made it Mine

Countdown to Babies

2011-06-17T10:10:00.000-06:00

My mile long list of nesting strategies is becoming shorter by the day. I've been tackling at least 2 projects a day so I can be ready for these little ladies when they decide to show up. My last big project was to make slipcovers for a glider that my awesome neighbor/friend gave me. I was so excited when she asked if I wanted it because I have wanted a glider for a LONG time! We have an old rocking chair that I love (because it's classic) but it's so very uncomfortable to hold babies in.

I wasn't sure what to expect as far as fabric prices are concerned because I rarely buy home decor fabric. I went to Joann's to try my luck and found some beautiful fabrics that I would have loved to buy...in another, less frugal, life. So I headed to the clearance area and found this cute, simple houndstooth fabric and figured it would be neutral enough to fit with a variety of decor.

I've never reupholstered anything or made slipcovers for anything before so this was a new adventure for me! I turned the fabric right-side in and pinned around the cushions the best I could, slipped the pinned fabric off the cushions, sewed them and created snap closures on the bottoms of the cushions so I'd be able to take them off and wash as necessary. I left the maroon vinyl on as an extra layer of insulation from the cushions. You never know what will end up on a glider and need to be washed off.

My honey helped me take the ottoman apart so we could staple the fabric on (probably my favorite part because I got to use the staple gun).

I also got to use my new serger (courtesy of my wonderful mother!! A perfect baby gift!).

Before

After

Fabric closeup

What to do with an empty can:

2011-03-17T14:17:00.000-06:00

I was cleaning up after lunch today and went to put away the can of Gatorade my husband had used but found that it was empty. I rinsed it out and got ready to recycle it when I thought, "Hm, maybe I can recycle it into something useful!"

If you have young girls at home, you know how messy the "hair" drawer can get. It spews barrettes, bows and ribbons every time I open it. It's so overwhelming that I hardly use any of the accessories because I just don't want to take the time to organize them all.

I had a bright idea! Let's use this old can to make an organizer for our bows!

This would also work for any other organizing need and the great thing about it is that it's free! You just use the leftover fabric scraps and ribbons you have around your house.

Here's what you need:

1. Cleaned coffee/Gatorade/large can

2. Remnant piece of fabric large enough to cover the can

3. Ribbons/trim to beautify!

4. Hot glue gun

Step 1: Cut your fabric with enough leftover to tuck under the bottom and into the top of the can. I left about 3/4in for the bottom and about 2in for the top (just so I didn't see the can looking right at it).

Step 2: Wrap and glue the fabric around the can. It's nice to have a fabric that has a bit of stretch/give so you don't have to be perfectly lined up each time you glue. I used a light linen I had leftover from this project. I only glued the beginning edge along the whole height of the can and then the very end the same way. I didn't glue anything around the top or bottom edges since it will be tucked under/over later.

Step 3: Pull the bottom edges of fabric over the bottom edge of the can and glue. Don't worry about trimming all the strings. You can if you want to, but I like the homemade/rustic look of leaving them.

Step 4: Turn the can over and tuck the top edges of the fabric inside the can and glue. This can be a little difficult depending on how much fabric you left to tuck in. Go ahead and trim some off if it's too hard to reach your glue gun inside the can.

Step 5: Add ribbon and trim however you want! Since it's almost Springtime, I wanted to use some organic and Springy colors.

Final Product:

I clipped some flower clips I made around the top for easy access. I glued a bit of ric rac around the middle and left portions unglued and away from the can's surface so I can clip barrettes and bobby pins to those instead of digging around inside the can to find them. I'll probably store combs and bigger things inside the can.

Car Seat Canopies: Done!

2011-03-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

I finally dug our infant car seat out of storage so I could make sure I made the canopies to fit. My kids were very curious about this new car seat, especially my 2 year old since she was the last to be in it and can't remember.

