Fox Trot Tutorial Part 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flannel! It’s not just for PJs. LOL

I had soooooo much fun with this outfit!! I really pushed myself, I think. I drafted my first pattern for the bolero. YAY!!!! I wanted to be sure I got it juuuuust right.

The tutorial for this outfit will be in 2 parts. The first part will be the gauchos and the tank. Tomorrow I will be posting the bolero.

 

What I Used for the Gauchos and Tank

1 yard of fox flannel

1/4 yard of pink knit

1″ wide elastic

 

Step 1 -

First I took a pair of pants that fit Cailey well and used them to cut the waist and crotch. Then instead of continuing down straight from that curve I took it way out. WAY out!!! LOL

These are basically like any other pants that I make except in leg length and leg width.

 

 

Step 2 -

 

 

Pin and sew up the inseam. Go to where the curve of the crotch starts and stop.

 

 

Step 3 -

 

 

Turn one leg right side out and slide into the other leg. Pin and sew the seam in one continuous stretch.

 

 

Step 4 -

 

 

Turn the gauchos inside out. Turn over and press 3/4 ” and then 1 “, press and pin.

Now, sew the elastic casing making sure to leave a space to insert the elastic.

 

 

Step 5-

 

 

 

Measure the elastic to your child’s waist and subtract 1″. Then safety pin the ends of the elastic and either pin one end to yourself or hold tightly. Insert the elastic into the opening!

They also make really cool elastic threaders but safety pins work just as well.

 

 

Step 6 -

 

 

 

 

Now, sew the ends of the elastic together using a zigzag stitch.

Then sew the elastic casing closed!

 

 

Step 7-

 

 

Take a moment and get your cat out of the cabinets!!!! Good grief!!!

 

 

Step 8-

 

 

Fold over and press the bottom of the legs by 1/2″. Fold up another 3/4″, press and pin. Now sew the hem!

Press your hem and you are all done!

 

 

 

 

 

Now on to the tank!!

 

 

 

Step 1 -

 

 

 

Using a top that fits your child well, cut the arm holes, sides and length, while on the fold.

Then use the piece you just cut as a guide for the other side of the tank.

 

Step 2 -

 

 

Next, cut in the neck lines. You can make the shoulders as narrow or as wide as you like.

 

 

Step 3-

 

 

Pin and sew the shoulders together. If using a print make sure right sides are together.

 

 

Step 4 -

 

 

Pin and sew up the side seams!

 

 

Turn right side out and press. Now you are done!!

You can finish the neck and arms and hem the bottom if you like but I always prefer the natural look of unfinished knits. They get that soft curl after a couple of washings.

 

Let me know what you think!! And PLEASE, if you try this out let me know!!

If you have any questions feel free to use the Contact Me button at the top of the page.

 

Holiday Sewing and Crafting Ideas, Tutorials and Recipes

Once again I am posting under the influence… LOL Apparently pain meds are good for my creativity because I sketched at least 50 new sewing ideas last night! LOL  If I was a decent sketcher I would show them to you but I am HORRIBLE!

I was thinking that I would share some of the sewing ideas that I have Pinned for the holidays. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

 

 

Here is a DARLING cat costume tutorial from Crafts N Things for Children.

 

 

Fairy wings tutorial from DIY Network. I can’t decide if I want to make Cailey’s wings or just buy a cheap pair at the Dollar Tree! LOL

 

 

Look at these cupcakes!!! OMGosh! SOOOOO cute!! I am definitely going to have to make these!!!  They are from Sweet Simple Stuff.

 

 

 

OOOH!!! Top 20 Handmade Gifts! AWESOME from Craft-O-Maniac!!! I love getting and giving handmade. You know that it’s something special, made with love and care just for you!

 

 

How to make new ornaments look vintage from Finding Home.

 

 

I LOVE this idea!!!! Christmas coal from Rice Crispy treats!!! COOL!!!! This comes from Big Red Kitchen.

 

 

TOOOO CUTE!!! Googly eye headbands from The Crafty Blog Stalker! I am sooo making these!!

 

 

Mummy cookies from Betty Crocker! I am adding them to my Halloween baking list! LOL

 

 

Halloween witchy broom from Imperfectly Beautiful!

 

 

101 Crafty Christmas Projects from Susan Tuttle Photography.

 

 

This is so cute! And it looks fairly easy, too!! A Christmas candy cane wreath from Watch Me Daddy.

 

 

Fall pumpkin and pumpkin pie Rice Crispy treats from Grin and Bake It! I think I will make these for the church fall party!

Here are a couple of pictures of what I made last year.

 

I used Tootsie Rolls for the pumpkin stems and then just added icing for leaves.

The other cupcakes have M&Ms around the candy pumpkins.

 

These are candy acorns using Nutter Butter Minis and Hershey’s Kisses. SOOOOOO good!!! You stick them together with chocolate icing.

 

 

101 Handmade Halloween Ideas put together by Everything Etsy! I love that blog.

 

25 Fabulous Christmas Crafts from The Daily Buzz!

 

 

This site shows you how to make these 3 Christmas trees starting with cardboard!! Thank you, SISTERKINS!!!!

 

 

40 Easy Halloween Recipes put together by The Miracle Momma!

 

 

400 (yes 400!!!) Christmas crafts for kids put together by Sassy Sites!

 

 

 

Finally! Something for Thanksgiving! I am LOVING this cornucopia from The Craft Patch!!!

 

 

This is so pretty and so simple! I am definitely making some for the new house! We won’t have a mantel for Christmas this year so this would be perfect for Christmas cards!! This gorgeous idea comes from Pens and Needles.

 

 

I <3 Everything Etsy!!!!

 

Again from Everything Etsy!

 

 

101 Fall Activities for Kids from Growing a Jeweled Rose.

 

 

Here is a large list of Thanksgiving recipes for kids from Kid Activities.

 

 

And that is it for today, folks!!

Pray that my tooth hurries up and gets better so I can finish up Snoopy and get started on Tinkerbell!!! LOL AND get more work down towards moving…. YILES!!!!

OH!! And don’t forget about the Halloween skirt tutorials I have under the Tutorials button at the top of the page!

 

 

 

 

Helpful Sewing Tips, Tutorials and Free Patterns

I am posting under the influence of pain meds so I am not responsible for what I might say. I ended up at the emergency room last night. The pain was just more than I could deal with. Thankfully the doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers! Hopefully this will all be behind me in a couple of days.

I have noticed that my blog views have gone WAAAAAAAAAY down over the past 2 weeks. I know it’s because I haven’t had a new tutorial to post. SO SORRY! I have been so busy with costumes and life in general that I haven’t had time to do any sewing for tutorials.  BUT after I finish Snoopy I will be working on Tinkerbell for Cailey. This costume will definitely be all out of my own head so I will be posting a tutorial for it, as long as it turns out… LOL

SOOOO, to tide you over until then I thought I would share some free sewing tips, tricks, tutorials and patterns that I have found. Sound good??

If you Pin any of them, please go to the original source and Pin from there.

First off, I want to share SewSet with you. It’s a great site where people can upload their patterns and tutorials to share with others. Some of them are NOT free but most of them ARE free! I have uploaded all of my tutorials there.

Another awesome free site is Freeneedle. I have sent them links to all of my tutorials and they have been wonderful to include them all on their site!!!

All Free Sewing is another site with free patterns and tutorials. I have a couple of mine on there. They send out great newsletters, too!

 

Here is a very cute, free pattern for a seahorse pillow! Isn’t that adorable??

 

Here is a tutorial on how to slip stitch.

 

 

Here is a tutorial for a 90 minute shirt from Made. SO cute!!! I am definitely going to try this one out!! It’s so hard to find cute stuff to make for boys!!!! Why is that???

