Ruffle Shirt Refashion Tutorial

June 10, 2009 2:53 pm

Here was my inspiration for this shirt from Anthropologie.
I love the checkers and the ruffles.

This is what I found at the thrift store for $2. Don’t worry if it has pockets. Just remove it with a seam ripper.

The first thing you need to do is to create the pattern for your shirt. The way I do it is to measure my shoulder width, under arm width, chest width then how long I want it. From there I can figure out how I want my neckline. You can make it as low or as high as you want. (Disappearing ink is my best friend) Another way to do it is to trace another shirt you have, or use a shirt pattern you have laying around. Once you do your first one, then the patterns from the on get easy.


Next, cut out your pattern. Keep the sleeves!! Then turn it inside out.

We’re going to do a belt on this shirt so mark where you want your belt loops to go.

Now, cut two belt loops, 4inches by 1 inch. Fold them in half and stitch along the seam to close. They will look like this:Fold your belt loops in half and place them in the shirt where you want them. You will see the ends sticking out of the shirt. Pin the shirt together because next is sewing it.
Sew the shirt together at the shoulders and the sides. After you sew it- CHECK YOUR FIT! Does it need to be smaller in any area? Do the armholes need to be bigger? Do you like the placement of the neckline? Check it ALL here!


Sew down the front seam to keep the shirt together, which makes it unable to button. It will keep it in place while you’re sewing it, too.

Get your sleeves and cut them open at the seam, then iron them flat to get out the creases.Now we are going to use the sleeves to cut out the ruffle strips that we will be using along the neckline, and the belt. I used my rotary cutter to help me cut straight strips, but feel free to use scissors! Cut the strips 3 inches wide and cut as many as you can.

Here’s, roughly, what you should have.

Cut off the button pieces because they won’t look so great amidst all our ruffles.

Serge or sew all your strips together to get one, long piece.

Measure out about double the length of the how long you want your ruffle. My ruffle ended past my shoulders, but you may want to go all the way around. We will also be doing a second layer of ruffles under the collar ruffle so measure for all that, too. (For example, your neckline is 15 inches, the underneath where you want your second ruffle is 11 inches. Cut 52 inches of strips to ruffle) Leave the remainder for the belt.
At this point we want to edgestitch along the bottom of our long ruffle. Serge or sew along the bottom of the long strip to create a hem. Then it’s time to ruffle. I love ruffling! It’s like watching magic :) If you don’t know how to ruffle, refer to my other tutorial for instructions here. This is what it should look like after.

It’s time to pin the ruffle to the collar.First off, decide if you want the ruffle to go all the way around or just around the shoulders, like I did.
There are 2 ways you can do this. The first is pin the ruffle directly on top of the shirt and stitch away. You can leave it like that or add hem tape. I wanted to try a different way so here is how I did it with this shirt. I pinned the ruffle inside out to the inside of the collar. So that way after it is stitched, you flip it over to the right side and it is perfect. Here’s what it looks like before it’s sewn.(remember to pin it where you want it then cut off the extra for the second ruffle layer)

And here is the outside of the shirt. You can see it is inside the collar.

Another shot of that. Now sew or serge your ruffle to the shirt.

Once you turn it right side out, here’s what it looks like.

And the back…

Sew the end of the back ruffles down.

Now take your leftover ruffle and pin it underneath your top ruffle on the front. You can make it as wide as you want. After pinning it, sew it in place.

Since I didn’t sew the ruffles all the way around, I now need to hem the middle of the back and also my arm holes. At this point I also do my bottom hem. So I use my serger and serge the seams then fold it under, then stitch it. If you don’t have a serger you can just stitch it over or use hem tape. First pin it down…


…then stitch it. Do the same for the arm holes and the bottom hem of the top.

We’re almost there!! Time to make the belt! You can use the same fabric ,as I did, or use a contrasting fabric. I used the remainder of the fabric that I had from my sleeves. Get the strips and fold them in half, sewing them inside out.

After sewing, turn the belt rightside out. (Does ANYONE have a special trick for this? A tool? It took me FOREVER to do it!!) Then sew the end of the belt seam shut and iron.
Here’s what it looks like!

I tied mine around the back, but it looked really cute tied in a bow in the front, too.

I’m really happy with the way it came out. Let me know if I can clarify anything or what you think of the tutorial. Send my pictures of any other pictures you’d like to see replicated!!

