DIY: Bad Cop Top

Last, last week (before vacation), Aaron took me on a #saturdaysushi and movie night date. We decided to try a place we had never been before, but had heard good things. Kampi is a swanky looking place that's nestled in an alley downtown and we were feeling very big-city cool...until the food showed up. Which was NOT good. It was quickly decided that when it comes to sushi, there will be no more venturing out...Osaka is by far the best, not to mention it is much more reasonably priced than Kampi. After dinner we went to see The Heat. It was HILARIOUS. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy were a hoot.

In some of the last scenes, once Sandra Bullock has turned into rough cop, she wears this rugged top. I immediately decided, with a tingly feeling in my toes: I can craft that!

There weren't any really good angles of the shirt,
but here are some shots to give you an idea of what it looked like...

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Old Tshirt
• Scissors
• Needle & Thread
• 2 Buttons

DIRECTIONS:

1. Outline a cut in the neck of the shirt, as shown. I used a sharpie marker, but  keep in mind that 1) It may bleed and 2) You can't go back after you've drawn the shape. A pencil would probably work just as well. Cut along your outline.

2. Then outline a curve along the bottom of the shirt. You only need to do this on one side, then double the front and back of the shirt before cutting so that both curves are the same.

3. Hold on the the bottom seem of the shirt, which you just cut off. You will need to cut these down into two 5" to 6" strips.

4. Then fold the sleeve of the shirt 2 to 3 times and stitch between the most inside and the next layer. If you don't stitch all the way through, the thread won't show, but will still stay connected.

I also did inside stitches like this in the middle of the sleeve on the front and back as well.
I thought this might better help it from unfolding during wear.

5. Fold the strip of shirt around the top of the sleeve and sew the button through from the inside. So you should go inside layer of strip, shirt, outside layer of strip, button...and then back down through the other side of the button. This means, of course, that the button isn't actually functional. It's just to be cute...

And you're done!

But now the question...What do I wear this with?! Well here are some ideas:

For a casual look, with colorful bottoms:
a pink skirt, teal skinny jeans, etc.

With heels and a statement necklace for a night-out look.

Or with combat boots and a weapon for the
full-on bad cop look.

Thanks to Aaron for help taking my photos! With mom's fancy camera, the "quick favor" turned into an extensive photo shoot...

Of course, we had to get out the bike for a senior photo sesh.

And if it weren't for Aaron's helpful modeling tips,
I would've had some pretty poor photos. What a doll...