Saturday 26 July 2014

KCW: Some T-shirts

Kid's Clothes Week continues, and I couldn't resist a couple of nice quick art inspired t-shirts (and to break the beading monotony!)

First up, P drew a vampire to turn into a painted t-shirt.


I had him draw the picture of his choice using a wax transfer pencil (I've no idea where the current vampire fascination comes from). I then ironed the image onto the t-shirt front and then painted over it with metallic black puff paint (Jones Tones brand). I totally took over and claimed that fun bit for myself!


P had wanted red eyes but I didn't have red 3D paint so we agreed on green. It's thankfully a bit less scary for not having red eyes! I signed it for him using a fabric marker.


The T-shirt is the Oliver + S School Bus. I made a size 5 with side 6 length. I was expecting it to be a more roomy t-shirt, but so far both of the kids tops have been a perfect fit, with relatively snug (or impossibly so in the case of the red peplum) neckholes.

 
Normally I'm a stickler for neat double needle hems of t-shirts, but I decided to play around with another technique. I used the double needle to sew a raw edged strip (about 3cm wide) onto the inside of the neckhole and the bottom hem. I was expecting the cotton lycra to curl a bit more for the finish. It curls like heck when I'm trying to cut it, I don't know why the hem bands have decided to remain so flat. It's not a time saver, but it adds a little bit of contrast. An interesting exercise that I may or may not repeat.
 
 
Then I went back to my NGV inspiration ideas
and made a T-shirt inspired by the Robert Morris felt sculpture.


This time I used the trusty Flashback Skinny T in size 6. Possibly with an arbitrary sleeve length addition, or maybe not. I've forgotten. - which defeats the whole purpose of having this blog as I try to use it as a reference for sizing and alterations.  Anyway, the fit is perfect, whatever size it was.


The black knit fabric is just the softest thing, dug out from the stash. I suspect it came from the $3 shop (aka Brunswick Fabrics) so I've no idea what the fibre content is, but I like it.


Continuing with my raw edge knit fabric theme I cut my "sculpture" and then sewed on the perimeter using a double needle. Hopefully it will stand up to being worn, and not just get ripped off in the first wrestling match (a daily occurrence round here).


I'm quite delighted with this t-shirt. It looks kind of Duran Duran 80's style, but I know it references a 1970's felt sculpture, which amuses me. I'd love for him to wear it to the gallery and see if anyone recognises it (before we get to the sculpture room of course!).

All that's left now is another couple of hundred small beads and then to back my beaded deer and attach him to A's new sweater. Then my gallery for the week will be complete. I'm loving playing with the theme this season. Did you get arty for Kid's Clothes Week?



10 comments:

  1. Great looking tee's, you do boys ( and groovy girls) clothes so well.

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    1. Thanks Nicole. I'm so glad I moved away from the idea that it was boring to sew the basics, and sewing was just about pretty dresses. I love making this kind of stuff, and he's such a happy recipient!

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  2. This Robert Morris t is genius! What an amazing idea!!

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    1. Thank you, what a lovely compliment. It's fun getting ideas from outside of the sewing field. Mostly I'm just too lazy to remember to use Pinterest and the like. :)

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  3. Love your interpretation of fine art! And it looks cool on it's own even if you don't get the reference.

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    1. Thanks Kristi. I'm really taken with the Robert Morris t-shirt too. I do love an obscure high brow reference in kid's clothes. No-one has ever picked my Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse 5 t-shirt yet, but I won't be surprised if someone does. Delighted, but not surprised.

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  4. Very inventive - you captured that sculpture perfectly! I completely ignored the theme - I love kids' art, but sewing is MY art :) I did consider letting the kids loose with puff-paint, but couldn't seem to find any. Where did you get yours? And what is a wax transfer pencil? The vampire drawing is brilliant!!

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    1. Trust me, there wasn't much relinquishing of control in this really. :)
      This paint is from Spotlight, it's sold in tubes with little nozzles. Looks just like writing icing!
      the wax pencil is great so long as you're painting over it and get it right first time, as it's permanent. there's a photo of the pencil in this blog post: http://bartacksandsingletrack.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/its-couture-knock-off-time-kenzo-kids.html
      The transfer pencil is also available at Spotlight.

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  5. so awesome. i love the vampire, to me it looks like "three amigos" though, hehehe: http://delawaretodo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Three-Amigos.jpg

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  6. These are amazing! I bet that the kids loved the texture. Way to go:)

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