Men’s Shirt Upcycle

How did a men’s shirt upcycle to a woman’s jacket? It had been several months since I’d sewn and the creativity bug was nudging me. Though still blazing hot where I live, cooler days would be coming. I wanted to make a lightweight wrap, cardigan, or jacket to wear over a T-shirt and jeans. My initial inspiration came from the All Well Cardigan Coat pattern https://allwellworkshop.com/cardigan-coat

The All Well Cardigan can be made in a variety of fabrics. The pattern guide also suggested experimenting with vintage or recycled fabrics for a unique look. I was about to head to the local thrift shop when I remembered I had a sack of clothing recently purged from the closet. Here I found two pin-striped, button down shirts my husband was discarding. They were in good shape and made from a sturdy, wrinkle-resistant oxford cloth. Could I use these? Searching through my sewing closet, I found this unusual print and some antique buttons my sister had sent me. Could I make this work?

http://seamslikeastory.com/the-simply-complicated-dress/

I decided to upcycle the blue pin-striped shirt into a woman’s jacket. At first I was planning to cut the shirt apart and try to salvage enough fabric for the pattern. On second thought, I decided to keep the existing structure in tact. The sleeves, side seams, and front placket remained unchanged. I removed parts that made it look like a man’s shirt…the chest pocket, collar, and buttons.

Next, I used the All Well Cardigan pattern to mark the cropped hemline on the shirt. This cut off enough fabric from the bottom of the men’s large-tall-sized shirt to turn the short sleeves into long sleeves. I pieced them together, then stitched the pieces onto the existing short sleeves. This took some starts and stops, as I was making it up as I went along. The stripes for the “added on ” part of the sleeve runs opposite to the stripes on the existing sleeve, but I like the effect!

To add a touch of whimsy, I cut out a panel from the fabric remnant, lined it with a complimentary print from my stash, and sewed it to form a pocket. I cut a small square from the same remnant and stitched it onto the back pleat to make an interesting detail and take away the “men’s shirt” look.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to use one of the oversized antique buttons on this project. (Remember, the existing buttonholes had been turned under and no longer visible). The addition of the button was challenging. This one-and-a-half-inch- diameter button needed a buttonhole that was too large for my machine’s buttonhole attachment. I googled “how to make custom buttonholes” and figured out (with a great deal of practice) how to make one using a zig-zag stitch.

I’m happy with my new jacket. It was fun to play around with what I already had. I started with a basic idea or plan, but in the end, the materials themselves dictated the final look. I think it looks cute with the gold-linen, wide-legged pants I made this spring.

seamslikeastory.com/how-dare-I/

I think it would be nice with boyfriend jeans as well.

Speaking of boyfriend…my husband walked in as I was cutting off the collar of the shirt. “What are you doing to my shirt?!” he exclaimed. I had to remind him that the shirt had been in the “Goodwill” pile for more than a year. Still he eyed me suspiciously. Now he keeps a close watch on his closet.

Threads of Thought

Upcycling is “creatively repurposing old materials while maintaining some of their original characteristics.”

That perfectly describes this project, but the term doesn’t only apply to sewing. Many things could be upcycled: wood scraps, furniture, jewelry, dishes…the possibilities are endless!

Have you tried your hand at upcycling? I’d love to hear about it!

When I’m not sewing, I’m writing! Look for Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life at amazon.com/author.debravandeventer