DIY Network

Western Shirts A plain shirt gets a quick Western makeover. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-213L

Head 'em up and move 'em out in a cowboy-inspired shirt that's easy to make and fun to wear!

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Western Shirts

Tools:

one denim shirt
3 yards flat trim
Fabri-Tac™ glue
rhinestone setter
rhinestones and rhinestone backs
studs
pencil with an eraser
white chalk
waxed paper

Designing a Western Yoke

	Figure A
	Figure B

1. Test the trim by placing and looping the trim on the shirt in a traditional Western fashion. Begin by placing the trim at the shoulder seam, loop the trim around and end up at the collar seam. Once you have determined the desired size and shape of the yoke, use chalk to mark off a yoke pattern on the front of the shirt with a looped Western shape (figure A). You should mark one loop above each breastbone.

2. Once the loops are drawn, attach studs and rhinestones using the drawn chalk line as a guide. You can add rhinestones and studs to the yoke, collar, pockets, cuffs, etc.

Attaching Studs

Pierce the prongs of the studs through the right side of the fabric (figure B). Working on the wrong side of the shirt, use a pencil eraser to bend the prongs over and toward the inside of the stud to secure it in place.

Attaching Rhinestones

	Figure C
	Figure D

This is a general explanation of setting rhinestones. (There are many rhinestone-setting machines on the market, so follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific setting machine that you are using.) Place the pronged side (the rhinestone back) into the arm of the rhinestone setter. Place the rhinestone, crystal side down, in the well on the base of the setter. Place the shirt right side down, over the rhinestone in the well (make sure to line up the placement) (figure C). Clamp the arm down over the shirt, pushing on the arm until the prongs pierce through the shirt and wrap around the rhinestone.

Finishing the Shirt

1. Add a layer of waxed paper between the front and back of the shirt. Use Fabri-Tac glue to glue the trim over the chalk line (figure D). Make sure you add glue at the loop crossover. Add extra glue to the ends of the trim to keep them from fraying.

2. Allow the glue to dry. Brush off any chalk marks. You can repeat the same idea on the back of the shirt for a back yoke.

RESOURCES :

Beacon's Fabri-Tac Glue
Website: www.beaconcreates.com