Project Run and Play sew along week #2

For week #2 the theme is Stripes and Polkadots. This one was probably my biggest challenge coming up with. I don't have many polkadotted or stripey fabrics and I had decided before starting this that I would only use fabric I have and not buy any new fabric. How many different fabrics were in my stash that fit the bill? 3 stripey ones and 3 polkadotted ones. They really didn't match each other at all either. After realizing that I had some flower fabric that matched the plain black and white polkadot fabric and had green in it, I made a plan. Here's what I came up with:

I named it the Butterfly Bubble dress and since I made up the pattern, I can do a tutorial for it! :D

I love that since it has so many colors I can still mix and match, so for right now while there is over a foot of snow outside, I can add a shirt and some leggings underneath. If you can't tell, I LOVE to layer. My mother used to call me the "Bag Lady" cause I would come out in multiple layers whenever I got to dress myself.:D

Then in the summer time she can wear it alone. 

I love this kids doodles!

Here's the front:

and a close up:

Then the back:

It is fully lined and I think it turned out rather well. 

I also love that my older daughter Aevarie can wear it as a tunic! :D 

Yeah, my kids love to move, and jumping on the bed makes them happier models! :D

Project Run and Play sew along - Week #1

I'm sewing along with Project Run and Play season 6. For their first weeks challenge I had a TON of ideas. I didn't finish all of them, but I did get 3 different designs done. This was the most successful (and by that, I mean the one that is an argument everyday because she wants to wear it all the time):

The biggest deviation from the original is that I made it into a tunic. I added a bib front and instead of a sash, I added piping. Z wears it practically every day. I love it mostly because I can layer. For now while there is a foot of snow everywhere, I can add a shirt under and some jeans or leggings. 

(Yes, being bribed with M&M's!)

For the back I added some big colorful buttons rather than the fabric covered ones.

Now, I did have some super amazing awesome pics, but my computer decided to freak and I'm having to use my husbands, which of course doesn't have any of my photoshop programs, nor will his take my original sd card which meant we got to retake pictures. Anyone with kids probably knows how it goes with photoshoots and kids. She wasn't nearly as cooperative the second go around, but here's some action pics:

And of course we had to make a matching bow:

For my next idea, I had this super cute "cooking" fabric I wanted to use for a dress. I added another bib and some flutters sleeves and instead of a sash, we made a cute little apron. Here's the completed outfit:

For each week I not only want to do a girl look but a boy look as well and after seeing someone on the crafty sewing mommas group post a picture of a bunch of super hero capes, I thought this would be interesting to try it out with this pattern. I had an idea of how I wanted it to look and just went head on into it. I ended up modifying it as I went. :D It didn't turn out bad at all, but now I know exactly what to do with the girls! :D

So there is my 3 designs. I do have pictures for a tutorial for the very first design, the Circle Tunic, but that of course is all on my computer, so when it gets fixed I will add that!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! :D

Matilda Jane Mesh Bag Skirt Tutorial

Let it be stated, I love Matilda Jane clothing. It's a lot of crazy combos, knot dresses, peasant tops, ruffle pants. It's my style of clothing. I remember the first time I heard about Matilda Jane. I had just finished making this dress:

Someone told me that it reminded them of Matilda Jane dress, and of course I had to look that up. I was beyond flattered. I personally think Matilda Jane is one of the most adorable clothing lines for girls.

Anyways, whenever you buy something from Matilda Jane they send it in a really cute little mesh bag. Now, there are a ton of uses for these little bags, but one day I decided that I could make a cute little skirt out of them. So, on to the tutorial.

This takes 6 mesh bags (or 1 yard of mesh fabric) and half a yard of knit. The mesh bags from Matilda Jane all slightly differ in size, so I chose 4 close to the same size and another 2 that were slightly smaller.

To start I used a seam ripper and took the seams apart.

Then I cut 2 of them into 1 1/2" strands

Here's the rest of the cut list:

(sorry, I messed up with the size of the ruffles on this)

If you are just using mesh material, cut 2 12" by 44" rectangles and then cut as many 1 1/2" strands with the rest.

Then I put my sewing machine on the longest stitch

and I started sewing the strands 1/4 inch from the top

When I got to the end of one I slightly overlapped and sewed them together making a huge long ruffly strand.

I sewed 2 of the bags together at the short seams with the remaining bags

Next, start sewing the ruffle onto the edge of the skirt

I don't have a picture, but sew the skirt part of the knit together at the short ends. Then (if both mesh pieces and the knit piece are the same lengths) put them all together, the knit on the innermost and make sure the ruffles are facing outwards. Then use the longest stitch possible to sew around the top. You will be ruffling this up to attach to the waistband.

Take the waistband and sew the short ends together, then fold over with wrong-sides together. Baste.

Ruffle the skirt to be the same size as the waistband and sew at the edge.

Then let your little girl twirl!

Note: I cut the waistband slightly smaller than my daughters waist. You can always insert an elastic band if you like as well. :D

Christmas Bows and Outfits

Well, we have been hit hard with all sorts of sickiness. We actually just BARELY got up our Christmas tree yesterday, since we are finally feeling better. This post will mostly be pictures, but I am planning on getting tutorials up. They will just have to wait until after Christmas (sadly) since I don't have enough time to get everything done.  

Anyways, I wanted to show some pics of the Christmas bows and clips I've made.

Here's the snowflake clip

Some peppermint candie clips

and my little reindeer clips.

(My favorite is the reindeer clips. :D )

Then some Christmas bows

Then lastly, a couple of other outfits I made for Christmas.

My sons outfit was made by using patterns from Peek-a-boo patterns. They've been the first patterns I've ever actually been able to follow to the end and not just get annoyed and wing it.

The dress I will get a tutorial up for. I didn't want to deal with zippers or buttons and since that fabric has a slight stretch to it, it worked out perfectly to pull over her head. :D

And in case I don't write another post before Christmas, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!