Sewing Machine Cover Tutorial

 

I got a new sewing machine for my Birthday!!! YIPPPEEE!! It was KILLING me to not be sewing!!! I managed to finagle some room in this teeny tiny house to put some of fabric and supplies!

This is my new machine and I LOVE IT SOOOOOO MUCH!!! It’s so easy to use! I would recommend it for beginner and intermediate sewists alike. It has so many functions. I’ve been having a blast playing around with it and seeing what it can do.

It’s also much quieter than my old one. That is a major plus! I can set my playlist on YouTube and listen to music while I sew, never missing a note.

OK, enough gushing over this miraculous machine!

I decided that it would be really nice to make a cover for it. Y’know, keep it from getting dusty (like I’ll let it sit idle long enough for THAT).

 

WHAT I USED

 

 

 

 

Then I took a large sheet of paper and marked the height and width of my machine, turning it into a pattern of sorts for the sides.

 

 

Next, I cut the fat quarter in half for the front and back.

 

Then I cut the fat quarter for the top.

 

Next I cut the pieces for the border on the front and back.

 

The last pieces I cut were the sides.

 

Then I pinned the top to the front (or back).

Sew the seam together.

Then do the other side (front or back) the same way.

Next sew the border pieces to the front and back.

 

 

Press your seams. Not only does it look better but it helps the seams to set.

 

 

Next, pin the sides to the front/back. Only pin the top and one side.

Sew the seam.

 

 

Then you can pin the other side.

Sew the seam making sure to not leave an opening!

 

Do the other side.

 

Next, fold over the bottom by 1/2″ and press.

Fold over another 1/2″, press and pin.

Sew your hem!

I used the decorative clover one mine. 😉

 

This is how it looks on my machine.

BUT I wasn’t thrilled with the results.

 

Sooooooo…………….

 

 

I pinched the edges and sewed! Now it stands so nice and pretty! 😀

 

I hope you enjoyed this!!

Let me know if you try it out!!

 

HAVE FUN SEWING!!!

 

Gosh, it feels SOOOOOOOO good to be sewing again!!!

 

Top 10 Posts of 2013

 

 

 

It’s TIME!!! Time to ring out the old and bring in the new! 😀 Don’t you just love New Year’s?? You can kiss the mistakes of the last year goodbye and welcome a clean slate.

As I’ve said before, I never make resolutions. No way am I setting myself up for failure from the get go. 😉 BUT here are some of the things that I want to do more of in the new year.

 

SEWING –  It’s been 2 LOOOOONG months since I have sat at my sewing machine. That’s 2 months too long. I have GOT to figure out a way to unpack my sewing stuff in this tiny house!! We are only supposed to be here a few months (until the rental agent finds us a bigger place) but I am going through some heavy withdrawals already!!! LOL

 

CRAFTING – It has been forever since I made anything. ARGH!!!! I need my creative outlets!! I’ll go starkers!!!

 

READING –  I used to set myself reading challenges at the beginning of each year. It’s been a couple of years since I have done that. Just not enough time. SIGH…. BUT I am planning a couple of different challenges for 2014. One is the Alphabet Soup Challenge made by Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book.  You can check my page for it out HERE.

The other challenge is to read 100 books. That used to be NOTHING to me. I could read 3 books a week. AHHH, those were the days.

I’ll be keeping up with that challenge over at Goodreads. You can click the Goodreads widget over on the right side. I think it will take you to my books.

 

Now, on to the Top 10 Posts of 2013!!!

 

10

My Worm Unit Study!!!

That was a fun one to make. We actually haven’t done it yet… SHHHH!!! That’ll be one for spring! 😉

 

9

My Rocks and Minerals Unit Study! That was a fun one. The kids love anything hands on. I made sure to save everything from our  kits so we can do it again. 😉

 

8

Apron Skirt Tutorial I just love old fashioned clothes for kids!! Not all the time but it’s nice to have some pieces. This was such a quick and easy little skirt to make. It can be easily personalized for the little girl in your life.

 

7

DinoROAR Tutorial Part 2 – Colin still loves this outfit. It’s holding up well, too! HA! Little boys can be so hard on clothes!!

 

 

6

Marco Polo Unit Study  

Another fun, hands on study. And another one that we have actually put to use. 😉

 

5

Plants Unit Study –  Ummm… another one that we will be getting to this spring…. I figure we’ll do plants and worms at the same time.  😉

 

4

Simple Machines Unit Study

This is going to be SO MUCH FUN, when we actually get to it…. (Our next science unit will be weather, which I think is perfect for winter in TN.)

