Cold-Weather Cuteness #2: Cozy Fleece Scarf… WITH POCKETS

My friend Rosalie is PROBABLY my blog’s biggest fan - both of my blogs actually. She pestered me to get back on crafting because she was running out of things to read when she’s bored. She is also a lover of the craft making, and has asked me repeatedly to invite her over when I craft. I don’t think she’d be too keen on coming over at 3 a.m. when I can’t sleep and have a weird jolt of inspiration. So, because she’s a really great girl, and because I like her and think she’s awesome, I made her a teensy little present - that actually kills two birds with a stone - because it’s both a wearable craft AND a recycled household objects craft! Wow!

In my house, we are apparent lovers of the glorious fabric that is FLEECE. Back in my summer camp days, I gave the same gift for the gift game two summers in a row: a fleece QUILLOW lovingly handmade by myself - or my mother if I ran out of time/got lazy. My mom once made me a fleece bed cover thing, that attracted both stray hair and sweat. My sister had giant hot pink fleece throw pillows. I made MYSELF a hot pink fleece QUILLOW. See a trend?

So, using all this excess FLEECE we happen to have lying around (I have since put the fleece cover into storage and my sister outgrew the need for HOT PINK FLEECE), I thought nothing would be cozier than a great fleece scarf for Rosalie. And hey, IT’S NO-SEW.

Things You Need:

• A ton of leftover fleece - like old throw blankets, even old fleece bathrobes
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Heart template - or whatever shape you want your pockets to be
• Optional: embroidery floss & a needle

Now, I know I said it’s NO SEW, but I made mine LOOK like it was sewn but it’s really not. A sew trompe-l’oeil!

How To:

1. Decide how thick and long you’d like your scarf to be, and cut it as evenly as possible to your desired length/width. Make sure it’s wide enough for pockets!
2. In an alternating color (or the same, however you wish), trace & cut out 2 patch shapes for your pockets, large enough to fit most of your hand.
3. OPTIONAL: sew stitches around the pocket shapes to look like seams.
4. Glue the patches to the near bottom of your scarf, leaving a wide opening at the top. Put glue ONLY on the edges, you’re making a pocket, silly!
5. Wrap around your neck, sneak some candy into your pocket and go out for an Autumn walk!

   

   Stuff I used

   

   Cut fleece

   

   Tracing a shape

   
   

   

   Cut hearts!

   

   Glue the hearts on!

   

   Finished scarf

   
   

   

   Rosalie's package!

   
   

Estimated Time: 20 minutes, add 15 if you’re faux-sewing the pockets.
Craft Level: Easy - cut & glue!

Tags: cute, diy, easy, no-sew, presents, recycling, scarf

Recycled Old Men’s Tshirt = Stylish VEST (NO-SEW)

With the help of a bag of old huge t-shirts, a pair of scissors and a handy tape measure, I made a really cute vest today. Inspired heavily by all those cute jersey/cotton draped vests I’ve been seeing everywhere, making this one is more cost-efficient than zipping over to Urban Outfitters (over-priced!!) or even Forever 21. And hey - all you need to know how to do is use scissors and a tape measure. Easy, no?

Things You Need:

• 1 huge old t-shirt (I used a men’s medium, but that’s because I wanted my vest cropped. Bigger = longer, smaller = shorter)
• Scissors
• Tape Measure

How To:

1. Lay t-shirt out on flat surface/floor.
2. Cut from armpit to armpit, leaving the “trunk” in one piece and giving you a wide tube.
3. Cut your tube down the middle.
4. Tricky part: measure the distance between your shoulders and center that “amount” in the middle of your now long wide strip - this is to figure out how far apart to make your arm holes.
5. Cut two generous slits for arm holes at designated central points.
6. Wear!

   

   Old t-shirt, scissors & tape measure

   

   You don't have to cut evenly

   
   

   

   Clearly I can't cut straight - those are arm holes

   

   It looks wayy cuter on a human than on a hanger.

   
   
   

Fun facts: I used some old give-a-way t-shirts to make mine. You can also cut fringes along the front to make it cuter. The longer/bigger the t-shirt = the better your vest will be. You want it to be drapey and hang a bit. Don’t judge how it looks on my t-shirt - it falls FABULOUSLY when it’s on. I just didn’t think you all need a gratuitous boob shot.

