Long Sleeve Flower tee

I started with 2 tees, one was a super sheer shirt that I had to have (but never wore). The other was a long sleeve shirt in almost that identical color.

I cut flowers from the sheer tee... 21 larger flowers - these measured approx. 3.5" across (note they are not perfectly shaped).
Then cut 33 1 1/2" flowers.
Each flower cluster has 3 pieces. I positioned the small flowers so the petals alternated & then sewed them long the right side of the shirt along the neckline.

5 flower clusters were at the neck rib seam, the remaining 4 clusters were nestled in between the first row of flowers 1 row down. These ran over on to the left side of the shirt for a non-symmetrical look.
Instead of just tacking them, I stitched them with an “X”. So when I wear the shirt, this stitching holds the flower open a bit more for a fuller look.

The Larger flowers I positioned the same alternating fashion so no petals were fully overlapped. I grouped these flower clusters starting where I left off with the small flowers and extended the large petal clusters on to the left shoulder. I used the same “X” stitch here.
I just sewed all the flowers on & trimmed all the loose threads when I was done. I love the way this shirt turned out & have worn it once & received many compliments on it.
Karla

Decorated Tank

HI~ Before summer is over, you still have time to make one of these tanks. Take a tank (I like the Long & Lean from Target) and some coordinating scrap fabric (I used a woven, but you could use a knit too).

I cut my fabric 10" x 4" on the bias... By cutting on the bias, I won't have to finish the edges, I can leave them raw & they will fray just a tiny bit. It you use a knit accent fabric, you do not need to cut on the bias.

Use a basting stitch to gather the short edges, you can do this by hand or by machine since it is such a short piece.Gather the edges so that they are the same width as your tank shoulder strap, pin in place. to determine the position, I measured down 6" from the shoulder seam on the front of the tank, then 4" wraps around to the back of the tank. Do the same to the back with the gathers & pinning.

Sew in place (stitch over the basting stitch that you used - remember to reset your stitch length from basting & always backtack!!! Trim loose threads.I actually tacked the accent fabric at the shoulder seams, to better cover the tank straps and keep the gathers nice.

Thank you, Karla

Another Flower Tee...

Start with 2 identical tees, cut flowers from one.
I cut 14 larger flowers - these measured 4" across (note they are not perfectly shaped).
Then cut 14 2 1/2" flowers
Each flower cluster has 2 larger flower pieces & 2 smaller pieces = 7 flowers total.
I positioned the flowers so the petals alternated & then sewed them in a cluster on the left side of the tee.
Instead of just tacking them, I stitched back & forth across the flower. So when I wear the shirt, this stitching holds the flower open a bit more. I also used silver metallic thread for a bit of subtle glitz.

I used an elastic piece a few inches shorter then the sleeve/shoulder measurement. I pull the elastic when sewing it to the inside of the shirt to create a bit of rusching.

I cut off the neck trim from the shirt I sewed the flowers too... made it kind of a boat shaped neckline. You can just leave it a raw edge, knit will not fray.

I added a few "stems" under the flowers, using just strips of left over fabric. I sewed down 3 & left 3 hang loose.

Thanks for stopping & checking out my Blog,

Karla

Scrunch Belt

Hi ~ This is not my idea, I cannot take credit for it.

It is from Disney's Blog (I have linked to her blog before because she has so much great stuff!) I came across some scrap fabric already cut into 3" strips & knew its destiny was this project.

She did full tutorial on how to make this belt. I constructed mine a little differently, but I think I turned out just a nice. It took under an hour to make & minimal supplies, so it is a perfect project for instant gratification.

I foresee myself wearing this a TON & will probably making another.

Thanks, Karla

I'm a runner up!

Recently I entered an embellished tee contest at work. I entered the white version of the four petal tee from the other day's post & one new creation.
Well, I was one of 3 runners up.

Yippee for me! I'll be showing off photos of this tee at a later post.

There is another contest I hope to enter too at Ruffles and Stuff Wish me luck!

Singed Petal Floral Tee

I've really been into embellishing Tee's lately. Here is one I made a while ago, just have not had time to post.

