Uggg I took horrible pics! Now that I'm sitting down to write this all out and my sweet baby is asleep I see I took horrible pics :( Oh well mamas you'll just have to bear with me.

Here's what I made from a small adult dress shirt from the thrift store

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=443046

Lay dress shirt out nice and flat. Find a romper that fits your child and lay it on top of the dress shirt lining up the collars and upper arm/shoulder seams

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=443048

Cut the dress shirt around the existing romper (being careful not to accidentally cut the romper one though). One mistake that I am still trying to remedy is that I keep cutting the lower leg/ankle area too narrow.....just an FYI to be generous there.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=443049

Looking at the size of the ribbing on the existing romper, cut cuffs for the wrists and ankles (you can also find an approipriate pattern piece for this in your KS book or something). Next serge the wrist ribbing to the sleeve.
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=443051

Sew the under arm seam all the way down to the ankle.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=443052

Add ribbing to ankles. sew a strip of bias tape ,right sides together, to each of the inside leg seams (I turned the bias tape up to finish edge before I started serging). Turn bias tape to inside and topstitch, hiding folded up end of bias tape and any serging tails. Add snaps.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=443055

You're done!

http://216.39.146.57/sarah's%20dye%20jobs/eliasdresshirtromper.jpg

That is so cute and quite resourceful!!! I love it!! BTW, I'll send you that paypal in the AM. :)

Wow, Sarah, great instructions! Hmmm, I might have to go browsing through dh's closet tomorrow, lol!

:thumbsup:

I showed this to dh and before I could say anything he says "you aren't using any of my dress shirts" LOL that's permission to go to the thrift store tomorrow isn't it??? :D

Originally posted by Thmom
I showed this to dh and before I could say anything he says "you aren't using any of my dress shirts" LOL that's permission to go to the thrift store tomorrow isn't it??? :D

Sure sounds like it to me, lol!

Thank you for taking the time to post this. . . what a great idea!

WHat a fantastic Idea!!!

I *have* to try this! Thank you for posting the instructions too!

I love this idea! Can't wait to try it.

Thank you so much for posting the directions!

That is awesome!!! Hmmm, now you have me thinking. My dd's 4 yrs, so rompers are out. But, maybe I could convert the shirt into a dress. Oh, now I'm stewing and planning!!!

Thanks Sarah!!! Just when I needed another project......

Love it! Great instructions!

Thank you for sharing them with us.

One thing I learned from you is putting the ribbing on before sewing the arm and leg seams. For some reason I always sew the arm and leg seams first and then I have to sew the ribbing in a circle and then attach it to the cuff. Your way looks much easier.

Can't wait to try this out. Dh has some shirts in our giveaway pile, I'm gonna go rummage around and maybe make a romper tonight!

Oh - a question. Is there a problem with the neckline being way too big? Your kids look great in the rompers, so maybe I'm just being paranoid here.

Dd, who is 1.5yrs, is wearing an adult small and Ds, who is 2.5yrs, is wearing an adult medium. If you can get a shirt on the small-ish side its best :)

Sarah

on a women's blouse what about using something with a pretty lacy collar? or using the cuffs on the sleeves but cutting them down and just putting a same fabric band around the ankles out of left over fabric? ooooooo what about a women's button up back blouse? I'm sure there are agazzilion small blouses at the thrift store

Another question. . .

I tried this the other night and ran into a couple of problems. First of all, it came out way too small in the legs and torso (I know you warned against this) so I'm going to try again and just be REALLY really generous.

The other thing - I think that I need to add a panel to the back or a diamond shape at the crotch to allow for the diaper butt. Did you do that, Sarah? I think that you mentioned it in your original post, but I need you to hold my hand through it - LOL!

That's a fantastic idea. I like it a lot...
Now someone said about allowing for a diaper butt, well I'm imagining it and a diamond panel in the back should work just fine. I also wanted to add that diamond pannels in the underarms would probably help out in flexability. Seeing it cut out reminded me of many years ago when my grandmother had to fix the T shaped camo shirts a neighbor made as costumes for her kids. She didn't allow near as much room as you did though. I also have had many shalwar kameez, and made some too. those lil diamonds add a lot in the under arm.
This whole post makes me want to run to the thrift store in addition to my planned trip to hancocks today:) Wish me luck.:D