My recycled top nautical style.

This is my before picture.  The top looks too cutesy, especially with the flower made of buttons. The top is made from tshirt material.

Time for a revamp! Been seeing a lot of rope in clothing recently. Why not add it to mine? I used the pink rope from the Mooncake packaging I blogged about in September, and bought some jewel embellishments from China Town. Then I went wild with my hot glue gun.  The only downside I had with this project is that I wasn't able to control the amount of glue coming out of the gun.  I think if the nozzle was finer I would have had less glue oozing out.  I also burnt myself  :-(  Have to be careful next time!

 

The rope.  I was going to make a nautical themed belt out of it, but I don't really use a lot of belts, and I would wear a nautical themed top more often than a belt.

The "jewels".  My son actually thought they were wishing stones (too many fairy tales!)

Remember to place a piece of card at the back. You don't want the glue to run onto the back of the garment. I didn't use any pattern, but making almost symmetrical would be pleasing to the eye.  I did think of just doing the left hand side of the garment and taking the rope all the way to the underarm of the right arm, and making it a one shoulder item, but I'd already stuck the embellishments on....

Tadaah!  I really like it. :-)  

My nautical themed top.

Update on 16 Jan 2011 - thought I'd update to say that I have washed it in the washing machine with no probs so far. Remember to turn it inside out and put it in a laundry mesh bag though, and use the cold cycle.  Oh, I left it to dry and "set" for a couple of days so I didn't wash it immediately :-)


Update on 13 Apr 2011 - I saw a super cool version using normal rope and it has a pattern too. It's at Inspiration & Realisation. 

Update in Mar 2012 - I've posted the latest on what has happened to my nautical themed top. Sadly, I have to say that it no longer looks as nice as it did. And that's because.... click here.

Update in Sep 2012 - I've refashioned it further and it no longer bears the embellishments but pretty ruffles. I'm glad that I can make it last a little longer in my wardrobe :-)