ThreadBanger

The Dress that's Afraid of Stones...

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:58:10 EST

By designer Li Xiaofeng, a dress made entirely out of pieces of china and porcelain. As Fashion Week Daily said, "brings a new meaning to the often-overused "fragile.""

Celebrity DIY Style: One Shoulder Dresses

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:17:10 EST

For several months now, I've been seeing celebrities wearing one shoulder desings. When I saw Reese Witherspoon's dress at the CMA's this past week, my curiousty got the better of me and I went on a search for similar styles. While it doesn't appear that this trend has hit pattern books yet, I predict that by next spring, you'll be seeing lots more of this look. In the mean time, there's a few great designs that will tide you over: McCall 5658, Butterick 4343, Kwik Sew 3574, and Burda 8321.

Couch Embroidery from Sew Bettie

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:41:50 EST

As much as I wish I could show you a tutorial to embroider an actual couch this one is a lot easier-not that you couldn't embroider a couch but I think it might reveal some difficulties.

Thanks to Sew Bettie, we got this exclusive couch design for embroidery enthusiasts, or even sofa enthusiasts.

Also featured on the Craft Yourself Rich blog by Sew Bettie for embroidery newbies is a lesson on how to make a split stitch- easy and free craft of the day!

Weekly DIY Roundup: Ski Masks!

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:53:28 EST

You've probably seen these ski masks by now, which are in an issue of McCall's magazine from 1965 (bigger pictures can be seen on Swapatorium):

I was first introduced to them by a friend about 4 years ago, and I got so inspired that I eventually tried making some of my own masks. I made three knit and one crocheted, looking nothing like those 60's masks, but unique in their own way.

Well, lately these kinds of masks have been popping up around the web, so I decided to round up what I could find, thinking a crazy/scary ski mask might be a perfect gift for the right kind of person this holiday season. Craftstylish recently did a caption contest with this image from the Taunton archives:

In my searching, I came across this image of masks from 1961 in DanielleH's flickr photostream - thanks for sharing, Danielle! (and for giving us all nightmares for weeks...)

Craftster member betsyjean79 got her hands on one of the original mask patterns and made this version:

Flickr user FiddybobibbyFiddy created this doll sized version of the original kid's mask - she's right, "Even small, it's terrifying."

Now, moving on to some free patterns! Things and ideas blog posted the pattern for this way-too-creepy monster mask. You get a really different look by using different colored yarn.

Last year's Fall knitty had this Jackyll & hide pattern by SAS Knits It Again, inspired by Tim Burton's Jack Skellington, which folds up into a big hat for when you don't want to scare everyone.

The Running Yarn blog has a free pattern for a Panda Ski Mask!! I used to be so into pandas, I made a bunch of panda hats, but I never thought of making a full on mask - genius!!

Giftable designs has a free pdf download for this Bearded Toque pattern by v. vine:

Teriyakimoto on craftster made this amazing knit gas mask, using the Blue Hills free pattern on knitty, and improvising the detachable mask part.

V&A shares a vintage pattern from the 1940's for this Balaclava Helmet, "made with ear flaps to enable good hearing during telephone operations." You can download the pattern as a pdf or a word document.

HJS Studio has three Balaclava patterns from the First World War, rewritten with modern knitting instructions.

The Winter '06 issue of knitty has a balaclava pattern by Jenna Adorno called Antifreeze - I love flickr user disequillibrium's yellow version!!

Birthday everyday! on flickr, of the blog Chelsea Creature, knit a semi-formal, gold colored ski mask, designed to look like an old balaclava, to wear to her prom!

And lastly, if you want to see a mask that's less craft, more art, check out this amazing work by Morwenna Catt, Phrenology Head III, from the Pricked: Extreme Embroidery show.

I had such fun doing this roundup, I hope you had fun viewing it! And I'd bet a lot of threadheads out there have a loved one who would be ecstatic to receive one of these as a gift! Be sure to share your creepy/funny/terrifying/beautiful mask creations with us in the forums or the comments!

Hello, Hello Craft!

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

Hello Craft is a brand new, Washington DC-based website promoting all things craft - and not just within the city proper. Founded by friends (and DC craft fair regulars) Tina Seamonster, Kimberly Dorn, Sara Dick, and Kelly Rand with the goal of advancing the handmade community as a whole, Hello Craft is a neat mash-up of podcasts, interviews, blog posts, and education/empowerment/pep talks for the independent crafter - inspiring, no? Check them out and show them some love - we're all in this together, DIYers!

How to English Paper Piece- Quilting technique

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Rob meets up with quilting and painting artist extraordinaire, Caroline Hwang, for a tutorial on English paper piecing. Easy to do and beautiful- see how Caroline interprets it into her artisitc and modern quilts.

Watch the full episode here!

Cut out a hexagon of paper and a piece of fabric. You can use any kind of fabric for this project, any recyclable material, which you'll also cut out in a hexagon but with a quater inch seam allowance on all sides. After that, pin the paper to the fabric and try to center it closely as possible.

Your going to fold in two of the sides, make sure the corners are folded in as neatly as possible.

Take your threaded needle, you don't have to knot it and at each corner your going to do one stitch- for every corner. When you get around all the corners, you're done with your first piece. Repeat for as many pieces as you want.

Next is sewing the pieces together. Place them face to face, line up the sides together and sew a whip stitch very close to the edge so you don't see the thread when it's fully opened up. Repeat to every edge, it's ok to fold the paper and manipulate the peices to sew them together.

