ISpyDIY

DIY or Die Event Recap

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:57:53 EDT

On Sunday, Urban Outfitters held an event titled "DIY or Die." Now, whatever your opinions on the store might be, I take it as a good sign that DIY has gotten big enough that a corporation like Urban is noticing it and attempting to make moola off it.

The event involved people showing off their own their own DIY, while learning how-tos from a few fashion bloggers (such as Six Six Sick Girls, I'll Wear Any Color as Long as It's Black, Dirty Flaws)

What I Wore wrote:

We learned how to shred knit fabrics, stud leather and canvas, fancy cut tees and leggings, embellished ripped denim, spool knit chain metal (my personal fave!) and make fringed out necklaces. There’s definitely a handfull of projects I’m going to try on my own!

Dirty Flaws posted on her blog after the event:

The tutorials were short and sweet. For the 5 of us pretty much just "winging it" i think everyone did really well. We had no run through and I dont know about the other girls but I have never done a "how to" in front of an audience. So , being the comiedian that I think I am, I used alot of quick whit and humor. I did a short 6 minute run through on distressing and adding pieces to denim. It definetly went a lot quicker then expected and I hope everyone left with a little more knowledge on DIYing.

It seemed like a good event all around. Were any of you Threadheads there?

Ultra Kawaii - Strays :(

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:05:33 EDT

Since you all loved Meg's episode, we thought we'd share this related video from our sister site Ultra Kawaii on strays - check it out - and if your a pet owner submit your videos to Ultra Kawaii and they'll feature them in the show! Ultra Kawaii is a site devoted to cute pets, with new episodes every Tuesday!

Win a signed Threadbanger poster from Frank Olinsky

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:59:17 EDT

We're giving away 10 autographed threadbanger posters to the first 10 people to send us in a video giving us their best DIY tip, trick, or testimonial on why they love to DIY. Upload your videos on Threadbanger.com by going to the community button at the top of the page and submit. Good luck everyone!

Thread Heads at SXSW Day 2, How-To make a Slack Dress

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:35:45 EDT

Today we go down the street to forum member Laurel's house of Ferpecto Fashion. She shows us how-to make a dress out of an old pair of men's slacks...also know as the slack dress.

Laurel's myspace!

Knit Wit

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:51:13 EDT

The summer is almost over, and you know what that means … Labor Day! Bikinis, barbecues and hot, hot babes; we can’t get enough. Fore go that boring, old bathing suit for a look that is as unique as you. Crocheted clothes are oh-so-chic right now, so why not turn up the summer heat with a knitted bikini.

These trendy suits might not stand up to the wild waves, but if you play your cards right, hopefully you’ll be enjoying another wild activity over this long weekend … wink, wink.

Planning on diving for balls? Mind out of the gutter … we're talking volleyballs here. This peach-colored Sporty Crochet Tankini ($59) from My Bikini Brazil gives you the support you need in all the right places. The halter adds extra support while the circular cutout creates a sultry style. Need a little extra help in the sex-kitten department? Ujena's red and tan Jamaican Crochet bikini ($84.50) with adjustable sliding triangles will make you look drop-dead gorgeous. Or, if you're looking for a little extra star appeal, check out Super Star’s Crochet Bikini ($85). This adorable summer white suit combs is available in 10 different border colors.

Want to learn how to make your own? Check out Knitting 321 for a free crochet bikini pattern and how-to guide. Get crackin', Labor Day is almost here!

-Images courtesy of Brazilian-Bikinis.org

The Good German

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:33:42 EDT

We always knew those Germans were a creative bunch. I ask; who else could come up with blood sausage and 27-letter words. But fashionable? We thought German style peaked with Birkenstocks and the military look … until now. Ach Ach Liebling ("oh, oh darling" auf Deutsch) is a San Fran-based jewelry company run by a "single wayward lass" — as she refers to herself — named Joanna. Similar to those stoic Germans, Joanna is never one to follow trends and is often inspired by books, nature, old movies and antique illustrations and postcards.

Bypassing the norm and pushing the envelope, Joanna follows one simple philosophy when designing jewelry: "Make it special." And does she ever! With everything from earrings and necklaces to bracelets and clips, Ach Ach Liebling is sure to have a piece (or three or four) you'll fall in love with. Here are the ones we're lusting after:

Morbid or realistic … you decide. This So Lonsome I Could Die ($40) double-strand chain features an antique postcard pendant with the words "I am so lonesome" while the pistol charm seals the deal.

Forget those silly Ten Commandments and indulge in a little desire with this Covet ($36) necklace. A sultry old-time postcard charm is accented with a copper pendant inscribed with the Ninth Commandment … you know the one.

Whether you want a posh pirate look or a sexy sailor one, this Ship At Sea ($66) printed on an ivory Scrim tile adorned with a sterling silver anchor, is the perfect accessory.

-Images courtesy of Ach Ach Leibling

Fresh Paint

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:27:28 EDT

If the last time you tried a DIY project, you ended up with a shirt similar to the one Denise made Theo (come on, "The Cosby Show!"), it might be time to step back and start with a smaller task. Urban Outfitters has the perfect starter project to get the — um, creative(?) juices flowing. Don't worry, the only things you'll need is an article of clothing, paint, stencil and the artistic ability of a third-grader. These templates from Stencil1 are reusable and made from heavy-duty vinyl. At $10 a pop, you can choose from a deer, sparrow or a chimp, but really, we know you want all three.

We recommend starting off with an old T-shirt, then graduating on to more unique items like a sparrow on the bottom of a romantic slip dress or a deer on a funky plaid clutch. Don't be afraid to play around with different fabrics, patterns, cropping and layering as you get the hang of it — perhaps a chimparrow; yes that's half sparrow, half chimp. Plus, these one-of-a-kind creations make the perfect (and cheap) presents.

Don't worry, we won't tell anyone about the cheap part. But don't stop there, you can stencil anything from your wall to your toaster to your passed out best friend — just make sure you get rid of the evidence.

Images courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Bird on a Wire

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:54:09 EDT

OK, you've had a fear of flying creatures ever since you watched Hitchcock's "The Birds" … and there was that one time you swear your grandma's parrot whispered murder every time you walked into the room. Well, we think it's time you faced your fears and that fine, feathered foe for a little positive association. Bird, Brooklyn's chicest boutique has spread its wings and gone national with its first online site. With everything from shoes to apparel to accessories, Bird has the hottest up-and-coming designers from New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Japan and Scandinavia. Although the prices can be a tad on the high side, you can trust that any piece is an investment sure to be around for years. Check out some of our faves:

Bing Bang Pendulum Earrings ($79) Hand-hewn copper earrings in the shape of Ginkgo leaves are the perfect trendy yet elegant accessory.

3.1 Phillip Lim Silk Cocoon Dress with Rosette ($609) This light grey cocoon-shaped dress will soon become your favorite go-to dress. With a bubble hem, rosette accent in the back, and draping panels, you'll be the cutest belle of the ball.

Tashkent Flo Raffia Flat ($149) Classic chic takes a walk on the wild side with these squared-toed, scrunched heel flats with a woven raffia texture. Insider tip: A little birdie told us owner Jennifer Mankins has plans to launch her own line of organic, locally grown knitwear called Bird Green. Look for it this fall.

Message on a T-Shirt

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:48:24 EDT

Message Tees are an American classic. A few years back, the message T-shirt suddenly popped up again. First gaining popularity in the 1970s, message T-shirts had a definite “rebirth” a few years back.

The I Heart New York T-shirt has become a truly recognizable symbol. In fact, it is so well known that it has inspired more than its fair share of knock-offs and copycats. Message T-shirts, like the I Heart New York T-shirt, are a great way to enhance your look. They are also very versatile and can be bought or made.

To buy message T-shirts I usually turn to Web sites that specialize in funny sayings, but there are also Web sites that allow you to personalize your message. The great thing about message T-shirts is that they express you.

When I want to make message T-shirts I usually go to the local craft store and pick up a T-shirt and iron on letters. All you need to complete a T-shirt using this method is a hot iron. Just place the letters where you want and run the iron over them. Voila! Some other options for decorating your T-shirt include fabric glue, patches, buttons sequins, stamps, paint and sponges.

Image courtesy of The Generator Blog

From the Depths

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:16:59 EDT

Nessi lives! Or at least she does on this T-shirt from Heavy Tees titled "From the Depths."

