I WEAR DIY: Butter Chicken

I WEAR DIY

(P.S.: the reason for the title is in the last picture of the post)

DIY tutorial for Ethnic Headband (the thing that I am wearing on my head) can be found here.

Denim Bolero: Samuel & Kevin, Singapore

Awesome Maxi Dress (currently my favourite dress): SES, Sydney, 12.95AUD

Owl necklace and ring: eBay, less than 3AUD each!

Bracelets and bangle: everywhere

Headband: DIY

Ok, just something to say about my recent I WEAR DIY posts. What do you guys think about it? I know it's not exactly very related to craft and DIY. But would you guys like to see more of it or are you guys getting annoyed by the pictures overload (and shameless self-promotion)?

DIY: Ethnic/Bohemian Headband

I've always wanted to get a headband like this. But I am not really keen on spending $5 or more on one. So, being the crafty and stingy person that I always am, I decided to make one myself! I made one under 15 minutes last night and wore it on my day out with my friend today! The best part is that I think I am the only one in the world who has this headband because I bought my trimming from a rather unknown craft store. HAHAHAHA.

Materials:
Elastic
Wide ribbon
Ethnic-inspired trimming (choose your favourite design!)
Sewing machine/Sewing needle and thread (I think it's better with a machine. The stitches are tighter and sturdier!)


Steps:
1. Get your materials!

2. Now we need to cut 2 pieces of the ribbon. How much is enough? Just enough to do the following: Fold over to cover the end of the ribbon, wrap around the sides.
3. Now wrap the trimming around your head (across the forehead) to see how much trimming you need to make one headband. For your references, my head measures about 21” and I used about 18” of the trimming.
4. Cut 4 inches of the elastic.

5. Now you have: 2 pieces of ribbon, 4” of elastic and 18” of trimming. You should burn the ends of the ribbon to prevent them from fraying!

6. Start sewing! Wrap one end of the trimming as shown and sew the top to secure the ribbon.

7. Now sew one end of the elastic to the same edge.
8. Wrap the ribbon around the sides (just like what you have done earlier to test the amount of ribbon required) and sew the bottom.
9. Sew the top again!

10. Do the same for the other end of the trimming with the other end of the elastic!

11. Done!!!


I really really love the design of my trimming. (^_^)v

MONOCHROME

I WEAR DIY

I haven't been doing much lately. Oh, but here is a necklace that I made a while ago but never blogged about (I think). 


It was supposed to be for my mum. She had a similar store-bought one that broke, so she requested me to make a new one for her. I forgot what happened after making this necklace. She probably wasn't happy with the length of the chain or something. I guess that's why the necklace is here with me in Sydney and not back home with her.

DIY: Mini Sailor's Scarf

Mini Sailor's Scarf

As I have promised, a DIY tutorial! This is actually quite a simple project. It’s kind of a French-chic and Agyness Deyn inspired scarf. I know Agyness Deyn styled her scarf from a bandana.  But I have never seen such lovely red bandana selling anywhere, and I have some nautical clothing pieces that I want to jazz up… and so, I decided to make my own instead!

Photo from here and here

It is actually slightly longer than I intended it to be. It measures 28 by 1.2 inches. But I think the width of 1.2” is just right! Ok and just for reference my neck measures 12.5 inches in circumference, in case you are thinking of either shortening or lengthening this scarf. (This actually feels weird)

I took these pictures on the train when I was out with my friend yesterday

Now let’s move on to the details.

Materials:

Fabric/Fat quarter (if you are thinking of a nautical themed scarf as well, choose navy, white, red or red pinstripes like I did!)
Sewing needle and thread
A truckload of patience (for people who do not have a sewing machine for this)

Steps:

1. Cut 4 strips of fabric, each measuring about 28.2 by 1.4 inches. I simply added around 0.2 inches for seam allowance to the intended final measurement of the scarf. You should increase or decrease the seam allowance for your own comfort! Cut the strips in the way that the stripes become vertical, just like in the picture!

2. Pin 2 of the strips together, with RIGHT side facing each other. Pin the other 2 strips with RIGHT side facing each other as well. Now pin the 2 pairs together. Trim the one end into a fairly tapered point (or a sharp point if you want a sharp end to your scarf).

3. Now separate the 2 pairs of fabric strips, with the RIGHT sides of each pair still pinned together. So each pair has 2 strips right? Let’s call the strips on top/the one facing you A1 and A2. The strips under A1 and A2 are B1 and B2 respectively, as shown in the picture!

