Aug 23, 2012 | DIY
I feel like I’m regressing. Suddenly interested in character tees (perhaps fueled by my recent trip to Disneyland in early August), this (Topshop I think?) sweatshirt caught my eye while scrolling through all the pretty goodies on Fashiolista. (Follow me there! I have neat unique finds from Japanese shopping sites in my profile too!!)
But back to this shirt: totally DIY’able…just choose your favorite character’s face (Sailor Moon!)…or celeb’s photo (Marilyn Monroe!)…or random image (a flying seagull!)…which you can convert to squares by eyeballing it. Or super-accurately using Photoshop. Or try the online version of The Pixelator and download your creation for reference. Then apply the cut fabric squares using the Heat-n-Bond applique technique I shared here. (Or even trace your image onto your shirt and color in with Fabric Paint!)
However you do it, I think it would be pretty cool…and a great way to use up scrap fabrics!
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
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Mar 19, 2011 | Media
Forgot to mention this – I was featured on craft-tutorial sharing site Cut Out + Keep a couple weeks ago, as a Crafty Superstar!
Since I was feeling sort of black-and-white at the time and wanted to share a range of projects that utilized a variety of techniques, I contributed four projects (click the name to go straight to the how-to):
Thanks so much to Cat and whole team at Cut Out + Keep – I’m so thrilled to have been featured!
What do you all think of the projects? Anything that you’d like to try out?
xoxox
Carly
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Nov 18, 2010 | DIY
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So to break up the monotony of my 30 days of outfits…I thought to share with all of you this cute and easy DIY.
I first saw this on Ramblings from the Sunshine State, where Wendy shared her how-to for a 6 Scoop T-Shirt for her daughter’s ice-cream-themed 6th birthday party.
I loved the idea of adding brightly-colored quilting fabric to a t-shirt!
I’m always dreaming of screenprinting designs into tees…The colors! The vibrant blacks! The limitless designs!…But face it, screenprinting ONE t-shirt (even with a Yudu) is a huge time commitment. There isn’t much point if you’re just going to make one.
Fabric paint I don’t like very much, as even the “soft” fabric paint adds stiffness to the shirt, and you can’t get very crisp lines.
The iron-on transfers they sell at the sewing store also leave a distinct and ugly “sheen” to them…it’s obvious you’ve stuck something on your shirt. No thanks.
But applique?! Never thought of that!
Now the world is my oyster…or at least, the design possibilities are limitless when you start to think of re-creating your favorite screened t-shirt design with cutouts of bright fabric and patterns. The edges to the appliques are crisp, and the applying is so easy! (Plus it’s a great way to experiment with color and pattern…and use up the scraps of fabric you may have laying around in your scrap bag.)
You Need:
a t-shirt (I originally was going to use the white one above, and changed my mind after I took the photo) / brightly-colored fabric for your design (I picked out some quilter’s fat quarters at my local Jo-Ann Fabrics, paying attention to the coordination of the patterns and prints) / black fabric for your details (mine is a woven lightweight cotton suiting)
double-sided fusible web for applique / (optional) black embroidery thread
Tools
scissors / iron & ironing board / pen / paper to make your pattern
How-To:
1. Make a pattern for your ice cream cones. I made one that I used for each scoop, one for the cherry, one for the chocolate sauce, one for the ice cream cone, and one for the smile.
2. Place your pattern on your fabric (folded over). Trace and cut 2 pieces for each part of the ice creams, and one piece for the smile.
3. Follow the instructions for fusing the pieces to the front of your shirt. (Usually sticking the applique onto the sticky front, peeling off the back, pressing to the shirt, and ironing for 15 – 30 seconds, applying pressure and making a few passes. The instructions said to stick the entire piece of fabric onto the sticky front of the web and cutting through both layers just once…I don’t think it really matters how you do it.)
4. (Optional) To make your creation more “polished,” you could go over the edges of each fabric piece in a satin stitch (closely-spaced zigzag stitch on your machine), in black embroidery thread. (I didn’t because I was feeling lazy.) This will make your tee look (from a distance) like a cartoony ice cream face, without all the hassle of the screenprinting!
But even without the outlining, it looks pretty cute as is!