It features a 3-D print everyone's favorite Loch Ness Monster. And it even includes 3-D glasses.

Available now for $28 from Heavy Tees.

From the Depths T-Shirt [Uncrate]

From Flip-Flops to Fendi

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:03:41 EDT

To some, comfort equals fashion, but to others, fashion is a $100 cotton T-shirt to be worn once. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle. I have often wondered where one’s fashion sense comes from. Why are some of us drawn to earth tones and others to neons? Do the fashion gods smile upon us when we’re in the womb or are our tacky parents to blame?

No one can say for sure, but fashion is a part of all our lives. We all wear clothes or have worn clothes (I’m pretty sure that even most nudists have worn clothes at some point). I think fashion is a great way to express who you are. Finding bargains and putting together an outfit everyone loves feels great (who doesn’t like compliments?)

Your clothes are one of the first things people notice, so wear clothes that reflect you. I support creativity in one’s wardrobe (mom jeans excluded). Fashion should be fun! The most important (and cliché) thing to remember is to wear your clothes, don’t let them wear you!

Thread Heads Map!

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:11:31 EDT

Well, thanks to Crazydiaz on the forums, we now have a dedicated map to see where our fellow thread-heads are residing! Come on folks, and put yourselves on the map and find out which fellow thread-head lives near you! All alone? Time to spread the love, share the show, and the DIY or Die spirit!

Tunng -- It's because … we've got hair

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:18:16 EDT

here's the full music video of the Tunng's "It's Because … We've Got Hair"

Directed by James Bates
http://www.jamesbates.com
http://www.myspace.com/setabsemaj
Music by Tunng
http://www.tunng.co.uk
Made with love, magic and woodland secrets
www.atomweb.net
www.myspace.com/thisistunng
www.thisistunng.co.uk
www.fulltimehobby.co.uk
www.myspace.com/setabsemaj

Shrink Plastic Tips from Meander

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:40:45 EDT

We featured Meander's Shrink Plastic Necklace in this week's episode … here are some tips she posted on the forum for making them. I'm so in love with this project. I remember making shrink-plastic carebears when i was a kid. xoxox c

Hey, ya'll! n … n The tutorial request for my plastic necklace ( http://forum.threadbanger.com/showthread.php?t=691 ) is kind of hard to do, because there isn't much involved, just your own interpretation! But in case you're not familiar with shrink plastic (Or Shrinky Dinks brand) I'll list some tips, instead!

You can find shrink plastic in the children's section of an arts-and-crafts store such as Joann Fabrics or Michaels or online at:
http://www.goestores.com/catalog.asp...s&DeptID=34365

To start out, you'll likely want to get "Ruff 'n' Ready" because you have to have a roughed-up side to color on, and it beats having to sand plastic by yourself. There are also colors like white and black, as well as plastic you can run through the printer, if drawing is not your best skill -- but remember all that stuff about copyrights, when printing images …

INSTRUCTIONS/TIPS::
To color::
*Hand draw your design on plain paper, or get the picture you'll be tracing, and put that under your plastic. Follow the lines -- it'll help avoid mistakes. And remember that this thing starts out BIG and gets small, so draw much larger than you want the item to be.

(View my sketching! D: Anyway, you can see how large he was when he was first colored and what he shrunk into. So keep this in mind! n.n)

*Feel free to put in a lot of detail. The amazing thing about this is that even on pieces I've made that end up even a half inch or smaller, you can still see every little line you draw- unless you're not wearing glasses and happen to need them. Then you're screwed. : ) You can do intricate work and have it stay in the final form. (This also means its prone to show tiny mistakes though, so trace and color carefully.)

*You can use a sharpie to make seriously black outlines- you can also use markers on shrink plastic BUT- if you try to put embossing powder on after, it WILL smear and ruin your piece. My poor Onigiri Man was SO adorable... and now his rice is forever ruined with grey smudging! Don't let this happen to you! If you use a marker, you can't use embossing powder for glazing.

(R.I.P., dirty grey corners of this lil' guy who will never again see the light of day... *Tosses back into the box*)

*It may suck to hear, but the better your colored pencil, the richer the finished colors you'll get. That means if you use Crayola, you'll have decent, enjoyable results- if you cut off your left arm and sell it on the black market for enough $$ to buy Prismacolor pencils, you'll have a great results. ...But the point is, you can still get good things with normal coloring instruments, so don't think you shouldn't try if all you have is the old shoe box of stuff from your kindergarten years, but if you have the option, Prismacolors run 15$-100$+ a box, depending on the number of shades you get.

*Regardless of your colored pencil, be sure to fill in the image with multiple strokes and maybe swirling motions to work in a lot of color.

To cut::
*After coloring, whenever possible, cut as close to your lines as possible. The more detail you put into cutting out each area of your plastic, the more professional your piece will look. Leaving in a lot of blank plastic or making really jagged cuts is a bummer. ;...;

*When cutting, don't snip your scissors all the way shut. When the tips come together, it will crack a line horizontal to what you're cutting in the plastic, and you may just accidentally snap off part of your work.

*If you have access to a dremel tool, use that after you bake to get the stuff that you feel might be too tiny to snip manually. You can use it to drill a hole for attaching to things as well, either before or after you bake. If you don't have one, just cut as carefully as you can with scissors (or maybe an exacto knife... caaaarefully) and use a hole punch to make the hole. It will get much smaller, no worries.

To bake::
*Put your plastic guy or whatnot on a piece of paper or paper sack on a tin or cookie sheet. The instructions say to bake at 325 degrees F.- but bollocks to that! I've found that the plastic shrinks very slowly at that heat and then is prone to being bubbled oddly (such as a completely round piece just turning into a bowl) so I bake them at 400 for less time, but this is your judgement call and obviously you should practice safety at all times.

*If you do get a piece that hasn't shrunk flat, the plastic tends to curl upward, so flip your plastic over and put it back in to reheat. It should try to flatten and curl up to the sky again, so be sure to grab it out JUST as it's getting flat, or you might have to deal with it getting curled upt he wrong way again. You can even do this later, if it's been cold for a while- even days or EVER.

*Don't burn yourself, dumba#%. I've done it, it sucks. D:

To glaze::
*You don't need to glaze, it will be just fine right out of the oven and may work better for your design this way. You can use a spray sealer, like a clear gloss, in the spray paint section of a store, but it won't make it very shiny. It will just protect it -more- even though they tend to hold up very well and don't smear when shrunk.

*To get the super high shine, sprinkle a healthy pile of clear embossing powder onto your item, trying not to pile up too much extra around it. This is basically granules of plastic, which will melt...

(I'm using "Ultra-Thick Clear")

(See how thick it gets? It adds a professional look that you don't get with the spray sealants ...If you haven't guessed, I only have a cam built into the comp, so deal with my head shot. D: )

*I suppose you can use a heat gun or one of those embossing supply things that looks like hairdryer (Don't try a hair dryer! XD not hot enough, and you'll get granules everywhere) but I've never tried it because I don't have one. This is when I put the oven on broil and transfer the tin under the element. Crouch down and watch- you'll see the plastic melt and unfurl. When it's liquified, pull it out. The nature of the powder is that it will crawl over the surface and glaze even the delicate parts amazingly well, but if you don't have enough on, you'll notice a 'bald spot'. Sprinkle on more just in that spot, and re-heat.

*If you've heated it too long, you may heat your plastic again enough to get it to curl. This won't likey happen, but if it DOES, you troubleshoot by just flipping the piece as before and getting it to flatten. Pull it out, flip it embossed side up again and let it cool down. **THIS is when you MUST be ESPECIALLY careful not to burn yourself. I've done this too. Having melted plastic on your fingertips will burn worse than a high heat glue gun** Then you can put it under the broil for a few spare seconds to soothe over any squishing of the embossed layer that happened by putting it that side down before.

*To keep from needing to trim gloss later, when your piece is fresh from the heat, pick up the paper that it's on and carfully curl the paper away from it. Try to get it unstuck as much as possible while it's hot but without touching it. Besides the pain, you'll get finger marks, if you do. Bah! Then give a blow to cool it, and peel it off the paper, fully. n.n Hopefully, if you DO have any glaze that is stuck from your piece and peeled off the paper, you might be able to chip it or possibly nail file it away or trim with a razor blade. Just watch out for sharp edges- likely this shouldn't happen, it's just a troubleshooting tip...

