Autopsy Shirt (how to)

[ickaimp]

Recently, one of my favourite sleeveless shirts got a hole in it due to a fence while petting a pair of lovely greyhounds. I patched it up, but it was still kind of obvious. So rather than throw the shirt away, I decided to do something with it instead.

Autopsy Shirt. >D

I did a little bit of digging around first, learning where to place the cuts, what kind of stitch is used (baseball stitch) and learning how to do said stitch.

I put the shirt on inside out and marked the shoulders, the curve of the sternum and approximate middle with a red sharpie marker.

I then laid the shirt out flat and drew the 'Y'. You can see where the shirt is stretched out and where the arms of the 'Y' are a little long. It'll become obvious why that is for me at the end. Adjust to your own measurements.
-the red sharpie marker was chosen for my own morbid amusement, next time I'm using pencil or something that won't dye my fingers as much.


Next was cutting the 'Y'. I used my sharper scissors (The black viking shears) to snip holes at the top of the 'Y' and used my regular scissors to cut the rest. (IE: used what's at hand)


A tip mentioned on a taxidermy site was to mark every two inches or so to make sure that you keep everything lined up, which I did. I pulled out a bunch of crochet thread that we had laying around to choose the colour for the stitches, since I wanted them to be visible. I chose white over the maroon or navy blue that was laying around because it offered the best contrast.
-Also debated using some of my waxed linen thread meant for sewing leather, then decided against it because the linen would be likely to tear the material when stretched.

It took me three tries to get the first row of stitches to work, here is attempt number one. You can see how the marks aren't lining up and there's an accidental whip stich in there as well. The tricky for me with the stitch was keeping it loose enough to lie flat. Before tying any seams off, I went through and slackened all of the stitches.
Most of what I'd read for doing the baseball stitch said to use a curved needle, which makes sense when working on a flat firm surface, but for fabric, a regular needle worked best.


Completed row of stitches done. I safety-pinned the other arm of the 'Y' closed so that the fabric wouldn't move around too much while sewing.


The completed stitches. To continue the 'Frankenstein' theme, I continued the stitches a little farther up on the last seam with a regular whip stitch.


Behold! The finished product! And now you can see why I'm always griping wanting to find bras that fit. >P
Close up of the middle of the 'Y' and the original mended tear. In the future, will focus on making the stitches a little farther apart.

Optional Assistance from weasels and cats may also occur, but is not recommended.

Equipment: Shirt, marker, thread, needles, scissors.
Amount of Time Taken: 5 hours, including 3 episodes of Nijuu-Mensou no Musume and 4 episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.

Comments

[kojikatsuya.livejournal.com]

Ah, so that's what you..... kinda.... look like! Maybe I should make an effort to meet up with you and your random flatmates one day, seeing as we both live in Tucson and all....

And the stitch look is cool looking. Then again, I've liked it since Nero from Devil May Cry 4 can pull off that look with a stitched sleeveless hoodie.

[ickaimp.livejournal.com]

... You really are a Breast Guy, aren't you? *laughs*

-I don't usually put pictures up of myself, so this'll be about as much as you'll see of me. Mostly for privacy reasons, but partly because I rarely feel like putting up with the inevitable innuendo.

The stitch, once I figured it out, was really easy. Am debating putting in a slice on the back of the shirt. And I can use it to fix my back pack. \o/

[kojikatsuya.livejournal.com]

I think Brodie from Mallrats said it best: "What can I say? I love tits!" But after being in the girls only room at Anime Expo a while back, and being around my friend noteveryday (who has a more perverted mind than anyone I know), it takes a lot to phase me.

I was leaning toward the "kinda" since you're face is obscured. So technically, I don't know what you look like. And I rarely post pictures of myself, because well.... I'm not very photogenic and don't have good pictures of myself.

I never bother with broken backpacks, since I can't sew. The problem with mine is all the straps break.

[marsdejahthoris.livejournal.com]

You look astonishingly like one of my previous roommates, Icka... Though she's only a DD, but the hair color, style, and general build are right...

Shirt's cool, too.

[ickaimp.livejournal.com]

Cleavage aside, I am regrettably generic looking. Although if I had put more thought into the pic, I would have actually done my hair, that was taken as I was getting dressed for work and hadn't done much more than brush it. m'a little vain about my hair, is finally waist-length. XD

Ysabet wants an autopsy shirt too, so will be doing one of those in the foreseeable future. Is kinda fun! ^____^

[ytak.livejournal.com]

That is a delightfully twisted shirt. I have to wonder how many people would get it.

[ickaimp.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it is having to deal with carrying them around everyday, but I do not see the major appeal to breasts. But they are there, they are in the way, so therefore, they must be mocked. The fact that you friended after my post to tucson makes it somewhat amusing as well.

Am constantly surprised at how many people don't sew. It's easy and kinda fun, as long as I'm repairing and not creating. Have to fix the straps on this one as well, and the hole at the base.

Hey, what do you think of YGO 5D's so far?

[ickaimp.livejournal.com]

Probably not nearly enough. ^^;; *Stares at Loki's glowy eyes* Oooooooo

[kojikatsuya.livejournal.com]

It's a lot better than GX in both art and story, but I can't help but wonder what happened to Domino City over the years. And where are Yugi, Kaiba and the others?

Yusei is awesome. He definetly fit for a main character better than Judai. And because of his look, it makes me wonder if he's possibly related to Yugi in any way.

[tdei.livejournal.com]

Ooohhh! :D Great look with the autopsy shirt! *^^*

::snuzzle:: ♥~

[morgan-idril.livejournal.com]

Wow, the first Autopsy shirt, cool. Did you find a good bra? Inquiring minds want to know.

[(Anonymous)]

*tilts head* really, you look like one of my aunts. Her hair is a little blonder and shorter, and I don't think she'd where an Autopsy shirt, but other than that...You also look like how I picture one of my friends to look when she gets a little older. Exactly.

[purplevks.livejournal.com]

That was me. Forgot I wasn't logined.

[ytak.livejournal.com]

Well, you'll probably find out if you wear it around one day. Yeees, glowing red eyes (GRE).

[marsdejahthoris.livejournal.com]

Gah, waist-length hair. *shudders* Mine is currently about three-quarters of an inch in length in the back, and an inch and a half long on top. I have no good pictures of myself from the past five years, or I'd show you one.