A fashion revolution to DIY for

As you may have already noticed we spend a lot of time scouring the net for the very best tutorials to share with you, which was exactly how we stumbled across the amazing online community that is Your Style Rocks!

Not only will you find a variety of patterns available for free download, but you’ll also be invited to join their monthly challenge. Here you’ll be able to submit your own design for evaluation. The top design gets rock star status and published as the next month’s free pattern.

Join the community here and start sewing today!

No matter what the design, we’ve got the fabric for you. Find out more about what’s in stock and on special when you give us a call on our GOLDEN NUMBER (0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX). You can also take a sneak peek at our ONLINE CATALOGOUE when you click here.

Seeing as you’re going to be so busy surfing the web, why not take the time to send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook, FOLLOW US on Twitter and/or FIND US on Pinterest.

DIY fashion: the pinwheel skirt

We recently shared with you a tutorial on creating pinwheel accessories for your hair and now we’ve got something just as imaginative and fun: the pinwheel skirt. This fabulously fashionable tutorial comes from the creative mind of Leanne Barlow of Elle Apparel, and can be found here. Enjoy!

Looking for fab fabrics for this project or the next? Well, you’re in luck! At Fabric and Textile Warehouse you’ll find a wide range of fabrics, lace, and more. Just pop on down to your local store. Feeling a tad lazy? Then, just give us a call on our GOLDEN NUMBER (0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX) to find out more about what’s in stock and on special. You can also take a sneak peek at our ONLINE CATALOGOUE when you click here.

Hey, while you’re at it why not send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook and FOLLOW US on Twitter. You can also FIND US on Pinterest. 

Vintage fashion DIY: the lace and ribbon bodice

A classy combination of Hollywood glamour and old world charm, with just a splash of provocative thinking, this tutorial from Love Maegan is an absolute favourite. Plus there’s all that lace and you know how much WE LOVE LACE! 

You’ll need:

Black Bustier
Black Lace
Black Satin Ribbon
Needle/Thread/Scissors

Instructions:

Line your lace up with your bustier cups, making sure that the pretty edge of the lace faces outwards and is closest to where your arms would be. Decide how much lace you need by measuring or just eye-balling it and make sure to leave a little extra so the panels can overlap in the centre.

Cut two pieces of lace at least 30cm long to be safe.

Flip your bustier inside out. Lay your lace in one of the cups at an angle, lining up the pretty edge with the edge of your bustier.

Carefully hand-stitch the lace to the inside of your bustier cup, right below the seamed edge. Just make sure not to let your needle pierce the front of the bustier.

Try your garment on. Cross one panel of lace over the other and taking your ribbon, mark with a safety pin where your neck is or where you want your ribbon to tie. Cut your ribbon extra-long to give you the option of tying it in the back or crossing it back around to the front as pictured.

Readjust your lace to make sure it's crossed over neatly and with your needle and thread carefully hand-stitch the edges of your ribbon to your lace. You only need to stitch down the front -or from side to side. In my case, it was about 6 inches.

Trim off the extra lace at the top.

Stitch your two panels together, but only at the centre and not all the way up

Trim the excess lace in the cups.

While we can’t supply you with a bustier, our haberdashery is overflowing with lace, ribbons and other goodies. Give us a call on our Golden Number (0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX) to find out more about what’s in stock and on special at your local Fabric and Textile Warehouse.

Don’t forget to send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook and FOLLOW US on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news from the fabric world. While you are at it, go FIND US on Pinterest. 

Up the ante when you refashion an old tee

Looking to spice up an old Tee? Go from plain Jane to Glee’s Emma Pillsbury with this great T-Shirt refashion from the gals at iCandy handmade. Simply click here for the tutorial. 

So, you’ve got an old tee, but not enough thread. Come raid our haberdashery and stock up on everything from needles and tread to ribbons and lace. Just Give us a call on our GOLDEN NUMBER (0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX) to find out more. You can also send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

Pantone picks Emerald as the 2013 Colour of the Year

Firstly, who is Pantone and why do they get to pick the colour of the year? Well, Pantone, is the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards to design industries around the world. They are, in other words, the colour-gods who devote a lot of time and effort to picking the Colour of the Year.

