In Adorn, super-stylish bloggers Kit Lee and Shini Park will show you how to transform old, unloved clothes into luxurious, one-off statement pieces, without the expensive price-tag. All that’s required is basic sewing skills, a touch of sparkle and a little bit of imagination. Most of us are guilty of having neglected clothes lurking around in the back of our wardrobes: a skirt that’s too small, moth-eaten cardigans that we can’t bear to part with, and those high-heeled party shoes that only got worn once. With 25 step-by-step projects, Adorn will have you breathing new life into these old clothes in no time. Use a broken diamanté necklace to add some glitz to a pair of wool socks; turn a scarf and chain into a stylish halter top; add a lick of paint to an old pair of brogues for a quirky, unique twist. Featuring simple, easy-to-follow instructions, advice on garment care and stylish photography throughout, Adorn is a must-have for all fashion-lovers, and anyone who wants to look slick on a budget.
KIT LEE & SHINI PARK
25 STYLISH DIY FASHION PROJEC TS KIT LEE & SHINI PARK
£16.99 ISBN 978-174270653-5
9 781742 706535
www.styleslicker.com www.parkandcube.com
ADORN_COVER_UK_US_COLOURED.indd 1
FASHION/CRAFT
19/12/2013 15:40
contents
INTRODUCTION 6 materials & tools 12 INSIDE OUR BISCUIT TIN 13 KIT'S TRICKS 15
TOPS & KNITWEAR 16 skirts 46 coats & jackets 58 dresses 72 accessories & bags 88 shoes 120
quick & easy 142 care affaiR 144
suppliers & resources 148 INDEX 154 thank you 156 about the authors 158
difficulty levels explained
1/5
Easy projects that do not involve sewing, and are doable while you enjoy a mug of coffee and a biscuit.
2/5
May include sewing, but still pretty doable while listening to music.
3/5
Simple machine-sewing projects.
4/5
More involved machine-sewing projects.
5/5
Pattern-making projects that may require taking notes and turning the radio off.
Materials & tools Before putting your shoes on, look in your wardrobe and dig out your old clothes. Keep rooting around until you hit the back wall. You’ll be surprised at how many items you find in there: broken jewellery, a skirt you grew out of, moth-eaten cardigans that can spare an arm or two. The key to a successful DIY project is being able to reinvent the fashionwear and rekindle the love you had when you first bought that item. Now, head to the market – ask the jewellery seller whether they have a bag of broken products they’d like to get rid of, pop into the hardware store and have a poke at the bronze piping and ropes, then head to your local charity store for second-hand and vintage clothing. Raid the discount bins for any interesting fabrics and shapes. Search online. Auction sites like eBay and Etsy are not just a source of new and secondhand clothing and haberdashery supplies, but rare ones too, such as eccentric trimmings and measuring tapes from the 1920s! They’re also the perfect place to bid for a secondhand sewing machine, if you don’t own one already. 12
Adorn
Inside our biscuit tin Assortment of threads made of silk,
Paintbrushes to apply paint and glue on
cotton or polycotton, used for hand- and machine-sewing.
surfaces, and brush away loose debris.
Bull dog (Binder) clips or clothes pegs
to hold glued or heavy-duty objects in place while adhesive sets. Cloth or fabric scraps to assess sewing
machine stitch length, style and tensions. Craft pliers to grab intricate objects firmly,
and close up jump rings or chain rings. Cutter or heavy-duty scissors to cut
metal, leather, plastic and art stencils. Dressmaker’s pins to hold and keep fabrics
in place.
revolving punch pliers to punch holes
in fabric and leather to create eyelets and belt holes. Safety pins as a suitable alternative to dress-
maker’s pins. Sandpaper and nail file for filing and
sharpening scissor blades. Seam ripper for unpicking stitches in fabric and for cutting open button holes. Sewing machine to stitch fabric and other
materials together.
Fabric scissors to cut fabric and leather.
