Want another fun, easy way to dress up a basic tee? Look no further than this week's tutorial! Use your favorite city's skyline, plus some dye, to make an ordinary tee spectacular!
You'll need a black fabric marker, some dye, an old paintbrush, and fabric (or a pre-made tee).
I'm starting from scratch with this project, mostly because it's easier to embellish a flat piece of fabric than a finished garment. (It's also a lot easier to start over if you make a mistake.) And, I really wanted an excuse to make up the Liberty Jane baseball tee...
First, I cut out the front of my tee. Then, I used chalk to mark off the bottom of my skyline, making sure to leave some room for the hem later on. I marked the approximate top of the skyline with a pin.
I found a picture of the Seattle skyline on the internet, and started drawing it on the tee. It's a good idea to practice first on a piece of scrap fabric!
If you don't feel like freehanding, you can also lay your fabric over your inspiration skyline, and trace. Tape both the image, and the tee front, to a window, to give yourself a little helpful backlight.
When you are happy with your skyline, protect your tee front with a press cloth, and iron it to heat-set the ink. (Your fabric pen probably came with directions about how to do this, but 30 seconds at a med-high heat is usually a good bet.)
Next: the ombre wash!
I got my tee front thoroughly wet, then daubed on very concentrated dye with my paintbrush, and let it sit for a while. It looks really dark and intense in this photo, but a lot of it rinsed out, giving a very delicate look instead. How dark a color you get, depends on the fabric you use, how concentrated your dye is, and how long you let it sit.
In any case, be sure to give it a gentle wash in detergent, to get out any remaining dye molecules, before drying and heat-setting it again.
Finally, all that's left is to sew your beautiful new shirt front to the other pieces of the tee.
Thanks for following along, and have fun with this!
For Pixie Faire, Melinda
69 Comments
Mitzi Thornton
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Des Moines, Iowa. Great place to live, work, raise a family in.
Nancy
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Chicago because it is the first trip I took my granddaughter Isabella on. It was the first time she rode in an airplane and we had a great time! We made so many memories I will treasure for a lifetime and I hope she will too! We rode bikes along Lake Michigan and went on the sailboat Windy- also went to American Girl for their awesome dinner and shopping. Loved it!!!!
Marian
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Seattle … because…. I love the mountains and the ocean – Seattle has both. It is such a beautiful area and I love visiting there. But the best reason of all is my Niece lives there along with my Brother and Sister-in-Law. So, when I come to visit I get to see everything I love.
Jennifer
October 03, 2014
Favorite city is San Gimignano in Italy. I have only been there once for 7 days, 13 years ago, but it was like stepping through time & the most memorable trip I have been on. I was fortunate enough to go with my friend I have had since 1st grade & someday when all the kiddos are a bit bigger, being able to go on another adventure with her will be amazing.
*In no way does this reflect that I don’t have an amazing family in a quaint city in the midwest, but that was one of the last things we did together before life got crazy busy, in a good way with careers, husbands & kids. And we rarely get to see each other now, too far apart.
Carla
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Vancouver B.C. Born and bred. Love it! You should come and visit. We even have an American Girl shop here now! Kits small but better than nothing!!!
Valerie
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is a tie between Los Angles and Seattle. I love Los Angles because of the Groove, which has fabulous stores to shop at (including the 2 story AG Store.) But I also love Seattle, especially in the fall when all the leaves are falling and it has such beautiful colors!
-Valerie
Sue
October 03, 2014
Seattle is my favorite city because my Granddaughter lives there. It is so exciting to have
her and her Am Girl show me her new town. It also has a wonderful skyline.
Marge R (mer)
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Phoenix because we chose to live here 23 years ago, but Seattle has my heart now too, as my son chose to live there nearly 10 years ago! I LOVE your baseball shirt and can’t wait to make one (some?)!!! Would treasure this shirt if I were lucky enough to win it, Cinnamon!
Thanks again for all you do for all your fans!!
