sewing is the best medicine

After feeling quite better about what today would bring after reading your honest and thoughtful comments (thank you) on yesterday's annoyingly bitter post, I woke up feeling sicksicksick. After lots of sleeping and tylenol and more graphic things an ill person does (let's not go into detail) I finally tried out that CDG DIY I thrifted all that pink for.I basically cut out the lip shape of a pink shirt I thrifted from the Salvation Army and lined it with ribbon. Unfortunately it ended up looking less like fun lips and more like the lips of a lady that sits a table over at the diner and wears tan slacks and ugly statement jewelry every day and spits creamcheese everywhere when she talks and has lipstick on her teeth and always, ALWAYS orders a grilled cheese sandwich and you're deathly afraid that one day she'll follow you home and try to gobble you up, too.
Generally speaking, of course.Luckily I bought a matching skirt as well, and I think I'd rather have the pattern on a skirt anyway, so we'll call this a "learning experience." With the skirt I'll try a heart though-the shape is easier to work with and will be more obvious as to what it is once I'm done. My dad didn't get these were lips til I told him, then he said they were scary and that I should wear a Rolling Stones shirt underneath and make sure the tongue sticks out.
What you'll need:
  • A needle
  • Thread (I used thicker cotton string though)
  • Fabric/Permanent marker
  • Fabric scissors
  • Ribbon
  • An idea of what you're cutting out (a post it perhaps-look how nifty my drawing is!)
1. Draw shape on article of clothing with sharpie. MAKE SURE THE SHAPE IS DISTINCT-IF YOU ARE DOING LIPS, MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL CURVED AT THE SIDES, HAVE A DEEP DRIP, AND HIGH BUMPS.
2. SEW RIBBON ALONG EDGE (why am I still typing in caps? Oh right, it makes me feel powerful). I lined mine once more with the lighter pink ribbon to give the lips more shape, though it obvz didn't do much help.

I would recommend that when you line the shape with the ribbon, you leave some of the actual shirt surrounding the hole. It makes the shape more obvious but you still get pretty ruffly ribbons.

I'm excited to try out the heart one as it will take less time and look much better. If any of you try this let me know what you think!

EDIT: I just sewed in some more ribbons so it's no longer a hole, but looks much better. Wearing it tomorrow!

46 comments:

Malena said...

Interesting DIY, I may have to try it

Hazel said...

HOLY SHIT.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS DIDN'T WORK OUT?!
i loveeeeeee it i.
definitely trying.

Becky said...

Tavi this still looks great even thought it doesn't exactly look like lips. Your Dad is so funny!

Becky said...

Tavi this still looks great even thought it doesn't exactly look like lips. Your Dad is so funny!

laia. said...

aww girrrl, it looks rad! since you said it didnt work i was expecting a crazy banana!

lily m said...

I think It looks great,maby not great lips but you could always say its like a flower or something ? I think it looks pretty good though,ill have too try it!oh and your dad is quite witty!

hope the heart goes well!

jess said...

It looks good even though you can't tell its lips. The Rolling Stones shirt under would be great. I Hope the heart works out.

K8 said...

I really like how that looks! It may not look like lips but it sure does look cool. Plus it is a unique one of a kind piece that looks pretty darn cool!

Anonymous said...

i love modification to clothing. i think this looks awesome. i like how the ribbon is cinched and the contrast of the two different colors of ribbon.

good job. you rock.

Anonymous said...

hey, make this one into like an xray hole and put a picture of intestines behind it...lol...

...or a strawberry

Emily said...

I love this. Great diy!


derangedmylove.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, what your dad said was priceless.

keira antoia rose said...

I don't think it turned out too bad! Your dad's comment was funny, i laughed out loud.

xoxo Isabella Clarisse xoxo
www.tasteoffashionkar.blogspot.com

Erin said...

I can't wait to see the heart one! And I love your dad's rolling stones idea, hahaha!

emily said...

this is incredible, i think the shirt looks great! very pretty, i'll have to try this because it looks too cool.

Mary said...

