#14: raphaella makes a maxi skirt PLUS fabric printing!

although i'm usually in the ultimate comfy item - leggings - i do love a maxi skirt every now and then!

i'd been wanting to make one for ages in a lighter fabric but couldn't find one i liked anywhere...and then it dawned on me - just print your own!

SO
two guides!

first - the maxi skirt, and second - easy peasy fabric printing!

the maxi skirt - takes less than an hour and only 3 steps!:

fabric printing - learn how to make your own material for a truely unique item!:

here are some terrible pictures of me in my hand-printed maxi!

i bought a patch of "astronomy" themed fabric online and loved this sun, so i traced around it and made it into a stencil...et voila!

and there you have it - an easy peasy truely unique item!

roll on springtime...

happy making!

raphaella makes what

#13: raphaella makes a turban

yay!! turbans are fashionable!

i've been a massive fan of the headwrap for ages (friends of mine will know the nigerian fabric headscarf has been an ella-staple for a while now...excellent festival hair solution), and now that the turban is back in style i thought i'd share how easy they are to make with you!

i've made TWO VARIETIES - a simpler, head-wrap style turban, and a more complex gathered turban (the kind which are very popular in-store at the moment) - but both look equally great!

first, my preferred version - the simple head-wrap turban!
(perfect for when you're in a rush or on the move, all it requires is one piece of fabric and an optional pin!)

next, the (slightly) more complex gathered turban!
(don't be put off by the title - it's really easy to make and once done never requires tieing again!)

this is me in my nigerian head-wrap turban!
(looking a bit pretentious probably, i know - it's just such a great thing to wear when you're feeling a bit lazy and just want to throw on some sunnies and leggings and get some greasy food...ahh, perfect!)

happy making!

raphaella makes what

#12: raphaella makes a poncho

happy new year!!!

the sales are almost over and shops are filling up with this seasons bits of hippy chic, so what better to be the first make of 2011 than the PONCHO!!

this is so simple - it just requires one piece of fabric and can be made in just a couple of hours! and it goes with everything...lazy comfy dressing at its best!

i only made mine a week ago and i've already worn it almost every day - i hope you love yours just as much!

(sorry about the rubbish photo quality...)

happy making!

raphaella makes what

#11: raphaella makes a maxi dress

the past few months the maxi dress has been EVERYWHERE, and now you can make your own!

don't be put off by the amount of measuring - once you've got everything worked out its so quick and simple to make, and you'll have everything written down for any other pieces you make! very useful!

stick to jerseys, viscose, and other stretch materials for this make, or if you want to use a stiffer fabric simply add a zip from the back to the mid-hips.

here's one i just made for a friend for christmas - i've made the back (shown at the front in this picture) slightly deeper, but you can shape it however you like!

happy (hippy) making!

raphaella makes what

#10: raphaella makes a short boxy jacket

hello again!

it's been a while - a nasty flu meant that my clothes-making skills were gone for a good few weeks, but now they're back with a few lovely staples for both christmas, new years, and all year round!

firstly, one of my favourites - the short boxy jacket!

this works great in both stiff and light fabrics, and could even be joined in the front center to make a cosy AND flattering square drapey top, or have the front panels made double the width for a beautiful waterfall-front jacket or cardigan.

this is my favourite in lemon yellow tie-dye linen!
i used hooks & eyes as a fastening, but you could always use something less fiddly.

i prefer it with the sleeves rolled up a little bit, but it's always up to you!

happy making!

raphaella makes what

#9: raphaella makes a clutch bag

another really easy one, but with christmas and party season coming up it's always good to have little easy things to whip up!

you can try this in a variety of sizes and fabrics - anywhere from lace to leather!

enjoy!

an example will follow in a bit...just made one for a friend as a present and i don't want them seeing it on here first!

happy making!
raphaella makes what

*COMING SOON*
high-waisted trousers, maxi dress, wrap dress, boxy jersey top
and any other requests...

#8: raphaella makes a high-waisted skirt

this is one of my favourite things to make - really quick, really easy, and there are so many ways to customize it!

all you need is one piece of fabric and some elastic - you don't even have to cut anything!

try making it really long and slightly narrower for slim maxi skirts, or adding loads of extra width and a little extra length for a volumized 50's-esque look!

remember - a stiffer fabric will give bigger volume, and a floatier fabric will give a lot more movement. try both!

here's the first ever one i made - over 3 years old and still going strong!

happy making!
raphaella makes what