By Sassy Crafter, June 2008

Ever get tired of the clothes hanging in your closet? Or maybe you have items you’ve loved for years, but they’re looking worn out. My favorite silk top was looking drab from too many ill-advised trips through the washing machine. With just a little dye, some embellishments, and a dash of creativity, I created an entirely new look. 

So rather than buying something new, try these tips to refresh and update your old favorites. You might even end up with something that looks like it came from a fancy designer store!

What you need:

Clothing

Rubber bands

Fabric dye

Lace

Embroidery floss

Buttons

Needle and thread

Scissors

What to do:

1. Lay the shirt flat and gather it into small pleats. Use the rubber bands to secure the bundle. Warning: You may experience flashbacks to tie- dying mishaps from summer camps of yore.

2. I opted to over-dye my apple green shirt with a contrasting brown dye, but you can choose any combination that works for you. If you’re starting with a dark shirt, you could even use a 10 percent bleach solution. Mix the dye according to the package instructions, taking care to follow all safety recommendations. Dye the shirt for the recommended period of time and then rinse and wash according to the package instructions. Dry the shirt.

3. Select the embellishments. I emphasized the neckline by adding a line of narrow brown lace and a decorative running stitch with contrasting embroidery floss. I also selected vintage buttons that complemented my color scheme, sewing them onto a removable pin to simplify laundering. If you don’t sew, you could use other tricks to sass up your top, including fabric paint, iron-on transfers or iron-on jewels.

4. Don your new duds and bask in the many complements you’re bound to receive.

For more project ideas and crafty ramblings, visit sassycrafter.blogspot.com.