By Request

This is one requested by Deniz,  it’s pretty much the same as the very first head scarf tutorial I did way back when.  But this one is suited to any short haired ladies, or if your pashmina as short.

Off to London for a shoot and some interviews this weekend, and to meet the lovely Yuna.  Here’s hoping it’s going to be a good one inshAllah!

For All My Beautiful Sisters

I hope it’s worth the wait

I know, finally, right?  Thankfully I also did a couple of other headscarf tutorials at the same time, nothing spectacular, just easy peasy styles.  I think the reason these tutorials only appear once in a blue moon (I couldn’t believe it was actually a year!)  is that I only vary my style when it happens by accident.  This hijab style was one of these very fortunate accidents, I just hope it’s not as long till my next… maybe I should just experiment, any inspiration suggestions?

T’would be rather fantastic if you could rate my video at youtube, I have been so overwhelmed at the amount of people who have seen my first attempt 117,634 to be exact.  Thank you so much for watching it!

Don’t forget to visit MAYSAA for that all important bonnet or Satin Wrap Band Snood as we like to call it, they are selling fast!  Go straight there by clicking right here!

Video Demonstration

Fashion drawing: StyleCovered Sketch tutorial

I promised you a video and here it is, A look at how I sketch and edit all in under 4 minutes. Double click on it if you want to see it in better quality on YouTube. I hope you enjoy! It has music from the beginning so you can mute it if you want.

To have another look at the finished Sketch along with the original inspiration you can find it here.

Music Credits:

(Intro) Lupe Fisco Paris, Tokyo

The Brighton Port Authority feat. Emmy the Great Seattle

Rags to Riches with Dr. Noki

Vogue Tutorial

Vogue does some awesome tutorials and this one comes from the king of D.I.Y. fashion Dr. Noki. I absolutely love it, Dr. Noki teaches you how to make the most of old prom style dresses. Amazing style, kind of reminds me of Chris Benz Spring 2009

Hijabi Friendly

This really is one of the best how to D.I.Y. tutorials I’ve ever come across, and because the dresses are made to measure you can make as many hijab friendly changes as you like. I might try something similar if I ever get the time, if you manage to beat me to it (likely) then I’d love to see your photos!

From Vogue Archives

On my search for the Alexa Chung photo I dug up all manner of Muslimah treats, this is the first of 2 how-to articles. This was how to tie dye with Henry Holland. A great summer experiment for you to try!

This looks like a lot of fun, try it with cotton maxi dresses or long sleeved t-shirts for a Muslim twist. Vogue can be great for chic D.I.Y. projects, luckily I have a lot of back issues. At the moment they have bought back the feature ‘More Cash than Dash’ which aims to combine designer pieces with cheap and D.I.Y. pieces so keep a look out.

Here’s a little look at the kind of creations you can create if you really put your mind to it! 100 times the effort for 100th of the price, I like that math. Let me know if you try it out, I’d love to see the results!

Cheap Chic

What with the credit crunch there’s never been a better time for some cheap D.I.Y. fashion, and what better place to start than a t-shirt. Any t-shirt will do, printed or plain, long or short sleeved. The key is to get one that is super loose.

This tutorial will take you step by step through the process of customizing. But why stop there, let your imagination run wild and create unique masterpieces! And if you don’t quite get it right, there’s always a supply of unwanted old t-shirts in thrift stores of dads/hubbys wardrobe- just make sure you get permission!

Tools for Customizing

All you really need is a sewing machine (only the really skilled would take this on hand stitching!). Everything else can be substituted.

Here I used 2 cutting mats, but you only really need one at least A4 size (you can also use thick card).

Thread in whatever colour takes your fancy!

A metal ruler and cutting wheel. You can use scissors and a steady hand, if you do it’s probably best to mark on the inside exactly where you’re cutting.

For draping and pinning tailors dummys or mannequins are great. I was lucky enough to find this one on ebay in almost my exact measurements. If you do a lot of clothes making it’s a worthy investment. Even if it’s not your exact size, shove a leotard or underwear on it and pad it out with blanket wadding. You can end up with a very accurate body.

1. The first thing I did was to cut about 7cm into the shoulder seam from the neck, this allows it to drape to one side and gives you an interesting shape to work with.

2. Next start pinning thin tucks horizontally across the t-shirt, the length can vary (these ones were roughly 12cm long)

3. Once you’ve figured out where you want to put your pins (remember you can always change them later) you can add the knotted detail. You don’t have to have it in the same place as I put it, but I really like the way it shapes the bottom of the t-shirt.

Prepare by placing a cutting mat inside the t-shirt (between the front and back layers), this prevents you cutting through both sides, unless that’s the look you want. Now for the point of no return! Cutting in to the fabric, take a deep breath and remember it’s only a t-shirt ! Cut 3 slashes into the fabric, the slits I cut were roughly 13cm long and spaced about 3cm apart.

4. Take the bottom edge of the slit closest to the hem, bring it underneath both the newly cut strips of t-shirt to the top edge. Now pin it into place, you can either just pin it straight on top (as above) or for a neater finish treat it like a seam and get the right sides together and pin close to the edge though both layers from the wrong side. (It sounds more complicated than it is I promise!)

5. Don’t stitch until you’re absolutely sure of what you’ve pinned, you can always unpick if you get it wrong but jersey fabric is very tricky to unpick without unraveling the whole t-shirt!

Stitch the tucks as close to the edge as you dare to go for a more professional look.

6. Stitch closed the slashed edge that you pinned in step 4, don’t worry if you don’t stitch corner to corner, it’s just to keep it in place once it’s knotted

Finally tie each of the strips in ‘loop’ knots (I don’t know the correct term), pull them fairly tight so they won’t come undone. Then cut the thread ends, for a professional finish pull the thread ends through to the wrong side and tie them so all the knots and ends are on the inside of the t-shirt and won’t show.

For the finishing touches roll up the sleeves 80’s style! This stops it looking baggy and makes it look as though it was made to be oversized. You can even run a stitch (by hand) through the rolled sleeve to keep it in place.

Et voila! Credit Crunch Couture- One ready to rock customized t-shirt, this is just a starting point looking at ways to recycle big old t-shirts. You can develop the idea taking out or leaving in any of the steps I did, you can even add fabric paint, stenciled patterns, studs, diamante, whatever you like. You’ll end up with something truly unique!

If you have any questions about the steps or technical details you can leave comments below. Don’t forget to let me know what you think, I love hearing your opinions!

Just for you

As requested I made a video tutorial of my everday hijab style. As far as headscarves go this is a very simple style and super quick. I actually had to rush out after making the video and I managed to do the style in under a minute. It’s probably why I like the style so much, any scarf style I do that takes a while I tend to phase out very quickly… not that I’m lazy or anything

I’m definitely no Madiha! And I apologize for all the “umm’s,” I didn’t realise how much I said it until I watched it back! Maybe forgive me on account of nervousness? I hope it explains everything, if you have any questions or want me to clear things up then leave comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

A few of you lovely ladies have asked me to do a ‘how-to’ on my headscarf style. InshAllah I promise you I will get round to it as soon as I can, trying to figure out which is better video or step by step photos? Any suggestions?

In the mean time Madiha has a new tutorial out, I thought you might like a peak.

Madiha’s Hijab Tutorial

This is my latest video! Enjoy ^^. It won #1 in my last collage video and poll!!

Please mute the sound till 00:08. Sound distortion

Thanks Madiha for another great video how-to!