Ruffled peasant top

Confessions of a Sewing Dork has a great tutorial for a ruffled peasant top. I love it. Maybe the girls and I could have coordinating tops.

Easter parade part 2

I know everyone will be thrilled to find out that Easter can be celebrated this Sunday. I finally finished all of the sewing!!!

I am so glad I made shirts to go with the girls' jumpers. They look much nicer than a plain white t-shirt. I used Butterick 3905 and it turned out nicely. I will be tweaking the instructions some to avoid sewing bias tape to the inside of the shirt as an elastic casing, but they were an easy project. This pattern is great for when you only have a little fabric left. I was able to cut a size 5 shirt with an extra inch length out of 1/2 yard. Since K is skinny, size 5 works well for her even though she is normally a 6 or 7.

The purses were made from the skirt leftovers. There was too much fabric to just throw away, but not enough to make anything to wear.

I am so happy to check Easter sewing off my list. I think I will stop to eat before starting the next project.

Easter parade part 1

I was happily sewing my way through birthdays and planning summer wardrobes, when I realized Easter was less than two weeks away. How did I miss that? Yikes! Time to start sewing in double time.

My first projects were dresses for the girls. A friend had given me a huge bag of adorable Daisy Kingdom dress panels. I was so glad I sorted them all in December when I was making Christmas dresses. There were two prints that would be perfect for K and A. I already had a busy day planned on Sunday, but I stayed up late and finished both dresses. Yeah! Finished with Easter sewing!

Not so fast. M's first words when he saw the dresses on Monday were, "What will D and I wear? We need special Mommy clothes too." Time to start sewing again. When I pulled out the dress fabric for the girls, I noted a couple of prints that would work for camp shirts for M and D. Since I wanted to make them a little different than the shirts I made for Christmas, I decided to add a contrasting pocket, cuff and collar. Fortunately, I could use the same patterns, so I didn't need to alter another pattern.

Monday and Tuesday I worked on the shirts. (I'm really not an extremely slower sewer, I just have 5 kids to "help" me.) The whole time I was working on them, I couldn't stop thinking that I needed to applique t-shirts to match. I could see exactly what they needed to look like.

This morning I started on the t-shirts. I just could not stop myself. Unfortunately, I tried to save time by using a store-bought pattern instead of drafting one myself. I guess God wanted me to practice patience and self-control today. I had to tear out the collar in both shirts twice, and I still think the fit could be better. I have added drafting t-shirt patterns for the boys to my to-do list. I was so glad I had been collecting old  t-shirts. I didn't need to purchase anything at all. You have to love free Easter outfits!

M was so excited to see his new outfit. He truly is a joy to sew for. He showed it to everyone that stopped by today, and made sure they were very careful not to get it dirty. It has to be just like Mommy made it for Easter morning.

D was too filthy from playing outside for me to get close to him with his new clothes. I am hoping to try them on tomorrow before he eats breakfast. He isn't too picky. As long as they don't poke, squeeze, or fall off, he will be happy.

Did you notice that I didn't post any pictures from the girl's dresses? Well, I decided that they should have new shirts and purses to go with their Easter jumpers. Guess what I am doing tomorrow. If things go well (meaning Granny takes the kids to her house for a few hours tomorrow afternoon), I should be able to get the girl's things finished and posted. Maybe then I will have time to take pictures of the pillowcase dresses for the girls and pencil skirt for me that I made last week, or sew the last three tooth fairy pillows that I have the embroidery finished for, or work on the doll clothes for the Spingjita auction, or the capes for the auction, or recover the glider, or.... I'm sure you understand.

Linked to:

Wardrobe Wednesday at Brown Paper Packages

Lime T-shirt refashion dress

I planned on making K another t-shirt dress from the pattern I adjusted with her pink and purple dress, but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. I just had to make a dress with panels.

I took some algebra and a lot of thinking, but I finally took my adjusted pattern and cut a panel piece that worked with it. I just love this color combination. The green shirt is from my mom, the grey from my dad, and the print from the thrift store ($.59). You can't beat that price.

