Lap Shoulder Shirt

This project is just the beginning for making kid clothes. I basically followed this excellent tutorial over at Made.  And when I say "followed", I really mean skimmed the directions to get the gist then wing it like I usually do.

An old black t-shirt hanging around that I never wear, because black just doesn't feel right on me was just begging to be repurposed.  Yet more remnants of the blue plaid flannel that makes its appearance all too often were also crying out to be used up for goodness sakes.  I wanted to make a t-shirt for F that was longer than his current shirts, since he's got such a long torso.  So I traced a onesie that fits, and made sure the length was extra.  I took advantage of the existing hem and one side seam of the shirt, leaving them intact.  I also kept the sleeve hems for use as sleeves on the little shirt.  After cutting out the pieces, I sorta fudged some bias tape for the collar, instead of the ribbing she suggests.  The flannel is quite stretchy which is precisely why it didn't get used for its original purpose in the first place.  I didn't bother with the ironing board so the tape isn't the straightest or beautifullest.  Since this was an experiment in unknown territory (machine sewing knits), I didn't want to waste too much energy, time, or materials.  I sewed the bias tape all wobbly along the collar line, then sewed up the side seam, and then the sleeves onto the armholes.  Maybe there is a better order to follow so you don't stretch out the sleeves going around the machine's free arm or whatever that's called.  (Can't you tell I'm a super technical sewist?  You'll laugh when you hear I've been omitting a step on threading my machine for 10 years now.  Clearly it's not critical.)  And that was it for this super simple garment...  I'll do better next time, hopefully.  

The sleeves are actually an all right size, but the shirt is a little wider than intended.  It is incredibly easy to get over his head, and really, isn't that all that matters?

Shibori

I've been playing around with lots of dyeing methods lately.  Ultimately this dye project will become more diaper tabs.  So I have sacrificed two birdseye flats as the next dye victims.

Shibori around xeriscaping.

We have a lot of rocks around here, so I figured it would be cool to try a couple of different methods of shibori.  One is called kanoko shibori (at least I think that's what I did, though honestly the name's not so important), which is basically the same as tie-dye you think of with all the colors.  I chose to put rubberbands around the rock pouches to create a pebbly effect.  Then I ran out of rubberbands and just decided to tie with string in small tufts.  This sounds tedious, but is actually somewhat relaxing.

Shibori around olive oil bottle.

For this iteration, I have done the tieing in the arashi shibori method.  Arashi means "storm" and by wrapping the cloth around something on the diagonal, it creates the effect of a driving rain.  I wrapped rubber bands around the top and bottom to keep the fabric from slipping right off the ends, and the string for the real resist ties.

Rub-a-dub-dub.

Here they are in the dyebath.  Traditionally, I believe this is done in indigo, and maybe one day I'll do indigo dyeing, but right now, just plain ole' Procion Mx dyes are the ones for me.  I''m using Dharma's Royal Blue.

 

Here is the rock part un-banded, with the string ties still tied.  
 

 

The rock and string fabric, untied and rinsed of excess dye and soda ash.  I like the way it came out.

Here is the arashi, untied and rinsed.  It came out a little wonky, not so much like rain as like a waterfall.  Next time, a taller thing to wrap around would probably be better.  

So I guess they came out well for a first try, we'll see once they are fully washed in hot water.  I guess they probably won't look as cool once they're cut into strips, but you better believe they'll still be the coolest diapers around.

Update: a lot of the dye came out in the hot wash, so the blue is less vivid, now. 

Ice Dyeing

When I saw instructions for this technique, what with it being a zillion degrees outside, and us often having ice leftover in our cooler from getting groceries, it seemed like something I had to try.

After prewashing fabric to remove sizing, oils, etc., I soaked the fabric in soda ash solution.  Next, I crumpled it up (soda ash is caustic, so wear gloves) on top of a coke bottle tray which is upside-down in my trusty large plastic bucket.  This is because I didn't want all the dye water to become murky once the ice melts.  Then, I added ice cubes on top of the fabric.  After that, I sprinkled dye powder on top of the ice cubes.  (Wearing a mask and gloves, because dye powder isn't all that good for you either).  I covered the bucket with its lid to keep the water from evaporating, and bugs from getting in.

Then, wait for the ice to melt.  So, like 15 minutes here...  I waited a few hours to allow the dye to really react with the fabric since I wanted really bright, intense colors that didn't just wash out in the first rinse.  When I came back, it looked like this: 

The yellows didn't seem to be swept away by the ice melting.  And some of that powder that looks yellow is actually green.  

Rinse out excess dye and soda ash with cool water, then wash on hot with soap until rinsewater runs clear.  

Now, for the results.  (Except not the stuff I dyed above, I actually don't have pictures of those, yet).  A random bit of muslin that I felt needed sprucing up, and a half dozen diaper tabs:

Ice-dyed muslin.

Diaper tabs-to-be.