Nov 19, 2010 | DIY, Fashion
Scottie-print scarf: DIY. Chiffon ruffle blouse: Victoria’s Secret. Denim bustier: Forever 21. Assorted pins: vintage; from Japan; Lamb Tac Pin: Girlprops.com; kilt pin handmade by me. Pebble-print silk skirt: Banana Republic. Dainty Lace Ankle Socks: SockTheory.com. Striped espadrille wedges: Old Navy.
Day 17 in my 30 Days of Outfits Challenge: November 17.
Can you tell what runway show I was inspired by?
photos by Marcio Madeira, Style.com
Yup! Miu Miu S/S 2010. It was such an amazing collection with so many fabulous pieces…you could really take each look apart, bit by bit, and find yourself with so many versatile and chic accessories, jewelry items, and unique clothing.
I felt somewhat springy today (even though the weather was anything but)…and so wanted to try mixing patterns and colors and just going crazy with my outfit.
Can you guess what I made my scarf from?
…A pair of little girl’s pajama pants!!!
Yes, I found the pants at the Goodwill Outlet in Spring. The print reminded me of the Miu Miu collection, they felt satiny, and were still in great condition.
So I washed them and then did the following:
1. Separate the legs into two separate pieces by cutting all the seams apart.
2. Sew the legs together at the waist, so you have one long piece. Cut the ends on an angle so they look more “scarf”-like.
3. With right sides together, stitch around the edges, leaving about 2″ free.
4. Turn right-side-out and press.
5. Stitch remaining hole closed.
Very, very simple! I had been searching in fabric stores for a silky print similar to the ones in the Miu Miu show, but the fabric stores here aren’t progressive to carry anything similar. Silky pajamas have a number of great, fun prints – that are definitely very Miu-Miu-esque and look fabulous as an accent piece!
I bought this blouse something like 15 years ago and have not worn it once. Not once! The tag is still on it, I’m ashamed to say. Well, now I’ve worn it!;-)
A great way to jazz up a top is to pin on a variety of brooches and pins. I chose to do so smack-dab in the middle, which is a bit unusual, but (I think) it works. I made the bottom brooch from a kilt pin and bits of rhinestone jewelry, beads, and findings I had lying around.
And espadrille wedges are so not confined to summer! You can certainly wear them all year round (though you may have to switch up your leg-coverings;-)
What do you think? Is anyone going to try embellishing with brooches differently…or start searching for that perfect pair of pajama pants to repurpose into a scarf?;-)
Oh, and Katarina from She sells sea shells has posted more of her outfits in this Challenge. Have you checked out her blog yet? Please visit and say hi!
xoxox
Carly
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Oct 31, 2010 | DIY, Life
I noticed on Outsapop this short n sweet little video on how to create a bag from any scarf.
But the art of using a scarf as a bag is not a new one…in fact, the furoshiki (basically a large scarf) has been used since the early 1600’s in Japan as a carryall/gift wrap/bag/multifunctional accessory. From the Ministry of the Government of Japan, here is Minister Koike’s illustrated guide to using a furoshiki (with the recommendation that the Japanese people should start using them more, as they are eco-friendly, re-usable, and reduce plastic bag waste). Here are14 different ways to tie it:
(Click to enlarge)
What do you think? Do you have any beautiful scarves that might be repurposed into a casual bag or wrap?
xoxox
Carly
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Oct 26, 2010 | DIY
Fold a piece of fabric over and stitch around the edges to make a long rectangular scarf.
Earlier this month I posted some ideas how to style it, today I’m going to DIY it. It’s DIY in 5 – minutes, that is. The easiest, quickest ways to take a piece from blah to fab and update it to current trends.
Animal-prints are still BIG for Fall… and if you’re not ready to go full-on animal, you can try just adding a pop of print to your outfit. I’ve chosen to craft a scarf – made out of fabric in just the print I chose – in order to dabble in this trend.
How To Make a Quick Folded Fabric Scarf
You Need:
24″ (2/3 of a yard) of 60″ wide printed fabric // sewing machine // needle matching fabric type // thread matching fabric // fabric scissors // measuring tape
How To DIY:
1. Cut the fabric in half lengthwise so you have TWO pieces that are 12″ wide by 60″ long.
2. Sew the short ends of the two long pieces together. Cut the short ends of the fabric piece so the whole length of the piece is either 72″ or 80″, depending on how long you want your finished scarf.
