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
Ok, so at the moment summer still seems a long way away but you can still get prepared for the beach with this spa wrap.
Made from a bath towel, it's a brilliant and simple first project for someone new to the wonderful world of craft. You could wear it to an actual spa if you're feeling flush, but it's perfect attire for a recession-beating, relaxing 'home spa' experience if you want to indulge!The basic instructions can be found on Craft Stylish, but if you have any buttons or beads lying around and you're feeling adventurous you can add your own embellishments! Now, if only the weather would cooperate...
Related: Sew easy: breezy summer wrap pants
This fun and easy method of decorating your tights gets around the usual problems associated with working on super-thin fabrics by suggesting you keep the tights on while working on them - a neat solution as long as you've got a very steady hand and don't mind risking a few ouchy moments!
The result is some seriously funky custom legwear based on current catwalk creations that will give your outfit a cool DIY twist. Full instructions can be found over on Park & Cube
Related: Custom 'basketball' shoes at Australian Fashion Week | how to make stud-pocket jeans
Rachel over on Crochet Spot has been getting into some serious Mattel nostalgia recently, and crocheted this cute ruffle dress for one of her old dolls.
Personally, I'm always a little bit suspicious of the 'grown women with dolls' phenomenon, but that doesn't stop me indulging in the odd trip down memory lane while nobody's looking. So if you're a doll person (or have a daughter, imaginary or otherwise) and want to dress up Barbie, Sindy or equivalent, why not check out the other two spring-like patterns I found? To the left is a miniature 'test' costume from Craft Stylish and to the right is eco chic Barbie wearing a very avant-garde frock crocheted out of plastic bags. Right on!
Related: Yay or Nay: Blythe dolls | Barbie doll cakes gone bad
This disturbingly convincing Princess Peach cosplay outfit is the handiwork of Jenni Källberg aka Pixelninja. She really is every geek's dream in her outfit, more of which can be seen here.
If you're now seized with the desire to whip off a Peach get-up of your own then spend your days hanging around and waiting for Mario to show up, there's a nice little guide here, which takes you through all the steps you'll need to 'get the look' - from the Barbie-pink satin frock to the cheap-looking crown.
Related: Mario's Princess Peach shirt embroidery | Heroes of Craft: Super Mario Bros.
Unless you're one of those crazy Gothic Lolita kids, you may not find this type of fashion entirely 'wearable', but so many crafters are searching for these girlish, Japanese patterns that I thought I'd investigate.
The 'bustle skirt' shown here is based on Victorian styling, and gives a wonderfully OTT Alice in Wonderland look. chiaki_ayumi posted up the full tutorial here on Livejournal, and had lots of Goth-Loli types squeeing with delight in response. For many, many more patterns in this vein -- or just to feast your eyes on some extraordinary costuming -- check out Cosplay.com.
Related: Gothic Lolita mini top hat pattern | Make Cosplay cat ears with the Alternative Martha Stewart
That little bird motif is getting everywhere at the moment, isn't it? Perhaps it's Twitter's influence, or perhaps we're all just gettin a little sick of owls (ok, I'll never be sick of owls but I guess it's only fair that our other avian friends get their turn in the limelight).
So if you'd like to add birdie home accessories to your birdie clothes, plushies and prints, check out this neat tutorial for an 'eco bird' cushion from Craft Stylish. I think the 'eco' refers to the fact that they've used recycled felt.
Related: Pick of the best 'Twitter birds' in craft | Little blue bird hairclip by Angel Cake
digg this |
del.icio.us this
| 
Stumble It!