 

 

3

Tee to Short-all Refashion Tutorial

This was so much fun to make for my cousin’s little guy.

 

 

2

Aztecs, Incas and Mayans Study Unit

I think this one was so popular because it’s hard to find great resources for that topic. Not sure why… It’s so interesting! So much fun to learn about!!!

 

 

Drum roll, please.

1

EASY Stuffed Shark Toy Tutorial and Pattern

My very first (and really only) pattern made to share! LOL

Y’know… I never get around to making one for Colin…. Something to add to my to sew list!! Not like it isn’t a mile long already!!

 

So, there you have it! My top 10 of 2013!!! I hope you’ve enjoyed them all!!! Please, stick around for 2014!!!! And invite some friends!! PLEASE!! LOL

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

DIY Burlap and Cardboard Initial

 

 

Here it is, my burlap and cardboard initial for our front door. It was very easy to make (other than the blisters on my fingers from the hot glue gun) and the decorations on the letter can be changed with the season.

 

 

What I Did –

 

I cut 3 letter Bs out of cardboard and hot glued them together to make them thicker and sturdier.

Next, I cut out 2 pieces of burlap using the letter B as a guide.  I made them large enough to overlap on the edges.

Then I cut out pieces from a Halloween print and hot glued velcro to the backs.

I made bow and glued velcro to it as well.

Then I hot glued the burlap to the letter, overlapping it.

Lastly, I used some black, shiny rickrack to tie to our front door!

 

It was very quick and easy! 😀

 

I wanted something that I could change with the seasons/holidays without having to keep recreating it. 😉

 

 

Let me know if the directions are clear or not.

 

 

HAVE FUN CRAFTING!!!!

 

 

T-Shirt to Bag Tutorial

 

 

I had this really cute t-shirt that I love so much BUT it shrank to about 2 sizes too small. I sat around and thought about what I could do with it. I really wanted to still use it for myself so I went with BAG!! 😀

 

 

Here is how the shirt was before! SO CUTE!!!

 

 

STEP 1 –

 

Cut off the sleeves!

 

 

STEP 2 –

 

Cut off the bottom, leaving plenty of room for the bottom seam, according to how big you want your bag to be.

 

 

STEP 3 –

 

Cut off the sides, going straight down from the edge of the shoulder.

 

 

STEP 4 –

 

Cut off the shoulder seams.

 

 

STEP 5 –

 

 

Take the bottom of the shirt that you cut off and cut in half. Then take each piece and cut at the seams so that you have 2 long strips. These will turn into the handle.

Actually…… You just need to cut it at the seam, now that I think about it. LOL

When I started making the bag, I wasn’t sure if I would make one handle or two. Since I just made one, cutting them in half isn’t necessary.  You will just fold in half long ways and press.

 

SO, just cut it at the seam for one long piece! 😉

 

STEP 6 –

 

 

 

 

 

I cut a piece of black fleece and pinned it to the wrong side of the back piece of the shirt.

Then I zigzag stitched it on making an inside pocket.

 

 

STEP 7 –

 

 

Take the long piece for the handle, fold it in half and press.  Next, pin it and sew just the long side seam, making a long open ended tube.

Turn it right side out and press.

 

 

STEP 8 –

 

 

 

Place the handle on the RIGHT side of the back piece and pin the ends to the shoulders.

Now, pin the rest of the handle out of the way of all the edges.

 

 

STEP 9 –

 

 

Take the front of the bag and place it face down over the other parts. Line it up and pin.

Now, sew all along the edges, leaving the neck part open.

Turn it all right side out and press!!!

 

 

 

Now you have a great bag and you didn’t have to give away your cute tee!!! 😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found that the handle was a little too long for my liking so I just tied a knot in it. 😉

 

Let me know what you think!

Was this easy to follow???

If you have any questions, just leave a comment here, on Facebook or Twitter OR use the Contact Me button at the top the of the page to shoot me an email! 😀

 

HAVE FUN SEWING!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Cute Storage Box – No Sew!!!

 

 

This is a fast and EASY way to turn a plain cardboard box into a cute storage box!!

There are tons of tutorials about sewing a cover for boxes BUT they require complicated math formulas. BLECK!!! I get enough of those homeschooling the kids! 😉 With this one, you just need to measure and know how to multiply by 2. 😉

 

WHAT I USED – 

1 fabric remnant – toile

1 scrap piece of burlap

1 leftover piece of denim bias tape

smallish cardboard box – 8″ deep, 12″ sides

hot glue gun

 

 

I cut 2 pieces 18 x 26 (2x + 2″) and one piece to cover the bottom (can’t remember the dimensions). You want the bottom piece to be able to go up the sides by 1″.

