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!

2 MINUTE UPDO

Quick and easy updo for medium to long hair.

This is based on the video tutorial over at Ebeautyblog.com http://www.ebeautyblog.com/2010/07/2-minute-updo-for-work.html.
It may be easier just to watch her video, but I did a step-by-step just in case someone is using a dial up connection as it takes forever for videos to load.

Items used:

• Comb
• Anti-Frizz product or styling gel
• 2 Ponytail Holders
• Bobby Pins
• Hairspray (optional)

Use an anti-frizz product or styling gel to smooth out hair and control flyaways.  I use got2b Smooth Miracle Repair Treatment as my hair is color treated, but use whatever product works best to control your hair.

Brush into a pony tail high on the back of the head and secure with ponytail holder.   I folded my hair up and then secured again with another ponytail holder.

As I couldn't get a decent pic, below is to represent the back the head with the folded pony tail.  Use your fingers where the lines are drawn to create and opening in the hair then tuck the hair inside the opening.

Using the comb smooth over the opening and secure the hair with bobbypins as needed.

Shorts for Boy Rag Doll

See Shorts For Rag Doll and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

I made up a pattern for shorts for the boy rag doll as I didn't want him going au natural to his new home. 
I accidentally deleted the step by step photos before going on vacation, but I have created and posted a  "how-to" over at Cut Out and Keep.  The pattern is based on the original pattern for the doll over at Dolly Donations.

REVERSIBLE VEST FOR RAG DOLL

A reversible vest based on the actual doll pattern - this could be amended to use with any doll pattern.

This one is for Boy Rag Doll I had made previously and based on this patternhttp://dollydonations.blogspot.com/2010/01/dolly-donations-rag-dolly-tutorial-free.html
and it is made out of scraps - I would guess under 1/4 yd of each fabric.

Items used:

• 2 different fabrics (1 for each side)
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine or needle
• Thread
• Straight pins
• Iron

All seams are 1/4 inch.


I used the base pattern for the body of the doll.  For the front I added 1/4 of an inch then angled down about 1 1/2 from the edge of the right hand side down to about 2 1/2 inches for the "V" shape for the front of the vest.  Cut two pieces of each fabric.

Fort he back of the vest, add 1/4 inch to the back fold.   I also added a small diagonal to the back of the vest on the fold side for the neck to fit (as represented by the red line in this photo) but you could add a slight curve instead.  Place the back on the fold of each piece for fabric and cut 1 piece for the back of each piece of fabric.

 This is what the vest pieces before they were sewn.

For one side of the vest, right side together, stitch a the sides together and stitch at the shoulders up to 1/4 inch away from the front edge, backstitching to secure.  Do the same with the other side of the vest.   Press seams open with the iron.

What I didn't do, but recommending for a cleaner finish is press under 1/4 of an inch for each armhole before pinning the right sides of each vest together then stitching all the way around the outer edges except for about 2-3 inches at the bottom.

Turn the vest right side out and then stitch along the bottom edge close to the edge.  Do the same with the armholes.  If you did not press under the edges, you could zigzag around them like I ended up doing, but it isn't as pretty as it would be tucked in and stitched.   I didn't add snaps or velcro to close as I do not know the age of the child that will end up with the doll, but you could add those to close the vest if you like.