The 10 Minute Top

Whew, I've been so busy getting my new Etsy shop going that I've barely had time this week to do anything else.  But, seeing as how all the forecasts are calling for nothing but hot, hot, hot, sunshine all weekend long I thought I better throw together something to get me outside to enjoy the weather.

Soooooo, today I give you.....the 10 Minute Top!  Actually, if you don't hem it, it's probably more like a 3 minute top but we'll just see how this goes:

Supplies:
1 T-Shirt (something close fitting will work best)
scissors
thread and a sewing machine if you want clean edges


Steps:

Here's what I started with.

No, I don't usually pick up teal blue close fitting long sleeve turtle neck t-shirts, but I saw this on a sale rack for a whopping $2.  And when I see stuff like that I look at it purely as fabric and try to figure out how I can cut it up and make it look better than a $2 sale shirt.

Here's how I did it (hopefully you agree)
Steps:

1) Cut across the back from underarm to underarm.  Be careful to make sure that you're only cutting through one layer.

2) In the front cut along a shape like the outline below.  I measured in approximately 3.5"from each underarm seam and then cut a triangle up to the middle of the neckline. 

3) You should end up with something that looks like this.

Next, cut right down the centre of your triangle.

4) Now you can actually call it a day right there if you want and leave the edges unfinished but I couldn't do it.  The edges drove me crazy so I turned the top hem over 5/8" and sewed it down just to keep my sanity.

Pin It

And here is where the fun begins.  You can leave it like this.  Just put it on and tie the two triangle sides together and you have a cute little halter.  Oooorrrrrrrr......

You can cut a strip of fabric and make a long narrow tube from the left over arm pieces and add a little support:

Or you can have fun and add some pretty ribbon or interesting trim instead.  Here I used some Hemp trim to give it a real beachy feel:

This tie isn't permanent, you're just tying the triangle pieces around it.  So, you can change it out whenever you want.  I tried some beautiful beaded trim I picked up in India for a nighttime look:

This could be a great top to take on vacation with you.  Wear it on the beach with some shorts or over your bathing suit and then just switch the tie and put on a skirt for evening and away you go!

If your top isn't really close fitting you can still do this, you just might have to take in the sides or make some darts in the back.  That's still easy peasy and might only add an extra 5 minutes tops.

Don't forget to enter my draw for a FREE vintage sewing pattern .  Get your entry in before midnight Saturday, July 16th.  (psssst: That's only two days away and hardly anyone has entered...so your odds are very good.)

Check out the linky parties at the tab above.  There are so many amazing projects that get posted.  You're sure to get inspired by visiting even just one.

Have a great week everyone, enjoy the sunshine!!!

Inspiration Shot: Paris Couture

Some highlights from Paris Fashion week....

Ruffles and volume seem to be "in":

Christian Dior



Giambattista Valli

  

Iris Van Herpen

 There's always something completely unwearable and outrageous:


Iris Van Herpen

And then there's always something so beautiful that it takes your breath away:
 

Elie Saab



Elie Saab

And Chanel is always...so very Chanel:

Check out this excellent article from Jeanne Beker (Fashion Television) on the Dior show.  To my amateur "Project Runway" sensibilities I thought there was something really off on that show.  The themes just seemed all over the place and as Jeanne says in her article, "the magic was missing".  So sad that John Galliano had to be such jerk.  There's also a full video of the show here . 

Check out French Vogue for a peek at some of the other lines.  I reccommend Valentino (wonderful texture), Givenchy ( incredible detail), and Gucci (amazing colour).

Have fun~

Harem Pants

I can hear you already?  "Are harem pants back in style????"  I don't know, but I made a pair!

I used this pattern, which I'm pretty sure has been removed from the McCall's latest pattern books.

And here's what I made.

The whole time I was making them I kept careening back and forth between thinking they would turn out so awesome and what the heck am I wasting my time on these for?  But in the end, I actually really love the way they turned out.  They're super trendy, which I am generally not, but I think they're fun...for this year at least.

Actually, I spent some time in the south of France a few years ago and harem pants were all the rage there back then.  I laughed at them when I first saw them but of course I left with a pair in my backpack on my way home.

I even bought this funny outfit while I was in India.

