Aprons are always fun to wear during the holidays. They are functional and also very cute! These take very little fabric. This one uses a fat quarter as the main fabric and for these extra long ties with cute bottom band, you use 1/2 yard of contrasting fabric. Some of you are asking “What is a fat quarter”? Good Question! A fat quarter is a single piece of fabric that is 18″ x 22″. It is equal to a quarter of Read more…
We have been making these great fabric candy trays! They are quick and could be done in 1 hr. I precut everything to make it go quickly. You need: 2 – 10″ fabric squares 1 – 10″ non fusible fleece or batting 8 buttons or *1/2″ double fold bias tape; store bought or made from matching fabric Matching or contrasting thread *If using bias tape sew open side and cut 8 – 10″ strips. 1. Place 10″ fabric pieces pretty sides Read more…
Super easy fun Fall Pumpkin DIY tutorial. You won’t be able to stop making these once you start! ???? Happy Sewing!!! STEP 1: Pick your fabric and find a circle template. You can use a large bowl, lampshade or whatever circular object you can find. Trace the circle directly on the wrong side of your fabric and cut out. STEP 2: Once you’ve cut out your circle, thread a hand needle with button thread. I like to use button Read more…
A student asked if I would help make a few changes to the bag. Here is how she added a zipper pocket to the inside of her bag. Here is what is needed to add the pocket: 10″x15″ piece of fabric 8″ or larger plastic zipper Cut out and sew center seams as pattern requires. As shown in photo above: 3″ below top of seam of the lining, draw a 7″ line. 3.5″ on each side of seam. 1/2″ below that Read more…
One of my favorite things is trimming our tree at Christmas. I love going through all the ornaments with my grownup kids. They enjoy seeing ornaments that were given to them from Girl Scout leaders, sports coaches, teachers, and special people from their youth. This year I am making ornaments for each of my students. I hope some day they will see it in their ornament collection and remember fondly their first experience with sewing! I saved a piece of scrap Read more…
Easy Fleece Cap We are making Fall and holiday gifts. Yes, even in Florida we can get a few weeks of cold weather. And a cap is great! This is another easy quick and inexpensive idea. You need: 1/3 yd fleece; thread; embellishments (optional) Measure students head. Fleece is stretchy so you don’t need to add more than your seam allowance. I have the students add 1 inch and sew with 1/2″ seam allowance. To embellish ours we used felt leaves Read more…
A bit of inspiration from these little ones requests, some imagination, and some colorful felt sheets is what was needed to bring some smiles. This summer everyone was talking about Minions so my little students made some pillows. After this first sewing experience these darlings asked specifically to make something Pokemon and Hello Kitty. The next visit we hand stitched everything on except the kitty whiskers, they were fabric glued. Then we sewed over them by machine when we put the Read more…
This is the easy pencil bag we make at camp. They are made of the vinyl that is fabric backed. 2 – 11″x6″ fabric pieces 1 10″ zipper Use matching or a contrasting thread. I used black thread so you can see it on this blog. Place the zipper upside down and clip to pretty side of fabric. With a zipper foot sew down one side. To get around zipper pull it back to where you have sewn. Read more…
My students are loving the t shirt and tank top dresses we have been working on. There is a wonderful program called “Dress A Girl Around The World” that makes similar dresses and sends them to impoverished countries. You can find blogs with instructions all over the web. I had made several to donate and showed them to the students and they LOVED them. Here is my favorite pattern on this website: http://dressagirlaroundtheworld-va.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-best-t-shirt-dress-tutorial.html You need a basic t shirt, tank Read more…
And he is so easy to make! Cut out and prep owl as pattern call for. You will need some extra main fabric to cut out the pocket. Use this portion of the pattern. I removed the top taped across eyes portion. Cut pattern in half down the middle. Lay out on top of pattern paper or poster board to make new pattern. Open 6″ or more on top and trace bottom, sides, and across the six inches. Straighten everything Read more…