Notes on drilling::
*A dremel tool bit will spin fast enough to re-melt your embossing powder or melt the plastic you're trying to trim. What that means is that as you work, you'll likey get the plastic sliding up the bit and hardening. This won't ruin your bit, but you might want to pause and peel it off here and there.

*Your bit may make your glaze look a bit rough, or if you've drilled a threading hole before glazing, the hole may have closed and when you re-drill it, it will look a little raw edged. Just a few seconds under the broiler to remelt it, but stopping before it fills in the hole again, takes care of that trouble.

======================

You can get a shrink plastic item in only a few minutes by coloring, cutting and baking. Taking the extra steps to cut the detail, glaze, touch up and things like that can take a few minute project and make it an hour or more project but you just might be more pleased with your results from the extra details your effort has bought you. : )

If I've missed anything in my patented LENGTHY description or I didn't make something clear properly, just ask. And post pictures of your stuff here or in the projects section, where I can seeeeee! <3333

missmeander.etsy.com

Hey Granny, Nice Glasses!

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:45:25 EDT

I live in Williamsburg -- the hipster center of the universe. The environment is such that one must often give license to the questionable appearances of one's neighbors, chalking it up to a need to distinguish oneself, kids will be kids, etc. Self-expression being what it is, it's hard to reasonably judge anyone for one's appearance due mainly to the fact that you probably look at least somewhat odd to others yourself. OK.

But sometimes a fad erupts and it's hard impossible to let it slide without spittin' some venom. I'm referring to the rofl-trend that is granny glasses. They're everywhere. I can't leave my flat without crashing into someone wearing the damned things, and I cannot with any certainty peg why people are wearing them.

I can say with large degrees of certainty that few, if any, of these people require the bifocal lenses that these frames were constructed to hold. Furthermore, I get the impression that many of the individuals wearing granny glasses don't even need glasses in the first place, it's completely aesthetic. But why? WHY?!

Please, someone explain this one to me. I like American Apparel just as much as the next kid. It makes some great shirts and such, but this is not cool. It's converting our attractive young people into grandparents. Take this poor, young victim pictured here. Her face has been besmirched by those monstrous spectacles, I only hope she was adequately compensated for such violation, because unless you're seven or 70, specs like that have no business on your face.

Question your trendsetters just as you would authority. And more importantly, always question people who want money from you (read: American Apparel), they're in business and have no problem making you look stupid in order to make money.

How To Make Beads from old Plastic Bottles

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:21:40 EDT

Forum member Verdilak posted this sweet tut...i cannot wait to try it out. xoxo c

How to make plastic beads from plastic bottles. Instructions/tute in picture form... much better to understand what I mean heh.

Weasley Track Jacket

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:47:30 EDT

lovelikenails posted this awesome track jacket she made. i loooove harry potter...xoxox c

ook soooo a good friend of mine has a green track jacket that has "malfoy" on the back. i got real jealous. so, i decided to find a red track jacket of my own (courtesy of forever 21, only $14.98) and i silkscreened/spraypainted my own favorite character's last name from harry potter.

RON WEASLEY.

yeah i know the 9 is kinda crooked. yeah i know the number 9 doesn't make any sense.. its just my favorite number..(i should have made it "7" becuase there are 7 people in the weasley clan... but i decided to count harry and hermione 'cause they crash at their place all the time. soooo yeah).

but i think its pretty badass.

i'm in the process of drawing the gryffindor crest on the front, buuut i got real excited and decided to post before i was FULLY finished... sorry.

ExpertVillage.com: Awesome Sewing Vids!

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:20:44 EDT

ladyjanewriter posted this on the forum:

ladyjanewriter

Moderator

Sewing Vids At ExpertVillage.com - Today, 03:10 PM

Cool! I found a link on YouTube for short clips from ExpertVillage.

Turns out they have Sewing how-tos!

http://www.expertvillage.com/search/sewing.htm

Yay!

Ryan's Generation-T projects

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:02:30 EDT

Forum member Ryan Moore sent in great pics of all the amazing projects he did out of Megan Nicolay's book Generation-T: 108 Ways to Transform a Tee Shirt.
Thanks Ryan! xoxo c

these are clothing items i made from the book
its so much fun
tell me what you think

this one was the first one i made
its the halter
it ties in the back
and oh yeah these arent mine i make them for my friend victoria
just so you know i dont wear them

this is the POCKET-ROCK-IT skirt
of course it has a pocket
and i dont know what else to say
....................................

I LOVE THIS ONE
its the one in the book
called diamonds in the rough
so much fun

this one is a tube top
i dont know what else to say
except i love the vintage design

KNEE HUGGERS ANYONE??

OSBOURNE family skirt
it laces up the side
i need to put a drawstring in it though

this one is very
80's-aerobic teacher- esque
there are drawstring in the sides
its called
fermez la ruche inthe book

a simple bag
love the PEACE,LOVE, TORNADO

an old plain sweatshirt i sewed a design from a huge shirt onto
i loved the design so much but the shirt was too big

sweatshirt design upclose

this one is a simple messenger bag, shoulder bag, purse i made
i made up the pattern out of my head
i got that fabric at a thrift store for 5 bucks
there was so much fabric there omg
probally 6x12
for 5 bucks come on now

baby shower anyone???
also my first attempt at a tote

harry potter gryffindor scarf anyone???
its made of a red airplane blanket
and a yellow sheep blanket(both from a thrift store )
my friend maren helped me
we made 3

hybrid shirt anyone??
i love this one because i found two shirts with
the same design ( at a thrift store)
in the same size just different colors
so i sewed them together with a zigzag stitch down the middle

hybrid shirt design upclose

thats all for now
ill try to have my friend model them later
we also made the bathing suit
ill put up pics later
and she has a whole bunch at her house
ill try to steal them
im also doing the quilt thats in the book
its amazing
ill put up pics when im finished
does anyone have any ideas of what to do with the rest of the plaid bag fabric i have so many

-RYAN-

First Timer

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:08:34 EDT

Just found this awesome Punk Rock Tye Dye job from Lauren who just found Threadbanger. This was her first project. Congrats. ... and here's to many more ! -Rob

Best Forum Pic of the Week

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:37:52 EDT

This was posted by Coffee

Great Picture!

P.S. The awesome wrestling mask is one of Coffee's DIY projects

Forum Member Feature: PINOYBLAZE

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:13:38 EDT

Hey, what can I say? He rocks! He has posted more than 200 times so far on the forum and has an average of 15.11 posts per day. Thanks for being such an awesome presence ... we really appreciate it!

A little about PINOYBLAZE ... crafty fashionista

Date of Birth: March 15
Biography: I'm Filipino and hail from the Bay Area. DIY is a revolution
Location: The Bay
Interests: Drawing, painting, filmmaking, singing (not professionally of course)
Daily Gig: School and volunteer/outreach work
Favorite Clothing Style: Casual/Urban/Geeky la la everything I currently wear ... O_o

And some of the awesome projects he has posted:

So for a more urban look, I made a hoodie blazer out of an old pajama hoodie; it's cuffs and a blazer I got at the Goodwill. I used to wear both at the same time but could never survive the heat exhaustion it usually inflicted (argh, not breathable), so I decided to put it together. Check it out .

A shot of the hood on.

I cut out the hood, leaving about an inch on the neck line, as well as the sleeves of the hoodie.
Used safety pins to keep the hood on, and also if I ever want to take it off I have that option.

I glued the cuffs on using fabric glue.

Anyway the project was really easy :P Anyone could do it!!! Yay to male-friendly DIY fashion!!! <3

In the spirit of reconstruction and the need to address issues in our communities, my group, Community of Advocate Teens Today, or CATT, did a recycled fashion show a couple of months ago. Everything was either donated or bought as thrift. I was one of the lead designers, taking inspiration from Generation-Tee by Megan Nicolay as well as other sources to make fashion with a message. Here are some of them; tell me what you guys think :P

Above is the whole pack of them :P

Above are four of my models

The infamous garbage bag dress and Rodney King riots top. Says Love sees no color, sold to help rebuild L.A.

Pardon me being lazy n not turning the photo. The common hoodie. This one focuses on male-involvement programs that help lower the youth-pregnancy rate.

