Tie Dye is a huge trend this summer, but it's so easy to do at home...
Rather than messing around with dyes and washing machines the easiest way to get this effect is with dark fabrics and bleach. The washed out and faded results look great teamed with fringing, leather or just a simple pair of jeans for a grungy summer look. Take our tutorial for a bargain way to get the tie dye trend!
Related: How to dye your wool with turmeric | How to dye dry pasta for crafting
To celebrate today's beautiful weather, we thought we'd bring you this lovely summer dress from Pattern Making.
Doesn't she look cool and happy in her dress? It makes me wish I'd had more faith in the weatherman and wasn't wearing jeans today.
If you want to replicate it there's a very simple tutorial here, and there's a world of opportunities for customizing it. Different colour materials, changing the straps, embellishments or even - if you want to follow an upcoming summer trend - tie dye (go here for a how to by our resident fashionista, Catwalk Queen editor, Isabelle)!
Related: Tuesday Trends: Ruffle-mania - how to add volume to aprons and skirts | Wednesday Wearables: very easy Vogue
If you're based in or around the London area and would like to try your hand at creating some unique clothes, you might want to head to the Camden branch of Oxfam this weekend, where designer and celebrity stylist Mrs Jones will be on hand to advise and instruct in a clothes customisation workshop to celebrate the store's new look: it's re-opening as a 'creative retro haven' selling DIY gear - all made by tweaking old clothes brought in as donations.
This Saturday (6th June), you can bring your own donations to the shop and learn how to rework them with Mrs Jones, who has worked with artists including The Killers, Scissor Sisters and Goldfrapp. Visit the store's micro site for more info!
If you're new to the art of dressmaking and want to make your first effort a stylish piece you can treasure forever, look no further than Vogue patterns, which has some great projects that are specially designed for beginners.
The Misses' Dress is a simple wrap-style dress that's flattering to all shapes and sizes, as well as an easy option, partly because you don't need to worry too much about sewing in the waist. You can see a finished version of the dress here, made in a summery, floral print.
Related: Pattern of the Week: Burda Style's Coffee Date dress | Vintage Vogue patterns now 50% off at Sew Direct | Free summer dress parttern from Fitzpatterns
This amazing reconstructed sweater was made (or re-made, you might say) by Outsapop. It started out life as four different jumpers which were then cut up and sewed back together to make this electric number. Not only does it look cosy and comfortable, but teamed with a pair of leggings it would make a really stylish outfit.
A brilliant idea if you have a load of sweaters that are out of fashion or frumpy. As well as earning yourself green points, you'll also be condensing your wardrobe! If you're feeling inspired, you can find a tutorial here. [By Steph Powell]
Related: Recycled fashion: phonebook couture | Punk's not dead! DIY safety pin jacket
These feline shoes were meant to be part of a Halloween costume, but I think they bear more then a slight resemblance to the famous Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats.
These beauties - which come in a variety of different animals - are handmade by Em & Sprout, who also make a range of other accessories, from sleeping masks to Blair Waldorf style headbands. If you're captured by the morbid charm of them, the kitty shoes are available to buy and at just $22 are a snip compared to MJ's $355 doppelgängers. [By Steph Powell]
[Via Craftzine]
We're not quite done with the Star Trek hi-jinks, yet: all the craft blogs are still overflowing with trekkie-themed items, some of which are too good to miss.
If you're prepared to boldly go around displaying your love of Trek, this Starfleet insignia dress might be just the thing for you. It's hand-painted and sufficiently abstact that non geeks will probably be blissfully unaware of the significance of all those coloured triangle things. Its maker, Graverobbergirl on Craftster said:
"I thought up this one quite a while ago, but it took me some time to get around to executing. I was just thinking that why couldn't Trekkies be fashionable (even if our tastes are generally somewhat off from everyone else's)? We're not all 300 pound male computer nerds, after all..."
Amen to that!
Related: 'Make it sew!' star trek crafts gallery | Star Trek clock on Etsy
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