Tablecloth Into a Shirt - Tutorial & Refashion

I love clothing made out of linens and lace!  I found this ivory tablecloth for $5 at a thrift store and decided to turn this classic into a peasant shirt for my granddaughter. This tablecloth has pretty cut-work lace edges and cut-work around the center too.

As you can see, it took two separate photo shoots to get these photos, so you could see how cute this refashioned tablecloth looks sewn up as a shirt.  The finished length of the sleeves is 8" and the finished length of the shirt is 12".

My granddaughter got mad when I pulled a handful of sand out of her mouth...what a mean grandmother!

If you want to turn a tablecloth (or something similar) into a shirt, here's what you'll need to do.  When cutting out the pattern, line-up the pattern's hems along the edges of the tablecloth.  The advantage of doing this is the shirt wouldn't need any hemming.  HERE's a free pattern to use to make this classic peasant shirt.  It's available in two sizes: 6 month & 12 month baby.  If these sizes aren't what you need, there are a lot of free patterns available for peasant shirts on the internet so start searching and I know you'll find the right size for your project.

Supplies needed:

• A tablecloth
• Bias tape the same color as the tablecloth
• Thread
• This pattern
• 3/8" elastic

Now, here's how to make that shirt:

1. Cut out the pattern pieces and making sure the hem lines up with the finished edge of the table cloth.
2. Sew the sleeves to the front back and top pieces as shown. Attach both sides.
   
3. To the neck, unfold one edge of single fold bias tape and sew to the edge of the neck.
4. Now iron the bias tape to the wrong side of the neck.
5. Sew close to the edge of the bias tape.
6. Measure around the babies neck, add an additional 2 inches extra so the shirt slips easily over the babies neck.  Using 3/8" elastic cut the elastic for the neck.
7. 3" from the bottom of the sleeve, sew on bias tape the same color as the tablecloth.
8. Thread elastic the length of the babies upper arm through the seam tape on both sleeves.
9. Sew the side seams.

You're finished!  No hems for this shirt!  I hope you like this pattern.  If you have a favorite peasant shirt pattern, use it instead of the one I created. I'd love to know if you plan to try this technique.  xoxo Grandma

FYI: I used the center of this tablecloth, cut around the edges to make a doily and then used that doily to make THIS doll skirt.

Vintage Looking Baby Shirt

This shirt was made from a table runner using the same pattern.

Linked to: Frances Suzanne, Nap-Time Creations, Smart Party Planning, Threading My Way