Sunday, April 28, 2013

Cute Summer Clothing

Today we hit our first 100 degree temperature of the year.  As I said everyone here is looking for their summer clothing.  I started this item with a plain pair of stretch white shorts I got at the thrift store.

I have been practicing my doodles for a year or so, and the girl on the yellow piece of paper is my latest doodle.  I really liked how she turned out.  I hate to admit that I did her in a meeting I was attending. In case you can't see, she has create art in her hair and a list of things I need to do on the paper.


 So I took some of these doodles and transferred them to the white shorts.  I drew the face and the flowers on a piece of tissue paper.  Pinned the paper to the shorts where I wanted my designs. Then I dropped my feed dogs. Put black thread in my machine. Set my machine on a very small zig-zag and using the pattern on the tissue paper, stitched around and put the outline of the design on my shorts.  After I completed that part, I tore off the tissue paper leaving the black outline on the shorts. Then I went back in and did a heavier zig-zag over the black outline.  To complete the design, I went back in and filled in the spaces, some of which I drew in with a chalk pencil.  Even though the shorts were denim, because of the denseness of some of my stitching, I needed to use a stableizer on the back side of my design.  I used a wash away type that feels like fabric.  I perfer that to the wash away stableizer that feels like plastic.  After finishing the project, I threw the shorts into the washer and here is what I ended up with.

Doodling does not come easy to me, but with practice I feel I am getting better.  Both my husband and I like the way these shorts turned out. Something interesting to wear in the ever hotter, spring temperatures of the desert Southwest.

14 comments:

  1. Maggie, you're ingenious! Did you have to take the shorts apart at the outside seams to do your stitching, or did you just cram them through the machine? However you did it, I love them.

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  2. love those shorts. and yes I want to know too, did you take the shorts apart?

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  3. Extremely cool way to makeover plain clothes! I need to try this! Thank you!

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  4. Linda and Helene, no I did not open up the side seams of the shorts. I have never had to open up the seams on the shorts I have worked on. The shorts seem big enough to work on. There are times the shorts are alittle tight, but still doable. Jeans are different especially in the bottom of the pants leg.

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  5. These shorts are fabulous!! You are ssssoooooooo creative. You go girl! You know someone is going to want to buy these right off your body when you go out......

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  6. Your shorts turned out great! These are the kinds of pieces people always ask about. I'll bet it won't be long till someone either asks for you to sell your pair or asks you to do a pair for them.

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  7. Love your artistry, your doodles! You style is very recognizable. Would love these on a skirt.

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  8. Who wears short shorts? the artist in you do!
    Adorable!

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  9. Well done Maggie. Those are really cute. If they were snug to begin with would you advise getting a pair slightly larger as I'm guessing from your climate that the stitching may gather them up slightly?

    How I wish we had some of your warmth here in the Midlands of England. Some places still getting hail and frost at night.

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  10. I love your "doodled" shorts, Maggie! Every day I look at my wonderful wighead in my studio and it makes me happy!
    xoxo
    Leslie

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  11. These are fantastic Maggie!! Fun and wonderful. Great job!

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  12. I absolutely love the projects on your blog. You have more creativity in your pinky that I can find in my whole bod. LOVE your blog.

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  13. I am following you here and hope that you will continue to post your current projects. You are marvelous!

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