 |
|
|
Story by
loveforever,
mtraub
Published on November 3, 2009 in How-To |
Photo by |
Picking through the scrap bins at fabric stores is my cherished scavenging adventure for texture and pattern. In every nook of my craft storage, strips of vibrant textiles bloom forth. When I find projects made for these sweet trims, I'm not only reinventing a T-shirt or a tote bag, I'm also creating something completely new out of my neglected bouquet of materials. Kayte Terry, who has shared many a resourceful embellishing how-to on The Storque, has come out with a new book, Appliqué Your Way. These projects will inspire you to root your way through not just your own pile of discarded cloth, but your neighbor's as well.
Purchase Appliqué Your Way from Amazon or an independent bookseller.
I came to appliqué through my love of fabric and patterns. I adore the contrast of rich velvet on linen or a sweet Liberty print mixed with tweed. My heart goes all aflutter when I score a stack of feed-sack fabrics on eBay or unearth a set of vintage Marimekko curtains at a flea market. Doing appliqué is a way for me to highlight these special fabrics in my work and to play with textures and colors.
The beauty of appliqué is that you can use small amounts of gorgeous fabric to make a statement. It's a great way to use scraps from your other sewing projects or to put old clothing or linens to new use. You can transform everyday clothing and household items into one-of-a-kind works of art with the addition of some simple appliqué. There's really nothing more satisfying than answering the question "Where did you get that?" with "I made it myself!"
While I love the comfort of a T-shirt, sometimes a basic tee just won't cut it. Romantic rose blooms and leaves, also made from T-shirts, gracefully trail down the neckline of this tee. A monochromatic palette makes this tee super sophisticated. Hit up your local thrift store for extra-large men's tees (they give you more fabric to work with) in different shades of one color.
Materials
Boatneck T-shirt
3 T-shirts in assorted shades complementary to the boatneck tee
Quilting ruler
Self-healing cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Pencil
Card stock
Tailor's chalk
Fabric scissors
Sewing machine and thread in complementary colors
Needle and thread in colors to match T-shirts
Straight pins
Make the Flowers and Leaves
1. Use a quilting ruler and work on a cutting mat using a rotary cutter to cut from the assorted T-shirts the following strips of fabric:
One 6" x 24"/15cm x 60cm
Five 3" x 14"/8cm x 36cm
Three 2" x 9"/5cm x 23cm
Note: You may have to sew a couple of strips together to get a 24"/60cm strip.
2. Trace about a dozen leaves onto the assorted T-shirts. Cut with fabric scissors. Mark simple leaf veins on the leaves with tailor's chalk.
3. Set your sewing machine to a straight stitch and sew veins on the leaves, backstitching at the beginning and end.
4. To make the flowers,
a. Thread a needle with a thread color that matches the T-shirt strip. Knot the thread end and set aside.
b. Fold a T-shirt strip in half lengthwise. Holding each end of the strip with your hands, with the folded edge at the top, fold the upper left corner down so that the raw side edge of the strip meets the bottom edge of the strip, forming a 45-degree angle. (See figure 1.)
c. Start rolling the first few inches of the left side of the strip to make the center of the rose. (See figure 2.) Sew through the bottom edges of the flower center to secure.
d. Fold the strip at a 45-degree angle next to the flower center and roll flower center onto the fold. (See figure 3.) Sew bottom edge to secure. Repeat folding the strip, rolling the flower onto fold, and stitching to secure, until there's no fabric left.
e. Tuck the final end of strip under the flower and sew to secure.
f. Repeat all the steps to form flowers from each T-shirt strip.
Assemble the T-Shirt
1. Lay the boatneck T-shirt out on a flat, clean surface. With the T-shirt facing you, pin the largest rose just slightly left of the center of the shirt. Pin two leaves below the rose. With a needle and thread, hand-stitch to the shirt to secure. Remove the pins.
2. Cluster four roses to the left of the large rose and accent with leaves as desired. Pin, hand-stitch to secure, and remove the pins.
3. Pin clusters of leaves trailing up the neckline of the T-shirt to cover the rest of the left side of the neckline. Hand-stitch to secure, then remove the pins.
