7.23.2010

Garnet Hill T-Shirt Knock-off

I love these shirts from Garnet Hill.  I also love almost everything else in the catalog.  Seriously.  I keep a hard copy inspiration binder and I ripped out probably half of the pages in the latest GH catalog, and that was me trying to tone it down.    Anyway.  These shirts are great.  They're also 44$.  Forty-four dollars.  
So, I went to Walmart and got two 2$ tees.  One in my size, and one XL to cut up (because I figured, hey, for the same price, why not get more fabric?).  I cut out a bunch of flower shapes first:
I cut the shirt into strips, folded the strip in half, cut that into segments, then cut these little shapes out.  I wanted them kind of elongated in one direction, since I'd be gathering them in that same direction.
Soon I had quite the little pile:
Some of them turned out pretty crazy, but that's ok.  You can't tell once they're on the shirt.
Next, I did a gathering stitch down the middle, going long-ways.  I did some singles, but mostly doubles, like the one pictured above.  Then I gathered by pulling on my bobbin threads.  After it was gathered, I pulled the top threads to lock that sucker down.
After I had gathered all of them, it was time to place them on the shirt.  I put on the shirt and pinned the leaves in place, as guidelines.  Also, to make sure I didn't have any leaves pointing anywhere awkward (you know what I mean).
I chose to hand sew most of my flowers on.  I started with my machine, but once I got to where they were really close together, I switched, because I'm sure my machine (which is a monster and only goes moderately fast and super fast- it stalls if I try to sew slowly) would have gone crazy and gotten away from me and sewed everything down flat, when I wanted the same loose, almost ruffly look of the Garnet Hill shirt.  So.  I sewed  by hand.
Then I put it on, realized that my buxomness caused it to look more sparse than it did lying flat, so I took it off, cut, gathered, and applied more fabric flowers.  And then...
(It is unexpectedly hard to take a decent picture of yourself in the mirror.  Or I am uncommonly bad at it.)
I love it.  It's not the same fabulous green as the one from Garnet Hill, but for an eleventh of the price, I'm cool with that.




68 comments:

  1. OMGosh!! What a darling idea. you really did a good job. I dabble in a little alterd art and I'm taking a cuff class tonight. I'm loving this.

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  2. Holy Moly sister that is darling! I've seen alot of cute shirts but this one is off the charts. Gonna do it for sure -thanks for the tutorial! p.s. my sister lives in Lehi Utah - her name is Amy Browning

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  3. This is so stinkin adorable! I don't have a sewing machine, but I might tackle this one by hand since it's just way too cute! Great job :)

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  4. Wow, just my style. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  5. You did a great job! I can't wait to try this!

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  6. I love it!! Very well done.

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  7. Marking this for later use! Thanks!

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  8. I am going to try this! You are amazing!

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  9. Wow, looks just like the GH shirt. Amazing!! You're inspiring me to maybe give it a try and I don't sew! :)

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  10. These are so cute. I think I may have to try one. Jackie

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  11. These are so cute. I think I may have to try one. Jackie

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  12. looks so good! i think i'll have to try your technique!

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  13. Stopping by from the Under the table and dreaming Sunday Showcase, great project! :) I LOVE how it turned out!

    Here is mine if you want to stop by :)

    http://xsurvivingmotherhoodx.blogspot.com/2010/07/upcycled-jeans-to-plastic-bag-holder.html

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  14. (under the table and dreaming lead me to your blog!) i must say, in complete honesty, i like the shirt you made BETTER than the $44 bank breaker from GH! if i had any idea whatsoever how to use my sewing machine, i'd be going nuts right now putting one together for myself! looks awesome girl.

    www.perfectimperfection13.blogspot.com

    -Amanda

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  15. OOOH!! I love that! so pretty. Im a total tshirt kind of girl and IO love how its comfy and still dressy!

    Becky
    mrsbettierocker.blogspot.com

    Stopping by from the Sunday Showcase.

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  16. Wow this is so cool! I *heart* your shirt (and I like the grey better than the green too!). Excellent job and thanks for the tutorial too. :)

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  17. Hello! Love this - yours looks fantastic! Just wanted to let you know I featured this today! Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly appreciate it. Hope you have a wonderful week! Stephanie Lynn

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  18. Girl that shirt is awesome! I LOVE it - I'm totally saving this to do in the future. You did such a great job, Kasia! :)

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  19. This looks so great, it is so darling! I love it!

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  20. I love this! Thanks for posting. Can't wait to try it myself!

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  21. Oh my goodness, I just cant believe how good these look!
    You are very talented!
    Thank you for sharing!
    Leticia

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  22. Wow, so pretty! I just love it. I really need to get on the pretty ruffly flowered shirt bandwagon. I'm feeling out of style.

    I’m having a new link party “Cheap Thrills Thursday” starting tomorrow. It’s for creative ideas that cost under $20. If you have a project you’d like to share, I’d love for you to stop by and join in!
    Kat
    www.BlackKatsDesign.blogspot.com

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  23. That's really cute! What a great job you did and for that price? AMAZING!!!

