Since leaving Utah, Shawn and I have obviously gone from two incomes down to one. It used to be that I could go and buy things we needed (within reason of course!) and not really worry about it. With summer coming and not really having the extra money to support Tana's wardrobe I have been spending a lot of time trying to make the most of our money. I have to say that I think I have been doing pretty good, too. It also helps that there is NOWHERE to shop in Cheyenne!
We ran to Walmart today to pick out a present for Landon's new BFF. I decided to quickly look through the toddler's section. Sadly, there was nothing, but I noticed a ton of $1 and $2 signs in the older girl's. While looking through what they had, and hating that they didn't come smaller than a 4, I decided to grab just a couple shirts and see if I could do something to them. And at $1 a piece I figured I could buy a few and not worry too much about it.
I started by cutting off about half of the sleeves. I wanted the sleeves to hit at about the elbow.
I had a couple ideas for the sleeves, but this one won out because of convenience. I folded the raw edge of the sleeve under, pressed it with the iron, and then added a few pins.
To make sure that my sleeves would end up the same length I folded the shirt in half, lined up the shoulder seams, and then lined up the bottom of the sleeves. This way I could know exactly where to fold the second sleeve.
I stitched the sleeve closed by lining up the edge of the sleeve with the foot.
I wanted to add a double stitched edge because that is what is along the bottom of the shirt, so I lined up the first stitch to the edge of the foot and sewed around again.
To create the elastic bottom I cut out a scrap piece of fabric. My piece was about 1.5" wide and just the length of the material I had. Do make sure that the material will go all the way around your shirt. You are creating a casing for your elastic to go into to.
Take the scrap piece and fold over both edges about 1/4" and iron down. This way you will not have any raw edges showing.
Turn your shirt inside out and decide where you want to add your elastic. Pin your casing into place with the raw edges turned in towards the shirt. Pin around the entire shirt.
I started with the bottom seam because it was a lot easier to follow the bottom seam that was already there. Sew around the entire piece of material.
Next, start sewing the top of the material closed, but this time do not close the seam shut. Leave about an inch opening to add your elastic.
Cut your piece of elastic to about 1/2" larger then where it will hit your child. Thread the elastic through the casing.
Sew the two pieces together making sure that they are facing the correct way. Trust me on this! I have sewed them twisted before. Also make sure that you sew through elastic with a zig-zag stitch. Trust me on that one, too!!
Once you have the elastic in the casing, sew it shut.
Flip your shirt right side out and admire your work. Now I just need to try it on the little diva! Adding the elastic makes any shirt that would normally be too big, fit quite a bit better.
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