A beautifully embellished feature on a garment is like adding the icing on the cake. At one point or another, I’m sure we’ve all purchased a garment that was adorned with intricate beadwork, sequins, studs, or all of the above. Most likely, a pretty penny was spent as well. Some hand-embellished designer garments can take several months to complete! That said, how can we achieve the same high-end looks that are seen on all of the designer runways? More importantly, how can we get it done quickly for a fraction of the cost? Let’s take a look at a few different ways to quickly embellish any garment.
Purchase Materials Used Below:
- 2 pieces of Italian Black Rhinestone Flower Buttons
- 2 pieces of Italian Gunmetal Rhinestone Flower Buttons
- 4 pieces of Italian Crystal and Silver Rhinestone Buttons
- 4 pieces of Gunmetal Sew-on Applique Rhinestone Brooch 4″
- 2yds of Vintage Czech Jet Rhinestones and Gunmetal Trim
Additional Items Used:
- 1 spool of Black 1000m Gutermann All-Purpose Thread
- 1 pack of Dritz Size 3/9 Sharp Hand Sewing Needles
1- Choose Your Garment:
There are a couple of ways to approach a project like this. First, decide if you want to add embellishment to a garment that you already own, or create the entire look from start to finish. Using a garment you already have is a great way to upcycle, or breathe life into something that has lost its spark. And in my case, it’s a little bit of both. I’ve used the Hydrus Coat free sewing pattern from Mood Fabrics. Since my coat was already made, it was ready to go! All I had to do was think of how I wanted to jazz it up! The two-toned notched collar was a great base to work with. Always try to choose an area of your garment that has a nice open smooth surface to work with. Necklines and collars are great for embellishment applications.
Ideas for Garment Embellishment:
- Patch pockets on the Cassia Skirt
- The collar on the Elaeis Shirt
- The Gladiolus Jacket
- The neckline of the Hickory Sweatshirt
2 – Choose Your Trim
When choosing your embellishments, make sure to consider the weight of your garment and fabric. You want to be confident in knowing that your garment will be able to support the area you are going to embellish.
The key to working quickly is choosing embellishments that cover a large area instead of small individual pieces. Try using brooches, trim tape, and appliques that have multiply stones and beads. One large rhinestone applique can give the look of intricate hand-beaded work!
Shown in photos above:
On the left: 1pc Sew-on rhinestone brooch (each brooch has 19 stones)
On the right: Italian rhinestone buttons (each button has 11 stones)
3 – Try a Few Different Layout Options
Before sewing down your trims, test out a few different layout options. Arrange the larger pieces first, then fill in the empty spaces with smaller individual stones if needed. Once you feel pleased with the look of your layout, carefully sew on your embellishments. Can’t seem to get a feel for a good layout? Search the internet or fashion magazines for tons of inspiration. Pinterest is still a great tool to help get you going.
Here’s a look at an alternate layout! The long continuous strand of rhinestones is great for straight edges!
4 – Finish and Style Your Garment
Now that you’ve completed your one-of-a-kind hand-embellished garment, it’s time to take it out for a test run. Pair your statement piece with simple solid coordinating colors. I love to rock my new Hydrus Coat with a solid black turtle neck and black distressed jeans. Do you have any garments that could use a little sprucing up? Let us know!
