written by marieann

Clothing reconstruction — changing an item of clothing from one thing to another — is really popular these days. It’s a great way to change an over-sized or unwanted piece of clothing into something really great. Go to your local thrift store or look at the bottom of your closet for something to shape up!

Supplies
Thread
Shirt to reconstruct (much larger than you are and LONG sleeved)
Fabric remnants (matching)

Tools
Sewing machine
Pins

Instructions

1. Use a seam ripper to take the seams out of the sleeves. Do not cut them out as it makes it more difficult later.
2. Cut the shirt in half about two inches below your breasts.
3. Take in the sides of the shirt to fit your chest. This means to turn the shirt inside out and make the seam deeper than it was. DO NOT CUT until you’re certain that it fits. If you take it in and that’s not enough, then just do it again. A great tip is to try on the shirt inside out and pin it to your the way you’d like. Then sew right outside the pins. Once you’ve made it the size you want, cut off the spare fabric.
4. Cut open the sleeve along the seam. Cut a strip of fabric out of the sleeves that is long enough to go around your waist and about 5 inches wide (you may have to go narrower if your fabric isn’t long enough. You may need to use both sleeves. The bottom of this strip should go about to your hips (thus it should be from just below the breasts until the top of the hips).
5. Sew this to the shirt you have so far. Be sure to make the ends line up on the side. If you had to sew two pieces together to get a long enough piece, line up each seam with the side.
6. Cut a strip of fabric long enough to go around your hips about 4 inches wide. Sew this along the bottom of your shirt. Again, keep the seams on the edges.
7. Finally, you’re going to sew the rest of the shirt back on the bottom. This allows you to use the finished edge that was on the original shirt to your advantage. You may need to take this up some before you start. If you want the skirt to be fluffy you can just work in the excess to a pretty gather or if you’d like it straight, then take it in first. I took it in some but also allowed some excess because otherwise it was too snug in the rear end area.
8. Finally, you need to turn under the sleeve caps about a 1/4 inch and sew around the edge to give the sleeves a finished look.
9. Pair with leggins and rock out!