Written by Leslie Richard
Published on May 16th, 2008
If you’ve ever cruised the Internet & local boutiques for eco friendly lingerie you know right away that these tiny little intimates cost an entire day’s work (and then some). But the thought of turning back to slave made big box skivvies just does not feel sexy! To fuel my *ehem* addiction to having new earth lovin’ panties I had to learn how to upcycle my own. Here is how to make yourself some luscious green lingerie for less $ then a gallon of gasoline, using one old scarf for fabric.
You Will Need:
- One large thrifted or kidnapped scarf
- Wide ribbon
- Stretch lace/Elastic (optional)
- Scissors
- Thread (that either matches your ribbon or is a fun contrasting color)
- Sewing machine or Olympic hand sewing skills
Step One: Choosing- Find, beg, thrift, or steal a scarf that has a pattern you want to flaunt and is made of a comfortable fabric. Avoid overly crunchy polyester fabrics that feel like your 1984 taffeta holiday dress, and lean more towards soft cottons and silk. I found my scarf for $1 at a local thrift shop that supports ending domestic violence. The organic satin ribbon was already waiting in my craft box.
Step Two: Cutting- In order to get the sizing perfect without having fret over a pattern that may not fit, I use a pair of panties & bra (or) bikini I already have to outline the shape I need. Bikini’s are great for sizing since they usually have side ties and can be taken apart and laid flat for measuring. Remember when cutting that you will be sewing a seam line, so cut a tad wider then the exact outline of your previous lingerie. Note: You can make your new lingerie set have more coverage by cutting the triangle shapes wider, or less coverage by thinning them out even smaller. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Leslie Richard
Published on May 2nd, 2008
This is a fabulous fun mini skirt project that will leave you some left over scraps for a DIY ‘bring your own bag’ project after. Don’t fret, it’s quite easy to make those jeans into a denim mini!
Supplies Needed
:
- Funky jeans past their prime (beyond patching or your style threshold)
- Scissors
- Sewing machine or mad hand sewing skills
- Thread of any color you enjoy
Step one: Choosing
Use either old jeans, or thrift jeans that you really love the color of but you just don’t wear that MC Hammer style anymore. Just make sure the jeans fit your hip or waist where you plan to wear the skirt.
Step two: Length
I like mine short, and I measure it against a skirt I already own that is the length I like by laying them flat on top one another. It’s a good idea to start with a longer length, since you can always go back and cut it shorter. Decide whether you want it to hit your knee, mid thigh, or super high.
Step three: Cutting
Once you know the length, cutting will be easy. Cut straight across both the legs at the length measured and wa-la, now you have some jean shorts! But you want a sexy mini, so take the scissors and begin cutting the inner seam line and cut open the crotch of the jeans. Then cut along the front seam up to the zipper. (If you made your skirt longer you may want to cut along the back seam 2-3 inches, so it doesn’t pucker in the back when you sew it back together.) Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Gavin Hudson
Published on April 23rd, 2008
We all have a favorite pair of jeans. The ones that look great and fit just right.
Unfortunately, well-loved jeans don’t age gracefully. The culprit: holes in the knees, pockets, or back. If your favorite jeans start to look “holier than thou,” don’t despair.
With a needle, some thread, and a little love, you can turn dying jeans into designer jeans. (DIY difficulty level: Easy)
Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Emma Henderson
Published on April 4th, 2008
Daffodils in the garden, people eating their lunch in the park and the odd overly optimistic choice of clothing can only mean one thing. Spring has sprung! So when I saw this image I thought it could be a great way for our old winter woollies to spend the rest of their days.
If your jumper drawer is anything like mine it will be crammed full of unwearable sweaters, some have shrunk in the wash others are a bit baggy and many just don’t go with anything else. So perhaps making your own version of this luxurious ’sweater blanket’ could be the answer.
This isn’t just a great way to recycling old jumpers, Opos who designed and manufacture this blanket are also making a statement about waste in the garment industry. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Juliet Ames
Published on March 10th, 2008
Even our littlest crafters deserve hip eco-friendly clothing, and that is exactly what you will find at Sweet Pepita. This green crafter extraordinaire dropped her metalsmithing tools for a sewing machine after the birth of her daughter Pepita, in an effort to make environmentally conscious and Pepita friendly clothing.
