Oh, the Things You Can Do with a Thrift Store Shirt!

(click on image for larger view)

It's been a "repurposing" kind of weekend.  I scored a really cool stash of thrift store goodies on Friday, which will soon be turned into all sorts of cute dresses, pants and shorts for the kiddos.  But today was all about a bright lime green polo shirt and some toddler shorts/pants!  I purchased this X-large ladies 3/4-sleeved knit polo at the thrift store a few weeks ago.  I think I paid $2, but it might have only been $1, since there was a half-price sale in progress.  Either way, it was a BARGAIN! 

The shirt had a knit collar, a pocket on one sleeve with silver grommets, and white twill tape trim on the snap placket and at the side slits near the hem.  I still have the snap placket - it will be perfect for the bottom of a toddler or baby romper!  But I used the sleeves and collar to make a darling pair of wide-leg pants for my niece, Kelsey.  The collar was perfect for folding over and creating the elastic waistband - created a really polished finish!

Then I used my boys' boxer short pattern to cut out shorts, utilizing the hem and the twill-trimmed slits.  I had enough left over to create a pair of toddler pants for my niece, Zola... a ruffled flounce made them just the right length!

In all, I think I got my money's worth out of this shirt... and I still have scraps for making the head and legs of a great little stuffed fabric turtle toy for the new baby!

The Project List is GROWING!!!

So many projects... so little time!  I have been BUSY lately creating dresses, shorts and more for my little nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  I've also made new pillows for our living room couches - and outdoor pillows for our porches and the porch of my cousin!  Whew!

Here are some of the latest creations... it seems like every day I find another project that I just have to tackle... so the list IS growing... and the fun never ends!

Some 12 pieces created with Urban Zoologie, Groovy Guitars
and other coordinating fabrics.. dresses, onesies and pants
and even a burp pad!

Collar created for an Etsy customer from a
vintage linen and lace doily.

Back of collar - fastened with a snap closure
and accented with a big vintage button.

My little cousin, Harper, sporting a pink print
peasant dress I made.  Her cousin Olivia has one
just like it... and of course, American Girl Doll
has something pink, too (see below)!

American Girl doll dress for my cousin, Olivia...
made from the scraps of her pink peasant dress!

Toy Story shorts and matching shirt for Timothy.
Shirt was made with an iron-on I bought on eBay!

Dress made for my niece  Zola from scraps of my
pillow-making project - Pillow & Maxfield Gypsy
 Bandanain pink.  Pants were made from a thrift store
t-shirt. Headband is accented with yellow knit
and red tulle flowersand a yellow bumblebee button!



Matching dresses made for two little friends, ages 4 and 5.
I love this sunny yellow fabric!



Toddler t-shirt trimmed in scraps of dinosaur fabric,
which was also used for the appliques.

My little ones will look great on July 4th! 
A dress for Olivia and shorts for Owen!

July 4th onesie using ruffled fabric scraps and
a flag made of polka-dot "denim".

Back of onesie with polka-dot "denim" ruffles.

"Aubrey" bow dress for our great-niece -
got the pattern on Etsy... tons of ideas for this design!

Before - a fifty-cent Land's End knit polo from the thrift store.

After... a pair of toddler shorts with cargo pockets!

Front porch pillows in Gypsy Bandana Pink - to match our roses.

Pink in pillows to match pink Knock-out roses!

Joel Dewberry "Aviary" fabric pillow for couch
with natural linen back.

Amy Butler  Gypsy Caravan"Cat Eye" fabric pillows
with "Stainless" trim/backing

Amy Butler "Midwest Modern" Linen fabric pillows and
Gypsy Caravan pillow with corded trim.

Pillow & Maxfield "Gypsy Bandana" in red pillows with
coordinating piping.

Pink Is the Color of the Day!

I've been in a "pink" mood this week... work with knits and fleece in shades of mostly HOT pink!  I think the outfits are adorable and will make any little girl feel special.  The two-piece sets will be $45, and the fleece pants and jacket will be $65.  To purchase, see the listings in my Etsy Shop - This Reminds Me...

Pink Fleece "swing" jacket and pants - pants are super long,
great for a tall, skinny cutie!  We could also hem the pants to
fit a little princess who has shorter legs!

