Did our "(Re)Work it!" article inspire you to create some DIY designs of your own? Here are some more ideas for you crafty fashionistas.
PIN ON SOME FLOWER POWER
Take an item covered in details, like flowers, that can easily be removed. Pavlic found a cool floral hat covered in fabric flowers for about $30 at the Cambridge Antique Market (201 Monsignor O’Brien Highway, Cambridge, 617.868.9655). Gently remove the flowers. With self-adhesive pins such as Jewelry Essentials Findings (about $2.50 for a pack of 26, available at most craft stores), attach the flower to the pins. Reinforce with a hot glue gun if you choose. Wear alone or in bunches. Another idea is to hot glue a flower to a headband to create a feminine hair piece.
REPURPOSE A KIMONO SASH
Vintage kimonos typically have some of the most beautiful and colorful patterns and are most often made of fine silk. Pavlic found this piece at The Dressing Room (134 Main Street, Groton, MA, 978.448.3330) for $8. Cut a piece that is 40 inches or longer and about a foot wide. Iron out any wrinkles and fold the ends into a point like you would when wrapping a present. Take hem tape, such as Stitch Witchery (about $2.99, available at most craft stores), and tape on the inside of the fold, then iron to seal. Fold over each side to your desired width, and apply and iron the hem tape. The sash can be worn multiple ways, like as a belt or a scarf, or you can wear it underneath a blazer to make it look as though you're wearing a snazzy top.
CREATE A BOWTIE BELT
Basic sewing skills are needed for this one. Hunt for a great oversized men’s bowtie. Take a wide piece of ribbon (preferably velvet or satin). Run one end of the ribbon through an equal-sized D-ring (about $1, available at Winmil Fabrics, 111 Chauncy Street, Boston, 617.542.1815), fold it over, and stitch across to close. On the opposite end, decide where the belt closes (roughly 4–6" from the end of the ribbon), and stitch the bowtie onto the ribbon in order to hide the closure. Now you have the classiest ribbon belt you’ll ever wear.
— Liana Peterson
