How to Customize Girl's Clothing

Customizing a girl's clothing can make her a stand out in school and among her friends. Customizing T-shirts and jeans can be an inexpensive way to personalize a look or set a trend and can be a mother- daughter project. Whether it's simple fabric paints on a shirt or a more elaborate sewing project, customizing young women's clothing provides plenty of opportunities for creativity.

Things You'll Need

• Rhinestone and stud setter
• Rhinestones
• Fabric paints and markers
• Fine art images for reference
• Scraps of patterned material
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread
• Embroidery floss
• Photo iron-on transfer paper
• Scissors
• Lace or faux animal print material

Instructions

1. 

   Add some rhinestones to a plain white tank top or black T-shirt. Use a rhinestone setter to add some sparkle to an inexpensive top by spelling out a name, creating a heart in glittery rhinestones or designing a butterfly. Draw out your design on paper, then follow instructions on your rhinestone setter to dazzle-up a custom shirt.

2. 

   Use fabric paints. Create a work of art on the front of a T-shirt by replicating a famous painting or just having fun with fabric markers. Have the girl's friends all sign their names on a T-shirt in fabric markers and draw a small icon to represent themselves. If the girl collects something, for instance monkey dolls, draw a bunch of monkeys on her shirt.

3. 

   Make custom patches for jeans. Use upholstery fabric samples or scrap material to add one-of-a-kind flair to a back pocket. Cut patterned fabric with about a 1/2-inch margin for hemming all the way around. Hem patch to fit the pocket area and prevent fraying. Sew by hand onto the pocket to cover the existing denim pocket material. You can also cut a heart shape out of your patterned material to add more interest.

4. 

   Embroider designs onto pants. Use a satin stitch or cross stitch to embroider a custom design or the girl's name onto a pocket or knee. Have the girl draw designs on her pants with a fine-point marker then go over her designs with embroidery floss. Include the designer's name along the bottom cuff of the pants.

5. 

   Use photo iron-on transfer paper in your ink jet printer. Print photos of the girl and her friends onto iron-on transfer paper made for your color ink jet printer. Iron onto a T-shirt to create unique custom wear for parties or clubs.

6. Add interest to a pant leg by making it a bell-bottom. Cut about halfway up the pant legs from cuff to knee along the seam. Insert a triangle of patterned fabric, lace or faux animal print create a larger belled silhouette. Sew the insert in from the wrong side of the pants and measure so that both legs have the same amount of flair.

Tips & Warnings

• Always line a shirt or jeans around an area that has scratchy or sharp adornments, such as rhinestones. Just cut some plain cotton fabric and sew to cover any sharp settings.

• Read washing and care instructions on fabric paints and iron-on transfer paper carefully. Wash custom clothing on a gentler cycle to avoid puckered edges and frayed threads.

References

• michaels.com fabric paint

Resources

• Rhinestone and stud setter
• fabricpaint.com