DIY Project = Shoe Jewellery

I bought these shoes last year after a long search for flats that were anything but boring. I absolutely loved these due to their novelty and got an appropriate amount of stares (some good, most bad) from this fashion-deprived city. However, when I pulled them out this year, my infatuation had faded. They were no longer interesting given all the different versions out there and I suddenly realized that I had pseudo-cankles! (How did I miss that last year?? Love can be so blinding...) So I set out to rectify both dilemmas using a couple of forever21 necklaces. I wrapped the necklaces around the shoe, securing it tightly at the top to give the silhouette some definition and allowed the chains to drape at the bottom. Problem solved.

Tinkle Star (My week-end style)

DIY Project = The Mesh Dress

YOU’LL NEED  

• American Apparel Mesh Dress
• 2 yards of black cotton jersey (anything with stretch will work)
• Light but durable paper for pattern-making (mine was 17″ x 31″)
• Scissors, needle, and black thread
• Demi-cup bra

1. TAKE SHAPE Halve your sheet of paper and start drawing the top half of the pattern. Here I used a ruler to create straight lines. As a general guide, take a strapless demi-cup bra to ensure that your pattern gives you enough coverage. Continue drawing until you have completed the pattern. TIP Place the completed pattern over your body and dress to ensure it will have enough top and bottom coverage.

2. SNIP SNIP Cut the fabric with your pattern. Be liberal with pins: you need to make laser edge cuts. TIP Highly recommend using sewing shears unless you plan to finish the raw edge

3. STITCH BY STICH Pin the fabric onto the dress turned inside-out. Sew very delicately–mesh cannot take super tight stitches. Sew in sections; this way if you ‘mess up’ you won’t have to take the whole seam out. Try it on after the bust area has been sewed together. If all looks well, continue sewing. TIP Make sure you leave about 1/2 inch on the sides to prevent pulling once the dress is on.

4. PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT Use the same pattern to create a piece for the back. TIP Place against the front to ensure the sides meet, so your profile will have a continuous line.

The Fringe Zipper Necklace Hybrid

My well-documented current obsession with all things fringe has developed into this latest necklace !

Start with:

(x1) separating zipper (25" length)
(x1) needle and thread
(x1) length of fringe trim (6") wide, (26" length)
(x1) scissor

Begin by folding under one centimeter of fringe, so that raw edge/end is not exposed. Start stitching into place, by hand. Sew along edge of zipper, until you reach the end. Fold an additional centimeter under at the end to secure. Repeat on the opposite side. At the top of the necklace (behind the neck), sew the raw edges together. This end is usually plastic coated, so you will need to sew the actual fabric
portion together, as the plastic coated excess is difficult to sew through.  Trim excess!  Enjoy.

--Valerie
BleachBlack.com