Perfect Pillowcase Shirt

Add an activity to your collection of DIY projects with this Perfect Pillowcase Shirt. This light and breezy piece of clothing is adorable. It's one of those easy do-it-yourself projects which you'll enjoy making. Cheap and relatively fast to make, this shirt is a lesson on how to make clothes the right way. Don't spend hours in a store browsing through tops when you can make your very own. This is a great project that you'll absolutely love.



Materials:

• Pillowcase
• Thread
• Fabric button
• Cutting Tools
• Sewing Machine

Instructions:

1. Cut off closed end of pillowcase.
    
2. Cut off half the open end of pillowcase. Cut one end of the strip open so you end up with two long strips of fabric.
   
   
    
3. Try on blouse to determine if darts are needed for a better fit. Decide how long you want your blouse to be. Add 1-1/2". Mark. Cut off excess.
    
4. Measure around blouse top. Using excess fabric, cut a 4" wide piece the same measurement plus 1/4". Sew ends together with 1/4" seam. This will be your facing.
    
5. Fold one side 1/2" and press.
    
6. Sew a tube using one of the long strips from open end of pillowcase. Zig zag to prevent fraying. Cut in half. Turn inside out and press with seam to the middle. These are your shoulder straps.
   
   
    
7. At this point you should have the following: The body of the blouse, facing, and shoulder straps.
    
8. Sew a tube using remaining long strip from open end of pillowcase. Zig zag to prevent fraying. Pin safety pin on corner of one end.
   
   
    
9. Insert safety pin and thread it through the tube.
   
   
    
10. Pull safety pin out the other end.
    
    
     
11. Baste stitch along sewn long end of tube. Grab bottom thread and begin gathering fabric to create a ruffle. Follow same process from opposite end to avoid breaking thread.
     
12. NOTE: To decrease chance of breaking thread, sew two rows of basting stitch. Pull two bottom threads.
     
13. Stitch short ends with a straight stitch or a zig zag.
     
14. Ease ruffle to fit the front top of blouse. Pin. Pin straps on top of ruffle. Try on blouse to make sure straps fit comfortably on your shoulders.
     
15. Pin facing on top of both ruffle and straps.
     
16. Sew all three layers down. Sew slowly and make sure you are sewing all layers.
    
17. Zig zag stitch around top edge of blouse. Fold down facing and press.
    
    
     
18. Pin facing down.
     
19. Sew facing down from the front of garment.
     
20. Embellishment idea: Sew a tube from remaining fabric. Baste stitch and gather to make flower. Sew button in middle for flower center.
     
21. Embellish with fabric flower, ribbon, buttons or whatever you like.
     
22. Turn hem under 1/2" and press. Turn under again 1". Press and stitch.
     
23. If you are skipping the ruffle, attach straps as shown. Make sure you twist strap when attaching on the back of blouse. Try on to make sure it is positioned properly and fits comfortably on shoulders.