DIY Leopard Fur Cape/Collar

You can make a collar like this using any patterned fabric. Perfect for keeping warm. The beautiful and talented Paulinemma has killed it with this DIY. If you haven't checked out her blog, you definitely should. A small number of very well executed DIYs hiding in her archives too!

DIY Blanket Coat

Cut arm holes in a wool blanket, and throw on, wrap around or whatever you want, to keep warm this winter.

Image: Studded Hearts

DIY Weekly - Shredded Knit Cape

Earlier this week I nabbed a knitted cardigan off the 50p rack in my local thrift shop, and decided it was perfect for the shredded knit DIY I have been wanting to do for a while (see my inspiration posts here and here). The cardigan was actually pretty cute with little brown wooden buttons, and as soon as I saw it I knew what it was going to be.

Before:

DIY Steps (refer below for pics of the process - result!):
For the shredding - 
1. Cut a slit along the bottom of the seam of the knit - this is where the shredding will start. 

2. Start unravelling upwards against the grain of the knit.

3. Working up the cardigan, separate the yarn and unravel, whilst  making sure to leave a cobwebbed affect of knitting attached. Don't worry if you make some holes, the looks not supposed to be perfect.

4. Keep unravelling - you can do as much of the cardigan as you like, I did a section at the front and a section down the back. It takes a while so make sure you are watching a good movie (or your 6th episode of friends in my case... why is there never anything else on??).
For the cape:

To make the cape, fold the arms inside the cardigan and cut off, sewing shut. I was lucky with this cardigan because it was a couple of sizes too big for me, with the shoulder seams sitting way off my shoulders, so it already had that rounded shoulder look of a cape. Look for an oversized knit.

After:

DIY Batwing Cape Dress

Dear sheer batwing dress,
You are now officially on my DIY-lazy-sunday-to-do list.
Hopefully be seeing you soon.
x

 

Image: Stolen Girlfriends Club via Oracle Fox

DIY Clear PVC Cape

This cape is one of a coolest things I have seen in a while. Such an amazing rain jacket, you get to show off your cute outfit while staying dry! Buy some thick clear plastic sheeting, you could even use a shower curtain like this one. Trim it into a circle and cut a hole in the middle for your head, then make a front opening by cutting from the neck hole to the edge along the diameter. (Realise this is confusing haha, I'll add a diagram of this soon).  I've added a pattern below, using a basic cape pattern.

Image: Streetstyle Aesthetic

DIY Coat Cape

This could possibly be the easiest DIY around. Spotted by Jen of The Style Crusader at LFW, get cape-like without going the whole hog by wearing your jacket without your arms in the arm holes. Perfect done with any type of jacket - blazer being a favourite.

Image: The Style Crusader, Tommy Ton and Style.com

Ps. I know I have gone on and on about capes on this blog - but tried one on at Zara a few days ago (camel one with slits in the front for arms) and it was ridiculously impractical, I couldnt get my bag on my shoulder and my arms stuck out in front of me awkwardly.... maybe the jacketcape is really the way of the future?

DIY Tassell Bowtie

Love the spanish feel of this look - and as usual have spied an easy DIY in the form of the tassell necklace worn like a bow tie. You local craft shop/market/curtain store should have something similar. Wear like a tie.

Image: Hanelli Mustapata

DIY Mexican Poncho

Please don't hate me for repeating myself with the whole blanket as a cape thing. I am addicted.

Image: Honestly WTF

The Ultimate DIY Competition Brainstorming

The ideas are flowing for this competition.... now I just need to buy the materials and mark off some time in my diary for some serious DIY (before I go to Portugal on Thursday that is!).

Image: Le Fashion

DIY Cape

I have been posting about capes for agggeeesss, as they just appeared to me to be pretty DIYable. Have found a great tutorial at Dana's Fashion Blog of how to make your own - how to turn that cool blanket into a cape. Go here for the tutorial. I am thinking a Leopard Print one? Wait and see!

Images: Dana's Fashion Blog

The Ultimate DIY Competition

Am currently planning my entry to The Ultimate DIY Competition... and these capes are inspiring me for about a million reasons. Stay tuned!

Image: Le Fashion

DIY 4th and Bleeker Cape

Cape made out of a scarf. whats not to love?

Image: 4th and Bleeker

DIY Blanket Cape

Everything I see is pointing to the fact that if you buy one thing this autumn, make it a blanket cape. If you are like me and only like things when they are a)thrifted b)cheeaaaap c)DIY or d)all of the above, make sure you get down to your local thrift/homewares/antique/ikea store and buy a blanket w a cool motif for slinging around your shoulders. I was actually in good old Primark* a little while ago and they had a checked soft fleece blanket that was a prime cape candidate.

Image: Studded Hearts

* (for those of you not in the UK, primark is an utterly out of control store that sells clothes and homewares for under a fiver - where you should expect to get your hair ripped out over a pair of 2 quid earrings. To really punish yourself, head there on a saturday morning with a hangover )

DIY Inspiration - Kimono

Am addicted to the look of kimonos. Am going to buy a sheet sized piece of ethnic fabric (have found this amazing ethnic fabric seller in North London - probably technically Indian sari material but oh well!) and have a go this weekend. I'll also be uploading my little DIY giveaway!

Images: Fashion Squad / Mr Newton / Fashion Squad / Frassy

DIY Blanket Cape

Choose a blanket with a great print - preferably one with a fantastic tribal/ethnic print and tassels - throw over your shoulders and belt!

Image: 5 Inches and up

DIY Cape

More capes that could easily be made out of blankets... This one looks like it could be made by grabbing a blanket and cutting a U shape out of one side so it can go over your shoulders and around your neck easily.

Image: Knight Cat

DIY Zara Poncho Dress

Love this beautiful poncho dress from Zara, saw it on a girl in Oxford Circus yesterday and it looks every bit as lovely in person as on the bloggers. This could easily be made!

DIY: Fold some beautiful light sheer fabric (in a perfect world with tassels) in half. Cut a neckline into the fold. Sew two vertical lines down the sides, leaving enough space between to fit your body, and some at the top for your arms to go through. Done!

Images: 5 Inches and Up / Late Afternoon

DIY Blanket/Rug Cape

Wrap up in a rug!

Image: Zara AW/11 Lookbook

DIY Blanket Cape

Am going to find a great printed blanket to wear as a cape as it gets cooler.

Image: Le Fashion

DIY Cape Jacket

Arrrgh such a cool idea! A zip off cape, does it get any better than this? There are sooo many ways you could copy this, you could make your own waterproof one using using some cut out shower curtain (the cute ones they have at the pound store with pictures of rubber duckies on them would be good for festival wear!) or you could attached some jersey/wool fabric in this way to a grey marl sweater or cardigan. So many ideas! I can imagine how cosy it would be in winter if you made this using a load of thick soft wool fabric. I would even think about using buttons instead of a zip.

Image: Jak and Jil