pierrot / pierrette

today i'm finally sharing with you photos of my final pleated skirt attempt from the diy couture 'how to make a pleated skirt' instruction book. after two other attempts, i feel like i finally got this one right in terms of fabric choice, length and fit and i'm absolutely thrilled that i have had such positive experiences with the construction of these skirts! i feel a bit amazed that i was able to pull these pleated skirts off and actually come out with garments i really love.

for this skirt, i had pierrot / pierette in mind as inspiration. i have always been influenced by all things french and pierrot, in particular, has always caught my interest in his many incarnations from 'sad clown' to pantomime to musician. originally, i planned on making both a pierrot and a harlequin skirt with each symbolizing the personality & look of each of the characters (i may at some point finish the other skirt, we'll see.) i wanted them both to feature diamonds and match somewhat, but for the pierrot skirt to have a very light, soft palette in keeping with the traditional white pierrot suit and to really contrast with the bright, bold colors of the flashy harlequin skirt.

so, i went with a white bottom weight fabric - 95% cotton / 5% - medium weight, and dyed it with a mixture of pink and tan RIT dye before screen printing a series of cream triangles on it to form diamonds in different patterns for the front and back. i concentrated the diamonds in the center on the front piece and went with more of a bottom border pattern for the back. i made the waist extra thick and the length a bit longer than the other two skirts and feel like i really hit the perfect balance this time. it fits me like a glove & is very forgiving - that 5% spandex makes a really big difference in fit & comfort! i used a bit of my leftover fabric to make a 'capelet' of sorts in pretty much the same way as the skirt - basically, a pleated skirt for my shoulders - onto which i added two big black buttons for a more authentic pierrot / pierrette look.

i hope you like my pierrot / pierrette inspired skirt (the last pleated skirt i'm making for a while!) next, it's on to making cloaks using the diy couture 'how to make a cloak' instruction book. i'll be making a couple of lightweight cloaks over the next several weeks before attempting a serious fall cloak with expensive tweed or similar wool fabric and am so happy my sewing skills are slowly but steadily improving… yay! 

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

little red riding hood

well, hello there! ... and, happy springtime!!

it feels good to be back - sharing my projects with you again after that unexpected little hiatus. i've got a small stack of completed sewing/printing projects just waiting to be worn, photographed and shared with you all so i will do my best to get those up over the next couple of weeks before the big spring shop update! i'm super excited about all the fabulous vintage pieces i'll be adding to the shop later this month - stay tuned for some fantastic vintage finds!

you might remember, a couple of months back i became completely smitten with miu miu's adorable spring 2012 capelets and then found this quick & easy tutorial by FtAshion for making a similar version. for my own capelet, i chose a bold bright red lace and paired it with a thick burgundy velvet ribbon for a bit of added depth & contrast. i can't tell you how easy this diy was - perfect for the absolute beginning sewer. you basically just cut the fabric, fold it, and run a straight stitch along the edge before inserting the ribbon - i was done in 20 minutes tops! and, then it sat in my sewing room for weeks as i pondered how to style it. 

after scoring this amazing blue 60's scooter dress at an estate sale last week, i remembered seeing dakota fanning's styling of the miu miu red capelet and immediately knew i wanted to try a 'celebrity look on a budget' type of thing using items solely from my own closet. i took the scooter dress in at the sides to give it a more 'stuctured' look and paired it w/ a vintage emerald green evening bag (instead of a silver clutch, like dakota,) nude heels, a chunky ring and thick eyeliner to complete the look. it's obviously not a perfect match, but i think it's a pretty fantastic compromise for a tiny fraction of the cost!

i made another capelet in mint green which i'll be wearing on my birthday and sharing with you later this week. i'm really loving these little capelets and can't stress enough how simple they are to make - whip yourself up a version of this cute spring accessory in less than 20 minutes before the temperatures get too hot!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆


*outfit details: vintage blue 1960's scooter dress // calvin klein nude heels // forever 21 rings // vintage emerald green evening bag

never neverland

i'm taking a bit of a break from making pleated skirts as i wait on some white ink to arrive in the mail for an upcoming printing marathon. in the meantime, i've been working on a few quick sewing projects in an effort to use up some of the interesting fabric scraps i've got lying around from past endeavors. this peter pan collar tutorial by elegant musings is the perfect quick & easy project for all those random leftovers and even gives the choice between pointed or rounded ends - how cool is that?!

