My Fabric Rosettes

I have been loving the rolled/twisted fabric rosette tutorials and singed posie tutorials around the web.  I have been making them for everything!  They fit the vintage taste I am developing.


Here are some tutorials to get you started:
Posie Style:

• Make It and Love It
• Grace Laced
• I attached my layers and decorated the centers by stitching "X's" on my posies.  I wanted to avoid any small parts for use on baby items.

Rosette Style:
 

• My Sparkle
• Studio 5
• House of 3
• I used parts of different tutorials.  I folded the strip lengthwise and tied a knot for the centers, hot glued to a felt circle (or a spare piece of the same fabric) and maintained the fold while rolling and folding around the center.  I hot glued as I went, attaching it to the base.   Try these with satin type fabric for a fancy sheen and good fray, or jersey knit for a softer, more casual look.

Satin

Jersey Knit

ThickMuslin

What to do with them?  This batch is for baby headbands.  I made mine with velcro dots to make them easily interchangeable. Plus, no hard clips to scrape or poke little baby heads.  I have also seen them for bib necklaces (like on the Studio 5 link,) as pins to decorate scarves, purses, etc., made out of muslin and glued around lampshades, or to decorate pillowcases,the sky is the limit.  My first batch went to personalize my diaper bag, to help me discern it from my Sister's, since we both fell in love with the same one.

If you make some, I would love to hear how you used them.

Tutorial: Homemade Maternity Pillow

Last night I had my first good night's sleep in weeks. Trying to arrange pillows comfortably around a pregnant body and not push the husband out of the bed in the process is something I have yet to master.

I was not willing to buy a big, expensive maternity pillow, though I am sure they work great. Instead I took two old flatty pillows that were hanging around my linen closet, sat down at my sewing machine, and this project was born. Here's how I did it.

You will need: 

• 2 old flat pillows.
• A sewing machine and heavy duty thread, or a good needle, thread,  and some patience.
• A jersey knit pillowcase(great because it stretches) or other large pillowcase/sham,  or sew yourself a case if you are crafty!  Whichever you choose, you just need room for your two pillow rolls to fit in and leave a gap in the middle for you.

Step 1
Select pillows.  You could use one big fluffier pillow or just a bunch of batting in a pinch, but that requires more sewing, splitting the stuffing and making them their own pillow forms.  It worked for me to get out thin old pillows that no one wanted to use. They were the perfect size for this as well.

Step 2
Fold in half the long way, to form a skinny roll, and pin the edges. This may get a bit tough in places, try to push the batting away from the seam and then pin it.

Step 3
Thread your machine with heavy duty thread. Mine may have been a bit too thick, I had a tough time getting the machine threaded, not to mention the fun it gave me while sewing. You could give it two passes with regular thread.

Sew down your new seam, removing the pins as you go.  I ended up pulling my fabric taught from each side of the machine to help smooth the fabric and direct it under the foot.  It still looks a little rough, but it will certainly do!

Step 4
Repeat with second pillow.

 Get your pillowcase and put those babies in there!  I put the seams facing each other

 See how there is a good bit of slack between the two pillow rolls?

 Enough that I could fold it up like this:

 I couldn't model the pillow and take a picture at the same time, so I substituted two pillows for the pregnant body. Just lay on the center space and let the rolls support your back and belly. Plus, they won't shift in the night, because you are laying on the pillowcase and holding them right in place. 

Enjoy your good nights rest and tell me how it worked for you!

My New Apron

I have been hanging on to this skirt for at least a year.  It looked like a cute apron to me, and today was the day.  I busted out some brown jersey knit, I love the way it flows, and whipped up a ruffle and a bib/bodice using elastic thread.  Then I just sewed it all together and added satin ribbon for the ties. I like the look of the neckline tying on the front, plus I am less likely to tie my hair into the knot.  I pinned on a little tatted-lace flower and I am ready to go.

Except the fact that it is so cute I can't wear it to make things that stain.  I'll have to bust out my lunch lady apron.  Because birdhouses and sunflowers are what gourmet cooking is all about.

Ruffly & Scrunchy Scarves

I am just learning about the adorable accessory of scarves. Here are 2 tutorials, one I have tried, and one I hope to try soon:

1-  The recycled t-shirt scarf.  I'll spare you my pictures, since the t-shirt I used was construction worker orange.  The pictures from Ruffles & Stuff are much cuter.

All you do here is cut jersey knit fabric into 4 inch squares. Lay out your scarf with the corner of each square touching the center of the square before. The first time I made this I pinned it, and the second time, I just layered them as I was feeding them through the machine. 
The original tutorial talked about how long the scarf was. I made mine with 50 squares, divided in half and sewn into two identical scarves.  From there I lined them up so that they were offset on the bottoms by a square or two, to soften the bottom line as it hung, and did some quick stitching in the center of the length to hold the two scarves together as one. Did that make any sense? Perhaps I better make one more just for the photos.

This next scarf looks too cute! I don't know where my love of ruffles, scallops, and all things softy came from, but what better way to display it than this scarf from Hope Studios.