P-Flag (Parents/Family of Lesbians and Gays) Lace up, I love the ribbon.

Suicide hotline shirt. Number on the back. Sleeves slit to address mental health and treatment.

The punky stomp out tobacco top with tote. Megan on the left has a top encouraging the voting process.

This is the tote/purse (I seriously don't know what to call it) made from a old shirt of CATT's.

For more pictures go to http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=146 968361&albumId=1964957

Flickr Tutorials and Awesome Reconstructions

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:22:49 EDT

hey there everyone! hope your weekend is going great. i just got this email and think it is awesome so had to post. enjoy! xoxo c.....

Hi ThreadBangers.

If you´re interested in tips on shortening and fixing your denims, check out my sewing tutorials at Flickr.

Or my stencil tutorial and gallery

Here are also other pictures of clothes customizing that I have done.

Unfortunately I do not have any videos to post, but I thought send these if you can use them (or just the instructions) in any way :)
Keep on spreading the good word of DIY crafting and sustainable style!

Yours, Outi alias OutsaPop

How To Make a Jumper Skirt out of an old TEE

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 01:27:41 EDT

This tutorial was posted by forum member theinnocent9:

Awhile back, I posted the T-shirt remake of a black T-shirt into a jumper skirt on the Threadbanger forum thread Megan Nicolay Generation T projects and on my blog, September Son. Well, after many requests, I finally put up a tutorial on how to make this out of an extra large T-shirt:

**Jumper Skirt Tutorial**

Ingredients:

1 XL (Extra Large) T-shirt

1 pair of scissors

1 sewing machine
or
1 good sewing hand

1 set of straight pins
or
1 set of glass tipped straight pins (recommended)

1 Iron

1 Yard stick, ruler or measuring tape

1 piece of tailor chalk, crayon or water soluble pencil (in a contrasting color)

1 Seam ripper, nail scissors, or cuticle remover
-----------------------------------------------------

Time:

Depending on your experience, this project should take from one to two hours at the most.

-----------------------------------------------------
NOTE!!*** Each step that instructs you to "sew" use a number 2 zig-zag stitch to retain stretch in the T-shirt. ***
------
Okay lay out your shirt, we are going to divide the shirt into three pieces: the skirt, the straps and the waistband.

The straps will be the first to be cut.

First, you will need to remove the stitches from the bottom hem of the shirt. Do this by using either your scissors, nail cutter or cuticle remover. (My weapon of choice will be the cuticle remover.)

Once you have removed all the stitches, it will look like this.

Press open the unstitched hem with your iron.

Measure and mark 5" from the bottom of the newly opened hem and measure and mark 14" across.

Cut this rectangle out from both sides of the shirt.

Do not cut the fold.

Fold in half, pin, and cut.

Now fold each piece in half, pin and sew raw edges together.

When finished cut off the excess.

With the straps you can do one of three things:
1 You can leave them as they are and not turn them inside out.
2 Press the straps with the hem in the middle
3 Turn the straps inside-out and press seam on one side.

If you decide to turn the straps inside-out:
Attach a safety pin to one end of the straps.
Guide the safety pin inside of the strap as if it were a casing for elastic.
Keep guiding it through until the entire strap has the seam on the inside.

Pin down with glass tipped pins and press flat with iron (starch is recommended) with seam on one side.

Right now your shirt bottom should look something like this:

Next is the waistband.

You cut two separate parts from the shirt, one from the bottom of the shirt, another from the top of the shirt.

First measure and mark a 5"x10" (the 10" should be what is left of the bottom).

Cut that square off, do not cut the fold.

After the cut you should have a 5"x20" rectangle.

For the skirt measure and mark an 18"x21" rectangle from the new bottom of shirt, cut.

Reverse the rectangle and pin only the sides together.

Sew the pinned sides.

For the waistband, cut off sleeves from the leftover of shirt, open at seam.

Lay your first waistband piece on top, pin and cut around.

*Each person's size is different so "pinch and pin" sides of waistband to get desired fit, mark and sew.*

Pleat the skirt to the waistband, remember to pin the side seams of the waistband and skirt together first, to get an even match of pleats.

Pin pleats, and sew.

To finish the raw edges, sew a 1/2" hem at both ends (bottom of skirt, and top of waistband)

Attach straps to waistband: about 3" from side seam at the front.

Adjust the strap length to your desired fit, pin straps ends to the back of waist band 3" from side seam, pin.

Sew each strap end at top of waistband seam with a box stitch (a continuous stitch that creates a box with and X on the inside)

Try on, make and size adjustments (since this is made from a T-shirt, there should still be stretch when fitting on the jumper skirt, if not, adjust waistband with an elastic band or a zipper)

Enjoy!

I enjoy mine with a Ninja Turtle shirt!

How to Make Quilts for the Homeless

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:26:36 EDT

I'm so happy that so many people are interested in this project *tears well up in eyes*. Lets see how many quilts we can make! Post your pics to the forum. and for written details go to www.uglyquilts.org
much love to to all the thread heads out there, c

Drawstring Jumper Dress

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:12:50 EDT

Here is a fun summer Drawstring Jumper Dress that is fast and easy to make. The dress was submitted to Burdastyle.com by Nayatara from Brooklyn, NY. The jumper dress is an adaption of a little girl's summer jumper and the best part is that it does not require any pattern.

You will need 2 yards of 60" wide fabric and cord straps if you do not want to make your own. While Nayatara's fabric is colorful and striped, any patterned or solid fabric will look great too. The dress is perfect for summer and beach frolicking. It is comfortable and cool and so easy to make. Follow Nayatara's tutorial and make your own.

- Sasha

Ani Di franco shirt re-mix

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:54:19 EDT

Check out this rad video of an Ani D shirt that loyal threadbanger viewer Pippiejae sent us. Great Work !

Got a Music Video ?

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:14:33 EDT

This week we featured this bad ass music video from The Willowz. You'll definitely need to check them out if they ever roll through your town. So heres the deal, from now on every week we'll be featuring cool music on the show. So if your band has a video or a CD , send it in and we'll spread the word.....without further ado, The Willowz !

How-to make Overalls out of old Jeans

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:08:25 EDT

You will need:

two old pairs of jeans

a seam ripper of your choice

scissors

and a sewing utensil

Start with the bigger pair (in this case its the white pair) and remove the bottoms of all your belt loops from the jeans.

Remove the entire top part of the jeans and put it aside till later

Now, rip the seams out of both sides of the first pair of jeans

Take out the second or smaller pair of jeans and using the length of the first pair as a guideline, cut both legs out of the front of the jeans.

Pin each of those pieces to opposite sides of the first pair of jeans. and sew along your pin lines. *Please use caution when sewing especially when using a sewing machine. jean material is really thick and can cause the sewing machine needle to break off if you are not careful. Make sure your machine is on the proper setting and sew by hand when the areas are too thick.

Cut the remaining parts of the legs off.

Take these "shorts" and cut down both side seams. open'em up and cut the middle so the front and back are two separate pieces.

Take the front piece of the "shorts" and pin it to the back side of the first pair of pants.

Fold in the sides and pin.

Now, take the butt piece and rip the crouch seam up a little so it lays flat.

Pin the butt piece to the front of the first pair of jeans.

Fold in both sides to make sort of a triangle shape.

Sew all of your pieces together.

Take out a left over leg piece and cut it so it's an equal rectangle.

Fold it in half and cut down the crease.

Pin each strip to opposite sides of the butt part of the second pair

Sew on the straps. Try em on

Cut a slit in the other end of both of the strips and tie each one to a separate belt loop in front.

Take out another left over piece and cut two small strips from it.

Gather the sides of the overalls and poke a hole through both layers of fabric.

Thread a strip through each side of the overalls and you are done.

wOOt! New overalls for the garden or painting or whatever your heart desires.

xoxox

Do you RSS?

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:48:58 EDT

What do RSS and DIY Fashion have in common? ThreadBanger that's what!

Ever wonder what the hell an RSS feed is? Seen the symbol or come across the ‘subscribe’ button and not know what it was for? Or worse, thought it was some costly feature that would require you to PAY for something that is normally free? Well fear not, the fine folks over at common craft have put together this fun and funky video to tell you how RSS works and what it’s good for. One example that comes to mind is to use RSS to easily subscribe to ThreadBanger videos for free and have them delivered straight to your screen! But no bias here, that’s just an example! Check it out:

Use your newfound knowledge to totally rock these ThreadBanger subscription links!