Once, finished take out the paper and attach the pieces with a basic applique technique.

Felt Club this Sunday in LA!

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:11:13 EST

If you are in LA this Sunday, November 16th, you have to check out Felt Club!

FELT CLUB: HOLIDAY 2008
Sunday, NOVEMBER 16, 11am-7pm
@ Shrine Auditorium Expo Center
700 W. 32nd St., LA CA 90007

"That's right-our Holiday 2008 event is here at last! Hosted by three-time Martha Stewart guest, LA's beloved histotainer Charles Phoenix, this family-friendly event features nearly twice as many crafters as last year-over 125!-a full snack bar offering salads, sandwiches, pastries, coffee( plus beer, wine & MARGARITAS!) great music from DJs Lance Rock (Yo Gabba Gabba), Dirty Robot and Mr. Cocoon. We'll also be treated to a few ditties from Mother Gem herself, Leslie Hall (who will also be vending!). You can even wrap up your new finds in the DIY Recycled Giftwrap booth, hosted by ReForm School. It's all going down at our brand new location: the Shrine Auditorium Expo Center in downtown LA. The first 250 visitors get a swag bag full of outstanding treats from our sponsors & vendors, plus we'll be giving away awesome door prizes all day long.

Oh yes, we have workshops galore. There will be make-and-takes and book signings going on all day long in the Quarry Books and Urban Craft Center booths, and we'll also have not one but two crafty superstars sharing their skills with our visitors. Jenny Hart from Sublime Stitching will be teaching two embroidery workshops at Felt Club, while Kaari Meng will teach a jewelry making class featuring her signature vintage beaded charm bracelet kits. To take part, just stop by the Felt Club Info Table to sign up and purchase a kit. (Visit our blog for class times.) Class sizes are limited, but both Kaari and Jenny will be hanging out at the Felt Club area off and on throughout the day to sell additional kits and/or sign and sell their books when they're not teaching. So come on by and meet them on Sunday!

Admission is free for kids under 13, for everyone else we're asking for a $5 donation at the door. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Handmade Nation, the forthcoming documentary film chronicling the rise of art, craft, and design.

Did we mention the margaritas?!" - Felt Club website

Brooklyn Flea Market: Every Sunday!

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:41:26 EST

If you live in the NYC area and have nothing to do this Sunday (or any Sunday until December 31st), then head on over to Brooklyn to check out their weekly Flea Market. The Flea Market features 150 vendors of vintage furniture, clothing, collectibles and antiques as well as new jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans, plus delicious food. And if you're there this weekend, look out for Rob and say hi!

When: Every Sunday from 10am - 5pm (rain or shine)

Where: Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Lafayette Ave. between Clermont and Vanderbilt Ave. (Map and directions)

Cool Website Alert: Dollar Store Crafts!

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:34:45 EST

This fabulous new blog is by the editor of CROQ craft zine and blog, Heather Mann, and is full of awesome projects made with items purchased at dollar stores, in dollar sections of stores, and for $1 or less at discount stores. Heather finds projects all over the crafty web and reposts them with their estimated cost, assuming you have crafty basics on hand, like glue, scraps of fabric, paper, etc. Projects range from fairly complex, like this amazing cassette tape wallet ($1.25) by reese52...

...and this mosiac plate ($7) by HSG on craftster:

then there are some great super simple projects like tattooed soap ($2 for 3 bars) by johanna on soap queen...

...and this coffee sack bulletin board (about $3) by maya*made:

If you're into cheap crafty, definitely subscribe to this blog's feed! And I want to mention one other bloggy thing Heather is doing because it's too cute - she is contributing to the blog little nummies with food crafts like this guitar sandwich:

Isn't Heather awesome? Yes!

Sweet Skins at the Green Festival (Nov 14-16 in SF)

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:54:39 EST

Green Festival, the nation's largest green show is fast approaching on Nov 14 - 16 in San Francisco. Although I've never personally been, Rob and Corinne attended the Green Festival when it was in Chicago. The Green Festival celebrates sustainability and a more social, economiclly and environmentally friendly earth. Individuals, businesses and community leaders come together to discuss critical issues that inpact us at home and abroad.

This year there will be over 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators as well as workshops, films, activities and an abundance of food, drinks and live music. Plus you can shop in the marketplace filled with over 350 eco-friendly businesses. Wow. I am so jealous that I won't be there!

Sweet Skins, one of the 350 businesses that will be there is a unique one, being that is a minority women's eco clothing company. Most of their clothing very simplistic, making it very versatile to wear and this year they've introduced many new products to their line, including hemp/organic cotton knit skins. Sweet Skins was started by Mira Fannin 5 years ago in her kitchen and since, they company has continually grown due to the high demand for clothing that is ecologically sound and ethically run.

I had a chance to check out the site and it has and abundance of natural looking clothes that range from loungewear to skirts, pants and dresses. These are the kinds of clothing that you can not only feel comfortable in, but feel great about purchasing.

Cool Website Alert: Craft Leftovers!

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

Kristin Roach's Craft Leftovers blog has been a favorite of mine for a long time now, and it just keeps getting better as time passes! Kristin posts a new pattern or project every week, all aimed to use up pieces of fabric/yarn/etc left over from bigger projects. From the about page: "The Craft Leftovers project was my answer to the question, 'What does one do with all the leftover bits after a project is finished?' I found that every time I made something, I was left with a half of a skein of this, a half of a yard of that. Although I am driven to create, I am not driven to create more waste. I am setting out to write patterns specifically for those leftovers and to encourage everyone I meet to use up their unwanted bits."

