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Jun 5, 2011

Men's Shirts to Dress Refashion

Like so many other crafty people out there, I like to take secondhand clothing and refashion them into something else.  It's great because you get to take advantage of the existing details.  My latest project has been to make myself a dress from two men's shirts.  I found a nice green and white striped shirt the other day for 99¢ that I really liked.  I brought it home and, to my delight, found a green and white gingham shirt in my stash that I had purchased a while back...just because I really liked it at the time!  It was a perfect match.  I had an idea of what I wanted to do and knew I needed some white fabric for the pleats.  So out came a white sheet.  Actually, I have a ton of sheets thanks to a friend that works for a hotel chain.  They are always getting rid of sheets that have a tear or something, but are in otherwise good condition.  So I measured, cut, stitched...picked out some stitching a time or two, or three, and stitched again.  The end result is this...  



The dress buttons all the way down the front to make it easy to put on and take off.  There are two pleats in the front, and two pleats in the back.  I topstitched the pleats down about 6".  I added a band of white fabric for length.  I stitched 1/4" elastic to the waist seam.  The elastic wasn't absolutely necessary since I wear it with a belt, but I thought it would make the waist gathering more uniform.


I opted for a scoop neck and was going to just do a simple finish with seam binding, but then I thought a small white collar would help to balance the white band at the bottom.

                                                                                   
And just to show you what I started with, here are the shirts...
    


Linking to THESE great parties.


This dress was also featured in...



54 comments:

  1. GinnyJune 5, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    SO CUTE, Susan! I found you over at Debbiedoos, and boy am I ever glad I did. What a great idea. I can't sew nearly as well as you, but I'll sure give it a try now that you've inspired me!

    Blessings,
    Ginny

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  2. UnknownJune 5, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    THAT is just darling! I love it! Very clever and the green looks great on you. :)

    Have a great week!
    ~Liz

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  3. JulieJune 5, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    Very cute and clever.

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  4. Kaysi @ Keeping it SimpleJune 5, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    that is amazing, i love it!!!

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  5. AnonymousJune 5, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    such a great job you did too, looks great on you.how clever is that,, these newbie parties are great,

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  6. AngelaJune 5, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    This looks great and very professionally finished. You're very creative and clever!

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  7. Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee)June 5, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Calling from Homemaker on a dime. This is beautiful! Very cute and creative. Thanks for sharing.
    Now, I'm your newest follower...hope you will follow me back :)

    Sanghamitra.
    RAINBOW-The Colours of India

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  8. Diana LaMarreJune 6, 2011 at 2:47 AM

    Wow, that turned out beautiful. What a great use for two shirts!

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  9. TraceyJune 6, 2011 at 3:10 AM

    Great Idea.. been wanting to use some of my husbands outgrown shirts for a project.. thanks for sharing!! Love it!!

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  10. Fonda @Southern ScrapsJune 6, 2011 at 3:45 AM

    Cute and so clever!

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  11. Janet Metzger, ArtistJune 6, 2011 at 3:54 AM

    Beautiful...beautiful!!!!

    Jaset xox
    http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/

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  12. Janet Metzger, ArtistJune 6, 2011 at 3:55 AM

    Sheesh.....I can't even spell my own name correctly without a bucket of morning coffee!
    ;->

    Janet xox

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  13. Chameleon GirlsJune 6, 2011 at 6:46 AM

    Wow! I have a few thrift store shirts that have been just sitting- now I will have to make a dress! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  14. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    I can't believe that you got that adorable dress from those two shirts...well, actually I CAN believe it. You're amazing! How much can I pay you to make me one? You need to get your etsy shop going!!

    (By the way, this is your daughter, Kim. Blogger is giving me trouble with commenting again!)

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  15. Connie the crafterbugJune 6, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    wow! Great job!
    New follower here.
    Connie

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  16. RitaJune 6, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    So cute! I would wear this. I love dresses. Will scour hubbys closet for shirt. LOL
    http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/

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  17. Kimberlee, The Spunky DivaJune 6, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Wow! That is one seriously cute skirt! I love the contrast between the two fabrics you used for the skirt. Visiting from Inspire Me Monday.
    ~Kimberlee
    {Accuquilt Giveaway closes 6/7} 

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  18. AsylumTanyaJune 6, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Your refashion is so great! It is amazing what beautiful things can be created from the unwanted things from someone else. Thanks for sharing!

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  19. EmilyJune 6, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    So cute! I'm a big fan of refashioning clothes from the thrift store too. Stop by sometime, domesticdeadline.blogspot.com

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  20. Candace @ Candace CreationsJune 6, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    WOW Now that is a creative second chance alright! Very pretty! This would be a great post to link up to Scrappy Saturdays over at candace creations! Linky is still open till next weeks linky starts :)

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  21. KarimaJune 7, 2011 at 4:11 AM

    Hiya from your newest google follower/s via Tip Me Linky, Karima from
    www.karimascrafts.com
    and
    www.karimasblogs.blogspot.com

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  22. elizabethJune 7, 2011 at 6:24 AM

    This is lovely!!!

