I started this project a long time ago. I drew a deer, photocopied and enlarged my drawing, cut out the leather pieces, taped them on (pinning through leather breaks nails), then started sewing… and promptly stopped. I realized what I was doing was impossible. Initially I wanted to sew around the edges of the pieces, outlining them (was I drunk?) but soon realized how difficult this was. This project laid on my “to-do” pile for about a month before I got a brainwave(!) last night and decided to just sew them straight on with diagonal top-stitching. I can’t believe how long it took me to come up with this super simple solution…
I hope you like my latest DIY. I’d love to hear what you think!
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Hello! You can find my DIY post over at Eat Live Shop today (an awesome Toronto-based blog). Check out my bow-tie necklaces!
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Hello! Check out my latest tutorial at GetCraftee where I teach how to make this Turban-style headband. (It’s super easy!)
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I’m going through an intense accessory phase! My brain is full of necklace, scarf, and purse DIYs and since I don’t have a lot of necklaces so I decided to make one. I love the lace necklaces that are trendy right now and after staring at a couple hundred figured that I could easily make my own. My lace flower necklace is a super easy DIY and a great summer accessory. Enjoy!
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I just finished a final exam this morning (almost done school)! Because of studying and this hectic time of the year (it’s almost over soon, I promise I will post more regularly!) I haven’t done a DIY for you BUT I have done the next best thing – found amazing do-it-yourself projects done by other talented and creative people. I’ve searched high and low and filled this post with a great assortment of projects that will keep you busy. I hope you enjoy them!
Leather and Cotton Leggings
I actually saw a girl with similar leggings on and I made a mental DIY note to myself to figure out how to make them. But now I can save my brain power (phew)! This lovely project from Blooming Vogue shows us how to combine leather and cotton in a successful way.
For entire project click here!
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I finally found the time to post the instructions. Sorry! I’ve been blog-bad… if that’s a phrase. Here is the full post on how to add lace yokes to a dress shirt!
The Final Result
The Instructions
- Cut off sleeves, fold under and sew. You can also leave this unfinished for a more raw look
- Decide where you would like to crop the shirt. I also finished this by turning up the raw ends and sewing and if you decide to do that too make sure you compensate for it. So if you’re going to finish it you’ll probably turn the ends up about 1/2″ so cut it a 1/2″ longer.
- Decide where you want the yokes and the style. I did a “sweetheart” style but marked where the yokes would come to so I wouldn’t reveal too much IF you know what I mean…
- Cut out your yokes. To make it easier just cut to the shoulder seam and the armhole seam and to the buttonhole placket (center). Don’t cut into the entire sleeve-hole. See the pictures below for reference.
- I wanted this to be quick and easy so I sewed the lace directly on. From the “right side” (the side that shows) I pinned the lace underneath the dress shirt so I could easily sew right around.
- Using the width of my presser foot (1/4″) as a guide, I sewed all around the lace applique attaching it from the right side.
- You’re done! Quick and easy!
The Gallery
I hope you enjoyed this DIY!
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Lace! Whenever I think of lace I remember that crazy outfit Britney Spears wore a few years ago and I’ve been kind of turned off of the fabric (yes it’s a weird association, lace=Britney, but that’s just how my crazy mind works). Lately however, after a few vintage lace tops I’ve come to love the fabric and decided to play around with it for my DIYs. Here is a t-shirt that I added lace strips to. I hope you like it!
Materials
- Boring t-shirt
- lace strips
- sewing machine/hand-sewing skills
Instructions
- Cut off sleeves. This really depends on the placement of your lace inserts, if you want it below the sleeves you don’t have to take them off.
- Decide where to place your inserts and make t-shirt incisions… and measure unlike me (I had to go in and fix my crooked cuts).
- I wanted to sew the strips on top of the t-shirt so I placed them on top of the incisions to measure how long the strips should be
- Cut the strips and sew together at ends
- Attach the strips to the t-shirt. Place them on top of the shirt and sew straight on.
Gallery
I think everyone has funny associations with certain fabrics. What comes to mind when you think of lace?
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Altering clothing is always a bit tricky. There’s a 50/50 chance your final result can end up looking like a five-year-old got scissor happy, or with some little planning and a little luck, end up with something you will actually wear, like my floral dress. When I found this dress/wrap/thing at Value Village I loved the body of the dress but the sleeves and shoulder pads made me look voluminous so they had to go. After wrestling with the idea of alteration and visualizing my ideal end result, I decided to go for it. Hopefully I could resurrect this weird/cool garment with a few minor changes.
I took off the sleeves with a stitch ripper at the seams, and used a zig-zag stitch on the edge to prevent the woven fabric from fraying. I then turned the edge of the armhole under and sewed a 1/4 seam allowance. This is the end result and I’m really happy with it! The weather just needs to cooperate so I can take this dress/wrap/thing out into daylight.
Before
After
Thanks Mom and Dad for the Value Village gift certificates! They’re the perfect birthday gift… even though I know you secretly think I’m weird for requesting them.
I would love to hear what you think or if you would’ve altered it differently. Let’s hear your thoughts!
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The Idea
A pocket actually – singular. I tested out several different titles for this post but gave up once I realized there’s no way to make it sound interesting… just weird. Don’t leave! I know simply adding a pocket sounds like a strange do-it-yourself project, but it’s a seriously easy way to jazz up a t-shirt! I have actually been thinking of this project a while (yes, I do some seriously pocket pondering) but haven’t found the right combo until now. I used some recycled leather from when I made shorts out of pants (always keep your scraps, especially leather!) and a plain over-sized black t-shirt that I modified. I hope you like my latest project!
The Materials
- Boring Tshirt: Thrift stores have great ones
- A Pocket… or fabric you would like to make into a pocket
The How-To
- The first thing I did, which may not be necessary in all cases, is modify my t-shirt. I cut off the sleeves and cropped it to my desired length.
- Play around with pocket placement – this is trickier than you think!
- Sew the pocket straight on your t-shirt! When selecting your shirt and pocket/fabric think about how the fabrics will react with one another. The leather that I used is a bit heavy and if the t-shirt wasn’t a thicker, sturdy, fabric I would’ve torn a hole right through it.
- Voila!
Cost of DIY: $7
Gallery
Don’t have a sewing machine? Get creative! To attach pockets think of other fasteners you can use such as simple studs, cool buttons or a hundred safety pins. Hand sewing is also an option (and really relaxing) and there are tons of tutorials available.
Other ideas I had for pockets were using some made of lace or with floral patterns which I still may try. Do you have any fun and easy ways that you like to update a plain shirt?
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