Category Archives: Hand Crafts

T-Shirt Reconstruction: She-Shirt

The She-Shirt – Resizing a too big shirt to fit

It’s no secret among my friends that I’m a big Eddie Izzard fan. My family and I were lucky enough to get to see a live performance in June. Eddie was amazing, funny & brilliant, just as you might expect!

Also available as a video tutorial:

In honor of our shared Eddie-love, my good friend Shae stenciled this fantastic “Covered in Bees” t-shirt for me. She knew it would be too big and sent it with her crafty blessings to be reconstructed however I saw fit.

Resizing tees is the recon I do most often, making my shirts fit me better while still being long (and wide!) enough to go over my hips.

Use a favorite shirt that you already love the fit of and that has similar stretch to the fabric.

This is a fairly easy recon and usually takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Supplies:

Too Big t-shirt
smaller tee (guide)
pins
scissors
thread
sewing machine (optional)
ball point needle (for jersey fabrics)

The shirt, before resizing

Resizing using a favorite shirt – cut about 1/2″ away from the original shirt so you have seam allowance. You’ll have to do a little guestimating on the sleeves, but if you take it slow and careful, it’ll work out fine.

Use my favorite recon technique and eyeball for the sleeve size, adjusting the sleeve under the body of the t-shirt until it’s the length and shape you want. Pencil a line on the existing sleeve using the cut on the t-shirt, and then added about 1/2″ for seam allowance.

Find the center on the sleeves, pin to the seam allowance on the shirt. Pin along the sleeve, being careful not to pull or tug the fabric. Stitch using a stretch stitch and 1/2″ seam allowance.

(Note from 2025 Jennifer – while updating this tutorial I realized this photo was missing. It appears to be long gone from my files and I do apologize for the inconvenience.)

After stitching the sleeves, fold shirt in half, right sides together, matching the bottom hem. Stitch a 1/2″ seam under the sleeve and all the way down the side. Trim seam allowance, if you wish.

Because you leave the original hems for the sleeves and the shirt in place, the reconstruction is now complete!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

Happy Crafting!

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Halloween Bats Tutorial

2 Replies

Every year, my family and I break out our big orange and black box full of Halloween decorations, cauldrons and punched aluminum candle holders. Folded and tucked into the side of the box are these sweet bats we made years and years ago. They’ve adorned several front doors, including our current home of almost ten years.

Halloween Bat Door Decoration

Super easy and adorable to boot, these anything-but-scary Halloween bats take about five minutes to whip up.

Supplies:

Felt Bat Template
1 piece of black acrylic felt for each bat
scissors
pin
hot melt glue gun & glue
google eyes
round magnets

Gather your supplies

Fold the acrylic felt lengthwise in half. Pin the Bat pattern on the fold.

Cut around the bat shaped pattern, leaving the fold intact. Fold fabric out.

Use hot melt glue to attach google eyes, being careful to use only a dot of glue. Use pattern placement as a guide.

Use the same method to add the magnets to the back of the bat, using the placement shown on the pattern.

Two sizes of eyes.

Looking great!

Once the glue has dried, your batty friends are ready to display!

This is part of my “Way Back Craft” series’; patterns, crafts, tutorials and general crafty memories before the days of this craft blog.

Happy Crafting!

Photobucket

this tutorial also available on cut out + keep

And Now For Something Completely Different: Crocheting Along

2 Replies

Sometimes, when the paper pieced designs aren’t coming easily, or my mind is filled with stress or other things that occupy my time, I find succumbing to another designer’s pattern a lovely way to unwind and unravel the tangled strands of my brain.

Lion Brand has been hosting a Crochet Along for a lovely Sampler Afghan. It grabbed my attention at once as being a project that would be fun and portable, which is how I usually like my crochet! Using their pattern, I created my own sampler, with Harry Potter-inspired colors! The actual idea I had was to make an afghan that resembled the four House scarves. The project, from beginning to end, took about two weeks. For lots more awesome variations, check out the Crochet Along Flickr Group. There’s a black, gray and white version by chooosy40 that I really like.

Hogwarts Scarf-ghan

Another great project that I just finished last night was for my dear hubby, who is currently running Call of Cthulhu with his gaming group. Inspired by his eagerness for props, what better than Cthulhu himself? Wee, evil Cthulhu made from this pattern. He’s my first animiguri and while it was a little hard on my hands, I’m quite please with the way he turned out.

Tiny Cthulhu

I regulary quilt and crochet for a local blanket making charity, The Linus Connection, but I’m always on the lookout for other ways that I contribute with my crafts. Coats & Clark’s Special Olympics Scarf Project caught my eye and I just had to make a scarf! Knitters and crocheters can use any pattern they choose, but I opted for their recommended pattern, which is the same as their Wizard Scarf pattern. I’ve made quite a few of those for my family and fellow Harry Potter lovers, so I knew the pattern was a fast and easy one. It worked up really quickly and I made sure to tie one of my “handmade by” labels to it with a note for good luck at the Games to whoever receives it!