Kim
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is London, because it is the skyline of Mary Poppins! We are talking “Mary Poppins,” here! The most magnificent movie ever, with the most beautiful skyline filmed in history! She’s floating above the city on a cloud in the opening scene…Plus, there’s the scenes with Bert singing and dancing on the roof tops! Who can resist all of that!!!! Oh my goodness! It’s just Heavenly!
Leah M.
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Fort Worth TX. My Grandma lives there.
Sandy
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Knoxville, TN, because it is beautiful & green & close to the Great Smoky Mountains, where there are lots of fun activities for all members of the family.
bonniebrowniz@comcast.net
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Chicago, because that’s where we first went to American Girl!
Kathleen Crabtree
October 03, 2014
Minneapolis
Jill
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is NYC. I am a country mouse but love, love, love my yearly visits to NYC with girlfriends.
Sarah
October 03, 2014
My favorite city to visit is Chicago because there are so many things to see.
Julieta
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Los Angeles because I love Legoland.
Candy
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Chicago because my son lives there—and there’s an American Girl store there.
Monique Covell
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Montreal, Quebec, Canada because I lived all my life here but I would surely love to go and travel to Seattle but again I would love to go and see New York actually I would love to travel the world to see all those nice cities. Great job on the T Shirt I hope to win. Thank you as well for all the free patterns you give us. They are great, they are definitely put to good use. Have a great day.
Hannah
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Indianapolis because I love their children’s museum.
Ann Van Doren
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Seattle because my granddaughter lives there!
nancy in IN
October 03, 2014
Traverse City, M, I because I love the area and the walking and camping available.
Beverly Branham
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Charleston because of the beautiful houses on Rainbow Row!
Barb
October 03, 2014
Seattle cuz I love that outline you did on the tshirt. Great design and a great project. Thank you for the idea and instructions.
Adaline
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Seattle, because I love traveling there, and I love the rain. :)
Rhonda Vigness
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Fort Hood, Texas. I was born there.
Robin
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Washington, DC because it’s full of flavor, history and fun!
Marlene
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is San Francisco because of the hills. Each street is different and the views make a fun day of sight seeing. I like being near the ocean salt breezes.
Mary
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Pittsburgh because "It’s Home ! "
Helen Danielson
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Duluth, MN. The views of the whole area in and around the city and Lake Superior are fantastic.
Marcy Mahle
October 03, 2014
I love London and the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and of course The Tower Bridge. This is a very cute Tutorial. Thank you.
Catherine
October 03, 2014
Visiting Seattle was one of my favorite vacations, maybe because it is a great city and/or because my whole family came along. Therefore I would like this shirt.
Vicki
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Orlando because you can visit the theme parks any time of year, and it is close enough to the ocean to visit the beach on a day trip. You are also close enough to hop on a weekend cruise getaway at one of the ports.
g jackson
October 03, 2014
Chicago has to be the skyline
Beautiful against that rising sun
Possibly a tie dyed effect would be fantastic
betty-anne tyler
October 03, 2014
My fav city is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. What a great shirt that would make with Sugar Loaf and the Crist on the mountaintop. Good way to teach some geography and play dolls with my granddaughter.
Mary
October 03, 2014
Boston, Mass. is fantastic! Everything is with in walking distance. The variety of foods-great! and best of all…..Boston Strong!!!
Pattij
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Portland, Oregon, the city of bridges!
Jenny
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is New York. I’ve been there once and it was so, so amazing. all the different people, the sites, the food… I bought so many “I (heart) NY” items!
Martha
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Ionia, Michigan, because that’s where my family is, but San Antonio, Texas is a favorite too. We lived in SA for about 3 years. SA has a great skyline by the way with a tower much like Seattle.
JoAnn
October 03, 2014
How about DC? So historic and so many things to see and do!
Silke
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Hamburg , Germany because all my family lives there!
Sheila
October 03, 2014
I’m more of a country girl, but Vancouver, Ca is a beautiful place to visit anytime of the year.
Tena
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Florence, Italy. I love walking through the old cobblestone streets and discovering the neighborhood shops. The textures and flavors of Italy are so inspiring!
