of my own and laid it on top of shirt. I used it as a guide. I cut about an inch out from the edge of my shirt right up the sides. Then I sewed them back together. I should have tried my shirt on before using it as a pattern. Um, post baby...I guess I'm a wee bit bigger than I used to be because it's kinda tight. Hence the...I meant to leave it unbuttoned at the bottom because it looks cool...look.

Then I cut the sleeves off, and cut the cuffs and sewed them back together to make 3/4 length sleeves. I used a piece of the fabric and sewed a band around that sleeve seam as a decorative element.

I used some contrasting fabric and added it to the hem. I used that same fabric along with some of the cut off shirt fabric and made two sets of ruffles. To do that, I cut them x" wide (i don't know how wide - I just eyeballed it) and then pressed in half and ran a gathering stitch down the edge and adjusted it to the length I liked. I sewed those ruffles down the button placket with a zigzag stitch for interest.

Added a belt from the remnants and made a little posie pin to give it some sparkle. I really liked it but it's kinda tight so I'm thinking it might be a cute dress for one of the peas!

The next night, I started on a quick one for one of the peas who also wanted to get in on the Earth Day recycled dress act.

I used one of her tank tops, like this, as a pattern. Again, I cut about an inch wider than the tank top and I followed the skirt line too so it was wider at the bottom. Girls have hips. Men don't. I think that's what I didn't like about the first one I made.

Sewed it all back together. Added some fabric panels at the bottom. Added ruching to the collar. Ruffles to the button placket. And a flower posie pin and belt. Voila! Earth day goodness...and she loved it. And...removing the sleeves, way easier!

Have you tried refashioning anything lately? Wanna share a link in the comments section? We'd love to see what you've created!

xoxo,

Trish