I bought this beautiful fabric at The Village Quilt Shop in Gardener's Village. They have the most wonderful selection of fabrics but are unfortunately way over my budget (at about $9/yard). Luckily for me, they have a few clearance bolts and I was able to find all 4 coordinating fabrics for about $4.50/yard. I bought the accessories (buttons and trims) at Joann's.

I made these so that they're reversible. The side I have pictured is the main side and just in case it gets dirty and I want to flip it before I have time to wash it, I've sewed straps onto the opposite side.

I used a few different sites to guide me along but mostly eye-balled it. It's pretty basic so it was nice to not use a pattern. I used a big glass bowl to round the edges of my fabric so they'd all be even. Every car seat is different so it's better to use your own as a guide for where to put the straps.

Here's what you need (for just one canopy):

2 1/2 yards coordinating fabric (1 1/4 of each print)
Accent Thread
Buttons, Ric Rac, and ruffle are optional

For Twin A

For Twin B

Homemade gifts are always better

2011-02-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

You know how when you want to give a gift to someone and you want it to be memorable, how hard it is to find the perfect gift? I'm rarely satisfied with the options I have to purchase. Not that they're not nice quality or that the person won't like them but I know it will most likely be a gift that's forgotten and won't have any sentimental value to it.

My precious niece, Olive, whose birth I witnessed, is turning one! I can't believe its already been a year. Her mom is throwing a birthday party today and I wanted to get Olive something special. I know she's only one and doesn't have any clue about what's going on and won't remember anything about this day but I wanted to get her something special.

I had the crafty itch and decided to see what I could come up with. My sister said Olive loves to take things out of bags and put them back in. She could do it all day long. I thought it would be fun for Olive to have her own little bag instead of disassembling mom's purse every time she got the urge.

I pulled out some scraps and this is what I came up with:

It is the simplest of bags and only took about a half hour to sew but it will serve it's purpose!

Now, something to go inside the bag. I started looking for baby toys online and was reunited with the wonderful site called The Purl Bee. It's awesome!! She has tons of tutorials and even sells sewing and knitting supplies. She had this tutorial for a toy she called "Best Bunnies". I thought they were so cute and perfect for a one year old! This is how mine turned out. It is one bunny with alternating fabrics and the bunny has 2 faces, one on each side.

Projects on my "To do" list

2011-02-04T09:30:00.001-07:00

Since I found out we're having twin girls (yay!), I've given myself the go ahead for a few new projects.

Car Seat Canopy x 2

I haven't found the right fabric yet, but I'll be making 2 of these to make our car seats coordinate a little better. Since we already have one infant car seat, I'm going the cheap route and buying only one more (not matching) so I'll use the canopies to help them be a little bit matchier (made-up word).

"Moby/Sleepy Wrap Lookalike"

This is the only carrier that can carry twins comfortably and safely. I know I can buy one of these babies for $40 but I figured I'd try to find the fabric and make my own. It shouldn't be too hard as it's just one strip of 5.5 yards by 30 in fabric. If I buy 60 in fabric I can get two for one! I have yet to find the right fabric.

Car Seat Replacement Pads

Again, since I'm not going to be buying matching car seats, I've been mulling this option over for a while now. I'm considering attempting my own car seat pads. I think they can be pretty involved and it's always hard for me to do 2 of one project because I feel satisfied after I've done the one and can't make myself start it all over again. Do any of you have a good pattern for these? It's certainly not something I can bust out on my own.

So keep checking back! I'll be working on these things this week.

Onesie Embelleshments and Burp Rags

2011-01-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling much more like crafting now that my time isn't being taken up lying in bed and holding back vomit. If you haven't heard our news yet, we're expecting identical twins in July! You can go to my other blog: jsbushfam.blogspot.com to read about those adventures.

I also had a great reason to thread my sewing machine again because my friend is having her first baby in March and I decided to get her some essentials and to spiff them up a bit.

