How to Make Baby Clothes from Dad's Shirt

So I just read an article all about getting your baby to love music. It suggested helping your baby find his or her favorite artist. So after some trial and error we think we’ve hit on something. This guy can’t get enough of Michael Bolton. And well sometimes you just have to indulge your one month old’s musical obsessions. So I present you a Michael Bolton Tour baby gown for Teddy. Ummm yeah just kidding April Fools. Teddy does not listen to Michael Bolton.

This is actually my April Fools Day joke for my hubby. Remember his gross Michael Bolton shirt that I instagramed a while back? Well after he saw the picture he said “you’re right that shirt is kinda gross” and decided to get rid of it. So yup I saved it and upcycled it into a baby gown.

I know baby it’s gross! Only the joke back fired. The husband thought it was weird, not gross, and it ended up being me who was cringing the whole time I had to look at my sweet baby with that grossness on his chest. Oh well.

But I thought that if it was not such a gross shirt like maybe say a band or sports team or other fun shirt of Dad’s it would make a really daring upcycling project. So to do that find a pattern you like. I used Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop‘s Baby Gown Pattern but I have made almost everything in her Lullaby Line and I like it all!. All you need to do is cut up one side of the shirt and across the shoulder to open up the shirt. This will give you the max fabric surface area to work with. Next lay your pattern out making sure to center any key elements you want to stand out. Four me I had Mr. Bolton’s face on the center fold.

Depending on how big your original garment is you might need to cut the back piece in pieces but that is not a problem. I cut the back piece in two (instead of on a fold) I just left a little extra room for a seam allowance and sewed the back up as the first step of assembling the outfit. I had to do something similar with one of the sleeves I cut it out of the sleeve/shoulder area so there is a seam across the sleeve but I think that just adds character. So be creative and remember you can always use other fabric to supplement. Like contrasting sleeves could be fun!

And I repeat, Teddy does not like Michael Bolton. Well I take it back Teddy has not heard Michael Bolton. I guess I better check before I make such crazy claims!