Blue Dress
Those posts on all the decades were fun, but I felt before I delve into it next week that I would complete a dress I had planned on finishing for the Kids Clothes Week on Elsie Marley (but never did). I used Dana’s tutorial from MADE for the Shirt Dress. I liked it so much that I already have a dress shirt ready to cut up from the thrift store. I didn’t use a shirt, but just cut out some favorite fabric I had. I’m just going to show you how I did the doily detail real quick. You can leave it open to thread elastic through. At this point you can just tie it in a knot, even out the ends of the sash by cutting, tucking in the ends, and sewing. Or, you can kind of fold the ends together like this. Pin doily on top. Then I sewed on my fabric button. I used a white Ikea sheet to make the ruffle. So pretty!!! B is saying hi to the “buds” (bugs). AND I love my new favorite shoes.
Free Pattern Friday: Mardi Gras Beads « A Happy One
To celebrate the Steelers Superbowl Adventures (and since our last game day was the day before the Superbowl), my friend Suzanne made each member of our Girls Only D&D club some fantastic crochet beads! OMG cute! I, nerdy nerd that I am, immediately asked for the pattern, which Suzanne graciously shared. PUFF STITCH BEADED NECKLACE (courtesy of Suzanne!) 1. ch4 2. loosen the last ch to 1/2 inch long 3. 4. 5. ch 2 6. repeat steps 2-5 until your beads of wonder are long enough to make a necklace, then sl st the ends together & FO. 7. Ohhh… look at those ones! I bleed black and gold. Also, if you have intentions of running a marathon for Mardi Gras (though, seriously, if no one’s chasing you I wouldn’t recommend it), apparently these soft, squishy beads are a much better idea than, say, seventy thousand strings of hard plastic beads. Happy Hooking, Everyone! Like this: Like Loading...
Keyka Lou — Home
Disappearing Nine-Patch: I-Spy Version
Here's how to make an I-Spy version of the Disappearing Nine-Patch. It's SO EASY, but it looks like you spent FOREVER on it! I am assuming throughout this tutorial that you are familiar with the Disappearing Nine-Patch pattern -- I have previously posted specific step-by-step instructions on that quilt pattern, which you can find here. What you need: ~ 88 - 4" I-Spy squares (From time to time I host swaps where you can join in and trade with others to collect these!)~ 1 1/8 yd fabric for sashing (mine is white)~ 1/3 yd fabric for setting squares (mine is blue)~ 1 7/8 yd fabric for backing~ 3/8 yd fabric for binding~ crib size (45"x60") batting What to cut: From sashing fabric:~ 88 - 4" white squares~ 17 - 2"x4" white rectangles From setting square fabric:~ 22 - 4" squares~ 20 - 2" squares From binding fabric:~ 5 - 2 1/2" strips -- sew end-to-end to create one long strip Finished Quilt Size:41 1/2" x 56 1/2" (nearly crib size) STEP ONE: Sew together the center rows on all your blocks.
Quick Tip: 1/4" Double-Turn Clean Finished Corner - Sew4Home
Finishing the corners when you're making a narrow hem can be a challenge. Making a perfect 90˚ fold at each corner is one option, and often will work just fine. However, it can be tough to keep your raw edges tucked in, and bulky or slippery fabrics can cause you fits. Instead, try our Quick Tip: nine, simple steps to a clean finished corner. This sample was made for a napkin project, but you can use it anytime you need a narrow hemmed corner. Along all edges, turn right side under 1/4" and press well.Turn another 1/4" all around and press well.Unfold both 1/4" turns so your fabric lays flat. Tags: quicktip Section: Sewing Tips & Tricks Related Articles
Re-make & Re-use: Napkins to Go from Dad's Old Shirts
This very unique Re-make & Re-use project comes to us from Julia Chapman, a new member of our Sew4Home seamstress team. She developed the idea for a benefit in which all the items for sale had to be an ‘upcycle' product of one kind or another. We love cloth napkins here at S4H, but had never seen any made from old shirts, let alone with their own handy carrying case. There are racks and racks of men's short sleeve shirts at thrift and second hand stores... and probably in your own closets. Colors and patterns that might be too wild to wear would be perfect as napkins. Men's shirts are recommended because you don't have to work around any darts, but women's shirts or even larger kid's shirts would do the trick as well. For other ‘upcycling' projects, take a look at our Re-make & Re-use category . Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome Jem Gold 3 ) 1 large, short-sleeve 100% cotton men's shirt 1 yard of ¼" ribbon or cotton cord All purpose thread to match fabric Large safety pin Napkin bag
Cotton-Ease Baby Blanket
This past summer, I wanted to make something special for a friend who was having ababy. I was kind of itching to make a blanket, but I wanted something classic looking and gender neutral, with no pastels or frills. I was having an amazingly difficult time finding what I wanted, so I cobbled together some ideas and made a go of it on my own. It's nothing revolutionary- just mitered squares- but I posted the result on the Lion Brand website and have gotten quite a few requests for the pattern, so I thought I'd post it here for reference. Color Block Baby Blanket Materials:2 balls each Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Maize, Lime, Violet, Berry, & LakeSize 6 and size 8 needles Gauge: 17 stitches = 4 inches using size 8 needles Notes:· Instead of purling, I used backward knitting for quite a bit of this blanket and I think it was a real time saver. Stitch Guide: DD (double decrease): Slip 2 stitches together as if to k2tog, then knit next st; pass 2 slipped sts over last knit st. Let's begin! Square 1:
DawnPages -- Hidden Wells
Begin by cutting and assembling strips of various widths. I suggest you use between five and seven different fabrics; use less and you lose the design, more and you overpower it. For a 12" block, plan your strips to assemble to a 9.5" width. For a larger 18" block, make your strips add up to 14". For interest, cut strips to varying widths, making some two or three inches wide and others only 1.5 inches wide. Square off one end of your strip-piecing, and cut 9.5" (or 14") squares. These are your four basic blocks, label (or separate) them into four groups, A B C and D. Sew your triangles together along the edges that used to be the outside edges of the squares: triangle A and triangle B (#1) triangle A and triangle D (#2) triangle C and triangle B (#3) triangle C and triangle D (#4) Assemble two sets of blocks as four-patches: (4) | (3) (2) | (1) --------- and --------- (3) | (4) (1) | (2) Be sure to rotate the blocks as necessary to create an "O" pattern with each pair of blocks. Cindy in CT
