Those are great ideas. I am a new sewer and dont have kids but I have thought I would like to do things like that with my own clothes. Thanks for letting me know someone else has the same ideas.

Glad to see this. Most people don't do much of this anymore, but I sure did it when my kids were young.
With four kids, not much money & frugal mindset I looked for ways to dress them nicely on a shoestring, and I often used DH's old slacks to make the boys dress slacks. Menswear fabric was nice material, and I was sorry when they grew so much there was no longer enough fabric.

Skirts & dresses were often taken apart & saved (along with zippers and buttons!) to make things for my daughter & sometimes lil' blankets for her dolls. Older cotton turtlenecks had neck & sleeve cuff removed to wear under other shirts on cold winter days & I still do this for myself since I'm so cold natured.

Remember when little girls dresses got too short & left a white line where fabric was turned under; rick-rack or ribbon was stitched over it to conceal it?

While money is not so tight these days, being frugal is so much a part of me that I still make dishcloths from old tea towels & find it fun to "chenile" scraps to make hot pads. Several friends have asked if I'd make them some.

Suzi

Yes, I wore dresses with the rick rack treatment!

I, too, have turned my own dresses into little dresses for my girls.

I've used my girls clothing in their quilts also...which used to be the norm with quilts many many years ago, but now seems to have fallen out of favor because of all the beautiful fabrics you can buy.

I'd like to know how you make those hot pads, Suzi!

I've always done this for my own kids.In fact when my kids were small in the early 60's,my GF and i would go to the goodwill and they used to have(back then) cribs full of Dirndel skirts(remember them) for 25 cents each.We'd buy a bunch of them ,go home wash them,take them apart and make clothes for our kids.She had 6 girls and i had 3 boys and 1 girl.I used the plaids and checks for the boys shirts.

I used to make all theirs and my clothes.I still sew for the GK'S and GGK'S.I just last week cut off some of my GS uniform pants and made them into shorts for him.

I've always been frugal and guess i will be til the day i leave this earth.
kathi

I remember my DD having a sundress made from a longer T shirt with some print fabric (off a dress she'd grown too tall for) added to the bottom. It lasted her another two summers and then got passed on. I also remember sewing her some toddler pants from maternity slacks. I also made her a jean outfit from old adult jeans ....... there are some excellent books on just such a topic as this, you might want to do a little research at the library. Although the title eludes me at the moment, there is one I remember which included diagrams and patterns for converting one item to another.

I too did this for my kids growing up..and for me too. I used to add pretty woven ribbon to the bottom of jeans too short, then use extra ribbon to make a belt to match, or add a decorative patch in the same material...or edge a vest with the ribbon to match. I never throw out turtlenecks..I just cut the bottoms off, leave a yolk front and back...and now I have "dickies" in different colors to wear under shirts and sweaters without adding bulk.
LOL..I remember rick rack on my dresses too. My mom did the same thing. and I love adding all kinds of ribbons and trims..it can tie two separate pieces together for a fun outfit.

Woodsy,

I do that with regular button down blouses.Get spots,paint or something on them,so you can't wear them alone anymore,cut out the sleeves,cut off the bottom of both front and back ,then i just serge the edges,and you've got yourself a dickie.

By the way,i had an aunt Woodsy and i've never heard that name again til now.I don't know where she got the name from as her real name was Eleanor.If she was still alive she'd be 105.
Kathi

Kathi...your aunt must have been a great gal! lol.
I live in the woods, literally, and love the woods, that is how I got my knickname. I saw one other woman that had that nickname and she got it when she was a girlscout and was named after a cartoon character named "Woodsy the Owl".
Woodsy

Kathi, the following will get ya' to instructions:
http://craftandfabriclinks.com/chenille/chenille_blanket.html

You can make any size you want. Doesn['t look like much until it's been washed- it's fun!
Suzi

Grittymitts,

Think you have me mixed up with someone else,as i didn't ask for those instructions.But thanks for posting them,it gives me one more project to consider~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ like i need another one,right.LOL Sure is pretty,and i'll bet it's soft.
Kathi

Oops! Sorry Kathi, should have addressed Vickyb. They are nice & soft...and the more they're washed the softer they get.
Suzi

I saved this link in my "favorites" for future use - I will be a grandmother in November!
It tells you easy directions to turn adult t-shirts into lounge play pants for toddlers. I think you can use your imagination on pants or shorts for the little people in your life.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kids Pants from T-Shirt

vicki..those pants are really just TOO cute! Who would have thought, eh? Good way to use up all those good Tshirts for 25cents at yard sales!
And good luck with the new grandbaby...my third (a girl this time) was just born TODAY!! Have fun! and thanks for sharing this link.
Woodsy