The Shirty Tunic

After the last dress, the purple one, I was done refashioning shirts! I'd run out of shirts, plus The Refashioners 2015 ends on Sunday, so I didn't think I'd have time to make anything else. Well, I work well under pressure. So, I came up with one more shirt refashion idea that I just had to try. My dad had this short sleeve, too-big, missing a button, shirt, that he was willing to give up.

With a few chops, it was ready to turn into a tunic shirt for my little sister.

I cut a new, very wide neckline, then narrowed the sleeves and upper part of the shirt at the side seams.

First I sewed closed the bottom part of the button placket.

Then I sewed up the new side seams, and turned the excess fabric, where the new side seams ended, into big pleats, one at each side.

Where the pleats began and the new seams ended I sewed bias tape around the inside of the shirt.

This made a casing, in which I ran elastic through, cut to my sister's waist measurement. Next I used bias tape to finish the neckline and make another casing.

I ran elastic through that. Finally I sewed on a ribbon bow at the waist, where the missing button was, and the tunic was done!

My sister says it's very comfortable, perfect for every day activities.

Such as training her goats, to get them ready to show next year.

(Little Essie sometimes needs some encouragement to walk, but my sister is very patient with her)

This was definetly the easiest of the shirt refashions, it only took about an hour, but I think it might be the one that get's the most wear. My mom really liked it too, and wants me to make her a tunic like it!

Now, I don't think I'll have time to finish that one before the challenge ends on Sunday, but stay tuned, I may surprise myself!