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It's made from a single charm pack, plus a little extra for the waistband and hem. I got the pattern here. The original pattern doesn't call for the extra piece at the hem, but I think it finished off the skirt nicely. I had a jelly roll of the same fabric line that I used to make that and the waistband. They worked perfectly! I think her friend will look adorable in it, and I hope she likes it!
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
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Paige was invited to a birthday party for a friend who turned 3 recently. I dipped into the fabulous fabric stash that my friend's mom gave me to make this skirt:
It's made from a single charm pack, plus a little extra for the waistband and hem. I got the pattern here. The original pattern doesn't call for the extra piece at the hem, but I think it finished off the skirt nicely. I had a jelly roll of the same fabric line that I used to make that and the waistband. They worked perfectly! I think her friend will look adorable in it, and I hope she likes it!
It's made from a single charm pack, plus a little extra for the waistband and hem. I got the pattern here. The original pattern doesn't call for the extra piece at the hem, but I think it finished off the skirt nicely. I had a jelly roll of the same fabric line that I used to make that and the waistband. They worked perfectly! I think her friend will look adorable in it, and I hope she likes it!
A Bag for Sarah
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Finally showing off the bag I made for Sarah! I think the bag looks super cute in this fabric combo. Luckily for me, Sarah loves polka dots, because I bought the fabric without consulting her!
The only change I made was to use lighter interfacing in the handle and along side the zipper. Otherwise it's just like the one I made for Lisa. This should make a great diaper bag/purse for when she goes shopping with my niece!
The only change I made was to use lighter interfacing in the handle and along side the zipper. Otherwise it's just like the one I made for Lisa. This should make a great diaper bag/purse for when she goes shopping with my niece!
French General Quilt
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Back in early December, my mom visited and bought me a jelly roll of the French General line from Moda. I decided to design my own quilt for the first time, rather than using a pattern. I worked it out on the computer:
I put the top together pretty quickly, and had the thing basted and partially quilted for quite awhile. Then I got bored with it and moved on to other projects for awhile. I finally got around to finishing it this past week. I did the binding correctly this time, by sewing it onto the front first and then hand sewing the back. Before I've always just used the machine. It does look MUCH better done by hand, but I don't know if I'll bother doing it again. It was quite a pain.
Here it is, all finished!
A close up of the back showing the binding:
I put the top together pretty quickly, and had the thing basted and partially quilted for quite awhile. Then I got bored with it and moved on to other projects for awhile. I finally got around to finishing it this past week. I did the binding correctly this time, by sewing it onto the front first and then hand sewing the back. Before I've always just used the machine. It does look MUCH better done by hand, but I don't know if I'll bother doing it again. It was quite a pain.Here it is, all finished!
A close up of the back showing the binding:
Summer dress
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I recently went to a local consignment sale that happens twice a year. In a word, it is awesome. There is anything and everything you could possibly need for your kids, and most of it is very high quality. Because it's consignment, people get to set their own price, so you have to look carefully to find the best deal. But when you do! Jeans for $1, anyone? That's what I'm sayin'!
Why do I bring this up? Because this year, I showed great restraint and did not buy my daughter any summer dresses at all. I just couldn't justify it when I've got bins full of cute fabric, and I can get patterns on sale for around $1. I've made only 2 dresses so far, but this one is to die for:
The halter dress is from a Simplicity pattern, and it was so easy! And this picture doesn't do it justice. It looks less sack-like in person. Here's a shot of the back:
The dress is only 4 pieces of fabric, plus some elastic. There's a facing in the bodice, which next time I'll make a little longer. Love it! I can't wait for the weather to turn warmer so she can wear it all the time!
Why do I bring this up? Because this year, I showed great restraint and did not buy my daughter any summer dresses at all. I just couldn't justify it when I've got bins full of cute fabric, and I can get patterns on sale for around $1. I've made only 2 dresses so far, but this one is to die for:
The halter dress is from a Simplicity pattern, and it was so easy! And this picture doesn't do it justice. It looks less sack-like in person. Here's a shot of the back:
The dress is only 4 pieces of fabric, plus some elastic. There's a facing in the bodice, which next time I'll make a little longer. Love it! I can't wait for the weather to turn warmer so she can wear it all the time!
What kind of sister would I be?
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If I didn't make a bag for my sister?!
For Lisa, we have the lush pink paisley with coordinating stripe:
Isn't it gorgeous? I love, love, love paisleys, and this one is particularly awesome, in my humble opinion. Here's a view of the inside:
The best part? On super duper clearance at Hancock a couple of weeks ago. Normally around $20 a yard, I got it for less than $5 per yard!
