This issue of Spirit Living marks the first of many contributions to come by talented spirit crafter, Heather Harden. This month's offering is a wonderful way to recycle old t-shirts into personalized prayer flags. It's an excellent activity for the entire family. -Editors.
Many cultures have used flags to give their prayers to the wind, so that the prayers can be taken to where they are needed. Using your beloved or unused t-shirts to make prayer flags is a great way to give them new life. Re-purposing them as prayer flags makes space in your life to invite in new energy.
Materials:
- Old t-shirts
- Permanent markers or fabric markers Several yards of string
- Medium safety pin Optional:
- Needle & thread Sewing machine & thread
- Fusible webbing
Preparing the t-shirts
Kid size t-shirts: Lay a piece of string about a yard and half long across the side of the t-shirt that will not be decorated as the prayer flag, using a sewing machine set to a medium size zig zag stitch, stitch over the string. If the design will be on the back then sew the string to the front and if the design is on the front then sew the string to the back.
A no-sew option is to thread the string in one sleeve and out the other and tie small overhand knots at the end of the sleeves to secure the string.
Here it is tied. To learn how to make this knot, go to: http://www.scoutingresources.org.uk/downloads/knots_overhand.pdf
Adult size t-shirts: Adult size t-shirts hang better when the sting is applied to the bottom hem. One way to do this is to match the front and back hems, lay a piece of string across the hem and zig zag stitch over the hem.
The no-sew option: In this option the t-shirt is opened at the side, giving a design area that is twice as large. Start the cut at the bottom hem directly under the sleeve seam, continue the cut straight to the shoulder seam.
The next cut across that shoulder to the neckline. The other shoulder seam also needs to be cut.
The other sleeve is then removed by making a straight cut from under the arm to the shoulder seam.
This is what the shirt should look like when all the cuts have been done.
Using about two yards of string tie a knot in one end and insert a safety pin into the knot. Use the safety pin to thread the string through the hem of the t-shirt.
Decorating the shirts
Before starting to decorate, place a piece of cardboard or cooking parchment between the layers of the t-shirt to keep the markers from bleeding through the layers. Also remember to protect the work surface.
Using permanent markers or fabric markers make drawings of your favorite images from nature or of prayers you want to send to the Earth. If using fabric markers remember to set them according to manufacturer’s directions.
Another way to decorate your t-shirt is to take designs from other shirts and sew or adhere them to your flag with fusible webbing. By cutting out designs from other shirts you can use parts of old shirts that either don’t fit or are too worn out to wear but are too precious to part with all together. This is a great way to recycle your memories into new dreams.
Sew the designs on the flag using a simple overcast stitch.
There are several brands of fusible webbing that are readily available at fabric and craft stores. Follow manufactures instructions for the product you are using as they vary by manufacturer. The basic process is: trace the design to be adhered onto the webbing, cut out the webbing and then fuse it to the flag using an iron.
Have fun decorating and flying your prayer flags!!!
Here are some of our t-shirt prayer flags. Got cool spirit crafting ideas? Send them into SpriritLiving at submissions@spiritliving.org and please include pictures of the steps!
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