Racerback Tank Tutorial

Yesterday I was upset that I couldn't go to the fabric store. So I blasted Doodle Jump up way loud and made my parents annoyed. Finally I just decided to keep dying, so it continued to make a bunch of woooooooo sounds. I know, I know, it was pretty bratty and immature, but still... my hunger needed to be satisfied. Afterwards we made a deal that we could go this coming Saturday. I was happy.

Until we lost our soccer game. Then I wanted to sew, and that, at least, my mom and dad let me do. Hurray!

Here's my finished project.

A racerback tank top! Made out of more of the jersey I used for my sport tunic.

Tutorial (sorry for the weird lighting; it was just last night and my camera made the colors weird)

Materials: tank top that fits you, jersey (I had 3/4 yard), sewing machine, thread, extra material for binding, like rib knit. I used some sort of stretchy, work out material. Also you need scissors, measuring tape, etc.

1. On your fabric, trace and cut around your store-bought tank top, leaving 1/2" seam allowance.

2. Cut out your neck hole from your fabric. Now pin and sew your shoulders together, right sides together. Sew up the sides of your tank top.

3. Now cut out the racerback. Mine was sorta freehand, but you can use a round object like a bowl to help guide the racerback shape. Now sew up the sides of the tank, right sides still together.

4. Cut long, wide strips of rib knit or other material to bind the edges of the armholes and the neckband. I used the last method in this tutorial.

5. Hem the bottom, if you wish, or you can leave it raw--jersey doesn't fray!

Have a nice day! o(^__^o)

Drawstring Bag

In social studies, we play a game where you can give the emperor gifts in exchange for extra koku, or rice. So I gave a little drawstring bag with 'emperor' embroidered on it in Japanese. My group then filled it with little origami stars and cranes. Finished bag:

I basically cut a rectangle of loosely-woven fabric by my desired width and double the length I wanted, plus 2" for the casings. I folded the top and bottom of the fabric over about 1," and then I sewed them down with a double running stitch. I embroidered on the Japanese characters, and then I folded the bag in half, right sides together, and sewed up the sides, stopping when I reached the bottom of the casings--you don't want to close them. Then I cut 2 pieces of yarn and threaded them through, tying knots at the end.

Even though the bag is plain, I'm really proud about it. Next I want to knit a sweater--a chunky sweater with BIG needles. Maybe US 19.

Jmorco

I am in awe of jmorco's work on etsy. Her things have inspired me to sew unique things. Maybe I'll ask for one of her pieces for my birthday. When I grow up, I hope she will still have her shop open, because then I might possibly have money to buy from her. Possibly. Though it'll be the day when I will spend more than $30. But I shall make an exception. Again, possibly.

What I'm currently working on...

Here's a preview of my newest sewing project--it's another jmorco knock-off (an etsy shop with cool, unique, and funky clothing). It's a kind of patchwork-shirt. The sleeves are going to be made from salvaged jersey scraps.

WIP: The head to head band

I'm working on the head to head band by hilary hunt. I'm using a minty green dk weight yarn, held double from a recycled sweater--another giveaway yarn. I'm hoping to make another headband in black or white for soccer and basketball or something. That is, when we go to Michael's or wherever for some cotton yarn--I don't know. The thought of using scratchy acrylic yarn just doesn't appeal to me for a headband. Anyways, we need to go to Michael's first. Which probably won't be soon. Pics:

FO: Ribbon Shawl

Sorry I haven't written anything these past couple days. I've been busy; I just got back from soccer practice. I finished my shawl! And then I realized I needed a shawl pin, so I took a pin back and sewed on a button and some beads. I also used a sparkly barrette to pin it.

Pattern: Light and Lacy Shawl by Kris Percival

Yarn: recycled sweater ribbon yarn I won from a giveaway by sneezerville (her site is awesome!)

Needle used: #9 us circular needle; 29"

Modifications: didn't do a lacy edge, I just did a stretch bind off (knit 2 tog through back loops, slip st back to left needle and repeat). I also stopped increasing at only 151 sts because I'm lazy.

Would I do it again? Probably not. Too many stitches for me!

Hip Hop Pullover: Tunic Tutorial

I have been called many things. Immature: just last night I was rooting myself on to beat my high score in Doodle Jump. I also love to watch pokemon, dragon tales, arthur, kids next door, etc. if it's on. I've been called weird: I once tied my socks to my p.e. pants so I wouldn't lose them (I don't mean to insult anyone who's done that before!). I was making cotton candy mustaches with my sister the other day. However, I've often been called creative, talented, and incredibly gifted--did I mention I am often called these things? (ok, just ignore those last two) The point is that I'm very creative when it comes to going over my mistakes. I'm also good at copying things. Due to laziness (not that I'm lazy or anything), this shirt doesn't exactly give me what I wanted, but with my arm warmers (tutorial here), it still gives me the cool, tough-girl attitude that I'm going for. Inspiration (by jmorco on etsy):

My interpretation:

This shirt makes me want to start showing off my dance moves (that I, unfortunately, don't have). I can imagine this shirt on one of those tough street-dancers from the movies. It's the kind of shirt that makes me feel--dare I say it?--bad.

And I'm lovin' it.

I remember for a field trip, I brought Cheez-its to a play even though I wasn't supposed to, and I told my friend, "I'm so bad, I brought Cheez-its!" She laughed, and so did I, but sadly, in a way, I wasn't exactly kidding. I wish I was wearing this shirt when I had said that: it would have made it ten times worse.

Tutorial

materials: scissors, shirt that you want to model after, sewing machine, drapey, stretchy, jersey fabric (i had about 3/4 yard from the remnant pile in the fabric store); thread. that's about it.

The front and back pieces are the same. Take your nice fitting shirt and lay it out on your fabric. Cut around your shirt, not including the neckhole or the curve of the shoulders on your sleeves. Leave a seam allowance. You basically want a straight edge on the top, so you have 2 t-shaped pieces of fabric. Leave plenty of room under your arms, so you almost have a gusset underneath. See how square the original shirt's underarms are? You want to curve under it. Compare the underarms from this picture to the picture below.

After you cut out both pieces, sew the shoulders, leaving a gap for your head to fit through. I made the gap a little big so it can fall off the shoulder if I want it to. You don't have to cut out a neckhole, because since the fabric's drapey, it gives you a nice curling raw edge that goes around your neck. Then sew up the sides. You're finished! Easy top in about 15 minutes! Make a ton out of different colored jersey. Have fun. :)

Maybe one day I'll actually try again at copying the shirt. But for now, this is good enough for me.