here is what i did with this plain, boring (to me) white shirt. it's cute as it is, but i always found it lacked an interesting little detail. so i embroidered an earwig onto it:
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_PjbhyH9z3I/TiWGX4n_-kI/AAAAAAAADrM/wCJ6PLgWaQs/s570/earwig.jpg)
who can resist an earwig on a round toddler tummy? if you like it too, feel free to download a free embroidery pattern for it.
we also love going back and forth with the sewing machine to create these "flowers" with long stems:
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqXKCrx2wGc/Ti5oCbiAgmI/AAAAAAAADuU/crfh0iODwoA/s400/simonas_shirt2.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hQcOAP_lkmc/Ti5oCoB34yI/AAAAAAAADuc/UBpMpbW1v2M/s400/simonas_shirt3.jpg)
another thing that simona did with this t-shirt was lengthen it. the brown t-shirt was too short, so she cut of the buttom part of an orange t-shirt (of which she didn't like the style) and sewed it under the brown one to give it a good length. the stitched flowers hold everything together and make it look like that was like the t-shirt was always meant to be.
i stitched on these flowers on a t-shirt a few years back, also adding some lace and pieces of fabric for decoration:
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkHEfNTsDZA/ThWgzDXRgsI/AAAAAAAADqc/EjIgxQkqkaY/s400/q-tea-tee-1.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CdNi6h5ZBg/ThWgzSOUybI/AAAAAAAADqk/x_qn_jUxQKk/s400/q-tea-tee-2.jpg)
you see? a bit of cutting, a few stitches and voilĂ ! a "new" t-shirt!
shortly before a weekend trip to paris i breathed some new life into this plain old jacket by first dyeing it black with fabric colour in the washing machine. after that, i sewed some crochet flowers i got on ebay onto it. it really felt like i had a brand new jacket!
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgwdcCwITyU/Ti0flAAFlcI/AAAAAAAADuE/P39nk3SXj8A/s400/jacke_before.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9QCoWdoyTgg/Ti0flEphlQI/AAAAAAAADuM/woU3yAdrAcA/s400/jacke_after.jpg)
as always, feel free to share whatever other ideas you might have to make something old look new!
MORE OF UPCYCLING WEEK:
:: day 1 :: starting easy
:: day 3 :: going a step further
:: day 4 :: iron-ons
:: day 5 :: home decor and accessories
:: day 6 :: roundup / link list
5 comments:
Love the jacket upcycle. I was just about to throw some new clothes, but now I'll have to see what I can do with them first... =) x
Thanks for the tip to lengthen a tee shirt. I have several that are too short and were headed to the rag pile, but I think this is something I can do even with my sad sewing skills.xx
it's always quite a surprise how things come out when dyed. this "new" jacket looks really nice!
@ tracey: yes, if i can do it with my non existing sewing skills anybody can ;)
Some really great ideas there Sylvia! I'm just starting to love doing a bit of embroidery, so will definitely keep these ideas in mind for future projects xx
Oh I also love these kind of simple small changes to clothes! Since I'm not any good in sewing (i don't even own a sewing machine) I like when to make something new with just a scissors and some stiches by hand! And dyeing! That's really one of my favourit clothes pimping! :)
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