Diy Megathread
 

Yeah. I'm surprised this doesn't exist yet.



Anyways, I guess I'll start the discussion.

I have 2 things I'm wondering about:

Pegging jeans and shaving my hawk in a strip.
It's currently not actually a line.

What's the best method for actually shaving it as a strip?


And the pegging, what's the best method?

there's other shit, but I forget. Hah.

For the jeans, you might want to ask a few friends for help. Put your jeans on, have someone pin the new seams (be careful so you can get your feet out again), sew the seams by hand with long stitches to make sure this looks just like you want it (and still can get your feet out again). When you're happy with the result, sew (use a needle suited for sewing jeans!) and cut off the excess fabric. There you go =)

I'd have thought thsat shaving your hawk into a strip you'll obviously need someone with a very steady hand and a keen eye. I wouldn't suggest trying it yourself. Or , before you shave the sides, you could cut the hair at the sides quite short with scissors leaving the desired amount of hawk in a strip, then you'll ( or whoever is doing the shaving ) know exactly the areas to shave, and will be less likely to make a mistake.

I made this a while back..
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...555/undead.jpg

I know nothing about hawks or jeans.. sorry..

Hawks
 

If you're not adverse to spending a little money, I would say just go to some cheap hair dresser's and get it done there. I shelled out $13 CAD and the woman did pretty much everything but take a ruler to it to make sure the strip was straight and even. Now that I have it, mostly I just shave what I can by myself, and get my mother/sister/friends to get the parts i can't see or reach. Some people suggest doing the sides with an actual shaving razor, but i wouldn't recommend it, most people I have seen do it cut the living shit out of themselves.

I already razor my head.
The problem most people have is they don't lubricate their scalp with a little water, I guess.

The only problem i have it I can't shave straight lines. xD

Hair dressers commonly fuck things up :P

I have no advice about your mohawk. However, for the jeans, I would suggest unpicking the seams (it's not very hard to do) then drawing a chalk line down where you want to put them back together. Make sure to pin them down and try them first. I would suggest just loosely stitching at the beginning to see if your new seams are at the right place, right tightness etc. and then firmly stitching. Something I've seen that looked pretty cool was red stitching on black jeans.

On another note, has anyone made their own corset before?

May I request DIY advice?

I have a wedding to go to.

The groom is planning on wearing a red dress or skirt/corset and the bride will wear a lacy jacket, somewhat in a Louis XIV style. We all plan on wearing Renaissance or Medieval themed dress.

The wedding will take place during a SF convention and I have already blown my budget on costumes, so I would like to alter something I already have.

I have a big black hoop skirt and corset top (black with silver cherry blossoms). I thought i could add silk or taffeta draping to the skirt and drape a shawl as well. The idea is to look a bit like this:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...isequatorz.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ostumes/o6.jpg

So far, my DIY efforts have been limited to a bit of tshirt painting and (duh) making a fishnet shirt from pantyhose. But this looks like i could just tack a nice swag of material to the waistband of the skirt.

Opinions? Better ideas?

I know that this is off from the other post, I couldn't think of a good answer sorry. Though what I DO commit sometimes is going into Thrift Stores and buying woman's fishnets, tear them apart and cut a hole through the middle. Anyone think of this as a 'good' idea??? Or I am just sick?I'm sick :(

People do it ALLL the time - I do not tear them apart - just cut a VERY SMALL hole at the crotch - 2" will give you a hole large enough to pull over your head. Snip a thread at a time if you need more

Snip a thread at a time for fingers. However, i confess, i bought a pair of fishnet leggings (rather than pantyhose) so i have a nice neat edge around my fingers.



ummmm i really do mean small hole - i cut a 4" hole for these and they barely show above a conservative neckline

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC00079-1.jpg

I've never thought of cutting holes in the crotch of fishnets as a 'weird' thing... Perhaps because I learned it from my mother. I reckon spending the extra money on buying a ready-made fishnet top is weird (unless you want it to cover your whole torso, perhaps).

i use safety pins on EVERYTHING...

Whispertwist - make sure the edges look okay, roll up the edges and sew if they don't, then find a broad ribbon long enough to go around your waist, sew it on and get a pair of unobtrusive hooks to keep the ends of the ribbon together (you might want to roll up the ends and sew this, too) without knotting them. If you know how to tie a pretty bow, you can leave out the hooks.

You would have to fold the taffeta before sewing it onto the ribbon, of course. I forgot to mention. If you want to make this very simple, get a somewhat thick, long thread and a needle and pierce through the fabric at even intervals so that you have the thread kind of "holding together" the fabric (damn, I could've explained this a hundred times better in Norwegian...). It's kind of like making ruffles, only the fabric's bigger. Then arrange it so that it lies prettily before attatching the ribbon with needles and sewing (looks prettier if done by hand in small stitches; the seam will look near invisible).

I hate this time limit...

I have a question...

Because i'm a metal head, i do alot of head banging. But when i'm not head banging and i want my hair out of my face tying it in a pony tail doesnt always help. There are parts of my fringe that go whispy and fall out of the pony...pins annoy me and gel looks like spooge...Advice?

Can you tuck it behind your ears?

If not, you could let your hair get greasy, and just push it out of the way.


Without pins and stuff, that's the best I've got.

Hmmm...how very grunge!
Even if it was long enough to go behind my ears, it leave it away from there because I increased the gauge on my lower lobes and i dont want them infected... :(

OOOH! I have another question...Whats the best thing to shine my Jack boots with?

Headbands? Non-stick hairspray? I let my hair go everywhere, so I'm not very experienced at this.

Try a pomade. They make them for wet, dry or both hair. Just use a very little, about the size of a dime, rub it between both hands, run your hands thru your hair and style how ever you want. For your wispys from your ponytail use a little pomade and smooth them into place. A decent pomade will hold them down without feeling stiff or sticky.

As for your jack boots... I know my boyfriend spit shines them. Black polish, spit, a soft cotton cloth and a boot brush. He has the shinest boots I have ever seen. I can check my lipstick in them. I am sure some other people here would be better with an explanation than me.

I love that! Was it done with bleach?

For those of you that haven't seen them yet...
Here's my completely DiY jacket.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...o/100_1537.jpg

ribcage shirt
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...o/100_1509.jpg

Specimen band shirt
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...o/100_1473.jpg


Any ideas what my next project should be? I'm kind of tired out on band shirts for the moment.

I need some help. I already asked someone about this but I decided to take it here. I am planning on adding black or possibly dark red lace cuffs to the ends of the sleeves of a black dress shirt. Problem is, I've never worked with lace nor have I sewn much. I've sewn comforters back together and such. Any tips?

Add chainmail to one of your designs! I want a chainmail tunic.

Chainmail is sexy...
Draco was that you? Smexy...

ANYWAY! Another question...Its more like a decor question...How do i paint my furniture, to give it a bit of gothic flare, without making it totally trashy? I dress it up with alot of heavy, decadent fabric and layer over lighter fabric like organza and lace...i also use alot of very rich colours like magenta, burgany, wines and burnt oranges...i'm not a fan of the whole gold thing, makes it look a bit kitsche.

Instead of gold, use silver. Looks much better. A link you might like: http://www.trystancraft.com/martha/

I shine my boots by getting a bowl of hot water, dipping a rag in it, then putting the hot rag into black polish, and putting the liquid polish on in circles, like waxing a window, and then let it dry. Do this 5 or 6 times, and DO NOT SHINE until the last coat.

It's tedious, but it gives you an amazing shine.