Create Color Block Fashions With T-shirts!

Step 2:

Cutting the No-Sew Vest

1. Iron remaining T-shirt so it’s flat. Then lay it on a cutting mat.

2. Using a rotary cutter and ruler, cut 4” off the bottom of the T-shirt. Set this piece aside.

Step 3:

3. Using a chalk pencil or disappearing ink pen and a ruler, draw a line down the center front of the T-shirt.

4. With scissors, very carefully cut down the center front of the T-shirt including the neckline.

5. Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut 1¼” off each sleeve.

Step 4:

Dyeing Vest

1. Fill large 2-gallon container with 8 cups very hot water (140°F). Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 5 Tablespoons Lemon Yellow and 1 teaspoon Aquamarine dye with water. For more intense color, add 1 cup salt. Stir well. Note: Using a fabric scrap or a piece of paper towel, test the dye bath for the correct color. Adjust the color mixture if needed. This is a custom recipe for Lime Green.

2. Wet the vest in warm water; squeeze out excess water. Immerse the vest into the dye bath and stir continuously for 10 minutes or until the desired color is achieved.

3. Remove vest from dye bath and rinse in cool water until the water runs clear. Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.

Finishing No-Sew Vest

Press the vest to remove any wrinkles. Carefully take the sleeve edges and stretch them. The knit fabric will roll up toward the right side of the fabric. This is the finished edge. Repeat this for the entire lower edge of the T-shirt and the two front edges. Put several drops of Fray Check at the raw neck edges to be sure they don’t ravel.

Step 5:

Dip-Dyed T-Shirt Necklace

1. Using a seam ripper, release the hem from the 4” wide strip of fabric that was cut off from the lower edge of the second T-shirt (don’t cut the hem off).

2. In one of the plastic cups, measure and mix 1 Tablespoon Tangerine dye with 1 cup very hot water. Stir well.

3. Dip one end of the 4” strip of fabric into the Tangerine dye mixture. Allow it to soak in the mixture for 5 minutes. Remove and carefully squeeze out excess dye.

4. Prepare the Aquamarine dye using the process in Step 2. Dip the middle section of the fabric strip into the dye mixture for 5 minutes. The colors will bleed into each other slightly, which is OK. Remove and carefully squeeze out excess dye.

5. Prepare the Purple dye using the process in Step 2. Dip the other end of the strip into the dye mixture for 5 minutes. Colors will bleed into each other. Remove and carefully squeeze out excess dye.

6. Rinse the strip of fabric in cool water until the water runs clear. Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.

7. Lay the dyed strip on your cutting mat. Using a chalk pencil or disappearing ink pen, draw a vertical line ½” away from each side seam. Note: If your T-shirt only has one side seam, you can just mark the one side.

8. Using the rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat, cut the dyed strip into six ¾” wide strips, being careful to cut just up to the marked line(s).

9. Hold the strip by the side seams and stretch it. Each strand will curl up and create a tube. Carefully stretch each strand again. The strands will almost double in length.

10. To create a necklace effect, double the strands when wearing them around your neck. .