Side Ruffle T-Shirt Upcycle

Since we have moved one of my favorite things is getting the mail (not that it wasn't before, who am I kidding!). One of the reasons though, is the "or current resident". You see, the previous owners of this house got a TON of catalogs.



Since I rarely buy on-line or through catalogs, I don't get on those lists. If I sign myself up for those lists, I never buy anything and end up getting dropped within a few months. (Really, Pottery Barn, what makes you think I would never order anything? O.k., they are probably right!)

Side Ruffle T-shirt Refashion





One day, I got a catalog from Victoria's Secret. Actually, everyday I seem to get a VS catalog. I think they miss the old homeowner. Anyway, I saw this shirt that I loved. I thought I would try to knock it off.


This is my version. What do you think?



I actually started with this long sleeve Gap t-shirt (thanks Betsy for letting me go through your Goodwill pile!)

I took the sleeves off and then finished the sleeve edges that would now become a tank.

Then I started cutting up the sleeve at the seam. I cut on the other side of the seam to get rid of the seam all together.

This is what I was left with. Then I put both of the sleeves on top of each other

and stitched up using a ruffle stitch (highest tension and length setting on your machine) from the bottom up.

This is what it looked like. Don't you love the ruffle stitch trick?

I then laid it out as straight as I could on my cutting mat

Then cut off the extra length at the top where the arm hole used to attach to the shirt. I then lined it up with my shirt body and used the ruffle stitch again to attach it to the shirt.

After the ruffle was where I wanted it, I stitched the ruffle on.

I checked it next to my inspiration photo and thought it looked pretty similar.


I had to crop my head out of nearly all of the pictures. Not quite sure why I was giving the stink eye the whole time!
That's it! I'm ready for spring!

15 comments

Onita76 said...

great knock-off! super cute shirt :)

Kammy's Korner said...

Oh wow. I actually got my sewing machine out the other day. I don't know what I'm doing much, but I think I might be able to figure this out. It is TOO COOL!!!! Love it!!!!

http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I love the top...glad you post a how to...I would have done it differently and it would not have come out so good. It would of had to much fabric :)

Angie said...

Awwwww, I LOVE this! Perfect knock-off, it looks exactly the same! Great job:)

Angie @ http://inmysparetime2.blogspot.com

Emily said...

I love it! I'm working on de-stashing, upcycling and actually making clothes for myself lately! Thanks for the tutorial. stop by sometime domesticdeadline.blogspot.com

Renee said...

Great idea! I think that I'm now going to follow you for some other great ideas! Thanks.

Unknown said...

super cute!

Megan Gunyan said...

Adorable. I don't see a stink-eye! I wish I could wear this, but after 3 kids I try my hardest NOT to show any belly. Sigh. ;)-

Christina said...

so cute! Great knock-off :)

Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

Christine @ sugarandtrash.com said...

this is so adorable! I love the ruffle-y look.

Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate said...

Fantastic transformation! So glad you came over and linked up at my Open House!

Anonymous said...

I love this! Now I've got to find a shirt laying around and give it a try!!! hmmmm....I'd better start digging! :)

Anonymous said...

Super cute! I've always sewn a ruffle that involved a loose stitch, pulling threads and a lot of other nonsense. Thanks for spelling out an easier way!

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

I think you did a great job!! It looks just as cute as the VS version, and I love the yellow. :)

Thanks for joining my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. :) Hope you'll stop by Serenity Now again soon!

Allison {A Glimpse Inside} said...

Super cute! Great job! The previous owner, well my landlord really, subscribed to TONS of catalogs too! lol Thanks for linking up!

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