Mother-of-three makes dress for her daughter out of shirt her dad worn when she was born

A mother-of-three made a dress for her daughter using the flannel shirt her dad had on the day she was born — and the heartwarming project has evolved into a thriving side business.

Carli Grant, a New Hampshire mother-of-three, started sewing when she was pregnant with her now four-month-old son, Elliot. As she got more comfortable making baby clothes, she eventually moved on to sewing dresses for her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Amelia.

To save money on fabric, Carli told Today that she began going through donation piles and closets in their home to find old shirts that she could be repurpose.

Aww! Carli Grant, a New Hampsire mother-of-three, made her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Amelia, a dress out of the red plaid shirt her dad was wearing when he first held her

Aww! Carli Grant, a New Hampsire mother-of-three, made her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Amelia, a dress out of the red plaid shirt her dad was wearing when he first held her 

Making memories: Carli admitted that she cried while sewing the dress because there was so much meaning behind it

Making memories: Carli admitted that she cried while sewing the dress because there was so much meaning behind it

The mom soon realized that her husband Josh’s button-downs could easily be turned into summer frocks for Amelia.

One day she came across the red and plaid plaid shirt that he had on the day she was born, and she knew her next project was going to be extra special.   

‘I was crying as I sewed it, so I knew I had done something way more meaningful than anything I had sewed her before,’ she told the outlet. 

When Josh saw the dress and realized it was made from the shirt he had on when Amelia was born, he encouraged his wife to share her talents with others. 

Fate: Carli came across her husband Josh's flannel when she was searching through donation piles and closets in their home for old shirts that she could turn into dresses for Amelia 

Fate: Carli came across her husband Josh’s flannel when she was searching through donation piles and closets in their home for old shirts that she could turn into dresses for Amelia 

Too cute: The mom took photos of Amelia wearing Josh's flannel before she transformed it

Too cute: The mom took photos of Amelia wearing Josh's flannel before she transformed it

Too cute: The mom took photos of Amelia wearing Josh’s flannel before she transformed it

Adorable: After Josh saw the dress, they launched their company Refashioned Memories, which takes special clothing and turns them into custom-made keepsakes

Adorable: After Josh saw the dress, they launched their company Refashioned Memories, which takes special clothing and turns them into custom-made keepsakes

‘He was like, “You need to do this for other people,”‘ Carli recalled. 

Together, the couple created a website and launched their company Refashioned Memories, which takes special clothing and turns them into custom-made keepsakes.  

Whether it is a high-quality button-up or an old T-shirt, customers can send Carli their clothes and she will repurpose it into an item of their choosing. Prices range from $40 for tanks to $60 for dresses and rompers. 

What started as a clothing company, eventually evolved to include custom pillows, blankets, bows, and pacifier covers. 

Incredible: The mom (pictured with Amelia and her four-month-old son, Elliot) started sewing less than a year ago 

Incredible: The mom (pictured with Amelia and her four-month-old son, Elliot) started sewing less than a year ago 

Newfound passion: Carli (pictured with Amelia, Elliot, and her stepson, Ryan) said sewing is what she does to relax. She is holding Elliot in one of her company's 'Forever Blankets' 

Newfound passion: Carli (pictured with Amelia, Elliot, and her stepson, Ryan) said sewing is what she does to relax. She is holding Elliot in one of her company’s ‘Forever Blankets’ 

Memories: Carli made this pink striped summer dress for Amelia using a button-down that Josh wore when they were first dating 

Memories: Carli made this pink striped summer dress for Amelia using a button-down that Josh wore when they were first dating 

When Carli created her company’s Instagram page earlier this month, the first photo she shared was of Josh wearing his red plaid shirt while holding a newborn Amelia.

‘The most important moments in our lives are immortalized simply by the clothes we wore in that moment,’ she captioned the image. 

‘They may not always fit us, but instead of packing them away, send them to us and we will bring new life to your favorite memories.’

The following photos show Amelia wearing her dad’s button-down and later the dress that was made out of it.

Darling: Amelia is pictured wearing the Secret Garden Dress, which retails full price for $60

Darling: Amelia is pictured wearing the Secret Garden Dress, which retails full price for $60

Business: Prices range from $40 for tanks to $60 for dresses and rompers

Business: Prices range from $40 for tanks to $60 for dresses and rompers

Business: Prices range from $40 for tanks to $60 for dresses and rompers

‘The first time he held you, he was wearing this shirt. Now as he holds you, you wear it,’ Carli wrote. ‘There’s nothing more special than seeing your baby wearing a memory.’ 

In addition to sewing clothes for her new business and caring for Amelia, Elliot, and her seven-year-old stepson, Ryan, the mom also has a part-time office job. 

However, she doesn’t see fulfilling orders for Refashioned Memories as work because she loves it so much. 

‘I can just bust out these orders because it’s what I do to relax anyway,’ she told Today. ‘I would set aside time to sew every day even if I didn’t have this website.’ 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk