Summer Skirt ~ tutorial

The days are long and hot here in Southern California and the kids are enjoying running around the garden barefoot and free. I made this little summer skirt for my 4 yr old ~ it's wafty and floaty and easy to get on and off.

It is loose fitting with a comfortable elastic waist so it's perfect for climbing...

...and sliding.

For the waistband, I used fold over elastic (often referred to as FOE). For a great video tutorial on how to use FOE, check out Amy's video here.

I measured my daughter's waist and cut a piece of fabric 1.5 times that measurement x 4". (You may want to do less than 4" if your child is smaller. Mine is an almost 5yr old). Using Amy's advice in the video, I didn't cut the elastic before sewing it on, I just pinned the beginning and pulled it tight as it went through the machine.

Next, fold the fabric in half with the right sides together, pin and stitch. (Pinning is optional ~ I have to say I usually live life on the edge and wing it. I'm pinning it in this photo for the purposes of the tutorial and to look all fancy, but honestly, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to pinning. Unless I'm making something super special).

I like to finish my seams by serging them, though you can also zig zag stitch up the sides or open out and iron flat.

Next, cut a piece of fabric roughly 2 times the waist width and 7.5" long. Again, adjust this measurement if your child is smaller. Sew the side seams together like you did with the first piece and finish the seams neatly. Run 2 lines of basting stitches (a really big loose stitch) along the top edge.

Pull the 2 bobbin threads so that the fabric gathers evenly around the top edge.

Match up the side seams and then pin the top part to the bottom part of the skirt with the right sides facing.

Sew around to join the 2 pieces together and finish the seam either by serging to with a zig zag stitch to make it neat and stop it fraying.

If you turn the skirt the right way, it will look something like this.

I like to avoid hemming wherever possible and also a bit of bright green bias tape brightens up an ordinary skirt. Here's a helpful tutorial on sewing bias tape.

I hope this helps if you feel inspired to make this cute and very easy summer skirt.

Envelope tutorial

Yesterday I posted about Graphic 45's fabulous papers and showed you a few things I made for my kids. Today I am sharing a tutorial on how to make an envelope like the fairy one I made for my daughter. For this one, I used their Tour de France paper from the Curtain Call collection.

I also used my paper trimmer, my favorite craft knife, a circle punch and a border punch, which were given to me by the nice people at Fiskars.

First, cut 2 pieces of cardstock 4.5" x 7".

Next, lightly score down the 2 long edges and the bottom edge 1/4" from the edge of both pieces of paper. Remove completely the small 1/4" squares that will form at the 2 bottom corners.

I centered my circle punch and cut just a small part of the circle onto one of the pieces to create the opening.

Glue down the scored edges and the bottom edge.

Stick the 2 pieces together.

You can stop here, or continue to personalize. I cut a strip of paper 2 x 4" and folded it in half.

Finally I used my border punch to decorate one edge and then stuck it to the bottom on the envelope.

And done!

Sock Puppets

I made these sock puppets a couple of weeks ago with my children and it was great fun. They were involved in much of the cutting and sewing, not to mention coming up with the characters themselves.

We used velcro to stick the features on so that we can change them around and I loved the challenge of coming up with imaginative ways to create things like the princess's hair.

This project was made as part of my role on the Fiskars Design Team. To read the full tutorial click here!

Paper punch bunting

One day last week I found myself loitering before the cardboard paint swatch shelves of the DIY store and drooling at the huge selection of colors on all these perfectly sized little cards. I knew I had to have some despite not planning on painting our walls, and I furtively began choosing and selecting swatches as if I was. Luckily for me, my 4yr old was with me, and she was very enthusiastic to participate (I THINK that may be aiding and abetting???)

I confess she was a bit disappointed when we got home and I explained to her that we WOULDN'T actually be painting her room but cheered up when I pulled out some Fiskars paper punches I was given.

I ran the shapes through the sewing machine.

See? My conscious is clear. The swatches did end up on the walls after all.

Paper doll chain

As a kid I used to love making these paper doll chains but I would invariably end up with half dolls on each end because I would fold the paper wrong. So, determined to save my children from a similar miserable disappointment, I have learned how to do it the right way and I am sharing it with you!

Cut a piece of construction paper in half longways. Fold in half, bringing the right side over the left. Fold the right side into the center. Fold the left side into the center. Turn over. Fold the right side into the center and then fold the left side into the center. Finally, fold the left side over. Draw your half person design making sure that your folded line runs down the center of the body. Cut out with a pair of sharp scissors. Never have half people again!

(My scissors and paper trimmer were given to me by the nice people at Fiskars).

Final step is to decorate and color.

Zipper pouch kit

Are you a beginner sewer or do you know someone who is? You might be interested in my latest etsy shop item I have enjoyed putting together.

YOU can create this fabulous zipper pouch with this kit. In the sack you will find all you need to put this together ~ you just need to provide pins, sewing machine and the enthusiasm! Included is a 3 page set of clear instructions with many color photos and helpful text.

The pouch is made from laminated fabric which has a wipe-down surface. It is simple and unlined which makes it the perfect project for anyone just starting on their sewing adventure and who wants to be successful in making something useful AND gorgeous!

As well as full instructions, you will receive the turquoise, laminated camera fabric, a zipper (colors will be bright and cheerful and chosen at random to co-ordinate with the fabric) and a small piece of lovely linen twill ribbon for you to use a your own label tag.