I added a little top stitching detail for interest around the bodice. I even had a spool of lime green thread on hand. Strange, since that is not a color I ever wear.

Once I finished the dress, it was time for the hair frou-frou. This is the easiest headband ever! I just took the hems from all three shirts and braided them. It took all of 5 minutes, but it really adds a lot to the outfit.

I am just dying to make more t-shirt dresses. I have a whole cabinet of shirts that are calling to me begging to be refashioned.

jezze: Headband tutorial

jezze: Etsy in South Africa

I love this headband. No messy side seams and it doesn't need to slip over your head, so no messy bangs. Definitely a winner!

Freshly Picked: Pillow Case Dress Tutorial

Freshly Picked: Pillow Case Dress Tutorial
I already have some pillowcases set aside for these cute dresses. My to-do list is SO LONG now! Maybe I should give up cooking and cleaning so I can get all the crafting done.

T-shirt refashion take 2

Have you ever made something that you liked less and less the more you saw it? After K wore the t-shirt dress I made her for a day, I decided I really did not like how it fit. The neckline was too big, it was too wide, and the flowers were too floppy. Time to get out the scissors and start fixing.

First I took out almost 20" at the hem line. I have no idea why the pattern I started with had that much fabric at the hem, but it was way too much. The hem wasn't even straight. It sloped down on both sides. I don't know why I thought it would work when I first made it.

Then I took out the back of the neck band and gathered it to take out about 1". That took care of the sliding off the shoulders problem.

Finally, I sewed a gathering stitch around each of the flowers and made them into yoyo's. Yeah! No more floppy flowers.

Now K and I both love her dress! I am hoping to get a couple more made tonight and then start on a pattern for A. Fortunately, A is just a little smaller in the chest than K. I should just be able to make a couple of modifications to the pattern and be good to go.

Sock bunny

My Paper Crane has posted a tutorial on making sock bunnies. I wonder if I can fit this in my schedule before Easter???

Pattern blocks buttoning activity

D's pattern blocks were finished just in time for his birthday. (One of my dear friends was sewing the bag for me as the party was starting!) I am so excited about how they turned out. I combined the floor puzzle from Mer Mag with a Montessori-style button snake I saw on Gingham Cherry. D hasn't spent much time playing with them yet, but the other kids have enjoyed them. I need to find a time to sit with D and show him how they work without any "help" from his siblings.

The blocks were very easy to make. I cut triangles from scraps of brightly colored fabric and old jeans. I marked the size button hole I needed on the triangles before I sewed them together, so I could leave that space open. After sewing the colored blocks to the denim backs, I turned through the button hole and then top stitched everything. The ribbon with the button is sewn to the bottom of a drawstring bag. 

The only thing I might do differently is to use a different backing fabric.  The denim adds the body that I wanted, but I wasn't able to get nice sharp points on the corners. It might be best to use interfacing cut to the finished triangle size, so it isn't in the seams at all.

Mail bag and envelopes

Since I made D the table tent with a mailbox, I had to make him a mail bag and envelopes. I started out planning to just make rectangles with the names and stamp embroidered on them, but at the last minute decided to go ahead and make the envelopes where they could open. 

Each family member has a letter addressed to and from him. All of the kids have had a great time sending each other secret notes. 

Linked to:

Whatever Goes Wednesday on Someday Crafts

First t-shirt refashion dress

I am finally started to sew using the stuff I picked up at the thrift store last month. It has been driving me crazy to have all that wonderful fabric and no time to sew any of it. I decided to start with a dress for K. (Being the oldest girl, she has no hand-me-downs to rely on.)

I started with Butterick 6659 nightgown pattern to get the basic shape. I went by the measurements on the envelope, but I think they are off. I am waiting on a friend to stop by to help me cut the pattern down a bit to make it fit a little better before I make any more. 

Even though it is a little big, K declared this dress a success. I can't wait to make more for her and A.

NOTE: I decided that I could not live with it being too big, so I made some modifications. You can see them here. 

Linked to:

Tooth fairy pillow

K told me last week that she finally had a loose tooth. She has been impatiently waiting for what seems like forever to her. I had to stitch up a tooth fairy pillow to celebrate.

