Adult Tee to Toddler Tunic

Have you ever kept something that has no use for you just because you have some unexplained attachment to it?  Yeah.  Me too.  Introducing the teal and black striped tee I got in college at a thrift store. 

I don't know why I love it.  I just do.  But guess what?  I'm not rockin' the same bod as the good ol' college days and it just doesn't fit.  Time to give it a second life!

The shirt BEFORE.



 Step 1:  Cut main shape of top.  You can use a shirt your toddler already owns as a guide or in my case, a piece of a pattern for a dress she wore in her earlier years.  If you leave the bottom hem of the shirt you save yoursef a step and don't need to hem the final product.

 Step 2:  Cut the sleeves.  For this I just moved the pattern down the sleeve until the size of the sleeve matched the size of the pattern.

You should now have 4 pieces - 2 sleeves, a front and a back.

Step 3:  Sew the sides and top of the front and back pieces together (right sides together).  Do not sew the arm or neck holes, leave these open.

Step 4:  Right sides together, tuck the sleeve into the main body and sew around armhole.  Repeat for other side.

Step 5:  Fold over the neck by about 1/2 an inch, pin and sew, leaving about a 1/2 inch opening.  This is your casing that you will slide elastic through.  Do the same with the armholes.

Step 6:  Slide 1/4 inch elastic through casings on neck and arms.  Secure the elastic and sew up the 1/2 inch hole you left on the fabric.

To add a waistband you will need to do the following:

Step 7:  Cut a strip of fabric as long and the waist on the shirt.  Sew it to the INSIDE of the shirt along the top of the strip all the way around.  Sew along the bottom of the strip but leave a 1/2 inch opening.  This is now the casing for your waist elastic (cut elastic to be a little smaller than the measurement of the waist). 

Step 8:  Slide your elastic trhough the waist casing and sew 1/2 inch opening back up.

To add accessories:

The Head Band:  Cut a strip of scrap fabric.  Fold in half (right sides facing - hot dog style) and sew along side.  Flip it right side out.  Tuck ends into eachother and sew to secure.  Attach flower.

*note - this fabric was super sttretchy.  You may not be able to make a headband like this with all types of fabrics.

The Flowers:  Take a strip of fabric.  Twist fabric and wrap it around into a circle.  Secure by sewing it together every half inch or so.  Sew the entire flower to the shirt or headband.

All done and ready to play!

* If my instructions were as clear as mud feel free to leave a comment with any questions you may have and I'll be sure to clarify.