Posts Tagged ‘DIY T-shirt’

A T-shirt Sew-Along with Kollabora

Oh, the quest for the perfect tee! While our collective search for the perfect jersey knit continues (Alternative Apparel or American Apparel? J. Crew or GAP?), why not make your own? It’s quite arguably the perfect summer project to take on when you’re looking to have yourself a crafty long weekend. But hurry, since you’ve got less than a week to join the “Scout” T-shirt pattern sew-along over at Kollabora (entries are due Monday, July 8!)…

Here’s what you do:
-Download the pattern from Grainline Studio here (it costs $6.50).
-Then print and assemble the pattern, and check out the step-by-step photo tutorials over at Kollabora to get you feeling inspired and confident (there are plenty of variations, too!).
-Upload photos of your finished T-shirt to the gallery to share your creation, and to be entered to win some awesome stuff! (And while you’re there, click through to check out the gallery of T-shirts that have already been made and cast your vote for fan favorite!)

Behold, the Scout Woven Tee pattern by Jennifer Beeman, the designer and patternmaker at Grainline Studio:

Though I personally won’t make the July 8 deadline, I do have some yellow and blue lightning bolt jersey knit left over from a hooded sweatshirt project I was working on for the little guy that I will definitely be turning into a “Scout” T-shirt for myself!

[ 1 Comment | Posted on July 3rd, 2013 ]

I Love to Create: “You Complete Me” T-shirts!

The sweetest thing to make for your best pal on Valentine’s day? The sweetest thing for your sweetie? I call it the “You Complete Me” Tee. Part friendship charm necklace, part Pinterest inspiration (these gloves!), each T-shirt in this pair appears, at first look, to be decorated with an abstract design when it’s without its match. When the two shirts are reunited, however, they form a heart. Awww…

Materials:
-2 plain T-shirts (preferably light in color)
-scissors
-empty file folder (or other large piece of card stock)
-marker
–Tulip Fabric Spray Paint (in red!)
-plenty of newsprint to protect your work surface

Make It:

1. Lay the folder flat and use the marker to draw half of a heart along one of the long edges. (Note: I had to make an adjustment later on to accomodate the dimensionality of the human body–so don’t be afraid to make a particularly bulbous heart in order for it to “read” when the shirts are side by side.)

2. Cut out the half-heart template and line it up along the side of the torso of one of the shirts (under the sleeve). Mask the rest of the T-shirt (and use newsprint to protect your work surface), and spray paint the half-heart.

3. Carefully remove the stencil from the T-shirt, let it dry, and then flip the template to paint the other side of the heart on the other T-shirt. Then, when both the T-shirts and the stencil have dried, repeat the process to complete each heart on the back of the shirt. (And don’t worry if the paint seeps under the stencil a bit — like relationships, it might get a bit messy at times!)

4. Let it dry completely, wear it, and go find your best bud. (And don’t forget to make sure you stand on the correct side–and bend your knees or stand on your tiptoes, if necessary!)

Thanks to my friends Michael and Helen (who thematically appropriately identify as members of Camp Friendship Basketball League!) for modeling.


[ 2 Comments | Posted on January 22nd, 2013 ]