Cotton Jersey Tunic with Reverse Applique

 If you're looking for me, I'll be in here.

This tunic top uses the techniques I learned from the books by Alabama Chanin.

One thing I do differently from Chanin is I use stretchy stitches on the arm holes (armscyes). It’s more work than straight stitches, but oh, so much more comfortable! I’m totally doing the stretchy stitches around the armscyes from now on.

Here's a photo of my dog. Sometimes I call him Smooshface.

Thanks for looking.

Tunic Shirts with Reverse Applique on Jersey Inspired by Alabama Chanin

Back in June, I promised you more clothing made with reverse applique on jersey fabric. Well, today is the day. This is my most recent piece, a short sleeved, tunic top in cotton jersey. I learned the techniques from #AlabamaChanin. Stencil design was originally designed by Zelda Lin for the Genie Bottle.

The fabric is on the thinner side for cotton jersey, but not transparent. With two layers, it makes a nice weight for a shirt.

  

I spent many weeks of my free time to make this piece, and I really enjoyed the process. Doing running stitch is very meditative and easy to do even if you're tired. 

I like the way it looks a lot. However, I altered the back pattern piece to remove some gaping at the back neckline and now it's a little tight in the armpits. I can snips some threads and resew the seams to fix that, I hope.  This piece has a lot of detail covering the entire surface.  I probably won't do another piece again with this much detail. 

It has about 300 yards of thread, all worked doubled in hand stitches. That's 150 yards of running stitch and a bit of Cretan stitch on the neckline.

Here are some process photos. This photo shows the three pattern pieces: Front, back and short sleeve. The front and back are both two pieces. The fabric is cut and stenciled with spray paint fabric paint. I used Tulip Color Shot Instant Fabric Color in purple. I needed two 3 oz. cans to stencil all of the pieces, but didn't finish the second can.

Here is what the fabric looked like after stitching but before cutting. I put the knots on the outside to emphasize that it's hand made. It's also more comfortable to have the knots on the outside where they aren't right next to your skin.

Next are several photos of another shirt I made using the same techniques. This long sleeved tunic is made out of Modal jersey, which is a type of rayon made from beech trees. To say it's rayon means it is semi synthetic cellulose fiber. It is very soft and springy, much more springy than cotton. You could probably shoot this shirt across the room like a slingshot, but I haven't tried it yet. 

This is my dress form, Marge wearing the top. This jersey fabric is a thicker weight from the cotton above, making this a warm and cozy shirt that is both comfortable and fancy. Its weight and spring help it to drape nicely. I'm looking forward to wearing it a lot this winter.

 Here is a process photo of the cutwork. 

I thought the design needed some more density, so I added the blue stitching you can see below.  This is the back left shoulder.

I end with a heart to offer you my appreciating for making it this far.  This photo shows the center front of one of my very favorite shirts with black and taupe jersey and big patches of floral embroidery (not shown). 

I got an oil stain right on the center front of this favorite shirt of mine. So here's how I fixed it. This is reverse applique with red cotton jersey and two rows of running stitch. Good as new. Have a great day. Thanks for looking.

Jersey Tunic Shirt Dress Reverse Appliqué

For the last several years, I have been working towards merging art and clothing. To that end, this tunic top is entirely hand stitched with love and care.

I used techniques I learned from books by Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin to transform fabric and thread into a delectable and comfortable work of wearable art. 

To start making this piece, I designed and cut my own stencil.

I used the stencil to paint the design on the front and back with fabric paint.

The bodice is two layers of delightfully soft bamboo rayon jersey that is hand stitched with soft, thick, green thread to hold the layers together. I carefully cut over 100 windows in the green fabric to let the black layer show through the green one, using a technique called reverse appliqué.

I left the cut edges as part of the design. The cut fabric edges are quite sturdy. They will curl with wear and washings, but shouldn't unravel if you treat it well. Dress it up with a skirt or dress it down with leggings or jeans. This is the complete front panel before assembly.

