DIY: Varsity Cardigan

That's me wearing my new Varsity Cardigan and my geeky glasses. 

Hello everyone! I'm kind of excited about this DIY tutorial because I think it's kind of the first refashion tutorial that I have done. I know I've done the slashed tee tutorial but that's just a really simple thing that has been replicated throughout the globe. This refashion project, on the other hand, is something new.


I was inspired by the many varsity cardigans that I have been seeing online lately. Also, I currently into geek fashion. Remember my Geeky glasses DIY and knitted Pencil Scarf? So I though of that plain, boring (and cheap) cardigan that has been lying in a lonely corner of my wardrobe, and decided to make varsity cardigan out of it!

Ralph Lauren's Cotton Varsity Cardigan (via)

Materials

1. Plain cardigan

2. Ribbon

3. Iron-on patches (you can use either numbers or letter!)

Note: The colours of the ribbon and the iron-on patches should be similar and complementary to the colour of your cardigan :)

Steps:

1. Get your cardigan and make sure it's clean.

2. Prepare your materials.

3. Cut your ribbon according to the diameter of the sleeves and pin them in position. You can position them according to your own liking, but I think it looks the best when it is placed near the armhole. You can also make 3 stripes instead of 2!

4. Fold the ribbon inwards to create a neat joint. I positioned the joint at the same place where the seam of the sleeves is for a neat finish.

5. Sew the ribbon along its 2 sides. I used black thread because my iron-on patches have black borders as well. 

OR 

Stick the ribbon in place using Heat N Bond! I wished I had some... but it's all right because the sewing actually gave the stripes an added effect as well. So it's really up to you.

6. Iron on the numbers/letters of the OTHER side of the cardigan. Hang your varsity cardigan up and admire it. 

7. (OPTIONAL STEP) Watch Taylor Swift's 'You Belong to Me' MTV. It has a college-related theme too! HAHA.

Important note: The cardigan that I used had a loose fit, so the sleeves don't really stretch much when I am wearing it. If you are using a fitted cardigan, I advise that you use a stretchy ribbon because the ribbon limits the extent where the sleeves can stretch!

Wheee... I am looking forward to wearing my new varsity cardigan to school! (^_^)v

DIY: Of ribbons and flowers

This cute ribbon brooch can jazz up your plain ol' tee!

A little variation is all you need to make another flower hair pin!

Materials needed:

Assorted ribbon
Assorted buttons

Super duper adhesive glue

Some sewing thread and needles

Step 1: Cut 4 pieces of ribbon, each measuring about 7cm.

Step 2: Using one of the ribbon, fold the 2 ends of the ribbon towards the centre as shown in the picture. Glue or sew the ribbon in place.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 with 2 other ribbon and place them to form an asterisk (*) sign as shown. Glue/Sew them in place.

Step 4: Place the asterisk on top of the last ribbon and then its 2 ends towards the centre again to create the ribbon flower as shown in the picture. Glue/Sew the ribbons in place.

Step 5: Try to match different buttons with the ribbon used to create a desired look. Play around the buttons by stacking them on top of one another to create different looks.

(This look was created by placing a pink heart scrapbook embellishment on top of a slightly bigger button of a complement colour)

Step 6: Glue them on a brooch pin/ hair pin/ hair band and then wear them with pride!

Step 7: Try it with different ribbons and buttons! I also made another one using the fabric button that I made several days ago

DIY: "Sweet" Ribbon Dispenser

This is a How-to that I have previously uploaded on Cut Out and Keep. Thank you all for your support on Cut Out and Keep! I'm absolutely flattered!

I love collecting scraps of ribbons. It can be an unused bundle I found in a corner of my house or a bunch of leftovers from a school project. I save them all up because you never know when you need it for gift wrapping or other crafting projects again.

But sometimes seeing those piles of ribbons can get rather depressing. Then I saw that TicTac on my table and I knew it's time I did something about my problem...

Grab that messy, distressed pile of ribbon.

Finish a container of TicTac. You don't have to finish all at one go!

Peel off the label slowly to make sure that you get a non-sticky container.

Remove the cover.

Roll the ribbon up neatly. This may require a bit more patience!

Then insert the roll of ribbon into the container. One shortcoming of this dispenser is that the roll cannot be too big, if not it can't fit into the container at all.

Make sure you leave a tail of ribbon (about 1 cm) outside the container.

Line the cover and the direction of the ribbon as shown.

This arrangement helps ensure a smooth dispensal of ribbon.

Close the cover while leaving a tail peeking out from the SIDE of the cover.

Do not leave the tail peeking from the front as the crease at the front may spoil the ribbon!

Tape the container lengthwise. You can use coloured tapes to decorate the dispenser.

The tape is needed as TicTac covers become loose after the removal of the label.

Open the cover to dispense ribbon as and when needed!

A neat and green solution to your piles of distressed ribbons! (^_^)

TIPS: Other potential dispensers are candy boxes with just a small opening but big, roomy body. But the good thing about TicTac containers is that it is clear, so we can see the contents!

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