 Okay guys, I wasn't going to do this today because I already have like four videos I need to edit But I think we're going to do some more upcycling on camera. Are you ready? Let's go. These four really basic t-shirts that have been hanging in my upcycling closet For a while now, and I've been trying to figure out what to do with them because they're just very plain I could bleach dye them and make them into tank tops Or something. I think we're going to do a tank top, but I think we're going to color block These two together and these two together What do you think? Let's go to the table and I'll show you how I'm going to cut these Okay, so I'll explain what pattern I'm going to use in a minute But I think what we're going to do is we're going to separate the front from the back and Then I'm going to split them up the middle and then sew things back together to make some flat pieces of fabric So let's do that. I may try to reuse the hems. I'm not sure. I don't know if all of them have this Rounded hem. Yeah, they do. So I might try to reuse the hem because I don't work smarter not harder, right? Yeah, okay So let's grab some scissors And I'm just going to cut up the side seams All the way up the seam of the underarm on the sleeve And then I'm going to cut the sleeves off because I do know I'm going to make these into tank tops We're headed into summer and Well, a hot spring and then summer at some point and then I'm going to cut the shoulder seam Do that on both sides. I thought I would pair this peachy pink color with the blue I thought those two colors would look nice together and Then the sort of red terracotta color with the gray Because I thought that would work. I kind of thought in the back of my mind If I do the peach and the terracotta together I don't know why this occurred to me this particular way, but it did but it was too much like the colors of a sunburn I don't need to look like I'm sunburned Okay, so once we have a back and a front I'm going to take them and fold them in half down the middle and Cut them up the fold So then now our back is in two pieces. I'm going to do that to all the shirts and put them in a pile by color I'll be right back Okay, I'm going to take all these pieces to the sewing machine and I'm going to sew a Blue half to a pink half a red half to a gray half. I'm going to do that with all these pieces I'm going to keep backs to backs and fronts to fronts and we'll start assembling our fabric That way so let me get that started and I'll be back Okay, now it's time to start figuring out how I'm going to patch work these together for lack of a better term So I have two backs here think what I'm going to do the pattern I'll be using and Yeah, there's plenty from like the shoulder seam down Seam allowance wise. This is a pattern pretty sure it's a German pattern I don't remember where I downloaded it from but if anybody recognizes it, let me know and we'll put a link It's a basic t-shirt dress pattern I think what I'm going to do is cut off on both of these From the armholes up. So we're going to kind of lay them out and take our cutting wheel I'm going to just like it There we go. Okay. Now what we're going to do is take these right sides together But opposite colors So I like this one for the bottom because the hem is very even So this one will be the top And so that means we're going to lose the hem on this one, which is fine I'm going to not take a chance at the sewing machine of making a weird seam And let's just cut that off over here and then we will put this at the top of that one our Hem here is at the bottom and we're going to sew straight across here and that'll give us Color blocked patchwork Thing and we're going to do that for all of our pieces. So I'll be right back. Okay. Once you have your fabric color blocked Then you can cut the actual pieces out now. I'm going to use The existing hem I was on most of the pieces able to match it up pretty decently and I will take this little surged little nodule and Fold it back and stitch it down as part of what I do The only problem you have with these color block pieces is you've got to pick a color of thread gray or red So that's a thing for the top stitching. So I don't know yet what I'm going to do, but Let's get the pieces cut out first So I'm going to fold them in half on the center stitching seam Try to line up the hem because we are going to again utilize that hem space That hem feature whatever you want to call it And then take one of your pieces front or back And lay it out. I use weights. I don't use pins I'm going to shape the piece, but I'm not necessarily going to cut it out to the exact Width of the pattern just because I don't mind if there's a little bit of play or extra room I don't need it to be super form-fitting and Sometimes when I'm doing this There's an interesting shape to the pieces that I'm working from that I want to keep So this is just like a base pattern for me, and it's not something I follow Religiously so to speak for instance right down here. We have a little bit that sticks out. I'm going to leave it Okay, so that is the front Then I'm going to do the back and then do the other one. I'll be back. Okay guys So now we're going to sew the front to the back front to the back At the shoulders and side seams Then I'm going to surge around the neckline and armhole openings and as I'm surging the edge just to finish the edge I'm going to add Stay tape Stay tape It's like a stretchy interfacing and it's in cut into thin strips And I always add it to the neckline and armhole openings on any knits that I do and the hem if I'm going to Ham it just because I think it gives it an extra bit of stability and keeps it from getting wavy If you're going to do knits You can do them on your regular sewing machine Make sure you use a zig-zag or stretch stitch, but I have a serger, so I'm using that When I'm not you know Fighting it it works well. All right, let's do some sewing you there Okay, now it's time to do some topstitching and roll the edges of the neckline. Hold on oops Now it's time to do some topstitching and roll the hem the edges of the neckline and armholes in towards the inside and stitch them shut with a Stretch stitch on my regular sewing machine, so I just pick some thread colors. I think all I will like But I'm still in the back of my mind wondering if I should use the rainbow thread because yes, I have rainbow thread I don't think so But yeah anyway Let's get that done. Okay, they're done. Do you want to see them? This is the pink and blue one. Hang on. Let me show you the other one. What's the other one? What do you think? I love it. I think this was a good choice now I do when I have these patterns of which I have a few that look very similar in the front and back And there's very little difference to the shapes of the pieces. I do put a little tag on the back and Yes, it says made by Me, but I don't put it in there to like put my name on stuff I put it in there so I know which size back so anyway, I really like these and I Can see if I see some inexpensive t-shirts that are Good quality fabric at the thrift store But there isn't necessarily a whole bunch of them or it's not in a very big size I can see accumulating a couple of colors and doing more of these now I will say that it's really helpful if you have material that's Two to four-way stretch now this one is technically two But it doesn't stretch as much that way That for some whatever reason although all of these t-shirts are from the same manufacturer The red and gray colors stretch a bit more. I don't know what the deal is with that, but Anyway Very cute. All right Upcycling and color blocking. That's what we did today. What can you do with that? What does it inspire you to make and how can you do it with little or no money and using mostly what you have? I'd love to know Leave something in the comments below leave me your thoughts Questions concerns if you want to support the free content here on YouTube I have a patreon and the patrons not only have the patreon page But they have ready access to me with a private Facebook chat a private YouTube channel I share files and right now for this year I'm staring sharing stencil files. I'm not making stencils anymore, but I'm sharing the files with them every month. So there's that Along with other stuff. Anyway, I'll leave a couple of Channels down below that I find inspiring and helpful and to this whole sewing Part of our artistic journey You can tag me if you decide to make something on Facebook I do have a Facebook group of life as art and self self expression so you can post over there I'd love to see what you're making and if you do a video. I'd love it if you sent me a link I'll go watch it. So All right, most importantly go out and have a great day Do something nice for yourself because you deserve it and I'll see you later. Bye guys