OHHH TAVZZZZZ
haha
i think it looked like a big hole in your body.. you should have worn a skull shirt under it and made it look like you were ripped apart.
thats not saying i didn`t like it... it looks super badass.... but i think a hole in the body shirt would be sooo cool.

Tara Rose said...

Hey Tavi,

I was reading you comments from yesterday and I got the same comment from some random about the whole blog thing. I wanna put it out there (the offer) if you have ever considered having a blog that we joined and did like themed DIY week. So once a week of a fortnight we did DIY projects or whatever I'm up for it.

You know where to find me.

xoxo, T.

stuffstuff said...

ohhh. it looks quite sexually symbolic.
my first thought was:
"it's a vaaaaag!"

Anonymous said...

Tavi, if you reinforce the fabric with fusible interfacing before cutting the shape out, the fabric will be stiffer just in that one spot and it should hold the shape better :) It's thick cottony fabric that you iron onto the back/inside of your garment.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know the lips were that big until I saw you with the shirt on... I'm very creeped out by them. Haha, great idea though.

Emy Augustus said...

haha yes sewing is the best medicine. although sometimes it can also be frustrating as hell!
(frustrating is too light of a word to describe hell if it really exists.)

Anonymous said...

I could KISS you for this DIY....

Alecca Rox said...

Dad's comment rulesszz:) Not sure I can tell this is lips but looks.so.cool. think i prefer it to lips. Will definetely try (i suck at diy but keep hoping...some day...maybe...)

Rebecca said...

that is SO cool - like outside right now. no but really it looks great (: though I don't really see a mouth. it's more a well, circle but then not round. but I luv it!

Tru said...

aww well maybe it didnt work at exactly as planned but i think you can still rock it and as for the finds you posted a little while ago...they are wonderful you are one lucky girl and i think i wish i could take you shopping with me lol

Anonymous said...

hahahaha vry gud tavi nice tr =)

Soul Tanggg said...

FUN!

Margeaux said...

This is really creative. Can't wait to see the skirt.

Eliza said...

that is such a good idea!
I love it when people personalize their outfits like that :)

Anonymous said...

Super funny, I have to try it ;) !

Kelly said...

oh man, i want to try this! so cute!

Anonymous said...

super clever. it looks suspiciously like a vulva but i like it anyway

TEXTSTYLES said...

bravo!
so very recession-fitting

*hearts*

Mikkle said...

awesome! it would be fun to try on a skirt

Anonymous said...

sorry, it looks like a vag.
maybe im just perverted.

Anonymous said...

YAY TAVI YOU FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO SEW. Anyway come to aim nao. Btw, the woman you described with the cream cheese is POSSIBLY my aunt. I think the statement jeelry is to say "I'LL TAKE ANYONE". Anyway. Aim nao. Nice diy.

Anonymous said...

Ok it doesn't look like lips but still, i like it. I'm soon going to try to make a jacket, we'll see how that works out...

Anonymous said...

without the upper lip shape i think it will look like labia no matter what.

Tavi said...

It's not you guys being pervy, it's me being 12...

My name is Audrey but its read as Odri somehow. said...

I think a couple of small lip shapes (I still see it as a 4 sided hole) will look better instead of 1 big one. But still. Thanks for the idea.

Anonymous said...

hey, you've got a vagina on your shirt!

Anonymous said...

it's dont really look like a mouth but i agree !
i will try

Anonymous said...

you shouldnt have changed it!
it looked so cool - like someone ripped your heart out or something. i realise this wasnt the look you were going for but...yeah.. anyhow im sure it will look amazing however you wear it, tavi x

Anonymous said...

i like reading your blog.

i look for antique and vintage patterns nearly everyday on ebay - these japanese patternmaking books i came across tonight reminded me of this post and your interest in shaped clothing.

if you start to learn and enjoy sewing consider getting into the patternmaking too! you can do so much and you get a silly vocabulary that no one will understand. imagine telling everyone about how you manipulated your sloper... they will not know what to think.


"pattern magic vol. 2"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400024008289&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:middle:us

"pattern magic vol. 1"

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pattern-Magic-vol-1-Japanese-Craft-Clothes-Designs-Book_W0QQitemZ350152681257QQihZ022QQcategoryZ11801QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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