Monday, August 24, 2009

Resizing a T-shirt

My first tutorial! How exciting is this?

Okay so this is something I've done a few times before and do pretty well if I do say so myself. Resizing a T-shirt is a lot easier and can be a lot more fun than you think, not to mention can make the T-shirt itself more fun than when you started! Click on the links to view photos of the process. (I would have put them right in the post but blogger apparently dislikes me a great deal right now).

Step 1:
Find yourself an over sized T-shirt

Step 2: Cut off the thick seemed edges from the sleeves, the neck and the bottom.

Step 3:
Flip the shirt over and create a fold straight down the back of the shirt. Make sure the front of the shirt falls away so that it doesn't get caught up when you cut down that new fold.

Step 4:
Cut along that new fold you just created all the way from the bottom to the top.

Step 5:
Cut strips of about 1 inch that are at least 6 inches long. They may certainly be longer depending on how you want the shirt to look and how big the shirt is to begin with. For a fun shirt you can where anytime I recommend about 6 inches, for a "Clubbing" shirt you can go as far as cutting the strips down the entire back if you'd like. Cut the strips all the way from the bottom to the top. For a more fitted shirt make the strips longer around where your mid section would be so that they can be tied tighter. (Tip: If you find you're having difficulty cutting the strips, create some tension in the fabric, this should make it easier and make the cuts cleaner.)

Step 6: If you have a friend with you, slip on the shirt and have them tie the tassels for you. If you're on your own tie the tassels yourself but make sure to tie them loosely so you can easily adjust where you want. Also keep in mind that you don't have to tie 1 to 1, have some fun if you'd like and tie a few of them 2 to 2 or even criss-cross them!

Step 7: Try on the shirt and make adjustments where you need it.

Step 8:
After trying on the shirt you'll notice that it feels a little funny in the neck and sleeves, so we need to fix that. For the neck cut a slit straight down the front, this can be as long as you'd like. For the sleeves it's essentially the same thing. Cut a slit along the top of the sleeve it will make the sleeves more comfortable and looks pretty cute too! If you'd like something a little more interesting, cute strips all around the sleeves and pull them thin.

Step 9:
Wear!

But what if I have an oversized shirt with something on the back? Well I'm working on it and I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out!

I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial! If you need any help don't hesitate to comment!

Stay tuned for more projects and apartment updates!
Cheers!

Bailey

Moving in the big stuff!

It's amazing what a few pieces of furniture will do to a crappy apartment! My mom and I moved in a table, a chair, my TV and we built the futon (which was an interesting experience to say the least. When I walked into the apartment the other day I was feeling defeated, the way I often feel when I'm starting a project but I muddled through and now I'm ready to go!

There's not a lot to write about but there are a couple photos to look at, but the color and more will be coming in a few days!

Stay tuned for some painting and my first tutorial!

Cheers!

Bailey


PS- don't forget to leave suggestions or questions!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Before pictures

So I figure if this whole apartment thing is going to be a big before and after sort of endeavor I should probably show you all some pictures of the charming dump I'm moving into next month huh? Here are some pictures of the raw apartment with no furniture or anything (the rug in the pictures isn't mine by the way.) This Thursday I'll be moving in my new futon (hurray!) and some other stuff and maybe we'll get a little paint on the walls and those pictures will be up soon too, but for now, here are the bare bones!

Check it out and leave a comment!


I'm still trying to figure out how to give myself more counter space for cooking because I'm going to have to do a lot of that if I'm ever going to keep you all interested in my epic failures.

Stay tuned for wall colors and futons!
Cheers!

Bailey

PS- if anyone has any suggestions for my apartment or any recipes and projects you'd like me to test rive, just leave a comment!


Friday, August 14, 2009

Introduction

My name is Bailey.

I grew up with a wonderful, fiercely creative mother. She can turn a wooden hanger into a masterpiece worthy of hanging in the most expensive closets in the country. She's a wiz on a sewing machine and a master in the kitchen. I like to think I inherited some of the talent but I can be sure I got none of that burning creativity.

I'm one of those people who sees a craft in Martha Stewart Living and thinks "I can do that!" I drive my car to the nearest craft store, and while walking the isles I get so overwhelmed by the surrounding creative stench that I leave with no supplies and no projects to keep me occupied.
Well no more!

I'm making a change. No more will a simple craft scare me! Never again will chocolate ganache make me run in the other direction! I'm embracing my uncreativity and running head first into the biggest project of my life.

In less than a week I'm moving into a hole in the wall apartment in the iron city... Pittsburgh that is. I plan to document my journey, turning this bare walled space into something envy worthy, all the while baking cupcakes, cooking dinners and crafting within an inch of my life.

I want to give some hope to those like me, show all of you that crafting and cooking is harder than those damn creative people make it look, but that doesn't mean we can't do it too!

Stay tuned and stay wonderfully uncreative!
Cheers!

Bailey