DIY TUTORIAL: Free People Inspired Cottage Core Dress

I am so happy to share my most recent tutorial - this beautiful Free People inspired dress. If DIY isn't your thing, you can purchase the Taking Sides Maxi Dress here. Happy sewing!

Adrienne Blouse Mini Review + Sew-Along

I did a thing! Filmed a mini review + sew-along of Friday Pattern Companies Adrienne Blouse! I call it mini because I don't film and walk you through every single little step. This is a new series that I hope to continue over on my YouTube channel. I would like to expand it not only from indie pattern companies to the big 4, but also DIY tutorials that I see in this big digital ocean. But we all know how I am... hopefully not another year for my next video. 

diy marbled bralette

When I read Honestly WTF's latest paper DIY, I truly thought WTF. Can this technique be applied to clothing?? So I set out on my latest DIY and thought it would be perfect for a bralette! The shaving cream marbling method has been around for awhile, and it also appears to be the easiest.

Tutorial below the break!

diy faux leather top

DIY shirt, Honey Punch Shorts, Zara heels

I had extra faux leather left over from the bucket bag that I made so I figured I'd give a leather shirt a try. This project is really easy because there isn't much to it. It's basically just two large squares!

You will need:

1. Faux leather
2. Sewing machine with leather needles
3. Scissors

You can trace an over-sized shirt that you have or you can just copy the shape that I have going here. You can see that it is very minimal, just two pieces of faux leather cut the same but the neck line is further down in the front. Also make the top slanted instead of straight across.

Sew with right sides together. Don't forget to leave an opening for the arms! I made my pretty large because this fabric doesn't stretch, so you need room to take it on and off. Also, if you didn't make the neck opening wide enough you can cut a small opening in the back so your head can fit through.

It's faux leather, so no need to hem! Happy sewing~

mini diy double pearl ring

DIY ring

Sometimes mini DIY projects keep you on your toes. Pearls are obviously a major lust item at the moment, and after spotting the Swell Mayde delicate pearl ring, I was reminded that I had some extra pearls that I could do something with. I also recently saw a double pearl ring and I can't remember who, but decided I would make my own. 

Here are my materials! Two large pears, needle nose pliers, and metal craft wire.

Very simple instructions here. Cut some wire, make sure its long enough to not only wrap around most of your finger, but to twist at the ends to keep the pearls on the wire.

Good thing I got my nails done recently! Slip a pearl on one end, use the pliers to secure. Repeat to other end and trim wire.

Taaaa-daahhhh! See? Super easy. If anything, let this serve as some sort of inspiration for you!

Happy crafting~

diy long sequin skirt tutorial

This latest sewing adventure of mine is in my top 3 of favorite DIY projects I have done. It's an easy sewing project and based on the fabric that you select, you can have a really beautiful skirt for a faction of the price that you would spend in store. There is a lot of text in this post, but do not let it scare you! I promise that if you take the time to read this, you will easily have a skirt in no time. Also, please read the whole tutorial before making the skirt...measure twice, cut once, right?

Materials for this project are simple! Here is what I used for mine...

1. Two yards of sequined fabric (I bought mine from Etsy)
2. Two yards lining
3. A yard of thick elastic
4. A sewing machine, measuring tape, and pins

Please adjust the amount of fabric based off of length of your skirt as well as your size. You will want these fabrics to stretch, so you will need 2-way stretch fabrics. Check your fabrics and if you are ordering online, if you want to be extra sure order a sample or contact customer service. The fabric needs to be able to stretch over the hips. I also recommend that you make this skirt of muslin (test fabric) or out of the lining before cutting your fancy fabric, to ensure you have the pattern fitting correctly.

The first pattern piece that you will be drafting is for the top part of the skirt. You can take a stretch pencil skirt and trace it, just make sure that the fabric of the pencil skirt is close to the fabric you have bought in terms of stretch. If you don't have a pencil skirt, no worries! 

Essentially, you need to draw a rectangle. Your length should be however long you want the top part of the skirt to be, from the top of the waist to the bottom of your knees if you are making it like mine. Then make outward curves near the top to account for hips, if you are like me! We want the skirt to be more narrow around the knee area, so taper it in a little bit. Remember to cut your fabric a little smaller than your normal size so that it is tight on you, but not too tight that you can't stretch it over your hips. Don't forget to add seam allowance, as well as adding some extra inches at the top so you can fold over the top of the fabric to insert an elastic waist band.

You will want to cut two pieces of the lining, and two pieces of the sequined fabric. Stitch your side seams with right sides of fabric facing together. For now, keep the lining skirt and the sequin skirt separate and set them aside.

Now you will draft a pattern for the bottom part of the skirt. Super easy!! There is some math involved but there are so many blogs that explain clearly how to do this. Refer to this blog for how to draft a circle skirt. One note, when you need a "waist" measurement, measure the bottom of your skirt that you made earlier and that will act as your "waist" measurement for the circle skirt. I made this part in my lining and in my sequined fabric.

Sew the lining circle skirt to the bottom of the pencil lining skirt, as well as the sequin circle skirt to the sequin pencil skirt. You will essentially have two skirts at this point, one of lining and one of your beautiful fabric! Almost done! Turn your skirt made of lining inside out and drop it down into the sequin skirt. This way you have wrong sides facing, and there will be no seams showing when you look inside the skirt. Line the waist bands up together and pin. 

Now fold the top of the skirt inside, making sure that it is wide enough for you to put your elastic in. Sew all the way around leaving a three inch opening. 

Put a big pin through the end of the elastic. This will help you slip it into the opening band that you just sewed, and slide elastic in! Sew the ends of the elastic together and stitch the three inch opening shut and there you have your skirt! Now go shimmy in the sunshine anywhere you can find it, and twirl to your hearts desire!