What do you do when the probability of scoring a pair of Ulyana Sergeenko‘s embroidered sunglasses is, at best, 1 in a million? Do it yourself, of course. Though I couldn’t replicate these folk-inspired sunnies at nearly the same degree (we’re talking couture after all), I was able to add just the right amount of embroidery for a similar effect. So, what do you say? Grab a pair of inexpensive sunglasses and let’s get stitchin’!
You’ll need:
- a pair of sunglasses with plastic lenses
- embroidery floss
- hand held drill (I used a Dremel, last used here)
- 3/64″ drill bit
- thin needle
- scissors
- felt tip marker
- nail polish remover
Start by drawing out a pattern – feel free to copy mine! Each cross stitch has four holes, forming a square, so the pattern will look like a grid. Color coding the stitches helps develop the design. After the pattern is drawn out on piece of paper, copy the pattern with a felt tip marker on the sunglasses – don’t forget to make sure the design doesn’t obstruct your vision! Nail polish remover will remove any mistakes.
Use the hand held drill or Dremel to drill the holes. To prevent skidding or scratching, place the tip of the drill bit on top of the marked area before turning on the drill. Place a good amount of pressure for a clean drill. Once all the holes are drilled, clean off any leftover marks with a paper towel and nail polish remover.
Thread the needle with embroidery floss – make sure the head of the needle is small enough to fit through the holes. Tie a double knot at the end of the floss and snip off any excess. Thread the floss through the holes, following the pattern. Start from the upper left corner down to the lower right corner and then from the upper left corner down to the lower right corner, forming an X. Start the next stitch so it uses two of the same holes as the previous.
Finish off the color with a double knot on the backside.
Continue cross stitching with the second color and then the third color.
Repeat on the other side.
Voila, embroidered sunnies complete!
(images by HonestlyWTF)
Wow wow wow looks so pretty rad. Love your diy. I´m definitely not skilled enough but I would love to have one too!
xx
glamdevils
Wow these are so cool! I have to get my hands on one of those drills. These look so cute and unique! I haven’t seen Ulyana Sergeenko’s sunnies, but these look pretty high end when finished.
Definitely going to try this out!
Thanks for the inspiration!
xo Quinn
Quinn Cooper Style
WoW!
It´s amazing!
best diy sunglases I have ever seen!
kisses
MY WHITE IDEA DIY
wooowwww that is such good idea!!! it’s so original and different!!!!
http://www.thestelstyle.com
I LOVE THIS! I don’t know about introducing a drill but I’ll try anything twice.
♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.uk/
Wow. Super impressed, yet again. You rock. Who knew you were such a precision driller too?
http://www.nomadicd.com
this is definitely different! love it..xo, Alma
http://www.soulofashopper.com
That is amazing, so cool.
xo
http://pinksole.com
What a great idea! I love the look but not sure if I’m skilled enough to do it! 🙂
http://www.socharming.co.uk
SUPER cute! Such a great blog- keep up the amazing work! xx Sallie
http://www.Bluebonnetsforsal.com
impressive!!!
they are fantastic!!!
xxxx Ale
Wow, that looks perfect and it is so creative. Have a nice day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
Probably my favorite DIY to date 🙂
This is so genius and unique! Jeeeez!
xx Ashleigh
http://www.ashflynn.blogspot.com
LOVE!!! I have been DYING to try this!
whoa! this is pretty advanced crafting! i love the look of these glasses, but definitely could not do them myself!
http://www.insparisian.com
Oh my!
Those sunnies look absolutely amazing!
Think I’m gonna DIY mine since I have the Dremel, too!
Yeah!
http://9lla.it/
Fashion & DIYs
These turned out great!
So fun for spring.
http://happinessiscreating.com/
This is amazing.
xo Janika
http://crazysketchbook.blogspot.com/
Wow, super cool! Unique and cute.
http://www.neatobonito.com
Amazing and super cool.
Style Dabba
stop it – amazing.
no way these are awesome!
x
OMG THIS IS SO GREAT! NEVERRR SEE THIS BEFORE! LOVE IT XXX
Love it!!!
I’m dumbfounded! Speechless! Stunned!
This is amazing! Ulyana Sergeenko is my favorite…she’s so folksy chic!
Very clever!
Love embroidery in unexpected places. I use it a lot in my own jewelry.
Ok, I’m IN LOVE!!! How AMAZING is that?! I want to try it ASAP! Thank you so much for sharing! You are always so full of clever and creative ideas!
