Painted Doily Tee

In case you missed this one when it was posted on Lolly Jane last month, here's a fun tee shirt refashion for you--a painted doily tee! (And, as an update for anyone who's maybe been hesitant about using paint with fabric medium on clothing, never fear: I've worn and washed this shirt many times since writing this post, and it's held up fine and dandy.)

I think we're all a little smitten by doilies at the moment, and as a hardcore crocheter, I couldn't be happier about it. I love the delicate, ladylike look of a doily and wanted to work it into something wearable that wouldn't feel too prim and proper . . . because, really, I don't throw garden parties with tea and crumpets very often, do you? So I picked up a package of little paper doilies and created this:

I used blue and black paint mixed with fabric paint medium to create a row of doilies working their way up the side of a $2 Walmart tee. I love that it works sweet feminine doilies into a unique design with fresh, modern colors. And $2 for a cute summer top? Yes, please!

Here's how I made my painted doily tee!

 You'll need:

- a tank or tee

- a package of paper doilies (you could use multiple sizes if you'd like; I just used one size)

- one or more acrylic paints

- fabric painting medium (I bought mine at Joann, and it has lasted forever!)

- foam brush or sponge

 - a piece of cardboard to place inside the top to prevent the paint from bleeding through

Place your cardboard inside your top so the paint doesn't soak through to the back. Mix your paint and fabric medium according to the directions on the bottle (mine says to use a 2 to 1 mix of paint to medium). I wanted my top to include a range of colors and each doily stencil to have a bit of a color mix, so I swirled the blue and black together without mixing them completely; that way, when I wanted a lighter doily, I dipped my brush in a lighter section on my paint plate, and when I wanted a darker one, I picked a darker paint section, so none of my doilies came out exactly the same. I like a little variety, and the imperfections are what make it fun!

 You can arrange your doilies however you want on your top--I wanted mine to wind up one side of the tee, and I worked from the bottom to the top, so I placed my first doily down near the hem of the shirt and lightly sponged my paint over it.

You don't need to get too aggressive with your paint--a little goes a long way! Just lightly sponge it around the patterned part of the doily. I thought it looked best to paint a little past the outer edge of the doily as well, but you don't need to go very far. Just let your brush go a tad over the outside edge. What you see along the bottom of the doily in the picture above is a bit too much!

Peel up the paper and admire that lovely paint job . . . oooh, isn't it pretty?

Now just keep arranging the doilies and painting over them. I liked to vary between lighter and darker shades on each doily and overlap the edges.

Work your way up the side of the top (or however you want your pattern!) and admire your colorful stencil work!

I worked all the way up one side of the top and placed one doily on the opposite side of the shirt as well, for a little variety (although you can't even see it in any of my pictures . . . it's there, I promise!).

Make sure to read the directions on your fabric medium--you'll probably have to to let your shirt air dry for 24 hours or more and iron it to set the paint. Don't you hate waiting to wear your new creations? I just about went crazy waiting an entire day. But I think this top is worth the wait!

 (I'll be linking up to some of these parties!)