30 Days of KAM Snaps and Beyond!!! Upcycled Recycled Teenage Shirt into a Toddler Dress with KAM Snaps August 19 2014

30 Days of KAM Snaps and Beyond!!! Day #31

So we have sailed past 30 days of snaps and as I said before I still had a pile of ideas and items in my house that needed some happy snapping :). This idea comes from some hand me downs that my older daughter received. As she sorted through them, she came across this shirt and set it aside. She declared it wasn't her taste. Her little sister was sitting next to her watching, grabbed it, and declared it "Pretty" and hers. :) It was way too big but I could see it was full of potential so I agreed to some crafty upcycling and Tada! a toddler dress, belt (also a cast off from big sister), and wrapped cuff bracelet were born. Thank you KAM Snaps!!!

Supplies:

1 Teen Shirt (the one I used was Size 12)
1 Teen Belt
4 KAM Snap Sets (I used 2 colors G96 Mirror and B47 Neon Pink)
KAM Snap Pliers and Awl
Serger Sewing Machine
Standard Sewing Machine

Instructions:

1. I had my daughter try on the shirt. It was a great length and just a bit wide. I pinched about 1" on each side and the shirt seemed to lay nicely and would be a comfortable size for her. Lucky for me this shirt also flaired out at the waist giving it a built in skirt effect. I took the shirt off her and turned it inside out and marked 1" in on each side following the line of the shirt.

2. Using my Serger, I followed the line I had drawn. I love my Serger, sewing and cutting all at once, love it! :)

3. Next, I marked the center and cut down about 4 inches.

4. Using the seam that I cut off when sizing the dress, I made a "interfacing" for the KAM Snap opening in the back. It is about 6" long as it will need to be folded over at the top and run past the opening at the bottom. Cut or rip the seam just a little more than the 4" you will need for the opening. Leave the bottom 1" attached.

5. With the dress right side out, place the "interfacing" right side down and pin together round the opening.

6. Sew a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around making a V.

7. Turn the dress inside out and fold the interfacing inward and pin in place. Also pin the top under to create finished top seam.

8. Sew a 1/8" seam allowance from the left top edge with back stitch and beginning and end. Follow the edge of the material down the V and back up again.

9. Install 2 KAM Snap Caps and Sockets on the left side 2" to 2 1/2" apart and install 2 KAM Snap Caps and Studs on the right side with the same spacing making sure they line up.

10. It will look like this. The dress part is complete now on to the Belt.

11. I took the belt and loosely wrapped it around my daughters waist to decide on the size. Then I installed 2 KAM Snap Caps and Sockets on the piece that will lay in the front (Caps up). I cut off the excess belt past the front KAM Snaps in a clean V. Then I cut off the metal buckle and installed 2 KAM Snap Caps and Studs on the back side (Caps down).