Wednesday, April 11, 2012

How To Make An Easy and Cheap Shirt From Silk Scarves

Wanna learn how to make a super cute and breezy summer top? 
What if I told you it only cost me about 3.50?
And what if I told you it took me about 5 minutes?!

I thought so. 

Guys, this shirt is a dream.
I've been wanting to wear it everyday...
 but since that isn't socially acceptable, I have not. 
It's super light weight and breezy.
Perfect for summer days.
And it's also versatile!
It can be worn many different ways.

Here is how it works...

You need:
2 silk scarves matching in size and color.
Sewing machine, or needle and thread. 

 My studio was way too messy for any good pictures of the process, so I used photoshop.


So, here is a representation of my two scarves.
I got the plain one for about 1.50, and the flower one for about 2.00

I got home and washed them on delicate, then hung them to dry.

You then layer the scarves on top of each other, right sides facing in.
Basically, sew where you see the dotted lines. 
(But probably a bit more even..)
Leave a big enough space for your head, the shirt is meant to be a bit "boat necked."
Also, make sure you leave enough room for your arms, so it's loose and breezy.

The shirt will naturally fall over your shoulders like sleeves.

The scarf should already be hemmed when you buy it, so...
that's all there is! 
4 quick lines on the sewing machine, and you've got a new top! 

Here is a bit of warning, 
in most cases, these silk scarves are delicate and old...
It's not impossible to take stitches out, but it can leave holes, or even tear the fabric.
So, sew carefully!

I hope you try this out, and love it like I do! 
I would love to see pictures of yours! 


120 comments:

  1. OH MY GOSH I love this sooo much!!! :)

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  2. I would not believe it was that simple to make! Good thing I'm already going thrifting today. I need to add scraves to my list :)

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  3. That is super cute! thanks for the how-to! :)

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  4. What a fantastic and versatile idea! I love it breezy AND belted.
    Catherine Denton

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  5. This is too adorable- what size scarves did you use?

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    1. I just used a standard size. I held it up to me to see if it would make a good sized top. I WANT to get XL scarves and make a whole dress!

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  6. I love this rachael! Def adding this to my to do list!

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  7. Yeah! I've been wanting to do this, I just don't seem to own any square scarves. lol

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  8. Very very cute, I may have to go shopping for scarves.

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  9. This is great, it looks really good. Thanks for sharing this! lovely photos too by the way, the blonde hair is really looking good on you! :)

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  10. such an amazing idea! you're so creative!

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  11. Love the creation simplicity! and the super cute result...

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  12. I love it...great idea !!!!!

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  13. What size scarves did you use?

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    1. I just used the most standard size. I held the scarves up to me before I bought them and determined they would fit. ;) I want to get large ones so that I can make a tunic or a dress!

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    2. where can i find scarves?

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  14. Soooo so cute! Definitely will have to try this. I've been obsessed with scarves for the past year now, but it's so hot in Florida... Even silk scarves are too hot to wear around my neck! A shirt seems like the perfect alternative :)
    xo Heather
    http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

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  15. your soooo smart!! hahah, this is adorable!!

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  16. !!!!! I want to go out and buy some scarves now and give this a shot!

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  17. I have astash of beautiful scarves picked because of the pattern, not because I wear them - this has thrown a whole new light on them - thanks for sharing !

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  18. Wow!! Sooo cute! I don't own any square scarves... but I'll be looking for some now! :)

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  19. Beautiful! I am going to have to try this. Thanks :)

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  20. you are one creative lady! ;) SO MAKING THIS ASAP! :D

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  21. so amazing ! can't wait to make my own !

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  22. This is so cute! What size seam allowance did you use?

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  23. Love it! I can't believe something SO EASY looks so good!

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  24. I am so going to try that! You are so creative. Awesome. :)

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  25. thanks for this! i see big square scarves everywhere, now i can actually buy them!!

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  26. SO, this is beautiful and I am so excited :D I have so many silk scarves!!

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  27. A whole dress would be fantastic! I will have to make a shirt, though. Now I just need to go on a scarf hunt.

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  28. Definitely went out today and bought some scarfs to make a shirt. Such a cute idea. Thanks!

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  29. I'd also be interested in this as I'm a larger lady but love how breezy and simple this seems.

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  30. That is amazing, and looked so professional :D. Thank you for posting <3

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  31. BRILLIANT!!! Love it!

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  32. I made this shirt yesterday. I am pregnant so all I did was look for bigger scarfs (there are a lot of different sizes) then sewed them up following the directions. To give it more shape I just sewed on two ribbons to the sides of the shirt to be tied at the back.