it's difficult to tell in the pictures, but i used a very fine corduroy for the bright red collar which adds a wonderful texture and was also really fun to work with. the print-at-home pattern & instructions are easy to follow - all you need besides your fashion fabric is a bit of interfacing and your choice of closure (ribbon, button, etc.) i finished my collar off with a thin mustard velvet ribbon and couldn't be happier with how it turned out. makes me feel like a little girl in a fairytale who stumbled upon never neverland and never wants to grow up!

xoxo
☆ emilia ☆

*outfit details: dress - dear by amandy bynes / skirt - isaac mizrahi for target / shoes - naya / purse - vintage / glasses - vintage / owl ring - ebay 

all we are is stars

lucius and his first mustache finger : tara mcpherson

for my second pleated skirt attempt, i combined it with another diy project i've had on my "to do" list since last summer - making some sort of space garment. originally, i was planning on making a galaxy t-shirt dress but then decided it might be more fun to make some custom fabric instead. i used this "going to space" tutorial from unicorn parade almost to the letter except i didn't have any spare brushes on hand (besides tooth brushes for splattering) so i stuck to medicine droppers for applying the bleach & dye and used my gocco to screen print the stars instead of hand painting them. 

since my last skirt ended up so stiff & sculptural and was a polyester blend (and, polyester interferes with the bleaching process,) i went with a much thinner bottom weight this time made from 97% cotton/3% spandex. i cut the front and back fabric pieces out before bleaching & dying and ended up going through the entire process a few times until i was fairly happy with how it looked, and then screen printed the stars. i used strips of the untouched, crisp black fabric to make an extra-thick waistband (6cm wide instead of 4cm) and finished the hem off with black bias tape to pull it all together.

i'm really happy with how the skirt came out, especially since this was my first attempt at bleaching & dying fabric (i've never even tie-dyed.) it would have helped to have a few hubble pics of nebulae on hand for reference on the larger shapes but i didn't think about doing this until the very end. one thing is discovered is that bias tape is pretty much my new favorite thing EVER as straight & decent-looking hems continue to pose a major challenge for this beginner seamstress. overall, i'm completely smitten this skirt & the adorable little stars - it's incredibly lightweight but still stiff enough to keep its sweet silhouette and i love the polished look of the bias tape!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

*outfit details: vintage lace half shirt/wedding dress top // pleated skirt pattern - diy couture // black lita - jeffrey campbell // rings - forever 21, ebay 

inspiration - miu miu capelets & mules

images: miu miu

i am completely in love with miu miu's adorable off-the-shoulder capelets that were such a big part of her spring 2012 collection. now that i've officially been bitten with the "make your own clothes" bug, i've been on the lookout for a simple diy garment project to tackle in between pleated skirts and thought a capelet might be just the perfect project. a quick search brought me to this off the shoulder capelet diy tutorial on FtAshion so you know what i'll be making as soon as i have a few extra dollars for fabric & velvet ribbon! i particularly like the baby blue satin one w/ the navy velvet tie but also love that black & white patterned one - so cute!

i loved everything about this collection - not just the capelets - and fell especially hard for all those mules. i am loving the pink & red pair at the moment but that may just be valentine's day talking - on most days i think i'd go for the the blue velvet or pink satin pair... so girly! to tell you the truth, i'm actually not quite over miu miu's gold glitter peep-toe booties with pink suede from fall 2011 - too bad i can't figure out a way to diy all these amazing shoes!!!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

first pleated skirt!

i am sooo excited to share with you my first hand-sewn garment ever - a two-toned, hand-silk screened pleated skirt created from diy couture's easy-to-follow instructional book how to make a pleated skirt. 

the skirt is made from two pieces of fairly thick bottom weight fabric (65% cotton / 35% poly) in gray and electric blue that were sewn together. i used my gocco to screen print the blue fabric with a super cute friends with you inspired pattern before sewing. the stiff fabric and pleats kept reminding me of cheerleading skirts and seeing as friends with you is in the business of spreading friendship and joy, i thought the name "good cheer" fit this skirt perfectly! 

