The Kooks

Saw The Kooks last night at HoB, maybe I'll post a little about the show later on. So rad. The Postelles were good fun, too. Left them a note in their tour bus door handle after the show, with this url, ahah. Maybe they'll see this, maybe not. Just wanted to say hi via an analogue medium. Had fun waving at you, Hugh!

DIY: instant drapey scarf

reblog

e a s y ][ 20 minutes
cost: free, ideally
shop at: your house
read: the instructions once though before you get started

I got a handmedown henley from a family friend, wore it a few times, then I realized it was really unflattering. Yet really soft. I Absent mindedly made a few cuts, removing the buttons and slicing sleeves. I didn't rock it til much later, when I became more of a risk-taker with my outfit choices. I think you guys will love this!

SUPPLIES

- 1 long sleeve tee
(hopefully it's a color or print you like, and soft fabric a plus)
- scissors

0. HOW TO GET YOUR TEE FO' FREE: wander around your house and ask brothers, sisters, parents, whoever -- if they have an old long sleeve shirt they don't wear or like anymore. Or, even easier, maybe you have one of your own.

1. Cut off the collar and tag. If it has buttons, you can leave those or snip them off.

2. Starting below the neckline, make a long slit that goes 1/3 or so down the front of the shirt. Don't cut the back of the shirt.

3. Sleeves: starting at the cuff, make one cut up the length of the sleeve. Repeat on other sleeve.

4. Done! Here's a visual if you're confused.

[link]

5. Stick your head through what used to be the torso/chest part of the shirt. You can wear it sleeves hanging down, wrapped around, angled, exposed seams, inside out…sometimes I wear mine as an impromptu hood. I bet it could work as a hair-wrap, too! There isn't a wrong way to wear it.

TIP: I've found that smaller sized shirts (hence why snagging a younger sibling's shirt works so well) and thin/tissue knit jersey work really well. Don't flip out about it being "perfect". No such thing. Once it's draped around your neck it'll feel fab :)

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS: Regular tees, or 3/4 sleeves, will probs work too, but they'll be a little different. You could try ripping/snipping funky holes in the shirt to create a pattern. There's a million ways to cut it, as well. Endless options!

[feel free to use my photos in your sets! but please don't edit w/o asking. If you make a scarf of your own, send me a photo!]

be sure to check out my other projects!



♥ I worked really hard on this set. It took a long time to prepare.
I wrote out these instructions and took the photos.
So if you see this anywhere else, it's not the original.
10/10/10

Featured!

I logged on today for kicks, and to my surprise, a link to my typography tutorial was featured in an article in College Fashion! Thank you to the author, and hello to all my new visitors!

DIY: chevron fringe tee

reblog on tumblr | hype on lookbook

e a s y ][ 1-2 hours
cost: $10-20
shop at: your house, craft or fabric stores
read: the instructions once though before you get started.

Fringe is a really fun effect but I imagine it can be kind of intimidating if you've never tried it before. I promise this is a super easy project with big results, and would be fun by yourself, or with a group! It's also mildly eco-friendly, as each shirt is made from just one shirt, and minimal supplies, with very little waste.

SUPPLIES
- light colored t-shirt that's at least little too big for you.
(most craft and fabric stores have tees in youth and adult sizes)
- fabric glue
(beacon fabri-tac is a good brand)
- fabric markers or sharpies
- ribbon
- scissors
- ruler
- pencil
- piece of cardboard
(newspaper or a notebook would work too)
- flat space to work

1. Plan what colors you want to use before you buy supplies. The shirt I found in my house was light pink, so I decided to use pink and orange fabric markers, and pink and orange ribbon. I think fewer colors show off the fringe, but if you're color crazy, do your thing. Or, if you're not color crazy, you could even skip the steps about marker and/or ribbon. If you don't like fringe, this isn't a project for you. But maybe a friend or relative would like one?


2. Cut any tags out of the shirt.Try on the shirt and mark where your belly button is with a pencil. Take off the shirt and lay it flat. I recommend that you cut off around 4" from the bottom of the t-shirt. Four inches allows for pretty good looking fringe, but if that makes the tee too much of a belly shirt, or you want to play with fringe length, adjust as you like! The more you cut off from the bottom, the shorter the shirt will be.


3. Set the main part of the tee aside. Grab the bottom piece and place it in front of you, with the seam at the top. Using the fabric markers, add stripes of color to both sides. They don't have to be perfect, texture and randomness is a good thing here!


4. Cut lines every 1/2" along the piece, all the way across. You can wing it, or draw lines with a ruler and pencil. Pulling down on the 1/2" strings will cause them to roll, creating the awesome fringe effect.


