Bicycle Dress from T-Shirt

 This size 3-4 girls dress was made using a free pattern and instructions by Dana from "Made" using a large t-shirt.  The only variations that I made is instead of freezer paper stenciling a banana for the "Warhol" dress, I used free clip art from The Graphics Fairy of a Vintage Bicycle and added a ruffle at the bottom using a decorative stitch.

Items used:

• Free pattern and instructions from Dana from "Made"
• The Graphics Fairy of a Vintage Bicycle
• T-Shirt (I used a women's large)
• 2 pieces of fabric 2 1/2 inches by 26 inch fabric for bow
• 1 piece of fabric 2 inches by 36 inches for ruffle
• Printer and paper
• Black fabric paint
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine and matching thread 
• Straight pins 

I followed the instructions up to cutting out and stitching armholes and gather stitching, but before stitching together I printed off a half-page image of the bike then played around with where I wanted to position it on the dress.

 Using the black fabric paint I went over all of the black lines with black paint the positioned it on the t-shirt with the paint side down and lightly patted it down to transfer the image (Note:  it will be a mirror image to whatever image you are transferring, so it won't work with lettering).




For the remainder of the dress, I followed the instructions.

I also added a two inch ruffle (approximately 1 yd wide) at the bottom, using an iron to press up a 1/2 inch hem then stitching down and using a gather stitch at the top.  I then sewed the ends together, pinned underneath the shirt at the hem then applied the decorative stitch to finish.

Linking up to:

Free Online "Sewing Machine 911" Class at Craftsy

Craftsy is currently offering a free online sewing class "Sewing Machine 911" with Claudia Miller.

I signed up and have gotten up to the first lesson and even though I have been sewing since I was in grade school and somewhere above but not quite intermediate sewer, I did learn a thing or two that I did not know before.

There are 5 segments:

1) Introduction
2) Parts
3) Types of Machines
4) Troubleshooting
5) Machine Hygiene


In addition to the online video, you have the opportunity to type in questions and others that are taking the class can answer them (and vice versa) to have a more interactive experience.  You can also take "notes" while you are watching the video that you can refer to later.

If you take watch the entire course online it will take about 80 minutes.  I would recommend it for beginners or anyone wanting to brush up on knowing more about sewing machines.

To sign up for the class click here

Disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with Craftsy and have and will received nothing for this post or referring anyone to Craftsy.

MELDED T-SHIRTS

Meld a too small t-shirt front to a t that fits in 20 minutes!

My son is in to car themed t-shirts and when I found one at the thrift store that was too small I decided to meld it to one that fits.  (It looks a little crooked in the picture, but it is how it is hanging on the hangar).

Items used:

• T-Shirt front that you want to use
• T-Shirt that fits
• Heat N Bond
• Iron
• Scissors
• Pen or Tailor's Chalk
• Sewing Machine and Thread

To get an even rectangle shape, I used a piece of scrapbook paper and drew with a pen around the edges, then moved the square to the left and did drew around the edged on that side to make a rectangle.  You could use a circle a square or freehand it, depending on the design you want to meld onto the other t-shirt.

Cut out where the lines on the t-shirt have been drawn with a pen or Tailor's Chalk.

This step is the biggest time saver - instead of pinning and re-pinning to get the piece straight on the t-shirt you are melding the piece to, use HeatNBond on the edges.  I cut approximately 1 inch strips of the HeatNBond and then on the wrong side of the t-shirt piece approximately 1/4 inch away for them edges.   I placed it 1/4 inch away from the edges at it will curl up a bit on the edges and look more natural, more like a meld than an applique where you would just stitch or zigzag around the edges.  I do not recommend using HeatNBond on the entire piece as it will make the finished product too stiff, unnatural looking and may even be uncomfortable.  The HeatNBond it more to tack it down in place to it can be sewn without having to use any pins.

Using an iron set on medium to high heat (depending on the fiber content in the t-shirts - if polyester blend, go with medium heat, if both are cotton you could use high heat) and set on the strips for 30 seconds pull up, repeat until all strips have been irorned.  Allow to sit until cool to touch (1-2 minutes) then pull off the paperbacking off of each strip.

Flip the t-shirt piece over to the right side and position it on the t-shirt you are melding it to.  Repeat going around the edges and holding the iron in place for 30 seconds, then lifting and going on to the next edge until you have gone all the way around the t-shirt.

Using a sewing machine, stitch around the edges 1/4 inch from the edge all the way around and then you are ready to wear your creations!