I had some favorite shirts that didn’t fit me anymore. I wanted them to fit, but they were just too tight and uncomfortable. I could squeeze into them, but nursing Bracken would be a hassle. Normally I would have passed them along to someone I thought would enjoy them, but for some reason I held onto them. They happened to be handmade by local friends we had done trades with, and they were special to me. They were made in hemp/cotton blend fabric, hand-dyed, and were so comfy.
I had been so excited about our handmade buttons lately, but thought they were for people with more “skills” than I had. I thought longingly ‘maybe someday when I learn to knit sweaters I will use them…’ or when I sewed my own clothing….. or…?
Wanting to be creative with buttons…
Wanting to alter my clothes to make them fit again…
The two ideas blended beautifully together…
Inspiration came rushing in and I thought ‘Why wait?!’
What I may have lacked in knitting and sewing skills, I made up for with imagination and creativity! I could have fun with buttons now!
So I got started.
The two shirts I happened to love were made with sweatshirt material, so I cut them both down the middle, and the fabric didn’t require any sewing (good thing since I didn’t have our sewing machine in working order.) I left the edges raw, which is a look I love.
The first was a long-sleeve hooded sweatshirt. After cutting it down the middle, I added two of our deer horn buttons to the top. (The buttonholes were easy too since they didn’t require any sewing either, just a little snip in the fabric.)
Now it’s easy to throw on whenever I need a warmer layer! Awesome!
The second shirt was a sleeveless hoodie. After I cut it down the middle, I added one of our large wood buttons in reclaimed sassafras wood.
Now I have some warm layers just in time for the colder weather!
It’s made me feel like I have a brand new wardrobe by making a few little changes. I thought about how few clothes I had that fit throughout my pregnancy. Cutting shirts down the middle and adding a few buttons to the top would be perfectly spacious for a big pregnant belly! And having these shirts able to open in the front makes breastfeeding so much easier also!
And I love the new look they have.
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So, that’s how you can make your shirts fit again in a few minutes! With just a pair of scissors and a few beautiful buttons! (Although if the material is not okay to be left with raw edges, it will require some sewing and might be a little more than a few minutes.)
With this re-vamping of my wardrobe, I was reminded of this project I did a few years back. I got this handmade shirt in a sale bin at our friend’s market booth. It had a tiny hole in the front, so I got it for an incredible deal. To cover the hole, I wrote the word ‘Love’ in some vintage fabric, cut it out, and sewed it on, covering up the hole completely.
I found the vintage fabric at the thrift store.
After washing it, the fabric frayed around the edges, which I thought was fun. The shirt felt so much more like “me” when I added my own creative touch. (Excuse the wrinkles.)
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These days, I’ve been reminded of how essential it is, to our Spirits, to be creative. Being creative brings so much satisfaction and joy! These simple projects energized me and filled me with excitement.
What creative thing have you done lately to delight your Spirit?
Love these ideas, love your enthusiasm for life and am inspired by your words. I also adore all your wood items and will gift myself something soon I hope!
Thank you for sharing Taryn :-)))
Lynn
What’s cuter? Your shirts or your smile? I can’t decide 🙂
Very nicely done. I will keep your buttons in mind next time I am sewing some clothes.
I’ve read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting.
Thanks everyone!!
Your comments were a delight to read!
So glad it inspired!
Molly- We have the large buttons for sale on our Etsy (along with deer horn buttons and all other kinds.) But we do not have clothes for sale on Etsy at this time. I would love to start sewing and have clothes for sale eventually. We’ll see, we have so many ideas in the works that we want to create all the time. 🙂
Are you gonna sell some like that on your Etsy? Love them all.
These are super cute! Thanks for sharing the ideas!
Off to rummage in my “too small” pile to see what I can create… thanks for the inspiration!!! ♥
Fantastic, your wooden buttons are pure magic!
OMG!!!!!!!!!! This post has lit a total fire under me!!! It made me so excited to read about how you altered your clothes… I would never have thought of doing either of those things! You are brilliant!
I love these ideas.
I might shamelessly steal them.
Thank you for sharing. I’m feeling a real need for some fresh air in my stale wardrobe, and I can’t wait to get creative! I just got so excited reading this! Heehee!
You are so beautiful, I love the photos.
Love
Lindsey
The “new” clothes look great, Taryn! We have a great community of friends we are lucky to be able to trade with. I happen to be one of the few who can sew, so I love to get knitted goods and more. One of my best trades was a Waldorf-type doll I made for a beautiful necklace. I do so enjoy the love and warmth of the handmade goods.
Wow, very creative! I love the way your shirts turned out. I would buy shirts that looked like that for sure!
They look so cute, love it. I always hang onto old clothes to reuse too, especially when the fabric is organic or hemp.
Thanks for the inspiration, I have a few pairs of worn out hemp yoga pants that I want to make a few baby clothing items out of. Maybe now I will get to it, at least before s/he us born.
Beautiful buttons too! I have a sweater planned that they would be perfect for!