Easy Custom T-Shirt: Doodle on Your Tee

Posted on June 25, 2016 Posted in DIY FashionTagged budget: $, diy fashion, fabric marker, tshirt refashion, upcycleLeave a comment

Here’s an easy custom t-shirt option. I love wearing clothes that are perfectly “me”, but they can be pretty hard to find. That’s especially true since I’ve decided to only shop thrift or sew my own clothes. However, there is plenty of potential in a good ol’ white tee. All you really need is a fabric marker, and a few household items I think every crafter probably has. 🙂

Easy Custom T-Shirt Supplies:

Plain white tee (or any light color)
Fabric marker (any fine-tip, permanent one will do)
Plain paper
Bold permanent marker
Ball Point Pins

Step one:

I began by sketching out my design. Start in pencil if you like, but really you can go straight in with your bold pen. It doesn’t matter if you mess up, just don’t trace over that part on your shirt. 🙂 You’ll see I didn’t use any of the smaller mountain lines in my final design.

Step two:

Lay out your shirt nice and flat. 🙂

Step three:

Next, slide your sketch between the layers. Adjust it until you’re happy with the placement. Then pin it in place so it won’t move around on you.

Step four:

Now trace gently over your sketch using your fabric marker. I found it easiest to go with the “grain” of the t-shirt (up, in my case). Also, I used more of a dotting motion rather than dragging the marker along the lines. This results in a light image, so definitely go over your work a second time. Then your lines will be nice and bold. 🙂

Step five:

Always heat set your work! Most markers come with instructions for heat setting. But basically, use the heat setting called for on your t-shirt’s care label. Then, move the iron around all over your image for a minute or so. This step is very important so that your shirt can be washed normally. Make sure to get your entire drawing. I also use a pressing cloth (or, another t-shirt haha) just to extra-avoid scorching anything. 🙂

And you’re all good to go! I have to say I really love how this came out. I wore this shirt to the farmer’s market with some cut-offs, and I may or may not be wearing it as I type this. 🙂

Have you ever drawn on your clothes before? If you make something similar, I would love to see it! Tag @ceiltastic on Instagram.

DIY Festival Top, No-Sew

Posted on June 20, 2016June 25, 2016 Posted in DIY FashionTagged budget: $, diy fashion, festival, tshirt refashion, upcycleLeave a comment

As much as I like to be warm, I’m not a hot-weather person (just check out that, um, “fair” complexion). So when it gets above 90, I want to live in the fridge and look up fall desserts, or maybe photos of snowy mountains. But some of us like to party in the literal desert. Or the humid forest. So this DIY festival top is with you in mind. 🙂

DIY Festival Top Supplies:

A tshirt or muscle tee, any size will work. Mine happened to be a kids shirt. A too-big shirt will work too.
Scissors

I know, supply-intensive right? And because this DIY will take you all of 10 minutes, your excuses are evaporating.

Step one:

First, layout your tee all nice and flat.

Step two:

Then, if you like, lay a halter top that fits you over the tee as a guide. Or just free-hand it. Either way, trim off the sleeves and make a nice scoop up to the collar. Go through both layers. Just make sure you leave a solid 1-inch piece at the thinnest point.

Step three:

Next, flip your tee over, and make a horizontal cut through the top layer (closest to you) only. Start where the arm holes end and give it a little scoop action. 🙂

Step four:

Now make the straps that will tie behind your neck. Cut up vertically from your back-scoop to the collar. Meet up with the cuts you made on the front, again making sure that your strap is at least 1-inch thick at it’s thinnest. I flared out the ends of my straps, but you do you.

Step five:

Next, stretch out the fabric along ALL your cuts. The edges will roll up and give you a more finished look without sewing. 🙂 You can pull pretty hard, just be gentle on the seams at the collar. Your top will stretch A LOT, but don’t freak out, we’ll make it tighter in the next step.