How to Make Your Own Hoodie

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:40:36 EDT

As seen on Episode 22

Here's what you'll need:

1. A T-shirt
2. Some Newspaper (for cutting patterns)
3. Fabric (for the hood and the pockets)
4. A zipper
5. A sewing machine

...that's it!

First, cut two (front and back) T-shirt pattern pieces out of two sheets of paper.
The neckline on the front should be a little lower than the back.

For the hood pattern piece, you want to trace the neck with the two shirt pattern pieces and draw a notch in the middle. Outline the rest of the hood with a simple hood shape for the back of your head.

Pockets are pretty much the same thing, basically a square with a half circle cut out.

Now, take the T-shirt and cut it in half along the side.

Next, you lay the back pattern piece over the logo, pin it on, and cut out the pattern. Just like tracing. Do the same for the front pattern piece.

For the front pattern piece, cut down the middle of the T-shirt for the zipper.

For the hood and the pockets, you will need some extra fabric. But the process is the same. Pin them down and cut them out...and make sure to double your fabric.

With everything cut out, its time to start sewing! For sewing the hood together, you only need to sew around the curved part of the hood. Make sure when sewing the pockets that you leave room for your hands!

After the pockets are sewn on, the side seams are next, this connects the front and back of the shirt. Then, sew the straight seams at the top for the shoulders.

Sewing the hood onto the rest of the shirt can be a little tough while connecting to the neckline. Make sure to pin it enough.

Now all you have to do is sew on the zipper, fold up the hem, and you have great little homemade hoodie!

The coolest jeans we've seen

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 20:42:25 EDT

Thanx to our boy Nick for hookin it up with this rad photo....keep em comin Nick !

-Rob

ChiWowWow Hoodie

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:58:23 EDT

Found this on ChiWowWow.com......wow , thats intense !

-Rob

Instant Gratification

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:04:25 EDT

One Word......sweet !

peace,

rob

Homemade Hoodie

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:05:55 EDT

Even though its July, here is a really warm and fuzzy hoodie sent into Craftster. You can combine any patterns, colors, or prints that you like and if you follow this tutorial you will have a new hoodie in no time. You will need 2+ yards of main fabric, 1/2 yard lining (for the hood only; if you want to line the whole hoodie you will need more), 20" or longer separating zipper, 1/2-yard rib knit fabric, and 1 t-shirt.

This is a great step-by-step tutorial that is easy to follow. You can line the hoodie as much as you like, from a simple hood lining to a full flannel lining of the entire hoodie. The tutorial is very detailed but the project is a little complicated so read carefully.

The full tutorial is available at Craftster.

LED Jewelry

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:40:20 EDT

Here is a cool way to spunk up some old earrings or make new ones with LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology. The idea behind LED jewelry is simple. You connect the two sides of a battery to the two poles of the LED piece, and it lights up. While commercially made LED jewelry usually has a tiny circuit board with a battery-mounting clip, it is quite simple to construct something similar with a quick trip to Radio Shack and this easy tutorial from Jamie Faye Fenton

Jamie uses the CR1025 battery from Radio Shack that measures 3/8” in diameter and just over 1/8” thick. She used a ¼-inch diameter plastic heat shrink tubing cut to 3/8” in length and threaded an earring hoop through the tubing. The Battery is then pressed into the tubing and the LED poles are inserted with one pole contacting each side of the battery. You have to make sure that the LED poles match up to the poles of the battery so that the negative meets the positive on both sides. If the LED does not light up try turning it around.

There are other designs on Jamie’s site for you to try, or you can be creative and make your own. Tubing is available in many colors and LEDs can come in multi-colors or can flash automatically. While LEDs vary in their running length, on average they run over 3 hours straight without dimming.

Homemade Lingerie

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:31:47 EDT

Love having matching lingerie? Now you can make it yourself with this idea posted to the Etsy SewUseful contest by mirela on instructables.com. Using stretch fabric that is so versatile and comfortable, you can have your own underwear and bra set in just a few simple steps.

You will need a sewing machine that can do a zigzag stitch and designs like pretty elastics are a necessity for this project. If you love elastic materials then this is a good way to use the scraps of fabric you have lying around. You can use matching colors and patterns or you can use contrasting solid colors like black trim with a red fabric.

DIY Lingerie [Instructables]

Simple Macrame' Bracelet (or necklace)

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:10:19 EDT

Simple Macrame' Bracelet (or necklace)

Get out your hemp twine. if you don't want to use hemp there is a wide variety of colored cord you can chose from. the thicker the cord the bigger your bracelet or necklace.

Cut off two long strands.

Take one of the strands, fold it in half and loop it over a rounded stick such as a paint brush or pencil.

Do the same to the other strand. Now, you have four strands hanging down.

Take the right strand, pull it over the two inner strands and under the left strand.

Pull the left strand behind the two inner strands and through the loop created by the right strand.

This is a half square knot.

Pull it tight to the top.

and repeat those steps over and over and over...You will get this twisted look.

Once you are about half way done, get out a special shell or bead and pull the 2 inner (called the "anchors") and pull them through the hole in your shell or bead.

Continue to tie half square knots until you have reached your desired length.

Now, remove the stick from the loops and pull the anchor strands to make your end loops a little smaller.

Pull two of your strands through the end loops.

Put it on your wrist and tie a knot.

And you are done!

For a necklace, just make it longer. Add more beads or shells or go without any at all...hey, it's up to you!

David Page Coffin's Expert Shirt Making Lesson

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:45:37 EDT

Heres the super rad video, alteration guru David Page Coffin sent over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRLCHj2mDFE

Fire Skirt

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:08:31 EDT

This is an awesome and original skirt that was found at the Maker Faire 2007. The effect can be used to help visibility in dark environments, or can just add a cool effect to your skirt, dress or any other article of clothing you feel like accessorizing. When you walk around, the flames resemble a moving bonfire. In addition to Maker Faire 2007, it has been featured in the Southern Exposure Gallery, the SIGGRAPH CyberFashion Show and the ETech Conference.

You can create your own special effects with this glow-in-the-dark clothing technique by using electroluminescent wiring and some reflective and transparent fabrics. The effect will glow for roughly six hours on three AAA batteries.

The presentation from the Maker Faire 2007 was recorded and posted onto YouTube by ArtFuture at the ArtFuture YouTube Group. It's posted in nine segments, so be sure to visit the group to get help from the notes, links and pictures provided.

Fire Skirt Tutorial [CraftZine]

HOW TO TURN OLD JEANS INTO A STYLIN NEW SKIRT

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:39:13 EDT

HOW TO TURN OLD JEANS INTO A STYLIN NEW SKIRT

First, take out your old jeans, lay them out flat on the table and cut about 12 inches off the legs. If you want, you can make it shorter later.

Take out your seam ripper. If you don't have a seam ripper, get one. They are cheap and will ROCK your DIY world!

Turn the pants inside out and with the seam ripper, start ripping the seams at the crotch and go all the way down both of the inseams.

Now, turn your pants right side and rip out other outer part of the inseams.

When you are done it should look something like this.

Rip the front seam up to where the zipper begins and rip the back seam up to where your belt loops begin.

Carefully, pin the front pieces together. By carefully i mean, make sure the front stays smooth and you get no bunching. I also flattened out the top, overlapping seam all the way to give it a more DIY feel.

Then, turn your skirt inside out and pin the back pieces together. the most important part of the pinning is the very top where the seams meets the belt loop. Take your time to place the fabric together just right. When you pin, start from the top and work your way down to the bottom in a straight line. There will be excess fabric to cut off after you sew and try on skirt.

Sew a seam following your back pin line.

Turn the skirt right side out and sew a seam following your front pin line.

And you are done!

If you like how it fits, cut the excess fabric off the back seam you sewed. and If you want it shorter, now is the time to cut.

Also, it's a blank canvas...add some cool stitching, patches, stencils, whatever!

Trashion Street Team Trunk Show

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:38:08 EDT

Hey guys, it's Mallory from MissMalaprop.com and Dismantled Designs. I wanted to let you know that we're planning a Trashion Street Team Trunk Show, to be held at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn on Friday, July 27th. You can find out a little more about the Trashion Team HERE. Even if you don't live in Brooklyn, you can become a Trashion Street Team member in your area. If there are no teams in your area to join start one!

