Ok, so I feel like I need to tell you a little bit about this shirt. A lot of different little factors went into the creation of this shirt, so bear with me.
So not too long ago, Hideko bought a red T-rex shirt for Yuki at the store. She hadn’t necessarily shown too much interest in dinosaurs, but it was a cool shirt and maybe because we loved it so much or maybe because one of her classmates also had the same shirt, Yuki decided it was her FAAAVORITE shirt. She wanted to wear it every day. She would ask about it even when it was no where to be seen. I’ve never seen her so attached to a piece of clothing before and I decided that I wanted to make something for her that she loved and wanted to wear as much as that dinosaur shirt.
When I was planning for KCW I decided to make her a bunch of t-shirts since that’s what she wears 90% of the time. I asked her what kinds of things she likes or what she’d want me to put on a t-shirt. She said . . .
1. Dinosaurs
2. Robots
3. Stripes
4. Boxes (we’re currently receiving all my sister’s wedding gifts while she’s on her honeymoon, so we’ve got a tower of boxes in our living room that Yuki is obsessed with)
But seriously – proud mama moment!! I love this kid. A dinosaur, robot and striped shirt!? I can do that!!!
So I cut out 4 Flashback Skinny Tees (3 solid colors and one striped) with plans for stenciling on a dinosaur, a robot and maybe stamping some triangles on the last solid one (and the striped one would just be plain ol striped). But when I was talking to Hideko about my plans for a dinosaur shirt, she told me about this book that one of her alumni had written, All My Friends Are Dead.
Let’s take a look at it shall we? No really, go and google image it and you’ll be able to see pretty much all the pages of the book. Is it not the funniest thing you’ve ever seen!? No? Then you should probably just stop reading and go somewhere else, cuz really? This ish had me cracking up!!!
So then I was pretty much obsessed with making it into a t-shirt. Totally inappropriate for a toddler? Perhaps? Totally awesome? I think so!! I love it.
I wasn’t sure how to make it into a shirt at first – stencil it and hand paint the details? Nahh . . . too much work. Luckily I had some iron on transfer paper for dark fabric, so I used an image I found online and added the speech bubble myself (so I wouldn’t have to cut out the individual letters) and ironed the design on. Looks waaay better than any stenciling/painting I would have done. We’ll see how the transfer holds up through wash and wear.
The pattern is Rae’s Flashback Skinny Tee in size 3T (Rae has a post on how to make the FBST with short sleeves). Normally I’d make 2T for Yuki, but I wanted these shirts to last awhile and not be so “skinny” on her. After talking to Kristin and seeing the awesome Back to the Future/DeLorean shirt she recently made for her son in 3T (our kids are about the same age/size), I figured it was the right choice. And I’m so glad that I did! It fits Yuki perfectly (though I coulda made the neckband a little larger) and it will hopefully fit her for awhile. AND . . . she LOVES it!! Of course, she has no idea what it says, but it’s a dino shirt and it’s bright pink, so she’s happy. None of her classmates or friends can read, so I’m hoping this shirt doesn’t get me into too much trouble. Weird looks from other parents? Maybe . . . but it’s worth it.
I’ve still got three other shirts to assemble and paint, but those may not get done this week. I’ll definitely share them when they are done but let me tell you, it feels so good to make something that my kid is actually TOTALLY excited about. And maybe after making all these t-shirts I’ll finally feel more comfortable sewing knits??
Well the week is winding down for me, although there is technically two more days to KCW. I MIGHT have one more project in me for tomorrow, but I’m not sure. You still sewing or are you calling it a week?
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you and mie 
That is so funny, and a very cute shirt 🙂 My favorite is “Please stop buying my friends if you are just going to slowly kill them” I am totally guilty of that, sorry plants! Hopefully the other parents will find it funny too 🙂
HILARIOUS!!! One of my 1st grade student’s parents gave me this book last year….apologizing for the humor as she did so, but wanting to gift it nonetheless :). Definitely good for some laughs!!
This is so funny. I love it! I have got to try some transfer paper. That looks so profesh.
Can you please tell us how you wash it ? Because I was very proud of tshirts I made with a transfer paper image, my kids were very happy, but at the first wash the image cracked and the result was horrible…
I still want to make this kind of thing, I have a lot of ideas, but I can’t find the way to make it work.
I’m very interested in your answser.
Sorry for the late response, but I thought I should follow up after many many washes. Up until now the transfer held up pretty well (I think it’s been washed at least 8-10 times by now). I believe the directions on the transfer packaging said to wash it with the garment turned inside out, cold water, probably delicate and low tumble dry or something. I do try and have it turned inside out and I also wash it with cold water, but it goes in with the regular wash and high heat dry. I’ve started to notice a little cracking along some of the corners of the image, but it’s not too noticeable yet. So all in all, it probably won’t hold up forever, but it’s holding up ok. I’m not sure why yours cracked on the first wash – I’d try it again and see if you have better luck. If not, maybe change the brand of the transfer you’re using? Hope this helps!
Thank you very much for your answer. You are probably right, I shall try another brand. With mine, a lot of terrible cracks appeared at the first wash, and totally destroy the image (and I turned inside out the cloth). What was your brand ?
I LOVE this. When my son was little I wanted to make him a SlaughterHouse5, Kurt Vonnegut T-shirt with “And so it goes…” printed on it. My husband vetoed it as too macabre for a baby. I’m going to show him this post and try for my anti-war message t-shirt again!
I’d love to know what type of transfer paper you used. Mine have never looked so thick and professional.
This is hilarious! You did a great job with the t-shirt and transfer, it looks amazing.
This is SO funny. I have never seen that book before. Love the t-shirt. Can’t believe how pro the print looks, wow!
That is hilarious – love it!!!
This is great! I saw Yuki’s shirt on your Instagram feed last night and instantly loved it! My humor seems to run a bit inappropriate for 2-year-olds too. I once got my son a shirt with a shark in it that said “bite me.” I might have to recreate this for him!
that is very cute and made make awwww
I love the t-shirt, and I don’t think it’s out of line for a little kid. Cause, as you say, she can’t read it. I bet you get other parents chuckling at it.
I love it! And I figured you’d upcycled a screenprinted t-shirt, can’t believe that’s transfer paper! Awesome. Hope it washes well for ya, I’m curious too.
You cracked me up! This is genius. Love it!
I love this shirt! So cute! My husband would love this…
The poor dinosaur 😦 … 😀
Seriously cute! 4.) Boxes (hilarious!) I can’t wait to see that shirt!
I love it!! Take advantage of the “not being able to read” while you can;)
This is the best! May I please copy you? I think we have a similar sense of humor. One of my old favorite t- shirts of my son’s said “Some of my best friends are imaginary” with a couple of kooky monsters on it. I just like the pause it gets from adults! -caroline
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Genius! Just as I wondered what to do with some left over transfer paper…!
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