Upcycling-Big Man to Little Man's Shirt

I'm new to upcycling but the idea intrigues me. Take something old and make it into something new!
Like this shirt:: All you need is a shirt you want to cut down into a smaller size. A shirt that's already the size you want. Scissors, measuring tape, pen, sewing maching, and needles

One Man's wrinkley XL Pull-Over Shirt

Here are the step by step instructions for how I made my husbands XL shirt to fit my seven year old son.

First:: Lay your little shirt onto your big shirt. Lining up the waistlines. Turn both of them inside out.

Now Measure out from you little shirt a Half Inch all the way around. This will be the line you sew on {seam allowance}

 I mark mine with a marker so that I can see where I need to cut, otherwise I will be cutting all over the place. I can't cut straight to save my life!

This is your shirt all cut out

This is where I messed up, I didn't make the scoop of the neck dip enough, so as you will see on down, the collar is little like a mock turtle neck {ooops}

Cut out the collar about half inch from the seams

The cut out collar

Cut it at the seams on each end. So that you have the front and back. You need to measure your childs collar on his shirt so that you will know how big to make your new one. You may want to make it a little bigger just for safe measure.

Match up your sleeves. I had to cut width and length to make a new one to fit. Measure out half an inch for width and length to get your new sleeve. Sew and you have a new sleeve. 

Right Sides Together, Pin and Sew the Collar Down on Your newly cut out shirt. Sew right on top of the seams already there. Now sew all the way around, letting it feed through naturally{without you pulling on it}

                           

Make sure you cut it your neck big enough or else it won't fit right when your done. There is a saying "Measure twice and cut once" this is soooo true!

Collar done. This is it flipped up and turned around. Now it needs to be Ironed and Top Stitched

                            

Top Stitch the collar down, this makes it look purdy. About 1/8 down from the finished seam, on the right side of the fabric.

Sew the Shoulders. Starting at the top of the collar. Sew down and to the end of the shoulder

Iron, Iron and Iron. This is such an essential step to sewing.

Sew up the side seams

                                       
                        

                      Once again Iron and Trim the seams all around. This makes them look more professional!

Now for the Sleeves::

Turning the sleeve Right Side Out. Put it inside your Wrong Side Out shirt. Pin it to the hole opening, making sure you match up the armpit seam and the shoulder seam, and sew into place.

                    Now do the same for the other, and then Trim and Press and YOUR DONE!!
Turn it Right Side Out, and Press with the iron one more time. You don't need to do anything with the hem


                                    So sweet, yet such a little devil too. He would NOT let me take his picture!

Crazy boy!

See that collar, I goofed.  I didn't cut it down enough when I was cutting it out in the first step, so therefore it bunched up, ooops. Don't do that!!

This was my first try upcycling, even though the collar came out whack, it's still not to shabby. Everything else looked great.  I can't wait to do some more the possibilities are endless!

Have a great weekend!!



Linking up with Studio JRU, Make It Yourself Monday



Mother's Day Special- 30% off Select Items Use coupon code  MD30off. Just in time for Mother's Day!! Have you seen the Redeemed Collection?