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Making Shorts From Old T-Shirts

RemakingT-Shirts into Kids Shorts

Do your kids shorts look like this?

Holey Shorts

Or maybe you’ve tried to fix them?

Fixed Holey Shorts

Either way, it’s time for some new shorts!  I looked at some in the store, but even on clearance, they’re $3 and I was sure I could make them cheaper.  My husband had recently culled his t-shirts and I had a pile of t-shirts that weren’t quite bad enough to be turned into rags and while I could donate them, I was sure that I could do something with them.

T Shirt Pile

I dug out a shorts pattern and cut out a pair.  I had to cut them a little big since the pattern only goes to a size 4.

TShirt Shorts

I cut an old pair of shorts apart to use as a pattern for my nine-year-old.  Don’t forget to add a little extra for the seam allowance and add at least 1.5 inches to the top for the waistband.

Using Shorts as a Pattern

 If you forget to add extra for the waistband *ahem*, you can always cut a strip or two 3 inches by the size of the waistband you need and sew it on.

Waistbands

The waistband attached.

Attached Waistband

The shorts ended up fitting my 11-year-old better.
Finished Shorts

You could also use a coordinating material for the waistband to make it a little more interesting.

Waistband from Coordinate

Adding cuffs to the shorts for a little added interest or to make them longer?
Either way, it works.

Finished Trimmed Shorts

Don’t throw away those too small or unloved t-shirts.  They can easily be recycled into something useful!  What do you do with unwanted t-shirts?

Sewing A Simple Dress with Kids

Sewing A Simple Dress with Kids

*This post contains affiliate links.

My daughter loves to sew!  She’s always asking to make something.  Recently, she wanted a lightweight robe so she dug through my material and found some she liked.  We found a pattern in my stash and I helped her make it.  Now, she has it in her mind that she’s going to make dresses for three adorable little girls at church.  We looked through my patterns, but they were all a little too complicated or didn’t have the right sizes.  Then, I remembered the Janey Jump Around Dress from peek-a-boo pattern shop.  It has all the sizes we need plus it’s an easy sew – perfect for my daughter to make three times – and best of all, it’s free!  She dug through my stash of knits and found ones that coordinated.

I normally pin the pieces in a couple spots to make sure they stay put, then she finishes pinning them and cuts them out with her own scissors.

Cutting Patterns Out

We read the directions together and then I pin the seams for her.

She did all the sewing herself.

Sewing A Dress

She was very proud of herself when she finally finished!  I think it took her longer than she thought.

Finished Dress

 

There were three happy little girls too.

Three Finished Dresses

What’s your favorite easy pattern?

Mittens – A Quick & Easy Sewing Project for Kids

Quick Easy Mittens

My kids are always looking for things to sew.  I’m not into letting them sew random things that are just going to lay around the house.  I prefer things that are somewhat useful.  I will say I’m not sure how useful mittens are in southwest Florida, but…

Trace one hand on a piece of paper.  Make it a little big since you don’t want them to be super snug.  Then add about 1/2 inch for seam allowances.  You’ll probably need to help them with that part (I just added that in when I traced their hands).  Cut out your pattern.

Trace Hand

All you need is a scrap of fleece that you can fold in half and get two mittens out of it.  Make sure that the stretch goes across the hand so that there’s enough stretch to get their hand through the wrist opening.

Mitten Pattern

Pin them right sides together and sew around the outside except for the wrist opening.  Sewing around the thumb can be tricky, but go slow and it will be fine.

Sewing Mittens

Turn them right side out and enjoy!  Fleece doesn’t ravel so there’s no need to hem which makes my kids very happy!

Finished Mittens

Do your kids like to sew?  What kinds of things do they make?

Repurposing Torn Pants

Repurposing Torn Pants

This post contains affiliate links.

My husband recently had a wardrobe malfunction involving a pair of not-very-old khaki pants.  There was no saving them for him, but the thought of just throwing them away was too much.  They really weren’t that old!  So, I dug out my favorite pants pattern, shortened the legs and made my son a pair of shorts – just in time for Easter. Wardrobe Malfunction I started with my favorite pants pattern – skinny jeans from peek-a-boo pattern shop.  I measured how long I wanted the shorts to be and then folded the pattern to that length.  I made a size 8 and was able to get both legs onto one leg. ShortsPiecesOn the other leg, I put all the other pieces.  I did have to piece the waistband, but that was OK – I just lined the center back seams up and everything was good.  I cut the pocket lining from the pants pocket lining. ShortsPieces

I saved the zipper and buttons from the old pants.

Pants Notions

Then, I had the perfect button for the new shorts.

Shorts Front

Shorts Back

Perfect Fit Shorts Finished

This post contains affiliate links.  See my disclosure policy for more details.

Resizing Adult T-Shirts

Resizing An Adult T-ShirtDo you have a t-shirt you love, but it just doesn’t fit quite right?  Maybe you found it at a thrift store and thought it would fit.  Maybe you lost some weight and it looks frumpy now.  Maybe it’s just stretched out a bit, but still has lots of life left.  No matter what, resizing adult t-shirts is pretty easy.

First you need a t-shirt that fits nicely.  This will be your pattern.  You can see here how the shoulders are too long and the sides are just a little too wide.

Resize A T-Shirt Sleeves and Side Too Big

The next step is scary.  You have to cut the sleeves off.  Cut as close to the seam as possible and don’t cut into the sleeve.  You’re going to reuse them after slimming down the body.Cut Off SleevesNext, line up the neckline and mark where the sleeve seam is.  I put a pin at the shoulder and side seams.

Mark CuttingDraw a line (either real or just eyeball it) and cut the new line leaving room for a seam.

Mark New Sleeve Line

The sleeve hole is going to look really big because first we need to take the sides in a bit.  Pin your new side seam based on your nice fitting t-shirt.  Sew down each side and serge it if you want.

New Side Seam

Now you can pin your sleeves back in and sew them back on.  Make sure that you put right sides together.  I normally do this by having the shirt wrong side out and the sleeve right side out.  Then I tuck the sleeve into the shirt.  Line up the underarm seams.  Sew and serge if desired.

Now, try on your “new” shirt.

Resized T Shirt

 

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Hi, I'm Mona - wife, mom, teacher, seamstress, blogger. This is my home on the web. Read More…

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