Fascinating Fashion February 1, 2012
Posted by Sindy in Fashion, Sewing, Weekend Project(s).add a comment
I don’t tend to watch the fashion shows, even the red carpet makes me long for the Victorian era (at least part of it), but I’m amazed at all the people out in the DIY scene who have taken ideas from the runway and made their own at home.
Here are some I found just today – they even have a tutorial so you can make your own:
Erica from Honestly WTF turned the Fendi Frill into reality with a pin-on version that adds ruffle to any blouse. Actually, you could even make a couple of them and pin them to your pants for a faux bell bottoms look.
If I HAD to wear a large necklace (I usually don’t since I’m kind of a petite girl) I’d go with this lovely yet fascinating Schouler Scroll Necklace, again by Erica of Honestly WTF. Her ingenious process includes using wood accents you’d find in the hardware store. I don’t think I would have thought of that.
Now for one of my favorite crafters, Corinne Czar of Craftovision (formerly of Threadbangers), who brings us these rather fun Doily Wedge Shoes! I think it would be fun to combine this idea with the following by Corinne’s good friend (and fellow Threadbanger) Meg Allan Cole:
In this video, Meg blocks off and paints the heels of a pair of wedges. I’ve also seen ideas where the heel (or other parts of the shoe) are covered with gems. Wouldn’t that be so fun for jazzing up a random pair of shoes? Maybe even my stiletto boots?
With all these great ideas, I could become a runway fashionista in a quick weekend. 
Have you seen any other runway ideas turned DIY tutorials? Which are your favorites? Send me a comment and let me know.
Sew Anything Anywhere – From Maker Faire 2010 June 26, 2010
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To start off, yes I missed Maker Faire this year (and subsequently I am crying in my mug of cream soda), but I’m finding all sorts of cool videos of what there was.
One that I just found and that I thought I’d share is this one where Paul Nosa is using a Solar Powered Sewing Maching to do Freehand Embroidery! Oh yeah, I’m geeking out!
From what I can see he just removed the foot on his machine (I sure hope he’s careful with his needle) and put down his feed-dogs. But cooler than that is that it’s all solar powered! And from the sound of it he’s sewing up designs for anybody from a short description.
I think it would super cool to set up something like this in a park. I’m sure you’ve seen those artists drawing caricatures, but how about someone sewing them instead – now that would get some attention!
Weekend Project(s) – Toast Plushie Tutorial January 22, 2010
Posted by Sindy in Sewing, Weekend Project(s).Tags: how-to, kawaii, plushie, Sewing, toast, tutorial
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I was browsing through DeviantArt yesterday, when I came across aiwa-9 who makes some pretty fun tiny plushies, including some fun (and fat free 
) desserts. She also had a couple really fun tutorials including how to make an adorable plushie toast.
I think I’ll try it out and make some mini plushies. Hmm, I think I’ll make some toast, a couple of pb&j pendants (you know, like “best friends” or something like that), an ice cream would be fun, definitely a cheesecake, and a …
Kudos to Threadbangers! I Love Their New “Quickies” Show! January 13, 2010
Posted by Sindy in Sewing.Tags: scissors, Sewing, Threadbangers, tips, tips & tricks, tricks
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Threadbangers just came out with a brand new show – Quickies! It’s just quick tips and tricks that any seamster could use.
Their first two videos have been introducing a couple of unique scissors that even I have never heard of. My fav part was at the end when the presenter (Kenneth D. King) laid it out that you should NEVER use your fabric scissors on paper!!! I’ve known this ever since my Mom gave me a time out for doing just that, but I had never seen it on Threadbangers’ site.
BTW, at our house we have three pairs of scissors – fabric scissors, paper scissors, and plastic scissors – and never shall they be used for anything else!!!
Incredible! – Flannel Shirt Turned Lovely Blouse! December 12, 2009
Posted by Sindy in Sewing.Tags: DIY, flannel, painting, Sewing, transform
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Okay, this lady is amazing! I have no idea how she did this, but she turned an old flannel shirt into a lovely blouse. Seriously, the two shirts below are the same shirt (the before is on the left). I love the shirt tails in the back.
I definitely need to do this with some of my old flannel shirts (now that would be one way to guarantee getting a video onto Threadbanger).
Weekend Project(s) – eKitty – Make Your Own Virtual Cat! December 11, 2009
Posted by Sindy in Sewing, Weekend Project(s).Tags: cat, DIY, electronic, kids, Sewing, tech, techno, toy, virtual, weekend project
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Uber sweet! I am constantly floored by what someone has figure out how to DIY (and the things they haven’t, but that’s a topic for another day). This awesome virtual cat is definitely one of them. Although it’s pretty simple – just a little LCD screen that cycles through a few facial expressions, there is a hint to something about facial recognition, so perhaps there is possibility of interaction.
