DIY Outfit – Turtleneck Dress

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When I choose an outfit, I want to be stylish, comfortable and warm. I get cold really easily so a knit turtleneck dress like this is a great wardrobe builder. I love this striped knit and the chic below the knee length. Paired with tights, boots and a coat, this dress will keep you warm even on a chilly, blustery day. Here's how I would DIY this dress.

How to DIY a Turtleneck Dress

Step 1: Today's inspiration is this dress from the Gap (btw, if you don't feel like doing the DIY this time, the dress is on sale right now!). The thing I love about knit dresses is they are as comfortable as sweats but look 100 times more pulled together. 

Step 2: The Neenah Dress by Seamwork Mag is a great basic that will sew up in just a few hours. You won't have to make design changes to this pattern in order to match our inspiration, except maybe adjust the length for your height.

Step 3: For fabric, you'll want to look for a medium-weight knit with some stretch, like this double-knit from Michael Levine.

That's it! An easy-peasy classic DIY. Stayed tuned because later in the week, I'll be sharing a sweater dress of my own using the Neenah Dress pattern. Happy sewing!

DIY Outfit – Bootcut Overalls

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As I mentioned in my 2016 recap, I fell in love with the bootcut style last year. Skinny jeans still play a major role in my wardrobe but the bootcut feels fresh and new. Combine the bootcut with overalls (aka dungarees) and you'll be stepping out in style. Read on to see how I would DIY this ready-to-wear look.

How to DIY Bootcut Overalls

Step 1: Today's inspiration are the Mother Swooner Weekender Flared Overalls from Anthropologie. I love this classic overall style transformed by the boot cut pant. It feels a little bit seventies but is still totally current.

Step 2: For the sewing pattern, start with the Turia Dungarees by Pauline Alice and add a flare to the pant leg to achieve the bootcut style. Alternately, you could try your hand at adapting the Birkin Flares by Baste & Gather or the Ginger Flares by Closet Case Files into overalls by adding a bib and straps. You might also want to check out a couple of overalls patterns from Burdastyle – the Overalls 07/2016 #109 and the Bootcut Overalls 06/2014 #106. 

Step 3: Get your hands on a classic dark denim with a little bit of stretch like this dark navy stretch from Mood Fabrics. 

Have you tried your hand at sewing overalls? This pair really makes me want to give it a try. After all, it feels like the next logical step after making jeans. And, sewing my own would mean that I could make them long enough in torso and leg to actually fit my tall body. 

DIY Outfit – Cropped Wrap Pants

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I love when a new silhouette hits the fashion scene, especially when it's pants. Culottes? Flares? I'm totally there. So when I started seeing wrap pants, I instantly fell in love. I love that they look casual yet are super interesting. You could never look like you're not trying in a pair of these pants but at the same time they look so comfortable to wear. Read on to see how I would DIY these denim wrap pants.

How to DIY Cropped Wrap Pants

Step 1: Today's inspiration is this pair of denim cropped wrap pants by SEA.

Step 2: The Nehalem Pants pattern by Sew House Seven is perfect for recreating the cropped wrap style. Move the pockets closer to the waist and add an angled opening for your hands to get a look closer to the inspiration pants. If you're not a fan of the cropped length, the pattern also has a full length version.

Step 3: A nice light-weight denim is the ideal choice for wrap pants. I found this 6 oz denim in classic blue from Fabric Depot. Unlike a lot of denim styles, this wrap style does not require stretch.

For more DIY inspiration, follow me on Bloglovin and Pinterest.