3. Fold the scarf in half along the super-long end, right sides together.
4. Sew all around the edges, leaving the last 2″ or so unsewn.
5. Turn the fabric right-side out.
6. Sew along the edge to stitch the gap closed.
7. (optional) Iron the scarf flat to set the seams.
And voila! A new, on-trend scarf in just the print you wanted! (And yes, this really does take only a few minutes [though it may be closer to 10-15]…and it’s very, very easy!)
You don’t have to do leopard, of course – though I’ve made a version with leopard-printed velour and one with striped jersey.
(Sometimes I even wear them together when I’m feeling frisky!;-)
Make sure the fabric you choose is “puffy” or has some tactile sense to it; otherwise, it will stretch flat like a long, skinny scarf (which is also a great possibility!) You can try making your scarf wider thank mine by cutting your fabric at 18″ wide (thus, folded over, it will be 9″ wide). You can even try with faux fur (though cut your fur from the back using a craft knife and NOT a pair of scissors!) Some fabulous options for your fabric:
Hope you have fun making your own easy printed scarf!
xo
Carly
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Oct 6, 2010 | DIY
So this is the last of my submissions for Style Sample Magazine and New York Design Shop’s Create Couture Challenge back in early August! Whew! Can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post them all…I wanted to make a final DIY piece from the box of materials I received and my eye lit upon the beautiful “NEW YORK DESIGN SHOP” printed ribbon. I love white, pink, and black together! So I crafted up this sweet, modernist design pin – that could easily be used as a hair accessory, bag charm, ring, you name it – just by varying the size, shape, and finishing. (The weaving of the ribbon does take awhile, but the results are fantastic!
You Need:
*NYDS Branded Ribbon (or any 1/4″ wide satin ribbon) – the NYDS-branded ribbon comes wrapped around the box when you place an order with New York Design Shop!
Additional Tools/Materials:
*scissors
*fabric glue
*stiff felt
*pin back
*lighter
*iron (optional)
*piece of paper (optional)
[prep: iron ribbon if kinked or curled; draw a shape as a template on a piece of paper]
How to:
1. Cut ribbon into eighths to start out.
2. Seal ends of two of the ribbons with an open flame.
3. Glue two ends of ribbons together, overlapping them at a right angle.
4. Seal the ends of more of the ribbons, and glue them parallel to the first ribbon, alternating the underlap and overlap of their edges.
5. When you have enough ribbons to work with, start weaving in ribbons in the opposite direction, heat-sealing and gluing down the ends as you add them in.
6. When you’ve run out of ribbons, start trimming the ones you’ve already woven, in order to create the desired shape.
7. Continue with trimming, heat-sealing, gluing, and weaving until your shape is what you like. Make sure all edges are glued together.
8. Cut piece of felt slightly smaller than your woven shape, and glue together with fabric glue.
9. Hot-glue pin back to wrong side.
Now anyone can wear their heart on their sleeve…or on their NYDS-branded tote!!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 15, 2010 | DIY
Project #9 in my submissions for Style Sample Magazine and New York Design Shop’s Create Couture Challenge back in early August.
You Need:
*Victoria Lace
*Cream Ruffle Stretch Trim
*Brown Sweater Style Stretch Trim
*Baby Single Face Satin Ribbon in Brown
*Large Iron-On Butterfly
*White Rose Pin (pin back only)
Additional Tools/Materials:
*scissors
*fabric glue
*hand-sewing needle
*matching thread
*black felt
*lighter
*iron
*sewing machine (optional)
[prep: iron ribbons and trim if kinked or curled]
How-to:
1. Cut Victoria Lace in half.
2. Place each side onto the edges of a piece of the Sweater Style Stretch Trim. You can either glue them down with fabric glue, or sew them down.
4. Trim the end off the Sweater Style Stretch Trim.
5. Sew or glue down the Cream Ruffle Stretch Trim in the center, covering up the Sweater Style Stretch Trim. I cut the Ruffle Trim a little shorter so it wouldn’t go completely all the way around my waist.
6. Cut the Satin Ribbon in half, on an angle. Seal the ends with an open flame.
7. Hand-stitch the un-angled ends of the Satin Ribbon to the underside of each end of the Ruffle trim.
8. Iron the Butterfly on to the felt.
9. Trim the felt around the butterfly carefully.
10. Remove pin back from White Rose.
11. Hot-glue pin back to the wrong side of the butterfly, and pin to the belt.
A pretty and vintage-fabulous result for a pretty simple process!
You can wear this piece as a belt or as a headband – and the butterfly as a separate pin.
Choices, choices…
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
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