DIY J.CREW INSPIRED TANK
Instead of a typical Friday Favorites post today, I thought I’d end my favorite month with something a little more special… Nothing makes me happier than a good craft project. I found this super cute J. Crew tank top that was originally $118 on sale for $89.99. That seemed a little crazy for such a simple tank and I knew I could recreate it for under $20 – so I did! I ended up loving the finished product so much (even more than the inspiration piece!) that I used the same method to sew a beaded flower collar onto a simple t-shirt dress.
J. CREW TANK TOP (Sold out)
WHAT YOU NEED:
Tank Top w/ lining (TJ Maxx, $10)
Large Sequins (Joann’s, $99)
Small Sequins (Joann’s, $99)
Large Seed Beads (Michaels, $2.99)
Small Seed Beads (Michaels, $2.99)
Needle & Thread
Pencil
TOTAL: $16.97
STEP 1. Come up with a general shape for your flower. I used one large seed bead in the middle. For each petal I used one large sequin, one small sequin and two small seed beads.
STEP 2. Start marking the first few flowers. You’ll want to only mark two or three at a time. Actually having the flowers sewn down changes where you imagine the next handful will go. A couple at a time also makes it easier to fade them out. You’ll start by sewing down the center of the flower so keep this in mind as you start marking. The marks pictured here ended up bing a little too close together.
STEP 3. Spend twenty minutes trying to thread your needle. Or buy a working threader.
STEP 4. If you spent twenty minutes trying to thread your needle instead of buying a working threader, get yourself a snack. You deserve it.
STEP 5. Start by stringing the center of the flower. If your tank has a lining, do not sew the lining down. Only sewing the flowers to the top piece will help the whole blouse look more professional and make it easier to clean. Plus, if you sew down the lining, you’re going to have a hell of a time trying to make it lay flat!
STEP 6. Spend a little time finding the perfect spot for each of your petals, I kept mine within 2-3mm from the center bead and each other. The fifth petal will seem like it doesn’t quite fit, that’s totally okay because it will push on the others and create a really pretty cluster.
(My bracelet, t-shirt, and button down top are all from OneSixteen Bijou. My necklace is from Bella Forte.)
STEP 7. Thread all of the beads for one petal onto the needle. I threaded the large sequin first, then the small sequin, followed by the two small seed beads. Make sure to thread all of your sequins “cup-side” up.
STEP 8. Slide all of the beads to the base of the thread and hold them in place. Try to stick the needle as close to the center bead as possible. This step is where you’re most likely to accidentally catch the lining so thread carefully.
STEP 9. Once you have all the petals sewn down, fix any weird overlaps and gently pull the flower snug.
STEP 10. Consult your feline friend on your dinner plans and future DIY projects. He’s definitely interested in you, and not the enormous amount of string around you. Trust me.
STEP 11. Hold the flower tight on the front side then knot it down on the back. I make a small “stitch” and pull the thread till it’s just a small loop, then I pass the needle through the loop a few times to secure it. Pull tightly, then cut off the excess.
STEP 12. Get excited! That’s one flower down and about 59 more to go! I took two days, and about four hours total to do this project. Once you get going, it’s really easy. I was able to hang out on the couch and watch movies while I worked.
ALL DONE! I can’t wait to wear them!
Thanks to Casey for the great photos! 🙂
Linked up with: Rachel the Hat, Sincerely Paula, A Sorta Fairytale, Claire Justine, XOXO Rebecca, Whitney a la Mode, Fashion Should Be Fun, Momfessionals, Jolynne Shane, September Farm, Style Me Sunday
