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You might be tempted to throw out your old clothes whenever you grow tired of them, but one mom has come up with a brilliant way to put them to use. She turns her husband's old unwanted shirts into outfits for her young daughters, and the results are as creative as they are adorable.

Stephanie Miller, an art teacher and mom of four from Utah, came up with the idea after her husband brought home a $50 sewing machine from Walmart. “We were living in a one-bedroom apartment with little space for me to set up my paintings, the oil paints have unhealthy fumes, and it took me too long to set up my paints with a baby to care for,” she said. “I was suffering with postpartum depression, and with the lifestyle shock of motherhood, I felt a loss of identity.”

The sewing machine helped her to rediscover her creative side, and after learning how to make stuffed animals, she started to watch YouTube tutorials about how to make dresses. “Three months ago, my husband was getting rid of clothes and on top of the pile was a shirt I had just given him for Christmas,” said Stephanie. “I was frustrated at him for wanting to get rid of something so new, but it had shrunk. I kept it and a few of his other shirts in hopes of making something out of them. I follow some other seamstresses on Instagram and saw some of their refashions and thought, ‘I could try that.’”

Since then she's made various outfits for both herself and her daughters, who love their new creative clothes so much that no shirt seems to be safe anymore! "My 3-year-old calls the dresses I make her ‘Elsa dresses’ and wears hers every week,” she said. “When I’m doing laundry my little girls will pick up their daddy’s shirts and make requests for dresses.”

Fortunately for her husband (and his favorite shirts!), friends and neighbors have been donating their clothes and other fabrics so that Stephanie has a constant supply of material to work with. Scroll down to see her awesome creations for yourself. You can also follow her on Instagram.

More info: Instagram (h/t)

#1

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Stephanie Miller Report

Luis Villarreal
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! Definitely she know how to use a sewing machine!!! But the model is stunning!!!!!

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    #2

    Old-shirt-dresses-stephanie-miller

    Stephanie Miller Report

    Lara B.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh wow, that's awesome! She's so gorgeous :)

    Agnes Pethes
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't want to be a troll, but the pocket is not the same. Nor the shape or the button look alike. So...is the whole thing fake?

    Cat Lady
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't think so, not sure. Why not find out yourself?

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    Karen Collazo
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one is my favorite. This one looks stylish and fun.

    Cesi Baca
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Almost like she has professional seamstress skills. She made a new shirt pocket, made shorts with pockets , etc. She basically used the shirt for the material. I wish I could see this well.

    Nora Dolan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd like to wear that too, and im 21 yo :D

    #3

    Old-shirt-dresses-stephanie-miller

    Stephanie Miller Report

    Galeanthropy2017
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So cute! Plus recycling clothes is an excellent idea.

    Maebelle
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish I knew how to sew like this mom.

    Paige Crane
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think my favorite part is the before!

    WhiteFox
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    dude that dress is literally like this apron my mum made for me once because we couldn't find any pure white aprons and it was for a school olden day thing

    TC
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nice summer dress for nice little girls.

    #4

    Old-shirt-dresses-stephanie-miller

    Stephanie Miller Report

    Lara B.
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish i would be so skilled! It looks so cool. I can only knit socks...

    PsychoPrincess
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Knitting socks is an amazing skill i knit too i know socks aren't easy.

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    Roos
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like the outfit and the way she poses. Makes my happy

    Renee McLain
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lol this kiddo is better dressed than me

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    #5

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    Stephanie Miller Report

    Cihah Xtinggi
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    omg. ive been up vote all the picture! gotta love 'em all

    TC
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That shirt looks brand new...

    PsychoPrincess
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love this one she looks so adorable

    #6

    Old-shirt-dresses-stephanie-miller

    Stephanie Miller Report

    EllieKaan
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anything is possible if you know how to sew

    #7

    Old-shirt-dresses-stephanie-miller

    Stephanie Miller Report

    Lanes6
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    are people realizing that this thread contains photos of TWO separate little blonde girls...?

    #8

    Old-shirt-dresses-stephanie-miller

    Stephanie Miller Report

    Rachel Kunsman Berosh
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aww she looks like a candy striper! I wore a dress like this when I was a teenager volunteering at a hospital! Also amazing sewing skills!

    Jesse Smith
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shoot, I'm over 40 and I want one!!

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