Kristin, like myself, is an omni-crafter, with seven different project categories for her free patterns and tutorials, which makes me love the site even more - variety in crafting rocks! Check out this adorable combination project that uses either crochet or knit, plus embroidery embellishments - Oopsies and Toofsies!

In the knitting section, projects range from super quick and simple to much more complex, like the Lady Moss Mittens, which use thrumming for extra warmth:

The crochet projects also vary from simple to not-so-much, with items like headbands, mitts, cloths, bags, and much more. I really love the Aceraceae Crochet Cowl - the different buttons are such a fantastic touch!!

Sewing projects include lots of super cute clutches and small bags, and bigger bags like the Shop and Ride, with lots of pockets!

Besides bags, there is a variety of wearable items, home decor things, and lots of cool random stuff like this reusable tea bag!

Inside the no sew category there is a free download for these gift boxes - perfect for the quickly-approaching holiday season!

Besides her amazing archives of all these free project patterns and tutorials, Kristin also has a Craft Leftovers etsy shop, where she sells kits with patterns and her own leftover materials, and items she has made from leftovers. And lastly, Kristin puts out a Craft Leftovers Monthly package full of a kit, lots of leftover goodies, and a copy of her monthly zine! You can get one month at a time, or a 3 month subscription. So awesome!

Threadbanger Schedule Update

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:25:46 EST

Worn Out: Street Style Picks

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

Hey guys! Here, as always, are my top 5 favorite picks from the street style blogs. Chime in via the comments section with your take on the looks, and be sure to shout out what fashion blogs you're digging on these days. Here we go:

These two photos showcase vastly different looks, and I'm way into both. At left, from a November 5 post at Facehunter, is an Australian girl rocking a totally classic, All-American outfit. Her denim, tee, and lace-up basics are punched up brilliantly with accessories - while those red socks are next-level cute, it's the Mr. T gold chain and the delicate little fang necklace that set this look apart. The photo on the right, from an October 31 post (scroll down for it) at PLAYLUST was the complete opposite of the casual cool worn in the Facehunter pic. It's not all that often that the perfectly put-together is celebrated on the street style blog, and these two women are nothing if not sharp-looking. I'm loving the black-and-white color palette at left, and the geometric clutch at right is sheer genius. They manage to be both hip AND totally appropriate, and I'm so taking cues from these two next time I need to look like a lady.

These next two looks (the left from a November 3 post at Stockholm Street Style; the right from an October 26 post at The Style Scout both channel a bit of the Victorian and the cabaret. The shrunken proportions of the hip-length coat and short little skirt on the left are just inarguably precious, but the whole look is kept firmly in grown-up land with the lacy tights and 1920s-inspired cloche. The outfit on the right veers more towards the adult with the longer skirt and heels; the inclusion of the statement-making belt and casual tank keep things clean and modern. And how nice of a touch is that little red headband??

While there are certainly some similarities between this outfit and the SSS one to the above left, the rock and roll leanings of this look's styling really took the cake for me this week. From a November 6 post at The Sartorialist, this look was equal parts Dylan (check the folksy pom-pom bag and THAT AMAZING HAIR), The Beatles (I'm so digging the British military inclinations of her ultra-feminine coat), and Serge Gainsbourg (for no other reason than she's giving off such a distinctly French vibe. JEALOUS!). On top of all that, she looks SO cozy and SO comfortable, and that's a style trick that we can all take a note or two on.

Celebrity DIY Style: Leopard Print Dress

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:32:23 EST

According to this article, animal prints are a hot trend this fall and winter. As you can see celebrities are already wearing this look - and in the same dress. If you're wanting to sport this style yourself, try Butterick 5206 in a fun leopard jersey. Similar prints can be found at Fabric.com and Gorgeous Fabrics, however, if you're looking for a similar feel without the animal design check out this material listed at EmmaOneSock. No matter which fabric you go with, be sure to show off your finished design! [Photo via Celebrity Fashion Watch]

Pay Attention by Social-T

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:19:17 EST

We've been getting T-shirts from Social-T for a while and it's literally a fight for the package when we see them arrive. Everyone who can fit into the size Med that we get will fight for custody of it. This week, we received the "Pay Attention" shirt., by W.J. It's not only a bright, loud and fun t-shirt, but it has a great cause. The back of the shirt, has a picture of the BB Curve and it says, "Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United Stated every year. These statistics are frightening considering how pervasive cell phones are in our society."

This shirt is so true, especially in places like NYC where everyone is walking around and not paying attention to cars and trucks on the street. We do need to pay attention to where we use our cell phones especially in public places that distract us from what's going on around us. So, Thanks Social-T for this great inspirational shirt.

Weekly DIY Roundup: Holiday Gift Guides!

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:23:16 EST

Now that we're into the month of November, holiday gift guides, series, and roundups are starting to pop up around craft blog world. They will no doubt continue appearing over the next month and a half, but I wanted to show you the ones that have begun right away, because if you are planning on gifting handmade this year, you'll need to at least start planning asap!

