Have you always wanted to learn to sew, but been intimidated by complicated paper patterns? Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of supreme new sewing tome, DIY Couture by Rosie Martin – you’ll be whipping up a brand new wardrobe in no time.
A brand new title from Laurence King Publishing, it walks you through all the steps to create 10 pieces of clothing, including skirts, trousers, tops, a jacket and even a cloak. Best of all, to show you how versatile sewing can be, each piece has been made and styled in eight totally inspiring collections. Themes range from Rude Disco to Jungle Punk, giving you over 80 pieces of stylish clothing to choose from – without a pattern in sight! Illustrated throughout with helpful flowcharts, photographs and tips, there’s a punky attitude that reminds us of our own book, How To Make With Tatty Devine.
DIY Couture are hosting a book launch party on Tuesday 29th May – and everyone is invited! With a collage corner, DIY photo booth, DJs and a dressing up rail of clothes featured in the book, you can get a feel for the projects and promote doing-it-yourself. Find all the details and behind the scenes projects here.
To celebrate the release of our new favourite crafting tome, we have one copy of DIY Couture up for grabs. That’s not all – the lucky winner will also receive an exclusive ‘DIY’ name necklace that features on the front cover of the book!
To win, just answer this question:
Rosie started DIY Couture because she couldn’t find the perfect pair of bright green trousers anywhere in the shops. What is your dream DIY Couture outfit?
Leave your answer as a comment and the most creative outfit will be the winner! The closing date is 10am on Monday 28th May.
Good luck! DIY Couture by Rosie Martin is available now priced at £17.95 – get your copy here.
42 Responses to Win the new DIY Couture Book
as a keen sewer this would be fantastic
I have used the DIY Couture books before to make my own skirts. I always find beautiful fabrics in vintage shops and charity shops and the like, and always though ‘That would look wicked sweet as a dress/skirt/cape/.’ So, I decided to learn how to make my own clothes using DIY Couture’s books.
My favorite piece I made was a bright purple pleated skirt, knee length, high waist, with little toy solider buttons sewn on the front that I had found ages ago and was waiting to use on a project.
My fantasy piece would be using my Pink Panther bed sheets (which I have had as a child and are in mint condition), to make a skirt like my purple on, but I cannot bring myself to cut up my bed sheets, even for this noble cause!
Ooh la la! This book is just perfect for me and my newbie adventures into the world of DIY couture! I would love love love to be able to make a long tunic jersey top in an black and white aztec print, with cute pockets on the front, worn over pair of sparkly silver leggings! Can you teach me how?!
Katie. xxx
)MeMY perfect DIY outfit would be one that automaticaly makes you smile when you wear it so if you have a “I’ve nothing to wear” day you still feel create! I guess it’d involve kittens somehow & worn with my favourite tatty of coyrsr
What an incredible idea for a book!
My perfect DIY outfit would have to be one that makes you smile, even on days were you have “nothing to wear”, I guess kittens would be involved somehow? Rounded off with my favourite Tatty of course 
my dream DIY couture…is theoricaly very simple but…impossible to find or create…
always dreamed about the perfect outfit to go shopping…you know, you have to be cool but comfortable, it has to be made for you but indeed you would like to love it as much as the new content of your bags.
I dream about an outfit perfect for street catwalk and stunning, perfect to help you change while you try new clothes ecc…
I imagine a dress that help you feel fabulous, that enlights your shape and your beauty or the perfect pair of trousers that looks crazy with every top or t-shirt,
I imagine something recycled or vintage with a touch of me and a touch of fabolousness.
Maybe an asymmetrical skirt would be lovely
I would love to make a little black dress á la DIY couture. That is, with a twist, interesting fabrics and fun!
I this book looks fantastic and perfect for me as a new SEWISTS learning the craft! The one think I’ve always wanted is the perfect lbd (little BLUE dress) that fits me properly in all the right places. A beautiful midnight blue silk with petrol blue trimmings, perfect to dress up or down as needed.
That would definitely be my ideal coture item!
