T-shirt Projects

Here’s a quick tutorial that’s helpful if you happen to buy a cheap tube dress (I did) and it stretches out after only two wearings (it did), introducing the danger of an inadvertent boob-reveal (danger!). Since the dress was made of jersey fabric, all I had to do was find a T-shirt hem in my scrap pile that matched the color. (Note: You can use a contrasting color, too–up to you!). Here’s how you can add straps to any tube top.

Ingredients:

Tube top or tube dress

T-shirt hem

scissors

4 straight pins

needle

thread

1. Find a scrap T-shirt hem (or find a T-shirt whose hem you can cut off) whose color matches the base garment. The fabric strip should be the entire circumference of the hem and about 3/4″ to 1″ wide.

2. Stretch the hem strip to make it cord-like and then cut it into four equal pieces.

3. Turn the base garment inside out and pin one end of one of the strips to the top edge.

4. Repeat with the other three strips, making sure the strips are spaced equally from the edges and equally apart on each side. Then sew them in place using a straight (running) stitch), hiding your stitches along existing seams in the garment.

5. Remove the pins and turn the garment right side out. Try on your new strapped garment and tie each pair of ends over each shoulder. Now go frolic, knowing that your old garment isn’t going to slip when you jump up to catch that frisbee.

I’ve been on the road so much that I haven’t had time to post many new projects, but because a number of people commented on the necklace I was wearing the night of the kick-off Brooklyn event back in June, I thought I’d burn some midnight oil and write a tutorial for you all. Made from a few T-shirt scraps, this one gets the “Green Tee” label for being especially eco-conscious. It was inspired by a sterling silver chain that the stylist’s assistant wore the first time I met her before the photo shoot for Generation T: Beyond Fashion. It’s lightweight, easy to make, and quite stylish (my sister liked the first necklace I made so much that she stole it off my neck that night!). Here’s how you can make your own.

Ingredients:

3 T-shirt strips (about 1″ wide) cut from the bottom hem of a T-shirt

scissors

safety pin

needle

thread

1. Collect or cut three 1″-wide strips from the bottom of a T-shirt. Stretch out the strips to make long cords. Optional: Collect scraps from different T-shirts for a multi-colored look.

2. Tie the ends in an overhand knot about 1 1/2″ to 2″ from the top.

3. Starting at the knot, braid the three strands together until you have an approximately 12″-long braid. Pinch the end of the braid together (or use a safety pin).

4. Then sew a few stitches through the end of the braid, making sure to go through each of the strands at least once. Knot and trim the thread.

5. Drape the ends of your necklace strands and then trim them so that each strand is about 2″ shorter than the next. (These measurements will vary depending on the length of your torso, but start with the measurements 27 1/2″, 25″, and 23″ and you can always trim more.)

6. Line up the ends and gather them together. Loosen the knot at the end of the braid and insert the ends, then tighten to secure them .

7. Try on the necklace, arranging the knot so it sits at the back of your neck. Ta-da!

There’s a brilliantly popular T-shirt reconstruction that’s been making the rounds over at CutOutandKeep (posted by EVEnl) that I think is super clever. The results are so cute, I decided to make one myself! Check out the tutorial here. And here are my results!

Court jester meets booty-stealing pirate in this outrageous design. Inject any short-sleeved tee with swashbuckling storybook flutter. A rather in-depth project (you’re creating all new “sleeves”), the end result has a high-fashion aesthetic. Fly high the Jolly Rogers and—who needs the runway?—get ready to catwalk the plank. Ahoy there… continue reading »

There’s nothing like the perfect summer tank to get you through the dark days of January. As the pioneer project on the site, Tie Baby is a refreshingly easy no-sew design. That’s right, just grab your scissors and get busy. Finish it off with a knot at each shoulder for some double trouble. See you at the beach! continue reading »