Estimated Time: no more than 5 minutes, and that includes figuring out how far apart your shoulders are.
Craft Level: So easy it hurts!

Tags: easy, no-sew, recycling

No-Sew Knock-Off Face Tank Top

As usual, my #1 inspiration is designer clothing that I can’t bring myself to spend money on/can’t afford. When I first saw this Lanvin tank top, I knew I HAD to have it. It was only once I’d seen that it was knocked off at tons of low-end chains, that I found it craft-interesting. And it was being worn by fashionistas. Every single chain that’s notorious for knock-offs (Forever XXI? Can you hear me?), has done some form of face top for their spring lines. Even regular designers are on this! Rather than buy a carbon-copy, why not make your own design? I will admit to this though: the INSTANT I saw it, I knew it was an easy-shmeasy craft to make. That, and the authentic top is sold out nearly everywhere, so you and I have NO CHOICE but to make it!

That, and it’s no-sew and you can make it using ONLY things you probably have at home - whether you have access to a craft closet or not!

Things You Need:

• A plain white regular boring cotton tank top or t-shirt - hint: don’t use a ribbed one, it’s a PAIN to work with
• Sharpies [permanent markers] in black, red, whatever colors you like
• Scissors
• Ribbon of your choice
• 1 old cardboard box or piece of cardboard (the ones you get from the dry cleaner inside your shirts works!)

How To:

1. Make a blueprint drawing of whatever face you want on your top on the cardboard - this’ll serve double duty as both a stencil for your design AND a barrier between the front and back of your tank top. Permanent marker ink seeps through and is, believe it or not, PERMANENT. It’s also MUCH easier to trace an image than draw freehand.
2. Working on a flat surface, shove the cardboard template inside your top.
3. Using a Sharpie, trace your face! Be sure to hold the top taut so you can doodle with ease - it’s easier said than done to draw on a t-shirt!
4. Use different colors for accents, like red lips, pink hearts.
5. Once you’re satisfied with the face you’ve drawn, cut a piece of ribbon, long enough to make a bow.
6. Tie the ribbon in a bow onto one of the top’s straps.
7. Sign your name on the back, because this isn’t a Lanvin top - it’s YOUR original design!

Note: only because I KNOW you’re going to ask - this is a similar tank top to the one I used (mine is racerback and I can’t find it on the website, obviously) and this is the one I used for my sister’s top. Mine was MUCH easier to work with than hers. Also, because it’s more trendy now to have a bigger, looser tank top, my tank top is about 3 sizes bigger than I’d normally wear. This design totally looks better on a looser top. Because I didn’t sew the bow on [you absolutely can if you want to], it’s totally exchangeable for other bows! Change your mood, change your bow! (If you don’t sew on your bow, remove it before washing it!)

Estimated Time: 15 minutes - MAX
Craft Level: So easy it HURTS!

Tags: designer knockoff, easy, inspirations, Lanvin, no-sew, tank top

No-Sew Fringe Scarf

When it comes to online shopping, I actively scout out shopbop for good deals (next day delivery? HELLO) and recently, inspiration for things I can make myself. I came across this scarf and my first instinct was to click add to cart but I clear stopped myself when I read the scarf’s specs: unfinished hem, 2.5′ wide by 4′ long. Really? $55.00 American? No, thanks.

So, here I bring you an easy no-sew craft: if you can SORT OF cut in a straight line, this is the craft for you.

Things You Need:

• Scissors
• A large piece of jersey fabric (I used this because it falls the best and cuts like a champ): it should measure AT LEAST 2.5′ by 4′. This depends on how big or small you want your scarf (use 2.5:4 as a ratio guide for measurements)
• Tape measure (I have the luxury of a crafty mother with a giant measuring board)
• Large flat surface (I used a pool table, but any table will do)

How To:

NOTE: Not a single one of your cuts has to be exactly straight. Since you’re cutting fringe anyways, perfection and being meticulous about straight and exactly even edges should not be a top priority.