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Posted in refashions, women's clothing | 45 Comments »


45 Responses to “Ruffle Shirt Refashion Tutorial”

  1. By Karen on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    awesome! I'm gonna have to try this!!!

  2. By Julie on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    Too cute! A must try. Loving your blog, looking forward to more tutes.

  3. By Jaja on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    Love them, but I do wish you would sell some. If and when you do, please email me. tjlburke at gmail dot com

  4. By Muzzymom86 on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    I love it. I am definately going to have to try this. Maybe I'll make one for my daugher (13) First. Time for her to raid Dad's closet.

  5. By Marijana on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    Oh thanks again!I like this so much!The tool you are looking for is called Fast-turn, there are few others, but I heard this works very well. What I do is just sew one end of the strip and then turn the whole thing from that side, with a help of a chopstick.I hope you know what I mean, this was a rather complicated sentence for me and my not-so-perfect english. ;)

  6. By luvinthemommyhood on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    This turned out great! I love the fit and the ruffle! Good job on the tute as well. I'll be linking this weekend :)

  7. By Alexis on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    I'm so glad you all like it. And Marijana- THANK YOU! I will be buying that ASAP.

  8. By Rachel@oneprettything.com on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    WOW, that's gorgeous! Your refashions are so, SO inspiring! I'll be linking to this.

  9. By Natasha on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    Beautiful! Looks like it came right out of Anthropologie! I usually only sew for my baby but you've inspired me to muster up the courage to make something cute for me! (BTW, I turn long tubes right side out by attaching a large safety pin to one end and then I have something easy to grip on to and work through the tube to turn it right side out. Quick, cheap and easy!)

  10. By Melissa [IS•LY] on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    I love what you've done! This is such a brilliant idea for reusing old button ups!

  11. By michellejohnnie on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply

    Amazing and so cute! I linked to this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.comb

  12. By casserole on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    What a pretty shirt!! I posted a link to your tutorial at Craft Gossip Sewing: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-refashion-a-dress-shirt-to-a-ruffle-tank/2009/06/12/
    –Anne

  13. By Heather on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    love it! thanks for the step-by-step.

    really pretty!

  14. By beki on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    I love it! Now I'm inspired to go cut up some shirts!!

  15. By DaniG55 on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    HI!

    I found this blog and I have no idea why! but I'm so happy!!… i would love to have a sreger but i just got a very very VERY old Singer sewing machine… the ones that have a large square pedal when your feet go on top of and you move it back and forth so that the band spins and the needle can sew… yep, just two step above spinning thread XD

    well, anyway, thank you for so many tips and ideas…

    BTW, my mom said that the easiest way to turn a strap inside out us to attach or pin a safety pin on one of the ends, tuck it in then push it twords the other end, grab it then pull untill the right side of the strap starts unfolding… it's a cheapper version of that hook / chopstick thing and I found it easier…

  16. By Jess on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    That is SO cute! I love the ruffles!

  17. By ss on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    Good grief, I'm in awe of you! That is SO darn cute. This is what I yearn to do more of–convert things to the pieces I really want to wear…so inspiring! Thanks!

  18. By ElegantSnobbery on Jun 12, 2009 | Reply

    SO cute! Just found you from One Pretty Thing… I have to make this!!

  19. By dana on Jun 14, 2009 | Reply

    Great tutorial and adorable on you!
    I just found your blog and I'll be coming back!

  20. By Amy Schulz on Jun 14, 2009 | Reply

    That's too cute! Now I just need to learn how to sew…

  21. By Mandi on Jun 22, 2009 | Reply

    This is amazing!! A trick for flipping belts inside out would be using a huge safety pin. You pin it to the one side, and it's much easier to shimmie the pin in through the fabric "tube" than just more fabric. Does that make sense? I'm sure you know what I mean. :)

  22. By Abby on Jun 25, 2009 | Reply

    Ok, I made this shirt last week and I LOVE it!! It's one of my favorite shirts now, and it's such great satisfaction knowing I saved a lot of money and did it myself! (Well, with your help :) I actually used a shirt that fit me already, not a man's shirt. I am a new sewer, and this was a great project for me. Thanks a lot! I just put up pictures and posted about it on my blog: musingsofasnail.blogspot.com

  23. By Michelle on Jul 2, 2009 | Reply

    Wow! What an awesome shirt! I am totally going to drive my family crazy and muck up the just-cleaned dining room with a new project this holiday weekend. Thank you for the tutorial!

  24. By Sindy on Jul 2, 2009 | Reply

    Way cute! Love the idea and thanks so much for the tutorial; its awesome. I just finished a top inspired by another piece from Anthropologie. And I think I have to make this one next. Thanks again!

