Up for air

Thank you all so much for the shopping frenzy!  I just made my last trip to the post office until next week.  I did get a small lecture on stuffing those flat rate envelopes but they took them and I can handle a lecture (I went to Catholic school so I'm tough that way.  Bring it on Sister!).  Of course if the guy behind the counter had been carrying a wooden ruler I might not be acting so bold here.  I've been trying to be dainty in my fabric packing so people will receive beautiful, crisp, flat fabric but a couple buyers told me to just stuff it in there and tape like crazy and it worked!  It's not pretty but heck, you can iron the fabric when it gets there, right?

I finished up a couple little outfits (finally) and I thought I would share a fun way to "girlify" a tank top.  I had to make another one of these tanks so here are some pictures for making the little ruffles ("wings") on the sleeves.  This tank is about a size 6 (in childrens) so you can make adjustments if you're using a smaller one.

Take a piece of fabric 14 x 7....

fold it in half lengthwise and press....

Mark a curved line starting about 1/2" in from the folded edge (I used a fabric pencil because my "mark be gone" pen ran dry.  But it won't show anyway.)  Sorry it's so faint, you'll have to look close...

Make two rows of gathering stitches using the line as your guide...

trim....

Gather until it's about 7 inches long on the gathered edge...

Serge the edge to secure the gathers (you can also just stitch it and then zigzag to clean the frays up)...

Center the "wing" on the shoulder seam and zigzag (on the outside of the shirt) in place...

Ready for take off!!  Cute!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!  We are leaving in the morning for Legoland (yippy!  I think).  Time to pack.

Comments

[Lauren]

Thanks for this! I "winged" (ha, ha, I'm a dork) doing this one time at the request of someone, but didn't know what I was doing, & it came out a little wonky... yours looks much better! I'll have to try this again...

[Diana]

J, Good for you on finishing your "Super Sale" orders. And Catholic school - yeah, once you've been through THAT boot camp, you can handle almost any lecture. :oP

Thanks for the sweet "wing" tutorial. I may have to try this idea tonight...as in, right now. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Missy]

CUTE Tutorial! Thank you for sharing!!

[Shelly]

Thanks for that mini-tutorial, Jona! I just added some "wings" to a tank-dress and it turned out aDORable! You're awesome, my friend ;).