This is not a random process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for colour influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, travelling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and affects that impact colour, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

This year’s pick, Emerald, “is a vivid, verdant green, that enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony”.

What does this mean for you? Expect 2013 to be a non-alcoholic version St Patrick’s Day every day for the entire year. The colour is will explode onto catwalks and sidewalks in all shapes and sizes. From fashion to décor, make up and more, you’ll be seeing emerald here, there and everywhere.

Don’t get left behind! Start incorporating the green-hued gem into your life today. We’ve got a fab range of fabrics available in this delicious colour for you and your home. Just give us a call on our GOLDEN NUMBER is 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX. You can also send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

Adapted from the “Pantone Reveals Color of the Year for 2013″ Press Release available here.

DIY Lace Denim Cut-offs

As you may already know We LOVE Lace! It’s girly and romantic and just so blooming wonderful, which is probably why we’re so smitten with these DIY Lace Denim Cut-offs from Rebecca Minkoff of Minkettes. Oh so easy and adorable, they’re perfect for summer. 

You’ll need:

• a pair of denim cut-offs
• approx. 60 cm of lace or crochet trim
• pins
• a needle
• white thread
• scissors

Instructions:

• Cut a triangle out of your shorts that is roughly the shape of the lace. Make sure that you cut the triangle on the side seam.
• Cut out a piece of lace. You don’t have to use all of the trim – feel free to cut off the edges to get the right shape. Then pin the lace in place on top of the shorts.
• Thread your needle, tie a knot at the end of the thread, and start sewing the lace to your shorts, pulling the needle in and out. Make sure you sew both the inner and outer edges. Once you have sewn it all down, tie a few knots where you finish, cut off the rest of the thread, and you’re all set.

On the hunt for lace trim? You don’t have to go far. Just pop on in to your local Fabric and Textile Warehouse. Give us a call on our Golden Number: 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX for more on what’s in stock and on special.  You can also send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

On Trend: DIY Colour Block Tank Dress

Have a bright and colourful summer in this easy to create Colour Block Tank Dress from Sweet Verbena, a blog filled with fashion how-to’s and creative guides.

You’ll need:

• A tank top/t-shirt in your size
• 3/4" Clear Elastic (about a yard give or take)
• Lightweight Cotton Fabric (1 yard -give or take- of each color)
• Optional 1 yard Muslin (for lining)
• Thread to match your trim fabric.

Instructions:

Begin by trying on your tank/tee. Make a mark about 3/4 an inch below your natural waist.

Cut straight across where you just made the mark. You can save the bottom portion of the tee as a guide for making more dresses.

To determine how much elastic you'll need, measure the width of the bottom of the tank. Take this number, multiply by 2 and add 0.5.

Stretch the elastic out a little bit and then lay the two ends on top of each other with about an inch of overlap. Sew so that you have a loop of elastic.

Lay your elastic loop on the right side of the tank. Pin in place. The loop should be just a tad smaller than the tank.

Sew with a stretch or zig-zag stitch, pulling the elastic lightly as you go.

You want the (two) panels of your skirt to be 30.5 cm (12") wider than the width of your tank. Cut as shown below. Cut along the fold so that you have two panels of fabric.

The length of the dress will also depend on your body type and preference. For Katy, who's 5'9" and whose dress came to just right above the knee, the measurements were as follows: 53.5 cm (21") of the main fabric colour (red/navy) and 20.5 cm (8") of the trim (mint).

Finish the edges of the strips if you'd like. Pin and sew.

If you don't care about having pockets, go ahead and skip the next few steps. But bear in mind that they're really not too much extra work, and worth it to have a place to put your hands, phone, etc.