Profile: 52 Projects

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:34:04 EDT

According to 52 Projects creator Jeffrey Yamaguchi, the site is, "dedicated to thinking outside the craft. It's all about projects and project-making. Project ideas, projects to create, projects to check out, and projects to participate in. DIY projects, homemade projects, writing projects..."

The site is updated daily featuring many categories of projects including DIY, writing, photography, film, and audio. Providing new content, publishing and video are a main focus and the site features an extensive list of links to related sites. Helping individuals find new ways to express themselves creatively and get their work out in the open is the site's central philosophy.

52 Projects

Why Would Dell Hold a Fashion Show?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:21:48 EDT

What happens when you leave fashion in the hands of computer guys? I went to the Dell fashion show at Macy’s this morning not quite sure what to expect. I thought that I would see an interesting fusion between fashion and Dell’s new line of computers. In reality, however, the catwalk was covered with models dressed in long white trench coats with white thigh-high boots and white leotards. The models were projected with different colored themes and flashing images. Each model was announced as one of the eight colors to correspond with the eight colors of the new Inspiron notebook from Dell.

The show, while titled a “fashion show” was simply a marketing gimmick for the launch of the colorful Inspiron notebooks. Dell is known for their personalized computers and the eight colors of the Inspiron takes this personalization to the next level. But was a catwalk necessary? The models walking down the runway didn’t even have computers in their hands. The point that Dell was trying to reach was that the new Inspiron notebooks are a fashion statement. Dell is advertising the physical transformation of their computers and have used sleek models to portray the sleekness of their computers.

I was pretty bummed out that there were no clothes attached to the show, but the light show on the models was definitely fun to look at. My favorite part was the colorful manikins that were placed all over the store, all holding their respective Inspiron Dell notebook. I just wish they were wearing clothes…

How To Make a Hot Bikini out of Old T-shirts

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:05:31 EDT

Megan Nicolay's How-to make a hot bikini out of old tee shirts

First, you need 1 extra large T-shirt..but if you like the mismatched look decide on two different colored shirts.

*important note* for this lesson's purposes we are going to refer to the yellow shirt as the top shirt (yellow shirt = top shirt) and the white shirt as the bottom shirt (white shirt = bottom shirt).

Cut the bottom hem off both shirts

Creating strips for the bathing suit ties:
Now take the top shirt and cut 2 one inch wide strips off the bottom, making sure to cut through both layers of fabric.

Take those 2 strips and cut both of them in half twice so you end up with 4 equal strips. (we'll call them strips 1,2,3, and 4)

Take your bottom shirt and cut 2 one inch wide strips of the bottom. Cut one of the strips in half once, so you have one long strip (call it strip 5). and Cut the other in half twice, so you have two equals strips (strips 6,7).

* You should have a total of seven strips

Creating the bathing suit top:
Ok, now take your top shirt and cut 9 inches of the bottom, making sure to cut through both layers of fabric.

Pin both of the layers together and from now on consider it one piece of fabric.
as Megan put it in her book "to prevent the wet t-shirt contest look"

Sketch a triangle that measures 10 inches across the bottom and 8 inches down both sides. If you want, make a paper pattern first....we just freehanded it. Now create an arched bottom to the triangle. the lowest point should fall one inch below the bottom of the triangle.

Turn your fabric in a half circle, and sketch another triangle of the same dimensions.

Pin the triangles and cut them out.

Flip one of the triangles over and fold the top corner down one inch.

Now place one inch of strip 6 (or 7) over the folded corner

Pin the two sides of the triangle in, half an inch, making sure to over lap the end of the strip. Sew a seam down both sides.

Carefully, pin the arched bottom up one inch. Sew a seam but be careful to leave an open "tunnel" so you can thread your strip through later. btw, does anyone know the technical term for that...or is it just tunneling?

Repeat all those steps to the second triangle.

Now take strip 5 and attach the end to a safety pin. Use the safety pin to help you thread strip 5 through the tunnels of your triangles.

And you are done with the top! WOOHOO!

Creating the bathing suit bottoms:
Take your bottom shirt and cut a rectangle that measures 19 inches by 16 inches. Pin both layers of the rectangle together

Sketch an hour glass shape onto the fabric. Make a paper pattern first for preciseness.
You want the narrowest part of the hourglass to measure 4 inches across and fall 11 inches for the top of the rectangle.

Fold in all 4 corners of the hourglass. Stretch and place strips 1,2,3, and 4 over the separate for corners.

Fold and pin the front of the bathing suit in one inch, making sure to over lap the strips.

Fold and pin the opposite (back) part of the bathing suit in one inch, again making sure to over lap the strips.

Sew the front and back seams.

Make several small slits in the curved area of the hourglass. This will help the fabric give easier when you are folding in the edge.

Fold and pin the two sides of the hourglass in 1 inch and sew a seam down both sides.

You are done with the bottoms!

New bathing, very little cash.

For more cool ways to transform a t-shirt be sure to check out Megan Nicolay's book, Generation-T: 108 ways to transform a t-shirt.

How to make Boardshorts out of an Old Suit

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:17:14 EDT

Welcome to How To Tuesdays, Threadbanger's summer special. Today we are going to answer a viewer's question and show you how to make an awesome pair of board shorts out of an old business suit.

Clothing You'll Need:
An old suit
A hawaiian shirt
A tie

1. Put on the pants, measure and make a mark about 2 inches below the bottom of your knee

2. Lay the pants flat and draw a straight line using tailor's chalk and a straight edge.

3. Cut the pant legs off at the line and turn them inside out. Now, fold up the shorts bottoms about an inch up and pin. Do this for both sides. Be sure you compare it to the first leg so you make them the same length.

4. Once the bottoms are completely pinned, sew a seam around both short legs.

5. Now get out a piece of paper and cut out an image. This will be the design on your shorts.

6. Fold your shorts in half so that one of the side seams is facing up. Then place your pattern over it. Once you have it in the right position, pin the pattern down and trace it.

7. Cut the inside part of the shape out, flip the shorts over and repeat on the other side.

8. Now take your Hawaiian shirt and cute out 2 pieces of fabric that are big enough to cover your pattern generously.

9. Take one of your squares and pin it inside one of your cut-outs. Then sew a seam around your cut-out. Once you're finished, repeat on the other side.

10. After you're done, take the tie and strategically pin it around the top of your pants.

11. Cut a hole in the tie where the first button is, cut a hole and pull the button through the tie. Then fold the tie over the button, cut another hole and pull the button through that one too.

12. Lastly, sew the tie to the pants and you've got yourself some new boardshorts!

13. And if you're daring enough, you can deconstruct the suit top to match!

No-Sew Bikini

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:16:51 EDT

Don't worry ladies, we haven't forgotten about you on this, our first How-to Tuesday. We managed to track down an excellent and easy homemade bikini for the DIY females in the audience. So if you're tired of shopping for swimsuit, here is a simple way to make your own. And best of all, it involves no sewing or stitching.

We found this swimsuit and a couple other equally easy templates in the Crafts section of Martha Stewart.com. All you’ll need is a yard of spandex, scissors and a couple of pins.

Start by making your pattern by folding one yard of swim fabric in half width-wise on a smooth, flat surface. If you want two colors, fold 1/3 yard of a piece in half, widthwise, and lay it over the first piece at one edge. Make the pattern using the ready-made templates on the Martha Stewart website
At the fold, pin the top’s pattern through both colors, the bottom’s through one, then cut.
Tie the bottom in a double knot at both hips and tuck the ends under.
Holding both layers of the top, twist it, wrap it around your chest, and double-knot the ends in back.

Kenny the Kidney

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:57:11 EDT

While we were in the NYC, we met a guy named Bill Brazell who works with Federated Media. He is spearheading a campaign to educate people about Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and asked rob and i if we could help by designing and constructing a costume for Kenny the Kidney*. I drew a sketch of what i thought Kenny would look like (below...i spelled cyst wrong), but then I thought about all of our amazingly creative viewers and decided to hold a mini contest for the best costume ideas! Ok, I haven't thought of a prize for the winner yet. but if your design gets picked, i promise you'll be happy! xoxo c

Guidelines:
- be creative
- read the backstory of Kenny the Kidney (below)
- label important details like what kind of fabrics would be used and special functions

-all submissions are due by July 12th 2007-

*Backstory of Kenny the Kidney
Kenny was once a normal, quiet kidney, filtering blood with his brother Kevin. It wasn’t easy for either of them, because they were born with many cysts, and the cysts grew faster than they did — but they managed.