First of all, Sew, Mama, Sew! is doing a Handmade Holidays: 30 Days of Gifts to Sew series - you can read the list of categories here, ranging from bags to tech to kitchen to whimsy, a new one every day! Each day/genre includes gifts to make with links to tutorials, fabric recommendations, handmade items for sale, and a recipe. I love the gifts for music lovers, with items like Bored and Crafty's guitar bag and custom guitar pick by Silver Sparrow Designs.

Next up, Craftstylish has created a Dare to make it! Holiday blog, with all projects that would make great holiday gifts in all different crafting categories. I am doing a holiday countdown series within this blog, gift projects getting faster and easier as the gift deadline gets closer, with tutorials for projects like a custom re-made board game, an embellished blanket, and a custom photo album, with new projects being posted each week.

Small Notebook is doing a "Holidays by Hand" Festival - with six different blogs involved, posting about a different theme each Tuesday. Themes include: sewing, paper crafts, ribbons and thread, knitting, quilting, and food. So far, only sewing has gone up, on the Simple Mom blog with a huge list of project links - check out almost frugal's handmade gift bags:

Robyn of Craft and Found is doing Handmade Holidays, posting gift ideas, sellers of handmade items, recipes, and stuff like money-saving and sustainability holiday season tips every day throughout November. I love the idea of making "crazy yarn" as a gift for knitting/crocheting friends!

Poppytalk has a great Holiday Card Guide post, rounding up favorite cards made by others, but you can get tons of inspiration for making your own cards by scrolling through these! This one is by Pinecone + Chickadee:

Poppytalk also has been doing a series of posts with 2009 calendars - just like the cards, fantastic inspiration for handmade calendar gifts! I'm guessing Poppytalk will continue to post more fabulous holiday roundups throughout the next couple months. This gorgeous calendar is by Susy Jack:

A couple last links - Dabbled is going to be posting holiday upcycling crafts, art cards, and handmade shopping links throughout November and December, so be sure to check back there! And, if you want to vow to give and receive all handmade this year, you can take the pledge over at Buy Handmade!

Again, the list of awesome handmade holiday blogginess will grow and grow as the weeks go by, but hopefully this list will get you started on gift planning and making! Please post links to more crafty holiday stuff in the comments!

Ruffeo Hearts Lil' Snotty- How to Make Boy Shorts

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Haven't done laundry in a while? Need some more underwear? Well, take a lesson from Rob and Ruffeo Hearts Lil' Snotty and turn your old t-shirts into a pair of boy shorts! And put off doing laundry for another day... Watch the full Episode here!

First thing to do is to draw out a design

Take out a t-shirt, you can use the same sleeves but Maxwell uses sleeves from another t-shirt to spruce up the color. You'll also need to have a strip of elastic for the band- the sleeves will be the boy shorts legs

Cut open the t-shirt so you can center up the pattern

Measure at the waist Since cotton has a way of stretching out take off about three to four inches. Fold the length of the measuring tape in half

Use tailors chalk to sketch out the pattern on the open t-shirt

The front has a little bit of the arc while the back just has a straight line so draw accordingly.

To get the nicest symmetrical shape, fold the fabric in half and get out some scissors or a rotary knife and just follow the white lines.

Take out your shirt sleeves and cut down the seem or use a seem ripper and align with the shorts and pin.

Maxwell sews the sides first, then sews the leg pieces next and lastly the waist band.

Measure the waist band (your piece of elastic) and pin- elastic is forgiving so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Line up the waist band-stretch it out and sew with a straight stitch. Sew slowly to make sure there's no bunching. Once your done sewing just cut off any loose threads and you've got a some new undies!

The Girlie Show 2008 in Oklahoma City

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:38:48 EST

Tomorrow, Nov 7 and Sat, Nov 8th is the 5th Annual Girlie Show in Oklahoma City (at the Farmer's Market Building). The mission of The Girlie Show is to give rockin' arts-and-craftin' females an opportunity to show their goods and make some cash in a fun party atmosphere. Yes, it's called an art show, but we encourage you to challenge the definition of 'art'. So if you need some inspiration or just want to have a great time, check out their site to see who will be participating and where to get tickets!

Halloween Goody Bag Giveaway

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:05:11 EST

For all of those who missed the Threadbanger Handcrafted Halloween Party, I have some good news for you. We have 3 leftover goody bags that can be yours if you are one of the first 3 people to leave a comment with your forum name.

Here's what the bag includes:

Craft Magazine
Iron On Letters
Generation T Travel Sewing Kit
CraftStylish Magazine
American Sewing Expo Magazine and pen
Simplicity Apron pattern
Flower brooch pin from PONO
Organic Lollipop
Retractable measuring tape from M&J Trimmings
Red and Black spool of Thread
Pack of Metallic Thread
Sample of Nature's Shea Butter
Threadbanger Sticker
Etsy badges

Celebrity DIY Style: Corsets

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:49:31 EST

Whether it's an actor who's wearing a corset for a movie such as Tim Curry in the Rocky Horror Picture Show or a celebrity such as Dita Von Teese who wears it just for fun, you have to admit, corsets are one hot clothing item. For quite some time now, I've been wanting to make a corset of my own. The problem? Where to start. This weekend I started reading Linda Sparks' book, The Basics of Corset Building which covers everything from tools and materials, how to properly fit and alter your corset pattern, and construction. With a little knowledge behind me, I think I'm about ready to make my own. For commercial patterns, Linda recommends two historically correct designs: Laughing Moon's Dore Corset and Simplicity 9769. However, if period designs don't concern you then there are a plethra of patterns and tutorias available: Simplicity 5006, 6480, and 2966 (made from recycled magazine images), McCall 4861 and 3609, Butterick 4669 and 4254, Burda 8601, or one of several online tutorials such as how to make a custom fit corset pattern with duct tape, this one from Craftster, and of course one from our very own Lindsey Chen. Online retailers such as Farthengales, CorsetMaking.com, and Vogue Fabrics (who also sell a corset building kit) can supply you with everything you need to make your own corset.

