On Sewing
Maybe it's because I've been watching Project Runway, or maybe it's because I spent several hours looking through the Craftster archives...but I've got the sewing bug. Anne Marie is very concerned that the sewing will replace knitting as my obsession of choice. This will not happen, because you can't take sewing in the car, you can't sew in the movie theatre, and also, because KNITTING. I LOVE YOU SO.
But. It's nice to change it up every now and then, right? Especially since I have (literally) 15 or so bags of old clothes in my attic, and a big old chunk of those are t-shirts. Time to deconstruct!
So here's my first attempt: from too-big t-shirt to tube top.
It was too baggy so I never wore it.
and it became this:
A tube top that fits.
Now, I don't have tons of events where a tube top would be my attire of choice, but it was a good way to practice. Here's what I learned from Tube Top: I can sew a (mostly) straight line, and I can take in the sides of a shirt to fit me better. I just put a tank top that fits me well on top of the baggy shirt, traced the sides with a pencil, and sewed up the sides. Zip, zip.
Okay. My next shirt was a little more ambitious, and it's got lots of issues, but again, I learned from it. I forgot to take a before picture, but I used a stretchy long sleeved v-neck and a black plain t-shirt:
Sorry for the crappy picture.
This one I probably would wear out. And AM tried it on and she looks really good in it. I cut the top of the long-sleeved shirt off, added some black fabric to the top, and used the bottom of the black t-shirt to make it longer. If I could redo it now, I wouldn't use quite so much material at the top...it took me several tries to make it look right.
And yay! Now I'm getting closer. I forgot to take a before picture again, but it was a little yellow t-shirt that says "Florida". Cute design, but the sleeves were too tight, and the truth is that I'm just not much of a t-shirt girl.
And here's the reconstructed shirt:
Florida!
I used the bottom of a HUGE red t-shirt for the collar, and the bottom half of a super old white tank top for the bottom half. I cut the sleeves off the Florida shirt, and cut a big old square collar.
Glamour shot:
Yay new old shirt.
With this one, I learned that you can sew two right side edges together and get a seam that doesn't show your thread (!) and ... if you use thread that's the same color as your fabric, it doesn't show as much. Duh. I realize this is totally elementary for the real sewers among us, but I'm Not So Good at sewing, so I'm learning as I go. And Having So Much Fun. Yayayayayay.
I love the collar on the Florida shirt, so I'm going to try that again with some different shirts. funfunfunfun.
This weekend is going to be superfuntimes.com. I'm going to see Quintron in Atlanta tonight, and then hanging out with friends all weekend. The start of school is nearing...so I must max out the fun times NOW. By the way, thanks for all your encouraging words about working/grad school/weddingplanning, etc. I'm glad there are lots of other people doing it and surviving and being happy about it. Yay bloggy support.
Comments (36)
What you are making is a HARAMAKI. A traditional Japanese 'belly warmer'. This is worn in Japan (and by those in the know in the USA) to keep the kidney ki and hara (belly) warm. It prevents colds in autumn and winter...and just feels good to wear! Looks great too. I love your styles!
KK
Posted by Karen | November 27, 2007 10:47 AM
Hey i was looking up some stuff on the internet trying to figure out how to turn one of my t-shirts into a tube top and came across ur site i love ur ideas there super cute can u tell me how to turn my boring shirt into a cute tube top?
Jennifer
Posted by jennifer | June 11, 2007 5:13 PM
ur tees r ausome u have inspired me to make a tube top out of a old tank. anyway even though u can't sew everywhere u go sewong is much better than kniiting because u can create things in 1 or 2 hours but knitting takes days
Posted by mary | August 23, 2006 3:17 PM
I saw your comment on Stacey's blog about the cute skirts. Here's the link to the pattern: http://www.favoritethings.net/patterns/wearables/cute_skirts
Posted by Kaitie Tee | August 2, 2006 10:51 AM
Those T-shirts are great. I LOVE the Florida one, especially the neckline. I'm so envious; I've tried to remake T-shirts so many times and I can never so them right so the sewing is always rigid agains the stretchy T-shirt and sticks out all over the place. Did you use a special stitch?
Posted by Philippa | August 2, 2006 3:46 AM
Wow Aunt Carrie, those shirts look so cool! My mommy secretly hopes sewing will become your new obsession so she can have a sewing buddy. If you come see me soon you can rummage through TONS of fabric (and yarn...and MK!!). Got to get back to talking to the ceiling fan. xoxo
Posted by Big Head Nephew Schmoo | August 1, 2006 10:46 AM
Wow, I'm so impressed! You made your old clothes look so cute and new! Way to go. Isn't Project Runway inspiring? It just makes you want to sew!
Posted by Jessica | July 31, 2006 11:12 PM
Yer adorable. Love the Florida one. Now, just go buy a man's button down shirt (or steal one of the Pants'), chop off the sleeves, chop it at the top so it's as long as you like, and trace a skirt you like over it, sew up the two sides. Bango. A whole by-you fit, in less time than it would take you to decide on yarn, baybee.
Posted by Rachael | July 31, 2006 3:19 PM
Great idea, Carrie! Project Runway is making sewing cool again!
Posted by Kathy | July 31, 2006 2:50 PM
Cute.Cute.Cute
Posted by Betsy | July 31, 2006 10:57 AM
i'm totally impressed. there's a new do-it-yourself t-shirt surgery book out that i saw on martha stewart, but i can't remember the name. but it looks like craftster was all the guidance you needed!
