T-Shirt Sugery: Off-the-Shoulder with The Dollyrots

-
T-shirt surgery is one of my favorite things. Turning a standard tee into an off-the-shoulder tee is one of the simplest such surgeries because fabric scissors are the only required supplies.


For this project, I altered my new Dollyrots T-shirt, which was part of my Valentine's Day present. At their Sacramento Bows & Arrows show, the band offered a T-shirt, vinyl album and digital copy of the album for just $15. Sweet.

 
Step 1: Lay the shirt on a flat surface.  On the front of the shirt, cut a half circle or "scoop" between the sleeve seams. I like to cut a couple inches in from the sleeve seams so I have room to correct any jagged lines. I cut, check the fit, and then cut more.



Step 2: Cut a straight line along the back of the shirt, just below the collar seam. The start and end points of this cut should match the same points of the scoop cut. The straight cut keeps the shirt from slipping too far down your shoulders.

It helps to have a dog supervise your work.

Step 3: Cut a straight line along the bottom of the shirt, just above the seam, cutting the front and back of the shirt together. The fabric will roll at the bottom, so it's always best to cut the least amount of fabric and then check the fit before cutting higher above the seam.

Step 4: Grab the bottom of the shirt at both sides and pull the fabric to stretch the shirt for a looser fit at the bottom. You can also do this at the neck if you want a looser fit without cutting more fabric.


And, because they're awesome:
The Dollyrots at Bows & Arrows, Feb. 15, 2013

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Halloween Decorations: How to Stuff a Life-Size Michael Myers

-
Image
Michael Myers is our grand finale of decorations, the big kahuna. The Michael Myers tradition started our first year in our first home. Aaron had the brilliant idea of stuffing Michael and placing him in my office window, which faced the yard. You had to walk right past the window to get to our door. You couldn't miss Michael; even people driving by on the street would slow to check him out. On Halloween, Michael amused many and frightened some. A few groups wondered out loud if he was real. Suddenly Michael would move (thanks to Aaron hididng in the office) and screams would ensue. Eventually, Aaron closed the blinds, quickly un-stuffed Michael, stuffed himself inside and hid behind the front door. I would answer and Aaron would creep out or jump out. More screams. The next day, we had a knock at our door. A group of kids asked Aaron if he could put the costume back on and chase them. But of course! The group waited outside, expecting Aaron to come out the front door
Keep on Reading on

Outdoor Oasis: How to Turn a Futon into a Porch Couch

-
Image
I refer to my back porch as my outdoor oasis, not because it's the most beautiful or detailed, but simply because the furniture is comfortable and the atmosphere is peaceful. It's where I go to unwind, relax and read. And now thanks to a recent project to turn a futon into a porch couch, I have the ultimate reading and napping spot. Last year, I wrote about getting rid of my busted up outdoor furniture, updating the salvageable and buying a futon to to use as my new outdoor couch . Shortly after I painted the $20 queen-size, solid-wood futon with outdoor white paint, I got busy getting ready for my move and never updated with the final result. I love it.
Keep on Reading on

Top 10 Tips for Packing Early for a Move

-
Image
I think I'm having the most organized move of my life, and that includes all future moves. I should be; this move is taking forever to actually happen. The tenants at my future home stopped paying rent over two months ago, and apparently that's how long it can take to evict someone in California. It's a frustrating saga I won't get into it. I thought I would, however, share some of my tips for an organized move, especially tips on what you can do well in advance of actually moving. 1. Create a box or basket of moving supplies. You want one place to hold packing tape, scissors, your labeling pen, etc. You also want an organizational system for all the pins, pens, screws and batteries you'll come across. (Make sure to separate the working batteries from the dead.) I like to use little jewelry boxes and small plastic containers to hold these items. After each box is sealed and labeled, the packing tape and Sharpie are immediately returned to this baske
Keep on Reading on