LOFT-Inspired Ruffle Front Cardigan DIY Tutorial

I am in LOVE with this cardigan (left - it does have ruffles after all), but with all the sales LOFT has, I'm hard-pressed to pay retail for anything.  I know, it's like a sickness.  Except handbags...I have a soft spot for handbags, hence my tPF obsession.  Ahem, back to the matter at hand.  I have a cheapie cardigan that I wanted to make over, at least temporarily, to fulfill my ruffle madness.  I actually tried this several ways before I got it to "work."  First with grosgrain ribbon (too stiff) ruffled, then pleated (looked forced), and then finally a thin broadcloth ruffled.  Ideally I would have a navy chiffon but I could not for the life of me find one at the local Joann's yesterday :(  A few differences to note - since even thin broadcloth is thicker than chiffon, the DIY cardigan ruffles have more volume.  Also, the cardigan I chose just so happens to be a full-sleeved, longer type of sweater than the cropped LOFT version.  OK, enough blabbing.  On to the step-by-step tutorial after the jump!

DIY Embellished Sleeveless Tops (Tanks)

If I had to choose a specialty, it would be making a very basic sleeveless top and then embellishing it.  I've added neckline / shoulder / hemline details in all sorts of prints and fabric types.  Here are some examples:

Tiered ruffle bottoms

Various neckline / shoulder details

(Ignore the baby stuff, the nursery just has better lighting than our bedroom :P)

Is there any interest in a tutorial on a particular one?  If so, I can do a tutorial on how to pattern / sew your own tank and then separate ones on embellishments.

Detailed photos of embellishments after the jump...

Flower Sash DIY Tutorial

Aside from ruffles, I'm also a sucker for flower / petal details.  I know...I'm such a girly girl LOL.  I've been seeing a number of belts with large flowers so I decided to take a stab at making my own version.

A close up of the flower

Instructions after the jump...

Loft Ruffled Halter DIY Tutorial

My first tutorial so please bear with me!  :)  This one is a retroactive one since it's based on the Loft Ruffled Halter in the 8/23 post.

What I used / what you may need:

• New Look Pattern 6785, use "A" and modify it for a shortened length and removed yoke
• Fabric of your choice, preferably something with a little flow and relatively thin (sheers will work well here or something silky)

Loft and J. Crew Inspired Ruffle Tops DIY

I have been obsessed with all things ruffles and petals this year.  I knew / know it's a fad so rather than spend hundreds collecting them all (you should see my last obsession - a collection of cardigans), I decided to try my hand at sewing them myself.  I'd feel much better wearing something for a season if it only cost $4 to make in materials.

Here is one of my more recent Loft inspired creations, you can find the original here.  I found a textured sheer fabric in a dusty purple color and thought it was perfect for this recreation.  There are some clear modifications - a looser body, one less ruffle, and "flat" ruffles versus looped ruffles, but all in all, I'm happy with how it looks.  

Second, is the J. Crew Grand Ruffle Shell (I think originally in a jersey material, no longer sold) recreated in a cream-colored broadcloth with matching chiffon.  The chiffon is doubled up, but I left the broadcloth in a single layer with raw edges so that I could get a frayed effect.

From here on out, I hope to create tutorials out of future projects (though I am by no means an expert of any kind)!