Introducing myself...and a t-shirt refashion

Hello there fellow refashion enthusiasts! I am Staley. I am a wife, homeschooling mama, and portrait photographer (www.kcphotoparty.com), and thrift store junkie.

I have loved a good thrift store outing since I was in high school. I used to only look for things that fit someone in my home but now that I have caught the refashioning bug size doesn't slow down my shopping at all. I thoroughly enjoy looking at something and seeing what it could be with a little tweaking. Finding time to do that tweaking is another issue all together.

I am really excited to be a new contributor here!

My first official refashion to be posted is a simple t-shirt refashion from man's XL basic t-shirt to a fun "my size" split sleeved, banded waist casual top.

Sorry there is no before picture. I did this one before I knew I would be posting and it was all experimental anyhow.

I started with an orange XL man's AE Outfitters t shirt with ribbed neck that was kind of stretched out. I loved the orange and wanted to make it a little more fememinine but still keep it casual and this is what I came up with.

Simply cut off the neck and the bottom of the sleeves then split the sleeves up the top to the shoulders.

I cut a few inches off the bottom since it was really long on me and I folded that piece over to make the bottom band. I just wrapped it around my hips to get the size where it would hit. I then gathered the lower cut edge of the shirt and sewed it to the newly made band. I initially intended for the sewn edge to be on the inside but I was tired and did it inside out. Decided it was fine because it was kind of cute like that with the seam on the outside kind of like a little ruffle. The shirt was too large at the shoulders so I made some big basting stitches across the shoulders and gathered them then made a sloppy running stitch in a dark thread that matches the print on the shirt. TaDa! Super cute top that will look awesome with skinny jeans and brown boots (both also purchased at the thrift store).