Work shirts are brilliant for recycling. Not only is it environmentally friendly to recycle and reuse existing clothes rather than buy new but there is a big practical benefit for us sewists - using existing clothes means that often the more difficult elements of sewing such as the buttonholes, collar and cuffs are already done so you just needs to do some clever cutting and easier sewing - win win!
Where possible our patterns include options to use existing clothes - all the patterns referred to in this article have options to use work shirts.
Barra Button Back Top
The Barra Button Back Top pattern won Highly Commended at the British Sewing Awards 2021 in the category of Best Eco Friendly Product.
Stockbridge Top
Stockbridge Top
The Shirt to Stockbridge Top pattern has lots of options - with or without sleeves or cute cuff sleeves (as shown the photo above), original/band or no collar, with or without ruffles - the choice is yours!
Shirt to Tobermory Top
The Shirt to Tobermory Top is very similar to the Stockbridge Top except that it is for ages 8 to 16 and has no darts (so a little easier).
The pattern is just as versitile with lots of options for sleeveless/cute cuff sleeves or normal sleeves, original/band or pleated collar and an option to include a ruffle around the hem. You can make so many different types of top with this pattern and it’s lots of fun deciding.
Finnieston Dress - Option 2: Lined bodice and sleeves
The Finnieston Dress pattern gives you full instructions on how to turn a large shirt into a beautiful dress for ages 2 to 8.
Don’t like buttonholes or zippers - no problem! You use the perfectly made button strip in the existing shirt.
You can get really creative using different fabrics for ruffles (we like William Morris or Liberty ruffles), trimmings or using a different bodice fabric. There are lots of options and you are the designer!
Finnieston Dress - Option 1: Fully lined bodice with William Morris ruffles
Finnieston Dress - Option 3: Original collar (unlined)
Finnieston Dress (Left) and Portobello Pocket Dress (Right)
The Portobello Pocket Dress (Right above) includes an option to make the dress using an existing shirt. This pattern won Highly Commended at the British Sewing Awards 2021 in the category of Best Sewing Pattern.
I have another pattern being released shortly - the Tweedsmuir Top which is easy. It can be made using regular fabric but it also has an option to use an existing shirt.
Tweedsmuir Top
Sleeves to Turnberry Trousers
Finally, we have the Sleeves to Turnberry Trousers pattern which shows you how to turn the sleeves of shirts or jackets into super-cute trousers for young children. You could then use the remainder of the shirt to make a Tweedsmuir Top or sleeveless Stockbridge Top, Barra Button Back Top, Tobermory Top or Finnieston Dress.
For most patterns where there is an option to use an existing shirt, the bigger the shirt the better (note the women’s top patterns in sizes US10/UK14/EU42 and over, you will probably need an XXL or collar size 18/19" inch or bigger non-fitted shirt).
You might have a family member who has a shirt that has been lying unused at the back of the wardrobe. Also, charity shops are a great source of good quality cotton shirts for a reasonable price and you will be contributing to the charity - win win! We do encourage people to be mindful when buying very large shirts from charity shops and to only do so if there is a plentiful supply. Here in Edinburgh there are literally load and loads and they often have tickets showing how many weeks the shirt has been on the rack so you can shop having considered the needs of others.
I created these patterns to help people reuse existing clothes and because I know some people (including me for many years) avoid patterns with buttonholes, zips and collars because, well, they can be tricky.
Using existing shirts is a great way to make things a little easier and have fun. There is a great sense of achievement in knowing you have kept a shirt out of landfill that bit longer. Plus, the mental health benefits of hobbies such as sewing are now well recognised. It’s fun to choose your shirt and be a designer yourself deciding how you are going to adapt it.
If you do make any, please do send us some photos so we can post them on our Customer Wall of Fame section of our website. We love seeing what others create and you will be giving inspiration to others too.
Happy sewing!