One of the best ways to express your style is through your clothing. Here are a few ways to add personal touches to your wardrobe, as well as some tips for keeping your favorite pieces looking their best.
Accessorizing ideas
You may not have the time or skills to make clothes yourself, but you can easily adapt store-bought items for yourself and your children with a few fun, simple techniques and minimal sewing.
Personalized ribbon: In childhood, the name tags and monogrammed ribbons our mothers sewed inside our clothes served a very practical purpose: They helped us keep track of our sweaters, jackets and so on. But these ribbons also make a great decorative touch.
You can hand-stitch monogrammed ribbon (available in sewing stores and from Martha by Mail, 1-800-950-7130) along the outside edge of a sweater, T-shirt, hat or jeans. Simply pin a length of ribbon to the bottom edge of the garment, then tack in place, stitching at each break between the initials. For a neat finish, turn each end of the ribbon under and stitch ends.
Creative zipper pull: Attach a pom-pom, tassel, charm or bead to a sweater or jacket zipper. With chain-nose pliers, open a 1/4-inch or 3/16-inch jump ring (available in hardware and bead-supply stores); thread through loop in object and then through zipper pull; close with chain-nose pliers.
To attach an object that has no loop, such as a bead, insert an eye pin (available in bead supply stores) through it. Snip pin with wire cutters, leaving 1/2 inch. With tip of pliers, make a small loop at cut end. Attach to zipper pull with a jump ring.
Ribbon details: It's easy to make a shirt truly your own with a few leftover snippets of ribbon and rickrack.
Trim a solid T-shirt with ribbon stitched along the curve of a neckline, or along the edge of a sleeve or pocket. For an oxford dress shirt, sew a narrow ribbon along the collar, on each side of the front placket and on the insides of the sleeve plackets. Attach ribbons with matching thread in a straight stitch, leaving about 1/4 -inch of ribbon at each end. Tuck ends under and sew in place.
Clothing care tips
Whether your clothes are stored in your closet or packed inside a suitcase, these ideas will help you keep them looking sharp.
Dust covers: Drape hanging garments with tea towels to protect them from dust and dirt, while still allowing your clothes to breathe. Add a 1/4-inch grommet (available in sewing stores) to the center of each
towel so it can be slipped over the hanger hook.
Here's how: Fold towel in quarters, and make a small hole by snipping off the point of the folded corner.
Unfold and fasten grommet in place with grommet tool.
(Note: Grommet tools are often sold with grommets; if not, they can be purchased separately at sewing stores. It's a good idea to practice fastening a grommet on scrap cloth if you've never done it before.)
Portable ironing pad: It's easy to give clothes a quick press when traveling if you've packed a portable iron and ironing pad.
To make a 19-by-27-inch pad, stack three 20-by-28-inch pieces of Teflon fabric (available at fabric stores or from Baer Fabrics, 1-800-769-7778), with right sides facing the same direction.
Pin layers to the right side of a 20-by-28-inch piece of muslin.
Sew around perimeter, allowing for a 1/2-inch seam, and leaving a 10-inch opening on one side to turn the pad right side out.
Trim seams with pinking shears; clip corners diagonally; turn pad right side out and press.
At each corner, tack together two 18 3/4-by-26 3/4-inch layers of cotton bump (also known as English table flannel and available from D&F Workroom, 1-212-352-0160).
Then fold bump in thirds (like a letter).
Insert it into the opening, and unfold, making sure the bump is smooth and reaches all corners.
Hand-stitch pad closed, and topstitch around the perimeter, 1/2-inch in from the edge.
If desired, sew twill tapes onto one seam; then you can roll the pad and tie it up for easy storage.
Travel stain kit: Since spills and stains happen no matter where you are, it's wise to carry a few emergency items with you.
Pack a lightweight kit with laundry essentials: clear detergent, a special detergent for delicate items (such as Woolite), stain stick, lint roller, mesh bag, portable clothesline, oil solvent for greasy stains and nonwashables (nonaerosol is best for air travel), drain cover and sewing kit.
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