One day, as his kidneys were starting to fail, Kenny’s owner drank a radioactive blue Slurpee with a radioactive pellet. The pellet lodged in one of Kenny’s cysts, and he began to grow faster and larger than any kidney had ever grown. He got so big that the doctors had to remove him. They placed him on a metal tray in order to study him later. They focused on sewing up Kenny’s owner — and when they turned back to the kidney they’d just removed, it was gone.

The radioactive pellet had given Kenny legs, arms and self-awareness. He scooted down from the tray, and now he’s on the loose.

He’s trying to raise money to help his brother Kevin, who didn’t benefit from the pellet, and continues to struggle to filter blood as best he can. And as a newly liberated kidney with no real experience on the streets, Kenny also wants to have a good time.

Finally, HERE'S a photo showing what a healthy kidney looks like next to a cystic kidney.

Free Trip to Seattle

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:17:28 EDT

Heres a cool email we got about an upcoming contest where you can win a free trip to Seattle.

Hello Threadbanger Folks!

I work with Savers/Value Village thrift store chain (200+ stores) and am loving your site! I wanted to pass along some information on a cool campaign we’re in the midst of, as your audience may be interested in it as an opportunity to showcase their talent and unique style.We are seeking fashion-forward teens (application deadline is June 25) to be a part of our second annual “ReDesigner” board – it’s a chance to shop, style, star in fashion shoots, and gain hands-on fashion industry experience. Open to US and Canadian residents, we select six ReDesigners to serve as teen fashion consultants for the company to showcase their “remixed” styles that can be achieved by shopping thrift. The really fun part – we kick off the campaign by brining all the ReDesigners to Seattle (our headquarters) for an all-expense paid week long fashion-filled trip. While in Seattle, we visit many thrift shops for a crazy shopping spree, and then spend the next few days creating/recreating looks for a photo shoot – sewing machines, hot glue guns, clothing everywhere – very chaotic.We had an amazingly stylish and talented group last year, and you can read about their Seattle trip at their MySpace blog:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=83993805& blogID=147334862&MyToken=523ca3ce-6cbc-4d1b-8bdf-47a376425af8. Applications are being accepted through June 25 at http://www.savers.com/redesigners/.

Episode 18: Sleeping Bag Conclusion

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:26:47 EDT

In Episode 18 , we featured Corinne's aunt's church group that makes sleeping bags for the homeless. They gave us one to take into the city with us to give away and that we did. Watch the short video we shot on youtube.

Crashin Fashion

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:57:55 EDT

Malissa sent us this email. check out her flickr pictures at the end! enjoy!

xoxo

A few others, and I thought it would be fun to create something interesting to wear and go to the "B" Scene at the Blanton Art Measuem in Austin, Tx. We did this for fun and here are the rules: Make something to wear clothing, jewelry, or even shoes and show up at the Blanton June 1st for Vive la France! The catch is it has to be made out of packing material (cardboard boxes, tape, bubble wrap, ect....). You can paint it, embellish it, on and on but the other stipulation is it still has to be recognisable as packing material. Refashionistas, I'm not leaving you out, if you don't make clothes but recycle them, all the embellishment must be packing material (examples: a silk screened shirt that the print is actually made of packing tape, oragami flowers made from envelopes). Please, keep in mind we want to do this "tastefully". Giving us all a chance to make art, see art, wear art. There are several members of the Blanton Staff that are aware of this but have kept it under wraps. It was a big success and we plan on doing it again in August with a different theme. Mean while you can check out the pics http://flickr.com/photos/8675738@N04/

Thanks,

Malissa

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:59:01 EDT

rob and i are getting ready to hop on a plane and fly home. it has been a great bout of travel...not only did we get to visit my fam in PA but we stopped by the NYC for the weekend to see our favorite people...the NextNewNetworks crew....and attend the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn. it was sooo much fun! we met many awesome DIYers and got some great interviews so stay tuned for next week's show, it's gonna be great!

xoxox

How To Crochet

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:07:37 EDT

Many of you have wondered how to make flowers and other embellishment for appliques out of crochet. Well, look no further, we, at Threadheads have found a great way to make these cool things. It's simple, fun and its even better if you can re-use yarn from and old crocheted blanket or sweater (which is what we did.)

If you want to learn more how to make your own fashionable crafts, be sure to subscribe to our show on iTunes, and keep checking back for more tips and resources as well as a new "how-to" every week.

1. Make sure you have an adequate amount of yarn. We got our yarn by pulling apart an old afghan that we found at the dump. Now, grab your needle and you're ready to start crocheting.

2. First, take the string in one hand, cross it over your index finger, pull the tail end of you string through your loop. This is called a slip knot because if you pull it, it comes right out. Take your crocheting needle, slip it through the slip knot and pull tight. You've just made your first loop.

3. Then grab a hold of your knot, loop once over the needle and pull that loop through the slip knot. That's your first stitch. Repeat five more times until you end up with six stitches total. This is your basic chain stitch.

4. Next, you're going to use a slip stich to connect the ends of your chain together to form a ring.

5. Now you need to increase it to double the size, so you'll need to do two single stitches in each stitch. Repeat the single crochet in the same stitch. Do this in each stitch around the circle until you have 12 stitches.

6. The next step is to start making the petals. You'll need to do a single crochet in the next stitch. This will help hold down your petals. Now, you'll be doing a four crochet stitch. So, do the four stitch crochet four times in the same stitch. You've just created your first petal.

7. Then do a single crochet stitch in the next stitch to give the petal definition.

8. Repeat the four crochet stitch in the next stitch which will complete your second petal. Do this 3 more times until you have 5 total petals.

9. When you've finished the last petal, do a single crochet in the next stitch and pull the yarn all the way through the loops. Congratulations! You've just crocheted a flower!

Fan Profile: Bianca Carrera

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:39:21 EDT

A great big thanks and shout out goes to Bianca Carrera. She sent us tons of pictures of her really cool and unique handmade creations made with recycled clothing and stuff from Thift Stores. Thanks Bianca and keep up the fantastic work!

1. "My friend Leslie wearing a 'LOL' necklace made out of fridge magnets found around the house, spiffy!"

2. "My friend Jazmin sporting a tote, fabric has music notes on it and I cut out clouds and sewed them on to give it a patchy look. All fabric was bought at a thrift store"

3. "Me and my stuffed monster Manderina, stuffed with scraps of fabric I had laying around."

4. "A Drug free purse! Made out of a D.A.R.E shirt bought from thrift store, drug free fabric also bought at a thrift store, along with the zipper."

5. "Tape Necklace: My g-ma threw away her tapes and I turned them into necklaces."

6. "Ramones purse. Fabric and shirt bought at a thrift store"

7. Superman PJ Purse. Pjs bought from a thrift store"

8. "My plain blue t-shirt which is no longer plain. I "screen printed" a unicorn on there and a heart, then sewed on some clouds to give it the 'umph' it needed"

And be sure to stop by her myspace page for some more cool stuff.

Viewer Submission: Tracey Vibert (How to hem a pair of pants)

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:47:11 EDT

Hey Thread Heads,

You might remember Tracey from ThreadHeads Episode 7: New York fashion. What we didn't tell you is that she sent in another video on how to hem a pair of pants. This is a great bit of knowledge, especially for myself, since I have to hem almost all of my dress pants (and some of you may be able to relate). Hey, it looks much easier than it is because you gotta get the measurements exactly right or else you'll end up with one pant longer than the other.

So many thanks to Tracey from TAV Creations for sending us this video and please keep the submissions coming! Want to share your videos upload them to this site, got a question or comment? Email us at tips@threadbanger.com

How to tailor your own shirt

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:00:14 EDT

Recently, we received a video submission from John Paul. He wanted to know how to make a baggy shirt fit, because we all know how expensive it is to get a shirt made specifically tailored for you.

