written by marieann

I have long adored the t-shirt recons that I see featured all over craftster.org and flickr. The girls usually say that they use a shirt to make a pattern. I’ve never really understood what this means because I don’t want to cut up the shirts that I like. I’ve also been afraid to sew tshirt material because I don’t have a serger. This weekend I tried some stuff and came up with a really easy way to make t-shirt recons. This is almost certainly not the best way to do it but it worked for me.

Materials:
Two t-shirts; one must be too big for you (so that it’s wide enough to fit around your butt) to use for the skirt and one can fit you already (this is for the bodice)
Remnant lace
Remnant t-shirt material (or other white fabric scraps)
Very light weight interfacing (it doesn’t need to be iron on but that would probably work better)
Piece of thin paper (like tissue paper)

Tools
Sewing machine
Pins
A shirt with a bodice that fits you snuggly and comfortably

Instructions:
1. Pin the thin paper to the shirt you like. Be sure to stretch out the fabric as you go if there is stretch in the original shirt. Cut the interfacing the same size as the shirt (don’t leave a seam allowance). Be sure to go all the way up the shoulder (I left a little extra for wiggle room) and go all the way to the side seam (again, make the interfacing a bit bigger so that you have some fabric to fit the bodice to you).

2. Fold the paper in half and pick the better side (no matter how carefully you cut it’s not going to be perfectly symmetrical. Pick the side that looks smoother or bigger). Cut the paper pattern in half and pin that onto your interfacing. Cut around the pattern then fold the pattern over and cut the other side. The reason for this step is to clean up your pattern because it’s really hard to cut it perfectly when your paper is pinned to a stretchy shirt. I didn’t use thin paper in step 1, I used some interfacing then realized it was asymmetrical so I made another one with the method described in this step.

3. Pin the interfacing piece to the t-shirt that you want to be the top part. Cut out the piece leaving about a 1/2″ seam allowance all around.

4. Fold the edges of the t-shirt over the interfacing around the top and armpits (I actually had already done that in the photo in step 3). Leave the shoulders and the sides free. Here’s a closeup.

5. Sew the edge you just folder over down with a 1/4″ seam. Trim the extra t-shirt material in the inside close to the seam (otherwise it will roll out and you can see it in the front).

6. Repeat steps 1-6 for the back of the shirt.

7. Sew the front to the back at the shoulders with a small seam. Try it on. Check to see if it hangs where you want on your boobs. If not, sew a bigger seam.

8. Pin the sides together while you’re wearing it. Be sure that it fits snuggly. Sew the sides together.

9. For the lace part, I just cut a triangle out of white t-shirt remnant then sewed a piece of lace over it. Then sew that to cover up the v-part of the top.

10. Okay the bodice is done! For the skirt, cut the tshirt just below the armpits straight across. If you have a design that you want to feature (like I did) that starts above the armpit, then cut from the top of the design to the bottom of the t-shirt with an A-line. Then you’ll have to sew the sides shut again. Then, decide whether you want pleats (like I did) or gathering (the better method; I was just lazy and too excited because my bodice fit). If you want to gather, then sew along the top of the skirt piece and then pull those stitches to make it gather. If you want to pleat it, just fold some pleats into it. To determine how much gather or how big of pleats, pin the bottom piece to the bodice (right sides together) first lining up the side seams (if your skirt piece doesn’t have a seam, then line it up where the side seam would be). Then pin the excess as you go around. If you have extra skirt fabric, then add a pleat or pull your gathering stitches tight.

11. When it’s all pinned in place, sew the skirt to the bodice with a 1/2″ seam.

12. BAM. Pair with leggins and rock out.

written by marieann

I used this easy tutorial to make a couple of pen holders for the journals I made. I used a layer of interfacing in the pocket to make it firmer. This wasn’t too difficult except that my sewing machine had a bit of trouble sewing through all the layers. Also, there’s a mistake in the tutorial — in step 3 she says, sew the wrong sides together while it should be sew with the wrong side of the pocket together with the right side of the front piece. Also, if you piece your front as I did on the bright pen holder, you should press a piece of interfacing or scrap fabric to the back so that your pen doesn’t get caught on all the seams of the pocket. I’m really excited to use this so that I will no longer make the excuse that I can’t journal because I can’t find a pen. You could also make these for your datebooks, calendars, etc.

written by marieann

I made these little wallets using this tutorial. The main thing that I changed is that I used interfacing for the body of the wallet. I used hair bands as the wrap around with shanked buttons as the closure system. Since I’ve been carrying this tea wallet in my backpack, I’ve drank so many more teas at school. I whipped up another five of these tonight (they’re not all quite finished); when they are, I’ll add photos here.

written by marieann

I made these little babies using quilt blocks. I gave them away as holiday gifts for my family and everyone loved them. If you start making quilt blocks and decide that you don’t have the patience to make a whole quilt, this is a perfect alternative.