Sewing needles for hand-sewing fabric, beading, buttons and embroidery.
Glue gun and multi-purpose adhesive
Small scissors to snip off threads and
for working on a range of arts and crafts – avoid using on fabric.
loose trims.
Hammer to assist hole-punching and eyelet
setting. Lighter for sealing raw edges to prevent them
from fraying. Measuring tape and ruler for markings,
measurements and drawing straight lines.
Tailor’s chalk and pencil to mark fabric
temporarily for making alterations. Tweezers to handle delicate materials such as gold leaf and small beads. Yarn to create pompoms. Zipper foot to sew zips onto fabric.
T o p s & k n it w ear
T o p s & k n it w ear
Scarf & chain halter-neck top A French Riviera holiday
This top reminds us of a glamorous holiday by the sea or an after-dinner stroll on the boardwalk. We found this beautiful vintage silk scarf in a thrift store and transformed it into a luxurious top simply by threading in a thick chain necklace. There are about a million things you can do with a good scarf, and some of them require only a needle and thread. Check out some of our other projects involving scarves on pages 79 and 103.
What you’ll need
Difficulty level
Medium-sized silk scarf
2/5
Safety pins Chunky chain necklace Sewing needle Matching colour thread
Tops & Knitwear
23
1
Taking opposite corners, fold the scarf in half to form a triangle.
2
Secure safety pins along the edge, 10 cm (4 inches) away from the tip on both sides.
3
Place the chain necklace on top of the scarf in line with the safety pins. Fold the small corner of the scarf down.
24
Adorn
4
Tuck the pointy corner in to create a straight line and secure in place with a safety pin.
5
Hand-sew along the edge.
6
To wear the scarf, put the chain necklace around your neck and tie the scarf at the back to secure.
Tops & Knitwear
25
Some styling tips... Gatherer Ruche the neckline slightly to allow the scarf to drape naturally. Roly-poly Roll the hem up before tying at the back for a cropped-top effect.
26
Adorn
Introduction
27
skirts
skirts
Mesh-panel underskirt Fit to flirt! Show your sexy side with this classic, tailored skirt feauturing a mesh panel that will fool everyone at first glance. It’s a great way to draw attention to your legs and express the sassy side of your personality.
What you’ll need
Difficulty level
Mesh fabric
4/5
Mini skirt Measuring tape Pins Tailor’s chalk Fabric scissors Matching colour thread Sewing machine
48
Adorn
1
2
Cut out two single panel pieces using your fabric scissors. We've opted for a single panel mesh measuring 10 cm (4 inches) in length.
First decide the width and length of the mesh underskirt, according to the size of your mini skirt. Include a 2½ cm (1 inch) seam allowance along the top and ends. 3
Join the ends of the mesh together and pin to secure. These will be your side seams. Sew along the seam allowance with a straight stitching line.
50
Adorn
4
You should end up with a 'looped' mesh panel. Align the top of the panel under the folded hem of the mini skirt, making sure the side seams line up.
5
Overlap the inside hem of the skirt with your mesh panel by 5 cm (2 inches). Pin to secure.
6
Sew the skirt hem and mesh panel together, removing the pins as you go. Cut off any loose threads. To complete the look, dress up your skirt with an Embellished Varsity Jacket (see page 61).
Fold up 1Ÿ cm (½ inch) of the mesh at the bottom and sew for a clean edge. This will also prevent the mesh from curling up if it is stretched when worn. Skirts
51
C o ats & j ackets
C o ats & Jackets
BouclÉ Jacket with gold chain trim A chain reaction
This old jacket may have been languishing in your wardrobe, but our gold chain detail will add a sleek and compelling dimension to the textured bouclé fabric and colour, giving the jacket a modern look. Perfect for the boardroom or a night out in town.
