Summer Upcycle 2

I've had this linen dress in my closet for years but it was a strange length. It fell a couple of inches above my ankles and it made my short legs look even shorter which was no good. Anyway, I loved LOVED the detail of the fabric and wanted to utilize it somehow. So, I chopped it in half, hemmed the top and added elastic to make a skirt. Now don't judge me and the elastic because I tried various pleats and any other detail just added too much superfluous texture...plus, elastic was just easier and gets hidden by whatever top I wear with it!

Matchbox Covered Wagon

My son wants two covered wagons. A small one, for his tiny oxen, and a larger one, for his other set of oxen. We made a larger one several months ago, but it finally bit the dust. Right now I am in the process of thinking through another, even sturdier version. Until then, I made this tiny wagon for the mini-oxen. It is made from a small matchbox tray, pipe cleaners, buttons and felt. The yoke is made from one of the mini-Popsicle sticks they make now. As a side note, have you looked at the kinds they have lately? Phew! You can even get notched ones to build with. Very fun!

The Successful Failure Bag

The Sophia Bag was a nightmare. The pattern and directions are clear and easy enough and in theory this could be a really wonderful bag. However, I had technical difficulties with the interfacing. I used a quilting weight fabric which requires 3 layers of fusible interfacing. That should've been my clue to NOT use quilting weight fabric. Anyway, that many layers caused a lot of issues and despite my best efforts and some name calling, I just could not get everything to fuse properly which I found out after the bag was mostly sewn together when the interfacing started to bubble and peel off of the fabric...very frustrating after hours of cutting and carefully pressing! Obviously, the bag looked terrible so I decided to redesign with what salvageable materials were left. The end result is a simple tote that is the perfect size for my

purposes and I feel vindicated because precious materials did not go to waste.I say that this project is a successful failure not only because I was able to remake the Sophia into something useable, but also because I successfully installed the zipper into the original project. This is a HUGE feat for me since I have major zipper anxiety! I just decided to grit my teeth and confront the little devil and I did it :)

Grandpa's Shirt

Here is a shirt I made using a shirt of Grandpa's. James now has a little piece of his Great Grandpa to wear. I cut apart the shirt at the seams and positioned the pattern pieces in such a way as to make myself a lot less work. I was able to use the existing plackets and button holes, the bottom and sleeve hems. It really made the shirt simple to make, because all I had to do was the shoulder and side seams, and the collar. I need to work out a nicer way to finish the placket edge since I didn't use the facing, but there's always a next time. Even with it being my first shirt like this, it took less than an hour, and if you have a mens shirt already, its a free project! I suppose you could do this just as easily with a womens shirt and a girl's shirt pattern.

Backpack

It all began when I saw a picture of an owl lunch box. I liked it, but I decided I could make one myself. I found a great (free) pattern here for a toddler backpack, and turned something simple into something more complicated. I added a flannel lining, piping and two layers of interfacing for stability. I added the owl's features to the front panels before I began sewing it together. Did you notice I managed to work in some rick-rack? I know what you are thinking....step away from the rick-rack please! I like this pattern because a) it is simple to construct, it takes little fabric, and c) instead of using a zipper which can be hard for a toddler to open, it has a front opening that closes with velcro. This project was made completely with stuff I had on hand: the denim was from old jeans, the lining flannel, felt and rick-rack scraps were in my stash and the interfacing was from a huge hunk we found at a yard sale last summer.

Summer Outfit

Here is the latest addition to my daughter's summer wardrobe. The top was made with a very, very easy pattern (I think it is McCalls?). It has tucks in the top, elastic in the sleeves and a button closure in the back. I added a little rick-rack around the neck because have I mentioned my undying love for rick-rack??? The pants were from a great pattern I bought from here. You should check out this lady's blog. She is a genius and has lots of (free!) tutorials. The reason I love this pants pattern is because it is for skinny kids. I have a hard time finding store-bought pants that stay on my kids. Even the ones with the adjustable waists don't always work. Regular pants patterns for little kids are also very boxy and wide-legged. Yes, I could cinch up the elastic and make them work, but I would have a little MC Hammer on my hands and I'm not really into that. That's why I was very happy to find this pattern. It is only one piece, so a few seams and they are done! For the fabric I used an old pair of my jeans (what was I thinking buying brown jeans??). I cut open the leg seams, positioned the pattern piece and cut it out. I made good use of the already sewn hem of the jeans, therefore eliminating a step! They fit great, and I can tell you I will be using this pattern a lot!