In my personal experience, cloth diapers make the absolute BEST burp rags. They super absorbent and soft. I bought a little hem lace and rick rack to spice them up! This is definitely not a new idea, just a good one worth doing over and over.

We all know how many Onesies one baby can go through in a day...and sometimes in an hour. You can never have enough! I got these ideas from other crafty ladies all over the internet.


The dress Onesie. Sew a simple rectangle of fabric, hem the bottom, gather the waste, and sew it to the shirt! This was so easy and fast and a great way to keep babies cool in the summer without looking to drab in a plain one.

I call this one the "Fancy Tux". I started by sewing a small rectangle of the hem lace down the middle, just below the neck line. Then I cut out LOTS of circles from an old, black t-shirt about an inch to and inch and a half in diameter. Fold the circle in half, twice, then sew bunches of 5 folded circles onto the shirt at a time. I felt like it still needed a little something so I added some ruffled lace around the outside of the black circles. If you need more detailed diagrams, let me know.


Ruffled bum. You can do this with any extra fabric or trim you have lying around. I used lace because I wanted it to be a little daintier. You can also sew down the middle of an inch wide strip of fabric to gather it, then attach it to the Onesie by sewing down the middle again. Add as many ruffles as you like!

To accessorize this little baby girl, I decided to crochet a hat for her.

Anthro Wonderland

2010-12-08T15:22:00.001-07:00

Anthro Wonderland by sarahbush3 featuring wrap scarves

A combination between fashion and art/expression where whimsy and holidays meet.

a home for my yoga mat

2010-09-23T16:43:00.001-06:00

I'm feeling quite refreshed and happy after practicing yoga last night--so much that I'm still thinking about it almost 24 hours later. Well, why not do something yoga-ish then?!

So I made this. With no pattern. This is all you have to do:

1. Measure your mat's length and circumference. Add 3 inches to both measurements. Example: My mat's circumference is 13 inches and is 24 inches long. My fabric measurements are 16" by 27". I just used a piece of scrap fabric from another project.

2. Cut a strip (matching or not) about 3" by 27" (the same length as your first piece). If you want a wider strap, go with 4" by 27".

3. Cut 2 circles using an object in your house that has the same circumference as your mat + 4" (so mine is 17"). I used a tray for a bunch of blank DVDs. Keep the circles together with right-sides out. Baste if you want. I hate basting and pinning so I usually don't.

4. Sew the strip, right-sides in, length-wise. Sew one end of the strip closed. Turn right-side out.

5. Sew the main piece of fabric, right-sides in, up the side.

6. Sew the circle pieces to the bottom of your main piece (circles are still right-sides out and back to back, main piece is still right-sides in). I didn't pin mine, I just held the edges as I went. It's easier if you keep the circle piece on bottom and your main piece on top as you go around the edges so you can use circle as a guide.

7. Hem upper edge of case. You can either add a drawstring here or add a snap or button for closure. Or leave it open. Totally up to you!

8. Turn your work right-side out. You're almost done!

9. Attach the strap about 3" from bottom and top (tuck the edges in on the open end of the strap before sewing to leave a clean edge).

Namaste

Jewelry Display

2010-08-30T20:53:00.000-06:00

On my recent trip to Santa Fe and many hours spent jewelry shopping, I became inspired to make one of these. What an easy way to display your jewelry and to have it all there to see when you get ready each day. I've had this dilemma for years now. My jewelry lives in about 5 different locations and I have to dig through each vessel before I find what I want. I don't want to use travel cases unless I'm TRAVELING.

So I went to Michael's for the unfinished frame and craft paint, Lowe's for the dowels, and used some sand paper, wood glue, and a saw from home.

Don't you love it? I do.

My mom gave me a few little paperclips with cute birds and yarn flowers from Anthropologie (love) and I wanted to use them as barrettes for Sophie (or me) so I took the paperclips off and glued them to some barrettes covered with ribbon (so the glue would stick to something besides the metal barrette). They turned out SO cute and they get worn almost every day.

