inspiration: Zips

DIY CAMO CLUTCH

19th September 2012

Camo prints have been on my mind recently, and when I found some camo fabric in my local fabric market I knew it would be the centerpiece of my next project. But what to make? I ummed and ahhed for a while over it before deciding to create a very simple zipped clutch – a camo circle skirt probably wasn’t going to get much wear. This clutch is nothing too fancy but perfect for throwing your essentials in and pairing with a classic outfit. Naturally this process can be used to create a multitude of clutchable projects depending on what fabric you have. Let’s get cracking!

You need:
- Camo fabric
- A zipper
- Scissors
- Pins
- Thread
- A sewing machine (can also be done by hand)

1. Start by cutting your fabric to size – do this by checking the length of the zipper to determine the width of your bag.

2. You want your zipper to be just a little bit bigger than the clutch.

3. Start by pinning the zipper onto one side of the fabric. How you pin it is very important.Start with the fabric right side up and place the zip on to right side down, then pin along the edges of the fabric.

4. You should then be able to flip the fabric over so the raw edges of the fabric and zip are folded inside.

5. Now open the zipper and pin the other side of the zip onto the other side of the fabric in a similar way.

6. Turn the fabric inside out and pin the side edges together.

7. Pin all the way to the zippered edge.

8. Sew all the pinned edges using your machine or by hand.

9. Turn the bag inside out once you have sewn the zipper and then iron to complete, tucking any extra lentgh of zipper into the ends of the bag if required.

Sew simple! (urgh, apologies, is there anything worse than sewing puns?)

Wearing: DIY camo clutch, Madewell silk shirt (virtually the only thing I bought in NY!), Coach Navy Hat, Coach gold watch, DIY cut off shorts

In My DIY, Outfits Inspiration Fabric, Sewing, Zips

DIY FLUTED HEM SKIRT

29th August 2012

I fell in love with fluted hem skirts ages ago - to me they feel like a feminine and more subtle take on your standard bodycon skirt, and this one was surprisingly simple to make!

Wearing: DIY fluted hem skirt, Zara singlet, Tony Bianco heels, Karen Walker sunglasses, DIY Upper finger rings, Boticca initial necklace.

You need:
- 2 metres (approx 2.5 yards) of linen or cotton fabric (something stiff is better for the flare of the hem – although linen creases easily).
- A zip (use a invisible one if you can find one in the right shade)
- Pins
- Scissors
- Cotton matching your fabric
- A sewing machine

To make this skirt you are going to create two sections – the top section which is basically the top half of a bodycon skirt, and the bottom section which is a mini circle skirt (similar to the one I did here). You will then attach these two sections together.

How to:
1. Take a skirt you own that fits well and trace the top half onto your fabric (which is folded over so you are creating two identical pieces). Cut those pieces out.

2. Pin those two pieces together on one side.

3. Now pin the zip into the other side. Do this by pinning the bottom part of the seam together, and then inserting the zip in with the fabric right side up. You want the folded fabric of the seam to meet over the top of the zip so you can’t see it.

4. This is what your top section should look like.

5. To make the flared section, take a square of fabric and fold it in half and then fold it again. Cut out following the diagram below.

6. To work out what the radius should be, use a measuring tape to work out the length around the hem – I just did it flat and then doubled that number but you can also go all the way around with the tape.

7. You then want to cut a circle that is the same size as the length of the hem. This can be tricky so always make the circle smaller than needed at first so you can make it bigger if needbe. To check the length, go around the circle with the measuring tape and make sure it matches the hem of the skirt. Then, hang the circle you have made over a coat hanger for a day so that the circle can fall properly – this will prevent a wonky hem (not absolutely essential but useful if you have the time).

8. Cut open one side of the circle which you will match with one of the side seams (the one with the zip preferably).

9. Pin the two parts together, making sure the seam is on the inside.

10. Finish the skirt off by sewing everything – the two sections together and the side seam of the flared section, the zip (see here for how to do it), and finally the waistband and hem. I did a simple turned over waistband and hem. Make sure to do a zig zag stitch to finish the edges prior to sewing so you don’t get too much fraying.

11. In addition, if the top of the skirt needs taking in to fit your waist better (and this will depend on your body shape) make some darts in the back before sewing the waistband. Finish the skirt up with a really good iron! Although this took me a few hours to make, I can so see myself making some more.

In My DIY, Outfits Inspiration Fabric, Sewing, Skirts, Zips

DIY CIRCLE SKIRT

26th July 2012

Another half hour DIY sewing project coming right up! I have such a huge thing for short voluminous circle skirts – and recently tried my hand at making one for myself. It turned out to be much easier than I thought!

Wearing: DIY Circle Skirt, Crop Top designed by me, Vintage Beaded Jacket from London (most treasured vintage piece I own!), Zara Heels, Gold Necklace from Boticca, DIY rings from the hardware store

You need:
- 2 meters (or around 2.4 yards) of linen fabric
- Sewing Pins
- A hook and eye fastening
- Scissors
- A skirt zip
- A sewing machine

1. The first thing to do is to take your fabric, fold it in half and then fold it again.You then want to cut the skirt out following the diagram below.

I wanted mine a little big so I could add some pleats in the back so I added a few inches to my natural waist.

2. Now you will have a big circle of fabric with a hole in the middle. Hopefully the hole will be the right size for your waist. If it is slightly too big, you can make a few pleats in the back like I did – I preferred this because it added volume to the skirt. Cut a seam into the skirt as shown below.

3. Now, first run the zig zag stitch along both new seams to prevent fraying. Then pin the seam on the inside and the zip in as shown below. Using your sewing machine, sew the seam shut and zip in.

4. To finish off the skirt, hem the waistband and the lower hem. You can add a waistband but I just chose to hem the raw edges – I think this looks more simple.

I suggest you use bias binding to do this to get a clean hem – it can be tricky to hem a round edge like this and bias binding is a great way around it. I didn’t have any on hand and needed to finish the skirt in less than half an hour to wear out (yes, that’s how I roll) so instead I went around the raw edges using a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying and then did a single fold hem. If you have a serger that would work even better. Add a hook and eye to the top of the zip so it is more secure.

And you’re done! I have in mind to make a whole number of different coloured skirts like this.