Easy Upcycle to Elevate Your Basic White Button Down

Tools and materials:

• Thrifted button-down shirt
• Scrap fabric
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Pins
• Measuring tape
• Elastic
• Safety pin

1. Trim 9 inches from the hem

Trim about nine inches from the bottom hem, creating a trendy asymmetrical style.

2. Cut the scrap into two rectangles

Cut two rectangular pieces for the scrunchie channels in your scrap fabric.

One should be 2.5 inches by 5 inches for the front scrunch, and the second should be 2.5 inches by 9 inches for the side scrunch.

3. Fold and press the edges of the rectangles

Fold the edges by a quarter inch and press them.

4. Fold the raw edges of the top and sew them

Roll the raw edges of the shirt's hem.

Fold them over once and then again, securing the hemline with your sewing machine.

Here’s what the edge will look like.

5. Pin your bustline

Use pins to mark where you want your scrunchie element along the bustline.

6. Sew the rectangles to the shirt

Sew a quarter-inch hem on the scrap fabric rectangles, and then sew them onto the shirt's border.

Create a channel stitch hem down the middle. 

7. Thread elastic through the channel

Equip a safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread it through the channels.

This achieves the coveted scrunchie effect. Adjust the elastic for comfort and fasten the ends together.

8. Finish off the elastic with a stopper or bow

For an extra touch of style, consider adding scrunchie stoppers, bows, or other decorative elements to the elastic ends.

Easy upcycle to elevate your basic white button down

You've successfully upcycled a standard button-down shirt into a captivating scrunchie top.

Experiment with fabrics and colors to match your style, and let me know what you end up creating below!

Next, learn how to  Mesh Your 2 Favorite Sweaters Into 1.

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