Special Olympics Scarf

One of my Livejournal friends, caitirin, has turned me on to an excellent new yarn source! Angelicrafts Discount Yarn offers a variety of brands of yarn at discount prices. Just to give them a try, I ordered the Red Heart Mill Ends “Odds and Ends” box. The price of the UPS shipping was totally paid for by the sheer amount of yarn packed into the box. It’s all store-quality, without the sleeve and came with a personal note from the owner, which I thought was a very nice touch. I will definitely be ordering from them again, once I deplete my now ample supply of yarn!

Yarn from angelicrafts

Another fantastic Livejournal friend of mine, the multi-talented crochet goddess, hp5freak, shared a pattern recently for a Tiny Witches Hat . It’s an adaptation of another pattern that was written so that the hat was made in two parts. Her is easy-peasy and is made all in one piece. I had a brilliant time making this. It whips up in no time and is just the right size to put on a tiny pumkin. This pattern also introduced me to the Magic Adjustable Ring (also called Magic Loop), which I had never tried before but know I will now have a million and one uses for!

Wee Witch Hat

I’m currently hooking another Lion Brand Sampler Afghan, this one a smaller version and in baby colors for The Linus Connection. I’ll be keeping track of my progress on Ravelry. 🙂

Happy crafting!

Video Tutorial: Freezer Paper Stencils

3 Replies

I love t-shirts. I love them in a BIG way. I love to reconstruct, redo and, most of all, stencil my t-shirts!

Some time ago, I was asked by some friends for a stenciling tutorial. What I ended up posting was a video tutorial covering how to make a basic freezer paper stencil. The shirt shown was for my partner in a Twilight swap I participated in on craftster.

I hope you enjoy the video and give stenciling a try if you haven’t already!

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Way Back Craft: Golden Snitch Antennae Ball

T-Shirt Reconstruction: Reverse Applique Window

8 Replies

My son got this great orange t-shirt at the science fair he participated in last year. Unfortunately, it was way too small and *gasp* not black, which is his favorite t-shirt color. We talked it through and he agreed that if it was part of a black shirt, he’d definitely wear it.

I used one of my favorite “save a t-shirt” recon techniques, a reverse applique window. It’s easy peasy and takes only about 15 minutes to complete. The sewing machine and rotary cutter are totally optional here. This recon could easily be done with just plain old scissors and a needle and thread.

You’ll Need:

2 t-shirts
straight pins
chalk
ruler
rotary cutter (optional)
scissors
sewing machine with ball point needle OR needle & thread

Slit the shirt that will be in the “window” up each side and open out.

Using a rotary cutter and ruler OR a ruler and chalk with scissors, cut a square out of the front of the window at least 1″ larger than the image on the shirt.

Turn the intact shirt inside out. Center the square with the image on it right side down on the inside front of the intact shirt. Pin clockwise – this makes it easier to remove the pins as you stitch.

Stitch around, removing the pins as you go so as not to stitch over them. If using a sewing machine, choose a stretch stitch.

Turn the shirt right side out. You can faintly see the stitching line here.

Draw a chalk line 1/4 – 1/2″ inside of the stitching line. This will be your cutting line.

Near one of the corners, pinch the fabric of the intact shirt away from the applique piece on the inside. Make sure you just have one layer of shirt. Cut a small hole with the scissors. Trim carefully towards the chalk line.

Cut around the chalk line and remove the center piece.

Voila! Reverse applique t-shirt!

Happy crafting!

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Recycled Cereal Box Labels

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

DIY Outside: Tire Swing

3 Replies

From the first moment we saw our house, the biggest selling point were the trees. Huge, full-grown Live Oaks and an Elm that shade the back and side yards. Having kids, my first though was tire swing! My kids were too small at the time and then it took me ages to find a tire. I finally found a local thrift store that sells old tires for $5 each. I picked the best tire in their stock and our tire swing was born at last!

Recycle an Old Tire…Into a Tire Swing!
You’ll need:

old tire
3 large eye bolts with nuts
6 large washers (big enough for the bolt to go through)
4 Quick Links (rated for enough weight to hold the tire swing + kids)
3 pieces of chain, approximately 3′ long (rated for enough weight for a tire swing + kids)
chain to attach tire swing to tree (*see note below)
chalk
drill with large (3/4″ – 1″) bit
safety glasses

Mark three spots on the tire with chalk, equal distance apart. Wearing the safety goggles, drill holes in each spot.

