Shirt into skirt

Well my husband is always saying I have way too many clothes and shoes (I only take up a little bit more space than he does of our closet). So I decided to go through my clothes and pick out the ones I've only worn once (due to them not being flattering at all) or that I don't wear anymore. I was trying to think of what to do with the extra clothes. I have a couple tops that I absolutely love the material, but just not the way it fits on me. Out of the pile I picked out a top that I thought would make a great skirt for my 4 year old daughter.

First I wanted to make sure the skirt would be long enough with up to a 1/2 inch hem.  I held the shirt up to my daughters waist (hold the shirt below the sleeves where I would be able to cut straight across) and was able to see it would make around a knee length skirt. 

I then cut straight across the front layer of the shirt and then followed with cutting the back (making sure the bottom of the shirt was lining up correctly)

As you can see the bottom of the shirt isn't straight across as I would have liked it.  Next with this shirt it had elastic in the bottom that I had taken out prior to starting this project (I cut into the fabric along each side hem and was able to remove the elastic without undoing the hem already in place).  Since that was already done and I had the 1/8 inch elastic from pulling it out earlier, I was able to measure my daughters waist and then cut off the extra elastic.  Then I attached a small safety pin to one end of the elastic and pushed it through one of the cuts in the hem I had already made and then fished it through the rest of the hem.  Using the safety pin makes it really easy to get the elastic all the way through.  One word of caution as you fish the elastic through is not to lose the other end of the elastic while you are pulling through.  Once done with that I was able to sew the elastic together with it overlaping 1 inch.  (Side note: If you have a shirt that does not have a hem that you can put elastic in, fold the top or bottom of the fabric under 1 inch and then sew at 3/4 inch.  That should accomodate 1/8 inch and up to 1/2 inch elastic depending on what you use)

Next I added a 1/2 inch hem long the bottom of the skirt.  I wanted to add something to it so I found some purple ribbon that matched perfectly with the material.  I lined up one side of the ribbon with the very bottom of the skirt and sewed along the edge and then did the same to attach the top of the ribbon to the skirt.

I think it turned out great and my daughter loves it.   
                

I hope you enjoyed my first blog.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please let me know.