Generation T

DIY No-Sew Laced Up Tank Top

Mark your calendars: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Whether you walk, run, or responsibly conduct a breast self exam for the cause (do it once a month!) here’s a T-shirt transformation tutorial (plus a bonus throwback at the end!) to honor all of you making a difference and supporting those affected by breast cancer.

Just set aside an old baggy T-shirt, a pair of scissors, and in 10 minutes you’ve got yourself a fitted tank top (inspired by the Outer Lace tank top in Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt). Get the team together and tie-dye and snip your way to its completion, then wear it for yourself, or wear it for a loved one–I know I will be!

Materials:
-plain white T-shirt
–Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Fashion Art Kit (includes 2 shades of dye plus gloves and rubber bands, black dimensional fabric paint, glitter spray)
-sharp scissors
-2 safety pins

shirt materials generation-t.com

Make it:
1. Follow the kit instructions to tie-dye the T-shirt.
2. Click through to the step-by-step illustrated tutorial at the iLoveToCreate blog.

Wear it with all your (ahem) breast friend! Shirt #2, below, is a variation of the Fringe Benefits shirt from Generation T and the Fringe Fabulous shirt from generation-t.com.

[ Comments Off on DIY No-Sew Laced Up Tank Top | Posted on September 24th, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

T-shirt Scrap Necklaces: 7 Ways

Whether you’re celebrating back to school or back to work (three weeks back from maternity leave for me!), here are a handful of quick-and-easy, no-sew techniques to accessorize on the cheap. Just grab all those scraps you’ve cut from your white T-shirts, rejuvenate them with a splash of tie-dye, and macramé your way to a statement necklace or two (or seven!). Wear them together or solo or mix and match for a different look each day of the week.

I’ve always loved shopping at hardware stores for my materials — washers and hex nuts and some of the more delicate chains lend a nice physical weight to a fabric-based piece while adding an industrial edge to the overall aesthetic.

Materials:
-White T-shirt strips
–Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye (blue)
-Lock washers and flat washers in various sizes (#10, 1/4, and 3/8)
-Scissors

Make it:
Click over to iLoveToCreate blog for the illustrated diagram and step-by-step instructions for each necklace strand.

[ Comments Off on T-shirt Scrap Necklaces: 7 Ways | Posted on August 26th, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

DIY: Crossback Tank Top

Summer is all about easy, breezy fashion (stay cool) and tie-dye (stay fun!). Here’s an ombre-style surface treatment for a quick-and-easy T-shirt transformation. From plain white T-shirt to a smock-styled, crossback tank top that’s nearly no-sew (about 6 inches of stitching) in no time. Smock it to me! Smock Tank Finish generation-t.com

Materials:
-Plain white T-shirt
–Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye
-Scissors
-Needle and thread or sewing machine
-Plastic container from the recycling bin

Make it:
Click through to the iLoveToCreate blog from a complete step-by-step photo tutorial!

[ Comments Off on DIY: Crossback Tank Top | Posted on July 22nd, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

How to: Frida-Style Braids with T-shirt Fabric

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite artists: Frida Kahlo. I’ve been wanting to post this tutorial for awhile now, and the occasion of her birth is the perfect opportunity. Here’s a simply way to dress up your hair using an old T-shirt, tie-dye, and scissors.

But first, some images of those inspiring braids from the queen of the Mexican art scene, who would be turning 107 if she were alive today:

Materials:
–Tulip One-Step Tie Dye kit
-Plain T-shirt (size M or larger)
-Scissors
-Comb
-Hair elastics
-Bobby pins

FridaMaterials generation-t.com

Make it:

Visit the iLoveToCreate blog for a full visual tutorial!

FridaFinish generation-t.com

Special thanks to my young friend, Emma, who patiently posed for the step-by-step tutorial!

FridaFinish4 generation-t.com

[ 1 Comment | Posted on July 6th, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

DIY: Distressed American Flag Muscle Tee

Between cheering on Team USA in the World Cup and all the 4th of July barbecues just around the corner, this project is at least a fashion twofer (at least — you can save it for next Memorial Day picnic, Flag Day…or whenever you’re feeling stylishly patriotic!).

With just a plain white T-shirt, some classic gold star stickers (50 of them, to be precise), clear tape, and fabric spray paint, you can, for just a few bucks, make a T-shirt that might otherwise retail for (gulp)…$84(!!!). Here’s how.

Materials:
-Plain white T-shirt (I chose an old V-neck, but crew-neck works just as well)
–Tulip Fabric Spray paint in red and blue
-Gold or multi-colored star stickers (find them stocked with the teachers’ supplies)
-Clear tape (for best results, look for 1/2″-wide tape)
-Scissors
-Ruler
-Scrap cardboard and/or paper to mask and insert between the layers of the shirt

Make it:
1. Head over to the iLoveToCreate blog for my complete step-by-step tutorial!

[ 3 Comments | Posted on June 24th, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

Spell-It-Out Birthday Shirts (for Every Age!)

I love using words and type in my crafts (see exhibits A, B, C, D, E, and F…), so was super excited when some Scribbles Alphabet Stamps arrived in a recent crafty care package! With a friend’s daughter’s birthday around the corner, and armed with my new letter stamps and fabric paints, I knew just what I wanted to make: a series of birthday tops, each to announce the birthday girl’s age (and yes, there are number stamps, too, but I like to spell things out!).

I made a series of three, but if you scroll all the way down, you’ll see there’s no reason why you have to stop at the single-digit ages!

