Ruffly Shirt Refashion

Here's a little refashion I did the other day!
I almost didn't post it because I didn't want you to see the horrible pictures of me, and because there's no shortage of ruffly t-shirt tutorials out there, but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. Pride before the fall, right? :o)
This shirt was a little $5 Target special that my husband got at Christmas time. I was planning to add some rosettes or something. I love the coral color! (which looks orange, because my camera can't handle coral.)


1: To make it, you'll need to take a long-sleved shirt, and cut the sleeves off so they are a nice short-sleeve length:
2: Then cut each sleeve into two 4" strips, and trim another 1" section off of each, leaving 4 3" strips.


3: Sew one end of two of the 3" strips to the end of the other two, to make 2 very long 3" strips. (do the same for 2 of the 1" strips)

4:Gather both the 3" strips into ruffles that are the length of the front of your shirt.


5: Lay the ruffles on the front of your shirt, with gathered edges ouching, then lay your 1" strip over the gathers, and pin well.


6: Sew the 1" strip and ruffles on to your shirt with a zig-zag stitch.

7: Then arrange buttons down the front, and tape them into place with clear tape. Sew them to your shirt well with a zig-zag stitch.
(You'll need to adjust the stitch width, and use the hand wheel to make sure that the needle will go into each hole without hitting the button.)


Then hem up your sleeves with a zig-zag stitch, and you're done!


Possibly the worst photo ever taken of me;
I'm not 5 months pregnant, I just have bad posture, and it was potluck Sunday, you know what I mean?


And this one is blurry, but at least I'm not pregnant! I really failed in the photo-taking department today! Sorry! :o)

And thanks for all the feedback about the layered skirt! I'll be starting it soon, and I'll try to do a t-shirt waist band version as well! You were so right on about the springy floral fabric, I'm dying to make one like that! Yay, spring!!

Take care!!

Comments

  1. That's just crazy. You don't look like you are pregnant!! And I LOVE the remake. Fabulous. Coral is one of my favorites right now. <3

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  2. aaannnd (sorry) I totally just though of a shirt I could hopefully do this with! Yea!

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  3. That looks really great, and you don't look pregnant:).

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  4. You so don't even look like you have even been pregnant before! The shirt is adorable and looks super comfortable. And I'm so loving coral. I've already bought 3spring tops in coral. I need to go through my shirts and see if I can do this!

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  5. that shirt is so cute! i can't wait to try this tutorial! and you look great~ if you look pregnant in that pic, then i must look like a whale! :)

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  6. I love this!! and the color is amazing!!!

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  7. adorable. i MUST do this! super cute.

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  8. This is so great - thanks for sharing!
    And - you look fab!!

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  9. this is absolutely adorable! i love it!

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  10. AHH! I have so many ruffly shirts I want to do now! It's spring break, so I'll be cranking them out! This one is on my list! Thanks!

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  11. Your sense of humor adds so much to your postings. Thank you for your relentless energy and creativity. You must be young!

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  12. Looks great! I loved those shirts they had at Target! They were so nice for refashioning. Too bad they don't carry them anymore :(

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  13. I love it! I'm already thinking about a shirt that I can do this with!

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  14. Wow! Great project :) any tips for cutting off the sleeves evenly?? I'm new at this and petrified of having 1 sleeve shorter..... lol!!!!

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  15. yeah for potluck sunday! ;) LOve the coral and of course love the refashion! I'm a new fan! stopping by often!....

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  16. THAT is fabulous. You don't even look pregnant!!! You're crazy :)

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  17. This is beautiful! Faaar exceeding my sewing skills, but still beautiful :)

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  19. Oh I hope I didn't offend anyone with my "pregnant" comment! That really is what I looked like at 5 months, I took forever to show!
    Magoo: I usually cut one sleeve, then fold the shirt in half with shoulder seams matched up, and then use the first sleeve as a guide to cut the other one. Hope that makes sense!

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  20. oh woman you can come and live with me if you'd like but please please please come and refashion a few of my shirts to look like that! love it.

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  21. This one came out beautiful! Love the color. Thanks for sharing your tutorial!

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  22. It's beautiful and I love it...and no,you don't look pregnant.

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  23. Oh how I love this shirt!!!! So pretty. I will be making one of these...TODAY!!!!!!

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  24. Yea! I was just cleaning closet yesterday. Now I know what to do with some of my long sleeve shirts! Love this. Too stinkin' cute. And a great idea for Madison's closet too...since I cleaned that out as well! Spring cleaning...gotta love it.