Since K is my very girly-girl, I found a rose to embroider on her pillow. A few ruffles and a pocket finished it out. I sewed the flap of the pocket over the pocket on the sides. I'm hoping that will cut down on lost teeth.

Knowing that I have a hard time coming back to a project once I have moved on, I went ahead and designed the other kids pillows and printed the embroidery patterns. I am going to get everything ready and put them in my on-the-go craft bag. Hopefully, I can get them finished in the next month or so.

Linked to:

Whatever Goes Wednesday on Someday Crafts

Men's shirt to pencil skirt

I have the most awesome shirt that my bil didn't want anymore that I have been dying to make into a skirt. I was absolutely thrilled to find Megan Neilson had posted the perfect tutorial for it. Thank goodness this week has been declared sewing week at my house. I don't think I could wait any longer to get sewing on it.

Button shirt to toddler dress

This great tutorial on Craftster shows how to make the most adorable dress from a button shirt. I already have a couple of shirt set aside for sewing week next week. I can't wait!

Nancy's Couture: T-Shirt Trunks

Nancy's Couture: T-Shirt Trunks

Another great idea for boys! M has several shirts that have paint, stains, or holes. Time to sew.

Sew a Straight Line: The Domesticated Skirt

Sew a Straight Line: The Domesticated Skirt

I love this skirt. Now to find the time to sew something for me!

I built a house and a barn!

With only 4 days to spare, I finally finished one of D's birthday gifts. YEAH!

I wanted to make a table tent for the kids for Christmas, but ran out of time. Fortunately D has an early birthday. I made our tent to fit my dining room table. My devious plan is to use it as incentive for the kids to help keep the dining room clean. The table has to be cleared and wiped and the floor swept after each meal so the tent can be set up. The toys have to be put away before the next meal or the tent will be in time out until after the following meal.

Since I am trying to use up my stash of fabric and spend as little as possible on gifts this year, I decided to use wovens instead of felt. The only things I didn't have in my stash were the silver for the watering trough and the red for the barn. I found a sheet set at the thrift store with 3 red pillowcases and a fitted sheet for $4.99. Score! My wonderful mother-in-law gave me the perfect fabric for the trough. The only downside to using woven fabric is appliqueing every piece to make sure it doesn't ravel. I think I used more thread on this one project than anything else I have sewn.

With two girls and three boys, I had a very hard time deciding on one design for our tent, so I chose two. Each "building" has one long and one short side of the table. It worked out great. All of the kids have declared it a hit. (I am so glad D is only turning two, and I don't have to hide his gifts while I am sewing. It makes life so much easier!) E even had to climb in for the photo shoot.

mmmcrafts: the basic messenger bag

Even though you can't tell from my last week's posts, I have been crafting. I am working diligently to make gifts for D's birthday. I am now in panic mode because the party is on Friday and I don't have any gifts finished. YIKES!

One of D's gifts is a mail carrier's bag and some fabric envelopes. I promise it will make better sense when you see one of his other gifts. I have the mail finished, but haven't even started on the bag. Maybe tomorrow will be the day I can get this great messenger bag from mmmcrafts done.

mmmcrafts: the basic messenger bag

Quick gift

What do you do when you find out about a birthday party less than 24 hours in advance on a day that the kids are going crazy and you have plans for the evening? I'm not sure what anyone else would do, but I decide to make a gift. Then I decide it will be easier to try to design something than to find a pattern on the internet. Oh, and I decide to make a purse, even though I have only made one purse in my life. Sounds like a brilliant plan, doesn't it?

Even though this was the worst thought out plan in history (Well, maybe not, but you get the idea), I was still pleased with the results. K and I will make a quick trip to the store to pick up some lip gloss, etc. to put in the purse and we will be finished.

Now, if I was smart, I would make a couple more and put them in the closet for when we need another gift in a hurry. Of course, that would take all the challenge and excitement out of getting ready for a party.

Baby doll bassinet

I think A would love the baby doll bassinet from Nothing Fancy. Now the question is can I wait until her birthday to make it???