T-Shirt Makeover with Pamela's Patterns and a T-Shirt Necklace

Refashioning is quite the trend these days.  Every day I see bloggers of all ages take thrift store items and remake them into charming little dresses or totally blinged out wardrobe standouts.  Me, I just want lumpy, unflattering oversized T shirts that promote a cause to look less frumpy.  Most of my previous charity and work-related large Ts and golf shirts are now garden clothes.  That's because I didn't have the wonderful Pamela Leggett to work her magic on those oversized "pillowcases with decoration" (I think that's Peggy Sager's terminology for those large, square T shirts that fit men but not women.)  
Through the wonder of this easy pattern, Pamela's Pattern T-Shirt Makeover #103 Pattern  my community T shirt went from ugh to rather cute, if I say so myself.  

The before picture

Trimmer, shaped seams and lowered neckline

My neighborhood is taking a pro-active stance to avoid having our children re-districted out of the neighborhood elementary school.  We are attending the bimonthly Board of Education meetings to help devise some alternative plans to relieve overcrowding in our district and provide 21st century resources and success for all the students in our county.  But when I hung the XXL T shirt in my sewing room, I did notice that our combined neighborhood name seemed like it might also be the name for a British football team which gave me a giggle.

Stylish community activist or British football hooligan?

Since I am a girl who like her accessories I couldn't help but see the leftover jersey fabric as potential for a necklace.  The white jersey came from the first T shirt experiment with Pamela's T-shirt Makeover pattern.  In case you haven't pinned these on a Pinterest board for you or a young family member, here's one way to make a simple T shirt necklace:
Use the unprinted part of a T-shirt that has no side seams.  Cut 3/4" strips across the width of the T shirt.

3/4" strip

Pull the strips until they grow and curl.

Assemble enough strips to make it feel weighty enough for a necklace or scarf.

I think my necklace is nine or ten strands

Hold the strips in both hands and give it one twist....then give it another twist.

Twist number one

Twist number two

Bring your hands together and create a smaller circle with that twisted knot in front.  

Move the knot gently to the bottom front area of your "necklace."

Slip over your head for a necklace effect.

I'll be debuting my T-shirt makeover at tonight's school board meeting.  Do you think I'll get some questions and comments from the other women their in their large blue T-shirts?