5. Cut the fringe into two pieces, where the sides of the t-shirt used to be. You should have something that looks like this:


6. Now to create the chevron. Grab the fringe piece you want to use on the front of the shirt. Fold it onto itself, color facing in.


7. This part is a bit tricky, but take your time, you'll get it! Practice with a strip of paper if you need to. Fold it back flat, creating a little triangle behind it in the center.


8. The whole piece should look like the edge of an obtuse triangle. Put fabric glue in between the center's folds and let it dry for a bit. Then, pin the fringe where you want it to be on the shirt. Try it on to get a better visual. You can hold up the fringe and mark the shirt if you don't have pins.


9. Slide a piece of cardboard into the shirt to keep the glue from going everywhere. Trim the ends, remove the pins. Apply glue to the back of the seam to attach the fringe to the shirt, keeping an eye on placement. Once it's on there, press it down.


10. Using the same folding and gluing techniques, you can attach ribbon to the shirt.


11. I used the extra fringe and ribbon on the back of my shirt. I decided to put a straight line higher up, but you could do another chevron.


12. Done! Time to find some breeze and put your fringy tee into action!



TIP: Fabric glue is perfect because once it dries completely, it's machine washable. If you're feeling fancy, you could definitely sew instead.

ALTERNATIVE IDEAS: If you use a tee that is way big, you'll get a cool drapey poncho look. You could also play with cutting the neckline or sleeves, all the usual things that happen when you put scissors near a t-shirt.

Be sure to check out my other projects!

If you make one, feel free to post a photo on the September Girls Do So Much fan page!

DIY #16
♥ I worked really hard on this tutorial. It took a long time to prepare.
I wrote out these instructions and took the photos.
So if you see this anywhere else, it's not the original.
8/30/11

DIY: shirt skirt

reblog on tumblr | hype on lookbook

m e d i u m ][ 1-2 hours
cost: $4 for thread & elastic
shop at: your house, craft or fabric stores
read: the instructions once though before you get started. also consider referring to my Le Sac Dress tutorial, as it uses similar techniques.

The perfect use for an old button down shirt from your boyfriend, lover, the kid across the dorm hall who you harass, OR good ol' dad, or grandpa joe. Or sketchy Uncle Goodwill.

You only have to know how to sew a straight line. Plus, you don't have to hem this skirt! Yesss. And it's a great unique shape. Side slope!

I wear this one like I wear my elastic high waist skirts, at my natural waist with a shirt tucked in.

SUPPLIES
- button down shirt in a male size, hopefully it has some length to it
- sewing machine that can do a straight stitch OR be tough & sew by hand
- iron
- scissors
- ruler
- safety pins
- package of 1/2 inch elastic
- thread in a color that goes with the shirt

1. Button all the buttons. Cut straight across both layers of the shirt, under the sleeves. Do not try to cut through a button.


2. Now you have the bottom of a shirt. Stitch down the placket, buttons rightside up. This prevents awkward gapping when you wear the skirt. Only sew the top layer of the shirt. Do not stitch over buttons, the needle will break. A broken sewing machine is a sad one.


3. Lay the shirt tube on an ironing board, wrong side out. Fold & iron the top edge of the shirt down so it makes a 3/4 inch skinny rectangle around the top of the tube opening. This will be the tunnel where the elastic goes. Pin it down & it'll stay in place better.


4. Using a straight stitch, sew around the circle close the lower edge, but do not sew it shut completely. Leave a 1 inch opening. The gap is where the elastic will enter. Keep an eye on things and check your work every so often, so you don't accidentally sew through both layers of the skirt!


5. Cut a piece of elastic a few inches shorter than your waist. For instance, if you have a 26 inch waist, cut a piece that is 21-23 inches. Styles of elastic vary, so you may have to tinker with it again later to get the right fit.

6. Attach one end of the elastic to a safety pin. Pin the other end somewhere near the tunnel, so it will not get lost in the tunnel. Push the elastic through the top fabric tunnel. It will gather and make cute little bunches. Take your time.


7. When the elastic meets, remove the safety pins carefully, make sure the elastic is not twisted, and sew the ends together. Go over it multiple times.


8. Try on the skirt to see if it fits. The elastic should feel snug but not painfully tight. Re-sew the elastic tighter if needed.

9. Tuck the elastic fully into the tunnel. Sew the fabric tunnels shut along the bottom edge where the other stitches are, going over it a few times.

10. Turn the skirt right side out, and you're done!



TIP: I like to leave the seam tag hanging as a bonus "this used to be a shirt!" detail. But you can cut yours out if you like.

ALTERNATIVE IDEA: This tutorial could be modified to make a top, or plenty of other things, depending on what kind of shirt you use. Cook up some ideas of your own, if you feel like it!

Be sure to check out my other projects!

If you make one, feel free to post a photo on the September Girls Do So Much fan page!