After I assembled all the pieces, I found it to be rather tight in the hips.  So, I busted apart the side seams and  added godets. Now, it is fuller around the hips and butt. Here is what one godet looked like before I finished the embroidery.

Here you can see more of the embroidery.  It is US size 8-10 and very soft and stretchy with a lovely drape. If you want details on the measurements, just ask.

This piece is so very soft and comfortable. The materials and craftsmanship are top quality, and it's the only one like it. If you like avocado green, it will quickly become your favorite top. In fact, I made it for myself, but I would be happy to sell it and make more. So I'm offering it for sale for a limited time.

Maybe you would like to have it? Get more info here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/244808736/

If it doesn't sell by winter time, I'm keeping it. Thanks for looking. 

Upcycled Sweater Hoodies No. 7 8 and 9

Here are some photos of my latest hoodie cardigans made from felted wool and cashmere sweaters.  I wash the sweaters in hot water and dry them in the dryer to make them felt.  Then I cut them up and sew the pieces together on my serger sewing machine with some stitching done on my regular sewing machine because a serger doesn't do everything.  First is Sweater Number 7.  My great accomplishment on this piece was the front placket with buttons.  The placket is two layers, so it lies flat and is quite functional.  I'm quite pleased with this design, and I'm now using this placket on all of my cardigans. Of course, I used this as an excuse to splurge on vintage buttons.  I love buttons, and I was tickled to have a reason to buy more of them.  Sweater Number 7 is in marsala burgundy, hot pink, gray and brown, size medium with woven leather buttons.  It has two pockets and is super snuggly.

This is a photo of some of the pieces before I assembled them, mostly wool with a bit of cashmere.

This is some detail on a matching cotton skirt that you can see peeking out of the bottom.

I made Sweater Number 7 as a commission for a friend, not realizing that she's actually much broader than I am.  Although it fits me perfectly, sadly, it's too small for her.  Before we found that it doesn't fit her, she asked me to cut off the point of the hood.  Here you can see the difference that a pointed hood makes versus a rounded hood.  I thought I was in completely in love with pointed hoods until I cut off the point.  Now, I think I actually might prefer the rounded hood.  One thing I wasn't expecting when I cut off the point is how much it changes the shape of the collar around the neckline.  The very first sweater hoodie I made, I kept for myself, and it has a pointed hood.  I find the point kind of gets in the way.  I think from now on, I'll make most of my hoodies with rounded hoods.

 

Sweater Number 8 is in aqua blues, size small.  This one is quite elvish with a pointed hood and a long pointed pocket. It's about two-thirds wool and one third cashmere with green vintage plastic buttons.

Sweater Number 9 is in purple, blue, gray and olive, size medium.  It has a stripe up the back in purples and a pocket on the front. It's mostly wool with a bit of cashmere and vintage purple plastic buttons. 

These pieces are all for sale at Isabella Boutique in downtown Sunnyvale, CA.  Many of the techniques I used I learned from the ever-talented Katwise.  Thanks for looking.

Mostly Cashmere Mostly Purple Tunic Sweater Dress

I put away my beads for a bit so I could do some sewing.  This tunic sweater is mostly purple, and mostly cashmere (with a bit of wool, which is mostly merino).

Oh so soft! The fabrics are super stretchy and did I mention that they're super soft? The tunic is semi fitted through the bodice and drapes slightly longer in the back than in the front.



I hand dyed two of the sweaters with wool dyes to get those bright purples. The accent colors include deep blue, olive green, deep forest green and brown. The seams are medium leaf green.

All seams and hems are professionally sewn with four polyester threads on my serger sewing machine. This is very well made, comfortable and warm.

Size: Medium, 38" bust measured flat, and stretchy. This sweater is SOLD. Thanks for looking.

This tunic was inspired by the sweater coats of Katwise, with help from her sewing tutorials, which are amazing, by the way.