A Tribute to the US of A

Independence Day!

Before we begin, here’s a little disclaimer.

I like ruffles.

I like nautical themed things.

I like red, white, and blue.

I like lace.

…..and I used all of those things in making this shirt. Yikes!

Some of you will love it, some of you will hate it. I know the fourth has passed, but I consider everyday I have a glass of sweet iced tea a celebration of American freedom (right?).  It was for Independence Day, but I’ve already worn it on a non-holiday as well and I liked it just fine that day too.

Here’s a picture of the aforementioned shirt. (please note the giant gold anchor earrings, which actually ARE from the 80’s, and belong to my mother)  Sometimes too far is just far enough.

I've seen so many episodes of America's Next Top Model, and all I can come up with is "Hand On Chair".

I didn’t take pictures while making it, so it is going to be sort of hard to do a “how-to-make-this” type post.  It's a fun way to "spice up" a regular old tank top, though.  Basically, I hemmed narrow rows of red and gathered them to make ruffles, pinned them to the tank top, and sewed them on with my machine.  Then, I covered up all the unsightly ends with eyelet lace and sewed that on. (also, I hand-stitched eyelet lace around the neck and back.)  Finally, I sewed on some big, gold, nautical type buttons with anchors on them.  I know giant gold anchor buttons are a bit 80’s, but it was fun, and festive, and I just wanted them.  I didn't measure anything, just "eyeballed" it, so it's sort of great that it came out looking so symmetrical.

Here's a close up of the shirt, so maybe if you ever need/want to make something similar, you might have a general idea of what to do:

(so you can see how far I spaced out the ruffles)

Special Thanks to…

Mom, for lending me her gold anchor earrings.  And for teaching me to sew long ago.