Tuesday, February 9, 2010

How To - Lettuce Edge Ruffle Onesie Refashion

Lookin' Good!

Have you ever done anything so simple and so awesome that you have to share it? That is what this is. I have discovered the fastest way to refashion a onesie ever! For serious, this took me exactly half an hour from beginning to end. It is so simple I thought about not sharing it, but just in case...I mean, my mom who is one of my sewing mentors had no idea you could do this so maybe someone could use a photo tutorial. So, here is how to turn a long sleeve onesie into a 3/4 sleeve t-shirt.

Materials
Onesie that fits child in shoulders and neck.
Scissors
Sewing machine with zig zag stitch.

Construction Instructions

Choose Your Onsie
Choose your onesie, make sure that it is long enough at the hips where you will cut it off. Now, cut off snapable bottom at hips.
Cut off cuffs. These look like they are long but after I cut an inch off they were a perfect 2/4 sleeve.
Practice.
Use the bottom piece you cut off for practice. This helps you set your tension properly and get the hang of pulling and stretching the fabric.
Line it up.
Line the edge of the fabric just beside where the needle lands. This gives you your edge stitch.
Pull.
Pull the fabric out the back and pull the fabric toward you. This makes it super taught so that it contracts nicely when you are done.

Seriously, it is so easy this twenty second video shows it all. Stretch and sew!
Voila.
I am not going to lie, I thought this was one of the cutest things I have done yet!
Ruffle Close Up
Ruffle close up.
Lookin' Good!
Refashioning is serious business.

This technique has so many possible applications yo can bet you will see it here a lot in the months to come. Until, happy sewing!

Linked up to:

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Hand Me Down Rehab @ Helping Little Hands
Fabulous Friday Finds @ Kojo Designs
Make It & Wear It @ The Train To Crazy

14 comments:

Lauren A. Petersen said...

This is just a simply brilliant idea! What a great way to make your favorite onesie go even further!

Jamee said...

that is an awesome trick thanks so much for sharing i can guarantee i will try it!!

Unknown said...

What a terrific idea! I love refashioning in general, but it seems like there are so many needs for it in kid's clothes because they grow out of them so quickly!
If you're interested, tomorrow we have a friday fun find party that we'd love for you to link up to!

Malea said...

I have to admit I've been a bit scared to try this technique. Your pictures, however, are so clear that I think I can handle it! :) Thanks for posting this...the shirt and the kiddo are both adorable!

Donna said...

Melissa...this is a really creative idea! I still can't get over just how pretty your blog is and what beautiful things you create.

Really love your blog!

Aly said...

A-mazing! I am off to gather all the onesies I was about to donate! On another note...your daughter looks exactly like what I imagine my daughter will look like in 2 or 3 years, curly hair and all! Check her out on my blog http://boredhausfrau.blogspot.com/ and tell me the resemblance isn't uncanny! Love your blog!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

I love that sewing machines can do this. I have used this technique on knee high socks to make fun leg warmers. So cute! Thanks for linking up to Whatever Goes Wednesday.

Tonya said...

Very cute! I love the lettuce edge! I just tried this on my daughters american girl clothes, and LOVE IT!

Tonya said...

Very cute! I love the lettuce edge! I just tried this on my daughters american girl clothes, and LOVE IT!

Unknown said...

I did this on a scarf I made out of an old sweater. I'm totally bummed that my zig zag stitch no longer works on my machine. It's adorable!

Polly @ Pieces by Polly said...

This is so cute! Great minds must think alike, because I just "discovered" this trick for sleeves for my daughter. I'll feature this in the next day or so when I get a "highlights" post done and add a link from my post about doing the same kind of edge. I hadn't thought of using the extra as practice. Great suggestion!

S said...

I love your tutorial! I bought a onesie from Gymboree last year not thinking my little one would barely be potty trained so waiting to unsnap isn't always the best idea! {smile} So I'm totally going to cut off the snaps and hem the bottom. Thanks for sharing! I HEART your tutorial!

Lynette @ My Craft Discovery said...

I am so excited! I will definitely have to try this sometime soon. I do several refashioning projects for myself, and would love to try this on one of my shirts soon!

christina said...

great tutorial, thanks! linking back to my blog:)