Mod Post #3 - Flight Top

Wings seem to be a reoccurring motif in the wardrobe. My latest project is modeled on the Flight Top from Vixxsin.

Accessed from the Vixxsin 2012 Winter Catalogue

Unfortunately I can't find any grommet tape and after a little deliberation, I decided I didn't like the front so much, after all. That being said, I might go back and change it anyway.

The back however, I do like. To make this you'll need:

• 1 old long sleeved shirt. (This needs to be made of t-shirt like material, rather than an knit. Otherwise it will loose shape and become difficult when you try to add the insert. If you don't have an old shirt, you can easily pick one up from the thrift store.)
• Black lace (of the non-flimsy variety. You want it to hold it's shape and not stretch too much when you put it on.)
• Black thread for sewing
• Scissors
• Needle
• Tailor's chalk
• Cardboard or old book, about A4 size
• Fabric Glue

Turn the shirt inside out and slip the cardboard or old book inside. (This is to separate the fabric so you don't end up marking the front side.) Draw a line down the middle of the back with the tailor's chalk and then draw the wing design either side. Try to make it as symmetrical as possible.


Cut out both wings. Then cut two rectangles from the black lace that completely cover the holes where the wings were, with an extra centimeter between the edge of the cutout and the lace. Trace the outside of the holes with fabric glue. (If you leave about half a centimeter between the glue and hole it'll be easier.) Gently position the lace and press onto the glue so it is neither too taut nor loose. You will probably need to glue and position in stages around the hole, as the edges of the shirt may ravel up. Just unravel the next section as you go, but be wary of the tautness of the fabric.







The point of gluing the lace down is to keep it in place as you stitch inside the trail of glue.













Once done, you can cut the excess lace from the edge, but be careful to leave half a centimeter or so around the edges.









 Now it's just a matter of finishing off the sleeves. Simple cutouts can be made - wide ones from cutting a circle out, or thinner ones from slits. Otherwise the top of the shoulders can be unpicked from the vest of the shirt and grommet tap and lace can be used to reattach it like in the original.