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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Cut up a shirt. Sew it back together.

Cut up an ugly or boring shirt, do some stuff to the leftovers, and sew it back together.  This was my goal and my accomplishment yesterday!

I had this sort of cheap poly/cotton blend turtleneck with gathered hem that I bought for (tag still on) $3.24 on clearance at Target ages ago.  Like, go back two or three apartments, I think I was in grad school but it may have been before that... yeah.  I never wore it and I think I only bought it because it was cheap, but I kept it, thinking maybe it could be cute.

And, inspired by some darling tops from Anthro and Ruche, I cut it up, ruffled the pieces, and sewed them back on!  And hemmed the armhole, etc.  I didn't do a tutorial since the top I had was pretty unique and weird, and I doubt a lot of you have similar ones sitting around.  But here's what I started with:

And here's what I looked online:
(From Anthro:)

And Ruche:
I ruffled, arranged, fluffed, curled, and tacked the leftovers from the sleeves and turtleneck piece of my shirt.  I also used some extra from this tee makeover project I did a while ago.  I came up with this!
I love finding new clothes in my closet!

35 comments

  1. good idea.. and you did such a great job!

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  2. Wow, it looks fab. I like the mix of blue fabric you used.

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  3. nice job! Your shirt look wonderful!

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  4. Anonymous6/12/2010

    Wow! I love your new tee!
    You are so creative!

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  5. OH MY??! Really? looks amazing!! well done!!

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  6. WOW! I am super impressed! I love sewing but have never attempted sewing with t-shirt fabric, need a serger. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. Yes those are paper lanterns and I am making paper flowers too. I sewed a fun pillow for her room that I will post about next week!

    Glad to find another blog by a very creative and talented gal! Will have to follow and add you to my blog roll!

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  7. ADORABLE! you have quite a talent!

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  8. it looks like a completely different top- great job! :)

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  9. Amazing! I need to find some new things in my closet too.

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  10. Anonymous6/12/2010

    That's amazing! You have such talent.

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  11. Anonymous6/12/2010

    How cute is that!! I love it!

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  12. wow!! Your so creative it blows my mind!!

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  13. Vraiment très beau!

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  14. I love the makeover!!! You did an amazing job!!!!!!

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  15. I think this is my favorite refashion of yours. It is just plain awesome! I love the gathered waistband.

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  16. LOVE it! You are so creative! I would live at Anthro if they'd let me...

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  17. You are just inspirational. I will never throw anything out again - all about repurposing!!

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  18. wow
    great job!
    it loos so pretty <3

    sarah from www.madame-lala.blogspot.com

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  19. HA! I have the same exact top (only navy blue) that I got from target a long time ago! I wore it a couple of times, but I keep seeing it and thinking about getting rid of it...I am SO doing this! BTW I want all of those Anthro tops! Great job!

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  20. umm hi. I am jealous of that shirt's awesomeness. You rock that sewing machine!

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  21. This came out really awesome!

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  22. I love this! You are soooo creative.

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  23. Beautiful work!! I like you version much more than anthros!

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  24. Anonymous6/14/2010

    This is so cute! I have a shirt almost exactly the same as your 'starter'... might have to put it in the 'refashion' pile now!

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  25. Adorable! I was just looking at a favorite shirt of mine and thinking about remaking it. The seatbelt has rubbed the fabric and made an ugly spot, right between the girls, of course! This is wonderful inspiration! Thank you!

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  26. i think this may be your best yet!

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  27. This is great! I just have one question: Did you dye it in the process? Thanks!

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  28. Thanks so much!
    Sara: no, I didn't dye it or anything; it's probably just the lighting. I did use the contrast pieces from the other shirt project to add texture and another color, though.

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  29. Very cute shirt! When you cut the t-shirt into strips and ruffle them, do you leave the edges raw?

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  30. Thanks! Jhelene, yes, I just leave the edges raw--that's the marvelous thing (possibly the only good thing) about sewing on knits!

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  31. I like yours more than some of the Anthro ones! It's so adorable. Maybe someday soon it will actually get warm enough here in Portland to wear it!

    I just discovered your blog and am really enjoying it. Thanks!

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