Has your style changed?

Pinterest is great for a lot of things.  It's great for finding inspiration. It's great for organizing ideas and recipes.  And it's really great for watching your own interests and style evolve.

I've noticed lately that the pins on my Style board have gone from this very hippie '70s vibe:

to this much more tailored, sleek, chic vibe:

I find myself drooling over form fitting pencil skirts and vintage inspired wiggle dresses lately.  What to do???  I have a closet full of peasant dresses and flowy skirts.  Do I make the switch?  Do I embrace both seemingly opposite styles somehow?

What about you?  Has your style changed recently?  I think I'm being heavily influenced by period dramas on TV and in the movies.  What's your style influenced by?

Leave a comment below~

Summer Scarf Halter II

Apparently the dance of veils is not over...I still have two scarves left to make something with.  So, today, let's make a new version of the Scarf Halter top for summer.

Here's what you'll need:

Materials:
-Large scarf (mine is about 26" (66cm) square)
-thread, scissors, pins
-sewing machine and measuring tape (not pictured)

Steps:
1) Fold your scarf in half and cut along folded edge.

Now you have two pieces.

2) Take one piece and cut a 2-3" strip off the cut edge. (This step is optional if you need larger halter pieces and will make straps out of an alternate material.)

3) Cut your strip down the middle so that you'll have two long strips 1-1.5" wide.

4) With the remaining piece from step 2, fold over corners to create triangles on either end.  Cut the bottom layer of the scarf along the inside edges.

These are all of the pieces you should have.

2 long skinny pieces, 1 large rectangle (half of scarf), two small squares. Plus you'll have one small squarish piece that you don't need right now but hang onto it.

5) Fold the small squares to make a triangle.  Press the folded edge.  Zig zag or serge the unfinished edges and stitch along the inside of the finished edge.  This creates lined halter pieces.

6) Measure in approximately 3" in from each corner.  Stitch long basting stitches in between your marks to gather.

7) Find your large rectangle and mark the centre of the cut edge.  Place your halter pieces on either side.  You can overlap yours like I did to ensure good coverage, or if you're a little more daring and you're lucky enough to have cleavage that you like to show off, you can have the triangles meet at the centre. In either case, pin your pieces right sides down, raw edges even, and stitch in place.

8) Make sure you're happy with the fit and finish the raw edge with a zig zag or serger.  Pull out your basting threads and press the seam allowance down towards the bodice all along the entire edge.

9) I was originally going to use the long skinny pieces to create a band in between the bodice and the cups but changed my mind and decided to use them as straps instead (straps are pretty important in this project).  So, fold your skinny long pieces in half lengthwise with right sides together and stitch.  If you want wider straps use a smaller seam allowance.  I ended up using a 3/8 seam allowance for spaghetti type straps.

Trim your seam allowance and turn your strap so that it's right side out.  You can use a turning tool like I have or just use a small safety pin to guide the strap inside itself.

10) Attach one strap to each triangle bra top corner.

11) My scarf won't reach all the way around my back to overlap and secure closed.  So, remember that little square piece we had left over from all the cutting?  Well, just use it to make a couple of short straps just like we did in the steps above.  Attach them right into the seam allowance of the upper bodice edge.

Because of this back closure you won't really be able to wear a proper bra with this top.  You could try the whole stick on cutlet thing, which I find come in very handy in times like this, or use a much larger scarf that you know you'll be able to overlap in the back better.  The last option I can think of is to sew in bra cups either to the inside of the bra pieces or between the lining and the outer fabric.  Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll have to just be brave and go for it.

And now you're ready to go to the folk festival, picnik, or just go out and enjoy the hot summer day!

I bought these jeans at the second hand store to make cut-offs.
They're full of shreded holes.  So funny~

For something different you could mix things up by using different scarves for all of the pieces, or using a super duper big scarf for the bodice and make it into a tunic or dress!  Have fun with it and see what you come up with.

Remember, a scarf is just a square piece of fabric with finished edges.  If you can't find a scarf you like, use a square piece of fabric.

I hope you're enjoying these scarf transformations because I'm having a lot of fun coming up with ideas on how to make them. 

You can find all of these projects, plus lots of other ideas, on the Tutorials tab up top~

Have a crafty week everyone!

This project was featured here:

    

 

Super Easy Summer Vest

We are having a super duper heat wave here this week and I am loving it!!!  I love, love, love warm weather and am going to be so sad in about a month when it's just a distant memory, so I'm soaking it up as much as I can right now.  I'm telling you all this so that you'll understand later on when you wonder why I'm wearing a hat and sunglasses in all my photos, but that's what I was wearing all day on the beach and photos with hat head just wouldn't do.

Anyway, on to this week's crafty project.  I visited a great new clothing shop near my work last week and saw a beautiful vest that I fell in love with.  When I really looked at it though I confidently proclaimed to my friend that "I could make that!".  So I did!

