In the second installment of Sewing 101, Emily shows us how to turn regular old bootcut jeans into fabulous skinnies! You won’t believe how easy it is…

Have another idea for a video? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Attention DIY junkies, petite girls and fans of well-fitting pants! You may remember our Scarves 101 video series, in which Lindsay showed us the many mod ways to tie a scarf. This week, Emily utilizes her incredible seamstress skills to enlighten us less-gifted fashionistas on the best ways to hem a pair of jeans.

Like what you see? Have an idea for another mod video? Leave a comment and let us know!

You can win this one-of-a-kind prom dress and ModCloth accessories by telling us about your dream prom!

Contest Rules:

Leave a comment on this post telling us:

*Your dream prom date
*What the prom theme will be
*What song you’ll dance to
*What ModCloth accessories you’ll be wearing. (You may pick up to 5 ModCloth items!)

Get Creative! Remember, you don’t have to be in high school to dream up the perfect prom date!

Keep reading for full contest details…

Liz’s Example:

Date: Jim Halpert
Theme: Princesses and Unicorns
Song: “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” played by Scrantonicity II!
ModCloth Accessories: Coppelia Necklace, Safari Chic Booties, Girly Girl Gloves, Love Locket-Down Ring, and the Jules Van Patten Clutch in Ivory.

The winner will get the accessories of her choice, as well as this one-of-a-kind vintage dress made by Liz! Sorry, Big Tuna not included!

Check out our prom category for some accessory ideas!

This dress is a one-of-a-kind creation. It won’t fit all sizes, but it is adjustable! The skirt of the dress is adjustable to 4 different waist sizes and the top of the dress has a lot of stretch so it can fit multiple sizes as well

Here are the range measurements for the dress:

Bust: 14-17 inches
Waist: 14 -15.5 inches

*All measurements are taken flat across the front of the garment. They do not represent circumference.

All entries must be received by Friday, April 17th at midnight EST! The winner will be announced on Monday April 20th. One entry per person. If a winner is selected who is does not think the dress will fit them, a Modcloth prize of equal value will be awarded. For more information, read ModCloth’s Official Contest Rules.

With prom season coming up, it was time for me to channel my inner Molly Ringwald and make a prom dress out of a vintage pink dress.

For details on how you can win this dress. instructions on how I made it, and to see the surprising “before” picture of the original dress, keep reading!

This dress started out as a vintage bridesmaid dress! Fortunately, with some sewing and a few additions, I think it had quite the cute evolution.

If you’re a beginner at sewing, you’ll probably need some help with this project. I’m lucky enough to have a grandma who is a seamstress, so I had plenty of help!

Even if you don’t have the sewing skills to make a dress like this, you could actually win this dress and ModCloth accessories for your prom! Check out this post for full details on how to win!

Here are the instructions for turning a long vintage dress into a tiered skirt for another dress:

Step 1: Decide the length you want your skirt to be by measuring from your waist down or measuring a skirt you have.

Step 2: Using your measurement, plus adding an extra inch for the seam allowance, cut around the bottom of the dress. (Note: If you leave the existing hem, you save yourself a step.)

Step 3: Cut the second shorter layer half the length of the longer layer, only this time you need to add three inches to your measurement (One inch for the seam allowance and two for the hem.)

Step 4: Measure your waist, and cut a strip of the fabric four inches wide by the length of your waist size plus two inches. Fold and iron a half inch seam allowance along the two length sides.  Then fold in half turning it inside-out. Sew the two short ends, then turn right side out.

Step 5: Gather the two tiers to the length of your waist band.

Step 6: Insert both layers into the band and top stitch in place.

Step 7: Hand stitch a strong hook and eye fastener on the ends of the waist band.

Step 8: Then attach it to any top you like, or use it as a regular skirt!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com – I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

One Man’s Waste is Another Woman’s Treasure…

Hey all! Natalie here. I wanted to share with you the instructions I gave my kids for the after school art class I teach. The basic idea is melting old plastic shopping bags into a composite plastic which you can then create a waterproof recycled tote/wallet/pouch/creation of your imagination. I have never seen a group of kids so excited about something that they created from a plastic bag…a plastic bag! It’s almost like reinventing the stick as an essential plaything. But as you can see by the smile on our bag model’s face, she is proud! The process of making a fused plastic bag is fun and a great way to put all of those old shopping bags to use instead of throwing them into the landfill. I challenge you to make this project your own and use the instructions from this class as a guideline to make with this fused material whatever your little creative heart can dream up!

Keep reading for full instructions on how to transform waste into a recycler’s dream!

What you need:

- Old plastic bags (any type of plastic bag will work, but the ones that fuse the best are the flimsy, good old “Thank you Thank you Thank you” type

- An iron and ironing board

- Parchment paper, or even just copier paper

- A sewing machine

Step 1: Lay down flat 3-4 bags, or rather 6-8 layers of plastic (more or less plastic will result in either holes, or the plastic not properly fusing).

