Simplicity 2586 - I've Conquered the Dress

So here it is... the big reveal.  I have to say, even a size or two big, this dress is cute.  I still need to alter it down to fit me properly, but here are some pics anyway... cause I just couldn't wait!  I enlisted the help of my dh to be photographer - Lord knows you can't get a decent pic trying to set the timer and run!

The linen is a little heavy, but the color makes up for it.  Hopefully it'll just get softer with each wash...I bought the fabric here

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The ruffle detail at the bottom is one of the reasons I first picked up the pattern - and you know how much I detest gathering... but it was worth it.  I love the way it flounces when I walk.  Whee!

The gathered detail around the neckline and sleeve add a special something as well... I love this neckline.  And as much as I procrastinated on the sleeves, they were really nothing to be afraid of.  The instructions were easy to follow, even for the gathering part!

I love it.  Seriously - I can't wait to alter it so I can wear it out somewhere!  And don't you think it would be great with one of these great Anthro belts??

Totally.

Crazy as it sounds, I'd love to make this again.  The end product is worth it - I wonder how it'd look in a jersey knit??!!

We interrupt this dressmaking edition to bring you...

New kitchen towels!!

I was doing some late-night sewing the other night and figured I wasn't quite alert enough to tackle the sleeves... so I whipped up some cutesy flour sack towels!  I bought these towels a while back for this very reason but they were set aside for more important sewing tasks at hand.  Lucky for me, I found them again and now have these to show for it!  Yay - happy kitchen and happy hands!

I dug out these Amy Butler remnants from my scrap pile and went to work.

And I discovered just how great that little ball-point sewing needle works while I was adding the jumbo rickrack.  My regular sewing needle broke with my first attempt!

I don't know that there's much better than a towel with a ruffle!

And I'm loving the flour sack towels - they bring back memories of being at my grandmother's house on holidays, as I was always given dish-drying duty and it was always with these gigantic flour sack towels.  I guess for some great things there are just no substitutes.

And now... I must get back to the dress!

Popsicle Sleeve Tutorial! (and giveaway...)

To kick off the start of all things hot, all things sunny, and all things summer... how about a tutorial?! 

The popsicle sleeve serves two purposes... it keeps your little one's hands from getting cold while enjoying their tasty treat and it catches any sticky drips that ensue.  The terrycloth lining also adds enough traction to help those little hands slide up the popsicle as they're eating it!

First, gather your supplies.  You will need:

Scrap of fabric for exterior

Scrap of terrycloth fabric

(That's it!)

From exterior fabric, cut out two pieces, each measuring 2 inches x 6.5 inches.

From terrycloth, cut out two pieces, each measuring 2 inches x 6 inches.

Layer exterior fabric (wrong side) with terrycloth (x 2), matching up fabric at the bottom edge.

Fold over exterior fabric at the top, 1/4 inch.  Repeat.  (The hem will overlap the terrycloth.) Pin.

Using a straight stitch, sew along each edge of overlapped fabric, creating two parallel lines.  (I use a contrasting thread because I like the detail, but you don't have to...)

With exterior fabric (right sides) together, pin along outer seams and sew a straight stitch (using 1/4 inch seam allowance).

Snip the bottom corners and turn.

Press along seams and corners with your turning tool (aka chopstick!).

Add popsicle (pop-ice, otter pop...), an adorable kiddo and ENJOY!!

For those of you out there who maybe aren't sewing-inclined... I'm giving away the popsicle sleeve made in this tutorial!  Here's how to enter:

1.  Leave me a comment (with your email address so I may contact you if you win!)

2.  Post about this tutorial on your blog for an extra entry (let me know you did via a comment!)

Winner will be chosen Monday, May 31st, 2010! 

Good luck!

Kitchen Cushion Re-Do!

The overcast Texas skies are not very conducive to good pictures, but I'm posting some pics anyway of the new chairpads for my breakfast table.  If you recall, my initial plan was to use fabric and just recover the old cushions.  That plan changed a little when I switched to using oilcloth - the old cushions were a little smaller than the seat, but since the cushion "squished" down when you sat on it, you couldn't tell.  Oilcloth doesn't quite expand like cotton fabric, so it was obvious when you sat down that the cushion was too small...

Enter plan B.

I made a template of the seat out of some scrap flannel, and then added 1/4 inch around it as I traced it onto the oilcloth (for seam allowance).  The straps were made from 1in x 11in strips folded in half and sewn with a straight stitch.  I didn't bother with hemming since oilcloth doesn't fray.

Yes, you heard me right.

Oilcloth.  Doesn't.  Fray.

*giggle with glee!*

Ahem.

So, with wrong sides together and ties pinned in place, I sewed a straight stitch around three sides, leaving the back portion open for the cushion and reverse-stitched over the ties for extra reinforcement.

I attempted to be resourceful and reuse the old cushion stuffing, but it just made for a lumpy mess underneath my beautiful polka dot oilcloth, so I went with two foam inserts, trimmed to fit.

I then hand-stitched the back edge closed (realizing "Oh, that's why I need a thimble!") and added some covered buttons that I made from a kit I found at Hobby Lobby.

