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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Little Girl's Skirts From Men's Button Down Shirt

I've had one of my husband's work shirts (don't worry he doesn't work for that company anymore) in my laundry room for over a year with the purpose of making a clothing item for my oldest daughter. I've seen dresses and skirts made from men's button down shirts and I finally pulled it out and gave it a try! I was able to make one for each of my girls. I'm loving how they turned out! Just think of the possibilities and different colors and designs! I'm thinking I need go through our closet in hunt of more button downs to re purpose! Here's what I did.

Sorry about the photographs. I'm having problems with my dslr and using a point and shoot indoors at night is not producing the best quality of images!


This was a men's medium button down and I made a skirt for my 3 year old and 15 month old

For Deni's skirt I used the bottom half of the shirt.
  • Cut just below the pocket from one armpit to the other.

  • This shirt didn't have a straight edge on the bottom so I cut it straight across and hemmed it.
  • For the top of the skirt you will need to create a "pocket" to insert the elastic for the waist band. I used 1 inch elastic for Deni's and 1/2 inch for Capri's skirt.
  • Fold top over 1/4 inch and press. Then fold down again to create pocket for elastic and press and pin.
  • Sew top and bottom hems. Don't you love that the sides are already done for you?!

  • Sew along each side of the button strip (I don't know what to call this) This will make it all one piece and can no longer be unbuttoned.
  • Insert elastic using a large safety pin and threading it through the entire waist pocket you made earlier. Make sure to pin elastic in place before you start sewing it together. You wouldn't want to unpick the seam two times at 1:30am. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.
  • I added a big bow to Deni's using one of the sleeves.
  • Cut the entire length of the sleeve (I used a wider piece for Deni's and a thinner strip for Capri's)
  • Sew strip right sides facing together and making a tube
  • Turn tube right sides out.
  • Cut ends at an angle. Fold edges in and press. Sew a finishing edge.
  • I chose to hand stitch the big bow on Deni's skirt.

Toddler skirt

Baby girl's skirt
  • For this skirt I had to improvise. The shirt had a logo on it so I had to cut it out and therefore had side seams to sew and the seams are in different spots not the side. There is one about and inch away from the button strip in the front and one in the back. I chose to have the button strip off to the side instead of down the center.
  • I also had to add the ruffle on the bottom to make it longer. To do this I cut 2 long strips (same width and as long as I could) out of one of the arms. Sew them together and then sew making a tube.
  • Pin ruffle tube to bottom of skirt and sew gathering along the way.

2 adorable skirts for free!

What do you think? I'm loving them and can't wait for my girls to wear them! Here's where I link. Enjoy!

39 comments:

Sarah @ This Crazy Blessed Life said...

Oh, Marie! I love them! I'm going to rummage through my hubbies closet to find some!

Lindsay said...

LOVE this Marie! What a great idea! You are very talented, friend!

Hyphen Interiors said...

So cute! And, so thrifty. Great idea.

Sweetwater Style said...

What a great idea....can't you just imagine it in some cool plaid flannel...you go girl!

Vicki @ Grams Made It said...

I love this idea and can't wait to try it.

By the way, that piece down the front of a shirt that holds the buttonholes and buttons is called a placket.

Thanks for the great idea.

Julie said...

Cute idea! Visiting from the Shabby Nest!

Crazy Wonderful said...

Oh my goodness, this is such a cute idea! I LOVE how you used the button up portion. I've GOT to make one for my little girl asap! Thanks for the tutorial!

Shelley

Unknown said...

This is incredibly cute. Makes me hope we're having a girl, because I really want to try this! Pinning this. If you'd like to share this at my link party this weekend, I'd love to have you. Found you via Shabby Nest. Can't wait to try this!

Krista @ While He Was Napping

Kara @ Mine for the Making said...

Way cool! I love that you were able to make 2 skirts...and different ones at that! Nice refashion :)

I am hosting a new linky party over at my place that is all diy fashion...these skirts were be PERFECT to link up to DIY Diva Thursdays! Would love to have you over :)

Kara
www.mineforthemaking.com

Jordan McCollum said...

Those are adorable! (And WTG on getting that shirt out of your laundry room at last!)

Candace @ Candace Creations said...

