Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Progress on the T-shirt Tunic

I created a homemade stencil design to add to my t-shirt that I'm working on.  By the way, I can't decide if it's more a t-shirt or a tunic, so I think I'll call it a t-shirt tunic.  It will be a bit longer than a t-shirt and have side slits.


For some reason I thought I should mix a lighter color of paint for the new stencil design on the shirt. I mixed the color and tested it on a scrap of the same fabric and thought it looked good. But then I got it on the shirt where it was right next to the other color and now I'm not sure what I think about it.  It is the same color but with white added.  Hmmm.....


I went ahead and stenciled two of these new motifs on the shirt. And then stopped. I originally had
planned to cover the entire bodice with the stenciled design, but again....not so sure. So I went ahead and embroidered the two motifs like I did with the motif along the lower edge.


Here's where it's at for now.  This is the front.


Here's the back.


Close up.


I was inspired to make this shirt from the following books. At one point a few months ago, I discovered Alabama Chanin and have been in love ever since. I love the apparel they create and I decided to splurge and get all three of the books they have published. If you Google "Alabama Chanin" and view the resulting images, you will see all sorts of inspiration. But if you are not a jersey (t-shirt fabric) lover, you may not like what they do.


I will think a while on the t-shirt tunic and see if it tells me what more it wants, if anything.  This shirt is just a test garment for me basically and I hope to soon start on an official shirt, done the Alabama Chanin way, which is two layers of jersey fabric and reverse applique.

And here is what is right now laying on my cutting table. Fabric selections for a new handbag that I am going to start on today.....I hope.