Saturday, June 25, 2011

Sewin' Saturday: Zero Dollar Shirt

Now that we have all day to do whatever we want, the girls and I have gotten back into our "projects".  Finally!  It's like we're getting to know each other all over again, and they are actually getting along better than they did during the school year. 

What I really want to show you are the birthday presents we're working on for friends, but since said friends read this blog, I can't post pictures until next week.  Doh!  So instead, I'll show you a little before and after of something we are keeping, courtesy of my sweet Lizzy who will be turning 9 next week.

Here is a size 8 dress that tore a few years ago (thanks to my older daughter and her propensity to get a little competitive no matter the occasion or the attire.  Or her opponents, who I think happened to be pre-schoolers) and got shoved to the bottom of the fabric box:
Since it's too short for either of them to use as a dress anymore, we decided to use the bottom ruffle for one of the projects that I can't tell you about yet (is the suspense just killing you?!?!?). 
The top half, however, was still in very usable condition and fits my Liz quite nicely, so we made a cut, pulled out the sewing machine....
And voila!  Adorable summer shirt just in time for summery summer.
Total cost of project: Zero Dollars

Happy weekend everyone! 

Oh, and if you're looking for a great link-up where you can post old or new samples of your writing, check out Dare to Share over at The Lightning and the Lightning Bug.  This weekend we're linking up posts about animals (so you know I got in on that!)


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25 comments :

  1. I love it! Even cuter as a big girl shirt! Natalie is so skinny that when her dresses get too short we just throw leggings on under them and consider them tunics. ...but the fact that your kid can use a sewing machine and I cannot really takes the cake.

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  2. Wow, she can sew?? Awesome!

    I feel slightly ashamed, being so craft-challenged..

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  3. That is adorable. I can't sew a stitch. Good for her for being able to sew!

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  4. I want to make some witty joke about child labor laws but can't think of anything. LOVE that she is sewing!

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  5. Thanks everyone! She can only sew under careful supervision, but is getting good at controlling at controlling the pedal and fabric better. She still has no clue about threading the machine or changing stitches or *anything*...but she is still 8, so baby steps :)

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  6. I need to get a sewing machine. I really do. I have so many of these kind of half-useable clothing items hanging around (or, even worse, I've thrown out TONS!). Thanks for the inspiration and the push!

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  7. It's good for teaching those wily children some patience, too. If they try to speed through, the whole project turns into a mess!

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  8. That is one cooll project!! I just wish I could sew....so many inspirations, so little motivation! ;)

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  9. That's an awesome idea! If only I was crafty or new how to use a sewing machine.
    It looks really cute as a shirt too. I would've never thought of that.

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  10. so cute! it looks brand new too. How creative...make me want to look through all our out-grown stuff.

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  11. I'm getting out my machine. I noticed my nine year old had stitched up the side of her pocket on the front of her shirt. It was crazy looking but she did it without me even knowing. I believe she can learn on the machine. Sounds like fun. Thanks.

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  12. I swear I want to be you. If I can't be you, I want to be best friends with you so that I can steal all your fabulous karma and ideas and become a Better Person. You are so clever to do this. I'm a loser who can't sew and doesn't have the brains to think of things to do with old clothes, like making gifts or whole new clothes. So smart, girl!

    And the top is adorable...your Liz looks like a little model wearing it!

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  13. Oh Katie, you are always too sweet to me!

    The best part of that bottom picture is that she was rambling on about something...literally talking and as soon as the camera came up, she struck the pose, still talking through clenched teeth. It was hilarious! She is such a charmy-pants little girl :)

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  14. My birthday is August 2nd, and I like hand made things... ;)

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  15. She looks so proud of the shirt she sewed herself!! Great job!

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  16. Nice work! That girl's got the skills, man! Can she hem a few pair of my jeans? I busted my sewing machine. Very cute...and the shirt ain't and half bad either. :)

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  17. Great job! It really turned out fabulous. :)

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  18. Love it! You are making me want to dig out my machine. Cause I need another half finished project!!! ;)

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  19. Very adorable! Sewing is a talent I don't have. I've tried, and it was disastrous.

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  20. I love remaking old clothes, and I LOVE sewing!:) I recently acquired a 4th sewing machine...now to get my husband to agree to remaking a craft area for all the little people who sew around here.;) You might like this blog I found: http://www.kundhi.com/blog/ Julie's great...you'll love all her sewing projects.:)

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  21. Sending you all my dresses. Wait, too short is not my problem, I grow in the other direction.
    Love that girls are sewing. And smiling along the way!

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  22. no, my birthday is in July and international shipping is not all that expensive. 1 price, 1 box...if it fits, it ships, courtesy of the USPS

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  23. Absolutely fabulous. Looking back, there are plenty of items that I loved that I wish that I'd kept and just repurposed. Need to learn to sew. With a sewing machine.

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