Oh, the chicken isn't from Anthro. It's just a silly button I had lying around.

Rompers are fun!

2010-04-17T21:03:00.000-06:00

I just love the look of rompers on babies in the summertime. I've stocked up on summer fabrics and can't wait to make more of these!

This is actually a scrap piece that my mom gave me so I could use the fabric for something cute. Well I didn't have to modify it too much! I just sized it way down to Sophie's size. Cute!

Easter Part 2

2010-04-01T15:55:00.000-06:00

I don't mean to toot my own horn but when I finished this dress and held it up to actually look at the little details, it literally took my breath away. It's mostly because of the beautiful fabric and lace trim (and maybe a little of my handiwork ;) )

So here it is. The finished product. Sophie's Easter dress. It looks more like something I should hang up on a wall but I suppose I'll let her wear it for a little bit as long as there is no chocolate within a 100 foot radius.

I'll post some pictures of her wearing it when we get our family pictures done. I can't wait!!

Easter Part 1

2010-03-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

Memories of Easter dresses is what got me thinking about this project. I remember going shopping for the perfect dress with a matching hat and white gloves. I wanted to make Sophie's outfit this year and I wanted to do something vintage. I found this great pattern by Simplicity. It's a 1948 reprint and I fell in love with it immediately. By the way, it's #2629.

I decided to go with a simple yet stylish fabric for the jacket so that she'd be able to wear it with other outfits this spring and summer. Working with the pattern was easy overall but I did run into a snag when it came to sewing on the collar. I just couldn't visualize how it was going to work out when it came time to turn it right-side out. A quick email sent to Simplicity saved me and a very nice and helpful customer service person emailed me right back and with 2 more emails I understood everything and trusted her enough to go ahead and finish what I wasn't sure would work. Well, it DID! And this success made my day. It took me about 4 days to finish the project.

To Come: Easter Part 2 (Dress)

i'm alive and well and even creating!

2010-03-18T16:11:00.000-06:00

I'm so sorry for my prolonged absence. I have done numerous projects which were mostly gifts and didn't want to post them because the gifts would have been spoiled. So I'm back and ready to post! My next potential project is an Easter dress for Sophie. I'd LOVE to do something unconventional. Any ideas??

To come: Cardigan Resuscitation

this belongs on a tree

2009-12-04T17:19:00.002-07:00

Just finished an adorable skirt for Sophie. I had the holidays in mind. I bought this fabric from the clearance section and didn't realize how hard it would be to work with until I got half way through the project and didn't want to throw out my work. The fabric is home decor fabric so I knew it wasn't made for what I was using it for. But I persevered and I love the end result.

I used Sophie's Christmas skirt for a pattern and winged it from there.

I decided I might as well make a matching hair flower while I was at it. Cute, eh?

Happy December and Merry Christmas!

inspired flower

2009-11-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

I went to lunch with my dearest sister the other day and she had on an amazing flower headband she made. She inspired me to try the flower thing again. I like this one. I think I'll wear it.

my creative history

2009-11-13T22:06:00.002-07:00

Some years ago while trying to declare what it was that I was going to do for the rest of my life--or so it seems when you're declaring a major in college--I took an aptitude test. This test was supposed to reveal exactly what my calling in life was and provide immediate relief and assurance. Well, things didn't turn out exactly as I had planned. The test results unearthed what I thought I already knew but didn't think plausible. It told me that I was artistic and liked to build things--work with my hands. Instead of picking a new university at which to study, I picked the most interesting major with the easiest and shortest route to graduation.

Shortly after I got married, my dearest mom decided that an appropriate birthday gift would be my first sewing machine. I was genuinely excited and already started thinking of possible projects.