And ta-da!  Can you imagine the giddiness I experienced the next morning as I wiped off spilled yogurt drink and grape jelly?!

Now... lessons learned from this experience, besides aforementioned need for a thimble...

1.  Researching how to sew with fabric prior to sewing such fabric proves to be a great idea!  I found all the info I needed from Oilcloth Addict, from whom I also purchased this fabric love!

2.  Read your sewing machine manual!  I never realized there were different needles for different types of fabric!  For shame...

3.  If at first you don't succeed... go with plan B (or plan C for that matter!)

4.  Sewing for my home is amazingly self-gratifying, no matter how tedious the task.

5.  I.  love.  oilcloth.  This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

Have a great Sunday!

And then she was three.

All she wanted to mark the occasion was a Dora party, so a Dora party she received, complete with a Dora jump castle.

And what Dora party would be complete without Backpack and Map? 

My saint of a sister stayed up with me the night before, cutting out mouths and eyeballs from foam as I sewed the backpacks together.  The idea is not original, so don't be so impressed.  I got the idea from the Nick Jr. website and modified it a bit.  I also learned that sewing with craft foam is not fun, for me or for my cheapie Singer.  I'm still picking out purple pieces!

I digress.

Back to the party.

I have a thing for making the birthday cakes for my chickies; I don't know why, but for some reason this is important to me.  Aforementioned saintly sis also helped me with the cake, chocolate per the birthday girl's request.  My sister found the hot air balloon idea from a cake-decorating website and we went with it.  The balloon basket is made from the little sponge cakes sold in the bakery section at the grocery store.  The balloon itself is attached with string tied to pieces of spaghetti.  The rest is buttercream heaven.

My girl couldn't wait to get "her candles" on the cake - she'd been taking them out of the pantry all week, adoring them.  Little did she know that Swiper would steal them away!  My big brother donned a blue mask and swiped the candles away while we were setting up the cake... all part of the master plan with Backpack and Map!

We then told the kiddos to go get their backpacks so we could find where Swiper hid the birthday candles.  After everyone had it, the question was asked: "Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go?"

"THE MAP!"

They all then removed their maps and headed to Puzzle-Land, where they had to complete the puzzle before heading to the next location.

Once complete, they went to the Lollipop Forest, where they had to collect all of the lollipop trees (dum dums stuck into the ground).

The birthday girl was prepared for her adventure with her pink cowgirl boots.

Then, it was off to the sleeping troll (played by my brother-in-law), who was holding the candles in a special box.  They all pulled the maracas from their backpacks and shook them to wake him up.  Then, they had to say "Por Favor" for him to give up the special box to the birthday girl.

At last, she would have her beloved candles!

Happy Birthday sweet girl... and many more. 

Tutorial - Trash Bag for your Car (or Truck!)

Sooo... here it is!

  The Trash Bag Tutorial!

What you'll need:

1 Fat Quarter of Fabric A (cotton/quilting material) - if you use a print, be sure to line up patterns during assembly

1 Fat Quarter of Fabric B (PVC,nylon material)

  From Fabric A, cut two 9in x 12in rectangles and one 9in x 2.5in rectangle

From Fabric B, cut one 9in x 12in rectangle and one 9in x 10in rectangle

Take the 9x2.5 piece.  Fold hem under 1/4 inch.  Repeat.  Press seam and sew using straight stitch.

When you are finished, it will look like this:

Now, set this piece aside.

Place one 9x12 (B) and one 9x12 (A) with wrong sides together -set aside.

Now place second 9x12 (A) and 9x10 (B) with wrong sides together.

At top of piece, fold Fabric A under one inch, then fold down another inch so the fabric overlaps Fabric B.

Pin the seam and press.

Using 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew a straight stitch.

Repeat on opposite edge.

It will look like this when you are done.

Now the fun part!

Layer your fabric pieces in this order:

9x12 B (right side down)

9x12 A (wrong side down)

9x10 sewn piece (A right side down)

Pin fabric layers together at sides.

Your layered pieces should be in this order:

Then, pin 9x2 A to top of piece (right side down)  Your edges should meet all nice and tidy...

Using 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew a straight stitch or serge around the outer seam.

Note:  I prefer a serger for this to keep the edges from fraying, but I'm showing this with the straight stitch for the purpose of the tutorial.

Trim corners and turn piece right side out.  Use a chopstick to help push out the corners, but don't use too much force or you'll risk tearing your threads!

Press seams.

Now, this next step is optional, so you may skip it if you choose... but I prefer the look of a topstitch, so I'll add one in here along the outer border.  Stay as close to the seam as possible.

(If you don't have a serger, this also helps reinforce those frayable edges...)

You're almost done!

Now, you just need to add a buttonhole.

Important!:  Check your car to see how large of a buttonhole you'll need.  (This will depend on where you plan to hang the trash bag.  I hang it from my lighter and sew a 1.5 inch button hole.)

On top flap, fold fabric in half length-wise and mark line with fabric pen.

Now sew along the line using the button hole feature on your sewing machine.  Trim the opening.

That's it!  You now have a fabulous trash bag for your car!!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me - I'd love to hear from you!