So, I went to Walmart and got two 2$ tees. One in my size, and one XL to cut up (because I figured, hey, for the same price, why not get more fabric?). I cut out a bunch of flower shapes first:
I cut the shirt into strips, folded the strip in half, cut that into segments, then cut these little shapes out. I wanted them kind of elongated in one direction, since I’d be gathering them in that same direction.
Soon I had quite the little pile:
Some of them turned out pretty crazy, but that’s ok. You can’t tell once they’re on the shirt.
Next, I did a gathering stitch down the middle, going long-ways. I did some singles, but mostly doubles, like the one pictured above. Then I gathered by pulling on my bobbin threads. After it was gathered, I pulled the top threads to lock that sucker down.
After I had gathered all of them, it was time to place them on the shirt. I put on the shirt and pinned the leaves in place, as guidelines. Also, to make sure I didn’t have any leaves pointing anywhere awkward (you know what I mean).
I chose to hand sew most of my flowers on. I started with my machine, but once I got to where they were really close together, I switched, because I’m sure my machine (which is a monster and only goes moderately fast and super fast- it stalls if I try to sew slowly) would have gone crazy and gotten away from me and sewed everything down flat, when I wanted the same loose, almost ruffly look of the Garnet Hill shirt. So. I sewed by hand.
Then I put it on, realized that my buxomness caused it to look more sparse than it did lying flat, so I took it off, cut, gathered, and applied more fabric flowers. And then…
(It is unexpectedly hard to take a decent picture of yourself in the mirror. Or I am uncommonly bad at it.)
I love it. It’s not the same fabulous green as the one from Garnet Hill, but for an eleventh of the price, I’m cool with that.
Kasia can be found blogging and sharing more ideas over on her beautiful blog Dream Home! Click below to visit!
WOW! this is really brilliant! Your version is actually BETTER than the original!! I really want to make one of these too. I'll have to go finding some cheap tees, with Summer coming here in Australia… soon… I hope!
Your great creations would be perfect for my 2nd annual Revamp It day, I'd love it if you could come join in the fun! (since you do this anyway, lol!). Details are on my blog sidebar.
This is lovely! I definitely have to try it!
Your T looks so cute – LOVE it!!
I was wondering if you've washed it yet & if the cut flowers curl at all?
happy friday : )
This is great! I like it better than the GH ones. Thanks for sharing, now I have a new project for the weekend! These would also make wonderful gifts! I live in the South, and down here you can get away with this almost year round, just layer a cozy cardy over and scarf!
they look so comfy and definitely stylish:)
so cute – and clever!
It's super cute!!! I am curious to see how it looks after you wash it. I was disappointed with my pettle tshirt because all the pettles curled.
LOVE this!! I think I could actually do this!
This is so much better than the original and for probably half the price!! Way to go, I'm going to have to order this catalog myself!!
Very adorable!! I'm wondering if the fabric will fray when it is washed or are the edges of the flowers treated with something?
that came out so cute!
Amazing! I couldn't tell the difference. You are a talented and creative seamstress. Wish I had such gifts!
Wow. Just Wow. It really looks just as good as the original (and while I do love the green color, it looks pretty great in the gray). I am almost tempted to try it myself except I have zero talent for that type of thing. Still, you make it look so easy…. I just might have to take a shot at it! Thanks for the great post
oh wow… i love it! your tutorial looks easy enough for me to do it! awesome job! thanks for sharing…
Very cute. I've been looking at all sorts of shirts like this but haven't made one yet but I'm sure it isn't too far away…..
You did a fabulous job on this!
This is so cute and very creative! I definitely want to try this one! Thanks for the great tutorial! I agree.. it is cuter than the original!
Waaay cute! I definitely want to try this!
That's such a pretty tee! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing.
–Anne (Sewing editor, Craft Gossip)
so pretty!
Becca-
Thank you so much for the feature! I love your blog and was seriously counting down until the 20th when you told me that's when you'd feature me (and then was out of town until today). Thanks again!
As for the questions from some of the commentors, no, I didn't treat the edges with anything, so the knit did loosen up around the edges, but to prevent curling, I wash it and then lay it flat to dry. I arrange the petals when I lay it flat, which makes for fussier laundry than I usually do, but it's worth it.
WOW- absolutely amazing! I keep going back to the pictures and wondering if I could even remotely do this! Really fantastic! Well done! Thanks so much for sharing and giving me hope that I could do this!
Lovely tutorial! I posted it on my blog
http://katiegariepy.blogspot.com
I just finished this shirt and I LOVE IT! Thanks for the tutorial!
http://adrienneslittleworld.typepad.com/a_glimpse_of_me_a_peek_in/2010/08/garnet-hill-knock-off-tshirt.html
I love this! I might be at Wal*Mart this weekend.
Your's is more beautiful!
Saving this! <3
Thank God you made it ok, to buy two and cut one up. I have always felt like that is breaking some rule. PHEWWWWWWW! These are gorgeous and much better than the ones in that stuffy catalog!
cool design
This is fantastic! Sure it’s not the same color, but honestly, it looks just as good! I’m going to have to give this a try
I have been looking for good shirt tutorials all over. I am definitly going to make this. Thanks so much for posting!!!
Amazing! I love it!!
Oh thank you thank you for this! It’s gorgeous, and I have so many old tee shirts hanging around. I’m definitely going to give this a shot.
amazing !
thanks
SO cute! I’m always looking for more t-shirt embellishment ideas and this is definitely going on the list to try in the NEAR future! Your other tutorials are awesome inspiration too! Thanks so much, I’ll for sure be following ya from now on!
“Thank you so much for sharing your awesome idea. I love your sense of humor as well. My sis and I are both going to use your idea. She is a very accomplished seamstress, I’m not, so I love it’s mostly hand work. Love it. AAAND, you didn’t charge for this. Awesome!!!
About your sewing machine….you can take the foot control to your local sewing machine dealer and he can adjust it so that it doesn’t sew the way it does now.
You can also try turning the foot control around so that the high part of the part that presses down is closest to your foot. For some reason this gives you better control when pressing down (put a terry towel or rubber drawer lining under the foot it it “scoots”. Or, leave the foot control in it’s regular position on the floor and move your foot back a bit and then try pushing down. Hope this helps
I really want to try this! What a great idea and you pulled it off beautifully! Great Job. I will be trying this soon! Kristy from http://www.apronsandapples.blogspot.com I think I will have to feature this!
This is cute, clever and cheap! The best 3 Cs in the world. Love it! I am definitely going to try it.
The T shirt idea is wonderful, Thank you so much.
SO, regular knit tshirts will not fall apart after washing…just loosen? You said you did not treat the edges, what if you did with washable glue or something would that prolong the life of this shirt…IT IS SOOO PRETTY!
Hope to get the guts to try it some day!
What about overdyeing the grey t-shirts with RIT dye? Or starting with a white t-shirt and dyeing it? Then you could get the pretty color too!
So pardon my ignorance here as I am only just learning to sew anything at all, whatsoever. Let me emphasize that. But how do you keep the flowers from unraveling when you wash it? It is so very lovely.
Very clever…………
clever …………