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  25. I really like how it turned out! Coral is a nice color for you. I'm gonna try to on one of shirts tonight (; Thanks!

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  26. I really like how it turned out and coral is a nice color on you. I have a shirt to try it on tonight (;, thanks!!

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  27. stupenda come tutte le tue idee geniali!!!
    MEry
    http://asaflightofbutterfly.blogspot.com/

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  28. This is awesome! You are too cute.

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  29. I love this one! Are you taking requests??? HA HA!

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  30. lovely shirt. thank you for sharing. i cant have too many ruffly t-shirt tutorials. and you most certainly don't look anything close pregnant.

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  31. I love your tutorials! I've seen some that I love but don't think I could ever do it myself. Yours are so well done, with great pictures, that I really think I might be able to tackle it myself.
    I love the shirt, and you don't look pregnant.

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  32. wha a wonderful idea!!!
    i´m going to try it NOW!
    big kiss.
    mannyyy thanks!

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  33. I keep looking closely at your pictures to figure it out...did you hem the edges of the ruffles?

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  34. and by the way..... I think that nooo camera in this world can cope with coral... well at least mine doesn´t either.. ;)

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  35. Love it! and btw...I WISH I looked like that at 5 months preggo!

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  36. Oh honey... if you think you look pregnant in that pic (You don't), then I would hate to think what everyone thinks I look like! More like 47 months pregnant..

    Cute shirt though

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  37. Kendra: Nope, I didn't hem the ruffles, since they're a knit material they won't fray.

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  38. give me a break girl! there is no way anyone would think there was a baby in that tiny little body of yours!
    any way, I love your ruffles... and stuff! lol.

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  39. Disney I just found your blog and i am in LOVE with it! seriously it is amazing. I can't believe how creative you are. I just think what is she going to come up with next. I will be copying these ideas!

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  40. You took a basic shirt and made it designer adorable! You also look adorable in it!

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  41. You do NOT look pregnant.

    I love this, super cute!

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  42. Too Funny-You don't look pregnant at all, I know the feeling-those darn shirts or sometimes dresses that gather or sit in the wrong spot or the wrong way.
    Darling shirt- just love it...Too Cute..
    Inspiring as Always......

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  43. You don't look pregnant and that is adorable! Coral is my favorite color.

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  44. Darling shirt Disney. I really need to pick up some cheapo shirts and vamp them up a bit. I'm so tired of the dull factor being so high in my wardrobe. Blah! And for the record, you don't look prego and I'm glad you take some crappy pictures, I was starting to think you were too near perfection for the likes of me! ;)

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  45. This is so fun! And you look super cute in it. I see no pudge. Seriously.

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  46. Another great tutorial...Thanks! Theresa

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  47. Haha! You're so funny. I have (a lot) of days like that too. But I couldn't see any bump, pudge, or hints of a baby. Silly. I looked twice... still not there. Haha.
    I love the shirt. Totally making it. I love that you used the sleeves because I've been thinking about refashioning shirts I have already, but didn't know what to do about matching color/material.

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  48. So adorable. I can't wait till I go home to my sewing machine for the summer so I can finally make all these wonderful projects. Thanks for your tutorials. \(^.^)/

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  50. That is cute and a great idea. I'm saving this tutorial for later use. Thanks for sharing.

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  51. Oh quiddit, you're as poised and beautimous as every day!

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  52. Hi Disney, I found your blog two days ago and am completly adicited and have told every crafty lady i know! you are awesome!
    I totally have almost the same on sale target shirt (in purple), Its all cut up now, ruffles in place, and i am adding buttons! See even if you think its not an important post it is to someone!! thank you!!

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  53. Love it, Love the button tip, never seen it done that way before. If I looked as pregnate as you on a bad day I would be so very happy! Im off to ruffel a top. Yay.

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  54. Adorable remake!! Not looking pregnant to me!! You are sweet and cute!

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  55. you're right, there are a lot of ruffle shirts out there - but I love yours - especially with your little detail of making the ruffles from the sleeves - such a great way to make sure it all matches exactly without having to buy two shirts, which doesn't usually end up saving money.

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  56. Your my sewing hero...just sayin'!!

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  57. I love love love how the shirt turned out! So adorable! You so do NOT look pregnant! My sister and I do this all the time..."do I look pregnant is this?" he he I just love your blog!

    Stop by and say hi.
    Karin

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  58. Wow! I needed so many aspects of that tutorial! Thanks!!!

