DIY Elephant Scarf

DIY Elephant Scarf

I have always been obsessed with elephants since I was a child. They are massive yet graceful and symbolize loyalty, wisdom and luck. Why not make myself a elephant buddy that I can wear everywhere? Introducing Nisa. 

The first thing to create your own Nisa is to download the pattern: Elephant Scarf Pattern PDF

Items needed: 

Pattern

Fabric

Gray and black thread

Tassel (optional)

For my project I used this ivory cozy and a gray suede fabric that I go at Joann's for cheap with their coupons. 

With the pattern I made, I cut out the body and tail in a long continuous stretch that ended up a little over 3.5 feet.  Note: I had a tassel for the tail that I tucked into the inside as I sew and just sew over it and when I flipped it right side the rest of the tassel was exposed. 

I did the same with the head and began sewing it on the inside then flipping it right side out. Leave a small gap in the scarf open so you have somewhere to flip it through. I chose in between the legs because the trunk covered that area. 

After this I just positioned where I wanted the head on the body and sew along the dotted pattern of the ears to connect the head to the body. Note: I sew the closed eyes in this stage too, but with all the fabric it was kind of hard to push it under the machine. I would suggest to sew the eyes when it isn't connected to the body. You can also use buttons for the eyes too :) After all of this I stitched the gaps in the body and head closed and VIOLA! 

What you'll need:

• 3 yard length pieces of twine
• 18-25 washers 
• Scissors

All you basically do is braid each washer into the outer strand. Make sure you keep a tight hold on your braid because the washer like to drift away! 

Making Your Own Sorority Letters

What you'll need:

• Your shirt!
• Fabric: Two sets, one for the foreground (typically a pattern) and a background (typically a solid) I used 4" block letters so a 6 inches of your fabric of more than enough. 
• Thread: Two sets. Can either be matching or complementary. 
• Twill (or Wonder Under): It is a firm steady fabric that makes your letter firm, neat and durable.
• No-sew glue
• Scissor
• Pen
• Sewing Machine
• Greek Letter Template (We'll make one!)

The first think you want to do is make your template. You can buy some offline or you can find a pair of letters that you already own and scan them. I cut them out and traced it. I found this to be the easiest way because they come out the exact sixe. Look my Kappa Delta family letters J

Since I knew that I was going to be making a lot of letters, I wanted a steadier template so I found the closest set of cardboard and went to cutting. You can use anything you want to make your template.

Getting out your fabric make sure you know which is your foreground and background. For this example I picked a steardy background green. It isn’t the exact feel of your letter backing but it is a heavy fabric. 

To give your letters a sterdy and durable feel I used a white twill material on the back of the green only. (I found out that is is easier to use Wonder Under, and heat and bond kind of stiff material instead of the twill and no-sew glue, but either work.) You'll want to used a continuous layer of twill and trace your letters backwards. Make sure if you have a certain pattern that you are cutting accordingly. 

Then cut them out! I used the no-sew glue to hold the foreground pattern to the background solid. I would suggest the glue or the heat bond because of the stiff twill the pins won't hold up. 

When you begin sewing make sure your sewing machine is in the zig zag setting. I used a brother sewing maching and the setting end up being around 1/8" stitch width and a 1/16" stitch length. Begin a example one on a scrap piece of fabric to get the stitching right. My threads were gold for the inside and green for the background. 

Use the edge of the fabric as your guide so that your stitching stays inside. And to keep it from unraveling, thread back and forth. Do the same when you glue your letters to your shirt. I tried it on and placed the letters where I wanted them marking the spot with a pen. Cut off the extra thread and your have your own greek sorority letters! 

What I wouldn't give to have a reference in front of me right now and all the time in the word to create something. I don't know why I can't just stop time and carve out a little section for me, a little tiny crevice so that I can float free with my dreams and charcoal lines.

I love setting up my space before I start an art project. I love setting out my board, the tape, the pencils and erasers. I love going through my pastels separating them by flesh tone, hair tone and background. It is a lovely ritual before I start a creation. I wish I had time to finish this. I wish I made more time for my art.

I wrote this on my notebook every day in class. The same sentence over and over again until is stuck; until this became my motto for my freshmen year in college. It doesn't matter how many days you've been on this planet if you haven't enjoyed each one to the fullest. I won't make that mistake with all the opportunities I've been given.

Finals Week Screen Printing

Aptly titled 'I Should Be Studying,' my finals week adventures were not spent in the library and definitely not during my professors' office hours. Instead, they were spend in my dorm basement slaving away at some sorority apparel; albeit I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I worked up a bit of a sweat! These beauties (four altogether) took about 4-5 hours because I make each template from scratch out of wax paper, so I would suggest that you block out a large chuck of time (and not during finals week).

What you need:

• Apparel (Shirt, Sweatshirt, Pants, Tanks or Whatever)
• Screen Print (You can either buy one from your local art store ($20) or you can make your own.) 
• Wax Paper
• X-acto Knife
• Fabric Paint
• Squeegees 
• Paint Brushes
• Artist Tape