CAGE DRESS DIY

Spring has reached Switzerland.  The trees are bearing leaves once again, the birds are nesting and there are tulips everywhere.  It really is a beautiful time to be in Basel and I’m savoring every moment.  It’s finally time to unpack my summer clothes.

I brought along a little black dress that had been hanging in my closet for many years.  It’s one of those handy dresses that you can cram into the smallest corner of your suitcase and doesn’t require ironing (I love those!).  After unpacking the dress, I decided that it could use some spicing up.  A little DIY was in order.  With just a bit of ribbon and thread I converted it to a “cage dress”.  Now it’s ready for a night out.

Clockwise from top left: Boutique Seven, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Rebecca Taylor, Nasty Gal.

Supplies

Little black dress

Black ribbon (width matching the straps of dress)

Scissors

Safety pins

Needle

Black thread

Matches

Dress form (optional)

Method

1) The first step in converting your little black dress into a cage dress is to cut a piece of ribbon large enough to wrap around your head.

2) Burn the ends of the ribbon (to prevent it from fraying) and sew together.

3) Pin the neckpiece in place.  Here it would help to have a dress form.  Unfortunately, I had to try the dress on and pin the ribbon in place.

4) Add a few cross pieces of ribbon, pinning and burning the ends as you go along.

5) Try the dress on to make sure the ribbons are correctly positioned.

6) Once you are happy, sew ribbons in place and remove safety pins.

Voila! Your cage dress is done.

Well the back of the dress could use some tweaking, but it will do for now.

Do you have a little black dress in your closet that you’re bored of?  Why not try and convert it into a cage dress?  If you do, send me some photos of your finished work.  I’d love to see the result.  Till next time… Nicole.

FAUX LEATHER SWEATER DIY

Grüetzi!  I’m excited to be blogging from Switzerland.  The husband and I will be based here for the next three months while he is a visiting fellow at the University of Basel.  I finally have a chance to practice my non-existent German on the unsuspecting masses.

Before I left home I reinvented a few items of clothing and some decorative pieces, which I’ll share in the coming months. I’ll also post a few travel photos and tips, so check back often for some European inspiration.

First up, I converted my husband’s old sweater into a fitted faux leather top.  I loved wearing his oversized sweater on wintery days at home.  But it turns out that the moths in my closet loved it too.  When the sweater became too embarrassing to wear, I decided to reinvent it by keeping the wool sleeves and adding a faux leather body.  Now I have a new piece to wear around Europe, which, judging by all the faux leather jackets in Switzerland, is bang on trend.

Supplies:

Old wool sweater

1 yard of costume pleather (should have some stretch if you want a more fitted top)

Black thread

Scissors

Chalk

Method:

1) Carefully remove sleeves from body.

2) Use the old sweater bodice as a template to cut a faux leather back and front.  If you prefer a more fitted top, cut faux leather to preferred size, using the armholes of the original sweater as a template.  Just remember to add a ½ inch seam allowance.

3) With right sides facing, sew front and back of bodice together.

4) Insert the sleeves and attach to bodice.

Why not reimagine an old piece of clothing from your closet? If you’re stuck, send me a photo and I’ll try my best to help. Nicole

SQUIRREL PINS SEWING TUTORIAL

When I first started to sew, every piece of fabric seemed important.  After each project I would end up with a pile of scrap fabric that I just couldn’t bring myself to throw out.  I knew that I could use the fabric for something, but I just didn’t know what!  I eventually created these squirrel pins from my leftover felt to give to the little people in my life.  Each pin uses about a 3” x 6” piece of felt.  If you have larger pieces of felt, you could easily enlarge the pattern to create adorable squirrel pillows for your child’s bed.

Supplies:

My free pattern

Grey felt

White felt

Grey, white and red thread

Polyester fiberfill

Safety pin

Super glue or a glue gun

NOTE: this pattern is for domestic use only and cannot be used commercially or sold. 

Method:

1)  Print pattern and cut out templates.

     2)    Cut felt according to template.

     3)    Sew white cheek piece onto face.

      4)    With right sides facing, sew top of head and sides of head – do not sew ears and bottom of head yet.

      5)    Turn felt right side out and sew eyes, nose, mouth, a few running stiches across forehead and little hearts on ears.

     6)    Sew ears together and trim any excess.

      7)    Stuff head with fiberfill and sew the bottom closed.

     8)    Use super glue to adhere pin and pin cover to the back of the squirrel’s head.

And you’re done!  Give these to your little ones on Valentines Day, and, if you have the time, make extras for them to share with their BFF’s.