4. Cluster four roses to the right of the T-shirt in a different formation than the one on the left and accent with leaves as desired. Pin, hand-stitch to secure, and remove the pins.
5. Pin clusters of leaves trailing up the neckline of the T-shirt to cover the rest of the right side of the neckline. Hand-stitch to secure, and then remove the pins.
Thanks to Kayte Terry and the good folks at Chronicle Books for sharing this project with us. For more modern embellishments, check out Appliqué Your Way.
More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide
| Tags | applique, Applique Your Way, author, book, Chronicle Books, clothing, craft, DIY, embellishment, fabric, fashion, flowers, How-To, How-Tuesday, instructions, Kayte Terry, lifestyle, pattern, project, roses, sewing, supplies, template, T-shirt, tutorial |
|---|
121 comments Login to add your own!
seababejewelry
poppyswickedgarden
ooooh this such a cute Idea and easy enough for a beginner!
Love it!
HoneysuckleLane
funkomavintage
as a flower child and fabricholic....I think this is scraptastical!
squidart
lovelygifts
thebestvintage
beezmiller
MagicalPonyFarm
I love that shirt! Going to be making one for myself. Thanks so much for the cute idea, I might be asking for that book for Hanukah this year!
birdie1
thelmashandmade
What great instructions - I think I'm going to apply the same technique to one of my felted wool handbags! Thanks!
YellowViolet
Love all things sewing...that book looks awesome and I really do need something to help me reduce my fabric stash and scraps that I can't bear to part with.
soule
janellelile
paramountvintage
oooh, how lovely! i used to make a dress with the same rosette neckline. i used recycled vintage t-shirts. this article really makes me want to run to my sewing machine and create something beautiful!
paramountvintage
ooh, i love it! i used to make a dress with the same rosette neckline using a recycled vintage t-shirt. this article makes me want to run to my sewing machine and make something beautiful.
ElginAntiquities
I've wanted to embellishs some of my more plain tops, and this has a nice, vintagey feel to it. Also, other websited that have tried to explain this are quite confusing; the coordinating pictures are helpful.
VintageEye
MyMoms
magpiefelts
Pinkwithapast
I bought the actual book last week, specifically for this pattern only!
constantgatherer
Kayte is such a Super artist and Super Gal! She always manages to out-do herself with each project! xo
elizandaxel
mossiness
CarlosSebastian
elinart
I have a pair of vintage Marimekko curtains! They are in the top ten of my most treasured possessions :)
simplyworn
I love to applique onto bags,scarves,jewelry,but this takes the cake in adornment...nice tutorial
econica
thevanitytable
This is just great!! Thanks so much for the wonderful directions & taking the time to share. This gave me ideas for so many new things to try.
AutumnLeavesJewelry
EEEP CUTE!!!! aside from a tee, what could one make? This is definitely a print and save for a rainy or snowy day!! Thanks!
JetWhitePonytail
missbatch
Beautiful project and book! Kayte always has something lovely to share.
UmberRoad
LBGstudio
littlepinkorchard
TheHatCheckGirl
ERMoriginals
catchalljewelry
SimpleThrift
that's awesome, i would love to add them to a cloth belt or a hair clip!!
instantcrimson
monkeyandsquirrel
ohhh, i love tutorial. i will certainly give this one a go. thanks for sharing!
JeannineRobertsRoyce
Kimmay
Gorgeous! I love this idea. By quilting ruler do you mean yardstick? Or I guess three yard stick? I have one of those. Metal. You know... clearly I need to sew more often! <3 Thanks for the project!
DalkullanJewelry
What a beautiful applique project! Thanks for sharing the instructions.
girltuesdayjewelry
birdsinchandeliers
lovely tutorial! the details are wonderful on the first photo. definitely helpful when one becomes bored with older clothes.
victorianbustle
thirtyonedesigns
nailee
I was just looking for this instruction.
Thanks for sharing and now I can make one too!!
PipocaHandmade
handmadewhimsy
Amazing, thanks for the "how to"! I always love to try new things and I can't wait to try this!
UncommonTreasures
It's a lovely idea; thank you for the great instructions. I think I'll give it a try!
recycledwares
kirstenfrancis
Beautiful idea and great diagrams (especially for those of us who are visual learners). I feel like even I couldn't mess it up!
vivilian
myzoetrope
Love this. i want to make rose necklaces for a few holiday gifts this year!
