How to make a prairie dress

Here is the link to the most lovely prairie dress! The bodice has a high neckline with a collar and goes down to the waist. It buttons up in the front and has full-length gathered sleeves. The skirt goes to the floor and has the choice to do tacks at the bottom. I put elastic in the waistband to make it fit better. Also another thing, the fabric is a flat sheet I found at the thrift store! Didn't it turn out pretty? Try it out Jo-ann is having a sale on Mccall's patterns.
http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m4548-products-6154.php?page_id=915

How to find cheap fabric

Hey there! This post is all about fabric!!!!! I went to the thrift store the other day and found a yard of white satin for $1.99 and a twin size sheet for $1.99. THAT"S A LOT OF FABRIC! And I am not done! I went garage saling and found 2-3 yards of this cool brown flowery looking material for $1.00! Here it is:

But that's not all! While I was garage-saling I also found a hand made quilt for $1.00! Here it is:

Isn't it pretty!! Well anyways I have so much fabric now and I don't know what to do with it! Here is even more fabric that I have but that is only like 1/4 of all the fabric I have in this GIANT bin.

If you have any ideas at all of what I can do with all this fabric PLEASE put it in comments.

How to make a full length apron

Here is how to make a simple full length apron. All it is is a bunch of rectangles sewn together so it's super easy. You could even do it by hand if you wanted to. Also, the dress underneath it is the same thing as the red one I posted before. (I wore it so I could show you. :-)

STEP 1
First off cut out all your pieces. Apron body (Cut 1): W 35" by L 30" Apron Chest (Cut 2): W 11" by L 12" Shoulder Straps (Cut 2): W 4" by L 20" Tie (Cut 2): W 4" by L 80"
W= Width   L= Length

STEP 2
Now we are going to prepare our pieces. Hem one width and both lengths of your apron body and gather the unhemmed side. With right sides together sew both lengths of your apron chest together and turn right side out. Turn the length sides in about a half an inch of your shoulder straps and fold in half. Sew along the edge.\

 STEP 3
Take your apron chest and fold under a half an inch of one of the widths. Pin each should strap to either side of the folded down side and stitch from one end to the other securing shoulder straps in place and "top-stitching" the center.

STEP 4
Matching the centers of your apron chest and one of the ties sew with right sides together. Do the same with the gathered side of your apron body. With right sides together sew the shoulder straps to the tie you just used about 5 or 6 inches away from the apron body.

STEP 5
Press down all the sides of your second tie about .5 an inch and pin to the wrong side of the tie that is sewn to the apron chest and body. Sew the edges all the way around.

Try it on to make sure it fits okay and you have a lovely full-length apron!

Prairie Dress

 M6140 | Misses'/Girls' Colonial Costumes | View All | McCall's Patterns
Here is my very first prairie dress! I did it last weekend and it turned out just wonderful! I wear it all the time. Even to The Home Depot or wherever. Above is the McCall's pattern link that I used. You can get it Jo-Ann right now they are on sale for $1.99. Please try it and send me a picture of yours! (Put it in comments)

Blueberry Pie

Here is my very first blueberry pie! We went berry picking the other day and got so many we didn't know what to do with them! So I made up this blueberry pie. You can find a zillion good pie recipes online for free. So give it a shot!

How to make a tiered skirt

Here is how to make a tiered skirt. It is super easy and it doesn't take long at all. Plus I finally have pictures!

To start off you are going to cut out five strips of fabric. The first one is just a little bit bigger than your waist (for the elastic) and the next one is 10" longer than the first. You might have to add fabric like I did in the picture so it is bigger. Then the third strip needs to be ten inches longer than the second and so on. Make sure to sew the pieces you add together.

Now make your casing on the first strip...

And hem the last one.

Next take your second strip and gather it until it matches the first strip.

Then sew it to the first strip right sides together

It should look like this.

Now do the same exact thing as before. Take the third one gather it until it matches the second one and with right sides together sew together.

Now it should look like this.

Do it again it looks like this...

Then this.

With right sides together sew short sides together making sure not to go through the casing.

Pull the elastic through the casing with a safety pin.

Sew through the casing.


And you are finished! Enjoy your awesome skirt that twirls!!!!!!

