Alabama Chanin Bloomers T-Shirt

Back in August I made an Alabama Chanin Bloomers stencil with the intention of making a t-shirt and a four panel skirt.  My design plan led me to airbrush navy blue cotton jersey using white paint and use black cotton jersey as the backing fabric.

Painting skirt panels.

Skirt and shirt panels.

T-shirt all painted.

Summer stitching by the pool.

 I decided to stitch using the reverse applique technique with the knots exposed  and thread tails visible. 

All stitched and painted areas cut away.

I hand-stitched the front and back panels together per the instructions in the book (from memory at this point).  I felled the seems to the inside and bound the neckline using a beaded parallel stitch. I added three seed beads to each stitch and stitched it using a single strand of button and craft thread.

Beaded Parallel Stitch 

Completed Top on B.I.R.A

I am happy to have completed this top and I am steadily working on the four panel skirt to go with it. I will update when it is all done. I am not sure how long that will be as I am stitching away on a dress, and a beaded paisley top.

Happy Sewing, 
Bianca

My first authentic Alabama Chanin Stencil!

Happy dance, happy dance! I have a finally purchased a stencil from Alabama Chanin. I have made all of my stencils to this point using pennant felt and the techniques outlined in her books. I have made Angie's Fall, Paisley, Little Flowers, Medium Circles and Bloomers (though I will remake it as I am not pleaded with the way it looks). These stencils have served me well and are very durable, but small. The shapes in the designs are reasonably sized, so I did not mind the tedious cutting task.

Pennant felt stencils

I decided I wanted the Anna's Garden stencil and did not want to cut out all those pieces out. So with a bonus I got from work (hehehe), I ordered one.

From the Factory!

Even the packaging it stenciled.

Happy Sigh

I am so glad I bought this! It is four times larger than any  of my felt stencils and will make my painting go so much faster! I can't wait!

Happy Sewing!