Today's projects

I couldn't believe it, the bandana skirt is now doll clothes... The Princess has a large Dora doll & it fits her perfectly. Of course my Princess is a petite thing & it still fits her waist, it just isn't even close to appropriate length!

I made my first 3D paper snow flake, just as a trial and error. Didn't need to it's so simple & looks so beautiful. here and here are some good tutorials. I have some 2 sided wrapping paper that I am going to make some out of next!

I am also going to attempt a mushroom ornament collection. I have the fabric cut for 3, but we'll see how the first one goes! My sister will love these if they turn out!

I also have a dress I'd like to recycle for the Princess for Christmas. It's a size 10/12 & she is a 5! But the fabric is perfect & it shouldn't be too hard to fashion a smaller outfit out of it.

We also will be Christmas cookie baking, so we'll see just how much I can actually get done today!!!

Ruffle skirt

Crafty Daisies recycled denim ruffle skirt tutorial.

Thanks to The Queen of Re for the info!!!

Overall dress

I have been saving the shiny pink satin dress since winter ball 1991! I don't have a before picture of the dress, I do, but I'm in it with the biggest hair imaginable, so I ain't sharing!!!

I finally got to ripping it apart & decided that it would make an adorable dress for the princess, but how??? Then I found an old pair of overall shorts in my stash of things needing repairs. I decided to cut off the legs & make a dress. I tried it on the princess & it fits fantastically!

The bottom is from a ruffle. So it was already gathered. It is longer in back than in front, that made it too cute! The straps are also made from pieces of the second ruffle, just 2 tubes sewn on 3 sides, pressed & attached!

I had to shorten the lower pockets because they hung down too low & I snipped one taking the legs off anyways.This is the back view. When I took off the old straps it made a V in the back & would have been too far down her back (so said daddy!) so I used another piece from the dress, topped with a cuff from one of the legs (stability).I removed the pocket to do the applique, so I had to put it back on & rather than hide it I used the same zigzag stitch & embroidery thread.

Thus ends the Monday recycling sessions!!!

Halter Top

I found inspiration at You Can Make This for this adorable top. I don't remember off hand what size the jeans were that I used, but they were adult & I only used 12" off the bottom of one leg, so loks of parts left to recycle!

I didn't add a neck strap, simply because I think she'll be wearing this over a shirt most times. I made mine reversible

I used this fabric because I made her a headband out of it & they will look cool together!

Gaucho Pants

I had a pair of jeans in a 4t from the Prince. They had stains & weren't very cute (at least not for a little girl). So going through my huge stash I found an adorable green print & began the project I posted before pics of the jeans here

I cut a slit in each leg & cut out the seam (it was just below the pocket, but I think the next time I'll make it higher on the leg) Then I cut a wedge of fabric (mine measured 10"x 10" & the point was 90 degrees, this left a little more fabric than I wanted, so for the next one I'll cut the angle back maybe to 60 degrees). I cut 2 strips for the ruffle, hemmed 1/2", I pressed the hem then top stitched it in place. I used a XXXX pattern on one leg and a __]__]__] pattern on the other. Then I sewed the ends to complete the circle.

I do ruffles the hard way, I haven't tried couching dental floss & gathering that way & I haven't bought the ruffler foot for my machine yet. I simply lined up a seam on the inside leg with the seam on the ruffle & pinned. Then I Pinned the opposite side & worked my way down to having pins every inch, then I sewed & removed pins before I got to them. After pressing I top stitched the ruffle into place & added some decorative stitching up the legs of the jeans.

I can't wait to try it again & see if it turns out just as cute. Next time I do pants though I am going to take the legs off completely & attach a patchwork leg on each... sounds cool!

Sweater Mittens, sweater pillows

Ok so searching for a quick homemade gift the kiddos can make led me to http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10004

I am thinking I'll give this a whirl. Only I don't have any wool sweaters & I didn't like the stitching outside. Sew basically I'm not doing the pattern at all! I figure I'll trace my hand, add a bit, line up the pattern at the bottom of the hem or a cuff maybe, cut it out. Then with right sides together I'll sew it on my machine (or maybe the serger...). I'll have to let ya know how it works out.

Sweater Pillows

I have made a few or these. I gave some to my sister as Christmas gifts one year. I still have one or two to sew up for her, she gave me the sweaters this time.

Decide on the size of the pillow, add at least 1" for seams (1/2" each side so 12" pillow + 1" = 13" square), cut out 2 squares to size. I love my square ruler & rotary cutter for this! Then right sides together sew around the square, leaving a big enough hole to turn right side out & stuff (bigger if using a form, smaller if stuffing by hand) Then after it's satisfactorily stuffed hand sew (or machine top stitch) the hole closed. Voila! One very cuddley pillow!!!

btw visit http://myfavoritepowerballads.blogspot.com to see what I'm listening to as I sew!!!

Easy Christmas Stocking Completed!!!

Woohoo. Another project moved to the completed side of the board! The Prince needed a new Christmas Stocking, didn't think a 7 year old should still have a Bear in the Big Blue House one. Sew.... I used two of dh's old jean shorts & a pair of flannel pj bottoms, cut 6 1/2" squares out.

I pieced them together in Chain Fashion, one row at a time. I made 5 rows of 7 squares, used my 1/4" hem foot. When I sewed the rows together I pinned at the block seams to line up the pattern & pressed in between sewing & pinning each row.

Then I folded the fabric in half & (thankfully I had a pattern) I traced a stocking we had using chalk. I cut out the outline, pinned right sides together (again lining up the squares as best I could) & sewed another 1/4" seam around the stocking. I reinforced the bottom by stitching it twice from heel to top of foot. I pressed it, turned it right side out, turned the upper boot under almost 2" (this is where you could add another piece of fabric (fur, contrast...). I choose to just turn it under so the unfinished inside wouldn't show. I made a loop out of some tulle I had, didn't have a good matching ribbon. I pinned the loop at the "back" then topstitched the hem & loop into place about 1/2" from the upper edge.

Sew all in all I think that with cutting the squares, sewing them into fabric & cutting & sewing the stocking took about 2 hours total.

Day 3...sewing gift for the guy who has almost everything...

http://www.berninausa.com/media/knowledgebase/projects/pdf/prj0048_2efd.pdf

I found this project last year. I haven't attempted it yet, but I do have some extra canvas laying around (ok like most of a bolt left, but I have plans for it!) I bought the canvas to sew shot gun covers for my Dad, but I have used it for art aprons, a toy organizer & who knows what else will come out of it.

I think this might be nice in denim too. I save all the jeans we outgrow or ruin to wear, or I buy at yard sales, they are a wealth of fabric! I am collecting pockets to create an organizer for dd's room. I have recycled more than one pair of dh's old jeans into jumpers for dd.