Materials:
Fabric
Pellon (buy at a fabric store by the yard)
Heat resistant batting (again, at a fabric store)

Tools:
Sewing machine
Rotary cutter
Needle and thread (for hand sewing)

Instructions:
1. Make your quilt block. Whatever you want will work.

2. Cut the pellon backing and the heat resistant batting the same size as the block. Pin together.

3. Quilt the three layers together. I did a sweet octagon pattern.

4. Bind the pot holder. First, sew the binding to the front via machine, then fold the binding over to the back and sew by hand. If you are impatient, ask your mother to do it for you.

written by marieann

I had this very awesome owl sweater. It was the greatest sweater I have ever owned and I got a compliment on it every time I wore it. When I was at my parents’ house, I washed it and it totally funked out (even though I’d washed it dozens of times at a laundrymat). I was very sad but I decided to cut out the cool tag and the buttons and play taps when I threw it away.

When I went with my mom to our local Walmart, I had to pick up the same pattern and buy some cheapo fabric at Walmart. At first I didn’t love this green fabric but it turned out great. The lining doesn’t match perfectly, but I wanted to go cheap because I already made a coat last year and this was just a fluke project considering I had ten million other things to craft while I was at home.

I made the coat but was missing something …. it was missing a sweet owl patch. After testing the placement all over the coat, we decided it looked best on the sleeve. So the poor owl sweater still lives with in this coat.

written by marieann

I used this tutorial. It’s SUPER easy to use. I made only two changes — I didn’t use the Puffs tissues which are apparently fatter. Therefore, I found that the normal travel tissues you get at the grocery store fit well when you make the fabric 8 x 6.5 inches to begin. Also, in the last step when you bring each end to the center, I overlapped them a bit to make sure that the tissue holder stays closed when not in use.

These are a blast to make — very quick and a great way to use up your odd stash pieces.

written by marieann

I made this apron for a swap partner that loves hot pink and kawaii. This was such a satisfying project. I wrote up a photo tutorial located here.

written by threadslinger

Above is the first quilt I made. I gave it to my mom this year for Christmas (she loved it.) While Marie is a pro quilter, been doing it since the womb or something, I am new at the craft. And, um, it’s hard. But, I thought instead of going through what I did here I would write a list of things that I learned while making this quilt. Most of these will be obvious to you that are very advanced quilters, but they at least helped me. Oh, and if you are interested in using the design I did above, I used this super helpful tutorial.

Lessons in Quilt making from a n00b

1. Press down your seams every time you make one.
This is something that seemingly everyone who quilts knows, but well, me. So, just in case you weren’t clued in, now you are. You press your seams to help match up your corners. This, I have learned (see above) is not always easy to do.
2. If you get frustrated, take a break.
The whole “preserver through trials” thing that we learned as kids should be ignored when quilting. Don’t power through if you are annoyed because you are likely to mess up and then have to re-do it.
3. Do it in little bits and pieces.
I have this headstrong mentality where I want to start and finish a project right away. This is probably why I end up sewing until 4 am sometimes. But, with quilting this is a mistake. Think of a quilt as a 10k, you don’t sprint the whole thing.
4. Don’t obsess if it isn’t perfect.
There are probably many quilters that would shake their heads at that sentence. But, I think it is okay for not everything to look amazing right away. It’s your first quilt, you are going to mess up sometimes. Learn from those mistakes for your next one. If you rip out every seam that isn’t perfect that quilt will likely never get done.
5. Most importantly: Ask yourself, am I having fun?
I find with things that I am not super good at right away are sometimes unbelievably hard for me to love. But, sometimes its the hard things that are the most fun. Life is too short to be unhappy, especially when crafting. So make sure you have fun or it isn’t worth the stress.

written by marieann

I think this shirt is adorable! Give it to a friend to tell her how much you love her, in a funny way.

There are stenciling tutorials (that make it easy, here and here.

Click to download/print full pattern.

written by marieann

I used this tutorial to make a gift for my friend who’s having a baby. I think this makes for a very pretty gift for any baby. These could also double as fabric diapers I chose the colors of the baby’s room too (green and animal print). I chose to leave off the ribbon so I zigzagged the edges instead. I also pieced one of them to make a mini-quilt. Unfortunately, they got lost in the mail but at least I took some photos first.