I made a few changes from the original pattern. Like before, I used the lining fabric for the piping and handles. This time I cut the handles on the bias, too, so that they have that barber pole effect. I didn't put piping around the bottom of the bag this time. It made it so hard to sew on the previous bag. I made sure to leave piping "tails" on the sides so that I could use them to plug the holes left in the corners. That worked even better than I had hoped! This time I also used heavier interfacing than the pattern calls for. I like how it makes the bag stand up on its own a little bit more. Unfortunately, it made the handles a bit more stiff than I'd like, though Lisa may find it works for her. I also didn't think it needs to be that heavy in the zipper area, either. Next time I'll use a mix of the heavy and light interfacing to get the best result. Final bonus addition: pockets on the outside, in between the handles. Perfect for the grocery list, boarding pass or parking ticket!
Oh, and note to self: remember to unzip the zipper before you sew on the bottom of the bag. Trying to unzip one from the wrong side is a pain in the ass!
Coming soon: Sarah's adorable polka dot bag!
For Lisa, we have the lush pink paisley with coordinating stripe:
Isn't it gorgeous? I love, love, love paisleys, and this one is particularly awesome, in my humble opinion. Here's a view of the inside:
The best part? On super duper clearance at Hancock a couple of weeks ago. Normally around $20 a yard, I got it for less than $5 per yard!
I made a few changes from the original pattern. Like before, I used the lining fabric for the piping and handles. This time I cut the handles on the bias, too, so that they have that barber pole effect. I didn't put piping around the bottom of the bag this time. It made it so hard to sew on the previous bag. I made sure to leave piping "tails" on the sides so that I could use them to plug the holes left in the corners. That worked even better than I had hoped! This time I also used heavier interfacing than the pattern calls for. I like how it makes the bag stand up on its own a little bit more. Unfortunately, it made the handles a bit more stiff than I'd like, though Lisa may find it works for her. I also didn't think it needs to be that heavy in the zipper area, either. Next time I'll use a mix of the heavy and light interfacing to get the best result. Final bonus addition: pockets on the outside, in between the handles. Perfect for the grocery list, boarding pass or parking ticket!
Oh, and note to self: remember to unzip the zipper before you sew on the bottom of the bag. Trying to unzip one from the wrong side is a pain in the ass!
Coming soon: Sarah's adorable polka dot bag!
Remember that sneak peek I gave you?
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Ta da! I think it turned out really cute!
The pattern doesn't call for the lining fabric to be used for the handle or the piping on the outside, but I think it looks better this way. Striped fabric on the bias (for the piping) is adorable! I kind of wish I'd done the handles on the bias, too. I think this fabric pattern fits the style of the bag really well.
The bag is a great size... big, but not TOO big. There were definitely things I would do differently next time. Check out my review on patternreview.com for the minutia.
So, do you want one? They still have a ton of this fabric available on clearance!
The pattern doesn't call for the lining fabric to be used for the handle or the piping on the outside, but I think it looks better this way. Striped fabric on the bias (for the piping) is adorable! I kind of wish I'd done the handles on the bias, too. I think this fabric pattern fits the style of the bag really well.
The bag is a great size... big, but not TOO big. There were definitely things I would do differently next time. Check out my review on patternreview.com for the minutia.
So, do you want one? They still have a ton of this fabric available on clearance!
My cute kid
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I made a top for Paige from Butterick pattern #5020. I put up a review of it on Patternreview.com. I had a lot to say, so rather than repeat it here, please just check out the review. Regardless of how the project went, it turned out pretty cute, no?
The bodice is a bit too big, but I made it in size 3 since she's already 2 1/2 years old. Hopefully she'll grow into it before the cold weather returns in the fall!
Where did I get the fabric, you ask? My fairy godmother, of course!
The bodice is a bit too big, but I made it in size 3 since she's already 2 1/2 years old. Hopefully she'll grow into it before the cold weather returns in the fall!Where did I get the fabric, you ask? My fairy godmother, of course!
A piece of my heart
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The very first thing I made with the fabric my friend's mom gave me? A gift for her, of course!
This is called the "schlep bag", based on a pattern from my local quilt shop. Normally the four patch you see is just one piece of fabric, but I used some of those precious scraps that had been given to me. They were already cut into 5" squares, but the bag calls for 8" squares, so I had to sew them together first. There are still enough left over to make another bag if I wanted! I hope she likes it!