I’d like to be able to make a nice big slouchy chunky cardigan that hangs just right with nice big pockets so I can carry lots of bits and pieces it in round the house, phone, keys, ipod, pens, etc. Shame it wouldn’t be much use in this weather and I probably wouldn’t be able to make it, but I can dream. I’d probably wear it with a plain tee and some printed jeggings, oh an of course a statement Tatty necklace
It’s simple but I’ve never found the perfect cardi.
My dream DIY couture outfit would involve cool tweedy grey trousers, bright pointy flats, a perfectly fitted summer shirt with an asymmetric flash of acid yellow. Nice wear to work outfit to cheer me up!
My dream DIY outfit would be a jacket made of Mexican blanket fabric, with Mexican neon multi coloured embellished dress underneath, skater fit. Strappy brown sandals, and Tatty Jewellery to compliment! Oh- and a massive ginger curly hair style. Kinda like Bjorks latest. Perfect for summer day or night.
IFew weeks ago I flipped through one of our family’s photo albums and discovered a photograph of my mum. The dress that she wears in that photograph is a dream. It’s the perfect summer dress I’ve been looking for for ages. It’s made from a very light turquoise fabric that seems to flow.
I want to have such a dress, it’s my dream couture item
id love to make myself a perfectly fitting pink prom dress! but im useless!
x
My dream DIY outfit would be a Wednesday Addams-esque dress. After watching The Addams Family again the other day I just love the collars on Wednesday’s dresses and how they contrast against her dark attire, and I think it would look amazing with some bright and bold Tatty Devine pieces!
For me it has to be the perfect pair of white high waisted trousers, I once had THE perfect pair (vintage of course) but I wore them out beyond repair and finding a replacement is proving to be something of an impossible task!
What a great book (and necklace!). My dream DIY Couture outfit would have to be a recreation of the dress Vivienne Westwood wore on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross a few years ago. 15 metres of red fabric wrapped round her with just a belt to hold it together. She looked amazing!
MyMy perfect DIY outfit would be a garment I can wear as a dress one way and trousers or a jacket another way!!
MMy dream DIY couture outfit would be a massive tulle skirt, with loads of layers in pale mint green and embellished with sequins like a starry sky. The dream is to frolick around Paris like Carrie in the final episode of SATC and feel like a modern day princess (would also rock my Crown Headband to finish off the look!).
My perfect DIY outfit would be made from towels! Preferably a tropical style for summer! I’m thinking how cool it would be to just pop on a fab towel dress after swimming! It may be hard to sew – and I certainly wouldn’t go for the easy option of just sewing the sides – as I feel sack look isn’t going to cut it at the beach!!
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I would love to create a long dress with ruffle under fabric which is rainbow striped.. and the outer fabric is patterned with cupcakes! I’d have a giant applique diamonte studded cupcake on the front. and pockets at either side which ruffle at the top and have little pink bows on them.. and the straps would be made of pearls and have little candy and cupcake charms hanging from them! =) If i could create such a garment.. it would be a dream come true! =) <3
My My perfect DIY make would have to be the ultimate pair of bright floral trousers, possibly hareem pants… With A bright pansy print
My perfect DIY projekt is to make a waistcoat …. I have the one vision in my brain, but I don`t found a pattern and when I win this book …. my vision come true…. happy DIY and best wishes…. :O)
My dream DIY outfit would be a green velvet skater dress with a statement crochet white collar and cuffs, and a matching green velvet Alice band, and black sheer tights with black corduroy knee patches.
My dreaming DIY outfit would be a nice romper made of my favorite Liberty Fabric…
My dream DIY outfit would be super-high waisted purple tweed trousers and a neon-yellow boxy jacket – items that I can never find in the shops to fit my pear-shaped figure. To be topped off with killer clompy platforms and a Tatty bird of paradise mega-necklace!
The perfect skirt that fits just right without showing my mummy tummy ormaking me feel like a frump – still working on it x
Aaa a modern twist on the retro pin up style dress in chinoise print with apron style pockets for hiding crafting items for whilst you’re making your new clothes wardrobe
My dream DIY outfit would have to be a pair of beautifully fitted high waist tweed trousers… As a plus size it’s hard to find anything like that! So I would love to learn to make my own.
