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March 28, 2006
sashed shirt
Anthropologie has had these shirts lately with some Japanese fabrics in them as accents. I was even ready to shell out the money for one of them, but it refused to fit properly. Then I thought, I probably have some fabric like that somewhere, and I know I have a plain shirt that could use sprucing up. Lo and behold, I had 3 fabrics to choose from, even. What with all the red and pink and turquoise going on in blogland lately, the choice was clear. Although this means I now have a shirt that matches a dress I made for Blythe.
It was pretty simple to make. Cut the fabric into two double-wide strips (mine were 6 inches, for a final sash width of about 3 inches) that are as long as the width of the shirt. Fold in half longways, wrong sides together, and iron to make the sewing easier. Sew up the long side and turn inside out to get a tube. Iron each tube into a strip, keeping the seam hidden in the back. Then just topstitch each strip down on the front and the back of the shirt, using stabilizer to help with the stretchy jersey. I decided on the topstitching approach because leaving the old hem looked funny, and there was too much bulk to make a nice join the normal way. After both strips are on, try the shirt on and see how much the bottom needs to flair to look good/fit. I tried to follow the natural slant of the seam from the shirt. This part is important because the sash won't stretch like the jersey does, so you need to build in that give or it bunches up (speaking as someone who had to rip the whole thing apart and start over once).
Posted under Sewing/Fabric Crafts at March 28, 2006 12:55 AM
Comments
How perfect! I have some shirts that have slowly shrunk wash after wash. A sash and maybe even some cuffs will give them a whole new season.
Posted by: alice at March 28, 2006 07:46 AM
what a great idea!!
I can't wait to try it on my own shirts sometime!
ps..I love the colors, too!
.♥.
Posted by: Jenn (knittyJenn) at March 28, 2006 10:34 AM
What a wonderful idea. Your shirt turned out so cute. Now I'm going to have to dig through my fabric stash. I know I have plenty of plain t-shirts! Thanks for the great idea!
Posted by: Regina at March 28, 2006 01:07 PM
Excellent idea! Your's turned out lovely. I think I'll practice this on my unsuspecting daughter's little shirts first. 8-)
Posted by: Angela at March 28, 2006 02:24 PM
Oh I LOVE this! You know shirts are SO short these days and I really am not in love with the stomach or exposed underwear look, so this would be awesome to make some of my short shirts more modest, but even cuter! Great idea!
Posted by: Gillian Greding at March 28, 2006 04:35 PM
Fab idea! And so much more economical!
Posted by: Alicia P. at March 28, 2006 04:44 PM
I'm with Gillian--I *love* this idea for making short-shirts cover my midriff! What a terrific idea!
Posted by: Patricia at March 28, 2006 07:48 PM
nice!
Posted by: joyce at March 29, 2006 01:07 AM
I LOVE this idea! especially because my shirts are NEVER long enough for my LONG torso! what a great solution!
Posted by: molly at March 29, 2006 09:42 PM
That is a great idea! I am so sick of shirts being so short. I may try that but maybe with a solid fabric and a trim where the shirt and sash meet???
Posted by: Stacie at March 30, 2006 12:39 AM
Clever!
Posted by: Gina at March 30, 2006 10:34 PM
i really like it - that fabric you have trimmed it with is gorgeous
Posted by: kathreen at March 31, 2006 12:10 AM
Wow! So cute! This tip will definitely come in handy and let me extend the life of some of the shirts I keep shoving to the back of my closet!
Posted by: Bee at April 3, 2006 09:40 PM
i love it! where did you find your japanese fabric?
Posted by: ilana at April 12, 2006 06:56 AM
It's a wonderful idea,so pretty. Thanks for sharing it with us. Jax in Wales.
Posted by: Jax at February 3, 2007 07:56 PM