4. Join the flat ends of A1 and A2 together, RIGHT sides facing each other. Sew a straight stitch from top to bottom according to the seam allowance and then iron the seams open. Do the same for B1 and B2! Your open seam will look something like the one in the picture.

5. Now sew all around the edge according to the seam allowance, leaving around an inch for turning the scarf inside out.

6. Turn the scarf inside out and sew the remaining opening close.

And you’re done!

This scarf was made before I got my sewing machine. So that means that I actually stitched every single stitch by hand. EVERY. SINGLE. STITCH. A truckload of patience for that, as I have said.

And these are my nautical inspired clothing pieces!

Clockwise from top left: Navy Blazer (thrifted), Mini Sailor's Scarf (DIY), Nautical Pinafore, I heart Paris Tee (thrifted)

P.S.: This post didn't take me too long to prepare (with taking of photos and editing etc). I think I am getting the hang of this! :) And I have another test AGAIN tomorrow.

I WEAR DIY: School House Rock

I WEAR DIY

Hello everyone! It's been quite a while since I last wrote about something that I am making/have made. I am terribly sorry about that and I promise to post a DIY tutorial this weekend! (Psst, it's gonna be a sewing project...)


Meanwhile, I have been enjoying my DIY projects that I have made in the past... by wearing them! Remember the rosette and lace refashioned tee that I made a while ago? I have been wearing it rather frequently.

I thought it would be nice to show you guys how I wear my DIY items and thus I decided to write this post. I always end up looking like a punk rocker wannabe. Seriously, I have no idea why.


That's all for now and stay tuned for a tutorial that is coming up this weekend! I shall be off to do my school assignments now. 

J'aime mon carre (I Love My Scarf)

Yes I actually do have a little fetish for scarves. And I love this fabulous website by Hermes that features various fashion-forward people from around the globe and the many ways that they wear their Hermes scarf. 

You don't have to own a Hermes scarf to replicate those styles on the website! I actually have a look-alike that I got from Cotton On for just 2.00AUD. You can most probably get a good one from a thrift shop too!

Of all the people on the website, I like Kozue from Tokyo the most. I think she's simply adorable!


So, hop on over to the website to check out all the different ways to wear your scarf now! 

J'aime mon carre

Note: The site may not be easy to navigate at first but you'll get used to it.


All images are from J'aime mon carre

One very compelling reason to make a crochet vest

(via)

The way Janis Joplin rocks a crochet vest makes me want to have one too! And when you can crochet, why not try making one instead of buying one?


But I just need to source for a nice (and free) crochet vest pattern. These are what I have found so far:

Top left: White Mesh Vest (via)

Top right: Rosario Vest (via)

Bottom left: Lylara Crochet Vest (via)

Bottom right: Flower Square Vest (via)

I feel a lot more inclined to make the White Mest Vest because... well, it's a vintage pattern! The Flower Square Vest is a groovy vintage too. But I definitely wouldn't be making it in those funky colours. I want something just like Janis Joplin's. Something between beige and sandy brown...


I must make one crochet vest during my summer break this year. Crochet is SO HOT in fashion right now. Check out the some of the 16 Chic Crochet Clothes and Accessories on Refinery29:

(via)

DIY: New necklace from an old brooch

I have this brooch that I bought from Diva a few months ago. It was on sale for $5 and I just loved the colours and the shine! But I haven't really worn it at all because I am still thinking of an outfit to wear it with. Maybe I bought the brooch on impulse. (T_T)


But maybe it'll be easier for me to wear it after I have made it into a necklace! And so, I did make it into a necklace. It didn't cost me a thing at all because I used a chain that I have from an existing necklace. And the best part is, this necklace is not permanent. So, I can still wear the brooch as it is when I want to! 


Materials:

Steps:

1. Get your brooch and chain!
2. Fold your chain into half. Insert the pin from the brooch slightly above the point where your chain is folded into half. Go higher up if your brooch is longer/wider, lower if your brooch is smaller!
3. Wrap the long free end of your chain around the corresponding side of your brooch.
4. This is how the back looks like. See how I wrapped the chain around each side of the brooch?

That's it! Isn't it simple? I think I will wear my 'new' necklace soon! But now I have to go back to studying because I have a big test on Monday. Wish me luck!

P.S.: Before I forget, I want to say a big HELLO to all my new (and of course, old) readers. Thank you so much for your comments! I am really glad that you guys like the Knotted T-shirt Scarf. I will be checking out your blogs once I am done with the test on Monday! Till then!

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