My plan was to wear it with a vintage beaded cardigan, which I already own, forever thanks to my husband’s grandmother,

and a skirt I found new with tags on, at a second hand clothing store for $9.00.

But the longer I thought about it I began to be annoyed at the dry clean only $118.00. It seemed like throwing good money after bad. Even if I probably can “afford it”, I don’t enjoy burning cash like that.  If it’s not a deal, it’s just not that fun.

So last Saturday, with the wedding clock ticking, I found some plain cream colored t-shirts, in a really nice silky knit, at TJMaxx for only $5.99 each.

Tempted, I remembered learning about reconstructed clothing while attending a Relief Society meeting in Oregon. Heidi at www.franticallysimple.com shared one of her many great SKILLS when she taught the women in her ward how to make play dresses and baby leggings from recycled t-shirts. What I needed was an inexpensive washable copy of the Anthropology shirt, and these Ts felt like the answer.

Now, I sew about as well as I cook, but determined to give it go. Purchasing enough shirts for the reconstruction yardage, I could of sworn I heard dear friends and comrades quietly crying in the distance, “Stop Liesa! Don’t do this! There isn’t time! You’ve never done this before! For the love of that last cranberry cake that ended up in the trash, THIS ISN’T GOING TO WORK!”  

Cha-ching. 

First step was to tighten up the neck of the t-shirt. I grabbed some leftover elastic from the total chaos of my sewing Rubbermaid, and zig-zagged that puppy in place. “Great, now I have a really comfortable pajama top.” But I didn’t give up.

(I warned you about this.)

Slashing a second t-shirt into strips,

I added a slightly less pleated ruffle, sewed the soggy bow-ties together for the front, and finished the neckline with a $3.00 piece of lace.

Don’t get me wrong, it took some time but the finished product wasn’t half bad.

I’ve happily returned the remaining t-shirt and shipped the $118.00 dream top back home where it belongs.

Mother of the bride, for under $25.00. Thanks Heidi!