Create Fast Wall Art from a T-Shirt
Create Fast Wall Art from a T-Shirt
An old t-shirt is a sad thing. T-shirts tell us what we're into and where we've been. They mark the year we went on vacation and tell the world about our favorite bands. Throwing out a t-shirt takes some will power at my house. Aside from turning them into other clothes and saving them for t-shirt quilts, I'm always on the hunt for new uses for old t-shirts.
Embroidery hoop wall art is an inexpensive and easy way to add personality to your walls.
But you don't have to know embroidery to reap the benefits of these cheap little hoops. I'll show you how to rescue t-shirt designs and decorate your walls at the same time.
Select Your Design
I needed just a pair of small hoops for my wall hangings, but you might opt for a larger hoop to take in the breadth of a band logo or vacation destination. Embroidery hoops come in many sizes, so you shouldn't find yourself limited in the creativity department. Harvest one or ten circles from your shirt.. it's up to you!
Next, we will chalk out your circle...
Chalk it Out
Hold the embroidery hoop with one hand, and carefully trace around it with the other. When your t-shirt decides to wrinkle while you're tracing, cooly remind yourself it's about to get thrown into the trash. You win.
If you've got a buddy on-hand, they might be nice enough to hold the hoop while you trace. A chalk pencil or chalk piece with an edge on it can also help.
Next, let's cut out the design...
Cut Out Your Design
Cut your design at least a 1/2" outside of the chalk line. This extra material will be clenched between the hoops.
Before you cut, first consider how much of the t-shirt you'd like to save. Think about it. The rest of the t-shirt is made of the same material as your new wall hanging. Here are some ideas for extra pieces that you could cut:
Place Design Over Small Hoop
Center the cut design over the inner hoop, aligning your chalk marks with the hoop. This is a good time to envision any additions you might want to make to the design.
Next, add the outer hoop...
Fit the Large Hoop Over the Design
With your design placed carefully on top of the inner hoop, slip on the outer hoop. Tighten the hoop as best you can with your fingers. As you tighten the hoop, pull the extra material to make the design nice and taut.
Next, we will use pliers to tighten the hoop.
Tightening an embroidery hoop with your fingers can be tough. Employ a pair of good pliers (or old rusty pliers, as shown) to help you tighten the hoop the rest of the way. It's important that the hoop is really tight to keep the design from shifting.
Now would be the time to think about possible additions to your design.
Snip off the extra material from the back of the hoop. Alternately, you could hot glue the material to the inside of the hoop. See the finished design...
Have you made embroidery wall art? I have to see this! Upload your Creation...
(Need help? Ask Rain on Facebook.)
Fast DIY Jewelry:
Milk Tab Bracelet . Pop Tab Bracelet . Make Paper Jewelry . Toothbrush Bracelet . Microchip Earrings . Hemp Necklace .
Pressed Penny Bracelet
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4 Ways to Tie a Tie . Make Glittery Heels . 5 Placemat Purses . Cassette Tape Wallet . Duct Tape Wallet . How-To Bags . Finger Knit a Scarf . Gloves and Wristbands . Easy Zippered Change Purse
Clothes you can Make:
10 Upcycled T-shirt Tutorials . Make Pants . Skirt Tutorials . Dye Your Clothes . Recycle Your Clothes . 10 Clothing Repairs You Should Know . Beginner Sewing Projects
Please Note: Photographs, patterns and illustrations contained in this article are copyrighted ©Rain Blanken and Getty Images, and licensed to About.com, Inc. Do not redistribute these photographs or illustrations in any form.
An old t-shirt is a sad thing. T-shirts tell us what we're into and where we've been. They mark the year we went on vacation and tell the world about our favorite bands. Throwing out a t-shirt takes some will power at my house. Aside from turning them into other clothes and saving them for t-shirt quilts, I'm always on the hunt for new uses for old t-shirts.
Embroidery hoop wall art is an inexpensive and easy way to add personality to your walls.
