Inspired by Anthropologie Corsage Tee Tutorial

Inspired by Anthropologie's Secured Corsage Tee 

Anthropologie price: $58

Designer on a Budget: $15

Savings: $43

Project time: 5-8 hours

Supplies

• 1 Turqoise tee from Target ($9)
• Less than 1/4 yard of each (aprox $6)
•   Turquoiseorganza
• White or cream organza
• Green jersey fabric
• Candle or Lighter

Tutorial
1. Cut out Circles
By taking a pencil or fabric marker free hand various circles.  I focused on 3 different sizes; 1.5'' 3'' and 4'' diameter.  I organized the circles by size and color so it was easy to assemble the flowers.  Begin stacking circles in the desired pattern.

2. Curl the circles or "Petals"
To construct flowers to mimic Anthropologie's corsage I curled the petals with my candle.  (instead of using  a lighter I used a candle, that way you have both your hands free)  To curl the circles with heat, hold the edges 2-3'' above the flame until the heat curls the edges.

Be careful not to burn yourself or light the fabric on fire.  It took me a few tries, the first few I melted because I held it too close to the flame.  Another tip is to ensure that all the sides curl in the same direction, this comes in handy during the next step.

3. Assemble Flowers

To create the flowers stack the petals inside each other.  Like I said earlier if the petals curl the same way they will now stack like little nesting bowls.  Once the petals are all stacked, take a thread and make a X stitch.  This way when you pull it taught it will gather the petals into a ruffled flower.  Add as many stitches as necessary to get the look you desire.

4. Attach Flowers.

To attach the flowers separate petals and to hide your stitches under neath.  I liked to place the stitches in a perimeter about an inch from the center.  This held the flowers securely in place.

Tip: When sewing together leave enough thread so that you can attach it to the shirt without threading your needle again. 


5. Assemble Center of Corsage
Continue to build the flowers and attach to shirt.  I attached each flower as they were built so I could gauge how big to make the next one.  This is what it will look like when the 4 flowers are attached.

6. Ruffles

There are 2 sets of accompanying ruffles around the flowers.  To create the ruffles I cut a strip of fabric 1-2'' wide and 10-12'' long.  I then drew a wavy dashed line down the center, this acts as my guide when creating a gathering stitch.  Making a wavy line will help create a more dynamic ruffle.

Pin the ruffle in the desired position.  I placed the pins down the center line (gathering).  I then folded the ruffle in half and stitched on one side, this held the ruffle in my desired vertical position, instead of lying flat.

Tip: Start with the outermost ruffle and work inward.  This helps you establish a perimeter to fill.

7. Thought I was done.

There is one ruffle near the center V of the shirt and one smaller one on the right shoulder.  Here is my completed shirt. 

However when I excitedly tried it on it wasn't the effect I was going for.  The corsage was a little too large and consumed my right breast.  So after some conference with a friend I moved one of the flowers and trimmed down the ruffles.

8. Trim

After moving the lowest flower to the upper right shoulder I took my scissors and trimmed EVERYTHING. I was careful to keep the look of the corsage with decreasing some of the volume. 

FINAL RESULT

Please feel free to leave questions and suggestions.  Enjoy your new inspired by Anthropologie duds.
Not much for sewing, here is a link to the Anthropologie original

Max "Where the Wild Things Are"

Welcome, I'm glad you found my blog and I hope this is what you were looking for.  If not check back for future posts and projects.  Otherwise happy hunting. For my 1st Post I'm sharing an older project.

Here is my fully-hand-made-from-scratch MAX costume.

Unfortunately I created this costume before i created this blog, so i don't have process pictures.  But i can give a run down of how it was completed.  
Project Budget:  $30-40 for fabric & pattern.  
Time to complete: 10-15 hours

1. Sew a body suit of white felt made from a Simplicity pattern 9983 Adult Animal Costume.  I maintained a few modifications - no elastic on hands or feet and a zipper down the front with only a partial hood. 

2. Using fake fur sew a 2.5' long by 6'' wide tail that tapers at the end.  Attach to suit as you sew the back seam.

3. Hands were made by creating a elongated palm shape and attaching five 1.5'' long triangles acting as claws.   Note" the fleece was stiff enough for me but you could stuff it with cardboard or batting if your looking for a larger effect.  I attached a small 3'' long elastic strap to keep them around my hands (you can see it in my left hand in the photo) and sewed the bottom of the 'hand' to the top end of the sleeve.

4. The Hood.   Ears were constructed free hand and I sewed a channel along the top ridge so i could insert a pipe cleaner for form and stiffness, they were then attached to the hood by cutting a slit, inserting, and sewing the seam.

5. The crown is canvas.  I laid out 2 layers and measured the circumference i wanted for the base.  i then divided it by 5 (five points) and created a peak for each.  I sewed the 2 layers and turned them right side out.  I used the pipe cleaner method (like the ears) for the rib in each peak.  i sewed a thin channel and ran a pipe cleaner into each.  When finished i took Gold paint and hand painted the fabric.  I wanted a rustic feel, but you could use gold fabric instead, just make sure there is some stiffness so you may need a backing.  I hand stitched the crown to the hood.  Then curl over the tips of the crown.

6. Scepter.  The stick is the center of a plastic coat hanger, i cut off the ends and sanded the bottom smooth, you could use a dowel if you have some on hand.  The Ball is a child's foam ball, i cut a slit in the ball, applied hot glue to the plastic rod and inserted it.  I used Bronze craft paint to cover the plastic rod and foam ball.  I then cut soft diamond shapes from craft foam sheets, and painted them bronze as well.  I attached them with hot glue, and to add more details i took gold pearl sewing pins (had some on hand) and tacked the foam diamonds to the foam ball, you could also do this with painted beads or puffy fabric paint.

7. Finishing touches were 3 foam circles for buttons that i attached with fabric snaps to help cover the zipper seam.  I used brown pipe cleaners cut in half for the whiskers.  I punctured a hole in the side of the hood, inserted the pipe cleaner and make a L bend so i could sew it down.  then twist and bend the ends for the MAX look.

8. Yes I'm an Adult, and Yes i wore this costume to the bars on Halloween.  I got lots and lots of questions as to where i found the costume and even more compliments when i told them i made it by hand.  Bonus:  I was really warm and comfortable all night!