  25. By Geek+Nerd on Jul 6, 2009 | Reply

    This is an adorable refashion – I love it! Thanks for sharing your process, I'll definitely try this sometime…

  26. By Susan on Jul 9, 2009 | Reply

    Jenny seems to have the tool for you (and many others of us out there)

    http://jennygarland.typepad.com/jenny_garland/2009/05/do-you-have-this-sewing-tool-if-not-you-need-it.html

    I'm new to you blog, and enjoy what I've seen so far.

  27. By catsmeow on Jul 19, 2009 | Reply

    I made this top today and I love it, but I need some help! My bust is 41 inches and my waist is only about 29, and it seems to gape at the armpits in the bust area. I've already sewn it, and I'm trying to figure out some kind of way to make darts, but I'm not an advanced seamstress. Any tips, please???

  28. By Tatyana TC on Jul 24, 2009 | Reply

    Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorials! I love your blog and your creativity! You've inspired me to do similar refashion myself http://woolthumb.blogspot.com/2009/07/magic-of-refashion.html
    I hope you don't mind that I mentioned your tutorial on my blog.

    Tatyana

  29. By arzu on Aug 9, 2009 | Reply

    wonderful!! super great!!
    honey very good:)

  30. By EvY___aLeXaNdRra on Aug 21, 2009 | Reply

    gorgeous dress..great tutorial….
    thanks for sharing

  31. By saffiertje on Aug 21, 2009 | Reply

    Awesome tutorial! Have to try it!!!!

  32. By Anonymous on Sep 3, 2009 | Reply

    Thanks for this awesome tutorial, I just made one of my own. I ended up sewing a ribbon to cover up the raw edges of the second ruffle to hide them incase the top ruffle flipped up. (I don't have a serger yet. I used to use my mothers before I moved. They are hard to live without!) I just made it last night and have gotten lots of comments!

    Here's a link with a picture of my blouse:
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=37294456&l=c0140e1be3&id=38401831

    Thanks again,
    Allison

  33. By Cazra on Sep 20, 2009 | Reply

    ADORABLE! I am so intimidated by your talent. I would love to try something like this, but I don't know if I will. I use the eraser end of a pencil to turn things like that. The eraser gives a good grip on the fabric.

  34. By disa on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply

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  35. By Dottie on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply

    You are brillant! I love everything that you’ve made. I can’t wait to try some. I just wish I could think it up like you do!! Trick for turning the belt–have you ever tried a wooden skewer? I snipped the very tip of it off and use it for all sorts of straps and things!

  36. By Kimberley on Jun 8, 2010 | Reply

    I’ve been going through all your refashions and I LOVE them. Gonna start trying some with the massive pile of unloved clothes/fabric I have.

    By the way, I can’t believe no one suggested it (or at least I didn’t see it), but when you sew long tubes like that, put a piece of yarn or ribbon or something in it before you sew, being careful not to sew it into your seam, then you have a handy “rip cord” to just pull it right side out! I just attach it to one end with a safety pin, so it’s easy to remove. Takes a little fanagaling to get started, but once you do, it’s a breeze. No poking or prodding.

    And now I will continue my obsessive reading of your blog.

  37. By Alexis on Jun 8, 2010 | Reply

    GENIUS! Thank you!!

  38. By Andrea on Jul 22, 2010 | Reply

    Great tutorial! I am going to attempt it tonight after the kids are in bed.

    I do the safety pin thing too. Quick, cheap and easy!

  39. By Denise on Sep 19, 2010 | Reply

    My trick for easy turning: I take a safety pin and attach it to one end of my fabric tube and then push it back through the tube to turn it right side out. Takes less than a minute (unless you have to search for a safety pin!) The diaper pins are the easiest to work with because of the hard plastic end. But even little gold safety pins will work.

  40. By Leah on Jan 27, 2011 | Reply

    This is so helpful and clear and ADORABLE! I just found your blog and I love it! It’s rivaling Grosgrain in my affections!

  41. By saffiertje on Mar 7, 2011 | Reply

    I heart this sooooo much. I have to look for a great shirt to make one but I will make one!!!! maybe also for the girls from an old blouse from their bro!!!!

  42. By Rose on Oct 30, 2011 | Reply

    really good, I will try it.
    keep up your good work :)

  43. By Katie on Dec 9, 2011 | Reply

    I found this on pinterest… I must give this a try! Great tutorial!

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