Archive: Wardrobe Refresh

April 30, 2012

How-To: Ascot Top

I love this idea for turning a thrifted blouse into a cute DIY ascot top. Sometimes an extra bow can really put a secret smile on your face.

April 10, 2012

DIY Coat Rack

The space in my closet is maxed out, which is why I love to keep my favorite clothes right where I can see them- in a nice big pile on the floor. I am very inspired by this coat rack tutorial from splitthelark. Meghan makes it look very doable, and I think I might even be able to skip step 1!

March 29, 2012

DIY Leather Watch Strap

I took a sandal-making workshop with Rachel Corry last year and have been a little obsessed with leather work ever since. This simple DIY leather watch strap over on Design Sponge would be a great way to dip your toes in the water! It does require using an inexpensive Timex Weekender for the strap hardware, but you could probably use the techniques with any simple watch strap you find!

August 26, 2011

DIY Shoe Bling

Today on Corinne's Craft Closet, I show you how to bling out a pair of old high heel shoes. No need to pay an arm and a leg for them at the shoe store! OMG SHOES!

I am also giving away a 750 kit of Tulip Iron-on crystals, packs of the 300 count iron-on crystals and one Tulip heat setting tool! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me why you should be the lucky recipient. Comments will close and the recipient will be picked randomly September 30th, 2011.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, download the m4v video directly, or watch it on YouTube.

June 13, 2011

How-To: Ombre Scalloped Shorts

One of my favorite fashion bloggers, Pixie in Pumps, has posted a great tutorial for making Ombre Scalloped Shorts. The transformation belies the simple dyeing and cutting techniques she used. She couldn't make it any easier for you to create your own!

May 27, 2011

How-To: Decorate Espadrilles

Espadrilles shout "summer!" and these decorated espadrilles from Pascale at Between the Lines add an elegant twist. The bow-tie and flower would be fun for his-and-hers summer wedding shoes, no?

April 26, 2011

Perfect Summer Braid

My hair is almost long enough and the weather is always warm enough to try this killer Summer Braid. Refinery 29 gives a great tutorial showing you how to create this crafty coif with your favorite strip of fabric woven in. This will be so dreamy with a sweet summer dress.

Related:

• Neon Felt Bows
• Craft Patter: Knit Bow Headband
• Fancy Cocktail Hat

February 11, 2011

T-Shirt Mod: Boxy to Foxy

I have a bunch of great logo tee-shirts but they're cut for men and I don't like the way they fit, so today I'm going to show you how to mod your t-shirts into a flattering shape that you'll actually wear.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, download the m4v video directly, or watch it on YouTube.

Check out the complete tutorial on Make: Projects. For this project you need:

• a boxy unisex tee that fits you in the collar
• a girlie tee that fits (your template)
• tailor's chalk
• pins
• scissors
• a serger (overlock machine)

First, iron your shirts and turn them inside-out. Line up the template at the shoulders and trace around it with tailor's chalk.

Pin along the new side seams, and cut off the sleeves at the new armhole. Run the new side seams through the serger.

Lay out the old sleeve under the template t-shirt and mark the new underarm and armhole. Serge the underarm, then cut the shoulder curve.

Flip the sleeve right side out and set it inside the armhole of the shirt. Pin and serge the edge, repeat on the other sleeve, and you're done!

You can also hem the bottom of the shirt if it's too long.

January 6, 2011

Cute and Easy Sweater Skirt How-to

In case you missed it, be sure to check out Betz White's charmingly easy hip huggie tutorial. It's a perfect project now that the holidays are over; think of it as a well-deserved present to yourself.

I love the idea of a quick and easy, warm and cozy skirt made from a reused felted wool sweater. And her explanations (and puns) are an added delight!

August 4, 2010

How-To: Ruffle Lace T-Shirt

Sachiko of Tea Rose Home has posted four tutorials this month for ways to transform t-shirts into stylish, flattering additions to your wardrobe. Her fourth entry in the series is this nice ruffle and lace t-shirt upcycle. See how she made it and check out the other shirts in the series over on her blog.

November 27, 2009

Intern's Corner: Reupholstering Converse All Stars

Every other week, CRAFT's awesome interns tell about the projects they're building in the Craft: Labs, the trouble they've gotten into, and what they'll make next.

By Meara O'Reilly, projects intern

My kindergarten teacher Mr. Harris always kept a bin in the classroom where parents could donate old computers or typewriters; when a kid was angry or had too much energy, they'd be sent to the bin, where they could tinker and, well, tear apart the contents until they stopped simmering and started exploring. I learned a lot about basic machinery and material composition just from taking things apart with abandon.

One of two "Converse A La Mod" projects in CRAFT Volume 07 (Shoe Time!), the All-Star Fabric Swap project uses this "technique" to great effect. I'd always wanted to make my own shoes, but was intimidated to make something so structural and weight-bearing from scratch. Since this project uses an old pair of Converse All Star sneakers as a pattern or template, there's not a lot of worrying about how to re-invent the wheel (so to speak), just some fun tear-down and hands-on learning about how a classic shoe is constructed.

To test the project, I modded a pair of the high-tops in the CRAFT Labs, replacing the old fabric with a new navy blue with white polka dots. All it takes is some simple sewing and shoe glue.

Then I made a San Francisco Giants themed pair for a CRAFT event at the 2008 "Stitch N' Pitch" baseball game at AT&T Park. For the fabric, I used Giants bandanas from the team's 50th anniversary celebration, with huge SF logos and a crazy Golden Gate Bridge print.

Now that I've made a couple of pairs of these, I feel ready to branch out in the world of shoe reupholstery and design a pair for my sister for Christmas. I'll post pictures here once I give them to her, to show how they turned out!

August 7, 2009

Intern's Corner: Refashioned newsprint shoes

Every other week, CRAFT's awesome interns tell about the projects they're building in the Craft: Labs, the trouble they've gotten into, and what they'll make next.

By Lindsey North, projects intern

In Volume 02 of CRAFT magazine there's a page that shows the reader how to revamp a pair of old shoes. The author, one Yasmin Bochi, covered a pair of shoes using vintage stamps that she had collected. This inspired me to try to breathe life back into one of my favorite pairs of shoes that died from being overworked.

My Nine West flats had clearly suffered, grinding away on the concrete. After reading Yasmin's article, I was cleaning off my table, shuffling mail and old newspapers, and I decided to resuscitate my shoes by covering them in old newsprint. So I pulled out my box of wonders and uncovered the amazing Mod Podge (good stuff), an adhesive and a sealer all in one.

After carefully ripping apart the paper, I lightly sanded my shoes so that the glue would stick better. The shoes were now prepped and ready for the decoupage. Later, as they sat by the window enjoying a light breeze, I covered them in another layer of Mod Podge to seal them. But I stupidly forgot that your foot actually bends when you walk, so ... my favorite pair of shoes now hangs on the wall as a decoration and as a reminder of what all other shoes should be.

Your Craft Intern,
Lindsey

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