Quick Tip: DIY Button Brooches

Do you have buttons that are too pretty to keep hidden in a jar? Well, with this easy idea you can now wear them as jewellery without compromising their potential as buttons!

Materials:

Several pretty shank buttons

The same number of safety pins

Step 1: Push a safety pin through the back side of your shirt so the bar sticks out the front.

Step 2: (View from the front side of the shirt) Slip the shank of a button through the bar of the safety pin so the button is on the front of the sweater.

Step 3: Poke the pin back into the sweater and secure it in place. 

Step 4: Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 to make a cluster of button brooches.

You can also turn necklace pendants into brooches by slipping the bar of the pin through the jump ring of the pendant. This technique is super useful if your shirt doesn't have a good frame for wearing a necklace but would still look good with some jewels on the side!

DIY Multipurpose Sash

When I am putting together an outfit I frequently find the need for some sort of colorful print embellishment in the form of a belt, bow, or whatever. Most ribbons don't come in floral prints, and are normally just solid or two color designs, so that is why I decided to whip up a fabric sash. Here is a tutorial for this useful multipurpose accessory that is quite quick and simple to make. 

 Materials:
Fabric of your choice (half of a meter will be more than enough)
Matching thread and a sewing machine OR matching thread and a needle if you prefer hand sewing
Sewing pins
Sewing scissors
An iron

Depending on what you plan to use the sash for you can make it whatever size you want, but I find that a 40 inch by 1.5 inch sash is a good general size.

Step 1: Measure out and cut a 41 inch long by 4 inch wide rectangle of fabric. Please note that this factors in half inch seam allowances.

Step 2: Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise with the wrong side showing (important!) so it is now 2 inches wide. Pin the strip so it stays folded.

Step 3: Sew a seam down the full length of the edge of the folded strip to create a tube.

Step 4: You have two open ends of the strip. Choose the scruffier one and sew it shut.

Step 5: Remove the pins.

Step 6: Turn the tube right side out.

Now you have a sash that is right side out with all but one end nicely sewn together. However it will likely be puffy and have a twisted seam at this point.

Step 7: Iron the sash so that the seam lays flat and straight along the side.

Step 8: Find the final open end and fold it into the tube to create a straight, clean edge.

Step 9: Sew the folded in end of the tube shut. You will have visible stiches here, so try to make them as neat as possible!

Now you're ready to use your versatile sash to liven up your outfits!

It makes a great belt...

...And headband...

...And bow tie...

...And sash tie...and whatever other use you can dream up!

You'll likely soon realize how useful theses sashes are and start to make a bunch out of all your favourite fabrics!
Enjoy accessorizing!