It can be worn low on the hips as pants or up high as a little jumper.  But there's no hiding the fact they they are harem pants. (In India they called them "Ali Baba" pants.  I'm still not sure that's very politically correct but when in Rome...)

I guess I must have a thing for them, considering I now own 3 pair.  What do you think?  Are you ready to throw a pair on????

                                

Word~

Don't forget to go here to enter to win a FREE vintage pattern from my new shop on Etsy!

Not so perfect...

I don't know what was going on last week but I was having nothing but problems with almost all of my craft projects.

First up....iron-on transfers.  I wanted to make some fun t-shirts for my niece and nephew for their birthdays, so I edited a couple of their favourite cartoon characters and put their faces on them.

My nephew's shirt turned out less than great:

However, the fact that he put it on right away tells me he liked it anyway.  Normally gifts of clothing just get tossed aside in search of something better lurking under the gift wrap.

The one for my niece was a total flop, even after re ironing on a second iron-on over top of the first one.

My mom thought it was most likely because I didn't pre-wash the t-shirts, but even after I washed them, it was a no go.

Then I used the same idea and made tattoos.  I made one for my Dad for his birthday as a sort of a joke.  I thought I'd take a chance and let the Silhouette cut it out for me.  Big mistake, because I still don't know what I'm doing.

Can you see behind the name at the bottom?  It started cutting out each letter instead of going all the way around.  I think I was supposed to weld it or something.

And last up were the laminated cards from the Family Match-Up game I shared with you.  In the end it turned out fine but the laminated sheets totally bubbled.

I don't know if there's an expiration date or what on the transfers (I didn't use Silhouette transfer paper by the way, I had some older stuff from HP on hand) and lamination sheets but the craft gods were not really on my side. 

Hopefully this week will shape up differently.  Check back on Friday and see if I'm having better luck~

Don't forget to check out Monday's post for your chance to win a FREE vintage sewing pattern from my new shop . 

New Shop Announcement....Giveaway!!!

Big News everyone!! 

As most of you know I'm crazy about vintage sewing patterns.  I love finding and collecting them, I love making them, I love looking at them, I love everything about them.

Somehow, over the years, I have managed to collect and keep far more patterns than I could ever possibly use.  And more importantly, I'm running out of storage space.  Sooooooooo, I'm opening a new Etsy shop:

Right now I'm busy checking loads and loads of sewing patterns from the 50's, 60's, and 70's to put into the shop.  Eventually I'll add patterns from other decades as well as vintage sewing books!

'Etcetorize Vintage Pattern Supplies' by EtcetorizeSupplies

1970s Vintage Vogue Caftan R... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00	1972 Vintage Simplicity Dres... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00	1977 Vintage Style Dress Sew... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00
1969 Vintage Simplicity Dres... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00	1974 Vintage Simplicity Blou... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00	1974 Vintage McCall's Br... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00
1971 Vintage Simplicity Dres... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00	1973 Vintage Simplicity Sewi... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00	1972 Vintage Style Jumpsuit ... EtcetorizeSupp... $4.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

This is just a sample of what's in the shop now, there's lots more to come.
Head on over to Etcetorize Vintage Pattern Supplies and see what gets your imagination going.  There are patterns for all levels and styles.

And now for the really fun stuff....To celebrate, I'm going to give one of these gorgeous patterns away.  Just follow Etcetorize (the blog) and leave a comment letting me know which of the patterns from the shop you would love to own (don't worry, if you win you can change your mind as there will be more patterns added by the time I do the drawing).  For an additional entry "favourite" Etcetorize Vintage Pattern Supplies on Etsy and leave a comment below to let me know you've done so.

If you're an experienced sewer, beginner, or someone who's always wanted to try but haven't yet, this is for you!

I'll make a random draw from the comments on Sunday, July 17th so make sure to get your entry in by midnight July 16th.  (By the way, anyone from any country can enter, you just have to be a follower).

Good luck everyone!

Two Easy Ways to Win:

Become a follower of Etcetorize and then;

1) Check out all out all of the patterns at Etcetorize Vintage Pattern Supplies, come back here and leave a comment letting everyone know which one is your fav.

For an additional entry

2) Favourite Etcetorize Vintage Pattern Supplies on Etsy, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you've done so.

Easy Peasy!  Good luck!

