Recycle a t-shirt into a tank top

So I was bored, and wanted a new shirt...and have been wanting to do an upcycle project for a while. So I dug around the closets and found this over sized t-shirt and went to work.

Here's the before and after products:

Before-

After-

Here are the instructions in case you would like to try it out yourself:

Step 1: Pick a t-shirt you don't mind experimenting with.

Step 2: Cut off sleeves and shoulders just under the neck line (save the sleeves for later):

Step 3: Trim the sides at an angle starting from bottom and cutting upwards to the corner to the shoulder. Repeat to the other side. This will create a slight flare with the bottom of the shirt being a little larger than the top of the shirt:

Step 4: With right sides facing each other, sew a seam along each side using the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine due to this is stretchy material:

Step 5: With right sides still facing each other, iron down flaps on both sides to prevent rolling:

Step 6: With shirt still inside out, fold flap on top of shirt down about an inch and sew using zigzag stitch. Be sure to leave enough room to run elastic through the inside. Sew all the way around except for about the last inch which will be used to insert the elastic:

Step 7: Measure the distance in inches around your chest above the breast. Reduce this number by about 2 inches and cut the length in elastic. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic. Slide the safety pin through the path created in step 6 until all the way through but be sure to hold onto both ends on each side:

Step 8: Hand sew the each end of the elastic to each other to form a complete circle and then sew the gap in the seam of the shirt.

Step 9: Using one of the sleeves of the shirt cut off the seam:

Step 10: Cut along the bottom seam to open up and cut along each side to make a straight edge:

Step 11: Cut 3 strips long ways about an inch thick from sleeve. Place each upon each other and sew along short end (regular stitching is fine):

Step 12: Stretch each strand, allowing to roll on ends and then braid to opposite end. Sew end of strands to secure. Repeat with other sleeve. These will be the straps for the shirt. Attach to shirt and sew on.

I love my new shirt, I hope you have success with your own projects! Let me know how it goes. :)

Valentine's Crayons

I found this project months ago and couldn't wait to actually get started on it. But first was the task of collecting enough crayons to do the project. This is a great way to upcycle all of those bits and pieces and scrap crayons you've got laying around. This is perfect for a Valentine's gift for the young ones but could easily be used as party favors, a weekend project for the kids, and many more fun ideas. Try different shapes and sizes for even more possibilities. Visit Chica and Jo's blog for detailed instructions on this project. Have fun! I did. :)

Baby Cardinals jersey into a toddler tshirt

I received a request to convert another onzie into a todler t-shirt. This one specifically for the die hard Cardinals fan. May I make a suggestion to save you time should you try this at home...jersey material doesn't do well with sewing machines (some of your more experieced crafters may already have known that). Anyways, I learned my lesson but I was still able to get the same effect by sewing by hand. Success!

Fun and Funky T-Shirt Skirt

I took another stab at upcycling t-shirts into a skirt. I'm glad I did because I love mine. Although it's a little loud in colors, it's unique, which I love....oh, and VERY comfortable! Why do you think we wear t-shirts as casual wear? Because they're comfy, and if we can move comfy from above the waiste to below the waste, even better. :) Take a look into your closet for a couple of t-shirts you no longer wear and convert them into a cute A-line t-shirt skirt of your own using this tutorial.

Onsies into T-Shirts

Wouldn't it be great if our little ones could stay cute and tiny forever? Well that will never happen. They'll grow up and all of those precious clothes that you received at the baby shower just won't fit any more because the evergrowing kid is getting as tall as a bean stalk. So what to do with the clothes? Continue using them! And no, not as a rag. As more baby (toddler) clothes! Thanks to Tiny Decor for providing this tutorial for converting your child's onsies into toddler t-shirts. Anything to save you from buying more clothes (especially when the stuff you already have is in perfect shape) is deffinitely worth a try. I converted these for my nieces, and let me tell ya, the 20 minutes each that it took - well worth it.

Recycled T-Shirt Skirt

What do you do with those t-shirts that seem to just pile up? Throw them away? Donate to thrift stores? Use as rags? Ever thought of recycling them to make a hot trendy skirt for the warmer weather? Well someone did! The weather is getting hot and what better way to get some sun on those legs than to reveal them? Click here to view the directions on how to make this cute and trendy A-line skirt. Only took me an hour to make this one and I plan on making more as soon as I gather more t-shirts. :)