These are so quirky and adorable! The design/pattern possibilities are threatening to make my head explode…in a good way. 🙂
This is seriously such an incredible and unique DIY! Perfect for spring! Can’t wait to try it!
xoxo
Juliette Laura
juliettelaura.blogspot.com
OMG ! This is wonderful ! Great Job ! 🙂
http://www.thegreatkate.com.pl
WHOA gettin sassy with that drill! amazing work y’all!
Cool! And I already have a Dremel, graph paper and know how to cross stitch. I just need to go find a cool pair of sunglasses.
Thanks for the tute.
Hey! 🙂 Nice blog you’re having!
Regards from Bremen, Germany
Luke
http://fewfunkywords.blogspot.de/
it turned out very, very nice!!!!
http://iiiinspired.blogspot.com/
http://agnesszucs.blogspot.com/
Holy cow these are incredible!
xo
Lia
Smart n Snazzy
OMG how cool is this! Thank you!!!
Obsessed with these ideas.
alyxtheprincess.blogspot.com
seriously stellar! xx
http://www.vicariousLA.com
Love these!! I’m def gonna try this
Lauren
livinginaboxx
This looks SOO cool!
raspberry-notes.blogspot.com
Vielen Dank für die tolle Anleitung und die wunderbare Idee.
Liebe Grüße
susanne
lovely pair!
monkeyshines
http://monkeyshines-monkeyshines.blogspot.com/
Sorry, I gotta say these look stupid and unattractive. Also would be distracting to try to see out of. Goofy.
Wow! Such a great art!
You are so creative!
Thanks for this!!
click this, NEW POST on my blog: http://www.fashionerza.com
Félicitations, surtout que…je ne sais pas …”coudre 1 bouton” …!!
N’essayerais-je pas avec auto-collants (petits) pour les ongles ? Plus raisonnable sur les “branches”, alors ?De plus…pas de Dremel !
Bravo ! Merci .
Vi
Ok, these are awesome! I never though embroidered sunglasses would be a thing, but after seeing this, I’m pretty glad they are. Fantastic job on the DIY, by the way! Your sunglasses look pretty couture to me!
wow cool!!!! love this 🙂
Great diy! It looks really like a Couture!
From http://www.xeanafashion.com
That is simply utterly fantastic! One of the best DIY I have seen to be frank. Keep on doing more of your DIY stuff, really enjoy it.
Check out http://www.shoebox-living.com for home interior DIY.
Ciao / Bella
This is so cool!!
xxx
Naomi
http://www.bonnieclydemarni.com
Love the idea!!
SO cute and trendy for the summer 🙂
Amazing idea !
http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
Love from Paris <3
Great idea!
http://www.martasfashiondiary.com/
wow… so crazy and funny!! I love it!
I saw Ulyana Sergeenko‘s glasses last week and tried to make a pair. When I drilled my holes, it left one side very rough. Did you have this problem and if so how did you smooth the holes? Your glasses turned out amazing! You are very talented.
@Janis, I didn’t have this problem. I like to line up the drill (in the off position) over the marked area and then, while holding the drill upright and applying pressure, I then turn the drill on. Hope that helps!
Smartest DIY I’ve seen in months!!
Thanks 4 sharing 😀
These look amazing.
http://lovealwaysesther.com
I wonder if you’d do a DIY for one of Ulyana’s amazing headpieces?
http://m.pinterest.com/pin/84512930479350617/
Oh wow, I’m enlessly impressed by your skills with a power tool! These sunglasses are adorable.
WHAT A LOVELY IDEA:)
http://whatkrissydidnext.wordpress.com/
http://whatkrissydidnext.wordpress.com/
Wow i’ve never quite seen anything like this before…. embroidery sunglasses have never even crossed my mind! This is so very creative!
Thanks for the tip Erica. I’ll try that on the next pair. The URL shows the pair I made.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noteworthy-Needle/206360416134815
Such a fabulous idea! The glasses look great.
Love this idea, have to try and make myself a pair. Thanks for sharing.
OMG u looks like Julie Sarinana!are u sisters??haha
love the idea! really great!
hey, this is so cool! 😀 i´m little bit worried of drilling the little holes into the glass, but must try it 😉
Cool project! I want a pair.
So what if you did some free standing embroidery, then use Aleen’s “Tack it over & over” and just stick the embroidery onto the glasses?
So great:)
http://www.ccchinachic.com/products/electronics/iphone-ipad-accessories/fashion-design-pc-protective-hard-case-with-mirror-for-iphone-5-3975.html
Love this modern and vintage combination! Just ordered a dremel drill, your project tipped the scales on my terrible decision making.