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  33. I found this tutorial on Pinterest and I think it is just fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing! I have featured this project on my Pinterest Picks. I would love for you to stop by and visit and don't forget to grab a feature button! Thanks again!

    http://thecraftyblogstalker.blogspot.com/2012/04/pinterest-picks_15.html

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  34. So creative, what a great idea! Thanks for the tutorial!

    Tamika @ www.notimefortea.com

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  35. That's a great idea!

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  36. So cute!! I went to your Etsy and you're so talented. I loved your paintings!!

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  37. Brilliant idea! Now i know what to do with all the silk scarves I have and never use! Thanks :)

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  38. Do you have good suggestions as to where to purchase scarves?

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  39. Fabulous to say the least, if it wasn't so late I'd get out of bed and make one now... There's always tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea...

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  40. Fabulous to say the least, if it wasn't so late I'd get out of bed and make one now... There's always tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea...

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  41. Fabulous to say the least, if it wasn't so late I'd get out of bed and make one now... There's always tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea...

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  42. cant wait to try this

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  43. Can I just use 1.5 yards of silk fabric altogether because I don't have any silk scarves

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  45. What is the best way to taper the shirt at the bottom? How did you measure for that? When I made this, the shoulders are as wide as in your photos, but it is WAY too big around the bottom. What were your steps?

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    1. It's not tapered at all. It's been sewn straight. It's a very baggy shirt, that's why I wear it belted some times. :)

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  46. What stitch did you use? Mine pulled right out!

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  47. Awesome!! Now I have to find the time Togo hunt for scarves with my 2 yr old and 4 month old!!

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  48. I got a pile of vintage scarves from my mom's closet, she doesn't use them anymore and some of them are really nice. I was just thinking what I could do with them when I stumbled upon this post. This is super cool. and You are awesome?
    :)

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  49. I think I might sew some ribbons in the side seams to tie behind my back to make it a little more fitted (not a fan of belts).

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  51. Any ideas about where to buy the scarves?

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  52. Went to a festival over the weekend! There was a lady selling shirts made out of scarfs. It showed how you wear it 5 different ways! They were beautiful! Wish I had bought one now!!

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  53. I just made one last night for my best friend! Great idea, easy too...once the sewing machine started to behave. :)

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  54. AWESOME!!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!! :)

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  55. We use to make these years ago and we would turn them around to have two different looks!Also used Railroad hankies in two different colors with a jean jacket when you get tired of one color turn it around!

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  56. I would even go further and add some forms to it with elastics and a little bit more body shapes...Great Idea I am a big fan of scarves buy the buy the tone but don't always know what to do with them!

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  57. I love it! I am making it :) I have one! I just need to find another one ! thanks for that awesome tuto

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  58. i am new to sewing, and i just love your no patterns approach! i am going to give this top a shot tonight, i don't have any scarves, so i am going to attempt with some regular ol' fabric and see how she turns out.

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  59. Where in the world do you get scarves that cheap? I've been looking everywhere. I'm having a hard time finding square scarves period.

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    1. GoodWill is usually a good place to look since square silk scarves have become more a thing of the past.

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  60. Ooooh, just found your site via Pinterest and love it!! Love this tutorial along with the rest of your lovely site! Can't wait to follow along!

    Jax
    www.jaxandmarbles.blogspot.com

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  61. I just love the simple and lovely idea! I'm going to try this. :)

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  62. I addore this! I am going to try this for sure and post on my blog. ;) Thanks for sharing!
    xoxo
    Marla

    www.marlitaontherun.blogspot.com

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  63. I like to dye plain silk scarves (from Dharma Trading Co.) with kool-aid for my daughter to play with. Now I'm dreaming up colors I could use to make myself a top!

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  64. I wonder if you could cut an oblong into and do this? You'd have to hem it, tho. Or rag it!

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  65. I just found this post via Pinterest. I am NOT a sewer but I think I might have just found my very first sewing project! The shirt is beautiful.

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  66. Wow, I'm definitely going to try this, very cute top!

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  67. found some great scarves in Primark about £3 each, silky with knots & chains print - very Chanel! they worked so well with this brilliant idea, thanks for the easy instructions - will be making these for my friends too

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  68. Did anyone hand sew the scarves? I don't have a sewing machine but am dying to make this ASAP. I'm a little concerned about stitches pulling out.

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  69. I bet the large standard size scarves would be long enough to make a kid dress. It would definitely have to have ribbons to tie back, but I bet it would be super cute. Oh, and the smaller handkerchief scarves for little girl shirts!

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  70. I haven't seen anything this simple in a long time. Guess what I'll be doing this weekend!

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  71. I have no blog but love the top...what size scarves? thanks

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  72. Love it! I actually plan to make this for my daughter, she is 3!

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  74. Another wonderful creation! I really like the neckline and semi-sleeved look too. Thanks for sharing this tut.

