Crocheted Detail Tank Top

I decided to be daring. Hey, I'm a risk taker! Just... safer risks! Maybe some day I'll skydive. For now, my risk was with yarn, needle, thread, and $3 tank top from Wally World. Soon, I might try another one with a full back. We'll see.

My instructions here are not so much for the crocheter (or as my best friend would call us: hookers), but for the multimedia artist. I think wearable arts are so fun, and really get art crossing into the realm of function. I know, technically that's considered a craft. Read my artist statement and I'll tell you all of what I think about that.

I can attempt to write directions on the crocheted section if anyone wants, though most of my work is free form, so I would have to go back and count. It's basically a bunch of shells on top of each other, if that helps!

So here's where I can say my how-to: how to put this awesome crocheted section onto you're once before boring shirt to turn it into a FABULOUS masterpiece! Yes?

What you need:

Crocheted piece

Tank top, or other shirt of your choice

Needle

Thread the color of the yarn

Fabric marker (well, I used a sharpie. But according to most of my professors, I'm also crazy and succeed in things that are supposed to be impossible.)

This is how I did it. There's nothing saying it's the right way, but it's a way, and it worked:

Trace your crocheted section on a piece of card stock, making a stencil. This is so you don't accidentally mark up your beautiful handy work. When cutting your stencil, cut a bit inside your lines so the stencil is slightly (about 1/8 of an inch) smaller than the real thing. This helps pull the design tight and show it off!

Place your stencil directly on top of your shirt where you want it (careful- centering is something to consider.... personal experience) and trace with your fabric marker. Depending on where you are putting your design, the next step is just cutting it out!

The assembly. Putting it all together is the hardest part. (Sewing is not my strong point. I'm learning. I'm still not allowed to use my mom's sewing machine because it was so broken last time) I pinned mine together in a million places so the whole thing wouldn't budge. Next, just sew it on! Careful of the ends, collar of the shirt, and just in case, I made sure the ends of the yarn are included. This helps make it washing machine-able.

Enjoy! :)