Fabric Find: Summer Prints

I am really into prints for summer. Light cotton prints to be exact. Cotton is the perfect summer fabric and there are so many out there that I am in love with I can't see my sewing list shrinking anytime soon. Here are a few of my favorite prints from this week:

Mod Green Pod, Fancy Flight, Organic, Dragon Flies Garden

 

Sarah Watson, Indian Summer, Basket of Wheat

Alice Kennedy, Matilda, Chevron Mist

Jay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabrics, The Grove, ORGANIC CANVAS, Flight Dusk

Shorts, skirts, sundresses, totes. So many projects so little time.

High Waist Tulip Skirt

I am really into skirts this month. Looking back I should have done a whole month tribute to skirts but random skirt posts will have to do. I found this pattern at Walmart for around $3. I love the high waist and the big pockets are really fun too.

 

This skirt was so easy to sew up. It took me from start to finish in under an hour.It is hard to tell but the print is actually small tulips falling in different directions.

 This is a great summer skirt, easy cotton and comfortable. One of the many skirts I will share over the next few weeks.

Kids Craft: plant your garden

Spring is here and it is the perfect time to teach children about some of the wonders in this world. That includes how things grow. Children love hands on activities and the idea of watching as something grows from a tiny seed. I saw some small planting kits at Target the other day for only $1. There was cilantro, basil, tomatoes, and strawberries. I allowed the kids to do all the work.

I let the kids tend the soil, plant the seeds, water their plants, and we have been watching the plants grow. They loved getting their hands dirty and learning about the sun and plant cycle.

It has only been a week and we can already see some sprouts. So exciting.

Pinterest Finds: Birthdays

This week was my son's 5th birthday. We didn't throw a party for him this year, just family and presents. But I did make cupcakes for him to take to preschool. He wanted Ninja Turtle cupcakes so I did a little research on how to make the famous turtles look their best. Here is what I came up with:

 

I made rainbow cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting. Then I used a rose tip for the masks, a small round tip for the eyes and mouth, and chocolate chips for the eye balls. I love how cartoon like they look, perfect for a 5 year old. He loved them!

 

We also put balloons on the front yard (paper balloons on wood sticks). When he walked out in the morning he had a great surprise. 

Here are some other birthday ideas to start your own traditions:

 PIRATE PARTY

 PRINCESS CUPCAKES

 BIRTHDAY CAKE PANCAKES

 BIRTHDAY DOOR SURPRISE

 BIRTHDAY INTERVIEW

 RAINBOW CAKE

Moving Day Giveaway Winner

Is it already April? Wow, spring is here and the sun is shining. Now that March is over it is time to announce our latest Giveaway winner:

Congratulations to...

Please email me @ acoupleofcraftaddicts(at)yahoo(dot)com to claim your prize.

Thank you to all that entered the giveaway. We love having your support and seeing your comments.

Basic Skirt Tutorial

Summer is coming and with the temperature rising my daughter is in need of some easy skirts to stay cool. A basic elastic waist skirt is the perfect solution and so quick to make. You can make it for any girl 12 months to adult for just about 1 yard of fabric. I wanted to make a really fluffy skirt so mine is much fuller than needed.

Here are the instructions:

-1 yard fabric (44" wide)
-1 inch elastic
-matching thread

1. Cut two panels of fabric on the fold for a total measurement of 44" long each. Here is a quick width chart:

• 12 months: 10"

• 2T: 11"
• 3T: 12"
• 4T: 13"
• 5T: 14:

Then it tapers off. Measure your model for the exact length adding 1 inch for the hem.  (For an adult I would cut the skirt 22" wide).

Cut your elastic to the width of the waist.

• 12 months: 17" long
• 2T: 18" long
• 3T: 20" long
• 4T: 22" long
• 5T: 24"long

and so on

Cut a third panel 4" wide x 44" long. (waist panel) Fold in half WST and press. Open panel and press one side of the waist band 1/4" towards the middle WST.

2. The two larger panels together at one of the side seams RST.

Press the seam open. Sew a gather stitch along the top of the panels leaving the threads long for gathering. Then sew a second gather stitch right next to the first stitch.

 Pull the threads and gather the fabric to match the length of the smaller waist panel.

3. Open the waist band paenl and with RST pin the skirt panel to the waist band panel (make sure the pattern is the correct direction if that is an issue). Sew the gathered panel to the waist band using a 1/4" seam. Open and press.

4. Flip the waist band panel over the raw edge of the skirt panels on the fold. This will make a casing for your elastic. Make sure that your 1/4" fold is still folded. Pin in place and top stitch to your skirt.

 

 
5. Thread your elastic through the casing securing at each end, I use a safety pin for this part. With RST match the sides of the skirt and pin in place all the way through the waist band. Sew together starting at the bottom and back stitch at the waist band.

6. Turn the bottom of your skirt under 1/4" inch, press, then turn another 1/4", press. Top stitch in place.

Now you are done. You can add embellishments to the bottom or pockets to the front. I added small poms to the bottom of this skirt.

*if you don't want such a full look you can reduce the length of your panels.

Fabric Find: Coral

Are you as obsessed with coral as I am? I can't get enough of the color which is great because it is found everywhere these days. Plus you can pair the color with so many options: navy, turquoise, chartreuse, cream. Here are a few of my favorite fabric picks this week in the color coral.

 Moda, 2wenty Thr3e, Camera Obscura Parchment

 Denyse Schmidt, Shelburne Falls, Multi Floral Maple

Monaluna, Organic, Modern Home, Ziggy


I would love a skirt in any or all of these prints!

Finished-Mockingjay Dress

I am so proud to announce that I finished my dress!!!! Remember from the fabric search giveaway? Seriously so excited about it. I love how it turned out. I fits so perfectly I wore it all day and was comfortable and confident.

 

My brother-in-law asked if it was my Hunger Games dress and I realized it kinda does look like the mockingjay so I am going with that as the name. When I put it on at first I was worried. I kept thinking of that part in "The Help" when she asks if her dress looks homemade. But my husband, (the loving and supportive husband that he is, and smart did I say that already?) assured me it did not look homemade. And he was right, no body guessed that I had made it. This gave me an extra confidence boost.

 For this dress I chose the tab feature but added a back bow just for fun.

 

Once I started it was so simple I am already planning on another one with a few alterations. I love how it synches at the waist. And it has pockets for all my little knick knacks. Now I am totally inspired to sew more for myself, I went out and bought 5 new patterns (3 dress patterns and 2 tops). There will be a lot more adult sewing this year!