How to Stretch a Shirt - Project 7 (for your sister)

Well, ok, you don’t HAVE to make this for your sister, it just so happens that I’m given some of these to MY sister, so there you have it.  If you don’t have a sister, make them for yourself!  (actually, even if you DO have a sister, you can still make them for yourself.  When’s the last time you did something for you?)  

I’ve been a little bit obsessed with these lately.  

Image from: Create and Delegate

And these.

Image from: House of Three

And these.

Image from: My Sparkle

I just love this look, a lot.

So I took these:

And made some.

That’s right, for this project you will only need:

The seams from your thrifted shirt (or other seams)

Other scraps in coordinating colors

scrap felt

a girl’s best friend 

a pin back, an alligator clip, a duckbill clip OR a stretchy elastic headband

Dab some glue on the end of a seam.

Roll it over.

Do this one more time to make a bud.

Now, twist the seam as you roll it up, gluing here and there to secure it all in place.

I usually only twist the seam once, then roll, then glue.  (sometimes twice)  Twist, roll, glue... I think it looks best this way.  You can experiment and figure out how many twists you like the most.

When you’ve rolled it to the size you like, or you’ve run out of seam, tuck the end in a little and glue it down.

It looks like this:

Now you'll use your other scraps and seams to make coordinating roses.  Like:

You can use only one rose for a pin or barrette, or you can group them together.  When you group them, you will want to figure out what configuration you like the most.  I sometimes take pictures of several options, and then pick the one I like best.  Like so:

When you have a grouping you like:

Cut some scrap felt large enough to glue the group of roses to.

Use hot glue to glue them down to the felt in the placement you like.  

Be sure to glue in between the flowers so they are glued together as well, but just a little bit, or it'll ooze.

Carefully cut the felt around the group of roses, so you can’t really see it from the front.  

The back looks like this:

Then you have some options.

For a headband:

Locate that gluey spot on the headband where the ends have been connected.  

Glue the roses to the headband.

Cut a strip of felt small enough to be hidden but large enough to cover the gluey mess.

Glue this down to the back of the roses, sandwiching the headband in between.

Done!  Strut.  Go ahead.  It’s cute.

For the duckbill clip:

Cut a thin strip of fabric that is as wide as the clip is and long enough the wrap around the clip.

Glue this over the clip, starting at the inside of the tip on top and working around the whole clip, ending at the inside of the tip on the bottom, so it is completely covered.

Glue the roses to the top of the clip.

Cut out a small rectangle and glue this over the back of the roses, on the inside of the clip, sandwiching the clip between. 

Done!  Vogue.  That’s right.  Strike a pose.  You look good.  (Better than Miss Foam Head here.)

For a alligator clip:

Same as the duckbill clip.  

What I like best about the clips is that you can wear them in your hair, or you can wear them on a headband!  Two looks, one great, uh, barrette thing.

For a pin:

Glue the roses on the pin.  Make sure to glue them off center - more to the TOP of the rose cluster.  If you glue it in the middle, it will flop over funny because the roses are too heavy.

Cut a small piece of felt (or other scrap).  Glue this down to the back of the roses, over the pin so it is sandwiched in between.  

That’s it!  Stare at your gorgeous self in the mirror for a while.  It’s ok.  You’re entitled.  (And I won’t tell).

How about some earrings?  Just glue the teeny little rolled buds right to the posts!

But don't try to take your picture by yourself or it will end up as bad as this one.

And there you have it!  Rolled roses from shirt seams!  

Are you going to start saving all your seams now?  I have.  In fact, since starting this 1 shirt 10 projects project, my scrap bucket has grown exponentially.  I can’t seem to throw anything away anymore.  I blame thrift.  Thanks a lot.

a PS and special note:

some of the seams worked better than others.  I think the seams that are super skinny and not very thick don't work as well.  The flower is all flimsy and it doesn't glue together well.  Just a tip.  Use big seams.

linked:




SIMPSONIZED CRAFTS, AND THEN SOME