Find it here in my shop.

Cat backpack

I am doing a blogsitting post today over at MeSewCrazy for Jessica who has just had a gorgeous baby boy! Congratulations Jessica!!

I have put together a tutorial for a bag I recently made for a friend's daughter. Do you like this cute cat backpack? Please head on over to Jessica' lovely blog to find out how to make one and while you are there, check out some of her amazing tutorials.

Among many other fabulous children's clothes, she shows you how to make the beautiful ruffle dress, in 20 minutes....

And I seriously love this belt (which I'm hoping my mum, a quilter, will see and will make one for me in blues and greens ;-)

Thanks Jessica, for having me blogsit. Wish I was a bit closer to watch the baby too!

Peach Dump Cake

Quite possibly the BEST and EASIEST cake I have ever made. I'm not sure it really qualifies as homemade but for a delicious and impressive dessert in a hurry, you can't go wrong with this.

Give a handmade gift

My very wonderful friend left town recently with her family for pastures new and distant and I wanted to present her with an appropriately worthy gift. This friend of mine is one in a gazillion. The kind of special friend that frankly, feels more like family. I love to give (and receive!) handmade gifts and as my skill and confidence grow with each new project I undertake, I enjoy coming up with unique and heartfelt items, that hopefully reflect how much I love and care for the recipient.

I created a felt picture a few years ago as a fundraising project for my son’s preschool. It took me months to make, I was nervous for people to see it and more than worried it would remain unsold at the end of the benefit auction. I think I even told my husband he would have to bid on the thing if no-one else did. I need not have worried however. To my complete astonishment, the picture sold for several hundred dollars and was THE hot ticket item that night and no, it wasn’t my husband who brought it home! From that night on, I realized people don’t look at each individual snip of the scissors or every tiny stitch with the critical eye I use to examine my own work. What they see is the overall picture, the main idea; that the piece was made with love.

So, a few months ago I created this felt picture for my friend. It represents her family home here, which is now home to a new family and they are far away. Each cut I made and each stitch I sewed brought me closer to finishing this project, which in turn, prepared me for our unavoidable goodbyes (there were tears).

I must admit to still being nervous when presenting someone with a handmade gift, but these days, I tend to stand further back so I can’t see the small flaws and imperfections I know are there and instead, concentrate on that bigger picture. I hope my friend did too.

Cell phone pouch tutorial

This is a cell phone pouch designed by me! I made many of these a couple of years ago but when I lost the piece of paper with all my measurements I gave up making them, because really, the most complicated things about these pouches is making sure you get the measurements correct. Well, I wanted to make a new pouch for myself so I started from scratch again and worked out the sizes for a second time. I thought I would share them with you. Please use this tutorial for personal use only ~ make a gift for someone, but do not make pouches using this pattern to sell. Thanks!

The nice thing about these pouches is that on a night out, when you need to take your phone, bank card, ID and some $$, this pouch will hold it all! And it will fit in your (husband's) back pocket.

You will need :

Outer fabric ~ 2 pieces 6" x 4.5"

Lining fabric ~ 2 pieces 6" x 4.5"

Fusible heavy weight interfacing ~ 1 piece 4" x 5", 2 pieces 6" x 4.5"

Pocket fabric ~ 1 piece 3.5" x 3.5"

Flap ~ 2 pieces 4" x 5"

1 button

Elastic cord ~ 20"

First, iron the fusible interfacing onto the 2 outer fabric pieces and onto 1 of the flap pieces.

Now, let's make the pocket. Take your pocket piece, fold the edges in 1/4" and iron flat.

Top stitch along the top edge of the pocket piece.

Pin pocket to the center of one of your outer fabric pieces and stitch down one side, along the bottom and up the other side.

Stitch your button to the center of one of your flap pieces.

Fold your elastic cord in half and pin the two ends to the bottom center of the flap, below the button.

Place the second flap piece (right sides facing) on top with the elastic cord ends sticking out and the bottom and the loop part out of the top. Stitch the sides and bottom, leaving the top edge open. Go back and forth over the part where the elastic ends poke out to secure it.

Turn the flap right side out, iron flat and top stitch around the sides and bottom.

Take the back of your outer fabric. If you have a label you might like to pin, then stitch it to the bottom, about 1.5" from the bottom edge.

Pin the two outer parts together (right sides facing) and stitch the sides and bottom, leaving the top open.

Next, take your two lining pieces and stitch (right sides facing) down the sides, leaving and top and bottom open.

Turn your outer part of the pouch right sides out. Pin the flap, face down to the back. (the button is face down). Do not stitch, just pin. Notice I am using GREEN pins to hold the flap in place.

Have your lining part of the pouch inside out. Squeeze the outer part (with the flap) inside the lining, with right sides facing. You can see my GREEN pins still holding the flap onto the outer part of the pouch.

Pin the lining to the outer fabric. I used YELLOW pins to show you. I have kept the flap secure with the GREEN pins. Stitch around the inside of this edge. It will be a squeeze on your machine but it's possible!

Pull the lining up and away from the outer fabric. Fold the open end of the lining (on the right in this photo) inside, iron flat and stitch up this seam to close the lining.

Push the lining down inside the outer fabric. You may want to iron around the top edge for a flat finish.

The elastic cord will stretch down around the bottom of the pouch, up round the back and hook over the button on the front. This design will fit most smart phones, Blackberries and Iphones.

Enjoy!