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  59. Lovely shirt!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-ruffle-t-shirt-refashion/2010/03/15/

    --Anne

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  60. Umm, if you look 5 months pregnant I must look about 7. Your pictures are always gorgeous and so are you!

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  61. DIsney, it is a beautiful shirt and have a good color on you.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  62. Another wonderful tutorial Disney - love it!

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  63. Oh, Disney you are so funny! I love your ruffled shirt with buttons. Great idea!

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  64. haha. "not pregnant". you are too funny. and your shirt is adorable. I really need to make more stuff for me. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  65. Hey, I gave your this award because I think you really are a beautiful blogger.
    http://sewhappytocraft.blogspot.com/2010/03/wow-me-award.html
    Thanks for inspiring me!

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  66. this is fantastic. so, doing this soon!!!

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  67. That is just crazy talk! You don't look like you're pregnant!! You have a great figure!

    The remake is fabulous. I'm going to have to try this one for sure!

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  68. Such a cute shirt! My 16 year old daughter calls that a "food baby"!

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  69. LOL...potluck does that to me every time! Kim

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  70. I wish I looked like that when I was 5 months pregnant... but I don't... I'm like 4 times that.

    Cute shirt! :)

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  71. This was an awesome tutorial. I can't wait to make it. This is not a horrible picture of you. You look great.

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  72. perfect! I've been trying to figure out what to do with my old green long sleeve, and this will be it!! thanks for the tutorial!

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  73. I love this refashion! And the pictures are great - they look wonderful! Great job!

    Morgan@PepperDesignBlog.com

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  74. Love this! I especially love that you sewed down the top of the ruffle to the tee so after washing it won't hang funny and I love the way you used tape on your buttons. So darn clever! And of course the tee is adorable and something I would totally wear...now just need the time to make it!

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  75. How funny, I got the same Target shirt ($5!) and did this with it:
    http://adventuresindressmaking.blogspot.com/2010/02/jcrews-grand-ruffle-tank-knock-off.html

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  76. Wow! What I great idea - I love it! I have really been trying to refashion my closet to save money this spring. I think I might try this! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  77. Yep, joining the chorus...you don't look remotely pregnant in those photos. This is a cool idea and one I may copy soon to save a couple of stained shirts.

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  78. lol Your husband buys you shirts?? Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out what my husband would bring home if he bought me a shirt...it probably wouldn't be anything that usable! :-D I love your blog, BTW...it brings happiness to my crafty heart.

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  79. I stumbled across your blog, saw this tutorial, and fell in love! That's the exact J. Crew shirt I was going to buy last year on final sale until they ran out of my size :( Oh well, I saved a bunch of $$ doing it myself. I got my shirt at Goodwill yesterday, and finished it up tonight. Keep the ruffled shirts coming!

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  80. I would love to try this out to refashion some of my older shirts... but I can't seem to figure out how to sew down the front of the shirt on a regular sewing machine. It seems that the base would get in the way. Any tips? Thanks!

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  81. I love this t-shirt redo, it is fabulous!

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  82. another wonderful refashion and tutorial. thank you so much! :) i posted a link on my blog to your tutorial here. http://frostedsquare.blogspot.com/2010/05/fancify-my-t-shirts.html
    erin :)

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  83. i love what u've done to the shirt..it was too plain n now it becomes so interesting..!!! i'd try dat soon..thankss!!

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  84. Love it! You wanna see a not-preg-belly? Mine! But I have had 3 kis so I don't mind, much. You're so flat girl! Thanks for sharing.

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  85. Thanks so so much for this tutorial! It was so easy and pretty even though i skipped the buttons out of laziness :)
    I posted my shirt on my blog here: http://monpetitchoublog.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/fash-rehash-orange-ruffle-tee/

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  86. Brillant tutorial.
    I can't believe you went to all that trouble with the detail.
    MASSIVE THANKS for it.

    Aanee xxx
    Flowers Delivery Dublin

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  87. I'm posting about a variety of t-shirt ruffle tutorials today on my blog and mentioned yours with a link back- hope that's okay!

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  88. This shirt looks great, and so do you! You do not look pregnant at all! You look fabulous!

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  89. Thank you so much for this idea! I can't wait to get started on my new wardrobe! <3

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  90. This is an awesome remake! And the pics are great! :) Thanks for the inspiration!

