Fabric Scraps to T-shirts

 Hello Readers. Hot summer weather means t-shirts. I realized I had so many fabric scraps that I could make several t-shirts from all the scraps. I would piece them together and make as many as I could. I like to use fabric scraps, fabric is too pricey to throw out the scraps. Let's see how making my own t-shirts goes. 

 It's a t-shirt bonanza! 

All of my t-shirts started here. This is my scrap basket. It was getting pretty full so I decided to organize it. I realized some of the fabrics went together nicely and I could make some t-shirts for myself. 

I used this pattern. It is Very Easy Very Vogue 8062. It had small cap sleeves that were part of the shirt itself. It seemed easy to put together and I was going to make several so a simple pattern would be best. A similar pattern would be this Simplicity New Look 6216. This pattern is for a shirt with the same kind of sleeve so you only have to cut out the shirt front and back and sew them together.

I sewed the scrap pieces together until I had enough for the front and/or back of the shirt. 

 

I was basically making panels that I could cut into a shirt shape. I held the pattern piece next to the pieces of fabric to make sure the fabric was big enough to cut out my shirt piece. Every shirt turned out different colors and arrangements based on the scraps I had to use. 

 

When I cut out the front and back of the shirt I sewed the shoulders and side seams together as the pattern directed. 

 

 I hemmed the bottom of each shirt by turning the raw edge under twice and stitching it down with my sewing machine. A good beginner machine is this Singer sewing machine.

 

I wanted to make the necklines as simple as possible (And use the least amount of supplies.) so I used my serger around the neckline (Rainbow colored thread.) and then turned it under and stitched it down with my sewing machine. 
 

This shirt had a lot of linen and I loved the colors. I didn't stop there. 

 

I put scraps together without much plan. I just liked the colors and patterns. 

 

I just had to make the scraps go together until I had one connected piece big enough to cut out my shirt. 

 

I used my serger on the edges and then turned them under and sewed them down. 

These shirts were fast to put together and I started to get obsessed. I kept repeating the process. 

I liked these fabrics and they were already cut into strips so this shirt is going to be stripes. 

I was on a roll and I kept going. 

 

 Some of the fabrics were so much fun. I don't know where this cat fabric came from but I loved the cats with the polka dots. 

 

Little french bulldogs? Yes, please!

 

Bumble bees? Of course. 

 

This one includes a piece of embroidery that I found at a thrift store. 

 

When I got to these shirts, I realized I had enough scrap fabric to make matching shorts. So with my "Go big or go home" energy, I made 3 pairs of shorts. At this point, I was tired of making t-shirts. I had more than enough for the hot days of summer. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Your Own Underwear

It's National Underwear Day so I am re-posting about how I made my own. 

 Hello Readers. Real talk. I needed new underwear and it led to this sewing project. I could have bought underwear but I decided to make my own custom fitted underwear. And I am really glad I did.

 

Before and after. 

 

I don't want you to think this is a blog that is going to hate on leggings. It's not. I love stretchy pants as much as any middle-aged woman. But when I was cleaning up and putting away laundry I realized that I had collected a lot of leggings. It seemed to be too many pairs. I couldn't fit them all in one drawer. That was too many. I was trying to figure out where to put all the leggings and thought I should maybe get rid of some. I saved all the solid colors to wear and decided to use the wild patterns for something I needed.

I decided to make underwear. (Note*If you are looking for tips on how to make sexy lingerie, this is not the right place. I am making boring, full coverage granny panties here.) I took all the leggings and got to work. I cut the waistband off the leggings and saved it for later.

 

I cut the legs apart along  the inner leg seam so I could spread the fabric out. I used my underwear pattern from Megan Nielsen Patterns. This is a great pattern. You can go to her site to see all the patterns she has for sale.  (*Not an ad. She doesn't know me.)

 

  Why did I decide to make underwear? Because I needed some new underwear. I almost bought some but then I said, "Wait!" I could make my own with this super soft legging fabric.

 

I made a lot of underwear. There are a few pairs that didn't get in the picture.

 

 I put the waistband back on the underwear instead of making a waistband as the pattern directed. It was faster and it made them a little more high at the waist than the pattern called for. That is the fun of sewing, you decide what you want to make and how it should fit you. 

 

I used the rest of the legging fabric too. 

 

 I cut squares and put them together to make wash clothes. These are so soft and gentle, especially around the eyes. I just serged the edges of 2 squares together.

 

I made as many wash clothes as I could because you can't have too many. These will be great.

These were so soft on my face too. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

*Year End Note From Chickie- This underwear turned out great. Some of the lace fell apart after a few months of washing. It was very disappointing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Dress with SPF

 Hello Readers. It is summer but the sun is not my friend. I try to wear sunscreen everyday. I try to stay in the shade. I try to avoid the sun as much as I can. But I can't avoid it forever. I had this wrap with SPF in the fabric. It was great but maybe it could be more useful to be a dress? 

 Before and after.  

This was such a pretty pink and it had 50 SPF.  

It was a great wrap skirt but I thought it would make a fabulous beach dress. 

I folded the wrap into quarters. That will let me cut the neckline and sides and it would be symmetrical when I was done. 

 

You can see the cuts I made while the wrap was folded. I made a loose boxy shape. I cut an angles shape on the sides to make the skirt shape. And I saved those scrap pieces for later. 

 

I sewed the sides together with right sides facing each other. This made a very simple dress shape. That will work to throw on over a bathing suit.  

You can see the cut edge of the neckline here. I wanted to finish that neckline, that is what those scraps are for. 

 

I had 4 scraps left from when I cut out the dress shape. 

 

I used a yard stick as a straight edge. I marked along the fabric with a pencil. I wanted a 1/2 inch strip of this pink fabric. I wanted the hemmed edge as my neck binding. 

 

I cut out my strips and followed the pencil marks. 

 

I sewed this strip of fabric to the neck opening. I sewed with the right sides together. 

 

After the neck band was sewn in place, I went back over the neck binding and top stitched it so it would lay flat. 

 

This dress is loose and great in the heat at the beach or pool. I love the pink color and this dress is easier to wear for me than the wrap was. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Applique Tank-Top

 Hello Readers. I made a shirt around this applique piece I found at a thrift store. It was super simple and I didn't use a pattern. I made it up as I went along. That is how I do most things and this time, it turned out great. 

Before and after. 

I like to go thrifting and one day I found some pretty pieces of needle point. Someone with an old fashioned name (Eunice, Evelyn...) spent a lot of time on this piece and the one peeking out from under it. These were really beautiful, complicated works of art. And they were being sold for 33 cents each????? (The disrespect!) There was no way I was leaving these behind. I didn't know I was going to make a shirt when I bought them but I took them home. 

 

I thought this orange fabric really highlighted the orange flowers and the blue stitches around the edges told me what color thread to use to sew around the outside of the piece when I sewed it to the shirt fabric. 

  

I made a wide rectangle, almost twice my size when I measured around my body. (It does not need to be exact. But I wanted it to be roomy and comfortable. I was basically making a tube with straps. I sewed the needle point piece in the center of the rectangle. That would be the front of my shirt. 

 

I made 2 straps for the shoulders. I didn't have a ton of fabric so that is why this shirt was a tank-top. 

 

I turned the edges under and sewed them down and then I added elastic to the inside of the shirt around the waist. That would give the shirt shape and make it fit well. 

 

I added elastic to the top edge as well and then attached the straps. 

 

I loved the blue stitching I did around the piece to attach it to the shirt. It's a great summer top. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.