Rear view of fleece swing jacket and pants

I call this set Creamsicle!  Hues of pink, grey, white, and orange
create this adorable striped set.  The leggings have an accent strip
of white at the hem.  The ribbon ties are orange satin.

View of "Creamsicle" pants

Cute little pink/brown strip ensemble.  This top is a little
shorter than some of the other dresses... and depending
on your child, the pants might be a bit "capri," but that makes
this set an adorable "sunsuit" ensemble for any sunny day!

Pants that match brown-stripe top.

Simple pink set with multi-flowered gross-grain ribbon ties.

Pants with this set are mix-n-match versatile!

What Should I Create Today?

Here is a photo of my great-niece, Zola, modeling her Valori Wells pillowcase dress.  With precious little ones like her just waiting to be dressed, who wouldn't be inspired?!

Get the tutorial for these shoes - and ideas/tutorials
for many great projects at
http://makeit-loveit.com/

There are so many options, ideas... and tutorials for creating adorable kids clothes, and I want to try them all!  Today will probably be a "pink" day - fleece leggings and a jacket... and perhaps some paisley cordury ruffles to turn a chocolate velour tee into a dress!  I want to add ruffles and skirts to leggings, create cute burp pads, and repurpose everything from vintage linens to thrift store clothing - and even leather purses!

Yes, I've found a tutorial for creating baby shoes out of old leather purses!  Not sure I will tackle this one, but they surely are cute!

Orange You Glad... the Fun Continues????



Toddler sundress from repurposed
ladies cotton blend blouse

 So today, I continued the "orange" theme, repurposing a blouse someone gave my grandmother into a darling little sundress.  This fabric is a cotton blend that resembles the weave of linen.  The background is a soft, almost washed orange, with flower motifs in red, olive, black, and a lighter shade of orange.  I trimmed the dress with straps of orange satin.  It measures more than 15" across the front at the armholes, and gathers to a bib of approximately 7" in width.  The overall dress length is 18" - with the straps enabling you to gain more or less length, as necessary.  Put your little sweetie in this dress for $30 ppd.

BEFORE:  Rebecca Malone knit ladies blouse

Then I switched to blue and repurposed this pale aqua Rebecca Malone knit shirt into a darling dress and matching leggings. 



AFTER:  Toddler Sundress

 The front of the dress is covered in navy flowers and sequin accents.  Navy satin ribbon literally ties everything together at the neckline.

Back of sundress

Matching pants/leggings

The leggings have a 10½" inseam and measure just over 15" on the outer seam.  These will fit a waist up to approximately 20".  This dress also measures approximately 18" in length and is adjustable either way, to fit your child.  $45 ppd will get you this ensemble.

How Many Ways Can You Repurpose a Knit Shirt?

BEFORE:  Ladies Beaded
Knit 3/4-sleeve shirt

Thanks to Pinterest and Etsy, my latest infatuation is repurposing knit shirts and cardigan sweaters as pants/leggings and tops for toddler girls.  So far, I have turned a leopard print cardigan sweater into an ensemble (complete with braided headband and beaded pom-pon flower! - see previous post)... and now I am working on a stack of knit shirts I purchased last week at the local thrift shop.  I have stripes, florals, beaded and plain shirts... reds, blues, pinks, oranges, and more!  I see jackets, "pillowcase" dresses, and more atop some of the cutest leggings you've ever seen.

In my enthusiasm to get started, I neglected to photograph the leopard print cardigan before I began cutting.  So in an effort NOT to let that happen again, I've made photographs of several of the shirts this afternoon, and as I finish a garment, I'll post a "Before" and an "After" photo (or 2 or 3!).  Oh... this is gonna be so much fun... I'll post more when I come up for air!

Here is the finished product for today!  This 3-piece set includes a beaded "pillowcase" dress/jumper with orange satin drawstring ribbon, cropped pants/leggings, and a fluffy pin-on pom-pon with butterfly button accent.  $65 postage paid for all 3 pieces.



AFTER:  Toddler dress/jumper
and crop pants/leggings



Beaded Draw-string Dress/Jumper
Length is approximatetly 15"

Pants - inseam approximately 8"
overall length approximately 13.5"

Pin-on Pom-pon with butterfly button trim
created from fabric scraps