On the opposite side of the tire, drill 3 or more holes. These are for drainage, so they don’t need to be as evenly spaced.

Insert one eye bolt in each of the first three holes. Screw the nut in place.

Add the Quick Link to one end of a 3′ piece of chain. Attach to the eye bolt. Repeat for each eye bolt.

Gather the other three ends of the chains and attach to another Quick Link.

Attach the quick link to a chain* hanging from the tree of your choice.

*Please note: The length and size of the chain will depend on the height of your tree. My swing is hanging from about 8′ of chain attached to the tree with a plastic coated heavy-duty chain and a Quick Link.

Photobucket

Way Back Craft: Ariel’s Blanket

5 Replies

Queue this pattern on Ravelry!

Printable Pattern

Ariel’s Blanket was made as a replacement for a special little girl that had loved her blanket to pieces.

Her mom found me online through my first crafty website, Jen’s Crochet & Crafts and we later met so she could show me the blanket and I could meet her daughter. I agreed to make it, if she’d pay for the yarn and make a donation to the blanket charity I volunteer for, The Linus Connection. She agreed and the replacement process began.

The blanket is a recreation made as close to the original design as possible. It was my great pleasure to crochet this for Ariel. It’s been at many years now, since I made Ariel’s Blanket. I hope she still has it, and loves it as much as she did the day I gave it to her!

Red Heart Baby Sport Pompadour Yarn: small
amount blue, yellow, green, peach & pink
(approx. 1 – 1½ oz.), 40 ounces white
For one square: small amount for center color,
approx. 2 oz white)

PC= Popcorn
Ch 3 counts as DC in PC st
Size “F” Hook

Finished Blanket is approximately 44″ x 54″

Row 1: Starting with center color, Ch 6, join with sl st. Ch 1, 12 sc in loop. Join with sl st.

Row 2: Ch 3, 4 dc in beg sc [drop loop from hook, insert hook in top of first dc, pull loop through to make first PC] ch 4, sk 1 sc, 5 DC in next sc, follow [ ], ch 4 around until you have 6 PC.

Row 3: ch 1, sc in same st. 7 dc in ch sp, sc in petal join st around. (6 “Petals”)

Row 4: ch 1, sc in same st, [ch 5, sc in next sc] around, join with beg sc with sl st.

Row 5: ch 3, 4 dc in first ch sp. [In next sc: Dc, ch 3, dc. In next ch sp: 4 dc. Dc in sc. In ch sp: 3 dc, ch 3, 3dc] Dc in sc, 4 dc in ch sp. Repeat [ ], join with sl st to top of beg ch 3. Finish off. (This seems very odd, but it works out!)

You should now have a square with equal sides, 9 stitches per side with a ch 3 in each corner.

Row 6: Join white in any corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in same corner space. Ch 1. {[Dc in each of the next 3 dc. Ch 1] Repeat [] to corner space. In next corner space, 3 dc ch 3, 3 dc,ch 1}, Repeat {} around. Join with sl st at beg ch 3.

You should now have 5 clusters of 3 dc with a chain sp between on each side with ch 3 in each corner.

Row 7 & 8: Sl st to corner sp ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. {3 dc in ch sp to next corner. 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in corner}. Repeat {} around. Join with sl st at the top of beg ch 3.

Row 9: (do not sl st to corner) ch 3 (counts as first dc), 1 dc in each dc to corner. {[3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in corner], 1 dc in each dc to corner}. Repeat {} around.

(for added variety, row 10 can also be in a contrasting color)

Row 10: ch 3, PC in next st, 1 dc, PC, 1 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in all corners), 1 DC, pc, 1 dc, PC around.

Row 11: ch 3, DC in each st around, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in corners).

Row 12: ch 1, sc in each st around, 3 sc in corners. Finish off.

FOR BLANKET PATTERN
Make 20 squares. Join squares 4×5 either with whip st or sc. Add border.

Border: ch 3 counts as first stitch

cluster = 3 dc, ch 2, sc in 1st ch, 3 dc

(Here, your cluster is 3 double crochets with 2 chain stitches, then you single crochet in the first chain stitch you just made. This makes a point in the middle of the cluster. You then make 3 more double crochets to finish the cluster.)

Join white in second sc of corner, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, sc in first ch, 3 dc, skip 1 sc, sc in next ch, (cluster, sk 1 sc, sc in next ch, cluster), around.

Each square should have 6 clusters, not counting corner clusters.

Join with sl st, finish off, weave in ends.

Happy crafting!

Add your Sewhooked-related photos to my flickr group and you might be featured in a future post!

Photobucket

Sewhooked Shop | FB | SHFB | Flickr | Twitter

This is part of my “Way Back Craft” series’; patterns, crafts, tutorials and general crafty memories before the days of the blog.