Fashion Fix: Sleeveless shirt

This is a wonderfully simple fashion fix but can revive any unloved wintery tops and put them back in pole position for Summer. What could be simpler than removing sleeves?

Photo Amanda Thomas

1. Start by cutting the sleeves off your shirt
2. Sew bias binding along the colour, arm holes and pocket top. If your shirt has a pocket, you may want to unpick the top of the pocket and re-sew in place once the binding is on.
3. Change the shirt buttons to random colours which will compliment the colours in the binding.

If you want to make your own bias binding, follow my easy steps here

Fashion Fix: Back Pack Series - Neon Piping

I've decided to do a series of Back Packs for the summer months, whether you're packing for a festival or just strutting down Brick Lane, you need some serious arm candy.  First in the series, the Neon Piping Pack

 

You will need

• bias binding, enough to edge all the pocket tops
• hand needle and matching thread
• sewing machine
• dressmaking pins
• dressmaking scissors

How to do it

1. Bias binding has pressed in edges that make it easy to follow whilst sewing it on.  
2. Pin the right side of the bias binding to the top side edge of the pocket flap. Start at one end leaving a 1.5cm overhang of binding.  Using the crease of the binding as a guide, sew along the pinned edge using a running stitch. Remove the pins.
3. Using an iron, press either end of the binding (the 1.5cm overhang) inwards to create a neat edge.  Next, still with an iron, press the binding flat and fold under the edge of the pocket flap. Pin.
4. Using a hand needle, sew along the under side of the pocket using a neat slip stitch so that the thread does not show through to the other side of the jacket. Remove the pins.
5. Hand sew up each end to neaten with a small blanket stitch.

BOX OUT – Make your own Bias binding.

1. Mark out strips of cotton 5cm wide, at 45’ angles across your piece of cotton. Cut

2. Sew each strip to the next to make one long length. 

3. Slowly push the cotton strip through a mouse binder and press with an iron as you go.

Types of stitch:

running stitch on the machine

blanket stitch by hand

Fabric and provider

• bias binding from Fabricland
• www.fabricland.co.uk/bristol.htm
• 0117 922 0500

Garment Details:

Black faux leather rucksack from Primark

Fashion Fix: Moschino Jacket Bias Binding Masterclass

a style that works for both guys and gals

Inspired by Moschino's irreverent sense of style, Ros and I gave an otherwise conventional dinner jacket a colour injection. Combining  masculine tailoring and colour blocking; our sharp suit gets a playful makeover and you get a bias binding master class.

Here’s a double whammy of a kickass project as well as a summary of how to get this technique just right. Don't say I don't do anything for you.

Once you’ve mastered bias binding you will find it uses endless in most projects. Bias binding is cut upon the diagonal (the bias) and can be manipulated to the shape of the garment so don't be afraid of curves. This Fashion Fix is an opportunity to perfect right-angle corners and finishing off those fiddly ends.

You will need:

• A fitted blazer
• Assorted colours of satin bias binding.
• Cotton thread 
• Pins 
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Iron

How to do it:

1. Bias binding has pressed in edges that make it easy to follow whilst sewing it on.  
2. Pin the right side of the bias binding to the top side edge of the jacket collar. Start at one end leaving a 1.5cm overhang of binding.  Using the crease of the binding as a guide, sew along the pinned edge using a running stitch. Remove the pins.
3. Using an iron, press either end of the binding (the 1.5cm overhang) inwards to create a neat edge.
4. Next, still with an iron, press the binding flat and fold under the edge of the jacket. Pin.
5. Using a hand needle, sew along the under side of the jacket using a neat slip stitch so that the thread does not show through to the other side of the jacket. Remove the pins.
6. Hand sew up each end to neaten with a small blanket stitch.

CORNERS: ‘MITERED EDGES’

Turning a corner with bias binding can be tricky but these two ways should help you master that perfect finish. 

Easy: Simply sew the binding to the end of your length and cut. Then pin a new piece of binding over the raw edge and start again as you did in step 2. 

Hard (but better looking!): Follow steps 1 to 6 of our Binding master class and stop about 1cm before the corner. Fold the binding around the corner and create a mitered pleat. Use a pin to ease this pleat and press with an iron. Finish off the corner with a hand needle.

 Make your own Bias binding.

1. Mark out strips of cotton 5cm wide, at 45’ angles across your piece of cotton. Cut

2. Sew each strip to the next to make one long length. 

3. Slowly push the cotton strip through a mouse binder and press with an iron as you go. 

Bias binding on a curve.

Before folding the binding over the curve, snip small triangles from the raw edge of the binding. This will help ease it round the curve.