What you’ll need
Difficulty level
Bouclé jacket
2/5
Gold chain Pliers Matching colour thread Sewing needle
Coats & Jackets
69
1
2
Use pliers to seperate the chain into three sections: a section for the front of the jacket, and a section each for the two sleeve cuffs.
Lay the jacket on your work surface. Place the chain close to the edge of the zip and around the collar, then down the other side of the zip. Gauge the length you’ll need. 3
Using a needle and thread, run a looping stitch from under the fabric. Sew every second or third link, depending on the thickness and weight of the chain.
70
Adorn
4
Repeat step 3 to attach the chain to both sleeve cuffs. Cut off any loose threads to neaten the finish. This is a great way to breathe life into an unused jacket.
Some tips...
Avoid using fabric scissors to cut the chain, as the metal will damage the scissor blades. Use pins to secure the chain on the fabric to stop it from moving around while handstitching.
shoes
shoes
Metal chain-fringe heels Curtain call
We all crave sultry footwear that’s fit for any occasion. This shimmering chain-fringe adds salsa and spice to your heels. Time to go dancing, we think!
What you’ll need
Difficulty level
About 3 metres (10 feet) of small lightweight chain
4/5
Strappy heels or shoes with straps Measuring tape Pliers Safety pins Glue gun Scrap paper Bull dog clips or clothes pegs
1
Measure the front strap of the shoe using a measuring tape to determine the length of your main chain strap. Use pliers to pull the chain apart and extract the main chain strap.
2
Work out how many chain fringes you’ll need to attach to the loops of the main chain strap. Carefully extract your fringes from the chain.
3
Insert safety pins in each end to support the weight and prevent the chain fringe from twisting when holding the strap. Open the end loop of each chain fringe and attach to the main chain strap. Make sure the loops are securely closed up.
4
Heat up your glue gun. Place the shoe strap on your work surface covered with scrap paper. Apply the hot glue along the strap.
Be extra careful when using the hot glue gun. It’s easy to burn yourself. Always handle with care and follow the instructions on the packet or manual.
134
Adorn
6
5
Leave the strap to dry and the glue to set. Repeat steps 1–6 for the other shoe.
7
Carefully place the main chain strap on the shoe strap, using a bull dog clip or clothes pegs to hold the chain and strap in place. Apply more hot glue, if necessary.
Remove clips and safety pins once the glue is dry, then try on your shoes and witness the instant transformation from ordinary to extraordinary.
Shoes
135
shoes
Gold leaf heels Picked from a golden tree
Add a touch of sophistication to your look by emblazoning your heels in gold leaf. Jazz it up with a flowing chiffon dress and dance the night away! It’s a style to suit any occasion.
What you’ll need
Difficulty level
White stiletto heels
3/5
Clean cloth Scrap paper
To save time, use metallic spray paint instead of gold leaf.
Masking tape 2 x soft paintbrushes Water-based acrylic gold size (adhesive) Loose gold leaf (25 sheets, 14 cm x 14 cm) (5½ inches x 5½ inches) Tweezers Clear Shellac varnish (sealer)
136 Adorn
Introduction
137
1
Firstly, wipe your shoe with a cloth until they are clean. Cover your work surface with scrap paper. Cover the strap, side panels and inside of the heels with masking tape.
2
Dip the paintbrush in the water-based acrylic gold size, and apply a coat to the entire heel and back panel.
3
Leave to dry for 15 minutes.
Gold leaf is extremely delicate and can easily crumble, so handle with care. 138 Adorn
4
Once the milky adhesive is completely clear and sticky, pick up a sheet of gold leaf with tweezers and gently place it over the heel and back panel.
5
Pat and smooth it down gently on the sticky surface with a clean, soft brush. Continue to cover the area, filling in any gaps, if necessary. Smooth out creases and brush away any debris. Repeat steps 1–5 for the other shoe.
6
Seal the surfaces with a coat of clear Shellac sealer. Leave to dry for 15 minutes, then stand back and marvel at the golden-heeled beauties.
Shoes
139