Karen
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Philadelphia, PA because it’s the birthplace of our country. In addition to the history, there are many wonderful museums and restaurants to enjoy.
Alaina
October 03, 2014
My favourite city is Toronto because there is an ag store there
kara
October 03, 2014
I love ny because I am a bit of a foodie
Christa
October 03, 2014
I grew up in Toronto, ON. It would make a great cityscape with the CN Tower and the Skydome.
Sarah
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is New York City because it has very diverse stores and food. Also the people are nice.
Karen Browne
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is not a city. It is ‘out in the middle of nowhere Iowa’. Where the ‘skyline’ consists of barns, windmills, cornfields, and trees. To me the peace and breathing space is far better than any hustle and bustle of a city. There I can think clearly and my creativity flows. Nature has an abundance of ideas if you would just listen……..
Julie
October 03, 2014
My fav city is Schoolcraft, Mi! This is where I live…small town GREAT people! A city scape might be hard to do though…maybe the water tower??!!!
Linda
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Portland, Oregon because it has lots of wonderful fabric stores.
Katie
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Cincinnati, Ohio because Kit (the AG doll) lives there in her stories. :D
Mary
October 03, 2014
“My favorite city is Chicago … because….there is so much to do and there is an American Girl doll store there. It’s the closest place that has an American Girl doll store to me! "
susan
October 03, 2014
My most favorite city has to be Chicago. There is so much to do and see, with all the museums, a zoo, shopping, the waterfront, beach etc. Also because I was born there on fathers day and my dad’s birthday. He is deceased now, but have lots of wonderful memories . We moved shortly thereafter to Michigan but made frequent trips to see family. Oh what fun we had!
Jane
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Lexington,KY because thats where I was born and most of my family lives altho I have lived in Berea, Ky most of my life and I love small towns better. Lexington will always be home to me.
Barbie
October 03, 2014
Kansas City, MO! This is home to my family. There are a whole lot of good people in the Midwest. It’s a beautiful city.
Bonnie
October 03, 2014
My favourite city is Lyon, France because it’s so beautiful with the two rivers surrounding the historical part of the city and the gorgeous hill and cathedral overlooking everything.
Aimee
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Dallas because it’s my home ‘town’, and because the city is just so big and beautiful to a country girl.
Tammy
October 03, 2014
My favourite city is Dublin, Ireland because my paternal heritage began there. I visited when I was 3 years old & still have vivid “kid” memories <3
Lyndy
October 03, 2014
My favourite city is Sydney, Australia. What can beat the beautiful harbor, the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the fantastic fireworks on New Year’s Eve!
Brenda Evans
October 03, 2014
Houston, I confess, we are transplants; but watching the skyline change over the past 35 years has been nothing short of amazing to me! We love it here, and we now have our own AG store!
Chris
October 03, 2014
The San Diego Chargers are my favorite team. This shirt would be so cool in yellow and blue with the city’s skyline!
Linda
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Nashville because it Music City USA. I’ve been there and seen so many things … but still have lots more I want to see.
Keryn Serna
October 03, 2014
Why L.A. @ the “Grove” is our favorite city, where we visit the American Girl store for hours, then walk around the Grove and enjoy the ambiance!
Marian
October 02, 2014
My favorite skyline is Seattle. We visited and loved it!
Danielle
October 02, 2014
My fav city is Columbus! I just love going to the AG store there!
Jesica
October 02, 2014
My favorite city is Chicago because our family has many many fun memories of visiting all the wonderful attractions and shops.
Gay
October 02, 2014
My favorite is Cleveland. We are full of hope !!!
N
October 01, 2014
I have such a hard time choosing, but I love Mill Run, Pennsylvania. It’s so beautiful there!
CECELIA
October 01, 2014
My favourite city is Ottawa because you can walk safely,the climate is great,and there is so much to see and do.
Mitzi Thornton
October 03, 2014
My favorite city is Des Moines, Iowa. Great place to live, work, raise a family in.