Discovering the World of Clothing Up-cycling

I recently got the itch to learn to sew again. My mother had taught me how to use a machine as part of my homeschool home economics class, but I just remember that the seam ripper was permanently attached to my hand with every project I endeavored! Since several of my friends sew I've recently been inspired to try again, and Scott graciously allowed me to take some of our tax return and buy a small Janome. Even though it is a basic machine, and the cheapest they come, I LOVE IT! Either I've gotten smarter, or they make machines better now a-days because I've only had to use the seam ripper one time in the last three months! :)

BUT..... I adamantly told my friends and family that I WOULD NOT sew clothing, just craft things. I had visions of the matching jumpers my dear, sweet mother sewed for me and my sisters every Christmas and Easter up until I finished jr. high.... ANYWAY, my sister Melissa came to me a few weeks ago after seeing a blog (named sewlikemymom.com of all things!!!) that described how to make skirts out of T-shirts. Melissa was so excited and wanted to try it. Since that was technically "sewing clothing," I refused at first, but she eventually won. If you know Melissa, you know she always wins (right, Aaron?)! ;)

We went shopping at Goodwill and kinda went crazy purchasing 9 shirts!!! Then we studied the instructions on the blog and started sewing. Ahem... well, I started sewing and Mel kept me company by chatting and surfing the web next to me. ;)

In the end, Melissa was right! (Of course!) It was super easy to make the skirts, and they are really comfortable to wear. I am now inspired to up-cycle other clothes I would normally throw away or donate, and refashion them into something new! It is really fun and helps avoid the cost of having to buy expensive fabric! Sewlikemymom's tutorial is excellent and very detailed, so if you want to make these, read her tutorial here! I'll just give you a brief overview of the process.

HOW TO MAKE A SKIRT FROM A T-SHIRT:

1. First you take your shirt and cut it off below the arms.

 2. Then you thread your machine with regular thread, and put elastic thread in the bobbin. You have to hand wind that elastic thread onto the bobbins, and you'll need about 3 bobbins to make one skirt. (Elastic thread is only $ .97 at Walmart!)

3. Then you sew about 8 - 12 rows at the top of the skirt using your pressure foot as a guide of how much space to leave between each row. The elastic thread starts to gather up the knit tighter with each row you make. When you have finished your rows, iron with steam the gathered portion at the top to make the shirring get even tighter. 

That's it! A cute skirt in less than an hour! And for only $2.99! :) You don't even need to hem it because the bottom of the skirt is the bottom of the previous skirt. So cool!

I'm glad Melissa talked me into trying this project. It was a great sister bonding experience! I'll never doubt her again.... ;)

Melissa, Jackie, and I sporting our new skirts made from shirts!

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