Plum Chevron Shift

I love the chevron prints that are out on the market these days. Many people may say they are "over" the chevron movement but I LOVE IT still. Especially this Moda Purple dots print. I wanted to make something for my daughter that would show offer the print. A simple design with classic lines.

I decided to go retro and make a simple shift with a little girly flair. Here is what you need for this dress:

-1 to 2 yards of fabric
-1 yard lining fabric (I used white cotton)
thread to match

Create your pattern by tracing a well fitted t-shirt. This pattern actually works best with a shirt that is the perfect size or maybe even one size too small. Trace the shirt outline on some packing paper or tissue paper. Then you are going to create a boat neckline. To do this widen your neckline to the shoulders so the shoulder is only about 1 1/2 inches wide. Extend the dress down to the desired length +1inch for hemline  (for a 4T it is about 22inches long.)  Cut the main fabric and the lining fabric on the fold line.

Next create your sleeves adding 2 inches to the top of the sleeve for the puffy effect.

Now you have all your pieces.

Sew the main fabric RST at the shoulders, and repeat with the lining fabric.

Open the main fabric up and press the seams (serge or zigzag for a finished look). Open the lining fabric up and press the seams. With RST pin the main fabric to the lining around the neckline.

 

Flip right side out, press, and top stitch around the neck. 

Now take your sleeves and fold the bottom over 1/4 inch. Press then fold again 1/4 inch. Sew this down to create your hem. Repeat with other sleeve.

Open the sleeve up and make a mark for your gathering stitch. Mind started at the curve of each side of the sleeve. Sew a gathering stitch along the top of the sleeve and gather it to make a puffy top. Then pin with RST to the main fabric with the lining fabric underneath. (RS sleeve-RS main fabric- WS lining fabric. Does that make sense?) Sew the sleeve to the dress.

Now with WST sew the lining pieces together so that the lining hangs free from the bodice of the dress. 

 
This next part is the tricky part. With RST sew the dress up the side seams all the way through the sleeve. Make sure not to sew the lining. 

And you are done! I think next time I will add some elastic to the bottom of the sleeves for an even more puffy sleeve look but I wanted something very simple.

 

Actually the first dress I made was too big for my little girl. She is between a 3T and 4T and I used a t-shirt that is a 4-6T. As I said in the beginning, use a very tight fitted shirt or one that fits perfectly. 

Happy Sewing! Let me know if you have any questions.    

If you are interested in the 5T version of this dress I am selling it in my Etsy shop Today!

ruffled burlap table runner

My sister came to visit me last week from Seattle for a whole week. Whenever she comes we always have lots of plans for crafts. This time she really wanted to learn how to sew. We started with something super basic, a table runner. I loved this tutorial by Sew Much Ado, and it was just as simple as she explained.

 

 This project is a great beginning project because all the lines are straight. We actually started with a straight middle section instead of ruffled just to get the sewing jitters out. My sister is a natural. She has sewn a little in her life but she finished the table runner in less than 30 min. Sometimes I think sewing is in our blood. My mother sewed for us when we were little girls, and her mother sewed for her when she was a child.

I don't know if any of you have a craft or skill that runs in your family but if you do you might know what I mean. Some things just come naturally to certain people. Sarah is a natural sewer.

Next I showed her how to make the ruffled version and she sewed the entire project by herself. I have to tell you though this is a project I wish I had a ruffle foot for. Maybe that is something I should invest in for future projects?

So if you want a beginning sewing project check out Sew Much Ado ruffled burlap table runner. It will give you the confidence you need to progress in your sewing adventures.

Twin Bed Quilt Tops

Remember this fabric I picked out for the quilts on my kid's bunk beds. The line is Echo Lotta Jansdotter.

 It only took me 7 months but I finally put together the quilt tops for my kids room. I needed something that was not gender specific and I would like for a long time (after they grow out of them and want to pick their own room decor).

