Collar made by Grow Creative from  Free crochet collar pattern by LuLu Loves

I'm currently teaching my sewing classes and one of my students really loves unique collars.  This reminded me that I always wanted to make a detachable collar.  I love the idea of it being like jewelry in the sense you can add it to any outfit.  The possibilities are endless!  Here are my favorite tutorials I have found.

You could crochet one like above and below from Grow Creative. This is probably the first one I will try because I have been more into learning how to crochet and knit since I'm pretty advanced with sewing.  I love a challenge. Knitting or crocheting one would take more time, but so worth it I think look at how cute this collar is?  Get the Free crochet collar pattern from LuLu Loves.

Collar made by Grow Creative from  Free crochet collar pattern by LuLu Loves

Free crochet collar pattern from LuLu Loves

 Another option that would take little time and only require a tiny bit of hand sewing is to make one out of felt (like the tutorial below from Honestly WTF), pleather, or leather (from SequinBlog).  No sewing machine needed.  Since the edges won't fray you don't need to make any seams.  You can also punch through holes in the fabric since it won't fray.  The tutorials below uses a hole punch for each scallop, but I'm sure there are many other cool ways you could add cut out designs to your collar.  I'd imagine scrap booking would have some nifty cut out like this 3 in 1 lace corner punch cut out tool, or this floral vine edger punch from Martha Stewart Crafts.  I doubt this would work on leather or pleather, but might work on felt.  Try at your own risk as I have not tested this idea yet and they are made for paper, but if you scrap book any ways I would try it.

Felt Scalloped detachable Peter Pan Collar Free pattern and tutorial from Honestly WTF (hand sewing only)

This tutorial comes from Sequin Blog, which no longer exists so the pic above is all the directions available but making it in leather should be very similar to the collar made by  Honestly WTF

You could also make one sewing on a sewing machine with fabric with a fun print like quilting cotton fabric like this one by My Sparkles (pictured below), or a bright color to color block with outfits.

Get the free pattern for this peter pan collar from My Sparkles

I also like the idea of a collar in a neutral color with embellishments such as lace, crystals, studs, glitter, beads, sequins, and rhinestones.   Megan Nielsen's collar below is a great example.

Free pattern from  Megan Nielsen for a beaded detachable peter pan collar with a scalloped edge

Check out how to create custom fabric covered insoles from Pearls and Scissors

Like any girl I love shoes!  I have enough shoes to be embarrassed to say how many.  However I only wear a few because most are way to uncomfortable to wear for long walking, and living in the city I walk a lot.  The worst is in the summer when I want to wear skirts, shorts, and crops without socks.  My feet are always torn up from even from short walks wearing flats.  Until I discovered the wonders of insoles and heel cushions.  Oh my does that make a difference!

Image found on Wedding Bee forum This head band would be an easy DIY you could just hot glue an old necklace to a ribbon

Summer is a great time to put your hair up and show a little bling!   I often buy great classic pieces that fit well, but that does get boring. My solution is to spice up my wardrobe with accessories.  The one accessory often neglected is hair accessories.  I thought what cooler way to dress up a look than by using jewelery you already have (or find at estate sales, thrift stores etc), and use it in your hair?

 It's a great way to make a boring ponytail or simple up do really shine (maybe literally depending on how your hair accessory turns out!).  I searched high and low for good ideals on DIY hair jewelery and thought I'd share the best I found.  There were some I found that while I'm sure a lot of people would like it, I know I would feel uncomfortable and self conscious wearing it.  I don't mind drawing attention to myself  but only when I feel I look damn good.  Not when I'm not so sure about something.....  with that said the examples I will show you are pretty everyday wearable that will turn heads in a good way!

I found a designer on Etsy Lottie DaDesigns that does really pretty headpieces using jewelery, mostly for weddings but I say hey why can't a girl feel pretty every day?  Just make it a little understated.  I don't think this Lottie DaDesigns headpiece would be hard to DIY it would just be finding the right piece of jewelry to use that would be hard.

$54 on Etsy by Lottie DaDesigns

Vintage Valley is rocking the necklace in hair trend.

I believe you could secure a necklace in your hair with bobby pins but if you could turn it into a headband with an elastic band, I would think it would be more secure.  The TV show Mirror Mirror had some good suggestions about how to secure a necklace into your hair and to make a hair clip with a bracelet and velcro.  Here is the suggestions of stylist David Armendariz:

Long Necklace Head Band

• Tease the top of your hair from the bang area to the crown.
• Pull hair back into a loose, low ponytail.
• Lightly lift hair at the crown for more height with the end of a comb.
• Wrap the ponytail into a loose bun and secure it.
• Grab a long necklace and lay it across your head near the bang area.
• Extend the rest of the length of the necklace back toward the bottom of the bun.
• Cross the sides of the necklace under the bun and loop it on top of the bun.
• Secure the necklace with bobby pins.

