Braided Shirt

I just thought I'd share this becaues I think it's pretty cute. I made it yesterday while bored and watching a Project Runway marathon. What do you think?














If you'd like to learn how to do t-shirt lattering here is the video that taught me.

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Sweater Tee

This is probably the quickest 10 minute tutorial ever! Love it and it is using the last pieces of our sweater that we originally began to use back in October--- The Sleeves!


Ok so all you will need for this is is a T-shirt, your sweater sleeves, pins, scissors and a sewing machine or serger.




Start by turning your t-shirt inside out and cutting the sleeves off carefully at the seam.




Pin your sweater sleeves onto your shirt and sew using a zig-zag stitch or serge in place.




And as easy as that you have a new shirt that is comfy cozy for fall/winter 2010!

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Video Killed the Radio Star

Ok, trying something kind of new and decided to post a new shirt tutorial on a video! Any comments, critiques, suggestions, whatever are accepted since this is my first round at it.

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Knotted Fringe Scarf

Woot Woot! Two Tutorials today!

So you're going to need TWO Large or XL t-shirts, a pair of scissors and a sewing machine for this.

Step one.

Cut your T-shirts under the sleeves.





Step two. Cut open your loops.



Step 3. With your hem up top, cut 1/2 inch wide strips stopping about an inch below your hem.






Step 4. When finished stretch your fringe by pulling gently on them.

Step 5. Put the right sides of your two scarves together and sew along the top of your your scarves.





Step 6. Turn Right sides out and sew another straight line across top of scarf.



Step 7. Tie random knots and braids throughout scarf and wear!

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No Sew Blues

I used to hate sewing, because I had to do it. It wasn't fun for me it was just a chore. It wasnt until I was sick this past winter that I discovered youtube videos of t-shirt reconstructions and Threadbanger that I began to enjoy sewing. It really became a fun hobby for me. My whole family, who had never been supportive when I wanted to be a fashion designer before all of the sudden started voicing their desire for me to go back to school to study it. But I knew I'd hate it if I did that. Then all of my sisters (and I have a lot of them) started recruiting me to make their kids' halloween costumes which is fine, I've never made clothes for kids before but I was sure I could do it.

Then last week I got a phone call from a family friend who is an artist. She wanted to make a pact where we would start looking at our 'art' as a job and do something every day. And she also talked on and on about how she hated when everyone tried telling me what to do and she got very defensive about that but that she really thought "the universe" was telling me that this was my calling. I explained to her that I didn't want to look at sewing as a job because then I would hate it and not want to do it and she kept pressuring me to agree to this pact so I did.

Day 1 started yesterday and I didn't sew anything. We're supposed to take daily pictures of what we've done and I took a picture of a pair of almost-finished shorts I made a few weeks ago and posted that. Today I have no desire to do anything. I might be premature on this, but t\the joy in sewing really feels gone and I don't see me wanting to sew again any time soon.

I'm just really bummbed that I let people bully me into doing something I didn't want to do and now I don't enjoy something that for the first time in years I was having fun doing.

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T-Shirt Vest Tutorial

I decided that making one of those trendy vests that you see everywhere going for like $20 is an easy make so I made one with a t-shirt I had laying around. I totally plan on making an edged out version of this vest later when I get the materials to do so. What's super awesome about this vest is it can be a sew or no-sew vest and there are millions of different ways to make it unique.

Every guy has tons of these under-shirts laying around, so steal one from your boyfriend/dad/brother whomever, they won't notice and make this cute vest!

Begin with a men's L or XL t-shirt of your choice.



Cut the sleeves off of your shirt. If you are going to be doing the sewing part of this project keep your sleeves for later.




Cut the excess hang off of your shirt.



Cut the back of your shirt into a racer back.




Remove the collar of your t-shirt. If your t-shirt isn't a v-neck like mine is cut yours into a v-neck.



Cut your shirt down the center.



This is probably the most complicated part of this project. Start at the bottom of the front of your vest were you cut in half. Cut above the hem of your shirt and remove the hem cutting your vest in a curve so that it is shorter in the back than it is in the front.

If you are not sewing this project then you are so done and can rock your shirt as is. But if you want to jazz your vest up then continue below.



(optional) Take your sleeves from before and get ready to cut them into pockets. I basically just folded mine in half and cut them into the desired shape. It's important for you to keep the hem in-tact though.



This is the shape I went with for mine. You can do whatever shape you like.



Carefully cut two little slits through the top layer of your hem where the little lines are.



Using a safety pin run ribbon through the ends of your pocket hem and out the little center slits.



Pin your pockets to your vest being sure to turn the edges under so that you have a clean line. Sew your pockets on.



Tighten and tie your ribbons. Your pockets should look something like this.



(optional) To add a little edge to your vest, sew a zipper down the center back.



(optional) I chose to sew lace down the back of mine.

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Aberzombie Purse

Several years ago my aunt, who apparently didn't know me very well purchased me a Gap gift card for Christmas, It was a $50 gift card so I went in and purchased a couple pairs of pants that I never really wore or liked. Because I spent $50 Gap gave me this ugly as all get out tote bag that has honestly sat in the back of my closet since then.

I however, have decided to turn that ugly Gap tote bag into an Aberzombie Tote bag. I had to hand sew on the letters and for the hell of it, I decided to leave all of the threads hanging off all long and messy. What do you think?

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Milla Jovovich T-Shirt Bathing Suit

My boyfriend's celebrity crush would have to be hands down Milla Jovovich. Ever since she said "Big-Bada-Boom!" on Fifth Element he's been in love. So as a nod towards here I bring you her T-Shirt swim suit (not really suitable for swimming)




First step is to find your T-shirt and lay it out flat.



The next step is going to be the most difficult step of the whole bathing suit making. You have two choices:
1. Measure around your hips and divide that by two and the guess on making the proper hour glass shape you will need to make in order to get the proper bathing suit bottom.
OR
2. Take an old pair of underwear that you don't wear anymore- cut it open and use it as a template. Lay the back piece on the bottom of your t-shirt so that the top of the back runs along the hem of the shirt and the top is facing up.

It seems really confusing but if you go with 2 its pretty easy.




At any rate- after you draw out the bottom half of your suit you are going to draw up in a slight angle and cut AROUND the collar of your shirt. Your piece should look like the picture above.



From there you will begin to cut strips from just below your collar to where your bottom should start, if you are confused just use your panties as a guide.

From there you will carefully clean up and cut out the collar of your shirt.

At this poing, if you flip over the bottom half of your suit you will see it take the shape you want. I suspect that the "designer" of Milla's photoshoot just safety pinned her in but I decided to go with a draw string.

By going to the remaining bit of t-shirt I had, I cut out a long strip and stretched it out then using a safety pin I pulled it through the hem of my t-shirt.




Next cut out another strip of fabric and cut in half and stretch. Sew those strings to the front of the suit so you can tie your bottoms on.




At this point you should make any adjustments needed for your suit to fit correctly. You can wear it as it is with a bikini top under it or you can make the top she wore in her photo shoot out of the remaining t-shirt. I don't recommend the latter if you are a busty woman.

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