Step 2: Trim the bottom seam, and the top handles off the bags. And layer the bags how you would like, with the most important design showing on the top. (If you would like, you could consider a more complex design in your plastic by layering or cutting out different shapes– stripes or polka dots– and placing them on top.)

Step 3: Between two pieces of parchment paper, place your layers of plastic on the ironing board and very slowly move the iron across the plastic perhaps for 20 sec. or so. Each person’s iron heats to a different temperature, but to give you an idea, I put mine on the Rayon setting. You want to heat the plastic enough for it to entirely melt together, but not burn holes or become too textured. There is a very fine line, so I would suggest a few trial runs until you understand the material the best you can. Iron the top for a while, and then flip the plastic over and iron the bottom (Of course, always with the parchment between the plastic and the iron. We don’t want to be ruining our irons!!). When you are finished it should very much be one smooth(ish) piece of plastic! If you have gotten this far…Hooray!!! because this takes some skill and patience!

Step 4: Draw up a pattern for the type of bag you would like to make out of your plastic. For ease, the kids and I created 8 x 12 in pouches with a Velcro closure, but I am sure our readers have much better sewing skills than 5th graders, so I encourage you to create a pouch with a zipper or snap closure. Investigate handles, and consider creating a more complex pattern than ours! Cut the pattern out of your plastic, sew the sides, add the closures, and you are ready to walk off in style and with a happy heart knowing you have helped the earth!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com or post them in a comment- I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

With the return of peplums to the runways and to ModCloth, (check out the adorable Twice As Nice Dress), I decided to create a removable peplum for today’s DIY post! Once you make one, you can add a flirty skirt to any of your dresses for a cute new look!

Keep reading for full instructions on how to transform any dress with just a belt and a piece of fabric!

What you need:

- A Belt (Here I used the classic Black Tie Affair Belt)

- A piece of fabric long and wide enough to create the skirt length you want. (I got a little over a yard and a half and had plenty of fabric to spare.) If you don’t want to worry about hemming, select a fabric that doesn’t fray.

- A Vasil (or a steady hand for cutting fabric!)

- A needle and thread, or even duct tape depending on the fabric you use!

- And of course a dress or two to experiment with. (Here we used the fabulous Silver Lining Dress)

Step 1: Fold the fabric in half, then in half again creating a square.

Step 2: Decide how long you want the skirt to be, then add the radius of your waist measurement to that length. Keep in mind that about an inch of the skirt fabric will be hidden beneath the belt. (Tip: It’s best to first cut too little than too much! You can always go back and cut more if your skirt turns out to be too long.) Measure that far out from the folded corner of the fabric.

Step 3: Mark the fabric with a pencil at the edge of the fabric.

Step 4: Repeat step 3, moving the measuring tape over a few inches at a time. (The start of the measuring tape should be coming from the same corner.) Repeat the same steps with the inner waist circle. For reference, our waist circle had a radius of 6 inches, and the length of the skirt itself was 15 inches.

Step 5: Cut along your outside markings for the skirt length.

Step 6: Next, cut along the inner waist circle markings. When you’re done, the fabric should look as pictured.

Step 7: Unfold the fabric and lay your circle skirt flat on the floor. Cut about a 4-inch slit on the back of the waist to make it easy to get in and out of!

Step 8: Attach the skirt to the belt. Here we were able to use duct tape because of the fabric, but for most fabrics you’ll probably want to sew the fabric on to the belt to secure it.

And you’re done! Have fun trying your peplum on different dresses and at different waist heights for new looks!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com – I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

For today’s Mod DIY project, I wanted to make use of some of the gorgeous vintage clip-on earrings I’ve collected!

Keep readings for tips on how to make fun removable clips for your favorite shoes!

For these Double Indemnity heels, I added this vintage pair of green leaf earrings for a new look. I recommend putting a piece of medical tape on the earring clip to ensure your foot stays comfortable!

I took orange clip-ons and added bows to them for the Wicker Park Slingbacks.  To secure the bows, I hot-glued them to the backside of the earrings. Again, wrap the clip part of the earring in medical tape if it is uncomfortable for you.

For the Awards Ceremony Heels, I wanted to add a little extra flair to the ankle strap with these vintage pearl dangle clip-ons!

And finally, for the White Angle Slingbacks, i made another bow and hot glued it to a plain clip-on earring back. We showed it on the back of the sling back but it looks super cute on the front as well!

If you have any questions or comments or suggestions, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com – I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

For this weeks DIY project, I wanted to expand my wardrobe’s potential by creating removable bows and lace clips that could give some of my favorite pieces new looks!

Keep reading for instructions on how to create your own removable fashion accessories!