i followed the book's directions to the letter, making 12 pleats in the front, 12 in the back and a 4cm waistband. it was really tough working with this thick bottom weight on my first try, especially since it's 35% polyester - it was really difficult setting the pleats and the overall shape is very sculptural... it sort of has a mind of its own. while i loved the stiffness of this bottom weight during the printing process, i made sure to pick a much thinner, mostly cotton version for my second skirt. 

overall, i'm crazy thrilled with how it came out and *love* it to pieces. i'm still in total disbelief that i'm actually making my own clothes and have to keep reminding myself - it just seems too good to be true! but, it's not - it is true - and, it's all thanks to diy couture who demystified the process and made it simple enough for me to take the plunge. what i found out in the end was that making this pleated skirt was easier than a lot of other non-garment projects i've made in the past. when explained in an easy-to-follow format that's aimed at the beginner, you'll be stunned and how quick and easy making your own clothes can be!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

*outfit details: vintage purple striped ruffle jacket // black tank top - james perse // pleated skirt pattern - diy couture // black lita - jeffrey campbell // vintage clutch // rings - forever 21 // large gold hoops - ebay // vintage black doll's hat

inspiration - diy dress up e-course / red velvet shop

today i'm sharing a few of my completed projects from red velvet's diy dress up e-course. 

"diy dress up" is one of several e-courses offered by the red velvet team and is aimed at women who want to learn to sew their own clothes. it initially caught my eye because of its section on common alterations for vintage clothing but quickly won me over when i saw how many other great projects were included for such a reasonable price. elsie (a.k.a. a beautiful mess) and senior intern mallory developed this class for those learning to sew from a beginner level and those who feel they need a bit more practice (or a boos in confidence) before making the jump to patterns & garments. there are 17 projects in all which range from a simple topstitch bow & tote bag to more complex skirts & dresses. 

above, you'll see pics of my completed topstitch bow, cumberbun-inspired belt, magazine tote and vinyl-lined makeup bag. i really enjoyed all of these projects and ended up making two or three versions of each for extra practice and as gifts. the magazine tote and makeup bag are really great - i've made lots of tote bags before but never one specifically for carting around magazines and knitting/crochet materials! it gets used all the time now that i'm crocheting like mad. the makeup bag is all kinds of amazing - i love the lumi-inspired girls on the front and the spill-proof vinyl on the inside.

so far, the red velvet girls are right - my confidence goes up each time i complete a project and i feel much more capable of eventually making my own garments. i would definitely recommend this e-course to anyone wanting to take their sewing skills to the next level. i've taken sewing classes in the past and dabbled on my own for years but this e-course has given me a nice platform to practice new sewing skills & learn proper construction on my own time while making cute projects that i actually like. and, practice is what i've realized it all amounts to - lots & lots of practice!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

inspiration - diy couture

images: diy couture

i recently ordered a copy of diy couture's book how to make a  pleated skirt, the first in a series of instructional books aimed at teaching the average person how to sew without using complex sewing patterns. 

the idea behind diy couture is to make the reality of constructing unique, personally fitted clothing accessible to anyone. easy-to-follow diagrams and photos offer simple visual instructions for garments that can be endlessly reinvented in a million different ways. for instance - designing your own pleated skirt means you can play with the length of the skirt, number of pleats, width of the waist band, and weight of the fabric (stiff & puffy vs. draped & flowing) on top of experimenting with stripes, blocks of color and pattern. the possibilities really are endless!

i've been brushing up on my beginner-level sewing techniques recently and am so ready to move on past tote bags & headbands to intermediate-level skirts, shirts and dresses. i've been working through the projects in red velvet's diy dress up e-course and am slowly seeing improvement as the projects get more and more complex (i will share pics of my progress so far next week.) but, as soon as my diy couture book arrives i think i'm going to have to switch gears & give the pleated skirt a shot. i am swooning over the idea of using custom printed fabric once i get the technique down. super exciting stuff!!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

this is my life & i'm happy to be living it

i am so in love with these adorable patches from best made company.  i want to buy one for every piece of clothing i own - or better yet, sew them onto the shirts of my family & friends so i'm always reminded to smile, keep it light and trust that things will work out fine. what a sweet little stocking stuffer these would make - i can think of a million places i would want to put these! or, maybe i'll think about making my own "optimism" patches using my gocco. that might be a fun last minute project for the holidays. ok, i think i'm officially excited for christmas!!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