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3.25.2009

Pt 2: button down shirts to circle skirt (stripwork)

This is part 2 of making a circle skirt from men's button down shirts (otherwise known as: Men, lock up your closets). You can find part one here.

The skirt I have made here is made of 4 panels of strip work and 4 panels cut from the front of the shirts. If you want to restrict yourself to just strip work and forgo the large panels made of the shirt fronts, allow yourself a more than five shirts, unless you are in the small size range. Once you begin cutting your shirts you will quickly have a good idea if you have enough or will need to raid the closet for more.

(Warning: make sure you definitely have enough fabric to make into a patchwork skirt before you start to sew. There are few moments more horrible than when you realize that you do not have enough of the same fabric to finish the job and must a) rip out your seams and start again with more fabric, b) finish with a bunch of new fabric that doesn’t match the other three quarters of the skirt, or c) toss it all and start again. Nevermind the cliché about measuring twice, when you do patchwork, just keep cutting.)

As you can see, the skirt is actually made up of eight panels: To make my panels, I made myself a circle skirt template. Using the same measurements as I do with a regular circle skirt (see part 1), I used the edge of an old bed sheet to make a template of ¼ of a skirt. If you have no old sheets, try extremely inexpensive or unlovable fabric. I usually have half a dozen or so old sheets on hand that I’ve bought at thrift stores because they make great solid squares for patchwork and tester fabric for new patterns (I’ve even occasionally pressed one into service on a bed). (You are asking why I am telling you to make a ¼ template rather than a 1/8 template, since we are cutting 1/8 of a circle panels. Well, you don’t have to. I found the ¼ template easier to make and more versatile for later projects, but you can fold you bed sheet at the 45 degree mark from the corner an make a 1/8 template. Whatever is easier for you.)

Now that you are armed with a template (which you should definitely keep around if you want to zip up a few circle skirts every now and then without having to do the whole math and measure thing), it is time to cut up some shirts. To begin, separate the sleeves from the shirt (cutting along the seam if possible. I save my sleeves to make the kids’ pants and capris.) Cut along the shoulder seams and take off the collars. If you are using the fronts of shirts as whole panels, button up the shirt and sew closed the front opening (trust me, you’ll appreciate this when you are wearing it, especially if you spend anytime around toddlers just learning to undo buttons).

With four fronts sewn closed, fold your template in half (lengthwise) and center it over one of the fronts. Cut out around your template, adding a seam allowance on the edges and top. Repeat for other 3 fronts.To make the stripwork panels, cut the backs of the shirts into strips (I cut mine into 5 pieces). Sew back together to form four rough panels or bell shape sheets. Position your half template over top of a stripwork sheet and cut out, adding seam allowances on the sides and top. Do this for to make four 1/8 panels.Now you should have 8 panels for your skirt. Sew together to form your circle skirt, alternating the shirt front panels with the stripwork panels. Add a waistband and hem the bottom, as per the instructions in part one.

Use the extra shirt bits to make a patchwork dress for a little one, adding a bit of grandma’s old dress for contrast. Done.

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17 comments:

  1. I am starting to sew and I love this idea, well, both ideas actually.
    I think I will try... I only have a trouble... my boy dont'n use shirts!
    I have to ask all my family

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  2. This is so cool! I love how you re-purpose old mens' shirts.

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  3. I am definitely going to try this! I love them both! Since my honey isn't the dress shirt type, I will have to wait til I hit a few garage sales and pick some up for a quarter. :)

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  4. Great tutorial! Posted a link at Craft Gossip Sewing Blog: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-strip…cle-skirt-pt-2tutorial-strip-pieced-circle-skirt-pt-2/2009/03/26/
    --Anne

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  5. a perfect skirt for twirling circles!

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  6. I have an Award for you in my blog...come and get it! Post your award, Link back to me, and foreward the award to three blogs YOU love(link to them also) =) Have a nice weekend!

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  7. Love the skirts - but MAN does the girly girl look grumpy!

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  8. The dress is brilliant! I love to craft too, and I wish I could make those dresses but I have a little boy. I've made singlets for him, and now I'm making his a smart pair of pants from my dress. Tried to do them with the pockets you blogged about but not too successful!

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  9. That is really not easy.. I once tried to sew a 8piece skirt too.. And, I got them WRONGLY Pieced together.. Had to undo them.. *Sob Sob.. They were full length skirt...

    *Salute..

    Regards
    Diana
    http://djstoreroom.blogspot.com

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  10. I love this! I will have to try it after I "spring clean" the closets! I don't thing the little one looks grumpy, maybe tired or patiently waiting so she can twirl around in that fabulous dress!!

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  11. Very creative! I have a few dresses from the 80's that just don't fit me any more, to get more bust and butt room, I was thinking of making aprons out of them, have you ever done this? If not, could you work up a tut for it? Just a request!

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  12. San,

    good idea! I've never done this (I'm kind of a think of the apron after splashing grease on my skirt sort of girl), but I'll do some thinking about it. I have been wanting some sort of hanging around with my infant son sort of cover that isn't a house dress. This may be the thing I've been looking for...

    Thanks!

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  13. This is an excellent idea! I can hit up the thrift store, grab some men's shirts for a quarter or 50 cents apiece, and make a skirt for less than $4 even as a plus-sized person. Hubby works in a factory and wears t-shirts, jeans and flannel shirts in the winter, so he only has a couple dress shirts for fancy occasions, of which we have regrettably few. I wear dresses and skirts all the time so this kind of variety is awesome without violating my clothing guidelines (self-set, not dictated by anyone but myself and The Big Man Upstairs). My granddaughter, very much into fairies and princesses, would probably love one of these too. Again, thanks.

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  14. I love this idea and the twirl skirt too really thinking of making a patchwork twirl skirt in my size its just so cool !! Thanks

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  15. I finally finished mine! I tweaked it since I was using 3xl and 2xl shirts so I didn't have to piece parts together like yours. But I think I might make another where I do because I like the way yours looks!
    Anyhwo posted it on my blog so you can see it!
    http://mrsmulticraft.blogspot.com
    I still have several shirts to work with so I see many more button down re-cons in my future. :)
    Thanks so much for sharing your tutorial!

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  16. Hello,
    I want to make a little link to your circle skirt. Is it ok for you when I use a photo from your skirt?

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