 

Here is a very cute jumper tutorial from Once Upon a Sewing Machine.

 

 

How cute are those??? And if you are like me, you have a ton of fleece scraps lying around! What a perfect idea for them! They would make great presents, too!!! The tutorials are all free and are from FleeceFun.com. I am definitely thinking of making some up for Christmas presents…. LOL

 

 

Here is a great tutorial for adding a faux fly. This is from The Haby Goddess.

 

 

Ok, this isn’t sewing but it is SOOOO awesome!!! What a great idea from I Am Momma – Hear Me Roar!!! The house we will be moving too has hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms, so I can see this tutorial coming in VERY handy!!!

 

 

This is a tutorial for making your own wrap dress!! SO cute!! It comes from I Heart Jenny’s Art.

 

 

Here is an awesome tutorial for making a peplum top. They are very “in” right now. This tutorial comes from Scared Stitchless. I love that name!! LOL

 

 

Here is another cute idea for Christmas presents!!! I know some Auburn and Clemson fans that would LOVE this!!! And I could definitely see doing different shapes and things for other teams. The tutorial comes from Kevin & Amanda and she got part of the tutorial from Make It – Love It.

 

 

How cute is that?? I love the layered look for skirts! I can totally see this as wearable for something other than a costume depending on fabric choices! This come from Sew Easy Being Green.

 

 

With Christmas coming up I know that boys are going to need their Christmas outfits!! Here is an amazing tutorial for the Classic Johnny Vest from Elegance and Elephants. She is one of the lucky few that was chosen for this season’s Project Run and Play!

 

 

This is GREAT!! It shows you how to create ANY skirt pattern by using your measurements! Thank you, I Sew!!!

 

 

Isn’t that ADORABLE??? Here is a free pattern for making that cute kitty from Doll Maker. More Christmas presents?? I think so!

 

 

I LOOOVE this SOOOOO much!!! My Grandpa always wore that type of hat and I think it looks SOOOOO cute on little guys!! My cousin puts her cutie patootie in hats like that all the time! SOOOOO stinkin’ cute!!! Thank you Melly Sews!!!!! I am definitely going to be making one for Colin!!

 

 

This is GREAT!!! Tags are expensive!!! I was looking them up and comparing prices.  OUCH!!! But here is a cheap way to make your own. from Bug & Bird.

 

 

Yes, that says 92 FREEEEEEE dress patterns and tutorials!!!!! YIPPEEE!!!! Thank you, Max California!!!!

 

 

Yes, again, your eyes are NOT deceiving you! LOL 1000 FREEEEEEE tutorials!!!!!! YAY!!!!! AMAZING!! Thank you, Everything Your Mama Made, for cleaning out your bookmarks! LOL

 

 

This is wonderful! I have the WORST problem with my bobbin tension!! So, now whenever I replace the bobbin I always do this to check the tension!!! This comes from  Cool Cottons.

 

 

This site has a ton of free applique patterns. They are all so cute! I love to add appliques! Thank you, Wee Folk Art!!!

 

 

My friend over at Squiggly Twigs Designs has a TON of tutorials, not just for clothing but for sewing techniques, too!!! She has really amazing stuff! You should definitely check it allllllllll out!!!!

 

 

This site has 30 Top Sewing Secrets tip and tutorials!

 

Another cute tutorial for boys!!! Running with Scissors has this awesome tutorial for her Oxford Gent Trousers!! They would go perfect with the Johnny Vest!

 

 

This site has a big list of free sewing patterns and tutorials. They even have separate lists for the Holidays!!! The site is aptly named Sewing Freebies! LOL

 

 

This would be an awesome charity sewing project. About.com has the tutorial for making this wonderful walker attachment!

 

 

OK, that’s all for today, folks! I hope you enjoy these tips, tutorials and free patterns! You can always check out my Pinterest boards for more. Just click the Pinterest button at the top of the page!

AND you can find all of MY tutorials by clicking the Tutorials button up there at the top.