These are super cleaver!!!
My dear, you are a clever and inventive person! I love innovation like this! It gets ya thinking about what else you could do on the same line! Great job!
Wow. they look amazing!!! Ladies, visit http://www.stylewhile.com and create your summer style!
thank you thank you thank you!
I was so in love with this sunglasses that a month ago I called Ulyana Sergeenko show room in Moscow to buy them but didn’t expect them to cost $2400. so I cried to my husband and he said, no way!
I had no choice, I do love my husband after all, so I had to made them! and they came out amazing. I discovered that you can make the holes with the drill using a thick yarn needle. it’s point helps with precision. also, if you get some residue plastic on the drill or needle, use a candle to burn it and quickly remove with paper towel.
it took me about 4-5 hours to make but was worth it.
http://i42.tinypic.com/uvg9i.jpg
@nataly, wow, your glasses turned out amazing!!! so glad we could inspire you to make your own! xx
these are absolutely adorable!
-JD
Nail polish remover on plastic lenses? No way, no day. If you use a water-based marker you won’t have to worry about removing stray marks or mistakes.
Wow these are awesome! Never seen anything like them
This is f**king amazing! I never would never have thought up something as cool as this!
Wow that is seriously AMAZING!
Brilliant! I know you used an electric drill but I’m still amazed (in a pleasantly surprised way of course) that the glass didn’t shatter.
http://chiccheat.co.uk
What a great idea!! I must share these cute sunglasses ^ ^
http://seamsandstrawberries.blogspot.co.uk/
Insane DIY!
Insane DIY!
http://www.theexpatchick.blogspot.sg
it sounds like there’s been success, but I’m still scared to use my boyfriend’s dremel… with the current cross stitch trend I’ve seen projects using paint to simulate the effect. I know it won’t give such a high end/amazing outcome, but will still be unique (and I will continue to avoid power tools) thanks for the inspiration!
I totally love this! I’m going to try it ASAP!! Plus you
Can glue or sew embellishments like pearls and beads!
Love this; if you don’t have a drill then heat the needle enough to melt the plastic and it’ll slide right through to make a hole.
Wow ! Incredible! I like it, and I’ll try to do something like that
Thanks for this tuto !!!
Peace and kiss
I might try these for my 3 granddaughter. Yours are fabulous.
This is the best DIY I’ve ever tried! Mucho thanks. I love, love, love the sunnies but I think I was more excited to use the dremel tool for the first time. Didn’t take long to get the hang of it and then it was a breeze. So so happy with the results.
Ohhh LOVE it. Took me some time but here is my creation
http://playingstitches.comeze.com/?lang=en
Thank you Erica, for your lovely inspiry blog!
The DMC Threads blog, recently posted a chart and written instructions on how to create the cross stitched sunglasses (http://dmc-threads.com/fabulous-fish/). However, Erica your post about how to create these cool glasses is still the best. The photographs are so helpful and clear. I added a comment to the DMC post referring people to you post.
@nataly, do you have a blog where you post about how you created your glasses. I pinned your photograph to my Pinterest Board, Cross Stitch Clothing & Accessories (http://pinterest.com/jakinglife/cross-stitch-clothing-accessories/). I would like to provide more credit for you or link back to a blog with details of your project.
Unique concept and very newly idea. I have never seen before this kind of thing but its very impressive.
These are so cool 🙂 Can’t wait to try it.
I FUCKING LOVE THIS! http://www.fashionlifetruth.com
Unique concept!
my web page: Costume jewellery
I’m definitely going to make these. Just curious did the drill bit and collet you used come with your Dremel or did you have to purchase separately? Thank you!
@Cristin I purchased the drill bit separately. Good luck!
wow, I have to try these tomorrow!
—Getting ready for SUMMER oh yeah they rock sooo much!!
Thanks for your great tutorial with those fabolous pictures <3
http://vanilladreamin.blogspot.de/
Holy cow! I will be trying this ASAP! Great idea!!!
http://www.lelaandlace.com
It’s very creative thinking ^^
Wow, nice! I’m a bit scared to try this on my sunnies though as they’re pretty ex (I need prescription lenses and those always cost a bit!) I wonder if there’s a way to do it without drilling the lens….
Looks really good.
We just love sunglasses 🙂 especially Wayfarer.
Just take a look
http://menwithstyle.dk
hi dear
i want to buy embroidered sunglasses please , do u have online store please ?
Great! It looks very nice and creative, I like it very much
What a great idea!! I must share these cute Sunglasses