Sewing Bee Week 3!

Today, I am again taking part in Julia's Sewing Bee!  I encourage you all to pop over to her site and join in!

(see link right )

 

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Every Thursday…


Like minded chicas…the sharing of patterns and progress of sewing.
To inspire ourselves to keep stitching.
What could be better than that?

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  Today I decided to whip up some PRECIOUS sewn baby pants for Charlie.  Sized 0-3 and 3-6 months (2 of each)

I cut out 4 pairs 

(well 5, but one I screwed up the pattern on...DRAT!)

 

Sewed up each pair (took about 8-10 minutes each pair...I SWEAR)!

 

Made sure they matched up to their original size template

Then I swear...I just sat and ooohhhhh'ed at my new little pants, and pictured Charlie wiggling around in them.  I am so glad I know how to sew for this baby!

This pattern is the brain child of my sister Julia from 1 year ago She used to make the CUTEST pants that we sold in our shop.  

We have reached over 200 sales, that is right...200 sales! in our Etsy Shop

Adirondack Patterns

We have decided to put the pants tutorial in the shop  to celebrate!
Check it out~happy sewing ladies!

P.S.

Ella says Ola!

THE EASIEST REVERSIBLE BIB TUTORIAL EVER, WITH LOTS OF PICTURES

I have made over 100 or so of these bibs from my original pattern, and sold them at our shop, but now I am sharing that pattern for those wanting to make their own!

Check out our shop for the $3.00 pattern, and make some little bibs for those little ones!

Tutorial includes 20 full color pictures step by step, and concise easy to follow instructions!

LINK: Adirondack Patterns

Tooth Fairy Pillow Tutorial

I came up with this little tutorial for Sam since his first loose tooth is on it's way out.  I DO NOT think I am prepared for the look of my precious boy without his chicklet teeth.  That being said, here goes!

Begin with a sketch for a literal "tooth fairy", a tooth with fairy wings.  Cute huh???

Then cut out a pocket ( a smallish rectangle that the pieces for the "tooth fairy" will fit on with room for a seam on all ends

Then cut out  template for the pillow (same width as the pocket, but the height you can determine)

Then lay the pieces out on the pocket, and then remove all but the tooth.  Sew the tooth to the pocket using the zig zag stitch all the way around the perimeter

Then sew the seam for the top of the pocket.

Then sew on the fairy wings, and make sure you go all the way around each piece using the zig zag stitch again

Now, cut your loose threads, and place the pocket on top of one side of the pillow at the base of the pillow piece...this will form the pocket.

Then lay the other piece of the pillow on top of the pocket, but UPSIDE DOWN!

Stitch all the way around the pillow perimeter, but leave a 1 1/2 in. opening for turning right side out, and stuffing

Turn right side out

Pop out corners using a scissor or pencil

Stuff loosely

Free hand stitch or machine stitch the opening closed

Last but not least, hand over to a very excited little person who is now hoping his loose tooth was more loose!

Teachers Gifts: Herbal Eye Packs

On a crafting kick I made a few herbal eye packs, thanks to Heathers awesome tutorial (found HERE).  I made one for Sam's Teacher, and Eben's Teacher as a thank you for making the boys first year of school so AMAZING! Thinking that they might need something to relax with after a LONG day with 20 or so Kindergartners, and also wanting them to have something to remember the boys by, I wanted to make 4 (one for each teacher, and one for each teachers aide), but unfortunately only had enough rice mixture for 2.

Rice and Lavender Epsom Salts (stolen from Mom...thanks!) Mixture

So I decided on making their teachers each one in the boys favorite colors.

Blue (Sam's) for his teacher, and Green (Eben's) for his teacher

Graduation is tomorrow, and I am going to be a mess...TEAR ALERT!

What a great sister I have!

Look at what my twinnie made for me!

She made one for herself a bit ago, and got he pattern from Heather (HERE!). Now ladies...these two crafty Mama's are some of the craftiest ladies I know.  

Please check out their Inspring Blogs at

Adirondack Mama (Julia)

Shivaya Naturals (Heather)

So..onto my lovely gift!

Made with love...my FANTASTIC NEW CAR ORGANIZER!

Made of the most beautiful paisley print...SHE KNOWS I LOVE MY PAISLEY!

So thanks Julia for the thought, and for the great gift.  I truly love it! You are the BEST!

The countdown is on... tutorial included

While Julia and I were thrifting today at our local thrift shop, I heard her say that she wanted to make an advent calendar. Hmmmmm, I should make one I thought to myself, then my Mrs. Lazy Bones mentality thought NAHHHHH~

I did purchase 5 adorable Christmas craft books from the ages, and I went to my house to flip through them looking for a cute Holiday idea.



While flipping I found I saw this adorable advent calendar that started waving furiously at me...



Ok, Ok... I will give you a try~ The original is made of lollipops, and ribbons, and has a binding.

Mine is altered (of course)

I took a heavy duty red cotton and doubled it up. I then sewed it right sides together leaving one side open and then turned it right side out and sewed the unfinished edge with the edges turned in.

Then I found some green cotton and folded it in half long ways and sketched a tree silhouette free hand. I then cut it out and centered it on the red cotton.


Then I pinned it into place and used the blanket stitch on my sewing machine to attach it and went around the entire perimeter. A first for me so pardon the flaws in the stitching.

Then I cut out a star for the top of the tree using a different fabric, and blanket stitched it in place that the top of the tree.

Hmmmmm, our local convenience store only had blow pops, and tootsie pops for lolli's, and those were not festive enough for my taste, so I found these! BONUS!!!!!


I then found some safety pins in our craft stash, and after laying the candies out evenly to a total of 24, I pinned them all in place.



Then the finishing touch, 3 little snowmen ornaments that I had bought when Sam was a baby. There is one for Jay, Sam and I.



Perfect start to my Holiday decorating, and a keepsake handmade piece for posterity. May you all find your own way to begin getting in the spirit.

A tutorial: my thumbless mittens for winter babes

I came up with this for our Holiday Craft Fairs

Here is the tutorial:

Begin with a cut out pattern of the size mitten you would like.
Lay over a double layer of fleece of your liking


Cut out two double layer sets


Cut out a piece of 1/4 in elastic roughly as long as the flat edges of your two cut pieces lying side by side plus 2 inches


Lay one piece flat on the table wrong side up, take the elastic and lie it about 1/2 in. inside the flat edge (so you can fold over the edge to fully cover the elastic)


Fold the edge over the elastic (this will be on the inside of the mitten)


Sew along the folded edge, making sure NOT to sew into the elastic!!!


When you get almost to the end of the first half of the mitten, take the second half and fold around the elastic. as you did previously, while it is still in the sewing machine. Continue sewing in one continuous stitch.


It should look like this when done


Then fold the two together with RIGHT sides together


Gather the fabric and pull the elastic until desired tension and stretch is reached


With fabric still gathered, place under presser foot of sewing machine and begin sewing around the perimeter of the mitten


When you get to the end of the stitching the perimeter (almost to the wrist end opposite where you started) pull the fabric away from the area you need to finish stitching.


Hold in place and stitch to the end of the mitten wrist


Clip the excess elastic and threads


Here is the finished wrong side out view


And the finished product


Now as they say: lather, rinse and REPEAT for the second mitten

Hope their are some toasty warm baby hands happening after this tutorial!


OOOOHHHHHHHH...I also added these clasps to the vests~

LOVE!!!!!