Delicate Ring
Delicate Rings This tutorial for delicate rings came about because I've been wanting to make some midi rings and wondered if I could make them using silver wire. I did a You Tube search and came across a video called "10 diy rings easy & adjustable" by Helena...
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Balloon Sleeve Dress
Balloon Sleeve Dress I've made a bunch of shift dresses including this balloon sleeve dress which I will post over the next few weeks. They are beyond easy to make as I use no closures i.e. zips or button holes. The difference between a normal shift dress and this one...
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Fabric Charm Necklace
Fabric Charm Necklace This fabric charm necklace is a perfect way to use up a fabric scraps and anything you can lay your hands on from lucky charms, buttons, beads and even plastic junk from lucky packets or Christmas crackers. It's meant to be fun. I don't claim to...
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Culottes Tutorial
Culottes Tutorial I can't get enough culottes at the moment hence this culottes tutorial. If you like the look of the top you can find the free sewing pattern and tutorial - in this link. So let me say up front I make my own patterns for a LOT of my stuff. But with...
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Repurposing Wine Corks
Repurposing Wine Corks Ever wondered how to go about repurposing wine corks? No surpise to find a way in Greenie Dresses for Less. Come spring I go mad and plant seeds, and then they come up, but is it a weed or a seed? And if a seed, which one did I plant in this...
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Muslin Curtains Two Ways
Muslin Curtains Two Ways DIY Muslin Curtains Two Ways is showing how I made two sets of muslin curtains. These muslin curtains are made with with a slot. I had to come up with curtains rather quickly for a London apartment which lacked light - hence this pair of posts...
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DIY Muslin Curtains Two Ways
DIY Muslin Curtains Two Ways DIY Muslin Curtains Two Ways is showing how I made two sets of muslin curtains. These muslin curtains are made with a fold over. I had to come up with curtains rather quickly for a London apartment which lacked light - hence this pair of...
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DIY Summer Sundress
DIY Summer Sundress This DIY Summer Sundress is made from an old sheet. Yip, that's how things roll on this blog. Upcycle, recycle and make it yourself. I took the measurements from around my chest, just above my bust for the top piece - plus 6 - 8 centimetres for...
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African Print Top
African Print Top I love this African Print Top so much that as fast as it comes out the wash I wear it again. It's exactly the same pattern as my - White Frill Hem Top. Head to that post to get the FREE sewing pattern and full sewing instructions. You need: – fabric...
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Half Moon Earrings
Half Moon Earrings The inspiration for these Half Moon Earrings came from Pinterest while I was looking at wire jewellery ideas. Wish I could remember who shared it, but the idea stuck in my head. I bought the silver wire from a local jewelery supply shop and already...
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FREE Sewing Patterns and Tutorials
FREE Sewing Patterns and Tutorials Let's talk a bit about FREE Sewing Patterns and Tutorials this week. Almost every week I roll out a FREE sewing pattern and/or tutorial for something I've made. I make a LOT of stuff. None of the things I make are difficult. I can do...
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Fabric Bag – FREE Sewing Pattern
Fabric Bag - FREE Sewing Pattern I must have made at least ten of these fabric bags with my FREE sewing pattern. They are just so easy to own and use. They are light - no back strain. They wash. You can squeeze anything into them from thick jackets to shopping as they...
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Easy Sweater Tutorial
Easy Sweater Tutorial Never made a sweater before? You can make an easy sweater with this this tutorial. Here's how: - You need: - make a pattern or download a Burda pattern knit fabric contrast colour knit fabric ribbing for the neck and cuffs sewing scissors pins...
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Green Tunic Dress
Green Tunic Dress OK there's no pattern for this green tunic dress from me. For a change. It's a commercial pattern that I've made before and I love it. Am not going to do the whole deal with what you need or how to make it as that is included in the pattern...
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DIY Apron
DIY Apron I made this particular DIY apron for a fancy dress party. My other half and I usually wear - these - aprons. And we wear them a lot since we've now added catering to our already busy lives - Vegan Pop Up Dining. What were we thinking? It's super duper easy...
