#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

#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

#4: raphaella, ian, luke, and kris make a radio show

hello!

from june 26th - july 4th, myself, jukebox richardson, ian jamesy james, and kris 'the viking' anderson will be hosting the only english-speaking radio show at this year's ROSKILDE festival - 'the english dandies!'

scary, but exciting stuff.
as i am lots better at being silly on air than making high-tech radio things, i made us some little doodles of logos for our show, which i hope you enjoy!

tune in to THE ENGLISH DANDIES from june 26th, on http://www.last.fm/festival/896162+Roskilde+Festival+2010
(possibly)

we'd love ya to be there!

love and pizza

raphaella makes what