Tibetan Bolero — 1

The title sounds sort of crossed-ethnic, but I'm not talking about a Tibetan version of the sultry music. No, it is my second attempt at the Alabama Chanin bolero pattern from their book, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin. The first bolero I did turned out fantastic, so I couldn't wait to try another. However, a lot of stuff got in the way, including that mounted archery shoot for which I made so many targets. Then I started the Riding Costume, which I am still working on. Also I needed to get a few more jewelry pieces up on my Etsy site. Bottom line, I am just now getting around to playing with T-shirts again. Also, since it is cold and raining outside, I figured if I made a summer garment I'd feel a bit more cheerful. Maybe.

I found this great dark-purple T-shirt at the Goodwill. I bought it because I loved the machine embroidered Tibetan temple on the front. I thought it would look super on the back of a bolero. So yesterday I dug the shirt out of my stash drawer and went to work.

Here is the front of the T-shirt, which will be the back of the bolero. I mark the center line and cutting lines with soap, which works really well on dark material.

The shirt looks more wrinkled in the photo than it actually was. Not sure why.

 

 Here are the front pieces and one sleeve drawn out.

This is how I mark the pattern on the fabric. Tuna and olive cans to hold things down, soap to mark the cutting lines. This section is what was left over from the front of the T-shirt after I cut out the temple design, which was enough to make the other bolero sleeve.

Here are all the pieces cut out and ready to sew. I haven't put any designs on the front or sleeves because, well, I just don't know yet what I want to do. Figured I could always add something later.

 

This is what is left of the original extra-large man's shirt. Two sleeves which I had cut off the shirt, the folded and sewn hem of the T-shirt, which I save to use as straps or binding over the top of things, and at the top of the photo, the pile of scraps that were too small to use.

And this is what I used one of the sleeve sections for. This stenciled piece will be sewn to a turquoise sweatshirt (also purchased at the Goodwill), stitched around the design, and then the design will be cut out for a reverse applique. The gold paint is Lumiere metallic gold. The stencil sheet I bought at Home Depot in the paint/home decorating section. More pictures of the sweatshirt project will come later.

So, that's the start of the Tibetan Bolero, and a teaser for the Turquoise Sweatshirt. The binding color on the bolero will probably be green, as I already have a T-shirt that color to cut up. Stay tuned!