That is so cute! Just wanted to let you know you were featured on Scrappy Saturdays over at candacecreations.blogspot.com today! Come grab a sticker and link up again :)

Natalie said...

CUTE!!! What a great idea! I have some patterned women's button up shirts sitting in the Goodwill box...I think I'll go dig them out now!

Natalie
NatSprat.blogspot.com

Jamie said...

Wow these are beautiful! Stuff like this makes me wish I had a sewing machine!!

Feel free to link these up to the new Make Yourself Hop on my blog! :o)

-Jamie

For Love of Cupcakes

Jamie said...

Thank you so much for joining in the Make Yourself Monday Blog Hop!! :o)

sstone said...

What an awesome idea! My hubby has several shirts that are approaching the end of their life. I might snag them away.:) New follower from Make Yourself Monday.:)

sstone said...

What an awesome idea! My hubby has several shirts that are approaching the end of their life. I might snag them away.:) New follower from Make Yourself Monday.:)

Emily said...

Beautiful! I love upcycling. Thanks for linking up!
Emily
domesticdeadline.blogspot.com

Chef in Training said...

these are adorable! Thanks for sharing!

I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training Tomorrow! Plus there is going to be a fun giveaway too! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

Madison said...

Adorable! What a great idea. Thanks for showing us! :)

Ashley said...

CUTE!!!!! thanks for sharing at Tell me Tuesday! :) you rock!!!
xoxo
ash

Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...

So precious! Thank you for linking to Wicked Awesome Wednesday!

Athena said...

I love this man's shirt upcycle! I am your latest follower. Please feel free to add this and other projects to my new Success U - Wednesday Linkup Party at www.thestuffofsuccess.com .

Brit said...

Adorable! Great job and idea :) Thanks for sharing it and linking up with us :)
Britney
www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for linking up with the Frog last week! It means so much to me! I hope you will join the party tomorrow! Plus, I am giving you the Versitile Blogger Award so stop by and check it out.

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Absolutely the cutest thing ever!! And how special to have made them from Daddy's shirt(s)!! You are quite the talented seamstress!

CarrieCae said...

Really Cute! I love the pure white - they would be perfect "Portrait" skirts with white tank tops.

Carrie
www.onepinkduck.com
www.threepinkducks.blogspot.com

Trulieunique said...

Such a cute idea! Very classy.

raising4princesses said...

wow, I'm so impressed. those are just adorable. My girl's would love to wear one of daddy's shirts redone! Thanks for the inspiration. I started a link party at my blog and I'd love for you to link this up. I also have an awesome digital scrapbooking giveaway going on. If you're interested it's http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

These are so ADORABLE!! What a great idea and who doesn't have extra men's shirts around!

Carrie said...

I LOVE this!! I am not very good at sewing but this looks very do-able. Pinning it for future reference. Thanks a BUNCH!!!

Rach H @ FamilyEverAfter said...

This is amazing. You're being featured on my blog tomorrow! Thanks for linking up at Once Upon a Weekend!!!

Candace @ Candace Creations said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Thanks for linking up to scrappy saturdays! See you back next weekend :) I'm going to be featuring this post it's so great!

Camille said...

These are so cute! I especially LOVE the baby skirt with the ruffle on the bottom! It is so darling! Thanks so much for linking up to Strut Your Stuff last weekend! We would LOVE to have you come back and link up more of your great projects tomorrow!
Camille @
SixSistersStuff.blogspot.com

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

Those are adorable--so sweet! Thanks for sharing at Beyond the Picket Fence.

Jami said...

Beautiful job on the skirts! What lucky little girls you have! Thanks so much for linking up to the Tuesday To Do Party! Can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!
Smiles!
Jami
www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

Michelle @ Delicate Construction said...

I made one!! I am sharing it this week with a bunch of links back to you!!

Christina said...

That little skirt is so cute, my baby girl like it. I'm just wondering if they have a website so that I can easily buy a skirt like that and a suit for my honey.

Sarah Howe said...

LOVE this!!! So glad I found your blog! I am your newest follower from- "The Artist's Life"

Blessings,

Sarah

Dedo said...

I've seen dresses and skirts made from men's button down shirts and I finally pulled it out and ... ladiesbuttondownshirts.blogspot.com

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