She now makes the coolest hand sewn toddler t-shirts (and pixie hats) made from 100% organic cotton and recycled fabric. Have an old Poison t-shirt from 1986 that you just can’t seem to toss? Why not give it new life with Sweet Pepita?
Written by Kelly Rand
Published on February 25th, 2008
New online knitting mag MetaPostModernKnitting arrived on the internet last week with the fashion forward in mind. Complete with great patterns, blog and articles, MPMK is a welcome edition to the online world.
In their first issue, The Knitting Bully contemplates recycling as a fashion trend. The article questions the use of new clothing repurposed right out of the box, and marketed as “recycled,” and rightly so (take a look at that sweater/skirt.) Other outlays in the article are also easy to get behind; ensuring proper use of reclaimed materials and creating an end product that will be worn. But the larger question that isn’t as easy to get behind, is the premise that recycling is detrimental to style.
The Knitting Bully asks “…have we thought about what [recycling] is doing to our style?”
The answer is a million times, yes! Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Victoria Everman
Published on December 7th, 2007
With summer fading into our memories, the busiest wedding season of the year has ended as well. Great food, funny dancing, beautiful decorations … and some questionable fashion choices are standard for most of these events. Once the DJ goes home, the cake is eaten, and the happily wedded couple are off on their honeymoon, what do you do with that bridesmaid dress that you don’t ever see needing (or wanting) to wear again?
As expected, the folks working at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s Blueprint Magazine have assembled a nice collection of ideas on how to revise those silk taffeta nightmares into something you would actually be excited to wear on a nice night out or a casual weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Victoria Everman
Published on December 5th, 2007
A mainstay in wardrobes all over the world, denim has been around since the late eighteenth century. Strong and versatile, you can find all kinds of clothing and accessories made from this basic material, including tops, dresses, shoes, and jewelry. Home accents such as sofas and pillows are being covered in denim, helping to extend this fabric’s reach.
Sustainable denim made from organic cotton and using vegetable dyes have gained an immense following in just a short time on the market. Of course, if you take the other eco-shopping route and visit vintage and second-hand stores, you will find rows and rows of jeans that have been tossed aside (most likely because they don’t fit anymore).
Even after a stint in the pen, Martha Stewart is still as popular as ever. Thankfully, she has been promoting reduce, reuse, and recycle to millions of Americans. For the crafty and DIY among us, Martha’s website features a nice offering of denim transformation ideas, all of which are affordable and easy to complete. In the July/August 2007 issue of Blueprint magazine a spread on denim fashion is featured along with a couple of fantastic fashion options. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Victoria Everman
Published on December 3rd, 2007
As the sweaty days and humid nights of Summer wane away, the changing leaves and cooler breezes of Autumn are vividly upon us. It’s time to bring out the jeans, blankets, sweaters, and all our other favorite layers as the temperatures become more unpredictable than ever. To add a little variety to your seasonal accoutrements, a few stitches can make all the difference. By adding a bit of knitting or crocheted work to your favorite (or recently thrifted) blanket, you can turn it into a stylish coat or shrug.
Recently found on the Berroco website (a fashion yarn manufacturer), two easy patterns are available: a Surplus Blanket Coat and a Plaid Blanket Shrug. Though specific Berroco yarns are mentioned, it is worth noting that few, if any, of their wares are sustainable. Substituting other yarns for these projects is quite simple, and an extensive list of eco-sellers can be found on my website.
Starting with an army surplus blanket (which are often easy to find), the Surplus Blanket Coat simply adds two well-placed sleeves, making this “coat” perfect for relaxing afternoons at home, long car rides, or pleasant mornings on the porch with a cup of tea.
Secondly, the Plaid Blanket Shrug is made from a newly purchased blanket, but you can easily find or make one of similar size with second-hand store gatherings. The addition of a crocheted lapel and cuffs turn this average cozy cover-up into a piece you wouldn’t mind showing off.
These are just two examples of what a few crafty augmentations can do to give your same old items a flash of new life. Use your imagination to extend these projects to pillows, towels, tablecloths, t-shirts, capri pants, and more.
