Okay first I must say that I am such a lazy bum about updating this thing but also with so much craziness and drama about it's easy to understand why this blog hasn't gotten any attention for over half a year. I kept meaning to update but I just never got around to it. I really really wanted to get this entry out last month in honor of the release of the last Harry Potter movie but never got around to it! But I took the pictures and was writing up the entry when real life called me away!
Last summer I went to the HP conference down in Orlando Florida called Infinitus 2010 and one of the things I did before I went was to make house tank tops to wear around. Since then I have worn them a few times and have gotten lots of positive feedback! Here is what you need in order to make them!
• Shirts-remember to make sure the fabric is okay to use fabric paint or markers on. Also wash them before you paint them. And make sure they fit the way you want them to.
• Fabric Paint or Fabric Markers- make sure you read all the directions about how to use them properly or you could put in a whole lot of hard work and then end up having nothing to show for it !
• Stencil plastic-I found this in the stencil sections in craft stores such as Michael's AC Moore and Jo Ann's.
• Craft cutting knife-make sure it's in good shape but also have replacement blades.
• Craft cutting board or cutting surface- I found my little cutting board in the scrapbook section of the craft store but in the past I've used really thick cardboard over old thick plastic place mats my family was never going to use again as place mats. They are now my craft mats to use as not to get other things messy
• Stencil design- I got mine from Leaky Crafts and downloaded it to re size properly then printed out. Make sure the design has clear dark lines for the edges and check that the negative space will all still be there when you cut it out. Sometimes things like the center of the letter O is left in by a tiny little line that is easy enough to paint in once the stencil has been used and taken off.
• Tape-this is to secure things so they don't move about and keep in line with one another to prevent mess ups.
• Painting surface and something to put inside the shirt so the pain doesn't seep through to the other side of the shirt. I use either wax paper or aluminum foil taped to the inside of the shirt. Some people use special boards or cardboard but it makes things easier if it stays put and doesn't move around.
• Removable Mounting Putty (I also call it tacky stuff)- This is optional but I highly recommend using it with any stencil designs with lots of details and thin lines. Little tiny bits of this stuff helps keep them down while painting and it makes things so much easier!
1. First find/create the design you want to put on the shirt. Check that you won't be cutting out any of the negative space when you make the stencil. Make sure the design is the correct size for not only your shirt but also your stencil plastic. I have yet to mind very big sheets of it yet so you are a bit limited in size.
2. Attach design to plastic. Some prefer the plastic on top and others prefer the design on top. I have done it both ways but either way you do it make sure they are securely attached with no way to wiggle. Remember you can remove the tape when you are done.
3. Secure the attached plastic and design to your cutting surface.
4. Using craft knife carefully cut out design. Remember the part you are cutting out is the part you want painted on the shirt.
5. When completely finished cutting the design onto the plastic you can separate everything. Make sure the craft knife went completely through the plastic. I had a few places that were still a bit attached that I had to carefully cut again. Carefully check all of your design
6. Secure shirt backing inside the shirt so paint/marker won't bleed through to the other side of the shirt. Then secure shirt flat onto painting surface. This is where you have to be careful with the stretch of the fabric.
7. Secure stencil onto shirt. This is where I used the removable mounting putty to secure the tiny little bits within my design to the shirt. That way I didn't have to worry about painting over where there should be a little line.
8. Following the instructions on your fabric paint or fabric marker paint design. Be really careful it doesn't move around too much or it won't look right.
9. Remove stencil and make sure you have the entire design. I remember added in lots of tiny little lines to make the correct shape here and there. Like painting over the little line to close up the O and things like that.
10. and let dry according to directions. Some fabric paints and markers instruct one to iron after it dries completely to insure it become permanent. Sometimes it can take over 24 hours for it to completely dry.
11. After you follow through on all instructions from the fabric paint or fabric markers if it hasn't already told you to I recommend washing on it's own as well to make sure the design doesn't come off. Sometimes it comes out faded and you have to do another coat of paint.
I did one tank top for each of the Hogwarts Houses.
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| Hogwarts House Tank Tops! |
Here is a closer look at each of them!
Gryffindor
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| Gryffindor Top |
Hufflepuff
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| Hufflepuff Top |
Ravenclaw using book colors
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| Ravenclaw (book colors) Top |
Slytherin
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| Slytherin (colors reversed) Top |
I can't promise the same results for everyone. Results do vary due to a number of factors. What works for some people won't work for others. I just put down what I did. They aren't perfect but they are perfectly fine for me to wear around in my opinion.
Well that's it for now! Right now I'm in the process of planning what sort of knits I want to work on to produce in mass for purchase. I'm hoping on writing a post asking for input but I'm not going to promise anything with my track record of updating. Thanks for reading. And of course I welcome questions and comments. Thanks for reading after my long absence!
