Sewing and Crafting for Yourself Series Wrap Up

Our sewing and crafting for yourself series has came to an end.  We had so much fun setting aside some time to make something for ourselves over the past two weeks!  We hope you found inspiration in the series and were reminded it is important to use your talents to make yourself something!  We all get busy and often forget just how much fun it can be to make something pretty for ourselves.  Don't always spend all your crafting time making things for others!

We managed to put together quite a few tutorials with fun projects we finished for ourselves!


Clockwise from upper left: Mod Podge Shoes, Fabric Bangles, Anthro Style Scarf, Tube Tshirt Scarf, Adult Slip Skirt, Easy Lace Shirt

Thanks to all the great guests who shared their projects too! 

Clockwise from upper left: Dixy DIY shirt from Emmyloubeedoo, Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub from Mom Endeavors, Autumn Signs from A Place For Us



Don't forget to read where to go for awesome jewelry tutorials! 

Lastly, Jessica shared a few bloopers she experienced while working on projects for this little series.

Thanks for stopping by and joining in on the fun!

 

BLOOPERS

Not every craft project we set out to make turns out the way we want. Over the past two weeks we have been crafting and sewing for ourselves. During this process I attempted a few crafts that didn't work out.

Spray Fabric Paint Chevron Shirt

When I was in high school I was really interested in Vis Com (Visual Communications). I loved it because it was a great class to apply my creative interests. One of the components I learned about was screen printing. I loved it! However now I do not have the supplies or the equipment. So I have been experimenting with alternatives. I came across this spray fabric paint in the craft store that I thought might facilitate the screen printing process. Paint from a spray can goes on cleaner and smoother. I wanted to use freezer paper but for some reason the grocery stores in New Mexico seem to have a shortage. I did find freezer tape so I thought I would give that a go.

I tried the spray on a scrap of white just to see how well it worked. The color wasn't great (a little too bright) but I figured I would try it.

Start by placing cardboard under the shirt to prevent the paint from going through the shirt. Cut your tape all the same length to create a zig zag.
Overlap the tape creating the zig zag stripes, just make sure to space them accordingly.
Then I sprayed.
Let it dry and this is how it turned out.

Ugly...in my head it looked a lot better. Looking back, here is what I would change.
1. Paint on a white shirt
2. More zig zags...and spaced closer
3. Use freezer paper

I think the spray paint is a good option for fabric painting, my application needs some work.

Spray Paint Shoes:

I have seen a few people spray paint their shoes. What a great idea right? I can never find a good pair of red flats so I decided to take some initiative and make them myself.

Begin with some old shoes that you have cleaned well and spray paint.

Make sure to cover any surface you don't want painted. I covered the buckles, posts, and inside.
Spray an even coat over the shoes, let it dry and spray again.
Turned out FANTASTIC...until I wore them. After just one day the paint cracked and flaked off.

Maybe I will try to spray them again and try a sealant to keep the paint on the shoes.

So here is the bottom line, not every craft is a great idea. Sometimes you may fail. Sometimes there might be a hiccup. The point is to try new things. Experiment, take a risk, you might come up with something spectacular.

Guest Post: Sarah from Emmyloubeedoo

Hellooo Craft Addicts!

I'm so happy to be here! I jumped at the chance to share a sewing project meant just for us grown gals! Yes, please!

My name is Sarah and I have a little blog called EmmylouBeeDoo. I have a sweet baby girl who is the usual recipient of the things I sew (because she's too young to argue otherwise), but I like to squeeze in goodies for myself here and there, too.

When I saw this free pattern offered by Dixie DIY, I knew it was the perfect project to whip up quickly. Dixie's patterns are a breeze to sew, while still being on trend and super adaptable to your current wardrobe. Win win.

sad model is sad.

So when I saw this pattern, I knew I wanted to alter it just ever so slightly. Here's the line drawing:

I knew I wanted to make it longer in general, and also to lengthen the sleeve somehow. I was afraid the sleeve would cut me at the widest part of my perfecty chiseled arms.

*crickets*

lol, just kidding. I wanted them longer. That's all. So I considered a few options, but ultimately settled on the simplest - just adding length to the cuff!

So I'm going to show you how to make these small, easy changes to an already easy, fun pattern.

Who's with me!? OK!