1. Measure out your piece of jersey to the approximate size you’d like it. 2.5′ by 4′ is the minimum and use that ratio to make it bigger.
2. Cut out your rectangle of fabric.
3. Fold your rectangle in quarters, so each of the 4 corners are together.
4. Cut out the corner, a square approximately 5 inches by 5 inches. This’ll make it easier to cut fringes. Your piece of fabric should look like a squished plus sign +.
5. Unfold the fabric once, so it’s still folded in half.
6. Starting on one of the outer ends, cut thin strips up until the edge of that slot. You’ll be making easy snips all along each edge - you’re not cutting them OFF - you’re making fringe!
7. You can make your fringe as thick or as thin as you want - this depends on your patience level. 5 inches long is a good starting length.
8. Do this for the other side.
9. Wear and enjoy!

   

   Scarf on shopbop.com - BOO $55

   

   Supplies Used

   

   Measuring Your Length

   
   

   

   Fabric Folded in 4

   

   Cut The Corners Out

   

   Start Fringing

   
   

   

   Fringe Cutting

   

   Fancy Fringe!

   

   Next Side Cutting

   
   

   

   Final Product Folded

   

   Finished Final Product - Oh, I'm wearing it.

   
   

Estimated Time: 30 minutes of solid cutting
Craft Level: EASY, if you can CUT you can fringe!

Tags: easy, no-sew, scarf, shopbop

Fancy Headbands a la Blair Waldorf

Behind every craft, there’s a story. While I was brainstorming craft ideas to feature on my blog, I knew this would be the first one for a few reasons:

1. Gossip Girl and Blair Waldorf are HUGE these days
2. Headbands are super trendy right now
3. Every single store is selling fancy headbands
4. This is a REALLY easy craft
5. I selfishly wanted some new headbands and wasn’t interested in spending $30+ on a headband

Because this is a real TRENDY item and I know most girls have at least one headband with a bow on it, I wanted to show everyone just HOW easy and quick this is to make. Why spend a fortune on a headband when you can just as easily make it yourself for under $20?

Things You Need:

• Plain plastic headbands - no more than one inch thick (it’s harder to work with bigger ones)
• Hot glue gun & glue shots
• Wide ribbon (can be satin, velvet, whatever you like or have hanging around)
• Scissors

Things You Don’t NEED But Are More Than Welcome To Use Too:

• Buttons (I keep all those extra buttons from clothes and have a random leftover button bag)
• Jewels
• Feathers
• Fake flowers
• Scrapbook-type 3-D decorations

How To:

1. Wrap ribbon tightly around the headband from one end to the other, winding it super tight to approximate how much ribbon you’ll need. Plug in your glue gun too, nobody likes cold glue.
2. Cut ribbon, and give yourself a little bit of extra at the end. It’s easier when the ribbon is too long rather than too short!
3. Put a small bead of glue on the end of one side of the ribbon, on the wrong side (the side you DON’T want showing) and press it to the inside of the headband.
4. Now that your ribbon is stuck to the headband, it’s time to wind it up! Wrap the ribbon TIGHTLY around the headband, moving from one end to the other. Note: you’ll notice that I didn’t officially go from the real ends of the headband. This is because it’s a heck of a lot more comfortable if you leave a bit of plastic at the ends for behind your ears. You don’t want a mound of glue and ribbon poking you every time you wear your fancy headband!
5. Once you’ve reached the other end, secure the ribbon down with a bit of hot glue on the inside. You don’t want glue showing on the outside!
6. Now it’s time for fun. Using extra bits of ribbon, make loops gluing the ends together. I made two loops, one slightly bigger than the other, and wrapped a third shorter piece of ribbon to secure my “bow”. You can make as many or as few loops as you like - depending on how BIG you want your bow to be! Tip: while you’re securing your bow with extra ribbon, pinch it slightly while you’re gluing so it looks snazzier!
7. Once your bow is ready, decide where you want it on your headband. I actually snuck into my sister’s room and borrowed her ready-made bow headbands to see their location. Oddly enough, mass-made bow headbands put their bows really close to the ear. It really depends what sort of look you’re going for. A bow on top of the headband has a bit of Alice in Wonderland appeal, while a side bow is more Blair Waldorf. Once you’ve decided, glue that bow to the headband! You’ll want to hold it down for a few seconds to make sure it doesn’t move.
8. Wear it, and be the ENVY of your friends!

Estimated Time: 20-35 minutes
Crafty Level: EASY, with glue gun use

Alternate options:

• Make smaller bows and decorate them with fancy buttons or jewels
• Skip the bows entirely and just decorate with fun flowers
• Use different colored ribbons for the headband and bows

Wear it and enjoy!

Tags: easy, headbands, inspirations