Weekly DIY Roundup: Election-Related Projects!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:26:28 EDT

Are you pumped up to vote?! Have you seen all the voting/election related crafts going on? So exciting! That poster above is by Nikki McClure, and has been given away free by Buy Olympia to get the message out! I love Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood's "Craft the Vote" apron!

Martha Stewart's website has a project for Vote '08 t-shirts and buttons, in 4 different styles...

Jakrandomart on etsy makes these great VOTE cuffs with recycled materials:

LikeMindedPeople on craftster made these "I heart people who vote" t-shirts:

And now for the presidential candidate projects..... Mullishmuse's etsy shop is stocked with felt finger puppets and brooches of McCain+Palin and Obama+Biden.

DithMer on craftster made crochet representations of both sides of the race.

If you want to fold up your own candidate finger puppets, check out folduscandidate.com where you can download, print out, and fold up these guys:

DIYorDIE on etsy makes laser cut wood pins, shrink plastic earrings, and more featuring Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin...

Those were all the crafty things I could find with both parties, so now I'll flip between Obama/Biden projects and McCain/Palin projects to keep it all even... starting with The Obama Craft Project! Created by Sewer-Sewist team Sarah and Josh in Portland, OR, the blog posts all kinds of Obama-related crafts; "the primary purpose of the project is to recognize every day crafters for their efforts in supporting the Obama campaign via their craft." The project also has their own flickr pool, full of all different kinds of crafty things. (There is another flickr group called Crafters for Obama, if you want to see even more.)

Cbtscloset on craftster made these shrink plastic McCain earrings and necklace by rotoscoping the image and transferring it onto the plastic:

Boogaloo on craftster created this highly impressive "Barack BEAN-bama":

Bold Lentil blog posted this McCain stencil, as well as a Palin stencil:

Bold_as_love on craftster made these fun Obama Biden jeans:

Spaghetti_Cat on craftster spray painted this Palin shirt to wear to a rally:

Sarah of to make. to do. blog made this "Caribou for Biden" screen print (love it!):

SaccharineSunshine04 on craftster made this Palin shirt with fabric markers:

And lastly, I was lucky to get to attend a screen printing party hosted by Sarah and Josh of the Obama Craft Project, where we printed a bunch of different stencils and screens - my favorite was "HOPE," which I printed on my favorite orange tote bag (made from a tank top):

Ok I hope I got you excited about voting, if you're over 18; and regardless of your age, I encourage you to do your best to spread voting enthusiasm - if you have friends and/or family members who might not get out there on Tuesday, maybe your attitude could be the push they need!

Fall Cleaning and Care Packaging

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:33:08 EDT

If you are looking to get rid of the dust collectors you stashed away under your bed, in your closet or on your shelves then I have the diy project for you!

1. Clean your closet. Get rid of the old books, clothing, movies, and other small but valuable items that you no longer appreciate.

2. Spread them out on your bed and bundled each into a tidy care package.

3. Wrap them with paper or in old shopping bags and fit the packages with a note explaining its contents and how useful it might be.

4. Either give the packages to your friends, donate them to a shelter/organization or drive around your city/town and leave them at bus stops,
in parks, on doorsteps, hidden inside newspaper machines for strangers to find and hopefully open and be happy about.

You can thank Dallas Clayton for this one!

How to Make Zombie Clothes

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

In the last installment of this years Halloweeny How-To's- Threadbanger gets Deadbanger as Rob shows you how to make an outfit like you've just gotten atacked by a hord of human hungry zombies!

Watch the full episode here!

Zombie Clothes are just like human clothes with the added affect of suddenly being attacked that results in someone trying to eat your brain and tearing off your skin. So to make zombie clothes start with whatever you usually wear and zombify them. Get some clothes that you don't mind getting bloody and torn, you'll need some spray paint, scissors, and red fabric paint.

Take your shirt and attack it with scissors.Distress the crap out of it do the same with the pants.

Take some gray and brown (dirty colored) spray paint and cover your outfit in filth.

Splatter some fake blood (fabric paint) all over- the shirt, pants, and tie too if you have one. Put hand prints and smear them over the clothes and even make some bite marks with pinking shears.

Watch the tutorial on how to make zombie makeup, practice some growls, and your outfit is complete!

Reminder: Threadbanger Handcrafted Halloween Party TODAY!

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:10:27 EDT

Calling all New Yorkers!!! Tonight is the night we've all been waiting for: Threadbanger's Handcrafted Halloween Party in NYC at the Mercury Lounge.

