DIY Hoodie Weave

This hoodie project started with Laura's basket weave shirt over at Trash to Couture (link).  I pinned her project hoping to make my band t-shirt look similar to her shirt.  As you already know from reading that post, I had to shelve that idea.  However, I was able to revisit it and happily it worked with this hoodie.  I did things a bit different from Laura's basket weave shirt only because I wanted to use a sewing pattern rather than upcycle a hoodie.

Band T-shirt makeover

I love the Drowning Men and recently I purchased a Drowning Men t-shirt.  The illustration on the front of the tee is by far my most favorite of the other Drowning Men tees I own.  After trying it on, I decided to add a little edge to the rest of the it, so I broke out a raglan sleeve pattern and went to work.

Here's the before...

and here's the after...

I had to improvise with the back of the shirt.  Initially, I wanted to weave the back much like this shirt. However, when I started to weave the back with black jersey knit, I felt like it was taking on a checker board appearance instead of the basket weave look which I had hoped for.  So, I decided to shelve the weave project for later and improvised the back by adding stripes.  

Shirt makeover details

First, I added the raglan sleeves to the shirt.  Here's how...

1.  Trace the raglan sleeve line to the shirt front.  I used a raglan t-shirt pattern that I already had in my sewing patterns stash.  Place the shirt front pattern on top of the tee, lining up the side seams and bottom of armscye.  This shirt did not have a side seam, which made it a bit difficult to line up the pattern.  

2.  Here you can see the armscye and neckline has been traced onto the shirt front.

3.  Repeat with the shirt back using the raglan shirt back pattern piece.

4.  Cut out shirt front and back.  NOTE: I did not cut the side seam.  Just the neckline and armscye.

5.  Trace Raglan sleeve onto sleeve material and cut out.  Sew underarm seam of raglan sleeve.  Sorry for the bad pick.  It was night time and with kids you pretty much sew when you find time in 5 minute spurts.

6.  Pin sleeve to shirt, matching shirt underarm seem to sleeve underarm sleeve and sew together.

7.  Finish the neckline by sewing on a neckband made of the raglan sleeve material.

Back of Shirt

Now for the back of the shirt.  Like I mentioned before, I improvised the back.  Therefore, there aren't any decent pics to show the process.  I'll do my best to explain.

1.  On back of shirt, mark cut lines 1.5" apart.  Please pay no attention to the strips of black fabric shown on the side of the shirt.  I was going to weave them into the shirt. 

2.  Cut on marked lines.  Be sure to not cut all the way to the side seams.  Leave about 1/2" of fabric un-cut between the side seams and the cut lines.  Your shirt should now look like it has strips of fabric.

3.  The above pic shows 2 steps - cutting the strips and adding the black fabric.  

To make the openings for adding the black fabric, cut every other strip off of the shirt.  (I then finished the raw edges, which was more of a decorative step.)  Place black fabric fabric behind the open areas and topstitch the black fabric to the shirt.  This created the wonky stripes.  

I did not sew black fabric to the top open strip area, because I liked the look of it being open there. 

4.  You can leave the hem alone or add your own hem.  I changed the hemline to be an uneven hemline by shortening the center front by about 2" and gradually curving the hem to the side seams to match the back hemline.

Cheers,

Jamie

4 Square Top tutorial

Spring is in the air and I've got just the top to welcome it here...

I couldn't resist making this top after I viewed a similar top by Free People (the free people top is no longer on their site).  It's super easy to make and only requires 1 yard of fabric plus some bias tape or ribbon for the shoulder straps.  It's made up of (4) 18" squares.  Here's the tute...

4 Square Top

I'd like to try to crochet the edges via this tute on my next 4 Square Top.  Maybe pop some random color with the crocheting?  I'd also like to try a lace fabric.  Oooh... maybe crochet the edges of a lace fabric.  That's what I'll do!

Anywho, if you make the top, please share your pics on the Pretty Ditty flickr group.  I would love to see it made up in other fabrics.

Cheers,

Jamie

Bias Mission Maxi

My new favorite - Mission Maxi Dress cut on the bias.  I matched the stripes so that I could create a chevron print with the striped fabric.  I also wanted to try something different with the back, so I cut out view B and added a braided piece to the back.

I used this tutorial to make the braid.  To determine how long the braid should be, I measured the distance from center back to the neckline.  I then doubled that length for the braided fabric.  After I braided the fabric, I pinned it to center back and measured how much of the braid I needed to cut off.  I made sure to allow extra fabric for the seam allowance when sewing the braid to center back.

Valentine's Day Top

For Valentine's Day, I decided to make myself a top.  I pinned a similar top on pinterest and used it as my inspiration.  Initially, I was apprehensive about using similar color choices for fear of clashing.  I changed my mind several times at the store, placing the bolts in my cart and then taking them back out, all to return back to the bolts and placing them back in my cart again.  That would have been a moment where I needed my kids with me, because when they go shopping with me, I never have the time to change my mind about fabric.  They've conditioned me to operate within a 12 minute window, whereby I get into the store, pick out the fabric, cut the fabric, and get out of the store and back into the car before someone is very unhappy with me.  Whew! My heart rate goes up just writing about it. 

This time they weren't with me and after several back and forth moments,  I decided to go with my color choices.  I'm happy I did.  

Here's a sleeve view...

Changes I would make...

  ~ The seams have some puckering, which may be because I cut the silky polyester on the lengthwise grain. 

~ The sleeves have a rolled hem finish, which looks wearable to me, but could look better.  Next time, I'll try a sleeve facing and I'll cut the pattern on the crossgrain.

***

Changing topics...Like many of you, I watched the Grammys last night.  I always get anxious to see what the artists will be wearing each year.  Insert record scratching noise HERE...I don't know... is it just me or did it seem like last night's Grammys red carpet walk was the entrance to a Halloween party?  What's with all of the costume themes?  Or am I just getting old?  Insert crickets chirping awkward silence HERE....

I must say that I did like Rihanna's black dress.  She looked amazing in it!  I also liked Paris Hilton's dress, specifically the godets.  I'm a sucker for godets.  So I guess there is fashion hope out there in Grammy land =)

Cheers,

Jamie

Abbey Coat pattern giveaway

A Sewing Journal is giving away 3 Abbey Coat sewing patterns!  The giveaway will close this Sunday (1/8/12), so click on over to enter.  Here is the link.

Cheers,

Jamie

The Abbey Coat lookbook

Here's the Abbey Coat sewing pattern lookbook...

Cheers,

Jamie