March 19, 2012

Stuff I Made: Flower Power Shower Wrap.


Yeah, I said it.

Flower. Power. Shower. Wrap.

That's its name, and I'm sticking to it.

So ... not sure if anyone else except me thinks a "shower wrap" is rad. But this guy has been on my To Make list for over a month now. While we were in Key West we wandered into this beach towel shop and I saw these shower wraps that the shopkeeper said a woman made locally. They were $60, but so lovely I thought about buying one. I need a shower wrap, I suddenly realized.

I ended up making one today because the need wasn't going away. I think the whole thing cost about $10 to make + several hours of my afternoon. Happily spent hours.

Let's talk about something ridiculous: Trying to photograph yourself in a towel in your dining room. Anyway, hope you got the gist of the shower wrap's aesthetics.

Here's how I made it, if you like shower wraps as much as me:

What You Need:
  • 1 and 1/2 yard of terrycloth or any variety of fleecey-lovey-goodness fabric (mine was on sale at Jo-Ann's for $6 a yard)
  • Fabric scraps
  • Scissors, thread, sewing machine
  • Velcro
  • 1 and 1/2 inch elastic, about 25 inches long
(This pattern is for a one-size-fits-most shower wrap and makes allowances for different chest sizes.) 

1) Cut your fabric so that it measures 33" by 55". 

2) Measure yourself around your chest and under your armpits so that the measuring tape is sitting atop your bazoombas. Whatever your measurement is, subtract 10" and cut piece of elastic this size. This gives just enough stretch to your elastic to keep your wrap in place. 

3) To form the elastic casing of your wrap, fold two inches over, pin in place and sew down. 


4) After hemming, attach a safety pin to one end of your elastic and use it to wriggle the elastic through the hem. Pull the elastic through so that there's six inches at one end that has no elastic. (This six-inch space is where your Velcro will go.) Stitch the elastic down, running several rows of stitched over it to hold in place. Then continue threading elastic through hem, stopping within six inches of the other side. Stitch that elastic place, too, leaving another six inch space with no elastic. This should give your wrap just enough of a gather.  


5) Pin the sides and bottom of your wrap and hem. 


6) Cut out your Velcro pieces and pin them in place. Try it on to make sure everything lines up. Use your machine to sew the Velcro down. It will look like this (before you sew):


7) Find a shape you like and want to applique. To get this pattern, I used this image and blew it up on my computer screen. Then I taped paper to the screen and traced it. I decided to use vintage sheet scraps leftover from another project to make the petals. 


8) After you cut everything out, pin it in place. 


9) Use your sewing machine to stitch around the edge of your circle, tucking the petal ends underneath. Then sew along the edge of your petals. Word up. You are done. 


10) Wear (in your dining room or elsewhere) and enjoy!