Colin’s Madras Shorts

 

 

It is SOOOOOO hard to get pictures of Colin sometimes. Especially when it has to do with clothes…. LOL He just doesn’t stand still for long. I end up taking more than 20 pictures and very rarely get the “perfect” shot. LOL

I made these shorts for him the same way I always make shorts and pants. Just use the search bar on the right side if you would like a tutorial.

The only difference is in the way I did the pockets. I cut them on the bias and left the edges raw. 🙂

 

 

He LOVES them!!! They are so nice and cool! Perfect for the summer IF it ever stops raining!!!!! LOL

 

Today I will be back to skirt sewing for Skirting the Issue!!! 🙂

 

HAPPY SEWING!!!!!

 

SHARK ATTACK!! More Sewing to Rebuild

 

 

I have finished my 4th set to send to Oklahoma!! YAY!!! 2 girl sets and 2 boy sets, one more each and I will be done. 😀

Here are the pieces that go with yesterday’s shark toy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was going to stay away from making the sets matchy-matchy but I just had to with this fabric theme! LOL And the fabric is so soft. I think it’s interlock knit.

I have been having so much fun SEWING!!!

Colin says to me today, “Mommy you never sew for ME anymore.” Well, it looks like I will have to follow Kristy’s lead from Hopeful Threads. This month’s theme is Summer Sewing for the Family!! I need to get some projects together for my Cs. 😉

 

OH! Cailey wanted me to show you her nature finds! LOL

 

The Hubby is identifying them for her as I type. LOL Not too bad for living in the city with a TINY yard.

 

And Even MORE Sewing……

 

SHEW!! I have been in a sewing marathon!! LOL

This is the bag I made yesterday –

 

And here is what I made to go in it –

 

 

Since I don’t have any size 4 little boys I used Squiggly Twigs Designs’ Quick Pants pattern.  (I just LOVE seeing Cailey at the top of that page! LOL)

 

 

I also made a football from this tutorial –

DIY Fabric Football from Made by Joel

 

 

Here is mine –

 

YAY!!!! I have now made 2 toys!!! YIPPEEE!! I can’t tell you what an accomplishment that is for me!! 😀 I was so scared to try toys!!! Now, that football isn’t the best in the world but I am still proud of it and I hope the little boy that gets it will love it.

I think I may try my hand at a doll for Cailey at Christmas. Maybe…. They still scare me a little… LOL

 

Now, on to the next bag, toy and clothes!!! Hmmm… I wonder what I should pick next…..

 

HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!!

Sewing Away!

 

I have been busy as a bee! Sewing, sewing and more sewing!! 🙂

 

Here is what I have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This little outfit will be going in the bag I made this week along with the little lamb.  It’s not much but it’s something!!

 

 

 

 

I just finished this bag a few minutes ago. I plan on putting a pair of shorts or PJ pants and a stuffed ball in it. 🙂

 

 

I was watching the news last. I can’t believe all the tornadoes that were popping up. Is it just me, or does it seem like there are more than normal this year???

So thankful to be living near the mountains. I know that doesn’t make us immune from the tornadoes but I feel a bit better. I can remember living in Middle Tennessee and being scared to death by the tornado warnings that seemed to happen way too often. We had no cellar or basement and I was always making the kids get in the closet.

I think we can be sure of being safe from hurricanes this year, too. No more flooding!!

Just counting my blessings today.

 

On a lighter note…. Guess what we have here????

 

 

An ICE CREAM LADY!!! WOOO HOOOO!!! That is something that we missed out on while living in the country! 😉 We’ve only managed to catch her once. The first few times she drove through too quickly. Then the kids decided that we ought to wait outside for 30 minutes before the usual time, just in case! It worked! But we haven’t seen it since. Was it something we said?? LOL Maybe she will show up today. Fingers crossed!

 

 

 

Tee to Short-all Refashion Tutorial

 

My cousin, Sandra (Rivas & Co.) is my newest client! YAY!!! She bought a t-shirt for Liam in the smallest size available (about a child’s 6/7) but it was way too big (Liam is 15 months old)! What to do, what to do??? AH HA! Make it a short-all! So she gave me a call and asked if I could do it. SURE! 🙂

 

What I Used

t-shirt

6 size 16 snaps (7/16 “)

navy thread

 

 

 

Step 1 –

 

Cut out a section at the bottom of the tee to make the legs.

HINT – if you want snaps in the crotch, DO NOT cut this big of a section out….. Learn from MY mistakes. 😉 I would just cut it straight and then fold and press.

Also, if you aren’t concerned about the neck and arm holes being too big, you can simply add the snaps to the crotch and be done! 😉

 

 

 

Step 2 –

 

 

I took my BFF, the seam ripper, and took the binding off of the arm holes.

 

HINT- If you aren’t concerned about the arms being too big you can skip that part. Especially if you are putting the snaps in the crotch. 😉

 

 

Step 3 –

 

Cut a tad off the sides to create your new arm holes.

 

 

 

 

Step 4 –

Take your trusty seam ripper and pick apart the shoulders. Then fold over 1″ , press and top stitch.

