Baptism towel

Made this for a friend's daughter...I photoshopped out the last name since this is a public blog. :)

I finally figured out how to use the "plus hoop" for my embroidery machine. It allows me to make longer designs. Anyways, I got the idea for the ruffle and band from a friend. (lest you think I am an original thinker. haha)

If you would like me to embroider something like this for you, let me know.

Even better jeans hemming!!!

Here's an even slicker method than I posted before. Enjoy!!

PS- click on any image to see it bigger.

This also looks fun :)

http://kojodesigns.blogspot.com/2010/11/gifts-for-little-guys-tutorial-hanging.html

These look fun!

http://thedillspiel.blogspot.com/2010/05/puffy-blooms-tutorial.html

Changing Pad and Pocket

Here is the link to the changing pad and pocket I made.  It was really simple, especially if you swap the chenille for a coordinating towel.  This is a picture of the one I made.

car roll

So here is a darling boy gift idea. I made one for a cousin Karters first birthday. I found the pattern on no big dill blog. I wish I was good enough to link it for you all but.. I did get this far and am learning. I used a elastic and button instead of velcro which I really like although getting the placement was a bit tricky. keep sewing! Glenda

How to make your own bias tape

So, you all probably know how to do this.  I pretty much did, too, but I like her tips.  Like marking your fabric, sewing it together, and THEN cutting it.  So much faster!  And the bias ruler..I want one.  I have the little metal tip for folding...but haven't used it yet.  I think custom bias tape is so much cuter than the boring solids, although they're convenient.  I have a project I'm working on (the first one of the summer, gasp!) that requires bias tape.  I'll post about that when I'm done.  And here is a video tutorial for a "No swearing bias tape method".  I hope this works, because I never seem to sew it right.  I haven't actually started cutting or sewing yet because I just got the fabric today.  And, I'm taking a page from Ariana's book and doing some dyeing to match the cute fabric I found.  Wish me luck! Found on Prudent Baby and video found on Angry Chicken.

Per Carrie's request of what I've been sewing...
I've been eyeing this dress pattern for quite some time. It looked so cute and easy and, best of all, free. I finally had an excuse to sew a tiny girl dress for a friend of my mine who is having a baby girl in a few weeks. I dug through my pink fabric, came up with some fun polka dots and strips and was finished with the dress in about 1 1/2 hours. So easy, so cute and so fun.
I made the dress reversible. I love doing this for two reasons - two dress in one and all your seams are enclosed, no annoying thread hanging down past your hem. I made the stripped skirt section longer than the dots and then folded it up and over to create the border along the bottom of the dress. I added some ric rac at the waist seam and also on the border seam.
She also has a toddler version and I can't wait to try it out for Miss K. Although from the pictures on her Flikr group, I'd make the straps shorter for the toddler dress. They look a bit too floppy for my taste, not cute little ties like in the baby dress.
Try this out, it is so easy and cute!

Turn jeans into cuffed capris!!

So let's face it, I'm not a tall person. I am constantly hemming jeans and pants so I don't look like the Little Mermaid. Today I put on a pair of jeans I got for $10 on clearance at Kohls....and then I remembered why I haven't worn them since I bought them. Wayyyyyyy way way too long. I thought about hemming them, but then decided I needed another pair of capris instead. So TA DA, I had a flash of inspiration.

1) Fold up the bottom hem of the jeans. If you are me, fold them WAY up. You'll have to play with it to get the length you want. Sew a straight line all the way around.
2) Cut off the excess. Zig zag the raw edge (which I did later and didn't take a picture).
3) Shimmy the seam up inside the leg to hide it.
4) Line up the seam so it's right underneath the stitching visible in this picture. Sew a straight line with jeans-colored thread SUPER CLOSE just to the right of the light stitching you see in this picture. Just to the right of the fold.


Did that make sense? Stitch HERE. See? It's barely visible, and unless somebody's up close and personal with your leg, they'll NEVER notice. :)That's it! Ta DA!! :-)

Elsie Marley

The kids clothes challenge I mentioned at our last meeting is on this blog. Take a look at the Flikr group; lots of cute things.
Update: I followed some pictures from the Flikr group to this website. I've never been here before and she has some very cute things. Click on the 'sew' label on her sidebar.

Sewing Challenge

I came across this sewing challenge on a blog I follow. It sounds like so much fun. If anyone decides to do it, I'd love to see what you put together. I'm going to start doing it when I can push the pedal on my sewing machine again!

Buttercup Bag

Here is the link to the FREE pattern and instructions for the Buttercup Bag I made.  It REALLY is easy.  I didn't put on the button placket, and added piping instead.
And here is the link to the zippered pocket tutorial.  You'll be embarrassed for thinking it was hard.  :)

24 colored pencil Notebook

I FINALLY got the tutorial typed up for my 24 colored pencil notebook.  I posted it on my crafting blog, so I didn't have to type it up twice.  I hope I didn't make it too confusing, or the opposite with not enough detail. 

Wal-Mart Fabric

I talked to the fabric dept manager this morning while getting fabric cut. She says we have until the end of May to put in our requests to keep the fabric how it is. Please do this! I know we all get fabric from Wal-Mart. I sent an e-mail this morning and it only took a few minutes.
PS-They have some new things in, including knit.