How to make a sun bonnet

Here is a wonderful pattern for a pioneer's sun bonnet! I found this person's website online and just love it! The picture above is the one I tried. Here is the link: http://pickupsomecreativity.blogspot.com/2009/10/pioneer-sunbonnet-tutorial.html
Give it a try! Just note that you may have to make it a bit bigger like I did.

How to make a smock dress

Here is how to make a really pretty sun dress that I think is perfect for the beautiful weather we've been having. I used an old flat sheet of mine to make this dress. It saved the time and money of going to the fabric store and I didn't have to do a hem because I used the edge of the sheet. It's as easy as 123.. but don't forget 4!
*Extra item: Elastic thread*

1) First off you need to determine how big your rectangle needs to be. This is the body of your dress. Start by measuring the top of your chest down to the length you want your dress to be. This is the length of you rectangle. Next measure the width, measure the largest part of your bust and add 10 inches. Now take your measurements and mark them on your sheet. Cut it out.

2) Now let's do the straps. With the dress in the picture I took three different pieces of fabric 2" wide, and braided them. After I braided it I measured how long they should be by putting them over my shoulders.

3) Next we are going to smock our dress, but first we need to hem the top of our dress body. Do a small little hem. Now we need to take an empty bobbin and wind our elastic thread on it. You have to do it by hand because there cannot be any tension in the elastic. Now with the right side of your fabric up begin to stitch right along the hem. After you get all the way to the end go back to the beginning and stitch the same way but half inch away from the last seam. Keep going until you have 16 or so of those rows.

4) With right sides together sew the two edges together. And put it on to make sure it fits and decide where the straps should go. Pin them and take off your dress then stitch on the straps matching up the seam with the hem seam.
Try on your dress to make sure everything fits right again and enjoy!

Apple Pie

This is my very first apple pie! I gave it a shot yesterday when I got bored and it turned out wonderful! I used fresh apples I think that definitely makes a difference from the canned. Give it a shot it's a lot of fun!!!!
You can find this recipe at http://www.myhomecooking.net/apple-pie/
                                        

How to make an easy vintage apron

This is how to make a much simpler apron then I last posted. I think it is just as cute though! I hope you enjoy it!

1) Cut out your apron body. 33" by 20" Then the tie. 70" by 4 1/2" After that the heart pocket. All I did was fold some fabric in half and draw half a heart then cut it out. Make 2.

2) Hem the apron on every edge but one of the longer ones. The with right sides together stitch around the hearts except for about 3" to turn right side out. Press.

3) Gather the unhemmed side of the apron body and match the centers of the tie and apron body, stitch right sides together.

4) Press ends of apron tie over 1" and then fold in half. Sew along sides.

5) Finally, sew heart pocket to apron body. Top-stitch carefully around the bottom 3/4 of the heart.

That's all there is to it! Please tell me how it turned out in comments.

How to turn something old into something new

My violin teacher gave me that dress at the top to see if I could use the fabric to make her little girl a skirt. This is what I came up with. It's kind of cool don't you think? I just think it's a terrific idea to turn something old into something new. All I did was rip the seams from the skirt and cut a rectangle out of that. Then ripped the seams from the sleeves to make the top piece. It's the exact same thing as the spring skirt in my previous post just smaller. I definitely challenge you to take something old of yours and turn into something new and improved! It's a whole lot less expensive then getting fabric at the store and it can be more fun especially with before and after photos.

How to make yourself a springtime skirt

 

 Here is one of the most simple ways to make yourself a fun, flowy, personalized skirt.

1) First, you need to measure around your hips and take that measurement and add 5" This measurement is going to be the length of the top piece. The width of the top piece should be 7" Now, for the bottom piece. Take the length of the top piece and add 10" this should be the length of the bottom piece. For the width, you need to measure from your waist to wherever you want the hem to be. I did about an inch below my knees.
Don't forget to add an inch for the hem.

2) Now, on the top piece make the casing. Fold half an inch over then an inch over and stitch along the edge. On the bottom piece make your hem fold over half an inch then again half an inch. Stitch along the edge.

3) Still using the bottom piece gather the top of it and with right sides together sew to top piece.

