Colorblock tutorial - in downloads

[sewingmel]

Materials:
-your favorite t-shirt pattern (check Burda, Kwik Sew, or Ottobre Design for great t-shirt patterns)
-knit fabric
-acrylic or wooden ruler
-scissors or rotary cutter
-tracing paper

Step one:
Using your favorite t-shirt pattern, draw straight lines up and down, across, or sideways on the traced pattern.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9714.jpg

Step two: Your drawn, straight line is now your seam line. You have two options to finish your pattern. If you can only cut the correct lines, you can draw your cut lines onto your pattern. Add seam allowance above and below your drawn line as needed. Make sure that your grain line stays the same as your original pattern.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9723.jpg

If this confuses you, trace a new pattern piece, and add seam allowances above and below your drawn lines as needed.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9720.jpg

Step 3: Cut out all pattern pieces using your altered/new pattern. I used the colorblock technique for the bottom band of the shirt and for a bottom band on the sleeves.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9729.jpg

Step 4: Pin partial shirt and sleeve pieces together right sides together. You are only trying to reassemble the pieces you cut apart. You will assemble the t-shirt later.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9732.jpg

Step 5: Serge or sew (using a zig-zag) partial pieces together.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9734.jpg

Step 6: Iron.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9736.jpg

Step 7: Topstitch or coverstitch where the two pieces meet. I also did my sleeve hems and shirt hems while I was in coverstitch mode.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9739.jpg

Step 8: Iron again using steam if all fabric is cotton knit.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9744.jpg

You should now have 2 finished sleeves, a front, and a back.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/IMG_9741.jpg

Step 9: Assemble your t-shirt according to your pattern instructions. I used extra coverstitching and that*darn*kat's reverse applique tutorial (http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/downloads.php?do=fil e&id=358)to finish my shirt.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/tshirt005.jpg

other example
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s181/shoepants/colorblock%20tutoria l/tshirt007.jpg

[3chickadeesandme]

How cute! TFS!

[SewMeSane]

Love this- Thanks for the infor on how to!

[Vanessa]

Thank you, Mel. I really do intend to try this some day.

[verycraftymama]

Great tute! thank you

[mkoontz]

Thanks for this, will definately use it