Make DO & Trend
There’s no two ways about it: a good collar can make an outfit. From the 1960s sharp pointed collars that have
been repopularised by Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, to the timeless Peter Pan shape, collars can add
a well-needed feminimity to any ensemble whilst still remaining smart. Jenessa Williams shows us two ways to
jazz up a collar into a statement piece of its own.
How TO: Crochet Collar
How TO: EMBROIDERED COLLAR
70s-style embellished collars are
always in the shops just in time for
the Christmas party season, but
often come with a hefty price tag.
If you want to try and be spending
savvy, why not try and create your
own? It’s simple and you can create
whatever design you want! Enjoy!
You will need:
• A collared shirt
•Beads, Studs, Gems. Whatever
you want to use to decorate!
(Tip: Why not use the spare beads
etc. that come with embellished
clothes?)
•Thread (the same colour as the
shirt)
•Beading Needles
•Scissors
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Step 1: Start by securing the bigger
embellishments into place, followed
by the second largest.
studs on the other side and any
other large embellishments in the
same position as the previous side.
Step 2: I’ve decided to use beads
and gems to decorate the collar
alongside the studs. Starting at the
front of the collar, sew the beads
securely into place.
Step 5: Bead in the same areas
as the previous side until you are
happy with how it looks.
Step 3: Slowly fill in as much of
the collar as you like, remembering to tightly secure any threads on
the back of the collar by doing a
few stitches. Beading is quite time
consuming, but definitely worth it in
the end!
Step 4: When you have completed
one side of the collar, place the
Step 6: Cut any loose threads on
the collar. And there you have it,
your own unique shirt!
‘Granny Chic’ has long been the
epitome of vintage cool, but have
you ever thought about taking
it one step further? It’s not just
Nana’s wardrobe that needs
raiding - have a look at her
sidetable! Originally invented in
the 1700s, the humble doily has
cradled crockery for centuries, but
you can give yours a new lease of
life by turning it into a collar in three
easy steps!
You will need:
• An old plain jumper - if you don’t
have one knocking around already,
get yourself down to a Kilo Sale
and have a good rummage in the
boxes. Thin knits work best as the
collar will sit straighter.
• A doily - Cream doilies look great
for a distressed look. Try and find
one that is square or rectangular you’ll need the corners.
• A needle and thread (the same
colour as the doily)
Step 1: Assemble your materials,
and make sure the colour of doily
‘goes’ with your chosen jumper.
Make sure the lengths are long
enough to line the neck (v necks will
need a slightly bigger doily than a
round neck)
Step 2: Once you have checked that
the doily lines up, cut two matching
corners off and lay on the jumper,
tucking the messy edges under the
neck.
‘Janet was sure that her bow
and collar combo was set to
secure her a second date with
David’
Step 3: Using the needle and thread,
loop simple stitches around the edge
to keep the doily in place. Stitches
at the neck will suffice, although you
can stitch the rounded edges too for
a more secure finish.
Step 4: And there we have
it! Less than five minutes
to make, this is a great
little upcycle than even
the most basic of sewers
could achieve.
Experiment with
different sizes,
shapes and colours
- these knits look
great tucked into
a simple skater skirt,
with a satchel and some
chunky boots.
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