This is called the "schlep bag", based on a pattern from my local quilt shop. Normally the four patch you see is just one piece of fabric, but I used some of those precious scraps that had been given to me. They were already cut into 5" squares, but the bag calls for 8" squares, so I had to sew them together first. There are still enough left over to make another bag if I wanted! I hope she likes it!
A sneak peek!!
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Here's what I'm up to next:
This is the Sophia Carry All bag from Amy Butler. However, those are NOT Amy Butler fabrics this time! Hancock fabric was having a great sale on decorator remnants, with 50% off the already discounted price. I got these two coordinating prints for $6 a yard, and since they're decorator fabrics, they're 54" instead of 44", which means you buy less. Score!
It's coming together very fast, much faster than the Field Bag I made earlier. Using a decorator fabric means there's less interfacing to work with. I'm at a little bit of an impasse right now. I followed the instructions, but there's part of the bag that didn't come together as well as I would have liked, so I'm going to hand sew a little bit to correct the issue before going on to the next step. I should have a finished bag to share with you soon!
Grab Bag
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I've gone and made another handbag. Check it out:
This one is also from a free pattern, available here. Be careful, because part of the pattern instructions is dependent on viewing it in color. I ended up ripping out a bunch of unnecessary stitches because I printed the instructions in black and white. The stitches on the diagram are actually both black and RED, and I was only supposed to sew the red stitches indicated. Because all of the stitches on my print out were black, I sewed all of them. Oops!It's a very cute bag, though not very secure. You close it like this:
Fun for a casual evening out, but probably not very good for an every day bag. If you want it, it's for sale in my Etsy shop!
D is for Dear Friend
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I made this recently:
It's the smaller version of the portfolio I made earlier. Both patterns are available in the same download. I made this one to give to a friend whose last name begins with D. Not sure what she'll use it for, maybe grocery coupons or something like that. It has two small pockets on the inside. Guess who designed the fabric?
I didn't use the Cricut to make the applique this time. I've come to the conclusion that it's too much of a pain to put the actual fabric through the machine. Instead, I cut out whatever shape I want out of nice, thick card stock and use it as a template. Old school (sort of), but much easier in the end. Plus, it means I can use whatever shapes I want since it will work with both cartridges AND Sure Cuts a Lot, the software that I bought to use with the Cricut. I found that I couldn't cut fabric using Sure Cuts a Lot, since the software specifies the speed setting on the Cricut for cutting, and it wasn't slow enough. I'll write more about Sure Cuts a Lot someday.
It's the smaller version of the portfolio I made earlier. Both patterns are available in the same download. I made this one to give to a friend whose last name begins with D. Not sure what she'll use it for, maybe grocery coupons or something like that. It has two small pockets on the inside. Guess who designed the fabric?
I didn't use the Cricut to make the applique this time. I've come to the conclusion that it's too much of a pain to put the actual fabric through the machine. Instead, I cut out whatever shape I want out of nice, thick card stock and use it as a template. Old school (sort of), but much easier in the end. Plus, it means I can use whatever shapes I want since it will work with both cartridges AND Sure Cuts a Lot, the software that I bought to use with the Cricut. I found that I couldn't cut fabric using Sure Cuts a Lot, since the software specifies the speed setting on the Cricut for cutting, and it wasn't slow enough. I'll write more about Sure Cuts a Lot someday.
Another bag!
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I made this the other day:
This is the Phoebe bag, available here, for FREE! Thanks, artsy crafty babe, for an awesome pattern! It was super easy to put together. I used Amy Butler fabrics (again, I know. There was a sale, what can I say?). This time I paid attention to where the pattern piece was cut from the fabric to get the best effect. The fabric pattern runs vertically here, which is not how it comes off the bolt. So instead of using the fold that the fabric already has, I folded it the other way when placing the pattern piece on it. I also made sure to place the flap on a section that emphasized the orange.
The only change I made was to use a velcro closure with a decorative button and flower, instead of the magnetic button clasp the pattern calls for. I made this as a gift for a friend's daughter on her 6th birthday. Of course I tucked some money in the pocket on the inside!
