Tutorial ~ Make a Chair Buddy

This year Colin will be doing full time Kindergarten. He isn’t all that thrilled about it to tell the truth. So, I decided to make him something to help get him into the spirit! A chair buddy!!

I had some Hot Wheels fat quarters sitting around and figured they would be perfect!

This project is super fast and easy!  Thank goodness, because now Cailey wants one! LOL She has decided not to use her little desk this year. Maybe Colin will use both the desk and the chair buddy!

What I used for Colin’s:

4 fat quarters

1 scrap (for the little pocket)

What I used for Cailey’s

2 pieces of flannel – 21″ x 23″

1 piece of yellow cotton – 21″ x 19″

1 scrap (for the little pocket)

Step 1

Take the scrap piece for you little pocket, fold it in half and press. Next, fold over the top ends by 1/4″ and press. Fold over again by 1/2″ and press. Sew in place.

Then, with right sides together, sew up the sides, creating the pocket.

Turn right side out and press.

Step 2 –

Take the fat quarter that you are going to use for the large pocket and fold over the top by 2 1/2″ and press. Fold again by 2 1/2″ and press again.

Sew in place and press.

Step 3 –

Pin the small pocket in place on the front of the fat quarter you will be using for the large pocket.

Sew in place and press.

You should now have 2 small pockets on the front.

Step 4 –

Take the 2 fat quarters you will be using as the body and sew the tops together.

Open it up and press the seam.

With right sides out, fold in half and press the seam from the outside.

Step 5 –

Take your last fat quarter and cut it in half. Fold the halves in the half and press (with right sides out).

Place your pockets on one side of the body and pin down the sides.

Take one of the halves and pin it with the raw edges against the raw edges of the bottom of the large pocket and main body. Pin in place.

Now sew all three pieces together.

Fold the bottom part down and press.  (On the wrong side, press the seam up.)

Take the remaining half and sew it to the bottom of the other side of the main body, Repeat the pressing.

****If you are NOT using the fat quarters, you will lay the pocket fabric on top of the main and fold over 1/2″ and press. Fold over another 1/2″, press and hem.

Step 6 –

Now, fold the body in half with right sides together and pin the sides,

Sew the sides up!

Press!

Turn right side out and press again!

You are ALL DONE!!!

You now have yourself a Chair Buddy!!! YAY!!!

Here is Cailey’s!

Let me know what you think! Have any questions? Just comment or shoot me an email by clicking the Contact Me button at the top of the page.

You can also find me on Twitter or Facebook – the links are over on the right side.

HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!

Apron Skirt Tutorial

 

This is such a simple and easy little skirt to make. I wanted to do something different than just a bunch of plain skirts for Skirting the Issue and this is one of them that I decided on.

 

I used about a 1/2 yard for the skirt and maybe an 1/8 for the little apron. A fat quarter would be great!! 😉

 

 

Step 1 – 

 

Fold over the edges on 3 side by a 1/4″, press and fold them again by 1/2″

Then  stitch them in place.

PRESS again!

 

Step 2 – 

 

Next  cut out a heart from the main fabric, just like cutting a heart from paper. 😉

Then  pin it within an inch of its life and zigzag it all around.

PRESS!!

 

 

Step 3 –

 

Set the little apron aside and fold and press your hem. Fold and press 1/2 ” and then again by 3/4″.

Then  stitch it in place and press again!

 

 

Step 4 – 

 

Now, pin the apron to the skirt, wrong side of apron to right side of skirt.

Sew a line of stitches across the top to secure the 2 pieces together.

 

 

Step 5 –

 

 

Next, pin and sew your back seam.

Press it.

 

 

Step 6 –

 

Now, you are going to make your elastic casing.

Fold over the top of the skirt by 3/4″ and press. Then fold it over by 1″ and press.

Sew the casing but make sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic.

Pin one (or both ends) of the elastic with a large safety pin and thread it through the casing.

Sew the ends of the elastic together.

Sew the casing closed.

You are now DONE!!!!!!

Sit back and admire your pretty little appliqued apron skirt! 😉

 

As always, if you have any questions, just hit the Contact Me button at the top of the page and shoot me an email! I always answer back! 😉

Let me know if you find this easy to follow!

 

THANKS!!!!

 

HAPPY SEWING!

 

EASY Stuffed Shark Toy Tutorial AND Pattern

I wanted to make a stuffed shark out of that cute shark knit for Sewing to Rebuild,  BUT I was a little intimidated by the free patterns I found. SOOO many pieces!! They all looked very complicated. Seeing as how I am so new to sewing stuffed toys, I thought I would try my hand at making my own pattern and that is what I came up with. Only 4 pieces total and very simple. Easy peasy!! 😉

Click Shark Stuffed Toy Pattern 1 and Shark Stuffed Toy Pattern 2  for the pattern!! (Hopefully the PDF will pop up like it’s supposed to…)

After you print, cut and tape your pattern these will be the steps to sewing.

STEP 1

Cut your pieces. This is what they will look like.

STEP 2

Sew your fin together, right sides together, leaving the bottom open.

STEP 3

Cut the slit for your fin.

STEP 4

Turn the fin right side out. Insert it into the slit in the top of the shark body. Pin it in place and very slowly sew the bottom of the fin to the sides of the slit in the shark.  The fin will be open for the stuffing.

You COULD stuff the fin and then sew it into the slit. Whichever is easier for you to do.

This is what it will look like when you are done.

STEP 6

Pin the fin out of the way. Now, pin the shark body pieces with right sides together. Sew the pieces, making sure to leave an opening for the stuffing.

STEP 7

Turn it right side out, stuff and sew the opening closed!! 🙂

Now you are all done!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know what you think!! Are the steps easy to follow??