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Salem Quilt Retreat: T Shirt Remake

August 9, 2012

One of the great presentations at this year’s Salem Quilt Retreat was a mini trunk show of projects created completely out of old t shirts.  At first I heard the idea and wondered how good it could possibly be, but she definitely impressed me!  She always kept the project as simple as possible- using the pre-sewn hem of the t shirt as the hem of a skirt, or using the collar to keep something on a little kid.  These guys were my favorite-

No sewing required kids cape.  Just cut around the collar of an old adult sized t shirt and use the back of the shirt as the back of the cape.  She used a double sided interfacing to iron on the logos (she was fancy and sewed around it- but you wouldn’t have to).

Next on my list- the t shirt skirt for a little girl.  Just cut the shirt right under the arms (or shorter if needed) and she just did four rows of ruching along the top (she used the elastic bobbin ruching technique) for the waist and used the left over fabric to make some cute appliqued flowers.

Same idea but with straps on top to create a pillow case dress

She got a few cheep t shirts for her daughter and did the same ruching technique to dress them up a bit

a cheap baby bib

a craft apron out of an old, sentimental t shrit (notice how she just folded up the bottom to make pockets)

a fun scarf (again, the elastic bobbin technique- I’ve really got to try that!)

It was really fun to see all her ideas!  I’ll have to think twice next time I clean out my closet 🙂

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Hi, I’m Jessica

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