Cute, Easy, Homemade Skirts

In trying to find a cute baseball outfit for my 3 month old to wear to a Cardinals game we were going to, I stumbled across this blog that promised to show me how to make the "fastest skirt you'll ever make".

After searching and searching for an outfit... I finally gave up. Everything was too big, too expensive and/or too ugly. So I began contemplating making a skirt. Yes, initially, the thought terrified me. However, I reluctantly moved forward with this new idea. This is how, with the aid of Pinterest, I stumbled across the fast-skirt-making blog.

Here is the blog I found that has a tutorial on making these cute elastic skirts - Make It & Love it .

I am definitely still learning. I am having a hard time sewing all the fabric on the elastic waistband. I always seem to have a little over an inch leftover (which I just fold over and sew to make a pleat.)

These are fun and quick skirts to make (even for a novice like me). I definitely recommend checking out her blog and try to make one yourself. Here are the first two skirts I made:

The first skirt...




This one...I added some of my own "flair". I was at Hobby Lobby getting the material for her baseball skirt and ran across the bottom trim and the ribbon and decided to try and make a go of it with the skirt.

The beginning...




Finished product...




After completing these skirts, I was inspired to complete the outfit. So, using some of her plain white onesies, I simply sewed on some ric-rac (and added an iron-on appliqué on one) and was done.









I LOVE these "not-so-perfect" perfect outfits!

I think she agrees







Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Vacation: Day 8 - Takin' It Easy

You can view this post here

A Stitch In Time

July 10th...cool and stormy. Yes, it is July 10th and it is COOL in Oklahoma. A strong storm moved in and it dropped the temperature GREATLY. I love a good summer storm. The sound of the thunder and rain are so relaxing. When the weather is like this, my favorite thing to do is snuggle up with a good book. I am currently reading a pretty good little murder mystery - Dying to Kill.  I was about to continue to my next chapter, but then I decided to finish up a little project I started yesterday. This fun little project would be making a pillow for my sweet little 2 year old. Yes, it is a sewing project. Now that you have recovered from  the shock of hearing the words "sewing project" coming from me, sit back and I will tell you how that came to be.

Sewing, the only thing I knew how to do with sewing was thread a needle by hand and hand-stitch up a loose strap in a dress or fix a loose button (I did not do either of these well). So, you can imagine my trepidation about enrolling in a sewing class. My friend, Angela, called me and wanted to know if I was interested in doing this sewing class with her...despite my better judgement, I did it. I enrolled in a sewing class.

First day of class: We did a lot of listening...a LOT. I quickly began drawing parallels from my experience sitting there in my sewing class to a school classroom setting where I was the teacher. I think it is important for all teachers to experience this. I sat and listened to her talk about a "bobbin" for 10 minutes. I tried to listen and understand what was being said...one major problem, I had NO IDEA what a bobbin was. I was lost and so not engaged.

Now listen to this...she stopped talking and showed me what a "bobbin" was and then I was handling it and working with it. I finally started to learn something. My tier 3 word quickly became her tier 1 word. I was able to understand what she was saying about making it look like a "p" to place it in the sewing machine. Why was it all making sense? Why was I learning? I was playing a part in my learning AND she was facilitating my learning experience. I was delighted that I actually learned something. From there...I made great strides in my sewing learning experience. (Okay...I am done with my spiel) :)

**I do have to mention...on my first day I DID get to sew something...finally...albeit it was just following a line on a piece of paper, I still felt accomplished.**

NOW...let me show you what I have been able to accomplish after 4 classes.

First Project: Cosmetic Bag

 

                                          

           Bottom of bag. Note the corners...COOL, huh?!?

Please notice...A ZIPPER! Yes, I did that too!

Second Project: A Tote Bag

Yes...I even lined it.

You can barely tell, but there is a front pocket.

Third Project: Pajama Pants

Pics soon to come...learning how to cut out the pattern this week.

My Solo Projects

I have absolutely enjoyed sewing. I am sooo glad Angela asked me to do this class with her. I have enjoyed sewing so much and am feeling (slightly) empowered...so I decided to attempt some projects on my own..outside of class. I was a bit nervous at first...mainly, because in class if I have a question or a problem I quickly have one of my instructors there to run to my aid.

First Solo Project:

I started out at Wal-Mart (material was on sale) and then moved on to Hobby Lobby (love the weekly 40% off coupon).

My materials included:

* 3 yards of 100% cotton fabric

* Pinking shears

* Matching thread (all-purpose)

* Poly-fill stuffing

* Fabric Paint

* Sponge

* Stencil

* 2 yards of Fusible interface (heavyweight)

* Magnet sewing guide

What I did (this is just so you can see how my projects came to be, not sure if it is the "correct" way, but it got me there):

* Cut out (8) 18x18 squares from the fabric with pinking shears 

* Matched "right (front) sides" together 

* Pinned the edges of the material together

* Began sewing ( I sewed 1/2 inch seams all the way around)

* I left 3-4 inches of space unstitched (on one side only)

* I ironed one side of the material with interface (I cut 4 16x16 pieces of interface. I only put interface on one side of my material.)

* I reached in that 3-4 inch hole I left and pulled the fabric right side out

* My hubby placed the stencil in the center of the material (with interface backing) and sponge-painted the stencil onto the material

* After it dried...I stuffed the poly-fill into the 3-4 inch hole.

* I then hand-stitched the 3-4 inch opening. (pin the area closed and the hand-stitch it)

* And then....I had my own decorative pillows for my couch!

    

Second Solo Project:

I basically did the same thing as above, except that I cut out two 25x19 pieces of fabric instead of 18x18.

This time I left out the interface and stenciling. 

Front of pillow 

Back of pillow

I think he likes it!

Excuse the bed head :)

I know my projects aren't perfect...but for a first-timer...I am WAY excited about how they turned out. I am loving the "sewing experience"!