I learned to sew in a home-ec class in middle school and the very first thing I sewed (with a sewing machine) was a Chicago Bulls themed pillow for my big brother. It was ugly but I was proud of it...even though the letters were off center and the "S" was nearly swallowed up in the seem. I had sewn doll clothes (Barbie size) and other useless things by hand throughout elementary and middle school but this was my first real project. After that, beside a few scrunchies and a pair of pajama pants, I didn't sew another thing until a dear friend told me she was having her first baby. A baby quilt! What a perfect beginning project for my new machine!

Almost three years later, when I prepared to have my own baby girl, I finished that same blanket. Too embarrassed to admit I'd actually started it for my friend, I decided to hold on to it for my own use (let's just say it wasn't a flawless work of art).

It was the announcement that our second baby would be a girl that lit the creative fire for me. I've been sewing my heart out in my rare, spare time ever since then. In addition to my sewing machine, I've dabbled in mosaics, photography, and a few other crafties.

sweaters to dresses

2009-10-19T18:27:00.003-06:00

I love the thought of creating something cute from existing clothes. This time I used a couple of sweaters that I don't wear anymore to make a couple of adorable dresses for Sophie.

The first was a cream colored cardigan I got as a hand-me-down from my sister but I never wore it. It had bell-sleeves that I hated. But I knew it had potential. Watch the transformation...

before

after

in action

The second sweater is a light wool. It was one of my favorites but I no longer liked the length.

This one was a little more technical. I cut off the sleeves, took-in the shoulders, and took out some length.

before

after

after, too

stripes are something cute

2009-10-12T19:52:00.000-06:00

I bought three of these shirts/sweatshirts after I had Jonah. They were comfy and hid my belly. I don't wear them anymore so I decided to make them into something I would wear.

before

after

self-portrait

I added a button and a hood. I used an old tank top for the hood liner. It's super cozy and I love the final product.

Forgive the tie-dye...or not--it rocks and you know it.

15 minutes = 3 new pairs of...

2009-10-09T11:32:00.001-06:00

baby leg warmers

I bought some cute socks at Target the other day with the intention of turning them into some leg warmers for Sophie. Her others are getting too small so this time I shopped in the women's department for socks. They have some really cute knee highs right now which are perfect for baby leggings!

If you can find 15 minutes out of your day, you, too, can have some of these!

Refer my tutorial post on making baby leg warmers if you want some of your own.

mary janes for sophie sue

2009-09-22T21:10:00.000-06:00

This is a project I've been excited about for a while. I'm too cheap to buy a pattern for mary janes online so I decided to come up with my own. I'm really pleased with the final product and I'm excited to try different versions and exercise a little creativity on them.

I only have 1 shoe of the pair finished but I was so excited that it turned out that I couldn't wait to post it.

here it is:

more to come :)

Sophie Dress and Jonah Pants

2009-07-29T15:44:00.007-06:00

I'm still here! Since getting my machine fixed, I've completed these 2 projects. I love them both!

Sophie Dress
Jonah's "Huck Finn" Pants

The Sophie Dress (I'm just calling it that because I made it for Sophie) was a lot of fun and really simple. I used Simplicity 2707 for the majority of the dress. To make it mine, I added the apron. I thought it added a needed "different" dimension. What do you think?

While making this dress, I learned how to put in my very first zipper. Let me just tell you how I feel about zippers, I HATE THEM! From now on, I'll avoid them however I can. Don't laugh--it took me 2--2-- hours to put that stupid thing on.

I think I might add a fabric flower of some sort to the bodice as well.

The Jonah pants were amazingly easy. I used a pattern from a new book that I got called Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. It's an adorable book with some great patterns and projects included. I'll be making many more of her projects in the future. I used the "Huck Finn" pattern in there for his pants. He got jealous when he saw me trying Sophie's dress on her and I told him I'd make him something. He was very excited when they were done and was oh so comfy and cute running around in them all day.