Add your snaps!

This will also make the neck smaller. 😉

 

 

 

Step 5  – 

 

 

Stitch the ends in place.

 

 

 

Step 6 –

 

 

Pin and stitch the inseam.

 

 

Step 7 – 

 

 

Pin the binding back on the arm holes and stitch in place.

 

NOTE – My machine was not being well behaved and kept chewing up the binding, so I just folded the edges of the arm holes over and stitched in place.  Ever since I had to get a new presser foot my machine has been touchy.

 

 

Step 8 –

 

 

Pin and stitch the side seam.

 

 

You are ALLLLLL done! 😀

 

 

 

Now my little cousin Liam has a new short-all with his daddy’s ship on it! YAY!!!!!

 

 

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to use the Contact Me button at the top of the page and shoot me an e-mail! 🙂

 

 

DinoROAR Tutorial Part 1

 

I decided to break this up into 2 posts since there is A LOT involved. Part 1 will be the shorts and Part 2 will the raglan tee and vest.

Now, there are a few things I would change about the shorts and I will be sure to tell you exactly what they are and help you avoid the same mistakes I did. 😉

 

For the shorts I used –

About 1 yard of stretchy denim

Small pieces of dino print

Small pieces of blue cotton for lining

1″ elastic

 

 

 

These are the front parts of the shorts. The red circles show where I cut for the faux fly and the green circles show where I cut the pockets. Now, when I do this again I will be sure to cut the pockets bigger and lower!!! I think it would have looked MUCH better.

Now, I seem to have misplaced the pics of the back legs…. But you cut them normally, without the pockets and faux fly extension.

 

 

 

To cut the back parts of the pocket pieces, use the pocket cut out and make sure your pieces will be wider and much longer than the pocket cutout. 😉

 

 

 

Now for the front part of the pocket. First, use the back of the pocket and cut the front part the exact same. Then take the piece of denim that you cut out to form the pocket on the shorts, place it over the front part of the pocket  and cut that part out.

 

 

 

Take the front pocket piece and pin it to the right side of the shorts. Now, sew them together just at the part that is pinned.

Turn the pocket part in and press.

 

 

 

Pin the back part of the pocket to the front side and only sew the parts you see pinned.

 

 

Pin the front of the pants leg to the back with right sides together. Sew up the seam.

 

 

 

Cut your back pockets, turn in about 1/4″, press and then another 1/4″. Pin three sides to the back of the shorts and sew on!

I would also have made the back pockets a bit bigger and put them lower. 😉

 

 

 

Now, sew a finishing stitch across the bottoms of the legs, fold over about 2 1/2″ and press. DO NOT SEW YET!!!

 

 

 

Pin up the inseam from the bottom of the leg to the start of the crotch curve.  Sew the seam.

 

 

 

Fold the cuff half way on the outside of the legs and top stitch into place.

 

 

 

Turn one leg right side out and one leg inside out. Slide the right side out down into the inside out. Pin all the way around and sew them together, making sure to follow the curve of the faux fly.

 

 

 

Turn the shorts right side out and tuck the faux fly part in. Now, top stitch from the top and around the curve at the bottom.

 

 

 

Sew a finishing stitch across the top of the shorts. Fold and press over by 1 1/2″. Sew the elastic casing making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic through.

 

 

Pin one end of the elastic and insert it through the casing.

Sew the ends of the elastic together using a zigzag stitch. Then sew the casing closed!

 

 

You are all DONE!!!

Make sure to press every seam and every stitch that you sew! It helps to set them. 😉

 

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the raglan tee and vest tutorials!! 😀

 

I hope you have found this helpful! If you have ANY questions AT ALL feel free to use the Contact Me button at the top of the page to shoot me an email!

 

 

 

DinoROAR

If you’ve been following my blog then you know I have been sewing along with Project Run & Play this season. It is SOOOO much fun!! I have been using up my stash and challenging myself. This outfit was by far the most challenging and I definitely made the mistakes to prove it! LOL BUT I think it still turned out well. 😉 Colin LOVES it. He never asks to keep something on after pictures but this time he did. YAY!!!!!!

I made 3 coordinating pieces – the denim shorts, the raglan tee and the vest. All 3 pieces have the dino print on them. 😉

It is SOOOO hard to get him to hold still and smile for the pictures! LOL He would rather be in motion.

I printed out a dinosaur footprint to use as a guide in cutting the applique.

This is my very first raglan tee!! I found it to be very much like making a peasant blouse.

Here are some more firsts!

First time working with denim (other than patching).

First time making inset pockets (without a pattern) and I think that next time I will cut the a bit bigger. They are functional but I think it would have looked better if more of the print was showing.

First time making a faux fly. That was soooo much easier than I thought it was going to be! LOL

I’ll be linking this up at Project Run & Play tomorrow! Be sure to go check out all of the other boy looks!! 😀

On Tuesday I will be putting up the tutorial!

