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!

Patches are on everything this spring! I remember when I was little and my mother used to put heart patches on top of holes I made in my jeans and I loved them. As I grew older and kept wearing out my jeans, I became “too cool” for patches, making a face at my mom who would offer to mend them with her signature heart patch. I’m happy to see that patches have become a trend! What’s great about patches is they’re so easy to sew onto a pair of old jeans or shorts! Check out my DIY below to see how easy it is to participate in this trend.

Inspiration

Materials

• jean shorts
• fabric squares – use broadcloth and wovens for patches
• thread to match your fabric and denim squares
• sewing machine
• denim squares
• scissors
• pins

Instructions

1. Cut out your squares to various sizes. Have fun with the shapes! If you want to do hearts, stars, unicorns go for it!
2. Pin into place. I have these jeans and hate the back pockets (obviously) so a patch is a perfect way to cover up the ugly embroidery! I used the same fabric from the legs of the jeans for the large patches on the back just so it doesn’t look too… patchy.
3. Baste your squares onto your shorts. (largest stitch length)
4. Zig-zag edges or use a short straight stitch close to the edge of the patch.
5. You’re done!

Be sure to avoid sewing down the front pockets. My back pockets are now unusable because of the patches. If you’re ambitious and want to put patches on your pockets but still remain functional, you can take off your back pockets, sew on your patches, then sew your pocket back on.

Gallery

Unfortunately I didn’t finish the shorts. I have had some DIY disasters in the past few days and this is my third project (the first two failed). I still need to use a zig zag stitch to complete the shorts but realized I didn’t have the right colour thread (and I’m not going to use the neon green I have just lying here). I’ve been v. frustrated but decided to share this DIY with you anyway. I’ll get this done and share the results as soon as possible.

What You Need

• Chain
• Rings (to connect the flower and chain)
• Lace
• Hand-sewing needle and thread

How-To

1. Cut out your flowers or designs from lace.
2. Pin to decide on placement. I find planning this way really helps me decide on the design. I initially started with three types of lace flowers but it was too much when I pinned and tried on the necklace
3. Sew rings onto the back of your flowers with a hand-sewing needle
4. Attach the flowers!

The Gallery

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!

Painted Jeans

This is on my DIY to-do list too! It’s crazy how DIYers think alike. These jeans are done with fabric markers (the site is in dutch in case you don’t have a translator) and just drawn straight on. I want to do a version with flowers and more of a sponge effect. Courtesy of Fashionable and Me.

For entire project click here!

Get Your Paint on
This project is done with fabric paint and a paint brush. I absolutely love the look of both the oxfords and the jeans and think the colours applied are perfect. This DIY and many others are from PS I Made This. I have so many DIYs to do!

Leggings, I Dye

Shini from Park and Cube uses bleach and pearls to jazz up her leggings. I love her version because it’s very subtle and beautiful. There are so many ways to personalize this project, get going!

For entire project click here!

Leather Disc Jacket

The more I add to this post the more excited I’m getting. I may have a heart attack these DIYs are so awesome. This jacket is made of leather discs that Sophia from Phosphene made is completely brilliant. How do people think of these things? I’m definitely going to make my own version.

For entire project click here!

Zipper Cuff

Anni J from Style Hurricane has the most amazing accessory DIYs on her site! This zipper cuff is just one of many that she makes. And although she doesn’t give the steps to how to make it if you’re lucky you can snap one up from her Etsy store.

Visit project page

I hope you guys liked the DIYs and forgive me for not providing one myself
Which one is your favourite?

The Final Result

The Instructions

1. Cut off sleeves, fold under and sew. You can also leave this unfinished for a more raw look
2. 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.
3. 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…
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. You’re done! Quick and easy!

The Gallery

I hope you enjoyed this DIY!

Materials

• Boring t-shirt
• lace strips
• sewing machine/hand-sewing skills

Instructions

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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
4. Cut the strips and sew together at ends
5. 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?

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!

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

1. 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.
2. Play around with pocket placement – this is trickier than you think!
3. 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.
4. 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?