I went through this phase when I was 14 where I pretended to be able to sew and it really only involved me making a blanket(which I still sleep with every night) and a few tote bags. I realized that I abhor following patterns and, really, I am much too lazy to be a sewing gal. But, I do like to alter clothes. I like to add pretty trims, or stitched detailing, or new buttons. Summer Threads is a feature I'll be running through the summer where I give new life to boring mall clothes, thrift store deals, or items I already own.
They're not complicated. And like most of my DIYs involve me saying things like:
"now just add some trim. whoo-hoo! you're done!"
"you could use that one loopy hand stitch here if you wanna"
In some circles I'm known as the Betty Crocker of sewing.
First up: Altered Bra Straps
In this fashion faux pas post from last summer, I shared my bra-strap lovins. I like wearing tank tops and strapless bras are annoying and basically I'm trashy, but who cares.
My sweet aunt gave me a two boxes of trims she found at a garage sale:
I grabbed two bras that have been hanging out my secrets drawer for a long time and pinned the trim to the straps:
Be certain to try the bra on before you pin, so the bands are as tight as you want them to be.
I then ran the straps through my sewing machine with zig-zag switch and afterwards pinned on lace and rick-rack and ran it through again.
And ta-da! Pretty straps to liven up your summer tanks and spaghetti strap dresses!
I also love this teal and red combo:
Hope to see your straps hanging out. ;)
Shannon November 7, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Very clever! :c)
Jaime Martinez June 15, 2011 at 3:07 pm
That’s so clever! It doesn’t even seem like a “bra strap faux pas” when you trim it up like that.
Kim Smith June 11, 2011 at 5:44 pm
This is GENIUS, kara.
cross stitch kits June 11, 2011 at 12:58 pm
absolutely brilliant idea! It definitely went in my to do list :-)
Meanz June 9, 2011 at 3:47 pm
This is such an adorable idea!
chelsea June 9, 2011 at 12:57 pm
awesome idea, featured this on my blog today
Gabie June 9, 2011 at 11:54 am
what a great idea!!!!!
http://breathingin-gabie.blogspot.com/
http://breathingin-gabie.tumblr.com/
Megan June 9, 2011 at 10:56 am
Wow, I never would have thought of that! Such a great idea. You really are the Betty Crocker of sewing.
Jada June 9, 2011 at 9:07 am
I need to try making these, looks so cute!
Nora June 9, 2011 at 6:11 am
This is a really cool idea. I habe to try this soon!
Greetings from Germany, Nora.
Kim June 9, 2011 at 2:56 am
Wow! That’s awesome! I should try this one day! :>
Chelle June 9, 2011 at 12:43 am
What a freakin cute idea. I always have my bra straps hanging out in the summer (I am also not a strapless bra gal), and I hate the way it looks. Might have to steal this one…
Heather Marie June 8, 2011 at 10:44 pm
I love this!!!
Anne June 8, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Simply amazing idea. Now I hope I had the dedication to even sew that, or bra straps that weren’t skin-colored to make the try an acutal success.
Denise Morrison June 8, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Ha ha. the betty crocker of sewing. that is so good and fits my sewing ability to a tee! I sew all the time but seriously I couldn’t sew from a pattern if you paid me a million dollars. I sewed a rockin little pirate skirt for my grandaughter for halloween, it was hysterical. looked good from the outside but scary on the inside. loving those bra straps missy.
teddi June 8, 2011 at 3:03 pm
i really like this idea! but alas, i am also NOT a sewing kind of gal. too lazy & trashy gal, that’s me. maybe i can talk someone who knows how to sew into doing this for me? i wish.
Sarah Rooftops June 8, 2011 at 1:17 pm
What a cute idea!
alycia June 8, 2011 at 1:04 pm
what a great idea!
Carrie Rosalind June 8, 2011 at 12:30 pm
So so pretty! I’ve never thought to do this but I totally want to now!
Mademoiselle Marie June 8, 2011 at 12:24 pm
In Europe, nobody seems to care about bra straps hanging out. But the bras that fitted well didn’t necessarily have cute-looking straps, so I used to pretty them up with buttons (and paper flowers. once. no good idea)
I love the idea of adding lace to the bras straps. Can’t wait to try it tomorrow!
cole June 8, 2011 at 12:09 pm
dude, you just totally turned trashy into classy…crashy? trassy?
summer b June 8, 2011 at 12:01 pm
i love this idea so much. i honestly, hate seeing the regular old, dirty bra-straps on the subway. bah. fab idea.
Krystal June 8, 2011 at 11:28 am
love this! mine are out today! thanks for the inspiriation.
moxiemandie June 8, 2011 at 11:05 am
you are so funny! these are really cute, and I HATE using patterns. I’ve only used 1, and I hope I never do again. ;)
Bekah June 8, 2011 at 10:32 am
awww…these are way cute, Kara! What a cute way to dress them up. Another thing to add to my crafty to do list…
-B