How to Upcycle a T-Shirt With Sweater Sleeves
The cold weather inspired me to refashion this henley t-shirt with sweater sleeves. I stole the idea from this Free People Henley. Instead of paying $68, I made my version for less than $10 with thrift store finds. And I had enough sweater left over to make a matching pencil skirt.
I found the perfect henley t-shirt for $1.99 and the brown sweater for $3.99. This project took me a few hours to make over the weekend. Sewing was a breeze as it was mostly straight line sewing.
Update - watch the video or read on below.
Here’s a quick overview of the project.
- Step 1: Chop the sleeves off both the henley and the sweater
- Step 2: Sew the sweater sleeves to the henley sleeves
- Step 3: Cut out the skirt from the leftover sweater
- Step 4: Sew the skirt together and add an elastic waist
Step 1: Chop the sleeves of both the t-shirt and sweater
Cut off the first 9″ of both sweater sleeves and open the side seams. Shorten the sleeves on the t-shirt and open the side seams about 1″.
Step 2: Sew the sweater sleeves to the t-shirt sleeves
Pin and sew the sweater sleeves to the t-shirt sleeves.
Sew the sides of the sleeves.
Step 3: Cut the skirt from the leftover sweater
Use a pencil skirt as a pattern. Don’t worry about adding a seam allowance or darts as the sweater will stretch and mold to your body.
Step 4: Sew the skirt and add an elastic waist
With right sides together, sew the side seams.
Cut a length of elastic that fits snugly around your waist and sew the ends closed.
Pin the elastic to the right side of the waist of the skirt and serge. Be sure to stretch the elastic as you serge so the skirt won’t bunch up.
Fold over the elastic once . . .
. . . and fold over the elastic again. Tack down the elastic at the side seams so the elastic won’t unroll.
Here’s a close up of the sweater sleeves and skirt.
Sewing knits on a sewing machine can be tricky, so here are some tutorials to help you get it right:
After lots of trial and error, I found that sewing knits is all about the right stitch and tension. Many modern sewing machines have specific stitches for knits, so give them a try. Practicing on scraps will save you lots of tears and frustration.
Did you enjoy this refashion? If so, please share it on your favorite social media platform – Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest – whatever floats your boat. Refashioning is the perfect antidote to fast fashion because it’s ethical and sustainable. Your money goes to charity, and you save clothes from the landfill. It’s good for the earth and your pocketbook. Spread the word.
Check out my blog Pivot Point Patterns for more upcycling tips and projects.
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Oh WOW! Brilliant idea and brilliant result 😊
Very cute outfit!