Mens Button Down Shirt Refashion – Womens Off the Shoulder Top

Lay the two tops together. Think about the position of the buttons, you do not want one on the hem line or the top seam.

Carefully fold back the shoulder seam, use this as a guideline to cut approx. 4″ worth of armhole seam.

Cut one side of the shirt, remove your top and fold over and use as a template for the second side of the shirt.

Place right sides together and sew your front and back top pieces right sides together. Sew your side seams. Finish the seams I have used a zigzag stitch.

Use bias binding to edge your arm holes. Place the right sides together and stitch around the armhole,

Fold the bias binding over to the wrong side and press.

Top stitch to hold in place.

To make the ruffle you will need a piece of fabric double your shoulder measurement in length and wide . My original intention was to make this out of the remaining shirt, but I just did not have enough fabric – if you have a long sleeve shirt and can manage this join panels together to create one long panel. hem the one of the long edges (double fold over the fabric, press and stitch). Finish the raw edges of the seams.

Gather the fabric a little and pin to the front and back of the shirt (no need to gather the shoulder parts)

Stitch the along the top to hold in place, then press.

Now to edge the shoulder ruffle, you need bias binding wide enough to encase the elastic.

Place the bias binding right sides together – stitch along.

Fold the bias binding over, and the ruffle to the front along the front and back of the shirt 

Sew along to create the encasing for the elastic, allow a little space to enable you to thread the elastic. Cut a piece of elastic the length of your shoulder measurement and thread through. Try on then sew your elastic ends together. I needed to take an inch out of the elastic for a good even fit.

If you fancy dip dying your shirt I have made a video here to show you how to. Top tip – if I was to do this again I may be tempted to tie a plastic bag around the section I wish to keep white to stop any splashes – however, I am pleased it looks handmade/rustic!!!