Repurposing button downs?

[cristeen]

I have a pile of button down shirts that no longer fit DH - many of them in some pretty nice cottons (from casual to dressy). Rather than just sending them to Goodwill, I'd really like to repurpose them for the little one. Anyone have any experience doing this? I've seen dresses made from button-downs, but this is a boy, so that won't really work...

Should I just treat it like a piece of napped fabric, and cut out the pattern pieces where I can? Or is there some other way to utilize this?

[orangefoot]

If you cut down the collar off then cut down along the shoulder seams (front yoke) then cut the sleeves off you can open out the shirt so that it is a good flat piece with front - back - front. The sleeves cut up the seam and laid flat also have a surprising amount of fabric in them. You can then see how you can lay out your pattern pieces and use the seams if they help

OR

You can use the button placket in the front as part of your new garment. If you leave the buttons done up and pin the front to stabilise it you can just centre your pattern over the placket. I do shirts for my dd like this but with the buttons in the back like the dress re-con you may have already seen.

[RasJi7]

I've seen a sleeveless sleepsack for the summer done with lighter weight cotton button downs. pm me if you want to do it and can't find a pattern/instructions online I will try to find the one I saw.