I would love to be able to make a 50s-style dress in some vintage botanical design fabric – with parrots or tropical birds: perfect for summer days with my Tatty mexican-inspired jewellery or my big banana! I can imagine twirling in the sunshine, with a large glass of something chilled. Ok, I’m getting a bit carried away now…!
I dream of being able to just whip up a new outfit out of a length of material or old unwanted clothing, being able to learn to make them fit perfectly would just be amazing! A rockabilly inspired nipped waist crop top made from an old Hawaiian shirt and perfectly fitted pencil skirt made from vintage 1950′s fabric teamed with handmade floral hair accessories and statement necklace would be just the ticket for a night out!
My dream DIY outfit would be inspired by rooftop-stargazing: a midnight blue organza skater-skirt embroidered with tiny silver stars, a small pearlescent white cape with a crescent moon clasp and a pair of white lace ankle socks. (Oh and a telescope of course.)
My ideal DIY couture outfit would be a knee length 50s inspired dress with a HUGE circle skirt, in a cream fabric with a cite vintage green flower print. I would crochet a cute green flower corsage to wear on my wrist too, and I’d wear a white petticoat under the dress
I would like to make myself a mermaids tail for swimming in! This way I can fulfill my my childhood fantasies brought on by daryl hannah. Plus, I wouldn’t always have to shave my lady parts when i went swimming!
I would use the book to make kick ass roller derby outfits. There is always a theme at each bout an it would be great (and so much more cost effective) to create unique outfits to fit the theme. The themes range from buffy the vampire slayerto the wizard of Oz to trailer trash and lots between!
My dream DIY couture clothing would be knowing how to make my own skirts and trousers. I’m forever making pretty dresses, but to know how to make my trousers… Zebraprints, Mexican candy skulls… Why not?! I’m just starting my dressmaking adventure, but loving every minute of it!!Woop!!
I’m making my dream DIY couture outfit as I type. Not for me but for my daughter and her friends to wear to a Jubilee garden party. Its a 60′s style shift dress made from 2 union flag tea towels. Part classic Courreges, part Souper dress and part Geri circa Brits 1997. Styled with oversized buttons, knee socks and pumps. Would look perfect topped with a crystal crown tiara. Maybe I ‘should’ make myself one after all!!
I’m nearly 6ft and not what you would describe a ‘petite’. I really struggle to get tops that are long enough in the body with big enough shoulders!! So my Dream outfit would have to be a Jacket ( I can’t seem to get them
) Wrap over style with the most amazing standup collar- that nearly looks like it supports your head. Made of some sort of Taffeta or Shot silk with a really eye catching lining. Mix this with some fitted, but wide leg trs in a light wool- Dark colour to off set the Jacket. All with a slight Sci-Fi/ Space age twist!!
I’m a novice stitcher with an allergy to paper patterns and I fell in love with DIY Couture after purchasing ‘How to Make a Cloak’. I was reading a lot of Sherlock Holmes at the time, so I made a longer length cloak in a stormy tartan wool, in homage to my favourite detective. My dream DIY creation would be an outfit to match. I’m particularly lusting after a pair of tapered trousers in a lovely dark grey. I’ve not yet managed to find a high street pair that matches the image in my head or the length of my legs (I’m a giraffe, at 6 feet tall). But, as the old saying goes…if you want something doing, do it yourself. I think Holmes would approve.
My dream DIY couture outfit would be the perfect LBD. They say it’s a staple in your wardrobe… yest I find it impossible to find one that suits me! The only way would be to have one made just for me. It would feature a fitted bodice, one shoulder, a little kick in the skirt, and of course some tulle. In my dreams! x
Time’s up! A big thank you to everyone for your fabulous comments. It was very hard to choose, but in the end our favourite was Claudia’s vision of a Mexican-themed neon outfit, with massive hair à la Bjork. It would look perfect teamed with some tropical Tatty Devine jewellery! Congrats to Claudia, the DIY Couture book and custom necklace will be winging your way soon.