Tatting
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Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
10.02.2011
Crafts for the Sewing Deficient
So, as ive mentioned before, my move across the country has left me without a sewing machine. Sewing was my passion, i could wake up and do it everyday, but now i find myself hobbyless, idle hands turning to *way too many* hours browsing the internet. Im pretty fed up with this bad habit, so ive been researching some new projects that don't require any expensive tools. The pictures link to their respective tutorials!
8.28.2011
Day 15 & Some DIY shoe tips
Day 15 - A picture of your last mori purchase.
Ive already shared pictures of my last purchases in this post, but ive sinced spruced up the burgundy flats. and i wanted to talk about the process.
One of the hardest things about mori girl for me is the shoes, i often feel that the staples (flats, oxfords, boots) in my price range are too simple and bland! When i dressed "casual", my sneakers were often the highlight of my outfit, in cute pastels, silvers or gold. I like to wear statement shoes, but i can never afford them!
Im never one to allow just meh items to linger in my closet, so i have a simple solution to boring shoes: diy! Adding little details to shoes can make them seem of a much better quality than they really are, ill illustrate it with these elastic strap flats.
On the left is the plain one, to the right i added a leather arrow t-strap and painted the plastic sole gold. I got the idea for the arrow from a sandal tutorial on burdastyle, im a sucker for gold leather and arrows, so my heart was set on making a pair.
Here you can see what a change a bit of paint on the sole does! It really adds a bit of special-ness, a one of a kind feel.
Done! This is an extremely easy and quick way to add a high end feel to cheap items, if you have a boring staple piece, give it a makeover and its like buying a new pair, for *almost* free. Some of the things ive noticed that expensive shoes have (and cheap shoes lack) are:
1. interesting linings
2. detail on zipper pulls, buttons or buckles
3. contrast stitching
4. ribbon (as opposed to braided cotton) laces with detailed tassels or charms on the end
5. soles done in a contrasting color or material
6. treated leather (aged, distressed, coated etc.)
Some of these are more easy to diy than others, notably 2, 4, 5 and 6. Just doing one of these small alterations can make a big difference in a shoe! I have a kmart pair of boots i wear almost everyday in the winter, but i aged them with shoe shine, switched laces for red ribbons, and painted the heel cap gold. Now everyone asks where i got them, such surprised faces when i say they are from the Big K.
I hope this inspires you to give your blah shoes a makeover!
Ive already shared pictures of my last purchases in this post, but ive sinced spruced up the burgundy flats. and i wanted to talk about the process.
One of the hardest things about mori girl for me is the shoes, i often feel that the staples (flats, oxfords, boots) in my price range are too simple and bland! When i dressed "casual", my sneakers were often the highlight of my outfit, in cute pastels, silvers or gold. I like to wear statement shoes, but i can never afford them!
Im never one to allow just meh items to linger in my closet, so i have a simple solution to boring shoes: diy! Adding little details to shoes can make them seem of a much better quality than they really are, ill illustrate it with these elastic strap flats.
On the left is the plain one, to the right i added a leather arrow t-strap and painted the plastic sole gold. I got the idea for the arrow from a sandal tutorial on burdastyle, im a sucker for gold leather and arrows, so my heart was set on making a pair.
Here you can see what a change a bit of paint on the sole does! It really adds a bit of special-ness, a one of a kind feel.
Done! This is an extremely easy and quick way to add a high end feel to cheap items, if you have a boring staple piece, give it a makeover and its like buying a new pair, for *almost* free. Some of the things ive noticed that expensive shoes have (and cheap shoes lack) are:
1. interesting linings
2. detail on zipper pulls, buttons or buckles
3. contrast stitching
4. ribbon (as opposed to braided cotton) laces with detailed tassels or charms on the end
5. soles done in a contrasting color or material
6. treated leather (aged, distressed, coated etc.)
Some of these are more easy to diy than others, notably 2, 4, 5 and 6. Just doing one of these small alterations can make a big difference in a shoe! I have a kmart pair of boots i wear almost everyday in the winter, but i aged them with shoe shine, switched laces for red ribbons, and painted the heel cap gold. Now everyone asks where i got them, such surprised faces when i say they are from the Big K.
I hope this inspires you to give your blah shoes a makeover!
7.26.2011
Ships Ahoy! An easy Sailor Collar Tutorial
Here it is, the two piece sailor collar tutorial! Before we get started i want to say that this is a tying collar! Many of the tutorials i found already published are one piece and do not have to be tied, that is they are sewn and tucked into the neckline. You can choose to either sew this to a garment or keep it detachable - i'll give tips for both!
1) Gather up your materials. You will need:
-basic sewing supplies
-a basic top, a tshirt that fits you well in the shoulder is perfect.
-large sheets of paper for pattern drafting
-1/2 a yard of non stretch fabric, pressed
-light weight interfacing
**optional: small safety pins or broach pins to attach to a detachable collar
-your choice of embellishments - im giving instructions for topstitched ribbons, but you could do buttons, embroidery, applique, anything.
