T-shirt Tank Dress DIY-Chanel Inspired

Coco Chanel is one of my favorite designers, hands down. Sadly, she's gone now, but her label lives on and has continued to be one of the most sought after designer labels of our time.   If she were alive, I would stalk her.  Crazy, but true!  I love that she was the first to use knit fabrics in every day wear and that she weighted her suits with chain inside the hem so that they would always look perfect.  This week I've created a Chanel inspired tank dress with chains and pearls to honor Coco Chanel.  I'm also giving away a Singer ViVO sewing machine if you comment on my video!  Enjoy the project and make sure to leave a comment, OK.

The how-to video 

 Here's what you'll need

Sewing machine

2 tank tops

Scissors

Straight pins

4 pieces of 18" long 3/4" wide ribbon

Matching thread

Chains and pearl trim

Sewing needles

1.  Cut the tank top that you're using for the lower part of your dress in a straight line from underarm to underarm.

2.  Cut the hem off of the tank top that you're using for the upper part of the dress.

3.  Turn the lower half inside out, stuff the upper half inside and match the raw edges together.  Match the side seams if there are side seams.  Many tank tops do not have side seams.

4.  Pin all the way around.

5.  While you stretch the fabric, stitch the two tanks together using 1/2" seam allowance.  Stitch around twice! 

 See how stretchy it is now!? 

 6.  Cut your upper tank across the shoulder seam.

7.  Cut 3" off the front straps of the tank.

8.  Cut 1/2" off of the back straps of the tank.

9.  On the front of the tank, place the ribbon on the cut strap. 

10.  Fold the sides of the strap over the ribbon and pin in place.

11.  Repeat on all 4 straps.

12.  Stitch over the folded strap using 1/2" seam allowance.

13.  Pull the ribbon out of the strap to expose a finished seam. 

 

 Stop here if you want a simple dress with ribbon ties......OR.......

14.  Stitch several rows of chain and pearl trim right under the ribbon strap. 

You're done!

Sexy-Smart!  Great with a blazer, too.

T-Shirt Recon! Two T-shirts to Hoodie DIY!

I'm constantly trying to come up with new ways to use all of the free t-shirts I get at every convention and event.  This stylish hoodie is an easy project to make because it only requires two stitches.  One on the hood and one around the neckline.  Use contrasting t-shirts for a funky look or matching tees for an understated look.  I used the green for the hood so that you could actually see what I'm doing here.  I tried making a video with an all black hoodie and it was a MESS!  Enjoy and have fun!

Here's the DIY video!

The hem of the 2nd t-shirt is our tunnel!

Zoolander!

You'll need:

Sewing machine

2 t-shirts

Measuring tape

Matching thread

Long shoestring

Straight pins

Fabric Chalk

Scissors 

 Lay your t-shirt flat

Draw a v-neck line in the front 

Carefully cut it out.  Don't cut the v in the back! 

Measure around your neckline 

Lay out your 2nd t-shirt.  You'll be working on the hem! 

Add 1" to your neckline measurement on the tape measure 

Fold the tape measure in half 

 Draw a line on the t-shirt as shown that exact folded length

 Draw out your hood like I did here

Cut it out 

Flip it inside out 

Stitch up the back

It's going to look like this.  A monk wearing green! 

 Pin the neckline of the hood to the neckline of the t-shirt starting at the center back and working your way to the front

Overlap the center front parts of the hood 1/2" 

Stitch around the neck 

On the INSIDE of the hem of the hoodie near the center front, draw two small dots.  These are your holes in which you will thread the drawstring (shoestring) 

The hem of the 2nd t-shirt is going to be your tunnel for the drawstring

Cut a very very tiny hole on the inside where you drew the dots.  You'll have to separate the fabrics so that you don't cut through both sides. 

Thread your drawstring and you're done!