Second Skin Blog • Page 6 of 6 •

Stenciled Linen Top

May 29, 2016May 15, 2019 by Neda

I love hand printed fabric. I often buy plain fabric to challenge myself finding ways to decorate it and give it some sparkle. I find stenciling fabrics an easy and fun way to beautify fabric. There are many ways to go about it. Here I did the most basic way of creating a stencil.

I used what I had around the house, paper, a craft knife, some textile paint and a piece of foam. I drew a design on paper, cut the stencil out with the craft knife and dabbed textile paint through it with a piece of foam. I then used a fabric paint pen to add a bit more colour.

I used red linen from Organic Textile Company, the binding is silk and the edge I crocheted with embroidery thread. The pattern is self drafted. I read this book to teach myself basic pattern making Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified.

Making Children’s Shoes

May 22, 2016May 12, 2020 by Neda

Making children’s shoes is especially rewarding because you know what they are made of. Most shoes offered today consist of synthetic, glued together components that aren’t healthy for a growing and more vulnerable body. Wearing shoes made of such material often leads to sweaty (and sometimes smelly) feet.

Hand Stitched Dress with Appliqué

May 17, 2016February 19, 2020 by Neda

There is something special about hand stitching clothes. First of all there is no noise, no rattling of a sewing machine. Then there is the slowness of it, what is the hurry anyway. Also I can sit outside in the sunshine while stitching and hear the birds sing or watch my children play.

Sandalmaking eBook in progress – Writing an eBook

May 12, 2016March 16, 2018 by Neda

I’m nearly finished writing a sandalmaking e-Book. These photos show one of the 8 sandals to make in the book.

Although I’ve been making sandals for over 10 years now, I’ve learned so many new things while making the projects for the book, researching everything from scratch as if I was a beginner.

They say the best way to get familiar with a subject is to write a book about it, this is so true. It certainly has taken my sandalmaking to a new level.

But it’s not only the content of the book that has challenged me to go new ways, it’s also the technical side about self-publishing an e-Book that opened a new world to me, I’m so fascinated by it all.

In the process of writing the book, I’ve taught myself product photography, in design and setting up a blog and landing page. Of course, there is no end to learning, something new to master always comes up.

Update

The book How to make unique leather sandals is available now! Follow the link to find out more about the book!

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Reverse Appliqué T-shirt – Making Fun Clothes For Boys 1

May 9, 2016February 15, 2020 by Neda

Why do boys’ clothes have to be so boring? My 5-year-old loves colours and so do other boys, I’m sure, yet the clothes available for them are often so dull.

This t-shirt I made using the reverse appliqué technique. I first stenciled a design onto the fabric, sewed around each shape with embroidery thread and then cut the shapes out to show the fabric underneath.

Batik Leather Wallet – Decorating Leather With The Batik Technique

May 5, 2016June 6, 2020 by Neda

I love decorating leather. This batik leather wallet is the result of my recent discovery that leather can be decorated using the batik technique.

I was inspired by photographs in a leather craft book from the 70s where someone applied paint to leather with the batik technique, when I saw the photos (black and white, unfortunately) I just had to try it out.

I experimented with different designs and colour combinations using up all my leather scraps in the process (and a lot of dye) until I had a surface I liked and which I stitched into this wallet.

Making Boots at Home – Inspiration For Shoe Making

May 1, 2016May 27, 2020 by Neda

Making boots at home is the most wonderful feeling of accomplishment. You can make them look exactly like you want them, choose the material, colour, decoration, height and so much more!

I started making shoes 10 years ago, they didn’t look like these then. I used to take apart old shoes to figure out how they were constructed and then experimented with basic shapes, different leathers, dyes and ways to decorate it while teaching myself leather craft techniques.

I got so fascinated by the fact that I can actually make shoes at home that I haven’t bought another pair of shoes since.