Statement Bracelet Hair Clip

• Start with hair in a French twist or similar up 'do.
• Grab a statement bracelet, hair clip and some Velcro circles from a craft or hardware store.
• Apply the sticky Velcro circles to each end of the bracelet (use the soft side of the Velcro against the bracelet so you can comfortably wear the bracelet again)
• Stick the hair clip to the nubby side of the Velcro.
• Fasten the new bracelet hair clip to the side of your French twist and secure with bobby pins if needed.

$95 by Fine and Fleurie  I love this headband you could DIY something similar using the following tutorial and materials similar to this instead.

via OH The Lovely Things via ASOS

For those of you following my sewing school I plan to resume lessons in a few weeks, right now I'm focusing on teaching my non virtual sewing class and I'm taking a wood working class, planting my garden, etc.  But I still have time to dream of fashion!

Fur headband tutorial by Marly Made

I have been transitioning to my winter wardrobe here in MN and it has me dreaming of fur.  Nothing says winter like fur (faux of course)!  Instead of buy a whole new winter wardrobe I plan on making a lot of fur accessories to spice up the usual boring wardrobe of jeans, boots, and sweaters.  I did a post recently on some cool tutorials I have found online that I plan to do.  I found so many that I decided to split it up into two post.  You can see Part 1 DIY Fur collars, scarves, and neck warmers.

Tutorial from Elegant Musings

I am transitioning my wardrobe from fall to winter and I woke up to snow today.  This has me dreaming of making fur accessories to add to my wardrobe.  I love fur collars.  This tutorial from elegant musings is for a detachable collar.  You could add it to any sweater you want.  You could also make a fur collar that ties with a ribbon like the tutorial below from Express Yourself.
I found so many great ideas for DIY fur accessories that I split all of them up into 2 postings.  Part 2 has tutorials on how to make a fur vest, headband, and a fur bootie to make any boot into a fur boot.  They are all super easy and cute, none require a sewing machine.

tights from les-queues-de-sardines

I am having a tights love affair at the moment, so I am loving the idea of embellishing and drawing/printing my own tights.  I got the inspiration from these tights pictured above.  Free draw with a sharpie?  Oh the fun I will have.  I love the idea of tattoo patterned tights like was featured in Nylon Magazine. 

knit these leg warmers from a free pattern here via Falling Stiches

I have been trying to get into fall fashion and try to reevaluate my wardrobe.  I am trying to figure out if I need to take anything in or out and am bringing my fall clothes up from storage and putting my summer clothes away.  I am keeping a small amount of my summer clothes in my closet still because by using layers you can often still wear more clothes in your closet than you think.

I live in Minneapolis, which as you can imagine gets pretty cold in the winter.  I have had to learn pretty cleaver ways to stay warm and cute.  I also have worked for years as a visual merchandiser and a merchandiser in fashion.  Anyone who has worked in the industry knows it's all about the layers.  So given my background I am all about the layers.  Here's my guide how to use them to extend your wardrobe further into the season

Sweater coat over a dress

Layers on Top: Cardigans, Sweater Coats, Ponchos, Scarfs, Open Knit Tops, and Shrugs.  You can still wear tank tops and sleeveless tops and summer dresses with any of the above.  As long as it's not to stylistically summer looking.  For example a simple black sleeveless top could be work with a black fur shrug. You could even wear a top over a dress

Wear a top over a dress

 Layers on Bottom: Tights, Leg Warmers, Knee High Boots, Knee High Socks, and Leggings.  You can still wear dresses, skirts, pumps, and even shorts.  I love the idea of wearing leg warmers  under knee length boots and over tights.  The image before is from Falling Stiches and here is where you can find a free pattern to DIY one yourself.  When it gets seriously cold you can even wear leggings underneath pants.  I also think knee highs with heels are really cute.

knee highs and tights with a jacket could easily be a summer dress

I always forget to wear headbands even though I have many I like, and I haven't put my hair in a hairstyle for years.  Lately I have been obsessed with hairstyles.  You can check out my latest at pinterest.

So this tutorial from Pearl B is suppose to be for Father's day, but it made me think of making one for myself in a girly pattern and wearing it with a mixed pattern top or dress.  I love mixing prints.  I think it comes from my days as a visual merchandiser.  The pic below is inspiration for mixed patterns.  I think this will be so cute for fall.

from i gigi

I so want to find a vintage briefcase and make this tutorial from A Beautiful Mess.  It looks like it would be very cute for fall.  It looks super easy too.  Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess is a designer and owner of the boutique Red Velvet.

I love this idea from the green eyed monster of recycling plastic bags by crocheting them into a tote.  I love how hers looks tweed.  I would not use this however to put food into.  I plan to make a fabric market bag for that soon.  I am trying to keep plastic away from my food as much as possible.  I guess I should start saving plastic bags.  It takes 80-100.

You can see the full tutorial here.