Time: 8pm

RSVP: threadbangerparty@gmail.com

Where: Mercury Lounge: 217 E. Houston St, NYC

If you're still on the fence about attending, here are reasons why you should be there:

Fashion show featuring YOU, the party goers in your fabulous costumes!
Costume Contest for the best, most creative costume --- and the prize is.... a Threadbanger Sewing Machine!
Live DJ - The Delyle Sisters
Live Band - Midnight Fistfight
Zombie Cloak Room, sponsored by Zombie A Go-Go (professional makeup artists will do your Zombie makeup for free!)
Free organic candy, cupcakes, brownies and cookies
DIY handmade gift bags for the first 100 guests

The Threadbanger team has been hard at work making the gift bags all week.. and here's a look inside the studio where the sewing takes place:

Also, a huge thanks to everyone that sponsored the event: Tumblr, Disqus, American Sewing Expo, Instructables, HowCast, PONO, Coats and Clark, Simplicity, Craft, CraftStylish, Zombie A Go-Go, Nature's Shea Butter, Kreinik Metallic Thread, Dritz, M&J Trim

The Selby

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

The Selby has held my full internet attention for a whole month now, and for good reason: the gorgeous photo site features the homes and workspaces of all sorts of creatives living in New York, London, and beyond. The subjects (ranging from designer Alexander Wang to documentary filmmaker Jauretsi Saizarbitoria to author Tom Wolfe) are both inspirational and aspirational, and time spent on the site is sure to result in a list of DIY/home improvement projects a mile long. But don't just get caught up in the pretty pictures - other gems on The Selby include handwritten interviews with its subjects and, on occasion, charming little watercolor portraits of interviewees by photographer Todd Selby himself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go rearrange my living room...

Cool Website Alert: Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories!

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

I mentioned evilmadscientist.com in my halloween costume roundup (remember the traveling exhibition of modern art?) but I want to go into more detail because it's such an awesome site! The people who will get the most out of this website are more tech-y than I am - there are lots of projects that use things like LEDs and circuits and stuff - but there's still plenty of fun crafty goodness for those of us who fear that kind of thing. Be sure to check out all their halloween stuff right now, like the 8-bit gourds:

I love the play with your food section! With projects like edible googly eyes, and stamping your own messages on conversation hearts...

The mad scientists post a new project every wednesday, like this halloween project for LED Ghosties:

While most of the weekly projects in the projects section are for the more science-minded crafters, there are some low-tech crafts mixed in, like this super cute bicycle frame lunch bag:

If you do know how to read circuit diagrams, you can do projects like this amazing interactive LED dining table:

This website also has their own forums, with an "Ask an Evil Mad Scientist!" board. They also have a flickr group where website readers can show off their own evil creations! Mwa ha ha ha!

Celebrity DIY Style: Look Like A Celebrity This Halloween

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:25:00 EDT

Halloween is less than a week away which means that there's still time to create a costume modeled after your favorite celebrity. Here's a few ideas:

To re-create Marilyn's famous white dress from The Seven Year Itch, try Folkwear 239 (The Blonde Bombshell).

Want to wear Elvis' signiture jumpsuit? Be sure to check out Simplicity 2859 (for a child version, Simplicity 2880) or McCall 5734.

For a fun Carmen Miranda look use Butterick 4889 in bright satins.

Feeling patriotic? Turn yourself into Rosie the Riveter with Folkwear 240 or Uncle Sam with McCall 8701.

Heidi Klum recently posed for a "Got Milk?" ad in a classic German dirndl. You can look like Heidi too with Burda's 2446 or Burda Style's Wiesn Dirndl pattern.

No matter what you wear, don't forget Threadbanger's Handcrafted Halloween Costume Party!

Budget Headboard from Sew Betty

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:39:03 EDT

Need a headboard but it's just not in the budget? Can't fit in your apartment and even the ones at Ikea are too expensive? Well, if you can't go literal, why not try surreal. This painted headboard lesson from Sew Betty, is easy, cheap, and even thought provoking (Ceci n'est pas une Headboard)!

"I want a headboard for our bed, but it is not in the budget at the moment. Instead, I bought a canvas and Mark drew a headboard on it for me. I painted the headboard black and the background the same color Manhattan Mist from Behr) as our bedroom walls. It looks great above the bed and it makes me laugh."

Weekly DIY Roundup: Pumpkin Carving!

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:27:14 EDT

Have you carved a halloween pumpkin yet? Want some inspiration for a pumpkiny work of art that will stand out in your neighborhood? Well I've rounded up some of the coolest, most unique pumpkin projects I could find to give you just that inspiration! Before I get started, here's an article on how to safely carve a pumpkin for those newer to the craft.

First, there are a could great flickr pools you can browse through to get the creativity flowing. There's the jack-o-lantern group - I love this arty take on the classic face carving by BillyHutch:

And there's the Pumpkin Art group - so clever to use a small pumpkin within the carved large pumpkin like Tweddlebugs did here:

Now onto some tutorials! Hallmark Magazine's website has a great set of "Fantasy Pumpkins" like this carriage:

Eddie Ross has an excellent how-to post for these perforated pumpkins, and a monogram version for a more sophisticated look!

If you like your pumpkins elegant, I think this floral-themed carving by Nancie on HGTV's website is gorgeous!

Go a different route with photorealistic carvings by following photojojo's tutorial for scary photo pumpkins! (Of course, you could use non-scary photos with the same technique if you wish.)

Once you master that shaded kind of carving, scroll through these pumpkins on TagYerit's website. They are a band that carves pumpkins to go with their songs - incredible work!! They have posted tons of photos by friends and contributors also, so there's lots of inspiration here!

For nerdy carvers, Wired has reader-contributed geeky jack-o-lanterns up on their site, like Noel Dickover's Death Star:

And HughBeaumont's Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth is amazing!

