I picked up several of these lace appliques at a craft market last year. Then last month I found plain tanks on sale at jc penney for $5 each and decided embellishing them would be a quick, easy and super cute project. I searched "lace applique" and "vintage applique" on etsy and found lots of shops selling them for just a couple dollars each - I actually have two more on the way to me. I have decided I need a fancied up tank for every day of the week.
The first thing you will want to do is wash and dry your tank top and iron your applique to make sure it is nice and flat. Ironing is not my favorite thing to do but trust me, it will make things so much easier!
Then place the applique exactly where you want it and pin, pin, pin! Again, pinning is not fun but you don't want anything shifting while you sew, so just do it!
Then stitch all around the applique. You can use a ball point needle which is generally recommended when sewing with knits but I just used a regular needle and did not have any issues. I removed my extension table to make it easier to work around the arm holes and neck.
Once you sew all around clip your thread tails and that's it! Time to wear your adorable new creation! Or you can add buttons like I did to my navy top in the pics.
Here are the tanks I have made so far. Eek, aren't they pretty?
I have been wearing them with cardigans during the chilly Spring. They are darling with jeans and skirts.
I also have these little crocheted flowers and fabric yoyos that I used to embellish a tank last Summer. I don't love the fit of that top so I think I will take them off and sew them to something else. This is another instant gratification project that you can whip up in an afternoon or while watching a movie with your hubby (ask me how I know).
So there you go, a custom Summer wardrobe in just a few hours! If you make your own tanks be sure to message me so I can see!
Happy sewing, friends!
these were made from the sweater sleeves. super quick and easy. there are quite a few tutorials available online. i really like this one ::
on an unrelated to this post note, i think it is seriously cute that he sucks his thumb! i suppose a tiny pair of wool sucky thumb mitts would be a fitting project for fall, no? maybe to match his wonderful wool pants... ah yes, add them to the queue.
itty, bitty wool shorts made from thrifted and felted wool sweaters. i used the little comet tails crescent moon yoga pants pattern ~ it is wonderful! these came out a little bit bigger than i had hoped (this is the size small) but they will fit eventually, right? especially when worn over a cushy cloth diaper. i used the body of the sweaters for the main pieces and the bottom ribbing for the yoga waistband. there wasn't enough wool for the crescent bum panel so i cut that from another thrifted sweater. i still have the stripey sleeves from both sweaters and i am thinking they will make lovely little wool pants.
i am gifting these little knickers, but i will most defintely be sewing more!
i also made esme' a new little skirt with an olivia the pig fat quarter that we have been saving for something special. now we need to find a coordinating shirt, perhaps red, or black since white is out of the question for my kids.
these fabric covered headbands are so comfy - there are skinny plastic headbands inside each one! now i have the cuteness of a wide headband without the headache!
and they are harper approved!