PS..... Big thank you to Fonda over at Southern Scraps who did a lovely feature on Etcetorize on Friday.  Check out it and you'll find a bonus promo sale code for my regular Etcetorize shop that's full of handmade clothing and accessories~

ADDED July 17-------

This contest has now closed but please still feel free to visit the new shop, favourite, and leave comments.  Thank you!!

Dress Shirt to Summer Halter

Here's a fun summer project you can do to recycle those old dress shirts you (or someone you know) doesn't wear anymore.

I went to the thrift shop in search of a men's large dress shirt, in nice colours, that didn't have a pocket on the front.  This was not as easy as I had hoped it would be.  There were only two men's button down shirts that didn't have a pocket in the front and they were u-g-l-y.  So I headed over to the ladies large sizes and found the perfect top for this project.

Here's what you need:

In case you can't tell from that photo, that's:

-a long sleeved shirt
-lace or other trim
-elastic (1/2" and 3/4")
-scissors
-pins
-bias tape (single fold wide)
-thread
-and a sewing machine

Steps:

1) Lay your top out, buttoned up, and mark where you want to cut it.  It's best to do a bit of an arc in the front and then you can just go straight across in the back. 

I liked this top because it had so much detail and embroidery and patchwork.  Even the snaps down the front are cool.

I marked my line right under the arms in an effort to get as much fabric as possible.

2) Cut out along your lines.  Check to make sure that everything is somewhat symmetrical.

3) To add a little flair and make this top truly mine I decided to add a bit of crocheted lace to the front on either side of the placket.  Just pin it down, remembering to fold a little under on each end to avoid fraying, and sew it in place.  You will most likely need to use your zipper foot for this to get around any snaps or buttons.

4) Once the lace was secured, I snapped the front closed and then sewed down either side of the placket again so that the front is totally closed and won't come open even if a snap comes undone.

5) Now we have to make a casing along the top to insert some elastic.  You could just fold the fabric down but then you'd lose length from the shirt.  I wanted to maintain as much as possible, so I used bias tape instead.  I still got a nice clean seam with a casing but I only lost a fraction of an inch of length.

To attach bias tape, lay it edge to edge along the top of your top, with right sides facing one another.

6) Pin and sew down right in the little ditch of the fold.

You may want to switch to your zipper foot again for this in order avoid hitting any buttons or snaps when you get to the front.

7) Press your seam towards the bias tape.

8) Now we get to do my favourite stitch!  (yes, I am that much of a sewing nerd)  Sew in the hem as close to the edge as you can without hitting it.  This is an edge stitch.  It looks simple, but what it does for your garment is amazing.



Notice all those skipped serger stitches?
It shouldn't look like that, I just need to take my serger
in for a tune-up~

9) That little stitch allows you to make a super clean fold line that holds everything in place.  So cool right???

10) Fold the top down and press.

11) Now you just sew along the bottom of your bias tape, making sure to leave a space open to thread your elastic in.  Make sure your elastic isn't too wide for the casing.  I used 3/4" wide elastic.  This will effectively be a tube top, so make sure you use something with enough strength to hold this baby in place.  Also, watch where your buttons are falling in the front.  You may need to make your casing a little wider to accommodate a button or snap.  I was lucky and mine fell almost perfectly.

12) Once your elastic is in, sew the ends together, and finish of your hem, closing the hole you left for the elastic.

13) You could just leave things there.  The bottom already has a finished hem.  I knew for my body shape though, that I needed to create a waist line.  So I added another narrower casing to the bottom of the top, laced 1/2"elastic through it, closed it up and then called it a day.



Bottom hem: 5/8"wide

Tah Dah!!!

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You could also add straps if you want a bit more security.



Using lace from the front



Use the left over fabric from the sleeves

Funnily enough, being small chested actually makes it easier for a tube top to stay up somehow, so I don't need any straps.

I had to cut my head off.  I only had about 4 hours of sleep last night and I am definitely not picture perfect at the moment.  I think you get the idea even without my head though.

I really wasn't too sure how this project would turn out but I'm quite happy with it and I think I might even wear this top out this weekend.  Let me know what you think.  I'd love to see this in a men's pinstripe number.

Don't forget to check out the linky party tab up top.  That's where I'll be hanging out all week and you'll find loads of other fun projects too!

Have a wonderful week everyone~