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Vertical Hanging Laundry Bag
Vertical Hanging Laundry Bag This vertical hanging laundry bag is a long thin leftover piece from a heavy cotton dropcloth used to cover my daughter's sofa. The inspiration for THAT DIY came from a blogger called - budgetsonadime on blogspot. See her photo and...
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DIY Strapless Dress
DIY Strapless Dress This DIY Strapless Dress was actually made as a maxi skirt. I love, love, love this dress. So easy to wear. Nice and cool. And goes from day to night. It doesn't crease so it travels well. What's not to love? I wear it with a skinny scarf which I...
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White Frill Hem Top
White Frill Hem Top I made this white frill hem top from a sheet that had a mark I could not remove. As with all my sewing projects this white frill hem top is ridiculously easy to make. No closures such as zips or button holes. No setting of sleeves. And no tailoring...
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Fabric Bracelet
Fabric Bracelet The inspiration for these fabric bracelets came from a blogger called - Thriftanista in the City. She has lovely step by step instructions to make her bangles. One thing she did, which I was too lazy to do but really should have done, is fold her...
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Maxi Skirt
Maxi Skirt Truth is I'm not really a big fan of gathered skirts. Am unfortuately a pear shape and not altogether petite, so any gathers around my hips make me look like a walking lampshade. If you can find something that drapes i.e falls and elongates, but is still...
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Lace Choker
Lace Choker Am a bit choker obessed at the moment. Made this lace choker as well as a . . . . . Shweshwe Choker, Strapping Choker and a Ribbon Choker. You need: - a piece of lace trimming about 30 centimtres long (or more for just in case) matching colour thread or...
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Elegant Tote Bag
Elegant Tote Bag Make this simple elegant tote bag in a nice firm printed cotton, bright coloured bull denim, canvas or ordinary denim in just over an hour. Here's how. You need: - 2 x pieces of firm fabric 40 centimtres wide x 50 centimtres long matching colour...
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White Frill Top
White Frill Top The inspiration for this white frill top is kind of everywhere in South Africa at the moment. Lovely fluffy, frilly tops and dresses abound. It's summer. Lots of sunshine. No rain. We have 6 weeks of water left before we hit - Day Zero - the day Cape...
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Suedette Business Card Holder
Suedette Business Card Holder I love, love suedette which is why I made this suedette business card holder. Don't do real skin ever due my vegan lifestyle. Suedette is as attractive as well as easier to sew since it doesn't stick to the foot of a sewing machine. Made...
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Window Crystal
Window Crystals I'm a BIG fan of crystals and bought a few window crystals from a friend of a friend. They aren't at all difficult to make so I made a few more. Now every window in our home has a window crystal. They're supposed to be excellent Feng Shui and cast...
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Easy Earrings
Easy Earrings One of my favourite - and easiest things to make - are stud earrings. Easy earrings I call them. If you have a great haberdashery or bridal shop near you, that's the perfect place to take a gander at their buttons. You're looking for a button with a...
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Easy Sofa Cover
Easy Sofa Cover This easy sofa cover evolved out of desperation. My other half and I do - Vegan Pop Up Dining - and someone messed a drink on our sofa. I managed to wipe the mark off out but the original denim cover hadn't been pre-washed and the dye smudged. It...
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Frill Bottom Dress
Frill Bottom Dress This frill bottom dress came about as I had a piece of fabric I couldn't quite work with. It was 150 centimeres wide and 107 centimetres long. Too short for a dress. If I made a top would have left-over fabric I couldn't use. I'm loving all the...
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Summer Bikini Top
Summer Bikini Top This summer bikini top might prove useful if global warming kicks in this year. They have been predicting the hottest summer ever in Cape Town. Currently it's snowing on the mountains in some areas. So maybe not just yet. It's exactly the same top as...
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Round Handle Bag
Round Handle Bag Have been wanting lovely bamboo handles to make a bag forever. Could. Not. Find. Them. These round handles came up during a rummage in a charity shop attached to a very tired old bag. Immediately knew I could re-use them to make a new bag. I bought a...
read moreMeet Greenie
My name is Karen. I live in Cape Town, South Africa.
This blog is about how to make your own, how to recycle, restyle and up-cycle.