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  91. So cute! Can you come make me one? I love it :)

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  92. I just found your blog the other day and I am in love! I've already found several projects that I plan to do. I'm hoping to repurpose a ton of clothes for my kids for back-to-school, and I love all your ideas. Thanks for the tip about the buttons! I wouldn't have thought to tape them down and then use the zig zag stitch by hand. Brilliant!

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  93. Um, you do NOT look pregnant. But I am 8 months postpartum and have loose skin that pudges out... I'm thinking the ruffles will be a perfect distraction :) I shall be making one of these for when I go back to work in October. THanks so much for the idea!

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  94. You are incredibly WAY too hard on yourself. You think you look preggers in that photo? Omigosh, girl. That is the LAST thing I'd think when looking at the photo. You are tiny, and you look great in it. My gosh! :O) Aside from that, thanks for the great tutorial. I love the coral color too!

    ~ www.billiemonster.com ~

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  95. love,love your creativity!!! I featured this project on my blog today and gave you lots of link love. I would love for you to stop by and check it out! dwellinthebliss.blogspot.com
    Keep up the great work!

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  96. A) Thanks for the tutorial! Love the style!

    B) HUSH. You are beautiful and slender. Even after you pointed it out, I didn't notice a single indication of a pot belly. Don't be so hard on yourself!

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  97. Love the shirt, but I really hate it when skinny people bag on themselves about being fat, just fishing for compliments. You wanna know what fat is, I can come and sit on you.

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  98. OK. Dear Anonymous commenters: please let me explain something to you...I have low self-esteem. Sometimes I feel fat when maybe I don't look fat to others. It's a body image problem that girls of all sizes struggle with. But I have never fished for compliments in that department, and it's really quite rude of you to imply that I was. Besides that, you'll notice that in the post I didn't complain about being fat, just that I looked a little pregnant, which I still think is true. I didn't want people to see the bump and get all excited.

    I'm not mad at you, I've just had a really hard day today, and your comment really discouraged me. Please think twice before spreading more negativity.

    Thanks. :O)

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  99. If you have a serger you can do some beautiful finishes on the edge of the ruffles.

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  100. Hi! I came across this tutorial on Pinterest and just finished posting my own ruffle refashion. You can check it out at:

    http://hildaanniew.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-t-shirt-ruffle-refashion.html

    Thanks for the inpiration!

    Annie @Love.Laugh.Live

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  101. hi disney! love the shirt! :D
    could you please do a tutorial where you show us how to sew a button on using a sewing machine?

    thanks!!

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  102. Now I know what to do with my long-sleeved coral tee at the end of winter (southern hemisphere). I can turn it into my favourite summer tee. Thanks for the tutorial - it's really cool!

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  103. Who told you that you looked pregnant??? You said "the worst photo ever taken of me" so thats what I was expecting but when I got to the end of the post I hadn't seen it yet so I had to go back and re-read it. And my conclusion is that you look GREAT...no, AWSOME...excuse me, FABULOUS, absolutely AWSOME!!!!
    Ashley

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    1. Ashley, thank you so much! I guess we all see ourselves a little differently than the rest of the world does. Thanks for your kind words. :O)

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  104. I like that last picture, actually.

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  105. It's just that we women who actually have bodies to worry about get very, very tired of skinny girls like you complaining about looking "fat". If you understand about how powerful body image is, don't spread the negativity yourself by implying that anyone with your figure looks pregnant or fat - it makes the rest of us feel bad.

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    1. Oh friend, I never meant to make you feel bad, I am so sorry for that. I was very overweight during my adolescent years and teased brutally for it, so I do know that pain. There were times when I didn't even want to live. I suppose some of that feeling stays with you, even if you do drop the weight. I still think I look 5 months pregnant in the photo, though. That is very much what I looked like at five months. :O)

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  106. i thought you were going to take the sleeve, cut up 1 inch, then from that cut go around the sleeve at an angle, all the way to the top, when you pull it out. you have a ruffle and a straight edge, like nancy zimman did on her program a week or so back. cool idea for a shirt though.

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  107. You have a BEAUTIFUL figure. Embrace it!!!! The shirt was amazing and you were the prefect model!

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  108. Thank you Disney for your inspiring idea. I hope you dont mind if I add it to my pinterest board 'altering clothes'. You have also I see received some lovely comments, which are always nice to see.

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  109. May I add that I have been slim and large and most people do not judge by the outward appearance and quite often we are our own critic..as I well know. Keep up the super work. X

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  110. Thank you, please what does "ouching" mean? I'm French, thank you!!

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