DIY SIMPLE SHIFT DRESS - TUTORIAL

A super simple DIY tutorial to re-create my easy, breezy black shift dress. Once you have this down, you can make so many different variations. The key is to pick a fabric that doesnt fray - that way you won't have to get bogged down with pinning and sewing hems and necklines. Happy DIY'ing!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED.

STEP 1

Find a sleeveless shirt that fits you really well and lay this out on your chosen fabric. Your fabric should be folded in half with 'right sides' kissing each other (i.e. The side of the fabric that you will see when you are wearing the dress). The side that your top is laying on will be the 'inside' of the dress.

STEP 2

Trace around your top with a fabric pen or marker. Give it an extra 2cm to allow for stitching. 

STEP 3

To trace the remainder of the dress simply continue the lines down. The more full you want your dress the wider you should draw these lines. 

STEP 4

Cut out your pattern! 

STEP 5

Pin and stitch your garment where the blue lines are marked. 

STEP 6

Turn your dress the right way out.

STEP 7

To create an asymmetrical hem, first mark and cut a semi-circle at the hem of the dress.

STEP 8

Now cut only the front piece of fabric in a semi-circle going in the other direction.  

And you're done!

DIY FLURO PINK SKIRT

This has got to be the most simple but effective DIY. It's a basic puff skirt with an elastic waist and takes very little time and money to create!

What you will Need 

1 piece of fabric

in any colour and style(I usually use a fabric that is a little bit stiff because I prefer a bit more structure, however you can softer fabrics if you would like the skirt to be more 'flowy'. Also, pick a fabric that wont fray when you cut it. That way you don't even need to stitch the hem!

1 piece of elastic. 

Wrap the elastic around your waist to figure out the length you will need. Don't make it too tight, or it wont be very comfortable to wear!

Scissors 

Sewing pins

Needle and Thready or Sewing Machine

1 Safety pin

Directions 

Step 1

Wrap the fabric around your waist to measure how much you will need. Wrap the fabric around your waist one and a half times to get the size you need. Of course you can use more or less fabric depending on how 'puffy' or straight you want the skirt to be. The more fabric you use, the puffier the skirt will look. 

Step 2

Lay the fabric out flat. Fold the top part (where your waist will be) over, to create a tube for the elastic to be threaded into.

Step 3 
Use sewing pins to pin down the fold and then stitch along in a straight line. If you are patient and dont have a sewing machine, this can easily be hand stitched. However a sewing machine is much quicker. If you look at the diagram below you can see where the pins need to be placed, and where you need to stitch the straight line.

 Step 4 
Once you have done this, you should have a little 'tube' for the elastic to be threaded into. The best way to thread the elastic into the tube is to attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic before you push it through.  The image below will give you an idea of how to safety pin will help you push the elastic through the tube. 

Image from  http://www.thetraintocrazy.com/messenger-bag-sew-along-part-3.html

You should now have something that looks like this!

Step 5

Now simply fold the fabric in half putting the left side and the right side together, line them up, and stitch along in a straight line. 

Finish 

Trim off the excess fabric and elastic and turn the skirt out the right way (the above steps are done inside out). And there you have it.. 

Photo by Amy Dyson Photography, Makeup by Alana Winter-smith 

D I Y- VINTAGE HIGHWAIST

So Ive been wanting to show you guys these little vintage high waist bathers that I made for a while now. Basically I bought a vintage full piece suit and refashioned them into a high waist bikini bottom. I have others in the pipeline that aren't quite done yet because I want to refashion bikini tops to go with them! Ill show you those when I get there... haha. Anyway, Ive done a little tutorial for those that are interested in making some for themselves. Im a self taught sewer, so I basically guess how to do things. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't... but thats the way I like it. Luckily for me, these worked out just fine : ).

This is the full swim suit before I hacked into it :)

Step One:

Before cutting the suit in half horizontally try them on and mark the best spot. Since they will be 'stretched' when you put them on always mark at least 2cm above where you think you should cut.

Step Two:

Try the bottoms on. You will notice that they are very floppy around your waist! You will need to pin darts(shown below) on each side of your hip to make sure they fit nice and snug around your waist. Dont do them too tight or too loose. One youve been the darts, stitch them on a sewing machine.

Step Three:

Pin thick or thin black elastic all the way around the top edge of the bottom piece. I always use lots of pins when I use elastic. I find it much easier to sew!

Step 4

Sew the elastic with your sewing machine. I usually use a zigzag stitch on thin elastic like this. If you use thick elastic (which I would recommend for these because it will help flatten your tummy and therefore you avoid bits hanging over the top) you should just do a straight stitch on both the top and bottom edge of the elastic.

et viola :)