How to Make Stylish Shirts Out of Old Clothing

Transform an old button-down into a stylish women's top.

Clean out a closet or head to the thrift store and craft yourself a new outfit. Using basic sewing skills, anyone can create a stylish shirt from old clothing. A man's button-down shirt will easily transform into a woman's oversized shirt or shirt dress. Show your family and friends how going green is about more than sorting paper and plastic.

Things You'll Need

• 1 button-down shirt (over-sized men's)
• Measuring tape
• Tailor's chalk
• Seam ripper
• Scissors
• Sewing pins
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Dig through your husband's closet or pay a visit to the local thrift store. Search for a man's button-down oxford or flannel shirt. Look for a larger size which, when worn, falls just above your knee. Don't worry about the arm and shoulder fit at this point.

2. Turn the shirt inside out. Separate the arms from the shirt with the seam ripper and remove any loose strings. Take your time to avoid tearing the fabric. Higher-quality shirts require a little more patience because the pieces may have double seams and/or shorter stitches. Remove any loose strings. Set the arms aside.

3. Measure the distance from the base of your neck to the end of your shoulder (where your arm begins) and add one inch. Chalk mark this length along the shirt's shoulder seam from the collar's bottom edge to the armhole. Fold the fabric back around the arm hole to meet the mark and iron the fold.

4. Take one shirt arm and turn the fabric inside-out. Measure the length from the top of your shoulder to just above the elbow and add one inch. Chalk mark this length onto the sleeve (measure from the top of the arm down toward the cuff). Cut the arm to this length. Fold the cut fabric's edge over 1/2-inch and iron. Pin the edge and sew one seam along this sleeve hem. Repeat this step with the other sleeve.

5. Each shirt sleeve has one seam underneath. Take a sleeve and cut a few stitches from the top of this seam at the armhole. The sleeve and shirt should still be inside out. Adjust the sleeve's armhole opening until the sleeve and armhole fit neatly together. Pin the sleeve to the armhole. Sew the two pieces together with a seam around the armhole.

Tips & Warnings

• Darker plaid oxford shirts, when paired with leggings and boots, look great in colder months. Try a dark green or red plaid shirt with black leggings, black boots and a thin black belt. Embellish the outfit with a dark turtleneck underneath the shirt and a long scarf.

References

• Ohio State University Extension Office: Recycling Clothing Using Your Sewing Machine
• BurdaStyle: Men's Shirt Pattern on Her