My 15 year-old granddaughter, Elyza, has come to visit for two weeks. My daughter-in-law called and said she needed a break. (Fifteen can be a tough age and tough on those around them.) Elyza has been here three days and I am already feeling like I’m wrangling a team of wild horses but this is not my first rodeo.
My granddaughter and I share two interests – an interest in history and a love of sewing. This is our common ground. The trick is to find something in that common ground that we can both agree upon. I started teaching my granddaughter to sew when she was eight. She likes to sew but she likes to sew quick best. She is also clotheshorse with a strong sense of her own personal style. Sometimes it is this personal style that puts her at odds with those around her.
This morning I decided we need a sewing project to work on together. You can only let a teenager sit around so long, watching TV and eating chips on the sofa (when they’ve been told not eat away from the table since they were two years old.) I have found things go more smoothly and we enjoy each other more when we are collaborating on a project.
The question was what project. Next week I am taking Elyza and two of her cousins to the timeshare in Nevada and most of those 4 days will be spent in the pool. The natural thing to make was a swimsuit cover-up. I didn’t want to mess with patterns.
The best thing to do for a quick project is to upcycle something. Off to the thrift store we went to find what we needed. Elyza fell in love with this t-shirt. She informed me that Nirvana was just the best band. Of course, I had never heard of them. I thought the t-shirt had a lot of potential and that if she loved it now she would love it later.
This project is very much like the project with my 5 year old granddaughter that I chronicled in my post, Grandma, Make Me a Dress here.
We started with the t-shirt and just like a sculptor working on slab of marble, we chipped away until we had what we wanted left.
Grandma, I wear it just like this.
Maybe you could take it in a little
Grandma, I really like this shirt.
The materials need for this project are:
Too large t-shirt
Imagination
Scissors, pins, and coordinating thread
Materials. You can also use a rotary cutter instead of scissors
Step one Try the shirt on to determine how much of the shoulder seam you want to leave and how wide the bottom of the shirt needs to be. Mark with pins. Lay the shirt out folded in half, match the sleeves and should seams, and make sure that there are no folds in the area that you will be cutting. Cu toff the sleeve and side portion.
We used the rotary cutter for this and Elza cut it herself
Step two Elyza tried the shirt back on to determine how much of the sides we still needed to take in to give the cover-up a little shape. I sewed a seam the side seams of the shirt. (This was a t-shirt without side seams at all soit was necessary to pin the shirt on her to be sure it didn’t get twisted.)
The cover up is beginning to take shape. As you can see we still need to mark those side seams for a little better fit.
We took in the sides to give it a little more shape. The t-shirt material does not fray so there is no reason the worry about the seams.
Step three We auditioned back treatments. Elza wanted to cut bows into the back of the shirt and we even looked the technique up on Pinterest. We used the sleeve to practice on but found that the t-shirt material was not substantial enough to sustain a good look. We finally settled on leaving it alone. I do not like the look of the cut arm opening and I sewed a 1/4 inch hem all around the arm hole opening I thin it gives the shirt a more finished appearance. The back of the shirt needed something to give it a little more style We cut a little more of the shirt away on the underarm section
We talked about gathering the back and using scraps from the sleeves to tie it off. not a good look in my opinion. thank god for the use of cell phones to show her why.
Eltza thought it might look better over her swimming suit. It didn’t!
The best look! but she still wanted something that was a little more…
Step four We could have left the arm holes as is but I like a more finished look to my up-cycled items. I did a 1/4 inch turn on the armhole openings. It is important to remember to use a zig zag stitch on this or the stitches will pop with Use.
Easy peasy and we are done! Elyza was a little disappointed that we did not ladder the back with the cut-in bows we saw on Pinterest. She tells me she is really into bows and pink these days. So we added one more design element to the cover-up.
Step five We made a little bow tie-off for the shoulder seam. My bow-tie pattern is a very useful and versatile pattern. I have used it to make bow-ties for my grandson and hair bows to add to baby shower gifts. And now as a design element for the cover-up.
Elyza’s bow
Elyza is very happy with her new cover-up. Because she’s happy, I’m happy with it. We spent some quality time together-shopping for just the right t-shirt, and designing and sewing the swimsuit cover-up. We spent less money, more time together, and interacted more than if we had gone to a movie.
The shirt was $3 at the thrift store. A little bit expensive for my thrift store but as Elyza keep telling me, “It’s a Nirvana shirt, the best band ever.”
Elyza’s cousin, Michaela, is also going on our little vacation to the timeshare. We wanted to make another over-up for her. Elyza choose another t-shirt (costing $1.25) to use to make it. This cover-up should only take us about 20 minutes to sew together.
Melanie Redd says
Cute and clever idea. And, cheap! And what a fun project to do with your granddaughter! Making memories while making a swim suit cover.
Came over on #MommyMoments today, and I’m glad to find your site. I also followed you on Pinterest and Twitter, and I pinned one of your pictures here: https://www.pinterest.com/melredd/blog-link-parties-and-blog-link-ups/
Hope you have a blessed day,
Melanie
Maria Perez says
Melanie, I am glad you found my blog also. Thanks for your kind comments.
sue says
Wow great idea! I have a couple of my husbands t-shirts I might try this with (for me of course) 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us at #AnythingGoes
Maria Perez says
Sue, I would love to see what you make from your hubby’s t-shirts. Send me a picture when your done. Thanks for stopping by.