RetroLane
1AEON
ModernLunacy
vernongetzler
i am also very thankful to you..
========================================
vernon getzler
Bath Products
Give the Gift of Beauty, give a Natural Bath Products Spa Gift.
Iammie
LindattiDesigns
ajcouturegemstones
I love it!!! I want to make one to wear!!! I love the one in the pic! Anyone know if it's for sale?
tracikart
The great thing about learning to do these is you can put them on handbags, wrist cuffs, ANYTHING... and make it beautiful! Thank you for teaching us!
studiotempera
sadiesez
candythomasgourdart
steinschmuckdesign
lassandaliasdeana
sewlola
ClimpieCraft
Brillinant! Can't wait to revamp all those old tees! Good work!
BlueSkyStudios
What a cute way to revitalize an old tee! I'm gonna try it this weekend!
klacustomcreations
Bluebrooch
jolinne
transparenteyeball
I love this! So pretty. Can't wait until I have a free day to give it a whirl.
fildife
VixVintage
shopgoodgrace
This is a FABulous tutorial!! Thanks for sharing. :) (I think I just saw an ad on D*S for this super looking book ... must go buy...)
EpicBones
red2white
Thank you for sharing! I always enjoy to watch how fabric can be manipulated!
thevintagetreehouse
Feuillantine
RubyStudios
I could never make a shirt as beautiful as this! The colors and softness are just perfect!
Morado
Starrbeads
Even though the floribunda look is not my tribal heart, t's always fabulous to get a handle on another technique. Maybe I could use screening and still get into a floral! It's wonderful here on Etsy: How many artists are so willing to share.-Rachelle Starr
VintageStarrBeads
There are many beautiful things about the Etsy community . I treasure how much is willing to be shared here, while we are in a very selfish outside world!-Rachelle Starr
nonchaloir
I've always wondered how to do this. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
voleurdebijoux
Awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing this lovely design......love it!!
ArtisticIntentions
Pretty! What a unique way to dress up a comfy tee shirt! Thanks!!
loveforever
thanks for all the kind words!!! i'm glad you guys like the project!
etincellestudio
Great! I am constantly keeping fabric "leftovers" but haven't really done anything with for a long time... I will give this tutorial a go today!
bytheway
Beautiful way to up/recycle our old tees, and the tutorial was very well done!
ladaworks
VintageStyleJewelry
luxe
i do roses like this with felt that i have handpainted. so purdy! i will have to try it with tshirts! thanks for the tute!
LucindaAndJane
Thank you for the easy to follow info! Can't wait to try this!
shannonbatescreates
I haven't started any fabric crafts yet, but I so want to do this. Thanks for the tutorial! :)
MegnificentMade
What a great idea! I have so many t's that need a new use!
RiverBird
knowingphotography
cassidycay
I cannot wait to make my own. I had tried to make a cloth flower last week and utterly failed!
designlab443
LittleWhiteDresser
tashascreations
Cool idea, my designs needed some fabric flowers and this idea is very simple and cute. Thanks!
corico
mgilinfo
Onbendedneedle
This is SO cute! i always wondered how to make those fabric roses. Thanks!
SouthwestFlower
zeebree
Seasides
kokabu
hi!!everyone would you help me do me research by fill my questionnaire at link below
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewfo...
kokabu
hi!!everyone would you help me do me research by fill my questionnaire at link below
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewfo...
Previous Page
thanks for the wonderful story! i too dream one day ...
by threebishops
on Etsy Love Stories: W...
lovley~~!!
by kimberite
on How-Tuesday: Pair of...
Your art is absolutely beautiful! This story is great and ...
by EASantangelo
on Etsy Love Stories: W...
Wonderful to see the UK sellers being recognised :)
by Arianwen
on UK Edition: Greeting...
Awwww, very adorable finds :)
by earlybirdcreations
on How-Tuesday: Pair of...
a complimenting team ~ thank you for sharing your story
by bedouin
on Etsy Love Stories: W...
Very neat! I've always wondered how this was done!! :D
by zombuki
on How-Tuesday: Pair of...