Quick Top Reconstruction

Just a quick project I did this week.

I picked up this off-the shoulder top at the goodwill for about $3. And I liked it but the flap down front doesn't work for my body type. So I removed it, serged the edge and re-finished it! I like it a lot better now.

Just goes to show you don't have to be stuck with something that doesn't work for you. I'll be posting a few new tutorials soon.


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Video Killed the Radio Star

Ok, trying something kind of new and decided to post a new shirt tutorial on a video! Any comments, critiques, suggestions, whatever are accepted since this is my first round at it.

Re-Collar Your Collar

I love these button down blouses from Heavy Red but can't justify paying $62 for them so I decided to make my own!








This is the first in a series of collar re-dues I'm going to be doing. This is a great project for both guys and girls alike. I love it because there are so many options to this for tons of different looks.

Start by picking out the collared shirt you want to use and carefully remove the collar from the shirt using your seam ripper.



Place your old collar on a piece of paper to make a new template. I like to use newspaper because it's a great way to recycle. If you want a more exaggerated collar like mine draw your corners out.



I folded my pattern piece in half and placed it on the fold of my interfacing. Cutting around the pattern piece making sure that you leave plenty of room for seam allowance.



You're going to do the same for your chosen fabric for your collar. You should have 3 pieces for your collar.




You're going to place the RIGHT sides of your two collar pieces together and place your interfacing on the WRONG side of one of your pieces.

At this point you can also pin a zipper edge or a lace trim to your collar.



This is probably a no brainer but sew your pieces together.

If you are using fusable interfacing then you should iron it on to your collar before you sew. If not then just go on and sew around it.

Also, keep in mind that the thicker the fabric you are sewing through the longer your stitch length should be.



Turn your collar right side out and use your seam ripper to pull out the corners. Iron your seams down flat.



Pin and sew your collar back to your shirt.



If you didn't do the zipper or lace trim you can either be finished now or you can add some other adornment to your collar- I added some lace on after sewing my collar together.

Oh My Goth!

Love love love this piece! It is so sexy it's not even funny.



I'm not normally a vest girl- and lord knows you wouldn't see many goth sporting a vest but this is so amazing I just fell for it.




This dress is a total Etsy steal, but with that hood you couldn't go wrong.




Another amazing Etsy dress.



I am in so much lust for this dress you can probably hear me panting over it through your computer screen.



After seeing this photo, I fully believe that every little goth girl should walk around with curlers in her hair.







The model in these photos is about as gothic as a cheerleader but the clothes speak for themselves.



Heavy Red Fashions



You can pick up a sequins tank top at just about every store now-adays but only Heavy Red has managed to make one "goth"



Every little goth girl needs something like this in her closet.



I am so in love with this top that I will not rest until I have one, even if I must make it myself, which is the more likely scenario.



Something about the zippers on the thighs of these leggings facinate me.

Milla Jovovich T-Shirt Bathing Suit

My boyfriend's celebrity crush would have to be hands down Milla Jovovich. Ever since she said "Big-Bada-Boom!" on Fifth Element he's been in love. So as a nod towards here I bring you her T-Shirt swim suit (not really suitable for swimming)




First step is to find your T-shirt and lay it out flat.



The next step is going to be the most difficult step of the whole bathing suit making. You have two choices:
1. Measure around your hips and divide that by two and the guess on making the proper hour glass shape you will need to make in order to get the proper bathing suit bottom.
OR
2. Take an old pair of underwear that you don't wear anymore- cut it open and use it as a template. Lay the back piece on the bottom of your t-shirt so that the top of the back runs along the hem of the shirt and the top is facing up.

It seems really confusing but if you go with 2 its pretty easy.




At any rate- after you draw out the bottom half of your suit you are going to draw up in a slight angle and cut AROUND the collar of your shirt. Your piece should look like the picture above.



From there you will begin to cut strips from just below your collar to where your bottom should start, if you are confused just use your panties as a guide.

From there you will carefully clean up and cut out the collar of your shirt.

At this poing, if you flip over the bottom half of your suit you will see it take the shape you want. I suspect that the "designer" of Milla's photoshoot just safety pinned her in but I decided to go with a draw string.

By going to the remaining bit of t-shirt I had, I cut out a long strip and stretched it out then using a safety pin I pulled it through the hem of my t-shirt.




Next cut out another strip of fabric and cut in half and stretch. Sew those strings to the front of the suit so you can tie your bottoms on.




At this point you should make any adjustments needed for your suit to fit correctly. You can wear it as it is with a bikini top under it or you can make the top she wore in her photo shoot out of the remaining t-shirt. I don't recommend the latter if you are a busty woman.