DIY #15
♥ I worked really hard on this tutorial. It took a long time to prepare.
I wrote out these instructions and took the photos.
So if you see this anywhere else, it's not the original.
I was inspired by other versions made by awesome users at sites like craftster.
I made my skirt in the summer of 2008, but I posted this tutorial on
8/26/11

Tie-Dye August 2011

I am happy to announce that tie-dye will available for purchase starting
Monday, August 15th, 2011, at 9PM Eastern US time.
Many styles, limited quantities. I've made everything I'm selling already, and once it's gone, it's gone.

Prompt shipping. Selling through Etsy, accepting payments through Paypal only.

International shipping is possible, but it will cost more.
Contact orders@septembergirlsdosomuch.com if you're an interested international shopper.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP

You can view more photos on the Facebook page!

DIY: foam clutch

reblog on tumblr

reblog on tumblr


m e d i u m ][ 2 hours
cost: about $4 per clutch
shop at: your house, craft or fabric stores
read: the instructions once though before you get started
 
I wanted a neon clutch this summer, but I didn't feel like dishing out $50+ for one, and I didn't feel like sewing. This is what happened.
 
SUPPLIES
- template pieces and guide, printed
click here to view/download the template

- 2 sheets of 12x18" craft foam for one clutch
(I use "Foamies" brand. Their value packs are sweet, haha.)
[note: if all you can find is 9x12", get 4 sheets. you will have to rearrange the template but it's totally possible]
- 1 roll of double sided tape
(makes about 3 clutches. I use the kind 1/4" kind they put in the craft foam section. You cut it, place it, then when you're ready, peel up the paper to make it sticky on both sides)
- experience with with scissors or xacto knife
- scissors or xacto knife
- ruler
- scotch tape
- pencil
- cutting mat or hard surface to work on



THE TEMPLATES

1. Cut the blue part of the template pieces off, leaving the white and grey. You will have 6 rectangles, which we will make into 2 bigger rectangles.


2. The last page has loose shapes, cut those out individually and set aside.


3. Tape the first 4 rectangles pieces together, a little bit of tape on the front to help you align, and lots of tape on the back to hold things together. You may need to trim the inner gray edges to align things correctly.


4. Repeat for the other two rectangle pieces.


5. Cut out all the shapes like you did in step 2. Be careful not to cut piece A in half! It has a fold line near the middle, not a cut.


THE FOAM

6. Arrange the templates on the foam, using the guide for reference. (The D's in the photo will look slightly thicker than what you have in front of you, I had to adjust the template. No worries!)


7. Trace the shapes lightly in pencil.


8. Cut out all the shapes.


THE CLUTCH

9. Get all the A, C, and D pieces.


10. Put double sided tape on both sides of all the D pieces.


11. Take piece C and attach D3, placing it along the top edge, like you're stacking papers neatly. Flip piece C over, and place double sided tape on the top and bottom.


12. Attach C to the top of Ai, again, lining it up.


13. Now to give the clutch thickness. Attach D1 and D2 to the upper sides, lining them up like you did with piece C.


14. Fold the bottom of Aii up to the lower edge of C. Can you see the clutch forming?




15. Find piece B, E1, and E2. Place piece B at the top, right over D3, keeping it lined up.


16. On E1, put two pieces of double sided tape on either end. On E2, put one long strip.


17. Place E1 on the front of the clutch, under B. I like to line up the bottom of E1 with the bottom of B.


18. Place E2 on the back, in about the same place as E1 on the other side.


19. Grab F1 and F2. These are the closure straps. Arrange double sided tape in a T formation at the top of both.


20. Place both F1 and F2 about 1.5" from either side, lining up their tops with the top of the clutch.

21. I used G1 to make a funky little pocket at the front.


22. You can also apply a little more tape and create little loops on F1 and F2, which help them stay in place.


23. Done!


reblog on tumblr

TIP: Flatten your clutch under a heavy book overnight to help the double sided tape really adhere.

EXTRA PIECES: I imagined G1/G2/H to be buckles and pockets and corners, then didn't end up using most of them, but you can! Play with the extra shapes and scraps to style your clutch uniquely. I like the minimalist look, but you could definitely add stickers or drawings if you felt like it!

ALTERNATIVE IDEA: Tuck a necklace in, and voila, it's a purse!



BEHIND THE SCENES: I didn't dream up this exact design all at once. Here's the practice clutch and sketches I played with for hours on end:


 
Be sure to check out my other projects!
If you make one, feel free to post a photo on the September Girls Do So Much fan page!

DIY #14
♥ I worked really hard on this tutorial. It took a long time to prepare.
I wrote out these instructions and took the photos.
So if you see this anywhere else, it's not the original.
7/17/11