Sewing Projects
T-shirt Wrap and ribbon
Turn two cheap plain T-shirts into a stylish wrap with contrast ties and lettuce edge hemming and a fast and easy ribbon trimmed T. Both can be made in an afternoon - so easy and effective!
Requirements
A T-shirt (preferably 1-2 sizes too large)
150 cm of 5 cm wide ribbon (1 ½ yd of 2”)
Scrap of interfacing
Threads to match or contrast T-shirt colour
Optional – overlocker (with contrast threads)
To Make Up
1. Stay stitch just inside neck edge all the way round (stitch just below ribbed band, using regular 2.5 mm stitch length). Cut off neckband just above stay stitching – which will prevent neck edge stretching too much (and keep for the black T-shirt).
2. With garment on flat surface and front uppermost, cut up centre. If round neck, turn back top 25 cm (10”) to make a V. Cut off excess.
3. Turn under 6 mm (1/4”) all the way round neck and down centre fronts. Pin in place, starting at centre back neck and then pinning down either side.
4. Straight or zigzag stitch, starting from centre back neck, round and down front edge. Repeat for other side, again starting at centre back of neck.
5. Measure width of ribbon and then make a vertical buttonhole this width just behind the side seam at waist level on the left side. Remember to back with a scrap of interfacing to give support to the buttonhole stitching (for buttonhole guidance, see Buttons and Buttonholes).
6. Cut the ribbon into two lengths: one at 50 cm and the other at 100 cm (1/2 yd and 1 yd). Neaten one end by turning under 6 mm (1/4”) and then turning side ends to centre to make a V. Machine stitch in place to hold.
7. Turn raw edges of remaining ends under, pin and stitch to the inside of the front opening at waist level. Stitch close to the edge using two rows of straight stitch, back stitching at top and bottom of each row to strengthen stitching.
OPTIONAL
If desired, cut off the sleeve hem and garment hem ribbing (keep for use on black T-shirt). Then using contrasting threads, stitch a rolled hem edge, stretching the fabric in front and behind the machine as you stitch to produce a ‘lettuce edge’ hem. NB: this is much easier to do on the overlocker (check your users manual to roll hem)
BERIBBONED BLACK T-SHIRT
Requirements
A plain T-shirt
Neckband from another T-shirt (and sleeve and hem edge if desired)
50 cm lengths of four co-ordinating 15 mm wide ribbons (1/2 yd of 5/8” wide)
15 mm wide hem webbing (5/8”)
Optional Contrast thread – to match neckband
Fray Check
To Make Up
1. Pin then stitch the additional neckband around the inside of the neck edge of the main T-shirt so that part of the added band peeks over the top. NB: If confident with stitching, use thread colour to match the contrast band to highlight the feature.
2. With garment RIGHT side up on a flat surface, lay ribbons on the front until pleased with the result. We’ve used two vertically down right side, with two horizontally across middle, weaving them together where they cross over.
3. Once happy with the arrangement, cut the hem webbing to the required length of ribbon. Note we’ve trimmed ribbons to a V at each end.
HANDY HINT: To prevent ribbon ends fraying, dab a little Fray Check on the ends and allow to dry.
4. Fuse vertical ribbons ONLY AS FAR as weaving position, keep remainder free at the moment. Fuse first horizontal ribbon in place, over one vertical and under the other. Repeat with other horizontal ribbon, this time under first vertical and over second. Finish fusing the vertical ribbons in place.
HANDY HINT: To prevent the ribbon ends coming unstuck with wash and wear, hand stitch in place using thread colour to match ribbon or machine stitch down both long edges of each ribbon, again using thread to match ribbon colour or clear invisible thread.
These projects were created by Wendy Gardiner.
Illustrations by Jane Bennett, tel: 023 92 412687
Photography: Lez Gardiner
Stockist information
Offray ribbons and hemming web is available from stockists of Groves + Banks, for details of local stockists tel: 0118 973 5196.