First, go download and print your free pattern. And while you're there, check out Dixie's other free patterns! Fabulous! But then come back here so we can do this one.

Tape and cut out your pattern, then display it proudly on your dining room table:

Now tape a piece of paper (I'm using Swedish Tracing Paper - I swear by the stuff and I buy it on eBay religiously) to the bottom of the pattern FRONT. Make sure it's a big ol' piece of paper.

Now line up your ruler along the straight side (the side to be cut on the fold) and add 4 inches to the hem. For reference here, I am 5'7" and I cut the size Large. It's big, but that's what I wanted. 4 inches was just right for me, but play with it if you think you want more or less length.

Mark 4 inches down from original hemline.

Here's where some funny business starts. I wanted a slight, slight handkerchief hem, so I knew I needed a straight hem, not a curved one, as the pattern is drafted.

So I lined up my ruler with the 4 inch mark I made. Then, in order to draw as straight a line as possible, I matched up a ruler line with the bottom of the pattern piece, and just made sure the first inch or so lined up straight with my ruler. This is So. Hard. To explain. I hope that the picture below will help.

If you have any idea what I just said, proceed by drawing a line from your 4 inch mark out as far as possible. Try to go beyond the pattern piece.

The photo below hopefully shows what the hey I'm talking about.

See how that pen line above goes out past the pattern piece? That will help in this next step.

You're going to measure down from the patterns outer edge to the line we just drew. If you have a see-through ruler, that extra bit of pen mark will help you make this line square.

Draw a vertical line down to your horizontal line:

Now, mark where the lines intersect:

Next, line up the mark you just made, above, with the point where the pattern turns to form the cap sleeve. Draw a line to connect:

Now, cut out your new pattern piece!

The process is the same for the BACK pattern piece, and I promise you, you can do both in much less time than I am taking to explain it. For reals. So, repeat the steps to make a new BACK pattern piece.

New FRONT and BACK

Ok, now we're going to make the CUFF longer.

Draw yourself a nice big right angle on paper of your choosing:

Abut the CUFF pattern piece to that right angle, and measure down an inch and a half on both short sides:

Use some super fabulous pattern weights to hold the pattern piece down while you draw the horizontal line connecting the inch and a half lines you just drew:

Cut out your new CUFF pattern piece!

There's no changes made to the collar piece, so you're done! Gather all your new pieces, follow Dixie's perfect instructions, and make yourself a super cute top!

Mid-trot?

For inquiring minds, the fabric I used is an ITY knit from Denver Fabrics. It's got a pretty heavy drape & I absolutely love it for this shirt. I'd really recommend a weighty fabric for this project if you want the handkerchief effect. A lighter weight fabric will have a more billowy look, methinks.

I used my serger and my sewing machine for this top. It's absolutely doable sans serger, though - don't be intimidated by knits!

Heather and Jessica, thank you so much for having me! This series has been so inspiring and fun to watch! I hope I can come visit again sometime!

If anyone has questions, pop on over and shoot me a line! I'd be glad to help! :D

Cheers!

Tube Tshirt Scarf

I know with fall there are so many scarf tutorials out there so here is another one to add to your list. I love when you can reuse an old product to make a new project. For this scarf I used an old t-shirt and some eyelet lace. I didn't want to make a boring tube scarf so the eyelet provides a sweet and feminine touch.First cut the top of your shirt off under the arm. you want to try and save as much of the shirt for the scarf as you can.


Next cut your lace or eyelet the same length as 1 of your short pieces +2 inches. Mine was 8" x 18" You might also want to zig zag or serge the sides of the eyelet to keep it from fraying.Next measure the shirt across and mark the center. Cut down the center of the shirt with the seams on the sides.
Next cut off the bottom hem of the shirt. Then open up the shirt pieces and match the ends where you cut the hem. Make sure to match up the seams. Then pin in place and use a zig zag to sew the two ends together making 1 long strip.


Now pin the sides together and sew together using a zig zag to make a long tube.
Turn the tube right side out. On the ends fold 1/4" in and press. This will be your seam. Repeat with the other side.

Slide the eyelet into the tube and pin in place. Sew the tube and eyelet together. You can hand stitch it if you don't want the seam but I don't really care.


Repeat with the other side and now you have a tube scarf.




You can wrap it twice.
Or leave it long.


On another note if you want it longer use a longer shirt or a man's shirt.