Cool down on a hot summer’s day quickly in this…or just have a sweet sense of humor while relaxing at home.
Happy DIY’ing!
xo
Carly
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Mar 31, 2010 | DIY
The temperature’s rising, but maybe you’ve tired of the ol’ tanktop-and-jeans ensemble. Maybe you want a go-to summer dress but still want it to be comfortable for when it gets really hot. Revamp a tanktop with the addition of an old men’s tee,** and live in soft-washed cotton comfort all summer.
**I’ve adapted this recon from the book Kakkoii Kuchuuru Rimeiku [“Cool Couture Remake”], by Hiroko Yamase [Bunka Publishing, 2009]. The book is in Japanese, and I’ve converted the sizing to Western sizing, and changed the methodology here and there. Hope you like it!
You Need:
*1 tanktop that fits you well
*1 men’s t-shirt (preferably XL)
*thread matching t-shirt
*fabric scissors
and…
*marking chalk
*pins
*measuring tape
Optional:
*velvet or satin ribbon (1″ – 1.5″ wide)
*pronged studs, sew-on jewels, hotfix nailheads, or fancy trim
How To:
Prep Time
1. Wash and dry both your tanktop and t-shirt if they haven’t been washed before. Turn the t-shirt inside out and cut off the label at the back of the neck. (not pictured) Cut off the shoulder seams all the way to the sleeve seams.
Start Sewing
2. Sew the ends of the t-shirt’s sleeves closed, just inside the sleeve cuffs. These will become pockets.
3. Fold down about 1/2″ along the slit shoulders (the raw edges) of the t-shirt, all the way around, front to back, neck ribbing to neck ribbing. Stitch down, creating a 3/8″ hem.
4. Turn the t-shirt right side out, tucking the sewn sleeves inside. Fold in half and mark the center front and center back at the neck ribbing. Do the same with the tanktop.
5. Measure 4″ straight down from the mark you made on both the front and the back of your tanktop. Make another mark at each point.
6. Place the tanktop inside the t-shirt. Line up the center front of your t-shirt on top of the mark you made on the center front of the tanktop. Pin in place.
7. Pin the neck ribbing of the t-shirt to the front of the tanktop, following the natural curve of the t-shirt’s neck. (I folded the edges of the t-shirt under about 1/2″ again, since I liked the way that looked.)
8. Repeat Step 6) and Step 7) to pin the back of the t-shirt onto the back of the tanktop.
9. Stitch the t-shirt to the tanktop, following the lines of the neck-ribbing of the t-shirt. Sew TWO lines of stitching to secure: one line at the very top of the neck-ribbing, and one line at the point where the ribbing connects to the t-shirt. Do for both front and back of your piece.
Embellish It! (Optional)
9. Use a piece of ribbon as a tie for the waist, stitching at the back to secure. (not pictured)
10. Add studs, hotfix embellishments, sew-on jewels, or fancy trim to the the tanktop neck, the t-shirt ribbing, or the hem of the garment to doll your piece up.
You’re finished!
Without the belt, hands in pockets.
Belted with a velvet ribbon.
Tip: If you feel the weight of the t-shirt distorts the tank too much, sewing the sides of the tee to the tank will help eliminate the “pulling.”
Wear with some espadrille wedges and a cool pair of shades for a chic casual look as the mercury rises.
I’d love to hear your feedback everyone!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 22, 2008 | DIY
So we were all wowed by the fashion from the SATC movie, and numerous “how to get the look” postings on blogs across the world followed the movie’s release. (Yours truly is also guilty 😉
So one look I was obsessed with was that effortless Katharine Hamnett “STAY ALIVE IN 85” tee that SJP was wearing in one scene as a mini-dress, with those unforgettable argyle thigh-highs and gladiator sandals. (I’ll skip the thigh-highs myself for wearing anywhere but in my backyard for a photo op.)
Since I’m not about to go and plunk down 40 pounds (about $73 U.S.) for a t-shirt at KatharineHamnett.com’s online store (yes, I’m a frugal cheapskate!), and given the fact that the lovely cobalt blue color SJP is wearing in the movie is not even available (and they don’t ship to the U.S.-major bummer), I’ll have to go one better.
It’s a t-shirt worn as a dress. No problem. Find out how I did it…
(more…)
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