"Twisted Shoulder" Tattoo Tank Top

This fun and funky top was made for my niece Bella, age 8.
Sadly, she has out-grown ruffles...sigh...

I started by using one of the iron-on transfers from the book "Tattoo Tees" (see post below for book details).

After the "Tattoo" was set, I cut out Ottobre Design Pattern #13, from the 04/07 issue. It is just a flared T-shirt top. I decided to omit the sleeves, and to add a little twist detail to one shoulder:

To allow for the twist, I added 1/2" in length to one front shoulder as I was cutting it out. Next I sewed the UN-twisted front shoulder seam to its matching back shoulder...then finished the armholes, neckline and hem with the serger because I wanted a very casual look for this top. The other front shoulder was twisted once (maybe twice...I just twisted it until it looked "right"). The remaining shoulder seams were then sewn as usual, Right Sides Together.

This top was fun and fast to sew...about 45 minutes from start to finish!

A Top...with a "Tattoo"

This top for my niece Willow was such fun to make!

Inspired by a post on Stacy's Blog quite a long time ago, I purchased the book "Tattoo Tees". It is a Leisure Arts book, IBSN- 978-1-60140-766-5


The book has several transfers, meant to resemble "tattoos". What I really like about these transfers is that they are shaded, intended to look like they've faded over time.

So, after I had sewn a quick knit top based on an Ottobre pattern that, when finished looked so...very...boring, I applied one of the transfers. I think it gives the top just enough panache to please a hip kid.

Lindsay asked:
"... how did you get this to look so perfect? My iron-on attempts always look sloppy."

It helps that this iron-on is not meant to look perfect, LOL! And I was lucky that this kid-size top fit on my ironing board...I didn't have to reposition anything in the middle of pressing. Also, instead of just putting paper between the layers of the shirt to prevent "bleed through", I used a piece of heavy card-stock paper (the kind from which I make my pattern blocks). That gave me a nice firm surface on which to press. After I taped the transfer to the shirt with painters' tape, I lowered my ironing board a bit, then really "leaned" onto the iron for extra pressure. All that and some luck gave me a good result :)

A Classic Summer Shirt...of Light Textured Silk

I recently designed this Classic Summer Sport Shirt
for one of my favorite clients.

Made from the lightweight textured silk shirting pictured to the left, it features a pocket and sleeves accented with piping.

To give this 1950's inspired shirt a modern look, it also features a straight-edge collar stand and an angled "Spade Hem".

SEWING NOTES: Original design hand-drafted pattern, Fabric from my collection of shirting fabrics, Collar unit interfaced with PRO-SHEER ELEGANCE Fusible Interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply.

Airing My Dirty Laundry...a Quick Tip

Do you ever get mysterious marks on your clothes? Or do you ever have a fabric marking pen or pencil that won't wash out?


I used to use hairspray as a last resort when everything including OxyClean just wouldn't remove make-up stains from my clothes, pen marks on Roger's clothes, or any annoying "mystery" stains.


Then I remembered that it was the alcohol in the hairspray that was dissolving the stain.

So...the next time Roger came home with felt-tip marker stains on his pants (again, LOL), and nothing would get them out, I tried the most concentrated alcohol-based stuff we had in the house...."Hand Sanitizer" ! It was much more convenient to use than hairspray, I just had to pump it on and rub it into the stain, then toss the clothing into the washer along with a regular load. And to my surprise..it worked ! So now I keep a bottle of "Hand Sanitizer" in the laundry area for those pesky stubborn stains. So far, it hasn't affected the color of any fabric I've tried using it on, but of course, check in a hidden area to make sure that it doesn't adversely affect the cloth.