Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Bandana shirts



I found a NEW favorite thing. I know I constantly have NEW favorites, but this is FOR SURE it for right now. Hankerchief shirts.  It all started a while back at Connell Craft Day.  I was making a dress for Emersyn out of two hankerchiefs and someone asked if I was making myselft a shirt.  I thought...hmmm???  and held up a hankie to myself.  It went half way around me and right there the idea hatched---hankie shirts.  Then when I was at Wal Mart and saw the new hankerchiefs they had (I think it must have been fate) I bought some and started right in. 
I don't do sleeveless, but I think it would work great as a tank top.  Just loose and easy---light and breezy!!  I love alliteration--it is the English teacher in me:)  Any ways.....this is all I did. 
It took 3 hankerchiefs per shirt.  First, I sewed 2 of them right sides together to make a big tube.  Then I rolled the top of the tube over 1 1/4 inch and sewed an elastic casing.  Then I strung the elastic in using a safety pin and sewed the hole closed.  Next, I cut 2 strips of fabric 2 and 1/2 inches wide.  I then sewed the long sides together--right sides together.  Then I used a safety pin to flip the tube right side out and strung the elastic through it---think of when we used to make scrunchies.  Hmmmm???? What happened to scrunchies????  Then I sewed the straps onto the shirt and VOILA!!! (edited: I have added a full tutorial for this HERE).

And the very best part....I can wear it with my pink shoes.  I love pink shoes and these have been waiting for a new look. 
There is really only one problem with this idea....hankies only come in ONE size.  I am a size small or medium.  Probably more like a medium who wishes she was still a small....but that is another story.  A few more brownies and I am not sure this would work out for me. I bet you could add a little bit of fabric on each end and make it wider, but that might defeat the cheap and easy factor---not sure how it would look either. These hankerchiefs were only a buck a piece, so the whole shirt was 3 bucks plus elastic.  I planned on using some of the 3rd bandana to make ties in the back, but then I didn't because I was not sure how much they would shrink after washing. PLUS I did not want the ties poking out in the back of my sweater---I hate that.  I STILL have not gotten them out of the dryer yet, so I hope they still fit when I grab them:)  I will NOW have to use the leftover fabric for some cute matching bracelets or for some more fabric flowers to pin onto my sweaters.  I TOLD YOU I was in love:)
Anyway....
Here was my second attempt.  I am just gonna go on a limb and say that if you see me this summer I will be wearing one of these shirts.  I have all ready raided the rest of the bandanas at Wal Mart---I figure I only get dressed about twice a week, so it wont even be like I am wearing the same thing every day--right??? ♥

make it wear it




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12 comments:

Custom t-shirts said...
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anne maskell said...

they look fantastic on you! thanks for the idea! I followed you home from sew much ado.

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

Ok, I am seriously in love with these! I have to check out the bandana's at walmart! I don't do sleeveless either, but I really like the way they look with a sweater over them. Thanks for the great idea!

Ros said...

Oh this is lovely! I never see bandanas that are this cute!

Countrylivn' said...

Once again, super cute! You are so creative!

Jill said...

LOVE! I have a whole bunch of bandana's from when I was teaching dance.... hmmm *wheels spinning*

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

This is very cool! Love it! i am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my "featured" button.

Andrea said...

What an easy idea! They look great!

Jill said...

Oh my, those are SO cute! I'm going to feature this when I do my featured post :)

Anonymous said...

Very cute! Might have to give this a try!

Sachiko said...

So cute and you did such an amazing job! Thank you for linking to my party!

Carol said...

Such a clever idea! I'll have to see if a bandana will go around me, if not, I know it will work for my daughter!
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