Here's what you need:



Of course I forgot something....pins, you'll definitely need some pins~

Note: the fabric you see there is a very large scarf.  Mine measures about 1.9 metres (74") X 84cm (33").  A large square scarf would work well too.

Steps:
1) Before I started, I measured from the centre of my back to where I wanted the back edge of the armhole to land.  It was about 5 1/2" for me but it'll be different for everyone.  If you don't have a dress form get someone to help you with this... unless you're one of the amazing twisty people from Cirque du Soleil, then you're probably fine on your own.

2) Then I was going to try to devise some fancy pants way to figure out the armholes so that it would be easy to explain.  In the end I just draped my scarf, eyeballed it, and used pins to mark each side.

 

 3) When I was done pinning, I folded the fabric in half to make sure that the holes were symmetrical...they weren't.  So, I cut one and then just used that as a guide for the other side.  This way they were basically the same size, shape, and location.

4) Now, if you really hate sewing for some crazy reason or just don't have access to a machine and your fabric isn't something that will fray, then you could just leave it here and call it a day.  But as most of you know, raw edges drive me nuts.  So, be brave, carry on, and now attach some bias tape to your armhole openings.

If I were you I wouldn't even try just turning your edges and hemming.  The grainline in your fabric will not like the curves and you will probably end up with lots of little unsightly folds every few inches or so.  Play it safe and use the bias tape.

Just lay the tape on the OUTSIDE, face down, edges matching up and pin, overlapping your ends just a bit.

5) Stitch right in the little fold or ditch.

6) Once you've secured your bias tape, just fold it over to the inside along the seam line you just sewed.  It'll fold super easily.  Press and pin and then sew this down.

7) That's it!  You're done!  Now you have a super cool vest that you wear so many ways...

Pin It

Crossed over with a belt

 

Open, no belt



Open, with a belt

You can even wear it backwards!!


Backwards with ends tied in the front

When I first tried this on I had my doubts as to whether or not I would ever actually wear it but you know what...I really like it!  Maybe I'll even make one with a heavier scarf for fall.  I like that the scarf I used has a bit of a frayed edge but, you could always add some fringe or beading along the edge to really dress it up.  Have fun with it!

As usual, check out the linky party tab because that's where I'll be hanging out all week.  But make sure to come back here on Monday because I'm going to throw my own linky party!!!  Yay!  I can't wait to see what all of you have been working on.  Crafting, sewing,  even recipes!  You're all welcome to come and share.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

Very Easy, Very Vogue...Very Blah

Normally I love Vogue patterns, even the easy ones.  They usually have the detail and style that a designer pattern has without the $30 price tag.

The two that I'm going to show you today though....blah.  I thought they'd be a nice simple silhouette that would be perfect for the office but I doubt very much that I'll be wearing either one of these.

Here's the first one:

I made view A.  Simple, elegant, form fitting.

I was originally going to make the top piece in a solid bluey grey fabric that matches the floral print but changed my mind at the last minute.

I confess that I did wear it to a work event once but the only reason was because I had really long hair and was able to hide the back of it.

I actually had to make a little patch that I pinned across the top of the zipper on the inside so that my bra strap wouldn't show.  There is a hook and eye but it's murder to clasp it without it help.

This dress is definitely going in the 'not wearing ever again' pile.

I thought I could make up for that disaster with the next Vogue pattern:

Again, very simple, classic, and elegant.

But also not a very good fit.



I'm standing with my hands like that so that
I can take it in a bit.  I would probably look
funny if I walked around the office all day like this though~

It's not  quite as bad as the first one and I'll admit that I could take it in and that would at least help, but the truth is when I put it on it reminds me of a dentist smock for some weird reason.  Maybe it's that high round neckline. I never wear round necklines if I can help it.  Still, I can't get the dentist office image out of my head so I doubt I'll ever actually wear it.

I'm not sure if it's the patterns or just that this style doesn't suit my body type but I'm off the Vogue for awhile.


PS...don't forget that today is the last day to enter the Plaid Giveaway .  Make sure to get your comments in for a chance to win your own Extreme Glitter Paint set~

Summer Seersucker

Well, the mornings are getting cooler and the nights are getting darker earlier and earlier.  This just might the last of this year's summer projects for my niece.


I used a couple of different patterns to put together a cute three piece outfit to see out the last warm days of summer.

She was in a bit of a goofy mood when it was picture time and it took awhile before I could get her to do some model poses for me.

Here's a close up of the fabric.  Can you see that slip of shiny silver thread that runs through it?  That's what drew me to the fabric.  She kept saying "It sparkles!!"



Here she is with the little caplet or bolero, whatever you want to call it:

And now you can see the little tank underneath with straps that match the pants.

She was still being slightly goofy for the 'serious' shots, but she's only 4 years old so that's allowed, actually it's encouraged.  If only we could all be 4 years old again~