This is my race!: Fitted to Flowy Shirt Refashion

Cute way to enlarge a too tight shirt

Turn a fitted shirt into a flowy feminine top!

I've had this comfy shirt for a few years but I hardly ever wear it. I feel like you can't wear fitted shirts with skinny jeans and since that's all I have most of my fitted shirts have been stuffed in a box.

I've fixed lots of my tight shirts by adding panels to the sides or cutting them down the middle and upcycling them into cardigans like I posted about here.

But this one I wanted to make super girly. Check out how I did it!

1.) First find a piece of coordinating fabric. Try to pick something flowy and light. Cut a rectangle shape approximately the same size as the back of your shirt.

2.) Hem the bottom edge. This fabric was too flimsy so I pinned it to keep my hem line straight.

3.) Next gather the top edge of the rectangle. Change your sewing machine settings to the larges stitch length.

Start sewing along the top edge (you're not hemming or sewing to anything, just stitching across the top.) As you stitch hold the top thread with one hand. This creates tension (without having to alter machine settings so you're in complete control). The fabric will automatically gather. Holding tighter will create a greater gather. This ruffle technique is especially awesome when you're sewing lots of long pieces so you don't have to go back and pull the thread. Love this tip!

4.) Even out the gathering if needed then trim the top excess fabric.

5.) Lay gathered and hemmed rectangle on back of shirt, lining up bottom hems. Lightly mark where the center of the gathers hit.

6.) Starting from the bottom, cut up to that mark.

7.) Accordion fold ruffle and pin it to the under side of the top of the cut. Sew.

8.) Turn shirt inside out. Pin right sides of shirt and rectangle piece together and sew.

9.) Make a bow (it looks cute and it will hide any imperfections you might have!)
Cut a long rectangle approximately 1.5 x 7 inches of the same or different coordinating fabric.

10.) Fold each end in on itself (right sides together) to reach the center.

11.) Sew along top and bottom edges then turn right side out.

12.) Cut a second piece of same fabric, this time in a nearly square shape about 3 x 4 inches.

13.) Fold in half length wise, right sides together.

14.) Sew along top line to make a tube, then turn tube right side out.

15.) Wrap this smaller tube around larger rectangle and sew along back end. You can trim the excess center piece or use it to help attach bow to shirt.