Using 100% polyester crepe fabric, cut a bunch of circles, I used 3 sizes 3" 2" & 1". They don't have to be perfect since we are going to singe the edges. I cut about 60 circles. Since this a a woven fabric, the edges need to be treated so they won't fray with wash/wear.

Using a candle, hold the circles just above the flame. Polyester is a synthetic fiber, so it will melt. You want just the edges to melted ever so slightly (cut a few extra circles to practice on & have a glass of water handy, just in case). I went around each circle twice to make sure all the edges got it.
I used 4 colors of fabric for the petals: dark grey, light grey, white & cream. I then played with how I wanted the petals to lay. I used 5-6 petals each flower alternating colors. The Tee I bought to embellish has a VERY SCOOPED neck line, so I pleated, pinned & sewed it with silver metallic thread. Stitching right on to of the existing topstitching.

I positioned the flowers so they cascaded down the side of the Tee. I sewed on the flowers with the same metallic thread with a big "X" stitch in the center.

Tee Is done!

It has great dimension, looks good with jeans & black pants & the singed edges of the flowers
have not frayed with washing. (Ignore the messy sewing room) I'm reorganizing & hope to paint & add shelving some day.
Fun new Tee for Spring.

Repurposed Tee

3 easy things to do with an old Tee shirt… WARNING: they do require a little sewing.

Scarf #1: Take an old tee, cut off the hem & cut it just below the arm pits. Then cut that in half lengthwise (roughly 6-8” depending on the size of the tee).


Cut off the side seams from one side. Open up the strips of fabric & sew the ends together so you have one long piece. About 1” in from the long edges, I used my ruffle attachment to gather it all up. If you don’t have this, you have to gather it the old fashioned way (really long basting stitch, pull a thread to the desired shirring, knot it off & re-stitch it with a regular stitch to really secure it). The pink tee used was a fitted tee & once it was all gathered up, it wasn’t really long enough to tie. So I wrapped it around my neck, let one edge peek out under a cardigan and used a safety pin at the front where they overlapped. It was a ruffled Dickie! The second scarf I made was from a bigger tee & it gathered up to the perfect length. See here for full tutorial. Vermillion Rules: http://vermillionrules.blogspot.com/2010/01/t-shirt-ruffle-scarf-tutorial.html

Scarf #2: I’ve made a bunch of these for myself & family. Take an old tee, cut off the hem & cut the tee up into 4x4 squares (use the sleeves too). You will end up with 60+ squares. Lay the squares so that the corners of one square ends in the center of the square below it and so on (if the corners overlap slightly or if there is a little space between them, that is OK, you will never notice). Sew down the center of the square corner to corner… keep overlapping & sewing until all your squares are used up. You will end up with one really really long scarf. Then fold the scarf in half & in half again them wrap it around my neck & loop it thru. If you are using a jersey tee, once you wash it, the edges will curl, making it even more ruffle looking.

Ruffles & stuff scarf: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2009/08/super-easy-t-shirt-scarf.html

BAG: use a plate to cut off the neck & sleeves. Cut off the hem. Since, the shoulder seams then become the handles, a reinforced the shoulder seams with a Zig Zag stitch. Turn the tee inside out & stitch the bottom closed… Keep the side seams of the tee in their usual place. Turn it right side out & you now have a great little kid friendly knit bag for boys to carry their stuff around in. Tee- shirt bag: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/good-thing-t-shirt-bag

Embellished Sweater

This was my latest weekend project...

I took a 4.00 sweater from the Target clearance rack & added my own "do-dads".

I had an off white tee just asking to be remade... So I cut off the hem & cut 1" wide & 1/2" wide strips.
I then made accordion pleat ruffles and hand sewed them along one edge.I hand stitched the 1/2" strips into a circle, by connecting the 2 ends. I fanned the "petals" out so they laid flat & sewed a pearl in the center. For the 1" wide strips, I made half circles & sewed a pearl on each end.
This was the hard part... hand sewing them on the sweater. I stitched the half circles on the sleeve & used the flowers & half circles to make a pattern to sew on the sweater left front shoulder area. OH, I forget to mention I created some rusching on the sleeve by sewing elastic to the inside of the sweater. I added my "do dad" where the rusching ended.