Handmade Christmas stocking

My Christmas ornaments tell a story

It’s this time of the year when I take out the Christmas decorations and ornate our house for the festivities ahead. Oh! How I love to unpack my beloved ornaments. I remember where and when I purchased most of them. (Laughter) my hubby cannot bear to hear one more time my l0000ng story of how I got my expensive mouth blown glass heart at Eaton’s downtown store. Literally, a few hours before the company closed their doors for good in October 1999. But if you permit I will share with you the story of how I came about making the pattern and sewing this elegant handmade Christmas stocking.

Note: This post is not a tutorial. Leave me a note in the comment box below if you would like me to do a Christmas stocking DIY post.

Now about this handmade Christmas stocking……

Continue reading “Handmade Christmas stocking”

Use your jeans to update your denim jacket

Creative way to DIY a denim jacket

A strong wardrobe foundation definitely includes a denim jacket. Make yours extra special with this tutorial. We see many denim garment mashups on the web and I wanted to explore a creative way to DIY a denim jacket with a pair of jeans with a contrasting color. I wanted to demonstrate how to use your jeans to update your denim jacket and how to make a denim flower brooch with the left over fabric. I also made quilt knots on buttons to embellish this denim jacket.

This is my second refashion using denim. If you are curious to see my first one DIY handmade bag from old jeans

Let’s start with this one! Continue reading “Use your jeans to update your denim jacket”

How to make a scarf from a sweater

How to decorate clothes with metal rings

For this refashion I am happy to show you a few things; how to make a scarf from a sweater, how to decorate clothes with metal rings. And to follow the current piercing-inspired clothing trend I will demonstrate the best way to make jump rings and how to open and close jump rings (yes, it is a must to know). This will save you money and allow you to make jump rings in the material and at the size that you need.

I have previously made another scarf from a garment, if you wish to see it T-shirt to infinity scarf

Let’s start with this one!

Continue reading “How to make a scarf from a sweater”

DIY regular scarf to infinity scarf

DIY pom pom scarf

I hear what you are thinking. “How can this be a DIY regular scarf to infinity scarf tutorial when we see an infinity scarf in the before picture?”. Well, I left the scarf in it’s original version for the before picture to offer an additional refashion option. Once the neck seam is removed the infinity scarf will have the shape of a regular scarf and will be suitable for this trendy DIY pom pom scarf. I also encounter a little problem and it gave me the opportunity to also feature how to hand sew a scarf.

Follow along to learn how to make this scarf makeover.

Continue reading “DIY regular scarf to infinity scarf”

Wedding dress into baby gown

Wedding dress to christening dress

I love sewing garments from scratch but I must admit that refashioning clothes is what I like to do most. Therefore I was thrilled to be asked if I could do a wedding dress makeover for my daughter in-law’s first child. She wanted to have her daughter’s christening dress made from her mom’s old wedding dress. Such an exciting and romantic project and a true refashion pleasure for a sewist. In this wedding dress to christening dress tutorial I will demonstrate how I made some basic pattern alterations to an infant commercial pattern (McCall’s M7307). And explain how I designed and added details for this little girl first custom dress.

Let’s start this wedding dress into baby gown tutorial!

Continue reading “Wedding dress into baby gown”

DIY decorated summer hat

How to personalize your summer hat

Is it still summer? Yes! Then their is still time to post another DIY hat transformation. This time I wanted to challenge myself and see what result I could achieve with a very basic hat purchased for $1.00. I used ocean mementos and upcycled jewelry to decorate and create a very special mount for this DIY decorated summer hat tutorial. This is a simple 2 hour project that I hope will inspire you to make your own.

Let’s begin this tutorial on how to personalize your summer hat!

Continue reading “DIY decorated summer hat”

DIY summer hat with mother of pearl

How to embellish a hat with mother of pearl elements

Summer is still with us and it is not too late to buy a hat to embellish it. Or do like I did and use a hat that you already own to follow this DIY summer hat with mother of pearl tutorial. This very simple 1 hour project is perfect for beginners!

Let’s begin this tutorial on how to embellish a hat with mother of pearl elements!

Continue reading “DIY summer hat with mother of pearl”

1 sewing pattern used with 4 different fabrics

Fit a pattern when you are short on fabric

1 sewing pattern used with 4 different fabrics is a fun study that demonstrate how to get diversified looks using the same sewing pattern. I will also demonstrate how to fit a pattern when you are short on fabric, use fabric selvage for neckline finishes and how to copy a garment without taking it apart.

Let’s begin!

Continue reading “1 sewing pattern used with 4 different fabrics”

How to copy a garment without taking it apart

Making a sewing pattern from my favorite vest

Ever had a piece of clothing you liked so much that you wore it to shreds or you wished you could replicate it in another color? Well actually to copy your clothes is a fairly easy task. In this post I will demonstrate how to copy a garment without taking it apart a simple technique that I explain in this step by step tutorial about making a sewing pattern from my favorite vest. I will also demonstrate how to use fabric selvage to sew a hand-rolled hem. I encountered difficulties with this project because of my chosen fabric but it allowed me to explain my infallible tip for sewing difficult fabrics that may be slippery, lacy, stretchy, types of vinyl or coated materials and I am sure that it will be of great use to you.

Lets begin →

Continue reading “How to copy a garment without taking it apart”

Bead your jean jacket DIY

How to cut out shapes in fabric

I created the artwork featured on this Bead Your Jean Jacket DIY about 20 years ago. It was time well invested (around 40 hours) since two decades later the jean jacket transcended trends and is still getting me many compliments for my art work when I wear it. This DIY jean jacket is an easy to follow step by step tutorial on How to make a stencil from an image, How to cut out shapes in fabric and How to hand bead. Do not be intimidated by this DIY jean jacket, yes it does requires time (but time passes anyway ; ) yet it is really simple to execute.

Let’s start!

Continue reading “Bead your jean jacket DIY”