| Decorating Denim |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-704 |
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Q: I want to get creative with my plain old jeans. Is it hard to add fabric trims or appliques to them? A: (Debbie Stapley, DIY crafting expert) Decorating jeans is both easy and fun. It's a good way to let your imagination run wild. Here are some suggestions. - Pom-pom fringe and a wide variety of trims (figure A) are readily available at fabric stores. They're perfect for adding borders or accents to jeans. Tip: When cutting trim, place a piece of scotch tape on the front and back at the location before you cut (figure B). This will prevent the trim from beginning to unravel as you work. It will also keep your leftover piece from unraveling when you store it away.
- Denim pants aren't the only thing you can decorate. You can really get creative on a denim jacket -- either a brand new one or a cherished worn one. The one used in our demonstration (figure C) was a second-hand jacket purchased from a thrift shop for four dollars.
- To apply pom-pom trim, use fabric adhesive (figure D). Adhesive is preferable over sewing for this project since stitching through the layered borders of heavy denim would prove difficult.
- Remove the tape from the trim piece, cut the trim to exact size, and press it down firmly onto the adhesive (figure E). Since this type of adhesive is tacky, you probably won't even need to pin the trim in place.
- Allow the adhesive to dry according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Another idea is to apply pre-made appliques like the dog design shown in our demonstration (figure F). Though many appliques are advertised as self-adhesive (e.g., with iron-on backing), it's best to go ahead and use fabric adhesive for application on heavy material such as denim. This will form a more permanent bond on the material.
- Finally, consider adding metal brads or studs (figure G). These are available at fabric stores.
- The brads are secured to the fabric with prongs that push through the fabric. The prongs are then bent over on the backside of the fabric using a specialized bending tool. If you're unable to find this tool at your fabric store, you can bend the prongs using needle-nosed pliers.
RESOURCES :
Color and Design on Fabric: Paint, Dye, Stitch, and Print
Model: 086573870X
Author: Creative Publishing International
Jazz It Up: 101 Stitching and Embellishing Techniques
Model: 1564772454
Author: Judy Murrah
(March, 1999)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Martingale & Co. / That Patchwork Place
Website: www.martingale-pub.com
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