T is for Toddler T

Here is a toddler shirt 

that I figured out how to make

out of one of my old t-shirts I was going to dump.

I'm a genius.

Here's how I did it:

First I traced one of  miss G's shirts that still fits

but is slightly too short

(story of our lives),

and cut out the front and back pieces

on the side folds of my big shirt.

I made sure to line up the bottom of the new shirt

with the bottom of my big t-shirt, 

so I don't have to finish the bottom again.

The difference between the front and back pieces

that I cut out is that the front neckline is cut down 

slightly lower than the back neckline:

I also cut off some of the collar from my big shirt

so I cold finish the neck on miss G's new shirt

Then I cut some strips of fabric to embellish with.

Who likes a plain white t-shirt? bleh.

Here are all my pieces:

The first part I sewed were the shoulders,

sewing the front piece to the back

with the right sides together.

Then I stitched the raw ends 

of the collar piece together, making it a complete circle.

Pinning this new collar onto the right side of the neckline

I stitched it on with the right sides together.

While the front of the shirt is still accessible with my machine,

I stitched (with a long stitch) down the center 

of a couple of my strips of t-shirt material.

Then I pulled on one of the threads so it would gather:

I placed these now gathered ruffle pieces 

on the front of the shirt

and pinned them in place.

Then I simply stitched over them so they would stay.

I did a flower with a stem on this shirt.

Next I put the right sides of the shirt together 

and stitched up the side seams.

Lastly I finished the edge of the sleeves.

I just rolled them for a teeny little hem 

and did a straight stitch,

because I'm creative like that.

And my favorite picture:

Cozy Toesies

Aw, isn't this the sweetest thing you've seen all day?! These baby booties are so precious! I've been wanting to sew some little baby shoes for about the last, oh let's see, TWO YEARS or so. I just haven't. I don't even know why! So the other day I was looking around for some really great patterns with my good friend Google, and actually found some cute ones! This pattern was among the favorites that I found.

Download, print it out, voila.

Cut out fabric, follow instructional video, re-thread sewing machine 3 times...

... and done. These are going to make some great gifts. My mind is spinning with ideas for more of these little guys, and this is only one of the patterns that I found! Go ahead, take a look. I know you want to.

A Sunflower Quilt

Sunflower Quilt
Quilting By: Annette Rawlinson

I asked Annette if she could share some insight with me on some of her amazing quilts that she has made, and that she is currently making. She is the type of lady who will sew quilts (more than one at a time) and then give them away without any picture or record of her perfect creation. Yes, she is a perfectionist, which means that all of her work is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. I'll be doing a spotlight on her work every now and again on my blog because she is so amazing!  When I asked her to tell me about her quilts she said,  "Oh boy. Can't I just quilt?" That's how much she loves it!

Annette made this sunflower quilt for her oldest daughter (Sadie) and here is what she has to say about her own work:

"Sadie's quilt. Well, Sadie loves sunflowers. One day many years ago, I came across this sunflower pattern and instantly thought of her. She wasn't a frilly, pink, ruffly type of girl at the time and so this seemed to fit her needs. I purchased the pattern and tucked it away waiting for inspiration on how to make it bigger to fit her bed, and what fabrics to use to make it more like her.  The pattern called for plaid backgrounds and that wasn't quite her either. Then one day I came across a fabric sale and saw these flannels and instantly knew that this was it for the sunflower quilt. So the fabric came home with me even though I still didn't know how to design the rest of the quilt to make it larger. I started sewing together the center part and gradually my mind started getting a feel for what I wanted.  With some suggestions from quilting friends, I started putting together the braid for the edges and then what I wanted to do with the actual quilting designs started coming to mind"

 "I couldn't make my pencil drawing of the sunflower quilting motif come together and Caren (another daughter) was watching me struggle, so she took my pencil and quickly drew the sunflower motif for me so I could see how to freehand the quilting in the border. The quilting of this quilt was a treat because I used a new bamboo batting that was SO nice to quilt on. It was so much fun to sew on a quilt that made me think of a wonderful daughter the whole time I was working on it.  All the attributes of this daughter were always at the front of my mind every step of the way. That's what makes it so much fun to do projects like this."

"Another fun part of this project came a few days later when,after learning how to do the braid, my husband was designing the mantle area of our new gas fireplace. He was trying to put some pieces of wood together for a design and couldn't figure out how to get all the wood slanted in the design and yet cut it straight in a rectangle. I was checking on his project and watched his hands shifting things around. Then it came to me, he was trying to do what I had just done in the braid for the border of Sadie's quilt! I shared my new info with him and now we have this wonderful design in the wood of our fireplace. Awesome! We all help each other succeed!"

Annette is a professional seamstress and tailor based in southern Utah County. She does immaculate work and can never seam to get enough sewing in her day. Annette Rawlinson can be reached by email at arb170@gmail.com

Little Aprons

My Hubby's Mom came up with the greatest holiday craft this year during our Thanksgiving break. She already had one of these aprons that she lets miss g wear when we go visit. It's the perfect size for toddlers, and little kids, especially when they love to help cook as much as my little girl does!

Using a hot pad, a dish towel (cut in half), and some ribbon... how much easier could it get? Actually, to be honest, sewing through the hot pad was a little tricky. It's really thick, so the thread kept on breaking. Other than that it was a great little project. Cute gift idea, too!

 

These little penguins are so cute, I had to take a picture of my favorite one to show you up close! Happy Sewing!

 

Wallet

Last month I went home to visit my family. I love visiting my mom because she is always learning new things and trying out new recipes and patterns. My mom is the one who first started me in on crafts and sewing. She had started to teach us kids how to read recipes, do laundry, crochet, and play the piano by the time we were at least ten. However, the last year or so I haven't felt like I even know much of being a domestic goddess at all... in part from learning to be a mommy myself, and in part to who knows what! But recently I was realizing how many different things I like to make and to do (hence the blog!), and I do really enjoy it! And all of that comes from my mother.

While I was home last month my mom pulled out her pattern she found at a cute sewing store for a wallet. She had already whipped up about ten of these cute little wallets, and had helped all my sisters sew theirs already. So it was my turn! After doing this project with my mom, and visiting with her while we were sewing, helped me realize that I do have a certain amount of domestic goddess-ness in me, from my mom. No matter how undomesticated I feel now that I live away from home, part of it is ingrained in me, thanks to my mom who started us out young.

Pretty Purses

I made matching purses for my daughter and her friend who I was babysitting. These two little toddlers absolutely loved running around finding treasures to put in and out of their pretty new bags! I used a pair of my husbands old jeans. I lined the inside with the same fabric I made flowers out of, and I didn't do a latch or a zipper on the top so they could get treasures in and out easier. I used the thick inside seam from the leg of the jeans for the purse straps. These little bags turned out so cute!