NEW DIY | How To Make A Rhinestone Belt Tutorial

Wrap yourself in glimmer. A grosgrain belt with rhinestone detailing is a brilliant way to add wow factor to a waistline (beats adding inches any day!). No mater how you style it, a rhinestone belt is sure to make you feel like you're already on holiday.  If you don't want to construct the belt, you can use any premade fabric belt. Skip to the embellishment part of the instructions to create the same look.

--spool of 1 inch grosgrain ribbon
--spool of 2 inch sheer ribbon
--about 50 iron on rhinestones
--18-20 large teardrop sew on rhinestones
--18-20 medium oblong sew on rhinestones
(a couple rhinestone options depending on the color you prefer; these clear rhinestones from Joann Fabrics or these resin rhinestones from eJoyce)
--Anorak snaps and snap kit from Joann Fabrics
--1 inch wide elastic

1.  Layer the grosgrain ribbon over sheer ribbon.

2.  Fold ribbons into 1 inch box pleats to cover the front width of your waist from one side to the other.

3.  Stitch pleats down both sides of ribbon, leaving 1/2 unstitched at the ends. Fold these ends to inside and press.

4.   Formula to figure how long the elastic sections at back of belt need to be:

      total waist length - front waist measurement + 2 inches = elastic length

After you cut the elastic, divide and cut in half to have a section for each end of the belt.

5.   Cover each piece of elastic with layered ribbons by sewing evenly spaced vertical lines through both layer, leaving a small amount of give in between stitch lines to allow for stretch. 

(You can replace this step by using cream decorative elastic that doesn't need to be covered)

6.  Insert ends of elastic portions into the open ends of front folded section with exposed elastic facing toward the inside. Machine stitch through all layers to secure.

7.  Mark placement for snaps and then fold extra ribbon to back of belt and top-stitch in place to finish.

8.  Fit belt around waist. Following instructions on the package of Snap Kit Tools, apply snaps to ends of belt. 

9.   Cut the bound edges of sheer ribbon away from belt and roll raw edge with fingers to create a frayed look. You can remove some of the lengthwise fibers with a straight pin to thin out the ribbon if you prefer a super unfinished look like I have here.

10.  Starting from center of belt, attach rhinestones onto every other raised box pleat with needle and thread in any design you chose.

11.  Place four small iron-on rhinestones between each larger group and press with steam.

12.  DONE.

images courtesy of my book The Chic Girl's Guide to a One-of-a-Kind Wardrobe

How to Embellish a Button-up with a Beaded Placket

I love a crisp white blouse; it can service a girl's wardrobe in a way no other piece can. But sometimes, I just want something more. Get me? I've wanted to try beading the placket of a button-up since I spotted J.Crew's version in stores. Cluster the beads they way I did here or go all bedazzle crazy and cover the entire placket like this blouse, which I would have totally done if I'd had more beads. Oh, and a note on that...buy waay more beads than you think you need! 

--button-up blouse
--beads of coordinating colors like these raindrop beads and these crystal rondelles
--needle and thread
CHIC GIRL'S TIP: You can sometimes shop at Claire's to find strands of coordinating beads for much cheaper than loose beads, especially if you check the clearance wall. 

1.  Cut the beads or jewelry away from the string.

2.  Fold a strand of thread in half and feed both cut ends through a needle to form a loop with the thread. Catch a small amount of fabric on the front side of the blouse placket where you want to begin attaching beads.

3.  Attach a cluster of beads one at a time to the blouse.

4.  Tie off the thread between clusters and continue to stitch the beads in groups down the front of the blouse. I ended mine mid-way down to keep from having weird bulges when I tuck in my shirt. No one needs any extra bulgy things in her tummy area. Just putting that out there. 

5.  DONE.

CHIC GIRL'S TIP:  As you stitch the beads onto the blouse, try to only catch the upper fold of fabric to keep the inside of your blouse from looking like a crosspatch of stitches.

TUTORIAL | How to Refashion a Blouse Into a Pencil Dress

Everybody loves a great pencil dress, which is why I decided to refashion my never-worn-in-two years cami from J.Crew and create something I would more readily grab from my closet. Using a dress from my Refashion Challenge post as inspiration to recycle my old clothes, I created this dress by utilizing some left-over fabric from The Soo dress design in my 2012 Mid-Summer Collection.  Even though it's really simple, I think it's a dress that will be super versatile, and since I was using materials I already had, it didn't cost me a dime. Score.

 

• Blouse with side zipper.
• 1/2 inch bias tap
• Two yards fabric for skirt
• 14 inch zipper
• Pattern in your size with general silhouette of sketches below. I used McCalls 5927, which is out of print, but available on amazon.com.

 

1.  Cut out skirt portion of pattern onto a fabric of your choice and assemble by instructions.

2.   Enclose raw edge of top of skirt with bias tape and top-stitch to attach and finish.

3.   Pin skirt to natural waistline of blouse and top-stitch 1/4 inch below bias tape. Leaving one inch free to fold under at zipper

4.   Fold raw edge of skirt under at side seam even with zipper and pin.

5.   Top stitch 1/4 inch from zipper edge to finish. DONE.