2)Iron your top so it is as flat as it can be, pay extra attention to the collar and shoulder seams. Trace the front and back of your top onto paper, you don't need to trace the whole thing, just down to about bustline, but about 10 inches of space beween the tracing and edge of paper. You'll need it to draw the front tie bit. It should look like this:
3) Now you'll be drawing your pattern pieces, on top of your tracing. Make sure the part where the two pieces will attach (pink arrows) are the same length. The Front tie piece (Piece A) should extend farther than you want it to end, to allow for tying. I made mine end a bit above my belly button so the tied length would be just below bustline.
4) Add seam allowance to the pieces and cut them out.
5) Layout the fabric and trace your patterns: 4 of A, and 2 of B. Lay out the interfacing and trace and additional 2 more of A and 1 of B. Iron the interfacing onto their fabric counterparts, so you have 3 interfaced pieces and 3 plain pieces.
6) Sew the interfaced pieces together at the shoulder seam (pink arrows from picture above!) and press the seam open. You should have the "U" sailor collar shape, so cute! This interfaced one is the one you will be decorating. Repeat for the plain pieces.
7) If you dont want a ribbon border, you can skip this step and go do whatever decorating stuff you would like, or just go to 8 and finish things for a plain collar. Take your interfaced piece and mark out on the right side where your ribbon will go. You can put the ribbon however far away from the edge as you want, but dont forget to account for seam allowance (ex. you made a 1/2" seam allowance and want the ribbon 3/8" away from the finished edge of the collar, then place it 7/8" away from the cut edge) I chose a simple overlap design for my ribbon, some people do corners, whatever floats your boat.
Pin your ribbon in place, and topstitch.
8) Almost there! Place the plain and interfaced pieces right side together, and sew along the allowance, leaving a space along the bottom edge of B to turn about 5" wide. Clip the corners and turn, using a knitting needle ( or some other blunt pokey thing) and your iron to press the edges crisp.
9)If you are attaching this to a garment, your done! Handstitch the un-interfaced underside of the collar to the neckline of a finished dress/top. If you want to make a detachable collar, take your safety/broach pins, and attach them at these points to the collar:
This should keep it from sliding around on your neck since its neckline is pretty big. To tie this you can use a standard tie knot. And thats it! I hope you enjoy your new collar, i know its a little late in the season for them, but at least you have time to make one in every color for next year!
thanks for reading, and if you have any questions about the tutorial feel free to ask!
1) Gather up your materials. You will need:
-basic sewing supplies
-a basic top, a tshirt that fits you well in the shoulder is perfect.
-large sheets of paper for pattern drafting
-1/2 a yard of non stretch fabric, pressed
-light weight interfacing
**optional: small safety pins or broach pins to attach to a detachable collar
-your choice of embellishments - im giving instructions for topstitched ribbons, but you could do buttons, embroidery, applique, anything.
2)Iron your top so it is as flat as it can be, pay extra attention to the collar and shoulder seams. Trace the front and back of your top onto paper, you don't need to trace the whole thing, just down to about bustline, but about 10 inches of space beween the tracing and edge of paper. You'll need it to draw the front tie bit. It should look like this:
3) Now you'll be drawing your pattern pieces, on top of your tracing. Make sure the part where the two pieces will attach (pink arrows) are the same length. The Front tie piece (Piece A) should extend farther than you want it to end, to allow for tying. I made mine end a bit above my belly button so the tied length would be just below bustline.
4) Add seam allowance to the pieces and cut them out.
5) Layout the fabric and trace your patterns: 4 of A, and 2 of B. Lay out the interfacing and trace and additional 2 more of A and 1 of B. Iron the interfacing onto their fabric counterparts, so you have 3 interfaced pieces and 3 plain pieces.
6) Sew the interfaced pieces together at the shoulder seam (pink arrows from picture above!) and press the seam open. You should have the "U" sailor collar shape, so cute! This interfaced one is the one you will be decorating. Repeat for the plain pieces.
7) If you dont want a ribbon border, you can skip this step and go do whatever decorating stuff you would like, or just go to 8 and finish things for a plain collar. Take your interfaced piece and mark out on the right side where your ribbon will go. You can put the ribbon however far away from the edge as you want, but dont forget to account for seam allowance (ex. you made a 1/2" seam allowance and want the ribbon 3/8" away from the finished edge of the collar, then place it 7/8" away from the cut edge) I chose a simple overlap design for my ribbon, some people do corners, whatever floats your boat.
Pin your ribbon in place, and topstitch.
8) Almost there! Place the plain and interfaced pieces right side together, and sew along the allowance, leaving a space along the bottom edge of B to turn about 5" wide. Clip the corners and turn, using a knitting needle ( or some other blunt pokey thing) and your iron to press the edges crisp.
9)If you are attaching this to a garment, your done! Handstitch the un-interfaced underside of the collar to the neckline of a finished dress/top. If you want to make a detachable collar, take your safety/broach pins, and attach them at these points to the collar:
This should keep it from sliding around on your neck since its neckline is pretty big. To tie this you can use a standard tie knot. And thats it! I hope you enjoy your new collar, i know its a little late in the season for them, but at least you have time to make one in every color for next year!
thanks for reading, and if you have any questions about the tutorial feel free to ask!
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