Trena Balakrishnan says
Cool idea. Reading from Social Butterfly Sunday.
Maria Perez says
Trena, thanks for stopping by.
Jessica Pelasky says
Genius idea 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Maria Perez says
Jessica, I so wish I could claim this genius idea as my own. I got my inspiration from Pinterest and countless You Tube videos. I really do love to upcycle though. Watch for more posts like this in the future from my blog. Thanks for stopping by.
Jen says
Super cute idea!
Maria Perez says
Thanks, Jen. I hope you give it a try.
Sandy Sandmeyer says
This is REALLY cute and Nirvana… 🙂 Thanks for sharing your project at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.
Maria Perez says
Thanks, Sandy. She seems thrilled with it. She wants to do another project now.
Crochet Hooks says
too fun 🙂 sometimes models can be temperamental and opinionated so glad it worked out for both of you. Thanks for sharing this with Snickerdoodle Sunday. I hope you will come back Friday and share with our Creative Challenge upcycle link party too! 🙂
Maria Perez says
In the end she loves her cover-up. This project would be perfect for you upcycle party. Thanks for the invite.
Karen Bell says
What a lovely way to spend time together and great result at the end of it.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Maria Perez says
Karen, it was a lovely time together. We have to be able to cherish those moments together.
Natasha In Oz says
I have a 15 yr old too….I hear you and your daughter-in-law LOL!
Thanks so much for joining the #sundaysdownunder linky party. I’ve pinned and tweeted your post. I love the end result too-great job!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Maria Perez says
Natasha, I only have two weeks to entertain this child. They can be so moody at this age. Thanks for stopping by.
Michelle James says
Cute! I like it. I am glad she was happy with the final result. I had two boys so I never had to do the teenage girl thing. You are very good and patient. I can’t wait to have grandkids!
Maria Perez says
Michelle, grandchildren can be a blessing. She loves the cover-up and we are already planning our next project. Thanks for stopping by.
Rebecca says
This is so cute ans easy to make. It looks cute over the other shirt too. Thanks for sharing. Visiting from TGI Saturdays.
Maria Perez says
Rebecca, this is really a very easy project to do. It can be a shirt layered over another top but my granddaughter needed something to wear over her swimming suit going to the pool. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on something that I knew she would drop on the pavement next to her sandals as she rushed to get in the water. This has ended up perfect for that. It also gave us an opportunity to bond and share.
Shirley Wood says
What a fun project to do with your granddaughter! I totally understand what you mean about trying to find common ground. As my grands continue to get older (way too fast) we have to be more creative! So glad you shared this project with us at Merry Monday.
Maria Perez says
At this age they can be so moody and unpredictable. I have found the quicker we are finished with a project the easier she is to work with. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. See you at the next party!
Chantal Bernard says
What a cute idea, very creative! Thanks for joining the Link-It To Me Link Party, I hope you will party with us again this week! Pinning 🙂
Maria Perez says
Chantal, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. And thanks for pinning the post.
Aspen Jay says
Hi Maria!
That is awesome that you found a hobby that both you and your granddaughter enjoy and can do together. Sewing is such a great skill to share. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Talented Tuesday!
Cheers!
AJ
Maria Perez says
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Nina Lewis says
I don’t have a 15 year-old granddaughter but I certainly could do the same thing with my 5 year-old one. (She might be a little bit easier to please than yours . . . 🙂 )
Thanks for sharing on my Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link party.
Nina
Maria Perez says
Don’t you believe it! I have two 5 year-old granddaughters who have very particular notions about things. Yes, an over-sized T-shirt for the "littles" makes a lovely suit cover-up too.
Deborah Davis says
I just hopped by from My Flagstaff Home to see your wonderful upcycled swim suit cover up. It’s so cool that I have pinned it!
Maria Perez says
Welcome, Deborah. I’m glad you liked it. If you make one I would love to see the pictures.
We also made a cute little crop top out of another over-sized T-shirt. I blogged about it here. http://www.sewtravelinspired.com/home/upcycling-a-t-shirt-into-a-crop-top
Julia Nyanyo says
I love how you shared the process with us, the good ideas and the not so good. What a lovely end result and a good thing to do together.
Jennifer says
Great idea and I love the bows. Thanks for linking up at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home!
Jennifer
Maria Perez says
They sort of grow on you. They really did end up looking nice on the cover-up. Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer.
60-TheNew40.com says
That is so cool and what a great Grandma you are. It was good to see the different ideas as you went.
Kathleen
Fridays Blog Booster Party #15
Maria Perez says
Kathleen, I really like working with my granddaughter to create something like this. And thank God for cell phones. I was able to take pictures and then show her the different ideas as we went along. Thanks for stopping by.
Amy Lee says
Such a great upcycle! It looks like your granddaughter is happy with the finished project, and even better, you got to spend some quality time together!
Maria Perez says
Amy, yes we had a good time. The cover-up also serves a good purpose.
Fabiola says
Tell me about teenager grandchildrens, I have 2, and I pray that this is only a phase. Your cover up is a great idea, and look more stylish than the plain t-shirt.
Maria Perez says
Fabiola, me, too! Thanks for visiting.