 

 

 

Start by hot gluing the bottom piece, making sure to glue it up the sides as well.

 

 

 

 

Now for the sides. Draping the fabric over the sides, you want to leave 1″ at the bottom and both sides and slide the top down inside the box.

 

Gently lift the fabric to glue in place making sure of placement.

 

 

 

On the inside, put hot glue in the corners and on the bottom edge. Press the fabric into place and smooth (obviously not shown! LOL).

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the other 2 sides.

Fold the edge of the fabric over 1″ and glue into place on one side.

Now glue 1″ to the bottom of the box.

Drape the fabric over the sides and inside the box and start gluing in place.

When you come to the last side, fold over another 1″ and glue in place.

Then do the inside of the last sides.

 

 

This is what you will have.

 

 

 

I then glued a strip of burlap all around the sides and added the denim bias tape on top of that.

 

 

 

Lastly, I added the burlap bow!

 

EASY PEASY and super fast!

 

If the inside bottom of the box is going to show, cut a piece and glue it inside. 😉

 

 

HAVE FUN CRAFTING!!!!

 

No Sew Notebook Cover

 

 

More crafting for the new school year!

We had a couple of old composition books around that the kids didn’t use last year. I had an idea to pretty them up a little bit.

 

 

What I used :

Scrap fabric

Ribbon

Glue gun

 

 

I made a few mistakes here and there but I will tell you alllll about them in the steps! LOL

 

STEP 1 –

 

 

Put your notebook on top of the fabric with the bottom of the notebook hanging over about 1/2″. Leaving 2″ on both sides of the notebook, cut around.

 

 

STEP 2 – 

 

 

Cut 2 pieces of ribbon 2″ past the edges of the notebook.

 

 

STEP 3 –

 

Cut a piece of ribbon about 4″ longer than the notebook (this will be the place mark).

 

 

STEP 4 –

 

While your notebook is closed*, put some hot glue on the binding and attach the place mark.

*I had it open.

 

 

STEP 5 – 

 

With your notebook closed*, add hot glue to the spin, center your fabric and attach it.

 

 

STEP 6 –

 

Add hot glue around the edges of one side and wrap the fabric around. Do that to both sides.

(You should have some room at the top and bottom where the cover is longer than the fabric.)

 

 

STEP 7 –

 

Open the notebook, hot glue the edges of the fabric and stick it to the inside.

 

 

STEP 8 –

 

Close the notebook, add hot glue to the top edges and place your ribbon on top. *Do NOT mash the ribbon down. I think that’s why mine looks wrinkly.

Do the same to the bottom edges.

Open the notebook back up and glue the edges of the ribbon to the inside.

 

 

ALL DONE!!!!!

 

 

 

I made this one for Cailey because she LOOOOVES SpongeBob!!!

 

 

 

And I made this one for me! 😉

 

I am going to try my hand at adding the fabric to spiral bound notebooks. I’ll let you know how that goes. 😉

 

 

HAVE FUN CRAFTING!!!!

 

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!

 

DIY Door to Headboard Upcycle

 

We recently gave the girls our old bed set and changed out our bed clothes. Now we needed something to match!

I have been seeing a lot of DIY headboards on Pinterest and knew that I wanted to give it a try.

The simplest way seemed to be the door to headboard upcycle. I knew we had an old door in the garage so that was PERFECT! All I needed was the paint! 😉

 

We had some plain white paint sitting around in the cupboard under the stairs, so I grabbed that! Then I got some Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Colonial Red. It has Primer built in! Then I grabbed a sample of Glidden Rich Navy for the stencils.

The stencil I picked up at Home Depot. It had 3 different designs but I was partial to the fleur de lis.

 

 

First I sprayed 2 coats of the Colonial Red. No sanding, no priming. Just painting! 😉

 

 

 

After the red was good and dry,  I taped around the middle sections and added 2 coats of the white.

I had a bit of an issue with the tape. I used Scotch brand and expected good results. Instead, the white bled through the edges and the tape left a sticky residue on the red paint. GRRR!!!!!!!

 

 

I did a little bit of touch ups.

 

 

 

Next I added the stencil.

That was a bit harder than I imagined it would be. SIGH… I still have some touching up to do but I am pleased with the way it turned out over all.

Advice – Tape the stencil very securely and start with just a small amount of paint. 😉

 

I wish I could show you how the headboard looks actually on the bed, but we can’t  seem to find our screws!! ARGH!!! I will be getting it up in a day or two and will be sure to take some pictures then! 🙂

 

I hope this all made sense! I am up at 2 am writing it all out! LOL

 

 

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??