DIY Super EASY Lightweight Cropped Top PONCHO

I've been seeing the cutest cropped knit ponchos or drapey shirts in the stores lately AND I just so happened to find some fabric (not knit, but lightweight) at a yard sale a few weeks back that I KNEW without a doubt I would figure out SOMETHING to make with it. Soooooo, the two ideas came together in this "so-me" cropped, lightweight poncho.

THIS FABRIC:



Inpsired by a shirt style like this (from Forever21):


Equals:


Here's how I did it and you can too!

First you will make a pattern:






NOW, using brown packing paper, wrapping paper, butcher paper or some type of wide and long sturdy paper to create your pattern with the above measurement:


For the neck, measure down 2 inches on the Torso measurement and sketch a curve connecting that point with the shoulder point. From the shoulder point, slightly angle the sleeve length 2 inches (point will be even with neck measurement).



To make the half circle shape of the pattern. Attach chalk to a piece of string the length of your torso measurement. Hold the string at the top of the torso measurement point and holding string tuat, draw your line until even with the neck.



You will need about 2 yards of fabric (I didn't measure this).





Now let's get to sewing!



Now for the tricky part, (it's not that tricky). Turn it inside out and try it on. Decide how big of an armhole opening you would like and pin it on one side.
With poncho WRONG Sides together, stitch both sides together at pinned area about 3 inch long stitch. Fold the poncho over to mark other side and repeat.



THAT'S IT! Super Easy!

I don't know what this look is about...modeling isn't quite my thing, but I heard people like to see the person behind the blog...so here I am!



Linking up at all these great places:

Future Thrifter of America {Thrift & Rummage Finds}

I guess my 9 year old has caught the bug! She wanted to model her recent thrift store and rummage sale finds. Isn't she adorable? And look how versatile the Rosette Hair Accessory, tutorial HERE.



Thrifted Feature: Robot Shirt!!
Thrifted, $1.00
Skirt
Target, bought as a matching set with another shirt
Flip-Flops
Hobby Lobby, $1.00
Hair Accessory, Handmade from scrap fabric from THIS project.





Thrifted Feature: White Knit Jacket
Rummage Sale, $2.00
Black Shirt (actually a skirt) with Satin trim and buckle
Thrifted, $1.00
Knit Stretch shorts with lace trim
These have been part of her wardrobe for awhile
Flip-Flops
Hand-me-down from Grandma
There's that Hair Accessory again!





Thrifted Feature: That Skirt (formally known as a shirt)
Thrifted, $1.00
Black Shirt
Thrifted, $1.00
Cardigan
Thrifted, $1.00



At this point, Kabs was really getting into the modeling and wanted to bring you her Farmgirl Outfit.



Thrifted Feature: Plaid Shirt
Thrifted, $1.00
Jeggings
Target (last year)
Cowgirl Boots
Christmas Gift from Grandparents
Headband
Homemade from T-Shirt Scraps



Do you mind that I don't have brand information? I just am out of the habit of worrying about brands and hoping my kids don't take notice anytime soon that brand names might mean anything. I do recognize certain brands hold an element of quality that other brands do not. I try to base purchases more on quality meshed with affordability more than a familiar brand. Hoping to pass that on!

Check out other great Thrift Store finds Here:

DIY T-Shirt Extender Tutorial

So I've been seeing reviews on the Blush T-shirt Extenders EVERYwhere. I haven't been able to get them out of my mind, soooooo it was time to put my sewing machine to work and recycle some t-shirts in my drawer that have seen better days....been the star of many plays...not really...that's song lyrics.

What is a t-shirt extender?

It is a little something you wear under your shirt to give the APPEARANCE of an extra t-shirt peaking out underneath.

Why a t-shirt extender? 

• Add a t-shirt without adding extra layers
• Wear shorter shirts modestly
• Extend the life of a shrunk t-shirt by wearing it with an extender
• For gals that are as endowed as I am in the top area of my body...shirts lose length because of it and this is just the answer!

Anyway, being the thrifty, frugal, wife of Mr. Spends-A-Lot, I'm always looking for ways to hold onto our budget. I will admit when I saw the t-shirt extenders are available in Target stores, I did search for them with full intention of buying myself a set. Too the joy of my wallet, our local Target does not carry them.

So began my determination to recreate the t-shirt extender. Here's how I did it and here's how you can do it too!





Now here's how you determine the next measurement:

FIRST:  Decide how you will wear your extender: At the waist, right below the bust-line, or somewhere in between. Mine will vary depending on the outfit, so I decided to go with a below the bust-line so I have more options.

SECOND:  Measure how far down you would like your t-shirt extender to extend from the placement you decided on. I chose for mine to fall right where my hip and leg meet.

 THIRD:  Add to the above measurement the width of your elastic plus 1/4 to 1/2 inch for seam allowance. My measurement was 9 inches from below bustline to hip/leg connection + 2 inches for elastic and seam allowance=11 inches.

Now it is time to create a waistband. I realize there are a ton of ways to do this, this is how I did it:

















And now for my modeling debut: YIKES!




Did you see my Anthropologie Inspired Necklace? I combined tutorials from How Joyful and Little Birdie Secrets for my own rendition.





Shirt: Old Navy $4.97 Clearance
T-Shirt Extender: $0.25 for the elastic at a yard sale
Shorts: Old Navy $1.00 Thrifted

NOTE:  Since I posted this in July, I have had almost 400 visitors stop by and take a look.  If you found this tutorial useful, please comment below....I love to hear from my visitors!!


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