Eyeball T-shirts

Abby over at a Feathered Nest featured this fun project she adapted from Martha. I love it! I think I would like to try it with iron-on printer paper.

Chef Hats

I made a chef hat today for the dress up bin.

Here is the basic tutorial I followed in making my chef's hat. I did make a few adjustments.

I did not do the slit up the back or seal off the short ends of the head band. I simply pinned the band to the gathered circle and left a 3 inch gap of un-gathered circle between the ends of the bands. To finish off the band I inserted elastic into the ends, leaving the bands about 1/2" apart. This allows the hat to stretch to fit a slightly larger head.

I also made the top circle a bit bigger than the tutorial to give it more loft/floppyness. My fabric for this measured 20"x 20".

My band measurements: 1 piece of fabric cut to 6"x 20". Hem the 6" edges, then fold with right sides together to make a piece that is 3"x 20" Sew the 20" edge, then use a large safety pin to turn the right sides out. I used a pretty thick canvas like fabric. If I were to do it again I would not sew the 20" edge shut until I had pinned the length of the headband on either side of the gathered circle as I attached it, to create a nice, finished edge on both sides. Doing this could also make the hat reversible.

Little Guy Ties

I have always loved little boy things. I saw a baby with a cute little tie on at church on Sunday and had to look up making one. Here are the results:

Try & Lucy's Simple tie
Little Londyn sells patterns for these ties
The Purl Bee
Plus they have a complete tutorial for a man size tie too.

Hey! These will be great for dad's old tie collection! This recycles old ties into a cute little baby tie, I love it!
SEI Lifestyle
And lastly, the tie that started it all. I asked about that tie I saw at church and found it was from Peanut Posh. So if you want a no sew adorable tie, go and check out their line of Little Bruiser Ties. They'll even make custom ties to match your special event.

Designer hospital gowns

Skip to My Lou featured tips on using free patterns for making designer hospital gowns. Click here for a direct link to the patterns.

These would be great for anyone who is hospitalized frequently or for long periods of time. Or really for anyone who will need to wear a gown at some point.

Here is one gal's post about making one a designer gown for labor & delivery.

ReFashion clothing crafts

Keep checking back to this post, I will add to it as the ideas keep coming! Lots of people are posting tutorials these days on things to do to upcycle old clothing. I guess it is people on budgets who are unleashing their crafty sides. There is a perk to the recession, I guess.

Too cute t-shirt scarf:

*Bonus Ruffle Scarf Tutorial*

Rosette T-shirt:
Another Version:Posie VersionTshirt Skirt
Sweater turned hat:

Nursing Covers

Here is a link list of tutorials on making your own:
http://freshlypicked.blogspot.com/2009/06/breastfeeding-cover-tutorial.html  A good one with a terry cloth corner.
http://tadacreations.blogspot.com/2009/06/nursing-cover-up-tutorial.html
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-make-nursing-cover.html
and a two-sided one: http://shannonmakesstuff.blogspot.com/2009/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html

• Made by the Momma Monster
• Bliss TreeAnd another one from Prudent Baby
• http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2010/06/nursing-cover-tutorial.html
• 
  

Tag Monsters

Here are some quick links to Taggie toys:

• Love this one!
• Get the Pattern for this adorable guy
• Not in the Monster mood? Try a Taggie Football!
  
• 

• Hedgies, anyone?

Tank top sleeves

Beside the fact that I am an advocate of modesty, my little girls have fair skin, and I need to keep them covered and protected. I was excited to find this tutorial from Stop Staring & Start Sewing on how to add a ruffle sleeve to a tank top. (Or any sleeveless top.) Now I can keep those little shoulders covered!

Roman Shades- Make your own!

I have an unfounded fear of peeping toms. So it is only fitting that the window coverings in my master bedroom/closet areas are vertical blinds that never seem shut tight and get stuck, leaving gaps between the slats.

Beside my privacy issues, I want some fabric, some style, some roman shades!


Here are some How To sites & tutorials

• Make Roman Blinds
• Wiki How
• Wiki How-Hobbled Roman
  
• Terrell Designs
• DIY Roman Shades
• Shades from mini-blinds
  
• Free printable Pattern
• 3 style tutorials- I love the shirred Austrian style
  

Martha's Tutorials

• Classic Roman Shades
• Casual Sheer Shades
• Formal Shades

Shortcut Shades! 

Places to get hardware:

• Fix my blinds
• Blind Saver
  

http://www.mrblindcleaner.com/

Car Seat Canopy Cover

I am ready to start sewing with my new (and my first) sewing machine. The list of projects is growing by the minute. Here comes the next one:

Because I never mastered the "blanket over the car seat and still able to hold the handle" maneuver:
Car Seat Canopy Tutorial
Another great tutorial with detailed photographs from While They Sleep



http://www.sweetnsassygirls.com/2010/02/how-to-make-a-reversible-car-seat-covertentcanopy.html
http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2009/01/car-seat-tent.html

Tie Onesie

I just blog surfed my way to the Crap I've Made blog. Seems like an appropriate title for my blog too! You will find a tutorial there for making appliqued tie onesies. Perfect for that little man in your life!