 

I found a great tutorial on these adorable square blocks at Cluck Cluck Sew. There are so many great quilt tutorials on this website. I really liked the squares blocks because they are simple and easy to match up, especially for someone with very little quilting experience. Once I actually got started it was so easy to put together. I wish I would have done it sooner, haha. Now I just have to cut the batting and bottom, quilt it together, and finish with the binding on both of the quilts. A lot of work to go, but I am super motivated to get it done by September. This is why I have a love/hate relationship with quilting. I love making something beautiful and picking the fabrics. I hate all the time it takes to finish each quilt. They really are made with love, hopefully it will last a long time.






 

At least my son likes it!

Child's Art to a Real "Stuffy Monster"

I am working on getting my three year old daughter back to sleeping in her own bed at night.  We have been very nice and tried everything she's asked.  Clearly that method is not working.  Last week she told me she would sleep in her bed if she had a "stuffy monster."  She went on to tell me a stuffy monster is a nice monster that keeps all the bad monsters out of her room.  She said she saw it at Target.  My daughter will say anything to continue sleeping in our bed...anything.  I suggested we immediately go to Target and buy the stuffy monster.  Her response was "maybe tomorrow."  Sure kid, I'm onto you.  I decided to make her one instead.  I asked her to draw me a picture of what her stuffy monster should look like and I told her she could help me sew.  She picked out all the fabric and approved the design through the entire process. 

My daughter's stuffy monster "design"

 We used a plate as a pattern for the two body pieces.

Between each step I asked my daughter if anything needed to be changed.  She did tell me I needed more circles on the monster's face before she would approve the first step.

She was happy with his eyes, ears, and mouth.

I sewed two legs, added yarn for hair and pinned the two body pieces right sides together.

I sewed around the edges with my sewing machine and left a hole big enough to turn the monster right side out and add stuffing.

My daughter stuffed the monster and I stitched the small hole closed.

She loved her "stuffy monster!"  But guess who slept in my bed last night...

 

Fun Find Friday-Where's My Stache

This week's fun find is actually a fabric. I couldn't resist it is too cute. I found it on fabric worm and I LOVE IT!

Alexander Henry, Where's my stache?

My only regret is I only bought 1 yard because I saw it online and wasn't sure how true the picture would be, it is even better in person. I knew instantly I wanted to make a dress for Elizabeth out of it. I am going to have order some more for sure before it is gone. Here are my ideas for the fabric:

Craftiness not Optional-Emma Dress

ZaraJanie and Jack

Pinterest findJ. Crew

Any favorites, I would love to have your opinion. If it is one from the stores I might even make a tutorial on it to share with all of you.

Another New's Years Goal-Twin Quilts

Sorry for the lack of new and inspiring posts this week but I have been busy and working on some projects that are taking longer than my normal projects take. One of these is matching quilts for my kid's room. My son and daughter share a room, their choice actually they like to be close to each other. Sometimes I even find them sleeping in the same bed one on each end. Anyways, I have been searching for some fabric or bedding that would be unisex but still fun. I haven't seen anything that I liked until this fabric line caught my eye and I instantly fell in love:

Echo by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics

I love this line. I even bought a few extra yards just for future projects. I heard somewhere if you like a print you buy a yard, you love a print you buy 2, if you can't do without it you buy the whole bolt. I wish I could buy the whole bolt but I can't decide which one I would choose. You can find it on Fabric.com or Etsy in 1/2 yard packages like I did.

Here is the quilt pattern I am working on:


It is a simple pattern with the middle blocks measuring 4.5"x4.5" and the side panels measuring 8.5"x2.5" and the smaller sides 4.5"x2.5".

Then after searching I found these great prints that I plan on altering and creating canvases out of. They go perfect with the color scheme and I love the simplicity of the images.

It is taking me longer than I planned to finish the quilts I am almost done with the blocks and then I just have to assemble it together. I am so excited for when it is done.