This is the Phoebe bag, available here, for FREE! Thanks, artsy crafty babe, for an awesome pattern! It was super easy to put together. I used Amy Butler fabrics (again, I know. There was a sale, what can I say?). This time I paid attention to where the pattern piece was cut from the fabric to get the best effect. The fabric pattern runs vertically here, which is not how it comes off the bolt. So instead of using the fold that the fabric already has, I folded it the other way when placing the pattern piece on it. I also made sure to place the flap on a section that emphasized the orange.The only change I made was to use a velcro closure with a decorative button and flower, instead of the magnetic button clasp the pattern calls for. I made this as a gift for a friend's daughter on her 6th birthday. Of course I tucked some money in the pocket on the inside!
Cute as a Bug
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How is this for adorable?
I made this using my Cricut for the fabric applique. I used the Doodlecharms cartridge, selecting the ladybug using the blackout setting. The red fabric is the body, and the Dick & Jane dots fabric is the wings. Then I ran it through my sewing machine, using a tight zig zag stitch all around the edges of the fabric.
Here it is on our very own model, Sydney. Doesn't she look cute as a bug?!
I made this using my Cricut for the fabric applique. I used the Doodlecharms cartridge, selecting the ladybug using the blackout setting. The red fabric is the body, and the Dick & Jane dots fabric is the wings. Then I ran it through my sewing machine, using a tight zig zag stitch all around the edges of the fabric.
Here it is on our very own model, Sydney. Doesn't she look cute as a bug?!
Happy Valentine's Day
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I made this felt heart wreath in honor of Valentine's Day. It's based on this tutorial I saw recently. I love how it turned out!
I just used a plastic cup as a template for the circles. I cut all the circles apart using a rotary cutter, then cut out the individual circles with regular sewing scissors while sitting in front of the TV.
Here is the wreath in progress. I used a foam form from Hobby Lobby. As stated in the tutorial from the link above, it took about 2 1/2 yards. Luckily I had about 3 yards of red felt from an odd lot I picked up via craigslist.
Easy peasy!
I just used a plastic cup as a template for the circles. I cut all the circles apart using a rotary cutter, then cut out the individual circles with regular sewing scissors while sitting in front of the TV.
Here is the wreath in progress. I used a foam form from Hobby Lobby. As stated in the tutorial from the link above, it took about 2 1/2 yards. Luckily I had about 3 yards of red felt from an odd lot I picked up via craigslist.
Easy peasy!
Paige's Apron
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This is the apron I made for Paige using the Amy Butler fabrics that I also used in the portfolio project. This time I used the pink damask-like fabric for the main part, and the other green/gray/pink fabric is the pocket and the ties. Tres chic, no? I made the turtleneck, too.
And here we are making cookies! I don't like to make cookies as much as other things, because the actual baking part is too much of a pain in the butt. I'm not much of a cook/baker, but I do get the bug to make something once in awhile. These were from this recipe, and they turned out wonderfully! We used mini M&Ms instead of chocolate chips. We only made half a batch, which was plenty. As you can see from the picture, I do not need cookies in the least!
Also, I do have an apron for me that I made myself, but it's downstairs and I didn't feel like fetching it so I just wore this one from Williams Sonoma.
Brand new bag
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I made this bag recently after seeing one my mom made. It's the Amy Butler Field Bag & Tote. I made the "bag" version, which just means it has a zipper closure along the top. The bag is bigger than it looks here -- it's kind of beach-sized, rather than purse-sized, if you will.
I made mine from a Riley Blake line of fabrics. My favorite is the one with the white background, but I couldn't make the main part of the bag in white! Can you imagine the stains? So I paired it with the cutest green and yellow fabrics -- I especially like the yellow as the lining. With pockets, no less!
This bag was definitely a stretch for my skill set. I've only done zippers 3 times before, and those were in clothing, which was much easier. It was the first time I've shortened a zipper, made and used piping, and made pleats. All in all, I'm very happy with the results. I'm using it as a diaper bag/purse whenever I go somewhere with the girls!
FYI: My mom made hers from polka dot fabrics: black with white where the green is on mine, white with black on the top, and red with white for the lining and piping.
Dabble dabble dabble
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Here's a little of what I've been up to lately...
This is the "sweet greetings portfolio" from Amy Butler. It's a free pattern available from her web site. Of course I used Amy Butler fabric to make it.
It has four little pockets on the inside, and a space to tuck a pencil in the middle. It uses chipboard to make the sides rigid, and you have to sew up the pocket that the chipboard slides into. It barely fit in my machine, so make sure you measure yours before attempting this! I used actual buttons instead of brads as called for in the pattern. Don't worry, they're not functional, so no buttonholes are required!I made an apron for my toddler the day before yesterday out of the same fabric combination. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them off the camera!
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