While I was browsing at Anthropologie’s website, I came upon this shirt.
“How cute!” I thought. Then in an instant, my mind starting going over how to do this myself with a long sleeve shirt. It didn’t take me long at all. I used a jersey type of shirt, but you could use a cotton, etc. shirt. There might have to be a few adjustments though (such as finishing the top seam all the way around). I also added at the bottom how I made the headband from the extra material.
What you need:
-A long sleeve shirt
-Scissors
and the obvious: sewing machine, etc.
1. Start by cutting the sleeves off.
2. Cut straight across from bottom of one arm hole to the other.
3. Cut sleeves open at the seam
4. Measure length for straps (from top of chest to about the same height down on your back). Cut the sleeves to that length plus a little extra for seam allowance. (mine was 16 inches roughly)
5. a. Pin sleeves to the front, with the edges meeting right at the middle of the shirt. I pinned the cuff part of the sleeves here, but you can put whichever end you would like here. I had seams on the one side from the cuff being sewn on, so I made sure that side would be facing me when worn.
b. Sew the sleeves on. Finish the seams.
6. Take the other end of sleeves and pin to the back(right sides facing). I gathered them a little, but again, you can do it however you want. Sew them on the back. Finish the seams. (If you made this with a nonjersey shirt, then you might also want to shirr the top, not the sleeve add ons but below it, or sew elastic on the inside to make it snug).
Front and Back
7. Try it on and either mark where you would like to sew it, or you could do what I did and just tie an extra piece of material around it to hold the front together.
Headband:
-I cut as long as possible strips from the scrap material. Then I pulled on them to stretch them out. Next, I laid them sort of side by side
and sewed them together on one end, then the other.
Then I trimmed the ends and put both sides together. I zig zag stitched them together.
Just make sure they are long enough to fit around your head. If not, you could make a bracelet or rosette pins or whatever with the leftovers.
Su says
July 12, 2009 at 2:53 pmI think I just swooned a little.
It is gorgeous! I can’t wait to make my own.
Thank you
Laura Gerencser says
July 12, 2009 at 4:42 pmThis is great!! Love it:):):):)
suzof7 says
July 12, 2009 at 7:06 pmGosh girl, you’re going to out-re-fashion us all!
You remind me of my daughter, just jump right on in.
That is gorgeous! And I love the headband!
melinda says
July 12, 2009 at 7:32 pmsuper cute! dude, you do the coolest refashions!
daer0n says
July 12, 2009 at 8:26 pmAwesome! very cute!
Alexis says
July 12, 2009 at 9:39 pmWell done! I love it. It looks adorable on you. I’ll have to pass this on to my best friend because she just bought that top from Anthro. 🙂
casserole says
July 12, 2009 at 10:41 pmSo cool!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-anthropologie-inspired-t-shirt-refashion/2009/07/12/
–Anne
Rachel@oneprettything.com says
July 13, 2009 at 1:02 amYeah, this is awesome! What a fun design, I’ll be linking.
Kitschy Coo says
July 13, 2009 at 1:33 amInspired! It looks great 🙂
Deborah Raymond says
July 13, 2009 at 10:19 amI love your headband!
Megan says
July 13, 2009 at 11:53 amI love it! How do you find the time to do this? Such an inspiration!
Stephanie says
July 13, 2009 at 1:11 pmWow, you are such a smarty pants! I love that headband!! And the shirt is way cute too. Great job!
The Perfect Trio says
July 13, 2009 at 1:33 pmI just stumbled upon your blog from PamperingBeki and noticed you’re in Jax, FL. I live here too!! (well, I’m about to move to KY) Small world!!