This project was actually inspired by this vintage polka-dot bow-tie! I love it and I wanted to sew it to one of my dresses, but I couldn’t decide which one. To save myself from an impossible decision, I decided to sew hair clips on the back with the bow, so I could attach it and remove it from whichever outfit my heart desired!

The bowtie is shown above on our adorable Buttercup Cashmere Sweater.

I have a ton of vintage lace from my Grandma, so I decided I to make a lace pin. First I sewed the lace to itself creating a double layered ruffle look, then i sewed safety pins to the back of the lace.

The lace is shown in the picture above on our Wuthering Heights Jacket.

For this big yellow bow, I took a leather belt, tied it into a bow, and sewed safety pins into the back of it. If you are worried about damaging the fabric of whatever clothing you’ll be pinning, I suggest sewing hair clips onto the bow so they won’t pierce your clothes.

Above, the yellow bow is shown on The Ultimate Find Dress!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com – I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

Today’s Mod DIY project was inspired by blog reader Denise, who wanted a fun DIY project for earrings. Hope this helps, Denise!

Keeping in the theme of jewelry displays that are actually pleasing to the eye, I decided to make use of some vintage lace I had from my Grandma. For this project I’ve made two versions of an earring holder. One version has hinges and involves a little more work, but it lets you open up the frame so you can put backs on post earrings - the other is very simple and great for fish hook earrings.

Keep reading for full instructions and pictures on how to make your own earring holder!

Directions for Simple Fish Hook Earring Frame:

What you’ll need:

Lace, paint, a frame, paper, and duct tape.

Step 1: Take apart the frame, and remove the glass from the frame and discard it.

Step 2: Take the backing of the frame and trace the outline of the backing onto the paper you would like to have show through the lace. Cut out the paper — it should be the same size as the backing.

Step 3: Paint the lace if desired. Painting the lace will make it stiffer and better for holding earrings. If you paint only one side of the lace, the other side will have an interesting, almost tie dye effect.

Step 4: Take the backing of the frame and place it on the lace. Cut the lace so that there is a inch or so of border outside the backing.

Step 5: Place the lace face down on the floor, followed by the paper you want to show through behind it (also face down) and finally the backing of the frame. Take the sides of the lace and bring them to the back, securing them with duct tape.

Step 6: Place the lace-covered piece back in the frame and secure it in place. The frame I used had metal hinges to secure art, but you could also use duct tape to secure it.

And here’s the finished frame!

Directions for Hinge Frame:

What you’ll need:

2 frames of the same size, a mirror that fits in one of the frames if desired, lace, paint, a hot glue gun, a small hinge set and screw driver.

Step 1: After painting the lace, cut the lace so that it is about 1/2 inch wider and longer than the frame opening.

Step 2: Take the glue gun and glue one side of the lace into the back of the frame. Wait for the glue to dry, then pull the lace taut and glue the opposite side of lace to the other side of the frame. Wait for the glue to dry and repeat the same steps with the two remaining unglued sides of lace.

Step 3: Decide what you want to do with the back frame. Here I wanted to have a mirror, so I could look at it when putting on earrings. You can also make another simple earring holder for fish hook earrings, or make a smaller version of the jewelry frame from the last Mod DIY post!

Step 4: Attach the two frames with the hinge set. Measure and mark where you want the hinges to go before you pick up the screwdriver!

And you’re done. Display it on your dresser or hang it on your wall!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com – I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

Here are some blog readers’ projects inspired from the last Mod DIY post:

Emily used one of her grandmother’s favorite scarves to create this jewelry frame.  Not only do we love the colors and pattern of the scarf she used, we’re also quite envious of Emily’s jewelry collection – those brooches are such great finds!

Hannah used silk scarves to create some wonderful patterns on her jewelry frames. And she’s taking them with her to Denmark this coming semester - we’re so jealous!

     While many of us were adopting new dietary habits or once again vowing to sort out our financial situations, artistically-inclined people across the country got involved in the Fun-A-Day project. Now in its 5th year, the Fun-A-Day project, developed by the ArtClash Collective, challenges people to create something new each day in January. Whether its a unique salad, a 4×4 painting or a new stitched creation, each participant exercises their inventiveness daily with a new project of their choosing. Art shows are then held to showcase the unique talents and creativity of all involved!

With active groups in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Pittsburgh, it’s the perfect excuse to get out and gallery crawl, even if the weather is less than perfect. The Philadelphia show will be held on February 14th at Studio 34 Yoga (Pittsburgh and San Francisco’s shows are TBA.) Check out Fun a Day’s Facebook page for more information.

I choose to make a different everyday item out of felt, but with the 2009 trade show season in full swing, I was unable to make good on my idea…but the seed has still been planted. If you’re still scrambling to choose a resolution, why not pick a new one each month? We know how creative ModClothers tend to be.