Men's polo refashion

I recently got a sewing machine as a wedding present. For a while I was just itching to use it. I asked the hubs if he had any shirts that he wouldn't mind if I accidentally ruined while I play around with my new sewing machine.

Turns out that I get a ton of enjoyment out of sewing and remaking things. Thus, a new category on this blog was born!

REFASHIONS!

This was my first refashion that I have actually been really proud of. I am still figuring out what all I should document in pictures to be able to fully explain my refashioning process. And, since this post I have bestowed the responsibilities of Before/After shots to the hubs. Mirror selfies will soon disappear.

Sorry... I know you were excited to see more of those.

Enough dilly dally. Lets get to it.

There isn't anything terribly wrong with this shirt. It's a normal men's polo, but Philip isn't really a polo dude. This shirts wasn't working for me as is either. 

I did love the super soft material. It's also fairly difficult to find shirts that are long enough for me, so I liked that it was a little big.

My first step was to remove the collar. 

So long! 

After the collar was removed, I stitched up the raw edges that I just made. I zipped along the same seam line sans collar.

Next, I tried on my shirt and measured how much I wanted to take in on the sides. I measured at my bust line, waist, hips and sleeves. Once I had my measurements, I turned the shirt inside-out and pinned along the sides. I ran my shirt through the sewing machine.

After, I snipped off the extra fabric that I took in from the sides. I made sure to keep all the extras... I had plans for it later.

Is the suspense killing you?
Good... then you can keep reading.

I tried on the shirt again to measure how long I wanted the length of the bottom and sleeves to be. Again, I measured, turned inside-out, pinned, and stitched. This time I used a zig zag stitch so that the seam would have a little give with the stretchy fabric. 

Back to that extra fabric!

I made both pieces into a long tubes by sewing closed three of the edges on each piece and then flipping the tube inside-out.

TA-DA!

I then used my seam ripper again to undo the top part of the button down on each side. I sewed the unfinished edge of my long tubes into each side of the newly unfinished edges. This part is a little difficult to explain....so come with me, I show you.

See? kinda?

Now, I have two long strips of fabric that I tied to make a bow at the top of the button up.

FINISHED PRODUCT!

and the cat...and a cookie sheet in the sink....

I'm not sure how I feel about having a big bow on my shirt. I kind of feel like a five year old. What do y'all think? Make me feel better about myself ha ha.

And the classic before and after pic