Free Pattern Month!

It's free pattern month over at Grosgrain's blog!! They are only on day and so far I love every one! Go check it out cause we all love free patterns and tutorials!

Whoopdwhoop Tutorial Feature!

Have you heard of this yet? WHOOPDWHOOP It's a cool place kinda like Etsy but with no money exchanged! You can swap items!  It's pretty cool!
I am featured on their blog tutorials today! Check out my tutorial and their blog with other cool tutorials HERE!

Sorry about the lack of blog posts lately! I will try and catch up and give you some cool new tutorials this week!

Sewing and traveling

Well it sounds like from my title I am doing those two things together, but I'm not.  I was sick at the beginning of last week so I didn't get much done.  But lately, I have been sewing up a storm!  I had an order for a baby shower gift.  It turned out so cute, I loved the color scheme.

 I am going to Kansas City to visit family and I wanted to take stuff to my nieces and nephew.  I have made my niece (and myself) these cute purses using Simply Modern Mom's hobo bag tutorial and pattern. 

Forgive the Coke t-shirt :)

Cute braided strap.

There is a pocket on the front here but it blended in for the pic.

Inside lining and pocket.  I also added D-rings and made my strap go cross-body.

In addition, I have made 2 dresses from Made's Warhol dress and pattern.

Here's 1 of them.  I am thinking about doing an applique on the 2nd one.

 I also made some Simple skirts at which point my camera battery died...so I will have to post those tomorrow! I planned on doing the slipper sew along with Nancy but just ran out of time so I will make those next week or the week after.  And I am still working on the dress for me! of course...always gets pushed to the wayside ;) oh well, I am about...almost 1/2 done..maybe.  Taxes were also done in there this week! Wheww.. I am tired! Goodnight!

Lilly is healing!

Hey all.  I have had some emails asking about Lilly.  She is healing nicely! She is still having bouts of sleeplessness and crying in the middle of the night, which worries her mommy but they said it will lessen as time goes on and she starts feeling better.  Her family has expressed to me how much everyone's prayers and kimonos have been such a blessing to them.  They hope to be able to thank everyone personally in time, but for now they are still just trying to catch up on sleep!  Here are some more pics of Lilly wearing her kimonos!

Some clothes for me and a sew along!

I am finally gonna get into some patterns for me.  I always say I am but then I never do.  I have started this new Suede Says by Simplicity.  Not the hotpants jumpsuit in the middle! The dress on the right.  These patterns are pretty cute.  Each gives you an Edgy look (middle one), Classic look (right) and a Flirty look (left).  So don't be thrown off by the center pictures like I originally was!

By the way does everyone HATE simplicity sizing as much as I do!!??? I bought the pattern that goes through size 12 because I normally wear 8 and I forget how weird patterns are.  Well by measurements I should be sewing a 14/16 on this pattern (which I did not buy) So I am going to try reducing the seam allowance and hope it works! Also I added 3 inches to the length of the dress (dress B) because I am kinda tall and it seemed short from the pattern.  So if anyone is interested I will be making notes along the way while I am sewing this.  Once I post my dress (hopefully it fits!) if anyone wants my notes just ask!  Also I got this cute slipper pattern Simplicity 2278 because Nancy's Couture is going to do a sew along and they are so cute!!

I also plan on making some Market Skirts for my nieces in Kansas City since I am going up there in a few weeks.  There are 5 girls up there! I made the 2 littlest some Warhol style dresses already.  My sister-in-law and I both want these Hobo Purses to carry around for Spring, so I need to find cute fabrics for those!  I recently made some really cute striped seersucker pants for R, using Made's basic pant pattern. I love the little flare at the bottom- just a touch.

So that's my NOT busy at all week as usual...lol  (In addition my oldest is turning 11 this week!) :( 
So big...too soon.
Have a good week ya'll!

Giveaway Winner!

Darcy you are the winner!  Lucky you! I will email you for the address to mail your prize! I had a lot of site views of my tutorial, but I guess people are skeptical about entering contests.  OH WELL! It was fun and I hope you enjoy it! If anyone would like to buy a Toddler To-Go Placemat.  They are available in my Etsy Shop.  If you would like a different character other than Thomas the Train all you have to do is message me through etsy or here on my blog and I can do a custom listing for you.  Have a nice day!

Toddler To-Go Placemat Tutorial

Sorry to those of you who have been waiting for this tutorial, but here it is! I will be giving away this Thomas the Train fun, washable and entertaining Toddler To-Go Placemat (minus kitchenware) and for the rest of you I will show you how to make your own!  (giveaway now closed) If you don't want to make this but still want one, you can go to the My Etsy tab above and buy one from my shop.

Materials Needed:
Your favorite fun fabric for the main placemat portion - 2 pieces cut 20x13
Coordination fabric for pockets- 4 pieces cut 2x3 1/2 , 2 pieces 9 1/2 x 7
Knit fabric for tie (1x20) or if you want to use cotton for your tie appox 3x27 (because it will not stretch and you will need to hem)

I used this plate from walmart because it's$1.17 and I figured everyone could find it. They have it in this 3 portioned one and a square one, either one will fit the dimensions I used.

First we'll get the pockets done.  I learned how to do pockets this way, and I think it's by far the easiest.  Grab your 2 matching pieces, right sides together, sew around 3 sides leaving one side open (1/4 seam allowance) zig zag your s.a so it will not fray.  (like you would do with a pillow) **Important- make sure the side you leave open will be the bottom or side of your pocket, so it can be sewn shut by the topstiching*** Then clip your corners. This helps the corners lay flatter when you flip it right side out.  Now flip your pocket right side out.  I then zig zag closed the last side un-sewn side (is that a word?) and fold under 1/4in. and iron down.

Do this to your plate pocket and your 2 side pockets.

Now, place your pockets onto the placemat where you would like them, and pin down (make sure your un-sewn side is at the sides or bottom, not on top)

      Sew 1/8 in. to a 1/4 top stitch around the 2 sides and bottom of your pocket.  (Make sure you backstich and the beginning and end really well) Do not sew closed the top! This is your pocket now! Then in the middle of your utensils pocket sew a line down the center.

Pockets done! 

Next, grab your placemat bottom piece (the one you didn't just sew the pockets onto) We are going to sew your tie on now.  Match up your bottom placemat piece to your top piece and mark about 3/4 the way up from the bottom of your plate pocket and halfway in between that pocket. Now put aside the top placemat piece we are only working with the bottom- you were just using it for measurement.  I find the half way point from my piece of knit (I use this cause no need to hem and it will not fray and it stretches to keep your things in there tightly) pin it in place and about an inch on each side.

Now you are going to sew that piece on in a square, do not stretch while you sew.  I sewed a lot of backstitches also to make sure it stayed on very tightly.

 Almost done! Now for the easy part! Grab your 2 placemat pieces and put them right sides together.  Make sure your tie is not anywhere where it will get accidentally sewn! Pin all around your placemat except leave about a 3 inch opening to flip back right side out.

Now using a 3/8 seam allowance stitch all the way around..except your opening, make sure to backstitch and front and end.  Now flip inside out..hopefully you didn't sew your strap in anywhere ;) Next your will tuck in the extra fabric and iron that little opening

Topstitch 1/4 ALL the way around your whole placemat (backstitch) and YOU'RE DONE!

Now you can put your utensils in a pocket.                              You can put a train in a pocket.

 or a napkin I guess....

 To fold it up, fold over the top part,

then fold in each side, 

 and Tie!

Hope you liked my tutorial! If you have any questions please ask! I always wonder if I explain every part clearly!