I think it would be fun to make an adapted version of this – maybe something where if you touch certain parts (the back, the head, the ear, the tail, etc.) it will make different faces, or even talk to you. (“Prrr. I like it when you pet me.”)
The Fashionable Artist – Sketching Your Own Fashions December 2, 2009
Posted by Sindy in Sewing.Tags: croquis, design, drawing, fashion, patterns, Sewing
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Woohoo! I recently found on Threadbanger a video talking about how pattern companies draw up their new fashions. They start with something called a Croquis (that’s pronounced Croakey). It’s like a basic sketch of a person that you can draw your fashions overtop. This would be great for the comic strip I’m developing since one of the characters is a fashionista who creates her own fashions.
Of course the video didn’t have a link to any Croquis (in fact I’m lucky they put the word up or I could never have quessed how to spell it), so I found some for you guys: Croquis Templates
I can’t wait to try these out!
Geeks + Fashion = FairytaleFashion.org November 25, 2009
Posted by Sindy in Sewing.Tags: conductive thread, deep-thinking, fairytalefashion.org, fashion, LEDs, MIT, Sewing, technology
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On occasion I’ve talked about a few pretty geeky fashions – EL Wire, integrated technology (the keyboard pants), conductive ribbon, etc. – but they’re almost nothing compared to an online show I found called FairytaleFashion.org!
We’re talking deep-thinking fashion here! In one episode the host (Diana Eng) talks about Miura-Ori Structures – a kind of folding that happens in nature (like with flowers so they can open up easily). In another, she presents a Drawdio (like a pencil with a speaker attached) which was invented by an MIT student and how it might react with conductive thread. Talk about taking fashion and technology to the next level! Forget simply plugging your iPod into your sweater!
And at the end of each episode she asks the viewer to think about how they would incorporate such technologies into clothing. Wow, I’m not sure I’m ready for that, but one of these days…
Sweet! I’m On Fire, But I’m Not Burning! – EL Wire November 24, 2009
Posted by Sindy in Favorite Instructables, Sewing.Tags: airbrushing, Arc Reactor, costume, DIY, EL wire, fashion, Iron Man, LEDs, light, night safety, Tron
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What is (arguably) more fun than painting onto clothes yet safer than sewing LEDs into the fabric? It’s EL Wire!!!
EL wire is a copper wire coated in a phosphor that glows when it’s hooked up to a battery – so it’s kind of like a thin, flexible neon light that doesn’t get hot. And, my favorite part, the light a continuous line unlike a string of LEDs.
You can simply sew it right onto your fabric, and you can often find it for only $1/foot. The only trouble is that you have to plan out your project before you order because you need a special box for the length of wire you’re using. The boxes tend to be about $3 each.
Check out these awesome projects I found for EL Wire:
- How to Add EL Wire to a Coat or Other Garment – A quick tutorial on how to use the stuff.
- ThatsCoolWire.com’s EL Wire Ideas – Sweet! I found some cool ones here including lighting on a bookshelf, decorative/safety lighting in a shower, and an awesome Tron costume!
- My Favorite – The Fire Skirt!!! – Now this is uber sweet! I would love to do this with an airbrushed dress. (Hehe, I could even add some smoke, and/or paint it to look like it’s a wood dress that’s burning.)
- Retrofit a Floppy Disk Bag – This would be a great bag for a laptop. Oops, almost forgot, this is just how to add the EL Wire. Here’s how to make the bag itself.
- A Baby Tron Costume – After you make Tron costumes for Mommy and Daddy, you just have to make one for little Version 2.0. Aw, what a cute little program.
- The Laser Bike for Night Riding – Oh if only I could get a law passed that required this. Then those poor night riders might have a chance against those big bad cars. Oh, and runners and pedestrians should wear it too.
- An Iron Man Arc Reactor – Okay, so this last one doesn’t use EL Wire, but man would it be even more awesome (and accurate) if they did!
Take your keyboard everywhere! – Keyboard Pants! November 21, 2009
Posted by Sindy in Sewing, Weekend Project(s).Tags: fashion, geeky, integrated technology, keyboard, Sewing, technology
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Fashion designers are funny. They’ve been trying to incorporate technology into their fashions, but they don’t seem to be thinking very far out of the box with solar light necklaces, ports for iPhones and earbuds, and the occasional pair of shoes that read your heart rate. Okay, so that last one sounds pretty good, but beyond that they’re a little on the lame and not-so-useful side.
Introducing Keyboard Pants!!! These are awesome, and useful. Whenever you need a keyboard, they’re right there. Not to mention these make one awesome conversation starter!
And best of all? I found some instructions for making them! Sweet! I’ll have to make some for my iPhone.
Now if someone would come up with a mouse mitten. ;D
