Dollar Store Shirt to Peasant Top -- TUTORIAL

I think I'm becoming obsessed with Dollar Store "Irregular" T-Shirts. Take a look at my latest project!

I made THIS:
(photo courtesy of Buzz's awesome "4-year-old photographer" skills!)


out of THIS:
This project will take MINUTES. All you need is:

~ a Dollar Store T-Shirt
you want it to fit well in the hip area
(check where the "irregularity" is -- I find it's usually a tiny hole)

~ bobbin loaded with elastic thread
(HAND wind it without stretching!!)

~ regular thread in a color to match your shirt

~ serger


STEP ONE: Cut your shirt as shown in the photo.


STEP TWO: Gently serge around all raw edges using a rolled hem stitch, being careful not to stretch the fabric. (When you get to the part on the neckline where you cut into the sleeve, gently straighten the fabric and continue guiding it into the serger.)


If you are digging the 80's off-the-shoulder look, stop here and throw it on over your leotard!

If not, continue:
STEP THREE: With your regular thread above and the elastic in the bobbin, lengthen your stitch to 3.5 or so. (I did 3.75) Beginning with the neckline, line up the edge of your presser foot with the serged edge. Go backward and forward a few stitches two or three times to ensure the elastic won't pull out. Stitch all the way around the neckline. When you get to where you started, veer off to the left until the right edge of the presser foot is lined up with your first row of stitching. Gently pull the fabric flat as you go, and don't sew over any "tucks." Go around the number of rows you like (I did three rows on this one), and when you get back to where you started, veer back in to your most recent line of stitching, remembering to backstitch again.


If you like the fluttery, sticky-outy (technical term, there!) look in your sleeves, you can stop here!

If not, continue:

STEP FOUR: Stitch around your sleeves, starting at the seam in the underarm, lining up the foot with the edge and backstitching the same way as in step three. I did one row of stitching here, and backstitched when I completed the row.

YOU'RE DONE!!

This would make a super cute maternity top -- all you would have to do is start with a shirt in Size Giganto. (No offense, pregnant ladies!!) Or, if you find a youth size shirt, this could be adorable on a little girl!!