We're going to show you a little method that we think is the best called the "Pinch and Pin"

1. First you will need to take your baggy shirt, turn it inside out and put it on.

2. Make sure you have a friend help you with this step. Get our a bunch of pins and then pinch the excess fabric and pin it so it fits how you want it to. Be sure to pin all the way to the bottom of the shirt and don't forget under the arms. Repeat on the other side.

3. Once you've got your shirt pinned, you are going to start sewing a seam starting above the armpit all the way down the side.

4. After you're done sewing both sides, try on the shirt to make sure that it's the right fit. If you're happy, you can cut off all the excess fabric and you've got yourself a shirt that fits!

5.If you're serious about make a shirt from scratch, we recommend purchasing "Shirtmaking" by David Page Coffin.

Happy sewing!

We are the proud parents of...

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:12:41 EDT

Our spiffy new Threadbanger forum!

While it's still having some teething issues we are proud nonetheless and have already had people signing up! Thanks to everyone who are actively participating and signing up - our dream is to make this forum the new DIY hang out for Threadheads everywhere. A new place to call home... Welcome!

xxoo

Thread Heads Express

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:35:36 EDT

i am very excited to announce that Shila, who asked the question which prompted the tote bag how-to in episode 10, will be receiving a special Thread Heads delivery containing the actual tote bag that was made in the episode. Thanks again for the question Shila...i hope you are inspired to shop at your BFE goodwill now! xoxox c

Episode 16 Links !

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 13:58:31 EDT

ReadyMade Magazine

Associated Content Producer EMMA S.

Associated Content: How to Polka-Dot anything

LemonTwist Screen Print Designers

How-to Make a Charm Drop Necklace

Tue, 29 May 2007 13:28:14 EDT

A fabulous crafter named Nicole Tirona sent us this vid explaining how-to make a cute charm drop necklace. Thanks Nicole! Also, thanks to her videographer friend Simon Redekop for helping with the video!

Watch Nicole's Video

Check out more of Nicole's work in her Etsy Shop!! xoxo c

Goodwill Fashion Show

Mon, 28 May 2007 18:24:54 EDT

My flickr friend Tim sent this over and i wanted to share.... xoxo c

Hey Corinne,

I just got done shooting a fashion show sponsored by Goodwill industries featuring Miss Kansas here in Wichita. All the clothes in the show are from local goodwill stores!!

Thought you'd be interested. www.flickr.com/photos/tcollinsphoto/sets/72157600166552197/

~~ Tim C

MakerFaire Episode 15 Links !

Fri, 25 May 2007 12:54:48 EDT

Cool TV and GPS shoes by The Arphrodite Project

Michael Swaine and his Sewing Cart The Free Mending Library

also check out FutureFarmers and KQED

Wendy Tremayne and the Swap-O-Rama-Rama

Bre Pettis's PodCast and more MakerFaire Coverage at Makezine

The Top 10 Geekiest Yarn Creations on the Web

Wed, 02 May 2007 04:08:05 EDT

When geeky things are made using fabrics and yarn, the end result is not only more geeky, but infinitely more cuddly.

With all the wonderful geek handicrafts floating out there on the web, we the editors of ThreadBanger.com thought it was time to pull together a list of

The Top 10 Geekiest Yarn Creations on the Web

Memory Stick Cozy

This is our favorite way to pretty up those unsightly USB thumbdrives that hang off your keychain. This memory stick cozy must have taken some serious dedication and a sharp set of eyes, because this thing is only 7 cm long. Get one for your favorite geek girl at VixBrown's Etsy store. Only $7!

Nintendo DS Case

Clearly, this is the pinnacle of needlepoint. Don't buy overpriced, shoddy gaming accessories. Instead, roll your own Nintendo DS case. Video game lovers beware: needlepoint is notoriously time consuming. At the very least, it will definitely put a dent in your precious DS game time. Complete instructions and patterns for the case are posted on the Craftster.org forums.

Boo Buddy

Any video gamer worth their salt should recognize this little guy. He's Boo Diddley and he made his video game debut in Super Mario Bros. 3. This little guy is so soft and cute that you just might forget that he's supposed to be a bad guy. You can buy one for $10 from JustSomeChic's Etsy store and pick up a Bob-omb and a Kirby to keep him company.

Just make sure you don't turn your back on him.

Stuffed Dalek

EXTERMINATE ALL HUMANS!

If you recognize the creature in the picture above, give yourself a pat on your multicolored scarf-wearing back. The rest of you need to brush up on your 1960s British sci-fi television. This crafty bit of stuffed, pop culture evil is Doctor Who's nemesis, the Dalek.

At this scale, he serves no real purpose other than to terrorize small pets and perhaps rodents. Also, actual Daleks are not nearly as huggable as their crocheted counterparts. We recommend you crochet your own or beg Livejournal user Shigella to make one for you.

Moebius Strip and Scrollbar Scarves

The Moebius Scarf

The Moebius strip scarf is patterned after a one dimensional surface discovered in 1858.

If you were to trace a line around the middle of this scarf, your line would finish where it started. Make your own wearable mindfreak with these detailed pictures and these step-by-step instructions.

The Scrollbar Scarf

The second is a scrollbar scarf, complete with a scrollbar you can reposition. It's got arrows at both ends and, naturally, a drop shadow. They're not for sale any longer, but there are complete instructions online for making your own. Better start knitting. We couldn't decide which of these two scarves was geekier, so we picked them both.

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Atari 2600 and TV

This lust-worthy bit of crocheted wonderment is an Atari 2600 console complete with joysticks, game cartridge and a fuzzy TV that displays the Atari 2600 version of Pitfall! The bad news is that you can't really play it. The good news is that you can snuggle up with it at night and dream of Pitfall Harry.

Jackrabbit.etsy.com is taking orders to crochet you any Atari game you like. See more pictures of the Atari console and TV on jackrabbit.etsy.com's Flickr page.

Space Invaders Socks

Knit Invaders

Wear your gamer pride on your feet with these knit socks. We're thinking of editing the pattern to give ourselves the high score we always thought we deserved. Complete instructions for making these great retro socks are at Knitty, the free, web-only online magazine.

Crocheted Robotic Arm

Remember Armatron? If you weren't born in the 60s or 70s, chances are you probably don't. Long before home computers and video games came along, Armatron was THE toy for nerdy kids.

The original Armatron

Relive all the magic and wonder of controlling your own disembodied robot arm. That is, without the control.

It may not be able to pick your friend's nose without some assistance, but we guarantee it'll do less damage than its 1970s counterpart. This one gets bonus points for the confusing kitchen imagery embroidered on its side.

Katamari Damacy: Crocheted Prince Keychain & Katamari Hat

Just when we finally got that damn Katamari Damacy song out of our head.

Katamari Prince Keychain

Losing your keys will be pretty difficult with a 5 inch tall, rainbow-colored video game character dangling from them. Just be thankful that he doesn't come with his own 50 foot tall crocheted katamari ball. Get the keychain from MyFunnyValentine's Etsy shop for $6.

And, if you ever wanted to make your head look like a katamari ball:

Katamari Hat

Get one of these colorful katamari hats from Xiola at Mad-TeaParty.net.

Crocheted Yoda Hat and Light Saber

Wow. Talk about indoctrinating them at an early age.

If you know how to crochet, this Yoda hat and light saber should be relatively easy to make. You can find basic instructions in the Craftster forums where this picture was posted. Crocheted Yoda ears are perfect for Halloween, Star Wars premieres, geek weddings and most Bar Mitzvahs. Yoda says: Nagila, hava.

Want to create your own crocheted and knitted geekery? Here are some great resources to start with:

One of our favorite resources for learning to knit is KnittingHelp.com. There, you'll find more than 150 free online videos that teach basic and advanced knitting techniques.

About.com has a great article on crocheting. From single to double stiches to patterns for beginners, this is the site to go to.

Want to go from zero to crochet in 60 seconds? The step-by-step instructions at The Purl Bee website will have you crocheting your own set of Yoda ears in no time. There's plenty more on the site, including some great links and more tutorials.

Craftown has free patterns and instructions for crocheting lots of different items. Start out making coasters and before you know it, you'll be cranking out blankets.

Bonus Quickies!

Knitted Digestive System

Includes knitted anus and knitted rectum (via craftster.org)

~~Knitted~~ Crocheted Hogwarts

Sorry, Harry Potter fans, no knitted anus or knitted rectum in this one. (via microrevolt.org)

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