The Dress of Gloom and Despair

So Rachel had this pattern. I loved it and decided to trace the pattern and make one for myself. (Rachel likes when I do this so that I can work out all the kinks and see if its a good pattern before she makes it. Clever girl she is.) So, I found myself some fabric and got to work. My observations are as follows:

• Vogue patterns are made to look very professional, inside and out
• Making a dress look professional includes french seams on EVERYTHING, and linings and facings so that there are no exposed seams
• While that may look all fine and dandy, its a major pain in the behind!!!
• Invisible zippers are a pain
• Especially when they break after you've installed it for the third time
• Having your mom install the zipper is way easier than doing it yourself
• Piping is really fun and a lot easier than I thought!
• Using a hand-me-down shirt to make the piping will make you feel very cheeky
  
• Spending hours and hours on Vogue dress that makes you look like you are smuggling watermelons is very un-gratifying; lets just say the the top part is not, uh, flattering for those who are a little busty ;)

Tea Wallets

Oh, the wonders of the internet. You can find more inspiration and tutorials then you will ever have time for. Here is a project that can be completed very quickly and with very few supplies. Now I have a nice handy way to bring tea to church. The one with the yellow button was made from a vintage handkerchief. The elastic cording, which I used in place of the self-fabric loop, was hijacked from some sort of packaging we had in the house. Now the only question is...what to do with all of them since I only have a home for two of them. Anyone want one????

For the directions, click here.

Easy Project

Here is another headband I made from this tutorial. They are really simple and use very little fabric. This one is made from one of Grandpa's ties.

Easter Finery

For Easter I made my daughter a simple skirt and matching headband. The skirt is from...you guessed it...the One Yard Wonders book. Instead of using bias tape to finish the hem, I used rick rack. The piping was made from a linen shirt that was passed on to me, and some cording I inherited from a friend's grandma. The cording was not made for this use but it worked out just fine. The headband was made using this tutorial. I modified it by covering the elastic for a more finished look. I also added some rick rack to the edges. The headband manages to stay on pretty well, much to my surprise! And as you can see, I got to wear the dress I made for myself for the first time! Yay! And yes, I am in desperate need of a little tan.

A Dress for Me!

Sewing my wedding dress kind of burned me out in the clothing manufacturing department. Since then, I have sewn very little for myself, and mostly stuff for the kids. However, being inspired by Rachel's latest dresses, I decided I needed to make something for me! This dress was one of Vogue's easy patterns, and it was very simple to make. I lined it with a sheet I found at the thrift store. (so far I have also made pajama pants from it too!) The dress is actually not hemmed yet in these pictures, but if I wait to get a better picture it'll never happen. Pardon the cheesy grin.

You guessed it...another apron!

This bottom of this apron was made using a pattern from Mary Engelbreight's new sewing book. I modified the waistband, making it wider and longer. The bib part was my addition. The fabric was left from a dress I made Katie, and I am pleased to say I worked a little rick rack onto this baby! Also, the whole apron is lined...with one of Jeff's old shirts. It was a nice yellow dress shirt that met its demise when a pen exploded in his pocket. There was enough fabric to line both sections, with still some leftover. Its amazing how much fabric you can get from one shirt!

Christmas Craftiness!

Without turning this into a blog of excess exclamation points, I would just like to say that crafting for Christmas is so much fun!!!!!!! Well, when you are crafting for people who appreciated handmade stuff, or at least pretend they do. ;) The following are pictures of some of the things I made for Christmas.

This is a tea party play mat I made for my daughter. I saw a similar idea online and kind of used that to inspire me. The tea bags, plates, cookies, tray and teapot are all removable (with velcro). I also made a zippered pouch to fit it all nicely inside. She loves to play with her 'tea poddy.'

A pile 'o bibs I made for my baby boy, because what do you get for a kid who is just pushing 6 months? I used reclaimed fleece and flannel for the batting, which turned out to be a nice way to use that stuff up.

And what is the must-have accessory for every handsome, chubby little baby boy? Why, tie onsies of course! Made from reclaimed mens' dress shirts.

And for my sister and bro-in-law, 'his and hers' bathroom bags. Cheesy, I know, but Rach inspired me by braving zipper installation when she first started sewing earlier this year. Zippers used to scare me. I decided to overcome my fear by making various box pouches. While the zipper and I are not yet 'fast friends,' we are now on speaking terms.