Posted by carrie m | July 30, 2006 8:16 AM
Great t-shirts. Don't sell yourself short as a sewing genius; those are very cool.
I'm enjoying your young, hip, high-energy blog although it's making me feel old, uncool, and lethargic in comparison. I love the idea of you going out to hear a band and then hanging out with friends all weekend.
I remember those days. (I don't miss them, but I did enjoy them!)
Posted by jessie | July 30, 2006 5:56 AM
Great shirts! Really.
My sewing bug has been in hiding for a while. Then you post this. So now I'll be hacking up reconstructed shirts left and right.
That's a good thing.
I'm not as boxy as all the shirts I buy are.
YOU ARE SO INSPIRIIIIIING!
Posted by Jomy | July 29, 2006 4:11 PM
I am so inspired by your reconstruction tops. My mum offered to buy me sewing machine for my birthday, but i was unsure, i was thinking of an aquarium so i can keep fish but now i'm, swaying to the sewing machine idea. Keep at it and look forward to seeing more cool stuff.
Posted by lyndsey-jane | July 29, 2006 3:23 PM
Love love love that Florida shirt! All of the sewing that has infiltrated so many blogs is making me want to get my sewing machine out of the attic and dust it off! I need another hobby like I need a hole in my head!
Posted by allison | July 29, 2006 12:13 PM
Hi.
I love the deconstructions! It makes me want to head on down to value village RIGHT NOW to grab some ridiculous t-shirts to make into ridiculously awesome apparel for me.
On a totally different topic, how did you find making the clapotis out of recycled silk? How did it turn out? (i know it was a long time ago...)
Posted by Jess | July 29, 2006 10:28 AM
oh you do have a sewing bug! Your shirts are really cute!
Posted by biglug | July 29, 2006 9:19 AM
Way to show me up, girlie!! ;) :-P
Those shirts ROCK! They totally make me wanna raid my drawers and see what cool combos I can come up with. I've been focused on just using one shirt and making a better fitting/cuter version. I LOVE the mix n' match vibe YOU got goin' on...
Posted by Lara | July 28, 2006 11:15 PM
Totally cute shirts--did you find this all on the Craftsers archives? Links??
Really great job!
Posted by Maxly | July 28, 2006 7:32 PM
Your recons look great, particularly the Florida one. Square collars like that are so flattering on everyone. YOu may have inspired me to go digging through my t-shirt drawer.
Posted by Jenna | July 28, 2006 4:27 PM
Florida is adorable.
Posted by Gina | July 28, 2006 3:36 PM
I want that Florida shirt...are you gonna wear it tonight?
Posted by Anne Marie | July 28, 2006 3:35 PM
oh yay! quintron and miss pussycat, from my neck of the woods! long live nola!
I love your shirts...you're on my wavelength today. cute cute cute!!
Posted by Laurie | July 28, 2006 3:08 PM
You appear to have natural sewing talent! Great creativity.
Posted by Silvia | July 28, 2006 1:11 PM
You are quite the seamstress extraordinaire! The reconstructed tees rock! Go you!
Posted by giao | July 28, 2006 12:55 PM
They all look great! And if anyone can rock that first tube top it's you. I'm not big on t-shirts myself, hate the high necks.
Posted by Vicki | July 28, 2006 12:03 PM
the florida shirt is super cute teamie! i want to sew shirts with you.
Posted by joanna | July 28, 2006 11:17 AM
Great tee conversions! I assume you are hand sewing all of this, right? I am a totally sucky sewer, but I am inspired! I have that Generation T book requested at the library, even!
Posted by Skylar | July 28, 2006 11:11 AM
Yay for Project Runway! Aren't you just so sick of Angela and Vincent? Who's going to get sent home for breaking the rules this week? Sooooo addicting, hahaha. . .
Anyway, cute deconstructed tops! : )
Posted by sarah | July 28, 2006 10:53 AM
cute tops! i love them all. it looks like you're learning a lot about sewing the right way: by just jumping in and giving it a shot! you're being daring and trying new things and that can hardly be argued with.
i'm also with ya on the fact that sewing can never replace knitting. they will always complimentary to each other in my life!
Posted by gleek | July 28, 2006 10:52 AM
I love them all! I remember being inspired by this stuff on craftster months ago, and then never doing anything about it. I have plenty of tshirts, so I should probably dive in and give it a shot.
Did you learn how to do all of this from craftster? I saw a book that's all about re-constructing t-shirts, but I'm not sure it gives the same instructions/advice.
Posted by maya | July 28, 2006 10:44 AM
Great decons/recons. I may just be inspired...
Posted by Angela | July 28, 2006 10:10 AM
wowie! fabby job on the sewing...you've got some skillz!
Posted by heather | July 28, 2006 9:58 AM
LOVE the shirts. How great to have pieces that are totally unique and not available at the Gap!
Posted by amanda | July 28, 2006 9:57 AM
Wow, you're really good despite what you may think! The Florida top looks so cute! :)
Posted by Annarella | July 28, 2006 9:50 AM
Super-cute shirts, girlie! I got the sewing bug too, but I haven't been making anything to actually wear. You're inspiring me to graduate to clothes!
Posted by Ashley | July 28, 2006 9:48 AM