Paging Doctor James
Recently we bought a doctors play kit while on holidays, which has been a huge hit with my make-believing girls!
I decided to make them an up-cycled Doctors coat to complete the ensemble.
I bought a mens business shirt from Vinnies for $7. I then cut the arms off and un-picked the front pocket. With the shirt laid perfectly flat and following the line of the side seams I cut 3" (6" total if you include that you are cutting both the front and back fabric of the shirt) from each side. I then cut the sleeves down to be thinner and shorter, finishing off the cuff with a simple rolled hem. I then re-attached the sleeves to the shirt on both sides and finished it off by running one continuous seam from the cuff all the way through the armpit and down each side of the shirt, pulling the entire shirt back together - just in a mini version of its former self. I then cut about 6" from the hem of the shirt (it was way too long for the girls) and roll hemmed that also.
With the old pocket, I simply machine stitched a pink felt cross I had cut out on to it. Felt is great because it doesn't fray so you can just stitch it right on without turning or blanket stitching the edges. I then hand embroided "Dr. James" across the top and the reattached the pocket to the shirt, machine stitching it in place.
So easy! And so friendly to my purse and environment. I love up-cycling!
I decided to make them an up-cycled Doctors coat to complete the ensemble.
I bought a mens business shirt from Vinnies for $7. I then cut the arms off and un-picked the front pocket. With the shirt laid perfectly flat and following the line of the side seams I cut 3" (6" total if you include that you are cutting both the front and back fabric of the shirt) from each side. I then cut the sleeves down to be thinner and shorter, finishing off the cuff with a simple rolled hem. I then re-attached the sleeves to the shirt on both sides and finished it off by running one continuous seam from the cuff all the way through the armpit and down each side of the shirt, pulling the entire shirt back together - just in a mini version of its former self. I then cut about 6" from the hem of the shirt (it was way too long for the girls) and roll hemmed that also.
With the old pocket, I simply machine stitched a pink felt cross I had cut out on to it. Felt is great because it doesn't fray so you can just stitch it right on without turning or blanket stitching the edges. I then hand embroided "Dr. James" across the top and the reattached the pocket to the shirt, machine stitching it in place.
So easy! And so friendly to my purse and environment. I love up-cycling!