Step 6:

Then from the center back, measure down about 2-inches and cut horizontally across the whole back. Cut just to the side seams, and only through the top layer (closest to you). Then cut this new strip in half. Stretch these out like you did in the last step. You’ll use these back straps to tighten the body of your top to your liking. This is why this tutorial will work with any size shirt, you can simply adjust the fit with these straps. 🙂

Finally, try it on, tie it up, and you’re all done! I’m going to make a few more of these and experiment a little with the strap and fringe size. It’s definitely hot enough now to have a few these on hand. Happy summer!

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DIY Kimono From a T-Shirt (No-Sew Option)

Posted on June 18, 2016September 22, 2019 Posted in DIY FashionTagged budget: $, diy fashion, kimono, tshirt refashion, upcycle52 Comments

See what I’m up to on Instagram: @celiaagnesartwork

One of the best ways to be responsible with your style choices, in my opinion, is to embrace DIY fashion and thrifting. It’s easily the most fun form of recycling, am I right? And I mean who doesn’t like spending $2 on a shirt??

I knew there had to be a use for all those super soft t-shirts that were just too big for me. I also knew I wanted a kimono, but I knew I could make one. Unfortunately I just moved and my sewing machine is in storage. So a no-sew, DIY kimono it is!

DIY Kimono Supplies:

Oversize t-shirt
2 yards of fabric trim (any kind will do; tassel, feather, ruffles, whatever suits your style)
Permanent fabric glue
Fray stopper (if your trim will fray like mine)
Fabric pencil/marker/chalk
Fabric scissors
Ball point needle & matching thread (if you want extra reinforcement, totally optional)

If you have to buy everything, excluding scissors and needles, this will cost about $15. This project will only take you about an hour (if that), excluding glue-drying time.

See that blue ribbon? Didn’t use it. It was not ribbon, it was elastic. 🙂 Always read the label, guys, always read the label. But a contrasting ribbon would be a nice touch, don’t you think?

Lay your shirt out flat, and find the center. You can mark it with your pencil to help you cut straight, but it doesn’t need to be perfect. 🙂

Cut down the entire center, including the collar, on the top layer only.

You’ll now have a vest-type deal, so let’s kimono it instead.

Sketch out a curved neckline (see below), or you can just free-hand it like I did. You want to take off the whole collar and leave a nice, smooth line.

Trim up any jagged edges (it still doesn’t have to be perfect). Then stretch the fabric along the cuts. Stretch vertically down the middle, and side to side on the back of the collar. This will roll up the raw edge for you, no need to hem. You’ve probably seen t-shirts with this unfinished edge before.

You can tug pretty hard for most of it, just be gentle on the top shoulder seams or they will rip. 🙂

Now flip your kimono over to the back and lay your trim on top of it.

Put fray stopper on the edges if you need to.

If not, get your permanent fabric glue and start running a steady line beneath the top edge of your trim. I used the top stitching of the bottom hem as a guide. Press the trim down gently as you go.

Most good-quality glues will dry clear, so don’t worry too much about any show-through. If you make a big mistake, you can wipe it up while it’s still wet with a warm rag.

Let the glue get tacky for a few minutes. Then, press the trim down firmly with your fingers along the glue line. Let it all dry flat and undisturbed for the recommended time. Mine dried for about 3 hours.

Now because I’m paranoid, I also hand stitched my trim in place. A simple running or whip stitch will do the trick. You can also just do this instead of gluing. Use ball point needles on knits (t-shirt material), so you don’t split the tiny threads that make up the fabric.

You don’t have to hand sew. Permanent fabric glue will be washer-safe in cool water, on the gentle cycle. You do have to wait a few days for the glue to fully cure before washing, just follow the instructions. If you plan to do a lot of embellishing type DIYs, I would spend the $3 on mesh laundry bags so you can be extra-gentle when washing your creations.

That’s it! I couldn’t believe how quick and simple this was, and I was taking pictures of the whole thing. You can knock this out in no time and it’s a great addition to your wardrobe. Or a friend’s, if you need a quick gift. 😉

Think you’ll make a DIY kimono? Tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see it! @ceiltastic

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Celia Agnes

Tag: upcycle