Ever since Jenna Lyons took over as creative director at J.Crew in 2007, I have been completely obsessed with their clothing. I love all their vintage-inspired details - from the ruffled edges on the cardigans to the organza petals fluttering about their t-shirts. Whenever I go shopping at J.Crew with my girlfriends, they always tease me about the fact that I will pick up a flower-embellished garment and say "I can make that". Well, maybe I could (maybe not!), but I never tried...until today.
So, I headed over to Target in search of some basic tops that I could give a "J.Crew-esque" makeover. I immediately found what I was looking for when I spotted this lavender-pink ribbed cotton tank.
At only $7.99, the price was right and I loved the color. I decided it would look perfect embellished with a corsage of fabric flowers, so I gathered together the supplies that I needed:
*scraps of fabric in a variety of textures (velvet, organza, tulle, satin)
*sew-on velcro (not the sticky kind!)
*rhinestones or other embellishment
*needle and thread (in coordinating shade)
*scissors
*marking pencil
I began by making my fabric flowers. There are a great many tutorials out there on how to do this, but I just kind of make mine up. I start by cutting out a bunch of flower shapes in several sizes - and the great thing about this is that they can be very imperfect flower shapes. In fact, the more funky the shapes are, the more interesting your flower will look.
I suggest using a variety of different textured and colored fabrics. I chose tulle netting and several different satins in shades of cream, lavender, mauve, and pink. Once you have a bunch of cut-out flowers, just stack them up and sew them together with a few stitches in the middle. The number of flower layers is up to you - but the more layers, the more substantial and dramatic your flower will be.
If you gather up (scrunch!) the middle of each flower a bit, you will get more of a fluffy, 3-D effect.
If you use washable fabrics, you can sew your flowers directly onto the tank. Personally, I find that the flowers never quite look as good again after they are washed, so I prefer to attach them with velcro. Then I can simply just remove them before I toss them in the wash. To do this, I just sew on some small pieces of velcro to both the back of my flowers and the tank itself.
Make sure to lay out where you want your flowers to go first so that you know exactly where to sew the velcro pieces onto the tank.
That's it! Now attach your flowers and you are good to go...a J. Crew-inspired floral corsage tank for about $10!
:-)
Jessica
Oh my - that is gorgeous! I've been threatening to do the same since I've been seeing lots of shirts like this. I always think "I can do that for so much less"! you've done a fabulous job!
Posted by: Toni | January 12, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Okay, this is absolutely adorable. I know what my project for this weekend will be. THanks so much for sharing your talents with us!!!
xxoo Valarie
Posted by: Valarie Kraft | January 12, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Oh, that's so pretty! You are so talented. You should make those shirts and sell them!
Posted by: Paris Hotel Boutique | January 12, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Love it!
Posted by: karin@creativechaos | January 12, 2010 at 11:47 AM
Fun and so pretty!
Posted by: Julie | January 12, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Very cool, I just bought a flower clip like the one you made now I think I will try one on my own. Thanks sweetie you inspired me. Hugs, Diane
Posted by: Diane | January 12, 2010 at 12:07 PM
That is the cutest top. I have been thinking of stopping at Goodwill today for fabric to use for flowers...now I am really motivated!
I love your blog.
Suz from St Paul
Posted by: Suz Reaney | January 12, 2010 at 01:01 PM
you are so talented!!
Posted by: edie3 | January 12, 2010 at 05:25 PM
J.Crew has nothing on you. The tank is just too cute. Thanks for the wonderful idea!!!
Posted by: Rebecca Lichtman | January 12, 2010 at 06:33 PM
Sooo pretty!!!!
Posted by: Michelle | January 12, 2010 at 06:52 PM
What a great idea! I love the way you made the flowers removable for washing too. Looks like I need to make a stop at Target!
Sue E.
Posted by: Sue | January 12, 2010 at 09:14 PM
LOVE THIS!
i bought some j.crew flip-flops just before the holidays -- all pinky and flowery -- for just $2.99!!!
i am going to try making some flowers. very very cool!
xo
elyse
Posted by: elyse | January 12, 2010 at 09:40 PM
That's awesome! Thank you so much! I am so going to make some of these for the summer!
Blessings,
Charmaine
Posted by: Charmaine | January 12, 2010 at 10:10 PM
So Jessica........what would you charge to make me one now??? I am so dead on serious! My school semester is a hard one and I would love one just like you made! A X-large one? My email is pinkfadedroses@sbcglobal.net if your game! I know just what you mean about the J.Crew flowers, Anthropology is the same! I'm crossing my fingers you'll say yes! Lori
Posted by: Lori | January 12, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Cute. You are so creative. I love your pretty pastel blog.
Posted by: Loree | January 13, 2010 at 04:18 AM
What a gorgeous transformation - I love it! Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Amanda | January 13, 2010 at 07:29 AM
They turned out adorable - I love all the various layered colors. Beautiful job.
Posted by: Karina | January 13, 2010 at 10:25 AM
What a gorgeous project!! I love your handmade flowers!
Posted by: Julie Ann | January 14, 2010 at 09:08 AM
It's lovely! Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Kristena | January 14, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Love it! The colors are so soft and girlie. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: jennifer lorton | January 15, 2010 at 09:30 PM
That tank came out darling! What a great idea, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: DreamGirlLisa | January 16, 2010 at 11:53 PM
This is Kool! love your ideas! Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | January 19, 2010 at 01:32 PM
I love this, very JCrew. Thanks to you, I think I can do it too!
Posted by: Julie Roe | January 22, 2010 at 01:03 PM
Popped over from The Sweetest Occasion -- love. this. I, too, have been dying over all of J Crew's beautiful ruffly + flower-power prettiness, and have been *so* tempted to make my own! I took my own steps using Rachel of Heart of Light's ruffle tutorial, but this -- oh, this is what's really in my head :) Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: cara | January 26, 2010 at 09:55 AM
Fabbbbb-u-LOUS!!!
seeriously!!!
LOVE it!!!
XOXO
Posted by: jenny holiday | January 29, 2010 at 09:18 PM
Jessica, I just returned from Jo-Ann Fabric where I purchased a variety of pastel fabrics, and now that I read your tutorial I'm ready to roll! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | January 30, 2010 at 12:14 PM
fabulous idea and so pretty, thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Jen Kim | February 02, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Super cool!! Love it!
Posted by: Roben-Marie | March 09, 2010 at 01:13 PM
Thank you for such a super cute and simple project. These would be fabulous for my granddaughters. Happy creating...
Posted by: Saucy Chick Sherry | March 10, 2010 at 12:16 AM
You make this look so easy & gorgeous! I totally want to do this now! :)
Posted by: Lauren | April 18, 2011 at 07:14 PM
What a great look and so simple. Thank you for the simply put, detailed instructions. Something I really feel I could do. Yay you!
Posted by: Juliette | March 04, 2013 at 12:33 PM