DIY projects #3 : Starter Kit
Hi dolls ! I thought it would perhaps be useful to write a bit about starter kit because we don’t talk so much about what we work with… So here’s just a few ideas to begin with. First you have to assemble your own kit, with the tools and stuff you wanna work with. This stuff is pretty expensive so of course you gonna build it little by little but you can already look through your house and find some cool things to put in your kit. Here are a few examples :
- Fabric markers (choose them well because some tend to be very pale on the fabric)
- Fabric paint, glitter glue (my fantasy land, I have more than 30 of these babies and it never seems enough ! some of them you have to use it on a plastic paper and iron it after on your fabric, some others you can use it already on the fabric, but I would advice to draw your idea on the fabric because proportions are bitches when you’re deep inside your work… been there ! Don’t forget to turn the fabric, put another fabric and iron it so the paint will survive washings)
- Buttons, charms, ribbons… All that crazy stuff you can play with later ! Buttons aren’t just for jackets, you can also use them as decorations. Obviously. Been there too. And it was really like Little House on the Prairie. Aouch.
- Sewing machine, of course but this just another game. Ask your mom or grand mom for basics. (Or your dad !)
- Kraft paper (for patterns), paper (drawings and stuff), cotton fabric, and of course fabrics you wanna work on.
- Sewing kit including : baby scissors (but bigger, especially those made for fabrics are the best), threads, thimble, needles, wire colling, rulers and so on.
- A tailor bust, you can find all sizes and it’s really helpful if you wanna do like big works.
- Brushes (for paint) but I also use toothbrush, fingers and other stuff like potato cut in shape, etc…
- I would advice to read some books, there are a lots about sewing which would be a great help when working with your machine, also all kind of books about design, drawing figures and getting inspiration. If you want I can post a few of my favorite books… ?
- Other stuff like : nail polish (yeah ! it stay just fine on a cotton fabric !), any other stuff that would be versatile and great to work with !
BASIC ADVICES :
- Always keep a little piece of fabric to preview what you’re going to do. You may want to be sure to color is right on the fabric’s shade.
- When you’re organizing your dressing and find clothes you don’t want to wear anymore, always think “can I customize this and be able to create something fresh and new?” if yes, keep it the way it is. If not, cut the fabric and keep parts you will use, maybe you like the print so much you wanna sew it on your shorts ? This is a simple way to clean your stuff + create some others without buying expensive fabrics.