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  24. Super cute! I love these shirts and don't want to pay the expensive prices either. Thanks for sharing - you did an awesome job!

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  25. I seriously need to learn how to sew!! LOVE IT!

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  26. I love this. I must make one. :)

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  27. This is so cute, one of the best I've seen, I'm headed to Wal-Mart! Thanks for sharing.

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  28. Super cute... I really need to pull out my sewing machine and try to sew more.

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  29. Lovely--have just cut out my flowers for this project. Thanks much for the inspiration.

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  30. Love this look. I will be doing this on a t-shirt soon.

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  31. Kasia,

    This is dreamy! I love it! I will be featuring it on my BCD on Aug. 20th! Thanks for linking!

    Becca

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  32. this is GREAT :) be sure to link up to MMM this coming Monday so I can feature you soon!!!

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  33. Absolutely fabulous! So glad you said you can sew this by hand, I think your directions and pictures are inspirational enough to give this a go. Thanks!

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  34. LOVE it!!! I love those shirts, but I never see $2 shirts at wal mart...great idea to buy one larger for the fabric.

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  35. This is a beautiful DIY. I have to try this.

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  36. Thanks for linking up to the “Cheap Thrills Thursday” party at Black Kats Design. I hope you had fun and will join in again next Thursday!

    I also featured your project on my Fab Friday Favorites post. Hop on by and pick up a featured button!

    Kat
    www.BlackKatsDesign.blogspot.com

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  37. Love this! I featured you on Momspiration Mondays - hope you'll stop over and say hello.

    http://www.momsbyheart.net/2010/08/momspiration-monday.html

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  38. Very cute! I'm definitely going to try this!

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  39. Amazing idea!!! Love it, I gotta do this. <3

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  40. I really admire people who can make replica version of clothes at a fraction of the branded one's price - you are so talented and creative.

    Sertyan
    http://sertyan.blogspot.com

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  41. I really admire people who can make replica version of clothes at a fraction of the branded one's price - you are so talented and creative.

    Sertyan
    http://sertyan.blogspot.com

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  42. these look amazing! how pretty, love this idea :-)

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  43. OMG! I love this. I'm going to wal*mart at lunch; however, I know I'm not going to be able to find a $2 shirt... everyone always finds $2 shirts except me! lol.

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  44. Love this! It looks so cute and feminine!

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  45. I love this. It looks so nice. Thank you for sharing!

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  46. This is such a great idea! love the way the flowers turned out!!!!

    Thanx for sharing!

    love Miranda

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  47. I featured you on my blog :)
    Can't help it! I love your work on this tee.

    Come and take a look:
    http://taraamelzallposts.blogspot.com/2010/08/plain-tee-gone-pretty-loving-kasias.html

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  48. I absolutely adore what you did. I can't wait to try it (bad YOU...I already have a LONG list of things to do and this may have to be put on top!)
    Thanks for the tutorial!
    xoxo
    Nancy

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  49. I saw your feature and ran out to make my own version of this!!! I love it! Thanks for a great tutorial! I just posted mine!

    http://adrienneslittleworld.typepad.com/a_glimpse_of_me_a_peek_in/2010/08/garnet-hill-knock-off-tshirt.html

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  51. What a great tutorial and shirt!

    I'd love it if you entered the Copycat Challenge that I'm hosting, the prizes are great! You can go here for details:

    http://sewmuchado-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/10/copycat-challenge-details.html

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  54. well done! i love this-may have to try this myself. going to walmart this afternoon so i'll be looking for a couple of shirts to try this with! thanks for posting!

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  55. I've been wanting an embellished tee and they are just so darned expensive! Now maybe I can do one for myself. Thanks for sharing!!

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  56. favorite shirt redo ever and I've been doing a lot lately

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  57. I went out shopping tonight trying to find a shirt like this for my 6 year old. I shopped at every single store in the city and didn't find one in the color we need for a wedding. Now I know just what to do! Too bad I didn't read this until after I got back from a 4 hour shopping trip empty handed. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  58. Great idea!! I love it!! :)

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  59. Thanks for a great idea! Found it from Pinterest and just had to do it. Here you can see how it turned out http://aikakivoja.blogspot.fi/2012/06/tuunaa-ja-tuhoa-t-paitasi-osa-kukkii-se.html . It's in Finnish but pics tell you the most. I'm giving you full credits for a great tutorial and only explaining what I did differently, basicly cos I was beng lazy :). Have a great summer!
    Katariina
    aikakivoja.blogspot.com

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  60. Sush a beautiful shirt. I serached awhile to find the original source after pinning it on Pinterest. So happy I found it. I made one just like it following your tutorial. Check it out here:
    http://redesignbylarras.blogspot.com

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  61. I love this but have a question. Don't the flowers unravel?? Or fray?

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  62. Oh my goodness, this is lovely! I've been combing the internet for a good hour now for the right fabric flower look for a dress, and this is PERFECT.

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  63. I woke up today and decided I wanted to do something crafty with all the dozens of Walmart t shirts in my closet- this is a great idea. thanks for posting with all the close up photos

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