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  23. Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️June 7, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    OMG this is so cute! I'm just learning how to sew.

    Dee

    Your new follower

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  24. JennJune 7, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    Amazing - I can't believe you made that out of two Men's shirts.

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  25. Ginger SnapsJune 7, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    Hi! Following from the newbie party. Love this! I've got a new blog, too, and I just started my own weekly link party each Wednesday. Would love to have you drop by & link up! :)

    Ginger
    gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com

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  26. KatieJune 8, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    Susan, this is amazing! Great job! I would have never known that your dress was once two men's dress shirts!

    I would love if you'd link this up at Sew Woodsy today at our What's Up Wednesday's link party.

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  27. memakingdoJune 8, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    Wow that the cutest shirt to skirt refashion I think I have seen. Found you at somday crafts.

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  28. Rochelle @Home Sweet HomebodiesJune 8, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    Wow, that turned out great! The two shirts complement each other wonderfully.

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  29. PaulaJune 8, 2011 at 3:29 PM

    So lovely! Just amazing - I'm now a follower :)

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  30. Maria@BubblegumandDuctTapeJune 8, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    wow you look fabulous and what a great fashion designer you are. I had to look at the pictures closely to see how you did it, ingenious!

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  31. Maria@BubblegumandDuctTapeJune 8, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    by the way, stopping by from A Creative Princess linky party.

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  32. MarleeJune 8, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    Soo cute! I love it! Found you at the Thursday Blog Hop and am glad I did! Am a happy new follower :).

    http://marleeindebt.blogspot.com/

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  33. CitraJune 8, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    So pretty !
    How did you make it ? I'm so in love with your contrast pleats

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  34. UnknownJune 9, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Looks amazing! Great job!

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  35. ShannonSewsJune 9, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Woohoo! I love a great refashion. Nicely done. Looks amazing!

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  36. KatieJune 9, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Ohmigoodness that dress is so cute and you look adorable! Great makeover and upcycle job, thanks for sharing it on A Crafty Soiree!

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  37. Jen @ My Own RoadJune 10, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    I love the skirt - you look fantastic! Aren't men's shirt refashions so much fun? This actually caught my eye because I have an upcoming series on my blog for refashioning men's button down shirts. I hope you'll check it out :)

    www.jensownroad.blogspot.com

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  38. Terri @ A Creative PrincessJune 10, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    All I can say is, WOW!!! Thank you so much for linking up! I sure wish I could sew like that!!

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  39. UnknownJune 10, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    Very, very clever! I have a linky party if you're keen on sharing this wonderful outfit!

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  40. LeanneJune 10, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    Those are adorable. Thanks for linking to the party.

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  41. Amanda DicksonJune 11, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    What an adorable dress!

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  42. Mindie HiltonJune 12, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    Thanks Susan for linking, following, and grabbing my button. You rock. I am following back too with gfc. I just love your blog. I love bold jewelry too. Your photography is stunning as well. I know I am going to be blown away by your awesome links each week. PS, I have a special give away just for linkers at the party next week!

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  43. Allison {A Glimpse Inside}June 13, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    That is absolutely adorable! Fabulous job! Thanks for linking up to last week's Catch a Glimpse party!

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  44. bredJune 14, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    It's adorable & awesome Susan!! I have seen many refashioned mens dress shirts, but no doubt yours is the best one. I like the color combination & the pattern you have created. Hats off Susan.

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  45. KatieJune 15, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Great job on the refashion! You are super talented. Thank you for linking up to Sew Woodsy last week. We hope you'll come back today and link up another craft project!

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  46. Blissful & DomesticJune 15, 2011 at 8:13 PM

    Your refashions are too cute! I love it!

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  47. Jenny Hall / Seamingly SmittenJune 16, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    What a great upcycled project! Great color combination.
    Jenny

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  48. FlyAwayHomeNovember 7, 2011 at 4:05 AM

    OMG! This skirt is absolutely adorable!

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  49. UnknownJune 19, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    first of all i want to share that your color combination green and white is cool!!nice creativity!!

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  50. Pam @Threading My WayMarch 2, 2013 at 1:49 AM

    Good choice to add the collar. It ties everything together beautifully.

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  51. Love FlowDecember 4, 2013 at 1:16 PM

    Hey there,

    I was published in Altered Couture too. How do I get one of those nifty badges?

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  52. Love FlowDecember 4, 2013 at 1:16 PM

    Hey there,

    I was published in Altered Couture too. How do I get one of those nifty badges?

    ReplyDelete
  53. UnknownFebruary 6, 2015 at 3:26 AM

    Wow!! i am very impressed with your lovely post..
    Mens custom dress shirt

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  54. JohnnyOctober 22, 2021 at 3:50 AM

    This looks fantastic and has been completed with attention. You're an incredibly clever and creative person! Also take a look at compression shirts for men

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate the feedback and always look forward to reading what you have to say! Susan