Fold your remaining trim fabric so that you have four layers of fabric on top of one another. Lay your hand down and free hand a pocket pattern. One side of the pocket should be a straight line. The rest doesn't really matter too much, kind of a slanty oval works best.

Or you know, cut a heart valentine style and cut along the fold.

Right sides together, pin the pockets about 8 cm (3 inches) down from the top of each panel. You'll want to be as exact as possible so that everything lines up properly.

Sew with a 0.635 cm (1/4") inseam. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Iron the seams open.

Now lay the panels, with pockets outstretched, right sides together. Take care to line up the trim at the bottom and everything else accordingly. Sew as shown.

Use the iron to shape, and hey look, you just made pockets.

Depending on your fabric, you might want to line the skirt. You can get away without on darker fabrics, but lighter fabrics are usually more transparent. Cut two panels of muslin to the same dimensions as your panels. Sew together opposite sides with the same inseam as you did your skirt.

Sew or serge the muslin layer and the skirt together as shown. They are only joined together by that top stitch.

Set your straight stitch to the longest length setting and sew two gathering stitches (about 1/4" apart).

Pull the top threads to create a nice, uniform gather.

Now with the tank/tee right side out and the skirt wrong side out, insert the tank as shown.

Pin the bottom of the tank to the top of the skirt.

Sew (with a stretch or zig zag stitch) very carefully and slowly with a half inch inseam. Once you've gone full circle, go around once more for good measure.

Finally hem the bottom and finish the lining. You may need to cut it about an inch shorter than the rest of the skirt so that it doesn't peek out.

We may not be able to supply the tank top, but we’ve got a fabulous selection of cotton dress fabric perfect for this project and others. Just give us a call on our Golden Number: 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX for what’s in stock and on special.  You can also send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

Celebrate and Create a Sequin Bird Dress

WE’RE ALIVE! So, the world didn’t end yesterday and you’re at a bit of a loss at what to do now. Why not celebrate the Mayan’s mistake with this sparkly tutorial from All the Good Girls Go to Haven Blog.

You'll need:

• a Little Black Dress
• 20 yards of sequin trim
• fabric glue
• scissors
• paper
• a pencil

Instructions:

Create your bird stencil using your pencil, paper and drawing skills (You can also always just using an image you found online).

Place the stencil on your dress and trace around it using your pencil or a fabric marker.

Cover the pencil line and fill in the shape with the glue. FYI: tacky craft glue is great because it's sticky and helps keep the sequins in place as you go. Apply your trim, starting from the edge and working your way in. Leave to dry then party on!

Viola!

NOTE: Bear in mind that, thanks to the sequins and craft glue, your outfit will probably not be washing machine friendly once complete.

Looking for something specific for this project or the next? Give us a call on our Golden Number (0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX) and we’ll help you find what you need. While you are at it send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

Summer Love: Creating a Lace Heart Cardigan

We realise that a cardigan in summer might come as a bit of a shock, but rainy days are just as common as sunshine in South Africa at this time of year. That is why we thought you might want a little more sweater protection. Well, that and this Lace Heart Cardigan tutorial from Sincerely Kinsey is too gorgeous not to share. 

You’ll need

• A cardigan
• Some Lace
• Scissors
• Paper
• Sewing pins
• Sewing machine or needle and thread

Instructions

1. Take your cardigan and lay it out on the table with the back facing down. Place the lace down on the inside, making sure it is smooth with no wrinkles and pin it in place.

2. Turn your cardigan over so that the lace is now facing down. Take a piece of paper and cut out the size of heart you want and place it on your cardigan.

3. Take sewing pins and pin all the way around the heart. Be sure the pin goes through the lace as well.

4. Sew right on the inside of the pins to make your heart.

5. CAREFULLY cut out the heart on the inside of the stitching. Don't cut the lace underneath!

6. You're finished! Remove all the pins and enjoy.

Looking to start your holiday romance with lace? We’ve got a great selection available in store. Just give us a call on our Golden Number 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX and we’ll let you know what’s what and how much.

Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.