REFASHION POST: Sugar Skull Tank Top

I am OBSESSED with sugar skulls. I found this image here

I recently purchased a bunch of t-shirts from the thrift store so I could make the drapey vest I saw over at Wobisobi's blog. Made it. Loved it. Wore it 3 days in a row (don't judge).

But I still had 3 more t-shirts. Next, I decided to make a simple skirt. Got it finished and realized there were small bleach spots on the front that I hadn't noticed. Since I couldn't get rid of them, I decided to just add more bleach spots so that it would look intentional

With some Clorox and a few Q-Tips, I ended up with a cute sunburst/mandala pattern.

I loved the effect so much that I was really inspired to try something more intricate. I had a grey men's tshirt that I decided to turn into a graphic tank top. Of course I didn't remember to take pictures until after the cutting and sewing were done. 

This was what the shirt looked like before ($1.99 at Salvation Army)

I used one of my other tank tops as a pattern. I laid out the t-shirt, cut around the tank top and sewed up the side seams with a straight stitch. I left all of the other edges unfinished.I actually messed up the straps, so I had to get a little creative there. It turned out cute, but I won't bore you with the details.

Then I set out to find a picture I wanted for the front. Since it was going to be done in bleach, it had to be really graphic and could only use 2 colors (bleached and unbleached). I'm unnaturally obsessed with the Mexican Day of the Dead and sugar skulls. I found this picture and knew it would be perfect!

This was the EXACT look I wanted. I reversed the colors and printed it out:

I cut around the outline and cut out the eyes, nose and mouth to give me a basic pattern

Liquid bleach would be way too hard to control for the amount of detail I wanted. Bleach gel would be perfect, but I didn't have any. And, as you may already know, I don't like buying things and I don't like leaving my house if I can avoid it. So I made my own

I centered my pattern on the front of my tank top and outlined all of the basic shapes. I took the pattern away and free-handed the rest of the designs. I had to lose some of the fine details because the bleach spreads out a little. Then I added a few more flourishes.

The good new/bad news is that Hanes shirts hold their color really well... or, at least this one did.

Not nearly the effect I was hoping for. Not one to give up, I grabbed a black fabric marker and went over my lines again.

This was really starting to look bad ass. I had already come this far, so I figured why not push it over the edge. I dug through my fabric pile and found some bright yellow flowers. I centered them behind the eyes, sewed around the outline and then cut away the shirt fabric.

I did the same thing with the inside of the flower and added one more circle to the back

                    

 

I couldn't be happier with how this turned out. I was a lot of work, but well worth it. And, I finally got to wear it!

(Yes, I'm aware that I have Resting Bitch Face)