“MY DAD'S OLD SHIRTS”

I inherited most of my father's denim shirts. The long sleeve shirts I wore till the elbows wore through. I turned many of the collars when they wore thin. Does anyone remember what “turning collars” is?”

I removed the shirt sleeves and made plastic bag dispensers by putting a rubber band on the top and pulling the bags out the wrist opening. The rubber band comes off for bag reloading. These fit between my fridge and the wall. I could easily stitch a loop hanger on them to use in other locations. Other sleeves I use as shoe travel bags.

I've made vests tunics, sleeveless shirts and shirt dresses out of the shirts. Tunics are the easiest, just hem the sleeve holes and maybe cut the hem level.

Dresses take a bit more planning. I usually want something I can dance in. The first shirt dress I made by adding a gathered ruffle made of an old curtain liner. I made reusable grocery produce bags with the rest of the sheers curtain liners.

I also inherited my fathers stack of monogrammed white handkerchiefs. After I dyed them pale blue I discovered different monograms. Apparently my father inherited his father's handkerchiefs. I folded five of them into triangles, gathered them slightly and sewed them to the drop tails of a sleeveless shirt with slight overlaps except for the peek a boo left thigh.

The Levi flared shirt dress was designed by tracing a pattern from a 6 section faired skirt I enjoy dancing in. As I wear out my work pants to shreds the only usable section of material left to salvage is from the knee down in the backs. Perfect sizes for the faired drop skirt I used above.

I used this same premise for a skirt made of a pair of pants a larger friend ripped out in the seat. When I took them in the seat by removing one belt loop and re stitching the back seam to fit me the rip was gone. This skirt even has a hammer loop but I usually don't need a hammer on the dance floor.

All these shirt dresses can be slightly redesigned at waist height if a drop skirt is not desired. I wanted simple, minimal additional fabric and a loose comfortable fit. Tighter tailoring below the bust and at the sides might require extra snaps added between buttons to prevent gapping.

Future old jeans projects include tool aprons, very simple just cut off below the pockets and hem, kitchen aprons, tiny purses and shoe travel bags made of the lower leg sections of pants.

Stay tuned for tips and thoughts on shelter, clothing and practical uses for almost anything.