Chic on a Shoestring: Simple to Sew Vintage-Style Accessories

335 Pages·2012·16.48 MB·English

by  Baxter

Chic
on a
Shoestring

Chic
on a
Shoestring
Simple to sew vintage-style accessories
Mary Jane Baxter
Photography by Claire Richardson
Illustrations by Sam Wilson
A PERIGEE BOOK
To Maureen and Peter Baxter with grateful love from their daughter
Mary Jane
A PERIGEE BOOK
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a
division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
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CHIC ON A SHOESTRING
Copyright © 2011 by Mary Jane Baxter
Photographs copyright © 2011 by Claire Richardson Illustrations copyright © 2011 by Sam Wilson
Design copyright © 2011 by Kyle Cathie Limited All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not
participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only
authorized editions.
PERIGEE is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
The “P” design is a trademark belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First American edition: May 2012
Originally published in Great Britain in 2011 by Kyle Books.
ISBN: 978-1-101-58499-6
PRINTED IN CHINA
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Introduction
The treasure hunt
Hunting grounds
The basic kit
A sewing phrasebook
Fabric know-how
Customizing
The ten customizing commandments
Three vintage trims
Naïve no-sew collar and detachable bow
Sensational shoe-stoppers
Kitsch-tastic flip-flops
Turn-around trinkets
Straightforward Sews
Tie change purse
Button bag remake
“Precious things” drawstring bag
Tea-towel apron
Beautiful belts
Beautiful Blooms
Best in show rosette
Quick and quirky corsage
Sweet and simple fabric flowers
Panty-hose petals
Floribunda
Jewelry
1950s paste jewelry
Girl-next-door necklace
Spectacular shoelace necklace
Subversive shirt choker
Bella necklace/collar
Pom-pomless earrings
Glitterball hatpin and earrings
Hats and Headwear
Cashmere beanie
Fast fingerless gloves or wrist warmers
Emergency hat
Feather fascinator
Retro headband
Turban tutorial
Suitcase Essentials
Silk-scarf tops
Silk-scarf skirt
Bathtowel cover-up
Vintage collar and cuffs set
Romantic lace scarf
Everlasting thank-you flowers
Templates
Index
Acknowledgments

introduction
I f you’re anything like me, you’ll know how it feels to gaze longingly at
enticing images in glossy magazines and realize that the object of your
desire is way beyond your reach. There’s the handcrafted necklace that’ll
mean a bounced check, the stunning shoes that will deprive you of your rent,
or the elegant hat that’ll blow your credit rating out of the water. But it doesn’t
have to be like that.
Chic on a Shoestring is the doorway to a different world, one in which your
creativity will flourish and your purse strings won’t snap. Leaf through the
pages and you’ll find a plethora of ingenious ideas for transforming stuff you
might otherwise throw out or ignore into a closet full of covetable clothes and
accessories.
Inspired by Claire Richardson’s stunning photographs and aided by Sam
Wilson’s delightful illustrations, I’ll give you step-by-step instructions to
show you how you too can become your own makeover magician using basic
sewing techniques. If you’re a beginner, you’ll relish being able to achieve
stunning results without accumulating a vast array of skills and equipment; if
you’re already an accomplished seamstress you’ll find a host of fresh and
exciting projects as well as possibilities for stamping them with your own
personality.
Chic on a Shoestring will change your look from top to toe. There’s the
charming pillbox hat conjured from a cereal box, the shoelaces that become a
show-stopping choker, the silk scarf that emerges as a seductive summer top,
and the oxfords that bring to life your basic lace-ups. There are tips for
embellishing and customizing everyday clothes to help you express your
signature style whether it’s vintage or modern, and a guide to finding those
treasured bits and pieces to incorporate into your designs.
I mostly stitch by hand, which means that lots of the “makes” are portable and
perfect for long journeys or boredom-inducing commutes. Besides, I’ve
always found that people love it when you stitch in public, and I’ve
discovered it often helps break down barriers and forge new friendships.