Some more nerdy goodness, acajjou on craftster posted these pac-man pumpkins:

For a less traditional pumpkin piece, check out Miz.Persnicket's craft pumpkin, also on craftster...

And speaking of less traditional, I love Tippy's blow fish pumpkin on curbly!

If you do want to go for a carved jack-o-lantern style, but want a pattern to work from, zombiepumpkins.com has tons of pumpkin patterns, like Frank from Donnie Darko, Napoleon Dynamite, Harry Potter, Mario, tons of Tim Burton characters, the presidential candidates.....

And I'll end with a couple non-pumpkin pumpkin projects, if that makes sense. Bella Dia posted a tutorial for these fishbowl pumpkins using tissue paper and Mod Podge:

Lastly, stolloween posted a detailed tutorial for these awesome paper mache pumpkin guys:

So now hopefully you're inspired to get carving, and we'd love to see your pumpkin creations in the comments or forums!

Big Foot Tutorial

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

To learn how to this Big Foot Costume, watch the full episode with Rob and Corrine.

You will need a 2 recycled fur coats (fake or vintage).

On the center back line, cut the coat five inches from wherever your crotch line is.

Then cut a slit on the center back neck line, so the neck does not not choke you.

Make two leg tubes lining up one side of the crotch slit with the one side of the coat opening right sides together. Sew a seam up to where the slit starts.

When sewing, set straight stitch to the longest length, use a leather needle and upholstery thread will work best.

Sew both legs tubes.

WIth the other fur coat, rip out the lining.

Tear the fur into two long wide strips and many other short pieces. It may be best to use an utility knife to cut the fur on the back side.

With these cut pieces, attach to the legs of your costume with the longest pieces in front.

With the left over piece of fur, create a contrasting chest piece.

Make sure when you piece the fur together that the nap of the fur is hanging towards the floor. When sewing fur, remember to sew with the direction of the nap.

For any hard to reach spots, feel free to sew by hand with a leather needle, and very strong thread. When finished sewing, use a comb to comb fur away from the stitch line.

Make about 5 to 6 holes about 3 inches apart down the back of both sides of the back of the coat . Stop where the leg tube starts.

Take a long rope-like tie, attach a safety pin to each end and lace up the back like a corset.

You are done! For all of the Big Foot trimmings, like face, hands and feet check out www.indymogul.com for tips

Threadbanger's Handcrafted Halloween Costume Party!

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:38:20 EDT

Drum roll please...

THREADBANGER Presents...

HANDCRAFTED HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY!!

We're talking an unprecedented event- done in the epic Threadbanger fashion! Although this should go without saying, considering who we are, but costumes are mandatory! AND (because we go that extra step for Halloween) consider having your costume ZOMBIFIED because that's a possiblity! You can be brought to the brink of death by Zombie A-Go-Go's make-up morticians! That's right! We have a zombie transformation booth, which is only one of the incredible things we have planned for that night- including- a DJ, The Delyle Sisters, Live band Midnight Fistfight, organic catering, goody bags... PLUS a costume contest with included fashion show and we're giving away Threadbanger Janome sewing machine to the winner!

Only one person can win the sewing machine but if you're one of the first 100 people at the Mercury Lounge in NYC on October 30th (starting at 8 pm)- you will get an amazing goody goody bag! Hand made but us, the Threadbanger Team. Go to our Halloween page to see the video! Thanks to all our sponsors (Tumblr, American Sewing Expo, Etsy, Disqus, HowCast, Nature's Shea Butter, CraftStylish, Instructables, Dritz, PONO, Pink Quartz Minerals, Coats & Clark, Simplicity, Kreinik)

RSVP at ThreadbangerParty@gmail.com

For more info, photos, and videos, visit our Halloween Page or our Facebook invite!

Need a Costume Idea?

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:19:31 EDT

Need an Idea? Haven't even begun to think about considering to get a costume? Try Costume Idea Zone it's basically a public forum for people to post their costumes ideas in which others may reap the benefits. Categories include the standard- Unique, Couples,Traditional, Quick and Easy, and Children. There are a lot of ideas, including tips and top ten lists. I was on there for like an hour...at least.

My favorites in gerneral: Tornado, Steve Martin from The Jerk, Dizzy, Duffman, and Orbit Gum Girl.

There are a lot of "Pun Intended" costumes, like Little Dead Riding Hood, Rambozo, Hershey Kiss of Death, Cereal Killer, Grim Sweeper, The Gothfather– yeah there are a lot of these, read at your own risk. I think I'm going to go as the Lady from The Birds or maybe Jilted Bride. Zombie Jilted Bride?

Tie-Dyed Bow Ties

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:42:55 EDT

Its seems like ever since the conception of Gossip Girl bow ties are everywhere but rarely are they tie-dyed. Rik Villa, Wardrobe Style Assistant for Revolve, created tie-dyed bow ties and bow tie necklaces specifically for the Anzevino and Florence show and they were a hit. I couldnt help but think, these flirtatious bows are perfect for necklaces, bracelets and headbands and pins and are so simple to make but more importantly so simple to make.

What you need: White bow ties, rubber bands, RIT or other fabric dye, newspaper, gloves

How to: Follow RIT tie-dye steps here.