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  75. I love this! But I disagree with your statement that it is not socially acceptable to wear the same thing every day. If it looks good and feels good than go for it!

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  76. Really stylish scraves!
    Scarves look really fashionable and can spice up our wardrobe and give our plain dress a very good look.

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  77. thanks for the "how to"!!, as an older but hip, single mom on very small buget (did i say small?, how about non-existent!!) being able to convert some beautiful scarfs into shirts that go great with slacks for the office is a small blessing. Looks great under solid color blazer for the office but living on my bugetis the best part!!!!. THANKS, Kay

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  78. I have a giraffe scarf that I never got the balls to wear in the office. NOW- it will be a shirt! Thanks for sharing this!!!

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  79. Hi there, I love your ideas and the cute Chinese bowls that you used on this blog. Everything you have is so cute!
    Anyway, I am going to make this top but I am not sure what stitches I should use to sew thin scarf material. Do I just use the regular stitches?

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  80. Hi !
    I just discovered your blog and your tutorials. Thank you so much, you're ideas are really inspiring ! You've convinced me to buy a sewing machine and start to make little things that I like in DIY tutorials( I think I need to learn first, before trying my own ideas ; and with your tutorials, I will learn many things. )
    We kind have some similar tastes in clothes and style, so thank you very much for you lovely ideas !

    Greetings from France

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  81. Love love love!!! I thought this would be cute idea for my 1 yr old little girl. But used bandannas instead of scarves. Made a tie for her waist. Super super cute!!! Would love to post pic and will soon as i get it up on flickr or somewhere with url link!!!

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  82. Do you sew these inside out?

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  83. thats so easy n bful.....i will definetly try it out....!!!!

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  84. I am following you on Pinterest! Love these ideas!

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  85. I found a great site it shows how to turn your scarves into tops. Go to http://thescarfboutique.co.uk/pages/How-to-tie-a-scarf.html and look at the top one. This definitely works. I used a 90 x 90 cms scarf. Looks amazing and means all those scarves I have now turn into designer tops which no one else wears. You can also with a larger scarf double it up to wrap around the front. Looks great on its own or with a jacket and feels amazing to wear. Hope this helps

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  86. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS IDEA!!!!LOVE IT !!!

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  87. Love it! I just made this using sheer fabric, printed. I made "scarves" out of the fabric and then just sewed the top seams and left the side seams open. It looks like an elegant poncho/cape. SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!

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  88. Such a good tutorial and so simple! These are some I made following it; http://josieanna.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/upcycling-silk-scaves/
    The Zebra print one is pretty much a dress but the others are tops. I still have a couple more scarves I found I might do the same to as they are just so pretty!

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  89. I found your post very interesting. In fact after reading. Thank you for sharing...........

    Cheap Family Reunion Shirts

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  90. Omg, I was so excited to see this as I have just inherited a collection of vintage scarves from my Auntie, whom is 98 years old! She was and still is a very classy lady so needless to say, these scarves are amazing! I didn't know what I was going to do with them but this certainly gives me a great idea for @ least a few. If anybody is interested in seeing the collection of scarves, email me oletapowers@yahoo.com...I have so many beautiful things of hers (I am also her namesake!) and I can't keep them all so if you want to take a look-see, let me know! Thanks so much! Also, if you know of any other awesome things to do w/ scarves, please post!!

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  91. sooo glad I found your blog! awesome idea!

    xo,
    b

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  92. Really very interesting blog,good idea thanks a lot.silk scarves

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  93. I love you. Thanks for sharing it. :)

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  94. Gonna go look in my moms old bin of scarves... SO TRYING THIS! Thank you so much!

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  95. You can probably use bandanas for a cute kids top.

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  96. I'm a big girl, so I'd need HUGE scarves... But I do have some fabric here and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it... I'm going to try this, but as a dress (if it's long enough. If the fabric isn't long enough for a dress, it's going to be a really cute top... (And I'm going to get some bandanas for a top for my daughter) Thanks for the tutorial :)

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  97. Dear Rachel,

    Could you please please please (w/ a cherry on top) do a tutorial how how you style your hair? I had my hair cut into a short pixie a few months ago and since it has grown out, I have no idea what to do with it anymore:/

    Sincerely,
    Gwendolyn Ashley

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  98. This is really lovely. The scarves you picked go together so well, too. I am definitely going to have to keep my eyes open for this!

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  99. Can't wait to try this! Such a great idea.

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  100. Oh my goodness! I thought you'd bought that at first :D thanks for the tutorial, I can't wait to find some vintage scarves...!!

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  101. her hair is amazing, isn't it?? ^^

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  102. Wauw this is lovely! Gonna make lots of them for the summer! And gonna try this with light tshirtfabric! Hope it works, because I really need lots of new shirts for the summer!

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