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Twisted Strap Maxi Dress

August 12, 2011 8:12 am

Before I could post the loungewear tutorials I new I had to get the maxi dress tutorial up. This time I used a couple videos. I hope they are easy to understand. First off, I apologize for doing the tutorial with black jersey. It’s a little hard to see all the details.

Ok, let’s begin. Before we start, simplify this in your head. You’re making a top. You’re making a skirt. You’re connecting them. That’s all. You can do this.

For the top I cut a triangle piece of fabric out. You want it to extend over your shoulder a couple inches and about an inch past your natrla waist. It will be large. That’s ok. Dont worry about that part yet. I put a pin at the top shoulder part so I don’t get confused with what point goes where.

You will need four of these. After I cut the four I put them up on my form so you could see what we’re going for.

The next step is to connect the top of the dress at the shoulders. Here’s what you’ll have.

Now for the twisted shoulder strap. All you need to do is twist each top at the shoulder strap until you like the way it looks.

(note: I wasn’t happy with the way mine looked. They looked really thin. So what I did was twist an extra piece of fabric around it to bulk it up. Just keep that in mind if you want it thicker.)

Now what we’ll need to do is sew the front, back and side seams. Make sure you take in to account how low you want the front and back to be.I made a video to help explain it easier.

pinning

After sewing them together here’s how I refined the armholes.

armhole

Now that the top is complete, we need to attach it to the skirt. Make a waistband that’s slightly larger than your waist. That way it will still be fitted but you can get it over your head. Then gather the bottom of your top so that it fits the length of the waistband. Sew it together.

Last step! Figure out how long you want your skirt. I make it the width of my waist band plus half. Gather it to the width of your waist band and attach.

Here’s the finished dress. I love the look of ease with this dress. It looks relaxed and flowy and still has great style.

I think the twisted straps add a nice, different detail.

That being said, let me point out it’s flaws- My stripes got all goofy and I ended up not being able to do anything about it since I ran out of fabric.

But that being said, I still love the dress and hope people don’t notice when I wear it

I hope you guys have liked the tutorial and go make your own version!

In other news, I have a new line of leather bound scarves coming out soon! I have a sample sale going on of my Spring/Summer line. Out of these, I have the army/fushcia, navy stripe/silver, black/brown, grey/aqua and orange/silver left. Since they’re my samples they are over half off and on sale for only $30!

Email me at lex@madebylex.com if you want one.

If you head over to my facebook page you can see some of my new designs for the Fall/Winter line, too. I’d love to hear what you think.

Tags: DIY dress, jersey, knit, maxi dress tutorial, women's clothing
Posted in Original Designs, other, women's clothing | 17 Comments »

Anthropologie Pratia Tank Top Tutorial

February 6, 2010 1:59 pm

Per popular demand, here is the Pratia tank tutorial!

Start off with a t-shirt or tank top. What I did was get a larger t-shirt so I could gather it at bottom like the pratia tank. I cut off the sleeves so it would be a tank.

Measure your neckline and get a piece of chiffon that length and fold it in half.

Pin it to the inside of your neckline with it peeking out. Stitch it in place.

Since I cut the sleeves off my T, I wanted to finish the edges. Fold it under and pin it.

Stitch it.

I highly recommend interfacing where you are going to be adding the embellishments, otherwise it’s going to sag. So I use a lightweight fusible interfacing.

For the flower pieces, here is the shape and dimensions I used.

Fold your pieces in half and cut that petal shape out.

I used the extra sleeve pieces, cream chiffon(the kind that won’t fray) and another grey jersey I had.

How many do you need? A LOT!! I took this photo before I started adding them and I actually needed three times this cut amount. So make sure you have a lot of fabric on hand!

Lay two petals on top of one another, as shown.

I did a small ‘X’ shape to stitch them so they stay in place. I used my sewing machine, but you could do it by hand, too.

Just add more, and more, and more, and more………(It’s time consuming. I’m warning you), until you have something like this. My recommendation is don’t skimp. When I was getting tired of doing it I thought, “Maybe this will be enough…” But it really looks great when it’s full of petals.

I really liked the bottom gathered feature of this top. So what I did is just used the original hem and I cut a little hole in to it with my seam ripper.

Measure how much elastic you will need to be comfortable around your waist. Pull it through the hole. Stitch the elastic together .

Here’s how it will look after.

Now it’s done!

I can’t wait to wear this under a cute cardigan. I love all the texture of it!

Tags: anthropologie, chiffon, jersey, shirt, top, women's tutorial
Posted in refashions, women's clothing | 43 Comments »

A Few New Designs

February 3, 2010 5:13 pm

Here are a few new shirts that I did that sold before I put them in the shop. I didn’t get to photograph my sister in them so they don’t show as well , but I still wanted to share them with you.

This one was a various tones of purple, hand dyed. I love the artistic look of it. I’m working on more like these.

This one was black with stripes sewn on on and three gentleman’s buttons. I put the stripes around the back, too.

This is my interpretive heart top. I really *heart* this top.

Back up in the shop are these two tops!

More new things in the etsy shop this week. Thanks for all your support!!

Which ones are your favorites?

Don’t forget to enter the Giveaway for this amazing necklace!

Pratia Tutorial coming VERY SOON! I’ve been working hard on it!!!

Tags: etsy, jersey, knit, shirts, tops
Posted in etsy, Original Designs | 6 Comments »

Valentino Inspired Ruffle Clutch

January 27, 2010 5:44 am

I’m super excited to show you this tutorial! I was inspired to do this because my husband and I go on a date every 10 days, or so. And every time we go out I carry my big mom purse with us and I wanted something smaller to take out. Then I saw Valentino’s Spring/Summer collection and was blown away buy the texture and movement of all of the line. You should check it out.

So I thought I’d do a clutch inspired by the collection.

Here’s how!

Start out with two pieces of jersey, like an old shirt or sweatpants or any other thick flexible material you have, each cut 17 x 27.

Lay them on top of one another.

For all the detailing, I used some leftover silk chiffon I had. You really could use anything, but I wanted a dressier look so I went for it! You’re gonna need a lot!

Find the center of your clutch, where it will be folded on the bottom. You can mark it with a pen or pins. Begin sewing from down there. Make sure your jersey is doubled and you’re sewing through both layers.

What I started doing is one of row of heavy pleats.

With each row I alternated techniques. I would do ruffles, then more pleats, then heavy stitching over fabric, a few braids, some rosettes, etc… You want it to be random and full. Don’t skimp on the fabric or else it will look really homemade. I also didn’t go in straight lines, necessarily. I worked in different motions.

Don’t worry about making anything look symmetrical. I think there’s so much beauty in the randomness. Do both sides of the jersey piece. When you’re done, you’ll have one large, flat piece that looks like, your won version, of this.

Fold it inside out, in half. Then sew the two side together.

Turn it right side out again.

Now for the liner. I used this fun peacock blue satin. Cut it the same size as your original piece.

Fold it in half and sew the sides toghether.

Insert it into your clutch.

Get some of your extra fabric and make some bias tape.

Pin it all the way around the clutch, making sure that the outside and the liner are in the tape. Stitch it closed.

I added a snap to the center. You could also do a button with some elastic or a zipper.

Then, go out and own it.

Thanks to my sister, Ana for some great modeling!! If you do a clutch inspired by this tutorial, PLEASE go add it to the Flickr Group. I love being inspired by seeing what you do and I’m sure others do, too! Have a great day!