Materials:
–Scribbles Brush-On Fabric Paint
–Scribbles Alphabet Stamps
–Tulip Fabric Paintbrushes
-Ruler
-Plain T-shirt or tank top
-Scrap paper or cardboard (to prevent the paint from bleeding through the layers of the shirt)

Materials1 generation-t.com

Make it:
1. For step-by-step photographed instructions, click through to the iLoveToCreate blog!

ONETWOTHREE generation-t.com

123FinishAlt generation-t.com

[ Comments Off on Spell-It-Out Birthday Shirts (for Every Age!) | Posted on May 27th, 2014 ]

Adventures, Other Projects

Happy Mother’s Day!

It’s been fairly quiet ’round these parts, but I’m emerging from hibernation to share two bits of fun news this Mother’s Day!

1. I’m very excited to share that a collaboration that I worked on with my very creative mom, Susan, almost two years ago, is coming out soon! We designed a fleece hoodie for the newest installation in Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins’ One-Yard Wonder series, Little One-Yard Wonders: Irresistible Clothes, Toys, and Accessories You Can Make for Babies and Kids. My mom is the person who first showed me the way around a sewing machine, so I was glad that she accepted my invitation to team up and submit a project when the call for entries was posted! We brainstormed ideas, and came up with a few…long story short, one of them is featured in the book.

How cute is that shirt on the front? Those shoes! That tea set!

Below is the first spread of the project we designed with squirmy toddlers in mind (no zippers, buttons, or drawstrings — just pull it over the head and you’re ready for an afternoon of exploring). YiaYia’s Snuggle Hoodie! It’s so exciting to see it in print! And, it should be noted, the hoodie can be made from jersey knit material, too, for a more traditional sweatshirt or a lighter T-shirt-weight design. Pre-order the book at any of the online retailers listed here, or look for it in your local bookstore when it releases June 3, 2014! Little One Yard Wonders interior

My mom and I are so looking forward to making lots of the 101 projects for my little ones….which brings me to news point #2.

2. And, not to bury the lede, but…the Mr. and I welcomed a new member to our family just two weeks ago! Meet Esmé Olivine, born 4/27/14 (you’ll no doubt be seeing more of my newest fashion muse in the weeks, months, and years to come!).

EsmeOlivineJanka427

A very happy Mother’s Day to all you crafty mamas who encourage creativity in the next generation!

xoxo,
Megan

[ 2 Comments | Posted on May 11th, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

T-shirt Yarn-Wrapped Easter Egg Wreath

For this easy, bright DIY holiday decor, I was inspired by this yarn-wrapped egg wreath I stumbled upon on Pinterest. (Oh, and check out Aunt Peaches’s yarn-wrapped eggs tutorial over at the iLoveToCreate blog!) But, being that I have stashes of T-shirt scraps rather than traditional yarn, I adapted the project to my own scrap heap (and recycling bin). Pick traditional pastels from your T-shirt stash, go for brights, or tie-dye all those shabby old white ones to make ombre eggs.

Materials:
-18-24 plastic eggs
-18-24 lengths of T-shirt yarn, plus more for the wreath base (ideally, yarn should be stretched from 1/2″ to 3/4″-wide strips)
–Aleene’s Max Tacky Adhesive
-fabric scissors
-cardboard box (to make the wreath base)
-pen/pencil
-craft knife
-tape (optional)
–Tulip Beads in a Bottle (optional)
–Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit (optional)

Make it:
Click through to the complete step-by-step tutorial over on the iLoveToCreate blog.

t-shirt yarn wreath generation-t.com

[ 1 Comment | Posted on March 25th, 2014 ]

Other Projects

The ABCs of DIY Shoes

My toddler is VERY into his letters and numbers lately, so when it came time to think up a theme for a spring shoe refashion, his vintage-style alphabet blocks stood out from the pack (that, and I’m not as good at drawing dinosaurs or trains, which would have been the other top contenders!).

And sure enough, when I presented them to him the morning after I made them, he picked one up and said, “ABC shoe!” Exactly, my dear. Now we can practice his letters and colors while we’re on the go!

Materials:
-White canvas shoes
-Black permanent pen
–Tulip Dual Tip Fabric Markers (Neon)
-Alphabet blacks (optional, for inspiration!)

Make it:
Follow the step-by-step instructions over at the iLoveToCreate blog!

Psst! Not just for toddlers! Decorate any size shoe for a delightfully personalized style statement — just be sure to schedule in more time, since there’ll more surface area to cover.

[ 1 Comment | Posted on February 25th, 2014 ]

T-shirt Projects

DIY Phases of the Heart T-shirt

I was recently inspired by a DIY phases of the moon T-shirt I saw on Pinterest, and thought it would be fun to try a heart shape in place of the moon. Though Valentine’s Day is an odd one to celebrate — it’s gotten a little commercial in the past few decades for my tastes, but I do appreciate another opportunity to tell the people dearest to me that I care about them with an extra hug, a simple handmade valentine…or a T-shirt! (PS: Did you know that the holiday is celebrated as “Friend Day” in Finland? I love that!)
Phases of the Heart Finish2 generation-t.com

Materials:
-1 plain T-shirt (I chose purple to suggest a night sky background)
–Tulip “Slick” Dimensional Fabric Paints (I mixed about equal parts Grape and White)
–Tulip Sponge Brushes or Tulip Fabric Paintbrushes
-Freezer paper (to create the stencil)
-Pen or pencil (to sketch)
-Craft knife and cutting mat
-Iron and ironing board
-Scrap paper or cardstock
-Ruler