I've done my research

2009-07-02T14:42:00.005-06:00

Well, it looks like my sewing machine needs to be re-timed. I've researched it online and unfortunately, it looks WAY too complicated for me to undertake myself. So I've called around to a few shops in the area and people are giving me estimates of anywhere from $49 to $89!!! It's hard to imagine spending that much dough on a machine that only cost about $200. But it has to be done, I miss my machine and have several projects hanging in mid-air.

What's funny is that when I went to explain this all to my dear, sweet husband, he was blown away by how much it costs to repair "a sewing machine??". I just shook my head and calmly explained that fixing a sewing machine is much more specialized that fixing a bike (these are terms he understands as he is a cycling enthusiast).

I told him that he reminds me of my dad. My dad would be utterly flabbergasted at the idea that something like a sewing machine, which he as no interest in whatsoever, could cost so much to fix. However, were it his fishing boat or his favorite rod or reel (or a bike for my husband), it would be worth fixing for any price.

Summary: I'm taking my little machine in for repairs today and they say it should be done in less that a week. I sure hope so...my projects are haunting me and causing me to lose sleep.

My poor sewing machine (white one). Sister Laura let me use her cute Hello Kitty machine to finish a project.

Fabric that is yearning to be turned into something delicious.

What in the...

2009-06-16T20:45:00.002-06:00

heck happened to my sewing machine???

I was working on a gift for a friend the other day and the most frustrating thing happened. At one point in my sewing, nearly half of the "item" (I don't want to reveal what it is, as this person might read the blog and I still haven't given her the gift) got shoved under the bobbin casing due to a particularly dull needle. Let's just say I wasn't exactly "gentle" while extracting my work from the machine. I yanked this way and that, up, down, side-ways, all the while trying to lift the needle back out when finally it gave. When I went to re-thread my machine, the stupid needle wouldn't pick up the bobbin thread. I'm pretty sure that if I took this thing to a repair shop, it would likely cost more than the machine itself. So I got out my tools and started dissecting the thing.

I think I've found the problem: the timing seems to be off. Does anyone know how to fix this? I've looked online and have found a few links that might help but boy, I'm not excited to fix it. Dang.

Fabric Flowers

2009-06-08T16:22:00.005-06:00

My dear sister got me started on these. She found this link and started making some adorable versions of this cloth flower. I decided to try my hand at it and they're so easy! They're a great alternative to the typical flowers you find on head bands and barrettes these days.

Here is my version:

And here is one that I created by winding up some cute fabric, just twisting and turning it as I went. There really was no rhyme or reason to it. I sewed it as I went along to keep it in place. I love the vintage look it has. Then I added a red button for the center. I'm definitely going to be making more of these. I think they'll be adorable for some shoes or hairbands or clothes, etc:

Do any of you have ideas for other kinds of flowers? I'd love to hear them!!!

happy mother's day

2009-05-13T19:58:00.003-06:00

laptop bag for mom

This year for Mom's Day I decided to make something with my own 2 hands for my mom. I had a really fun time with this project. For a little intro, my mom is addicted to her computers. She never, ever, ever goes anywhere without her laptop. So, to break up the monotony of black laptop bags, I decided to make her one.

what i used:

1. yellowish linen for exterior
2. coordinating cotton for interior
3. coordinating thread
4. light quilt batting
5. pattern from Sew Darn Cute

how it turned out:

fishy shoes

2009-04-30T21:32:00.005-06:00

something for Jonah

Since Sophie's shoes turned out so well, I decided to make a pair for Jonah too. The soles of Sophie's shoes are made of cotton but since Jonah is more active and runs around, I made his more sturdy. I bought some vinyl at the fabric store the other day. I think it'll be plenty strong for how often/long he wears the shoes.