But you don't have to know embroidery to reap the benefits of these cheap little hoops. I'll show you how to rescue t-shirt designs and decorate your walls at the same time.
- What You'll Need:
- An old T-Shirt
- Chalk
- Scissors
- Embroidery hoop
- pliers
Select Your Design
I needed just a pair of small hoops for my wall hangings, but you might opt for a larger hoop to take in the breadth of a band logo or vacation destination. Embroidery hoops come in many sizes, so you shouldn't find yourself limited in the creativity department. Harvest one or ten circles from your shirt.. it's up to you!
Next, we will chalk out your circle...
Chalk it Out
Hold the embroidery hoop with one hand, and carefully trace around it with the other. When your t-shirt decides to wrinkle while you're tracing, cooly remind yourself it's about to get thrown into the trash. You win.
If you've got a buddy on-hand, they might be nice enough to hold the hoop while you trace. A chalk pencil or chalk piece with an edge on it can also help.
Next, let's cut out the design...
Cut Out Your Design
Cut your design at least a 1/2" outside of the chalk line. This extra material will be clenched between the hoops.
Before you cut, first consider how much of the t-shirt you'd like to save. Think about it. The rest of the t-shirt is made of the same material as your new wall hanging. Here are some ideas for extra pieces that you could cut:
- Cut a strip of the t-shirt fabric, or even the hemmed sleeve cuffs. Tie it like a ribbon to the top of your embroidery hoop.
- You could put solid pieces of a brightly colored t-shirt in smaller embroidery hoops, like satellite pops of color to compliment the main hoop.
- Is there another part of the printed design you want to keep? I'm harvesting both Kermit and Piggy from this shirt to hang as a pair.
- Embroider a portion of the non-printed area of the shirt. Free embroidery patterns...
- Use iron-on interfacing and fabric swatches to spell a name in matching hoops.
Place Design Over Small Hoop
Center the cut design over the inner hoop, aligning your chalk marks with the hoop. This is a good time to envision any additions you might want to make to the design.
Next, add the outer hoop...
Fit the Large Hoop Over the Design
With your design placed carefully on top of the inner hoop, slip on the outer hoop. Tighten the hoop as best you can with your fingers. As you tighten the hoop, pull the extra material to make the design nice and taut.
Next, we will use pliers to tighten the hoop.
Tightening an embroidery hoop with your fingers can be tough. Employ a pair of good pliers (or old rusty pliers, as shown) to help you tighten the hoop the rest of the way. It's important that the hoop is really tight to keep the design from shifting.
Now would be the time to think about possible additions to your design.
- Use craft glue and glitter to accent certain parts of the design.
- Tack on ribbon, beads or sequins.
- Attach fabric flowers to add dimension.
Snip off the extra material from the back of the hoop. Alternately, you could hot glue the material to the inside of the hoop. See the finished design...
Have you made embroidery wall art? I have to see this! Upload your Creation...
(Need help? Ask Rain on Facebook.)
Fast DIY Jewelry:
Milk Tab Bracelet . Pop Tab Bracelet . Make Paper Jewelry . Toothbrush Bracelet . Microchip Earrings . Hemp Necklace .
Pressed Penny Bracelet
Easy Bags, Hats, Scarves and More:
4 Ways to Tie a Tie . Make Glittery Heels . 5 Placemat Purses . Cassette Tape Wallet . Duct Tape Wallet . How-To Bags . Finger Knit a Scarf . Gloves and Wristbands . Easy Zippered Change Purse
Clothes you can Make:
10 Upcycled T-shirt Tutorials . Make Pants . Skirt Tutorials . Dye Your Clothes . Recycle Your Clothes . 10 Clothing Repairs You Should Know . Beginner Sewing Projects
Please Note: Photographs, patterns and illustrations contained in this article are copyrighted ©Rain Blanken and Getty Images, and licensed to About.com, Inc. Do not redistribute these photographs or illustrations in any form.
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