TUTORIAL: Reconstructed Men's Shirt to Button-down Tank Top! (surgery prep) Last summer I underwent major surgery on my torso which resulted in a prolonged period of the inability to lift my arms. This, combined with the warm weather, made wardrobe prep very important! I was told I needed button-down shirts or things I didn't need to lift my arms up to put on. Alas, I found availability in stores for anything remotely cute and season concious lacking.. This led me to create a simple design which converted second hand men's button-down dress shirts into cute tanktops that could be worn in more than one way. I kept it simple in the hopes that someone going through any type of surgery on their torso or mid-section who knew sewing basics would be able to use this tutorial to create their own version :) Or someone who wants to make something sustainable and girly!
Feel free to email me if you have any questions! All Photo Credits: TM 2011 SMASHWORKS. ON TO THE TUTORIAL! The shirt is almost ready! Now you should have a pretty darn long fabric chain! Striped Cotton Cowl. Spring is here on our calendars, but it sure doesn't feel like it here in New York! Everyone is still walking around bundled up in... you guessed it, cowls! They were the word on the street this winter when we brought you the Big Herringbone Cowl, and as we move into spring, cowls are here to stay, now in cool cottons and spring colors. It's really no wonder we love the cowl: no questions of wrapping or tying, no loose ends dragging through mud puddles and no getting caught in subway doors! I'm sold! And so for spring, I decided to make a cuddly soft cotton cowl because April is no picnic!
For the main yarn we chose the superlatively cozy Blue Sky Cotton in the subtly beautiful color, "Drift", a pale, pale gray, almost white. To it we added Olympus's Sashiko Thread in bright, beachy stripes. The Materials Get all the yarn you need with Purl Soho's Yarn for Striped Cotton Cowl kit. 3 skeins of Blue Sky's Cotton, 100% Cotton.
You'll also need... The Pattern Gauge Finished Size Begin. Lingerie sock : Knitty First Fall 2011. Lace cuff With smaller needles if you have them, cast on 120 [135] stitches using the long tail method. Divide the stitches as you prefer, and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist. Picot round: [K1, yo, ssk, k1, picot stitch, k2tog, yo] to end. 64 [72] stitches Cuff round: Work Cuff Chart around. Work until all 38 rows of Cuff Chart are complete. Leg Change to 2.0 mm/US 0 needles if required. Size M only: Knit first 4 sts of round with last needle. Leg round: Work appropriate size of Leg Chart across round. Heel The short row heel is worked over 33 [37] stitches. Top of heel For size L: Heel row 1 [RS]: Work 19 sts in twisted rib pattern as established, turn. Both sizes: Heel row 1 [RS]: Work 17[33] sts in twisted rib pattern as established, turn.
Size L: Proceed to Bottom of Heel Size M only: Heel row 18 [WS]: Turn. Bottom of Heel Row 1 [RS]: Knit the next stitch (the normal stitch in the first yarn-over pair). See pattern notes re: the decreases. The library tote tutorial. Here's a fun tote bag project I thunk up (yes, thunk) the other day. Of course there are tons of ways to make a tote bag, but I thought this one was fun and gives you a lot of options no less! | The Library Tote Tutorial | Whether you like things scrappy or streamlined, this bag is ready to go when you are. Take it to the library or to the park, it's big enough for all the essentials. Ready to make one (or a few?!) Materials: 1/2 yard exterior fabric 1/2 yard lining (if you choose to use any) 1/2 yard for straps, or cotton webbing or a handle type you prefer bias tape - handmade or store bought thread, sewing machine water soluble pen {1/2" seam allowances throughout, unless indicated differently} Cut and prepare pieces: Cut two pieces from the main pattern piece out of the exterior fabric.
Cut two pocket pieces. Cut strap pieces: cut two pieces 6" tall by 24-27" long, depending on how long you want your handles to be. Make Straps: Take the long strap pieces, fold in half the long ways, and press. New Green Mama: Reversible Messenger Bag Tutorial. Here's what you will need: Main body -2 pieces of home dec weight fabric or corduroy measuring 14" x 12" (Fabric A) Main body-2 pieces of contrasting home dec weight fabric measuring 14" x 12" (Fabric B) Flap- 1 piece of Fabric A- 12" x 11.5" Flap- 1 piece of Fabric B- 12" x 11.5" Back Pocket- 1 piece of Fabric A- 14" x 8" Back pocket- 1 piece of Fabric B- 14" x 8" Small Pocket- 1 piece of Fabric B- 7" x 12" Strap- 1 piece of Fabric A- 6" x 42" Depending on the weight of your fabric, you may want to interface it.
I purchased 1 yard of each fabric and had plenty of fabric left over. Let's get started. Cut out all your pieces. Cut a 1 inch square out of the bottom corners of all 4 pieces. Interface pieces. Take your strap piece and iron each side towards the middle. Then fold in half and iron. Round the corners of the flap pieces. With right sides together sew the flap pieces together leaving the top open. Clip the curves. Turn right side out and iron. Stitch across the bottom of the pocket. Owl be Green! - Upcycled owl purse. My 13-year-old daughter is huge into owls right now, so I thought I would make her an owl purse for Christmas. Ssshhh! Being the thrifty-green sort, I found a wool tweed suit jacket that had seen better days. The moth holes on the collar and ripped up lining made it undesireable... not to mention the ginormous elbow patches and the leather braid buttons.
So... old wool jacket, wool scraps, thread, and dye on hand, and those nifty leather buttons from the coat - all I needed was some lining fabric. (I had a coupon for Joann Fabrics!) A few hours of cutting, embroidering, appliqueing, and sewing later... Ugly, worn coat - wash and dry! Start cutting! And embroidering and appliqueing... Waste not, want not! Sew it all together and stitch in the lining. To anyone who plans on making one: I used a really stiff fusible interfacing on the tweed, to keep it structured. When you do the lining, Leave the bag right side out, with the lining inside out.
A Major Cutie Onesie | Creation | Cut Out. Re-Purposed Neckties. Skirts & Dresses.