I also happened to pick up a few more "fat quarters" of fabric. I just can't resist! All of the colors and patterns make me happy!

project #5 (special request)

2009-04-28T21:37:00.014-06:00

baby leg warmers

Here is a cheap, easy way to make your baby some leg warmers. I, for one, am not willing to spend $11 or $12 bucks on a pair of leg warmers when I can make them in 5 minutes for a few bucks. These make great gifts and are very simple to make. Let's get started!

what you need:

A cute pair of knee high socks. If you're making leg warmers for newborns, use a pair of girl's knee highs. For older babies, use women's knee highs. I have even used my husbands worn out socks to make some for my daughter. Just make sure the foot part isn't threadbare. It's OK if there are holes in the toes and heels because these parts will be cut out and discarded.
Coordinating thread

here's how:

1. Cut the sock in a straight line just above the heel line. The leg part of the sock will be the main part of your leg warmer.

2. With the remaining part of the sock, cut in a straight line just below the heel and again just above the toe. Make sure you have straight edges on both ends of the remaining piece. This will be the upper cuff of the leg warmer.

3. Fold the cuff piece in half, right sides out, lining up the raw edges.

4. Find the raw edge of the leg warmer and tuck it inside the cuff piece lining up all 3 raw edges on top. Align the pattern as desired (it's not really necessary to align solids or stripes but argyles or other patterns might require a bit of tweaking).

5. Pin in place.

6. Sew around the end completely. Make sure you catch all 3 raw edges in your seam.

VOILA! You have an adorable leg warmer!! If you want 2, which I suspect you will, repeat steps 1-6.

project #4

2009-04-27T09:58:00.004-06:00

soft-sole baby shoes

There are tons of free patterns online to make your own soft-sole baby shoes. These shoes were a fun, fast project and are super cute! The great thing is that you probably have all the materials on hand already.

what you need:
You'll need some cute fabric scraps for the top and lining of your shoes. You'll also need some elastic (the amount depends on what size of shoes you'll be making). If you want to use a stronger material for the sole of the shoes, you can use either leather or a non-slip fabric (like they use on footy pajamas). You'll also need a pattern or if you're brave, you can come up with your own.

optional patterns:
I used this pattern. Here is a list of different links to patterns for making your own baby shoes.
I really wanted to find a pattern for mary janes but was unable to find a free one. So I'm currently working on coming up with one. I might just post it up here when it's done depending on my mood.

Here are some pictures of my final product. I'm very pleased and plan on making many more--maybe even some for Jonah!

tip #1

2009-04-23T22:13:00.006-06:00

how to sew a perfect circle

I'm currently working on a project for my mom for mother's day. I don't think she reads this blog so hopefully I'm not spoiling anything--but just in case, I won't get to detailed on what the project is until it's complete. Anyway, for this project I needed to know how to sew a perfect circle. I'm not about to ruin it by trying to sew a circle just by following the circle I outlined on the fabric.

Thanks to my dear friend Google, I found perfect instructions on how to do this...and I don't have to buy any fancy gizmos! Just for clarification--I take no credit for this tip but I thank whoever came up with it!

Here's how:

Find the radius of your circle (forgot your geometry? That's half the diameter)
Get a thumbtack and some masking tape.
Let's say my radius is 2 inches. I'm going to place my thumbtack 2 inches to the left of my needle and tape it down using the masking tape (just stick the thumbtack through the sticky side of the tape and tape the thumbtack to your machine).
On your fabric, find the center of the circle and place it on the thumbtack.
Now sew your circle! The fabric will rotate around the thumbtack, allowing you to sew a perfect circle. No guiding necessary!

last night I dreamt...

2009-04-20T09:58:00.001-06:00

about a new design for a baby dress! I was excited to wake up and get it down on paper. Project details to follow!

project #3

2009-04-14T13:17:00.005-06:00

butterick 3846

This is the first baby item I've made using a pattern. I've been working on it for about a month on and off, whenever I had spare time. I finally had to tell myself that it's OK that it takes a long time to complete a project because it's just for fun and I don't want it to become a stressful thing on my to-do list. I learned a TON while working on this outfit. I think working from a pattern is a great idea if you want to learn a lot of the basic sewing techniques.