Worn Out: Street Style Pics

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:23:49 EDT

Hey guys! As ever, here are the top 5 street style picks from the last two weeks of offerings from the street style blogs. Feel free to challenge the opinion of yours truly via the comments section, and please! Shout out any of your new favorite/old favorite/head-and-shoulders-above-the-rest fashion blogs that you're currently digging. Here we go...

These women are both incredibly fashion-forward, and they're wearing their respective Fall/Winter trends well. The outfit on the left, from an October 11 post at Helsinki's Hel-Looks, is as slick as they come; the latex sheen, all-black color palette, and body-conscious silhouette are so this season, and overall her look just bleeds CONFIDENCE. The outfit in the photo at right is also a bold move, but in an entirely different sort of way. From an October 17 post at Face Hunter, the print is nuts and the colors are all over the place - it's a special kind of wacky that's getting lots of play this season. Her wound-up scarf is just icing on the crazycake, and I am soooo into it.

The photo on the left, from an October 13 post at Garance Dore, is a gorgeous example of perfectly executed layering. Each piece works together to cohesively form a menswear-inspired look, yet it all maintains a definite femininity. The kicks are what seal the deal for me; it's all so FALL-TASTIC I could just about die. So jealous. The photo on the right (from an October 16 post at Alta Mira NYC also inspires some well-intentioned jealousy - this man pulls off a thoroughly modern version of 1950s Americana in a way that I sometimes dream about at night. This seems to me to be a great example of how looks may go in and out of fashion, but if you always look like YOURSELF then you will always be in style. I find this fellow to be Very Aspirational.

This little casual number is a bit over our two-week expiration date, but I just found it so appealing that I had to include it. From an October 2 post at Stockholm Street Style, this look really blurred the boundaries between downright casual and absolutely glam. The vintage stole adds some unexpected OPULENCE to the rest of her lazy-day outfit, and all at once it gets all paradoxical and whatnot. Totally arresting, aesthetically interesting, and sure to spark some debate. Weigh in!

Celebrity DIY Style: The Wrap Dress

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:26:26 EDT

When Diane von Furstenberg introduced the wrap dress in 1972, I'm sure she had no idea that over 30 years later it would still be a fashion staple. Even today, celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Tyra Banks, Beyonce, and Jessica Simpson are spotted wearing similar looks. Why should every woman have one in their closet? According to this article, the wrap dress is waist-whittling, bust-enhancing and hip-reducing - what more could we ask for? If you're looking to add this dress to your wardrobe, try sewing up Simplicity 4074 or New Look 6674, The Onion's Wrap Dress, Vogue 8379 or 8315, Christine Johnson's Wrap Dress, McCall 5314, or Butterick 5206.

Cool Website Alert: Craft Gossip!

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EDT

I recently discovered this "Blog Network" website, which I think will be of interest to any kind of crafter out there. With topics ranging from knitting and sewing to recycled crafts and edible crafts, you can read all the posts together or just the ones that interst you, and you can subscribe to the rss feed of just the topics you're into. As the name suggests, this site is about sharing crafty stuff (or gossip) found around the web rather than posting new projects or how-to's, but it's great for finding cool things all in one place. Here are a few of my favorite blogs within the network...

The recycled crafts blog has to be my favorite, by editor Robyn Charles, who posts about projects and crafted items all made with recycled materials, like these cute paint chip notebooks by Whimsy Girl.

Sherezada Kent writes the indie crafts blog, posting about indie craft shows and exhibitions, projects, and stuff for sale by indie crafters, like these awesome presidential candidate jewelry items by DIYorDIE on etsy.

The jewelry making blog by Barbe Saint John is great, with tons of halloween-inspired jewelry lately, and posts about awesome jewelry tutorials like this shink plastic ring how-to by Planet June.

Be sure to check out the Craft Gossip home page and find your favorite topics!

How to Make a Strait Jacket

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:00:00 EDT

How to make a Strait Jacket!

Watch the full episode!

To start the Strait Jacket, you will need two cream colored button down shirts, one bigger than the other.

You will also need 6-8 black or dark brown leather belts. (try to use belts with thinner, smoother leather)

Start with the larger shirt and with a seam ripper, remove the front pocket and all buttons.

Remove collar.

Fold back the button plackets on both sides, pin and stitch down both sides of the shirt.

Fold down neck opening, pin and stitch.

Next with the smaller shirt, remove sleeves.

Now to extending the sleeves, with the larger shirt laying down flat, align the smaller shirt's sleeves on top of the larger shirt until they match .

Trim excess fabric (sleeve cap) from smaller sleeve and cut off the larger shirt's sleeves right below where they match.

Fit both sleeves together, pin and sew together on the machine.

Remove both sleeve buttons and sew along both cuff openings to seal arm holes closed.

Now to attaching the belts, cut 4 belts on half and place them on the back of the shirt, converging at the center back line with the buckles on one side and end with the holes on the other. With chalk, mark where you want them placed, and sew them down*.

* You will need leather sewing needles for this part.

To attach the belts on the front, cut another belt in half and place both halves on vertically on the center front. Mark with chalk, and sew (with leather needles).

Next you will attach a belt to the sleeves. Place buckle end of the belt on one sleeve, mark and cut the belt. With the remaining part end of the belt, place on the other sleeve, mark and sew both belt pieces onto the sleeves.

If you would like to add holes to the belt, you do so easily with a power drill or a soldering iron.

Congratulations! you have made a straight jacket! Please make sure someone can get you out of that thing!