T-shirt surgery

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce a little thing I like to call... T-shirt surgery. Got a shirt that fits you like a potato sack? Got one that you can't fit over your head? Don't want to throw them away or cut them up for rags because they have a cool logo, or have sentimental value? Never fear! They can be wearable! All it requires is a little patience, some sewing, and a lot of creativity.

Allow me to demonstrate.

I had a shirt given to me by my niece for Christmas. It was a beautiful shirt, and she had picked it out all by herself! The only problem was, it was way too small. It was past uncomfortable and into the range of tourniquet. I couldn't wear it. But giving it away was out of the question, and I didn't really want to just throw it into my t-shirt quilt. (Which is another story, and will be told another time.) I had the idea of making it into a halter top, since the main problem was the sleeves, but I didn't want to cut up this great shirt willy-nilly. Then, as I was idly googling at work one day (which I do far too often), I came across an entire online community of t-shirt surgeons. The ideas flying around were amazing! The projects were beautiful! The shirts fit! I was amazed as before-picture after before-picture of girls in gigantic or ugly t-shirts turned into after-pictures of girls wearing cute, punky, rockin' or just plain awesome shirts.

I had to try it.

Utilizing no less than 3 websites, two tutorials, and lots of praying, I went to work. Adding side panels allowed me room to breath, and allowed the shirt to actually fit over my hips. Replacing the sleeves added to the cuteness and allowed the blood to flow to my arms. I even managed to keep the picture mostly intact. I made some mistakes, and I will now measure everything five times and cut everything too big, just in case, but it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. Check it out!

Before

After

Thank you, t-shirt surgery, thank you. You saved my baby.

(Admittedly, most t-shirt surgeons are into the punk scene, since band shirts are the most common source of large, baggy t-shirts with awesome logos, but even if you don't swing that way, a lot of the ideas one the sites below can be utilized toward more cutesy or chic ends. It's all up to you! The best part about t-shirt surgery, to me? If you play it right, all the hard work has been done before! You don't have to hem it, or insert buttons, or anything too difficult, unless you really want to. You don't have to buy fabric- it's all there, already. A lot of these craftsters even hand sew all their work! No sewing machine necessary! This is truly a more democratic approach to crafts.)

(I still prefer a sewing machine.)


Here are some awesome links:
http://community.livejournal.com/t_shirt_surgery
http://www.whatthecraft.com/

Have any more links to t-shirt surgery or craft sites? Have any great ideas for a surgery yourself? Want to borrow my sewing machine? Feel free to leave a comment below. (And, no, you can't borrow my sewing machine. Unless we happen to live in the same apartment complex. Then we'll talk.)