I used the medium sized pattern. Sophie will probably be able to wear this next Spring. This outfit is 2 pieces, top and bottom.

One of the great things about a simple pattern is that you can get creative with embellishments and making it your own. For this outfit, I picked a really bold fabric with a lot of color variation so it didn't really need much. I used a yo-yo maker and button-cover kit to make these little flowers for the bottom-right of the top.

project #2

2009-04-09T08:39:00.005-06:00

tie-dye...always an experiment

Sophie had some white onesies and I needed some tie-dye. The great thing about tie-dye is that you can't really mess up and the final product is always different!!

The Process:

Mix your dyes according to package directions. This may require a little customizing and cutting corners if you don't want to mix the whole package of dye. You can also buy a tie-dye kit. For this project I used Dylon, which can be purchased at Wal-Mart or any craft store. I only mixed half of each package which still ended up being WAY more dye than we needed. TIP: Don't mix dye in bowls that you love because they may leave them stained. (I learned this the hard way and have stained my pink Williams-Sonoma mixing bowls.)
Tie your shirts/clothing. There are numerous ways to do this depending on what effect you want. The ever-s0-popular spiral look is achieved by pinching the fabric where you want the center of the spiral to be, then spinning the fabric in one direction until you have a tight wheel of fabric. Secure with rubber bands. It doesn't really matter how many rubber bands you use. The dye will seep under the bands so they don't really provide a barrier to color. For other ideas on tying, go here or just search the Internet.
Start dying! We used cups to pour the dye onto the fabric. It may be easier to use squirt bottles. We didn't have any so we improvised. You can also use a spray bottle to get a little splatter action going. TIP: If you want part of the fabric to remain white, don't POUR the dye on, just drizzle it. The dye tends to soak in really easily so go easy.
Wait. Place each article of clothing in a separate plastic bag to keep it moist. For maximum results, let the dye sit for 24 hours before washing.
Wash. First, you'll want to rinse the fabric in COLD water while it is still tied--until the water runs fairly clear. Then untie, and rinse again in HOT water until clear. Then wash your fabric in HOT water, using your regular laundry detergent.

These are simple directions compared to some you'll find on the Internet. I found that this process worked perfectly, however, and I had no need for the more technical instructions (like using soda-ash or synthrapol).

Pictures of the final products:

project #1

2009-04-06T21:29:00.005-06:00

t-shirt recycled into yoga pants

Rundown: Take an old t-shirt, cut, sew, embellish, et voila!

Here's How:

Get a t-shirt and cut 2 pant legs. Cutting from the long edges or your shirt will allow you to keep the seem already sewn there and use it for the outside edges of the pant legs. Here is a horrible drawing to help you see where I cut from. Next time I'll remember to take pictures of the process.
Turn the 2 legs inside out and sew each leg up the inside leg.
With the legs still turned inside out, sew up the crotch. Its a good idea to go over the crotch twice to make sure it withstands the wear.
There are 2 options for the waste, OPTION 1 - with pants turned inside out, fold the waste band down and hem, leaving about 1 and 1/2 inches open to slide elastic in. Then sew up opening after adding elastic. OPTION 2 - cut another strip of fabric long enough to go around entire waste and tall enough to fold down when wearing. Turn pants right-side out. Pin (I rarely pin but often pay for it) the waste band along the waste of the pants on the outside and stitch. I hope this makes sense. Leave a comment if you have questions. I used OPTION 2 and made it up as I went so don't be scared to get creative. There is no right or wrong here!!
Embellish your pants however you like! I created my own appliques and used double-sided interfacing (glue on both sides) to stick them to the fabric using my hot iron. Then I hand-stitched with embroidery floss to secure the edges. Get creative with your stitches! There are lots to choose from!

Here are some pictures of the final product.