TUTORIAL – Extending the Life of your Child’s Clothing

If you are a parent you are very well aware of the need to purchase your child new clothing for every season.  Of course it’s fun, but it can get expensive.  The thing I hate  most about it is that you only get one season’s wear out of some really cute things.  For example, take this adorable little shirt:

I absolutely adore this shirt that my youngest daughter Marie received as a gift for her birthday last August.  Unfortunately she only got to wear it a few times before the weather started getting cooler.  Since I will not be having any more children, all of the clothes Melissa grows out of (or can’t wear any longer) gets passed on to other people.  For whatever reason I couldn’t bear to part with this little white shirt, knowing very well that she will not fit into it next summer.  <Sigh>  So what to do?
I have seen other people add long sleeves to short sleeved shirts so today I found a few minutes to try it myself.  I have to say, I am ecstatic with the results.  And…this was VERY easy and quick – you really need to try it!
Here’s how I did it:
Step 1:  
1.  Decide which shirts you will use.  I choose to use the sleeves of a black turtleneck that Marie doesn’t ever wear. 
 
Step 2:  
1.  Using a seam ripper, take the sleeves off of the shirt you are discarding.  Be careful not to rip the fabric, you need the original seam allowance to work with.
 
Step 3:  
1.  Turn the shirt and the sleeves inside out.
 
2.  Making sure to put the right sleeve on the right arm, pin the sleeve to the seam allowance of the shirt making sure to match up the seam at the bottom of the sleeve to the seam at the bottom of the armpit of the shirt.
3.  Chances are the sleeve won’t exactly match up to the shirt arm hole, so do your best to work the extra fabric evenly around the arm hole.
Step 4:  
1.  Sew around the arm following the existing hem line of the shirt.  
2.  Repeat on the other side.
3. Turn the shirt right side out.

You’re Finished!

**I did this in under 20 minutes.  Marie was napping and Nicole (my 4 yr old) was coloring next to me.  So…no excuses….extend the life of your children’s wardrobe and have fun!