5.15.2009

recycled ruffle tee shirt tutorial.


So, against my better judgement and per some email requests, I used naptime to put together pictures of how to do the ruffled recycled tee shirts. I say against my better judgement because I was going to make cookies at naptime. But I didn't. And now I want some.

All these measurements are relative; depending on what size of tee shirt you start out with and how small you want it to end up. I wouldn't try to turn an extra large into a small, for example.

Okay, here it is...




Make sure you do a continuous stitch...meaning, don't put your needle down under the armpit and pivot your shirt to go down the side. Just a continuous stitch, or else it will pucker when you turn it inside out. Is that confusing?








Now wash and dry your shirt and the ruffles will get all ruffly. Walla. This is exactly what I do for the little dresses, too. Just on a smaller scale.
And I'd like to give a special shout-out to Jakey, photographer extrordinaire, for bringing out my inner model. He does fantastic work.
Happy weekend!

17 comments:

Andi Kate, Children's Author said...

You are a genius. And a model. I hope Conan knows how good he's got it!

ShEiLa said...

cutsie
cutsie
cute.

whoever requests the instructions makes the cookies and brings them over... right? ;)

ToOdLeS.

Unknown said...

You are TOO much Cally. That is amazing...who knew a tutorial could look so interesting...and I definitely love the modeling.

Way way cute...don't think I am going to attempt any time soon though...hope that doesn't disappoint you, bu for some reason I am sure it doesn't...surely it wasn't me you had in mind when you made the tutorial. :)

Lori said...

Great tute! I can't wait to make Lydia some dresses. One question still...do you just leave the bottom edge raw?

jenifer said...

oh. if i was super put together, i'd send you some cookies... can you take a virtual, gooey cookie thank you?!

and, just a fyi... bernina has this AMAZING foot called the ruffler-- well, at least that is what i call it... it cost around $100, but you would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!! it is AMAZING (did i say that already?) NO MORE BASTING pulls to make cute ruffles... you can pick how tight you want the ruffle and how loose you want the ruffle, and you can just ruffle and attach in one step... um. AMAZING!! i think there is another foot that gathers that is cheaper, but come on, you're in a RUFFLE FUNK and you NEED a RUFFLER!!!!!! think, no more pulling the basting strings... ever!!!!! i blogged about it last summer, you can see pictures if you can figure out how to find my old posts... ;) oh... i just get all happy thinking of the amazing things you could do with a ruffler... WAY BETTER THAN COOKIES!!! (sorry if i'm turning into a stalker, book writer commenter... the ruffler just gets me all giddy... in fact, i need to go ruffle something... right now.)

Jennifer said...

Cally,
Great job on the tutorial! Youcanmakethis.com has a free tutorial called the ruffler...unruffled. It is located at the bottom of their website. I found it very informative and I ended up buying one last year and LOVE mine, such a time saver!
Jen (May) Pohm

Katina Angola said...

I love it. Probably never do it due to my lack in sewing and measuring skill, but I still love it

cally said...

What is this ruffling machine? I'm not sure I can do it. There's something theraputic about good ole fashioned pulling the top string kid of ruffling. But, I did finally get a cell phone so maybe I'm ready for the 21st century ruffle era.

And Lori, I leave the bottom edge raw. It curls up when you wash and wear it, so cut the shirt/dress longer than you actually want it. OR you could sew around the bottom, too, and the shirt takes on a whole new look. So addicting.

cally said...

Oh my goodness...is that Jen May from Ohio?! I just put two and two together...hi Jen!! The Jennifer and the Pohm has thrown me off all this time....duh. How the heck are you? You're a sewer, and a good one; you've given me some darn good pointers.

Very cool. We had some good times.

L. OL. said...

Cally, this is AWESOME!!!!

wendy said...

I like it alot --------but will never make one, involves scissors and thread and stuff I shy away from

Carolyne said...

Fabulous tutorial!

Natalie said...

Chocolate chips and R2D2...tee hee. Those are steps you must do in order to make this shirt correctly, I'm sure.
Hello again, Jen May!
I discovered she reads my blog too. Very quietly...
:)

mary said...

This is flippin' fabulous. I'm posting on Kirtsy.com right now!

andrea said...

Well that is the coolest tutorial ever. You are a genius!

Beeswax said...

Okay, even I am almost ready to try this. And I never try anything, even though I have a nice bernina and a serger, because the only place I can sew in peace is my bedroom floor. And that makes my back ache for like a week. But still, I might risk the slipped disks and try this. So cute.

Shalamar said...

You're amazing! I am obsessed with your blog. You're very crafty! Also, I love how R2D2 came to join in. You're tutorial made me laugh. Great work