Adorable Little Girl Apron

Here's a pattern for an adorable girls apron. Create a matching one for her 18" doll too! The apron pictured on the left was made for a Christmas gift and turned out beautifully. I added a string of "pearls" to each apron for fun. You can purchase strands of inexpensive beads like these at any craft store. They can be cut and sewn onto your fabric just as I have done. Get creative with other embellishments, there are so many possibilities! I've included pictures to help you along the way. The PDF pattern and instructions are located at the bottom of this post. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have, I'd love to help! 

For the tutorial below, I was using scrap material, so I cut mine from two fabrics. You could use the same fabric, or change it up like I did.

When I sew I like to have a lining, so I cut two.  I sewed right sides together, but don't forget to add your ties and neck strap before you sew them together.

I pinned the ties and straps in place in the center of the apron, so when I was sewing they wouldn't inadvertently get caught in the seam.

I also pinned and the neck strap the same way.

Next pin the right sides together leaving a section between the neckties open, so you can turn it right side out.

If you would like a ruffle, take a 4 in piece of fabric and turn the edge under. Gather the top and pin it in side just like the ties.

Sew

Turn it right sides out.

This is what that will look like. Press. 

Then sew a top stitch over the part that you left open to turn your apron.

If you don't want to have a lining, a faster way with less fabric. Turn the edge under and then add your straps and ties.

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DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN NOW FOR FREE: GIRLS APRON PATTERN

Instructions:

   Cut two apron ties 22 inches by 2 inches

   Cut one necktie 18 inches by 2 inches

Optional Ruffle:

   Moderately full - 41 inches by 5 inches

   Full - 55 inches by 5 inches

   Tape the four pattern pieces together and cut

   One or two for a reversible apron

Have fun! ~Julia

Repurpose One Sweater into Five Gifts

I have stared and stared at this beautiful sweater that a friend gave me. I didn't want to donate it to Goodwill, but it was just too short. You know styles change up and down.  I put it on my daughter to see if there was any way I could make it look cute on her, but I just couldn't make it work. I was so afraid to cut it. Finally, I realized I had nothing to loose and I would just try!! So I made my first cut.  I started by making an iPad Cozy or iPad Case, whatever you would like to call it.  (Click Here for Sarah's fabric iPad or Tablet Case tutorial)

After that turned out well, I was emboldened to see what else I could do with the scraps. My daughter has been begging me to make her mittens.  I was very reluctant because I just couldn't see them turning out well and was still afraid to cut.  Here is the result.

After that I just couldn't stop myself.  I had other scraps I was going to sew into American Girl Doll Clothes and I thought why not give this a try? I purchased American Girl Doll Ice Skates online for $7 when I purchased a Doll and received free shipping. They will be a great accent to this sweater and pant outfit. Look for that picture and tutorial in an upcoming post!! It was very easy.

Check it Out Here

Be daring and cut. Just make sure you sew a straight stitch, then a zig-zap stitch and another straight stitch on the other side to make sure the knit doesn't unravel.

Check out my other post: Repurposed Sweaters for more up-cycling ideas! Happy Sweater Repurposing!

~Julia

Modesty Monday is Here Again...

Happy Modesty Monday! Here I am again, reminding everyone to give some thought to what they are wearing! I warned you all I'd be back to talk about this every single Monday this Summer, right? Well, here's my tip for the day:

Pull your shirt up. I know it totally depends on how you are built. I just so happen to be small in the shoulder area but bigger every where else.... I like to buy larger shirts so they don't cling to stuff in unflattering ways (yes, love handles), but when I buy things bigger, they always end up hanging too low up top or looking too baggy.



Can I remind you all out there in blog land, that clothes off the rack were never meant to fit every body type! No need to get down on yourself, there is a reason you may have a difficult time finding things that flatter or fit right. Clothes produced for the mass retail store are just that, mass produced to fit the "standard" human. Whatever "standard" human may be. Celebrities and people with money have personal stylists and tailors that design clothes specifically for their bodies, and alter things to fit them perfectly and in the most flattering way. If you can learn just a few simple sewing techniques (like, hemming up a pant leg, adding stitches here and there), you too can have custom fit clothing! When in doubt, I buy the larger size dress or bathing suit that I know is going to cover everything I want covered, then I alter it to fit.

It's pretty much standard protocol for me to take my straps up. I usually do so in the non-professional, fastest possible way. Quick and easy! I do a little number like this:

Turn garment inside out and determine how much you want to take up
Sew a seam straight across the strap

This is what it will look like. The access material will be on the inside.
If the fabric is too bulky, I will trim this off or sew it flat against the back of the shirt.

Bonus: This is a dress my husband picked up for me at a thrift store! Score!
But the straps are too long and the neck is too low.

I took the seam out that was holding the straps in place,
then took them up and sewed them back in place.

I also made a nifty little panel that I sewed in place right here!

Oh, what's that? You love talking about modest? Just can't get enough? Well, check out our other posts on the topic of modesty, right here: I <3 Modesty 

Quick Table Runner

I bought some pretty yellow fabric the other day for $1/yard and have been thinking over what I would use it for. Don't get me wrong, I love sewing, crafting, creating, etc. but if a project takes me longer than an hour to bring to completion, well, then it just seems like work! I love quick things that are fun to make and rewarding to look at! For this table runner, all I did was cut a piece of fabric to the size I wanted (didn't even measure, just "eye balled" it!!) Hemmed the edges, then used a hot glue gun to add the ribbon and buttons.

These just so happen to be my Valentine's day flowers - hubby was with me at Costco the other day and asked me to pick out what I wanted, rather than wait till they went up in price the week of Valentines day! Romantic, huh? Well, it worked out because now he knows I would rather have white tulips over red roses!

I'm enjoying the view of the tulips from my "workstation" - aka my lap top and sewing machine, currently occupying the dinner room table.