I wonder if I can bribe him into letting me take more pics…. LOL

Star Wars Shorts Tutorial

 

 

I know, I know… It’s December. I should be doing more Christmasy type tutorials BUT I live below the Deep South…. LOL I live in the Bottom of the South! And it’s WARM here… Today I have windows and doors open to let the air in…. Definitely still shorts weather. Besides, these are LONG shorts. LOL  And you can always adjust the length and make yours into pants. 😉

 

What I used:

1 yard of Star Wars cotton

1/4 yard of black cotton for the pockets

1/2″ elastic

 

 

 

I took a pair of Colin’s pants and folded the legs up a few inches. I put the side of the pants on the fold of the fabric. Then I used them as a template, cutting wide around them for seam allowance.

 

 

 

Using the leg I just cut as a guide, I cut the second leg.

 

 

 

 

Fold up the fabric for the pockets into 4 layers. Cut out your front pockets. I just free style it. 😉 But this way they are all the same.

 

 

 

 

Now, while you still have 4 layers, cut out the back pockets.

 

 

 

 

Now, sew the 2 of the back pockets together, making one. Leave the top open! Turn right side out and press.  Keep going until you have 2 back and 2 front pockets.

 

 

 

 

Now, fold in the tops 1/4″ and press. Sew the tops closed.

 

 

 

Now, place your front pocket where you would like it to be.  Mine is 3″ from the top. Also, this helps to make sure both pockets are evenly placed.  Also measure the distance from the sides.

 

 

 

Now, pin your pockets in place and sew them on! 🙂

 

 

 

Now, fold one pants leg with right sides together, and pin up the inseam. Sew from the bottom of the leg up to where the curve for the crotch starts.

 

 

 

You are going to want to use a finishing stitch here. That way you won’t have threads all over the place after washing. 😉 Usually you want the finishing stitches to be closer to the edge but with my new foot, the feed dogs don’t want to work well unless there is fabric between them and the foot.

 

 

 

After you have both legs done, turn one right side out and slide it into the other leg. Pin around the crotch curve and sew your seam!

 

 

 

With the pants inside out, pin up the leg bottom by 3/4″ and press. Then fold up again by 1″ and press. Pin it and sew up the hem! 🙂

 

 

 

 

Still with the pants inside out, fold over the waist by 1/4″ and press. Then fold again by 1″ , press and pin. Now, sew along the edge, making sure to leave an opening to insert the elastic.

 

 

 

Now, pin the ends of your elastic with safety pins. You can either hold tightly to one end or pin it to the fabric or yourself.  You can also buy a handy dandy elastic inserter….. But seriously, the safety pins work very well.

Insert the elastic through the casing. Then pull out both ends.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Sew your elastic casing closed!

 

Turn right side out and you will have a happy little boy!! LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, this was not one of the tutorials that I had planned… LOL It just sort of happened.  I’m also making him some more dino pants today! LOL

 

Anyway, I hope you like the tutorial!!! 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shorts for Charity, New Fabric and a Rainbow

I have 3 pairs of shorts for charity all finished and one pair for c2. 🙂 YAY!! I will be finishing up 1 more pair for charity and one more pair for c2 tonight! 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took a trip to Hancock’s today since I was in the area… This is what I picked up for $20! 😉

 

I got 3 yards of this red jacquard! 🙂 I used the yellow for the Retro Butterick  ’56 5603.

 

 

 

I got a 1/2 yard of this AWESOME Steelers cotton to make a purse for FOOTBALL SEASON!! YAY!! Yes, I am a HUGE football fan! LOL And there was a purse that I was longing for last season. Now I can make my own and not pay $65! LOL

 

 

 

I ❤ toile!! So when I saw this on sale I knew I had to grab a yard to make a purse or tote. 🙂 Love yellow and blue together!

 

 

 

I found this in the remnants bin. It looked like just the thing to make d another bag. I got just over 1 1/2 yards for $2!

 

So that’s the haul I got for $20. Not too shabby! 😉

 

And here is a picture of a rainbow we saw from our front yard this evening.

 

 

 

After I get the shorts finished up I am going to start cutting out the patter for this –

 

McCall’s M6362. I think I’m still leaning toward madras.

 

Then after that I am planning to take on this –

 

Here is the fabric that I plan to use –

 

With a eyelet for the bolero! 🙂 What do you think???

 

 

 

Sewing for Charity Part 2

I have all my stuff ready to start sewing skirts and shorts! YAY!! I will be starting with the skirts today. I hope to get at least 2 done.  I got to thinking… The skirts and shorts are only for this month… what else can I do the rest of the year to sew for charities??? So I got to looking. 😉 Here is a list of things and organizations to sew for charity!! 🙂

 

Charity Sewing Projects to Fill Community Needs

 

Sewing Charity List

 

Sewing for Charity

 

So many worthy causes. If you are like me you don’t have much money or time that you can give but you can sew…. Why not pledge to sew at least one thing a month for charity?? There’s a saying that goes, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

We can all do our little bit to make the world a better place. 😉

 

Time to get sewing!!! I wasn’t going to do a tutorial for the skirts and shorts I am making but now that I think about it I will. They are just going to be simple skirts and shorts, though. Nothing fancy. 😉