Stephanie Sabbe says
July 13, 2009 at 3:59 pmjust found your blog today. so cute!
janae says
July 13, 2009 at 11:02 pmThat is ADORABLE! My first visit to your blog and I am so IMPRESSED! If only Iknew how to sew!
do it yourselfer says
July 14, 2009 at 6:59 amahhh…how lovely! you are amazingly talented! wow! i’m coming back for more…love that ruffle tube top too!
wildmary says
July 15, 2009 at 8:24 amI have old long sleeves t-shirts that I didn’t want to throw but didn’t wore (wear ? hum, sorry, my english lessons are old…) any more. Your tutorial is just perfect for them, I’ll try to make one, thank you very much !
roxy says
July 15, 2009 at 6:33 pmHi, I think this project came out amazingly! I was wondering, would you mind if I reposted one of your photos on my blog? I will link back to this post of course.
Happy Together says
July 15, 2009 at 9:17 pm“I was wondering, would you mind if I reposted one of your photos on my blog? I will link back to this post of course.”
Not a problem at all. Thanks for asking 🙂
About Me says
July 17, 2009 at 9:58 amJessica, this is awesome! I am going to try it for Mckayla and I. I hope it turns out! Your so creative!! Thanks for the great ideas!
Heather says
July 23, 2009 at 9:02 amI LOVE this idea! You are so creative! I can’t wait to try this. I also love the toddler dress with roses from a t-shirt. Thanks for posting this tutorial!
Care says
August 6, 2009 at 9:11 pmGORGEOUS and GENIUS!!! Kudos to you!!
Debra says
August 7, 2009 at 11:10 pmJust found this (thanks croqzine) while researching an article for BlogHer on tshirt refashioning. This is FABULOUS. And I’m going to work on one myself this weekend.
saffiertje says
August 20, 2009 at 1:43 pmHi Jessica, thanx for this awesome tutorial! I am going to look what shirt I am going to use… because.. I LOVE THIS!
great blog you have by the way!
greetings from the netherlands by Miranda
Brandi says
September 30, 2009 at 11:02 amYou are so talented! I am always worried I will mess things up, and then I will have to throw it all away, so I don’t even try things. But I think I am going to have to try this shirt! And one of those dresses you made for your daughter! So cute!
sarahbellum says
November 6, 2009 at 12:32 amjust discovered this blog via sewmamasew (your rag quilt letters tute) and had to comment on how clever your re-design for this top is. The headband is way adorable as well — must try
Jessica says
May 27, 2010 at 8:16 amI just came upon this when I was looking for t-shirt refashions! I love it!!! So creative 🙂
Leslie says
May 29, 2010 at 9:41 pmI made this top last week from a yard sale find at my friend’s yard sale. My top is white and I planned to wear it for the first time today while walking alongside my daughter’s baton group in a parade. I threw the shirt on in a hurry this afternoon and actually put it on backwards! lol Guess what?! The shirt can be worn either way! It’s like two shirts in one 🙂
Thanks for sharing a simple and great tutorial. I love your ideas 🙂
Leslie
tichat says
June 13, 2010 at 4:28 pmhi jess
many thanx for this tutorial!!! oh so cute top now!!! I’m gonna test it tomorrow…
tichat- a french sewer
RoyalEncoulet says
January 13, 2011 at 1:29 pmI love this! Awesome tutorial– thanks!!! – P
Lily's Treasures says
June 4, 2011 at 4:45 amNice tut’, thanks for sharing. I want to try it soon !
Ginny says
April 2, 2012 at 2:40 pmWhat a great tutorial! I love reconstructing boring t-shirts into something fabulous like this. I like it so much, I ended up including it on my blog… http://darlingadventures.com/?p=574
Thanks!
Megan says
April 9, 2012 at 2:37 pmIt looks gorgeous, but when I made it it sucked 🙁 Kudos to you!
Megan says
April 9, 2012 at 2:54 pmhttp://pinterest.com/pin/242631498644757252/
That’s my version of your shirt.
Anshu says
May 21, 2012 at 10:38 amVery cool refashion.
I featured it here:
http://sewprettysewfree.blogspot.com/2012/05/glam-top-from-drab-tee.html
maribel says
June 21, 2012 at 4:58 pmesta hermosa no me gustan muchas creaciones que veo pero esta me encanto no veo la hora de q llegue el verano =) saludos desde argentina =D