Tag: DIY

DIY

Frugal-nomics DIY: No Sew TuTu

I live near a ballet studio that caters to kids, and as I pass by the window while the little girls are often rehearsing…I can’t help but to admire how absolutely adorable they look in their tutus.  While I personally never took up ballet as a kid….doesn’t every girl wanna twirl around in a big poofy skirt?  So, go ahead….channel your ballerina — an homage to Carrie Bradshaw if you will. I wore mine with my Chanel Safety Pin Shirt that I made here.  Here’s a no sew tutu tutorial that will help you get the look in no time!


SUPPLIES:  Tulle (I used about 20 yards…but feel free to use less, just depends on density of skirt you are looking for), scissors, 1/2 yard of jersey knit, needle and thread, 2 yards of satin ribbon, tape measure, and a rotary cutter.

HOW-TO:
1. Wanting my skirt to be knee length, I folded the tulle in half because it was too wide.  I then opted to stretch it out and cut off about 9 inches off the open bottom (not the folded side) all the way across.
2. After you do this….you are all ready to cut your folded tulle into 4-5 inch strips — feel free to eyeball it.  (Note: I didn’t know I’d need so much tulle. I first bought 8 yards and cut it up into strips, but wound up going back for about 14 more yards just to be safe).
3. Cut a piece of ribbon about 4 feet long and tie it around your mannequin (Note: Don’t have a mannequin? No problem, just take a seat and stretch it around your knees).
4. Take each one of your strips and pull it up through your ribbon and mannequin to create a loop.
5. Pull the loose ends of the ribbon up through the loop you’ve created with the ribbon, and pull taught.
6. After you’re done adding tulle, now it’s time to create a faux skirt to go underneath.  (Note: I cut a piece of my jersey knit about 13 inches wide and 45 inches long).  Flip your tutu over and re-tie it to your mannequin, and begin stitching the “lining” to the waist band of the tutu.
7. I started my “lining” right at the ribbon closure, so I could end there as well.  Once, I got back around where I started, I hand stitched the “lining” only half way up the back– that way I can get in and out of the skirt. Voila! You are all done — no sewing machine needed.

 

 

DIY

Frugal-nomics DIY: Eyelet Shorts

Being as I comb the internet for DIY inspiration, I’m often seeing and doing projects that require a sewing machine for that polished look….but for this one, I wanted to “level the playing field” for everyone and offer up  something that was super cute, but no-sew.  These eyelet shorts say it all. They are so flirty and feminine, and are great for a date night or brunch with friends.  Check them out! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

SUPPLIES: a pair of old shorts (I used a pair of men’s boxers), needle and thread, fabric glue, lace trim, and scissors. 

HOW-TO: Not wanting to shell out a lot for a pair of shorts, I opted for a pair of men’s boxers I could hand stitch to the fit I wanted. I then rolled the waist down, took in the sides, hemmed them, and hand stitched them to this new fit that I liked. Quick and easy.

1. Take a piece of lace trim and measure around the circumference of one thigh. Cut it. I wanted this first piece to drape below the hem line of the shorts, so add a line of glue and go ahead and set the first piece in place (Note: Make sure the seam is on the inner thigh).
2. Continue to add pieces along the inner thigh — I used four of them.
3. Here you see the four rows I have done around each leg, trying to be careful where the seams lined up in the inner thigh area. Next, you’ll want to start placing entire strips around the entire pair of shorts (Note: I alternated which side my seam was on).
4. It got just a little tricky the higher I went up, so I opted to put the shorts on so I could fill them out and make sure they weren’t too tight. So I kept them on and glued on the trim as I got closer to the waist band. Presto! 


DIY

Frugal-nomics DIY: Sequin Encrusted Denim Shorts

Season after season, denim is just one of those fabrics that never seems to go out of style.  So, I wanted to do something unique with it — I wanted to play with textures a bit. So…..I took some of my leftover sequin fabric that I had from the backless crop top inspired by Rihanna, and I combined the two fabrics to add a chic touch that would definitely dress up my “blues.” Tell me what you think!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLIES: Denim shorts (mine were pants I got at the Goodwill), scissors, straight pins, needle and thread, pencil, tracing paper (I just used some old tissue paper I had), and sequin fabric.

HOW-TO:
1. Take your tracing paper and pencil and draw an outline of both the left and right sides of your shorts.
2. Cut out both of those forms — they will look like this. Feel free to mark a tiny “L” and “R” on them to keep them straight.
3. Turn your fabric face down, and then pin your patterns face down onto the back side of the fabric. Cut them both out.
4. Take your sequin forms you cut out and lay them on their respective sides. Next, take your scissors and cut out a notch for the belt loop.
5. Now, hand stitch your forms into place. Be sure to pay special attention to the outer perimeter of each form….you’ll want it to but up against all the seams of the jean’s edges.  (Note: while I didn’t picture it, feel free to add some e6000 glue around the edges first if you want a little added security before stitching). Here you go!