DIY DYLANLEX STACKED NECKPIECE

2nd May 2013

Many of you will think a stacked neck is merely about putting loads of jewelry on and leaving the house, but that’s only about a tenth of it – Drew (aka Dylanlex)  has taken it to another level (read:artform) and I couldn’t be happier to share her secrets with you today. In the last year or so Drew and her sister have built a loyal following, inspiring stacked necks and perfect minimalist/logo tee/sport luxe outfits all over the world.  Drew and I recently got chatting about our love of craftiness and neck jewels in particular, and it wasn’t long before we were feverishly planning her cameo here on A Pair & A Spare. Read on for a pro’s guide to the stacked neck.

You’ll Need:

• 5 or 6 necklaces that you are willing to break up, hit your local flea market to find bulk deals
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Jump Rings
• Stringing Wire (Metal or Rope)
• Extra Chain (in case length alteration is needed)

How to:

1. Pick the base necklace. The base necklace needs to hold the weight of the rest of the pieces, so make sure it is sturdy, the clasp is strong, and it has loops or holes where knots can be tied.

2. Take the second piece and center it on the base necklace. You will have to cut the excess on either sides of the necklace and attach Jump Rings. Cut 4” of stringing wire and tie the second piece to the base. The jump rings will help keep the conjoining parts secure, yet flexible so they don’t snap while wearing.

3. Select the third necklace and do the same as the second – center it. Cut the excess on either side if there is any and attach jump rings.

4. Attach on the other side with jump rings.

5. Work your way down the necklace, using jewelry wire to secure and making sure to use various types of necklace to create interesting textures.

6. Some necklaces you will have to cut to size and others, like chokers and other short necklaces, won’t need to be cut. Keep the leftovers for your next project!

7. Finally, attach large and eye catching pieces necklace to the bottom of the necklace to finish it off.

Voilà  – a unique statement dylanlexneck is made!

To stay up to date with what Drew is wearing/making follow her on instagram @dylanlex, you can also tag your own stacked neck with #dylanlexneck to share your own creation with her!

DIY FRINGED KNIT

2nd April 2013

With a litany of summer festivals around the corner, Coachella being just the first of many, it’s time to start planning our festival ensembles. I’m super happy to be provisionally booked in for Glastonbury again this year (although a freelancer can never plan too far ahead) and I’m going to be making the most of the opportunity to wear my silliest kit – fringe, frills and capes included. I recently had a crack at upgrading a simple knitted sweater to a festival essential – the fringed knit. Perfect for throwing over the top of a pair of denim cut offs when the sun goes down. This technique for fringing can also be used on a number of other items too – you could add it to the bottom of a skirt or around the neckline of a dress – winner!

You need:

• A loose weave knit
• Scissors
• Leather/rope or wool (I used leather)

How to:

1. Start by cutting the leather (or other material you are using) into pieces around 1 meter/yard long. I cut about 50 pieces.

2. To start your fringing, fold a piece of your chosen fringe material in half.

3. Loop it through the wool at the top middle near the neckline. Pull tight to secure.

4. Continue with this down the side of the sweater in a triangle shape – mine was great because it had the triangle in the pattern already – if yours doesn’t you can always use chalk to mark it. This is the point at which you may need some good (or bad) tv to watch as doing the fringe can take some time, but it’s definitely worth it!

5. Finish by doing the other side, making sure to mirror the pattern and angle. Voila!

I recently worked with one of my favourite brands to bring you a super cool festival inspired DIY (*cough sequins cough*) which I’ll be showing you in the next month so stay tuned.

DIY EASTER PINATAS

28th March 2013

Easter has got to be hands down my favourite holiday – I used to love the annual easter egg hunt when I was younger, but sadly as I grow up it becomes less and less appropriate for me to get cover my eyes while my boyfriend hides them around our tiny apartment in Hong Kong. I was chatting with friend and creative Kit (she of the amazing macrame plant holders and pinatas!) about how we could mondernize the Easter Egg Hunt for a more mature (yeah right!) audience, and we came up with these ‘Treat Yo’ Self’ Easter Pinatas. So simple to make and the perfect Easter treat, read on for Kit’s easy as 1-2-3 tutorial!

You need:
Metallic streamers (we used silver and metallic pastel) or metallic cellophane (cut into tiny strips of fringe)
Double-sided tape
White and pastel card
Coloured twine
Pastel crepe paper (we used pink and white)
Tiny Easter eggs
Ruler
Scissors
Stanley knife
Pen or pencil

How to:

1. Print out the template (here) and transfer it to a piece of white card. With a ruler and pen or pencil, re-mark all the fold lines, then lightly score them with a Stanley knife to ensure that each fold is crisp and neat.

2.  Affix strips of double-sided tape onto each tab (on one side of the template only). Trim the tape to size. Construct the pinata (the tabs should be stuck on the inside). Leave one panel of the pinata unstuck (so you can fill it with goodies!).

3. Cut a 15cm length of coloured twine and tie the ends together in a knot to form a loop. When you eventually close up the pinata, trap the knot inside and leave the loop hanging out. This forms a little hanger.

4. Fill your pinata with tiny Easter eggs and confetti (or any other lightweight bits and pieces you desire!). Close and seal the pinata.

5. Cut thin strips of fringe from the pastel crepe paper and metallic streamers. Along with our pastel pink or white crepe paper we made a metallic “feature” section for something extra special and glitzy.

6. Working one at a time, cover each panel with double-sided tape and then stick on the crepe paper (or metallic streamer) fringe. Work from the bottom of each panel to the top. When you are done, trim the fringe to the edges so each panel is neat.

7. Cut extra thins trips of metallic pastel streamer and stick double-sided tape onto one side. Cut the strips into tiny confetti-like segments. Stick each little segment in amongst the fringing on each panel in a random formation.

8. Fold a small rectangular piece of pastel card in half. Trim the opposite edge to the fold into a flag shape. Use a pen to write a cute message on one side of the flag. Using double-sided tape, stick the folds together, trapping a section of the pinata hanger string in between them. And you’re done!

Make sure you check out Kit’s website to get a glimpse at all her other amazing creations!