4) Next, sew the width at 1/2" (make sure not to sew through the casing)

5) Pull through elastic with a safety pin. And stitch where I said not to in step 4.

YAY! You have completed the most fun frilly skirt! Please tell me how yours turned out in comments.

How to make a vintage apron

I have heard that aprons like these are becoming more and more popular so I went on the internet to get some ideas and came up with this. Here is the pattern for the pockets if anyone is interested.
 http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/replicarter/pocketpattern3.jpg

1) First, let's cut out the body of the apron. It's easy to do, but hard to explain so I'll try my best. Start at the corner of your fabric and measure out 28" and mark with a pencil or disappearing ink marker This is the top of your apron. Now let's do the side. Starting at your 28" mark measure downward 13" Do the same at the other side. Next, starting at the middle of the top go vertically 22" and mark. Now going horizontally, measure 9" from the 22" inch mark going towards the direction of the 13" mark. Do again on the other side. Now you match up the six marks making a curve on either side. Cut it out and fold in half to make sure it is the same on each side. Cut out one more using the one you just made as a pattern.

2) Now, cut out the tie, pocket, and ruffle. Tie: 6" by 75" Ruffle: 3" by 88" Then cut out the pocket using the link above. (Follow the instructions on the pocket after you cut it out)

3) Next, fold the ruffle in half width wise and press. Gather until it's about 62" and sew with right sides together to one of the apron bodies.

 4) You should have already sewn up the pockets and turned right side out. Make sure to press. Then, top-stitch each pocket 7" down from the top of the same apron body piece as you sewed the ruffle to.

5) With the ruffle inward stitch the 2 apron bodies together right sides together leaving the top open. Turn right side out and press.

6) Gather the top of the apron body until 15" long.

7) With right sides together sew the tie to the top of the apron body matching up the middle of each.

8) Press The sides of the tie about 1/2" and then fold in half width-wise and press. Stitch where you folded the sides over.

Congratulations! You have completed your very own vintage apron! Also here is the link to where I got the idea I changed it up a bit, but I want this person to get her rightful credit.
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=38097.msg332607

How to make a scrunchy

 Here is how to make a super simple scrunchy.

1) Cut out a 15" by 3" rectangle.

2) Fold in half length wise and sew with 1/2" seam allowance

3) Fold edges over 1/2" then fold in half and press 

4) Stitch along edge leaving about an inch open for the elastic

5) With a safety pin pull through about 7in of elastic and sew edges together

6)  Stitch the edge of the elastic whole (step 4)

Congratulations! You now have your very own homemade scrunchy!

How to make a twirly skirt

Hi everybody!!! This is my very first post! I plan to put different sewing projects on my blog as I do them. The first one is a toddler's twirly skirt. Here is how to do it:

Items needed:
Approximately 1 yd of fabric. Preferably calico or cotton but it doesn't really matter
1 spool of coordinating thread
sewing machine
elastic

First thing you need to do is measure the person you are making the skirt for. Measure around their waist and measure how long you want it to be. Ex: If you want it to be knee length measure from the waist to their knees, but add about 3" to it for the hem and casing.
Now I made mine for a 4-6 year old and it was a 38"by 15" rectangle.

Okay let's get started!

1) First you need to cut out your skirt. It is simply a rectangle. Now take the waist measurements you did earlier and add 10" to it. That is the width to your skirt. Now take the length measurements (15" recommended) and that is the length.

2) Next you need to cut out the tie. It should be 1.5" by 50" You can always sew two pieces together if your fabric isn't long enough.

3) Now let's sew the tie. Fold all of the edges down about 1/4" then fold in half. Sew straight down to secure it.

4) With your skirt rectangle fold the bottom 1/4" then fold over again 1". Stitch.

5) Do the same thing on the other end for the casing (this is where your elastic goes through)

6) Now sew the side together. Do not sew through the casing.

7) Now using a safety pin pull through elastic and tie. Make sure the tie is facing the right side of the fabric.

8) Now sew over the casing just like you did on step 6

9) Tie the tie in a bow.

How to make a little purse

Here is how to make a matching purse for your twirly skirt. I hope you enjoy this!

1) First, cut 4 squares out of your fabric. I did about 8"by 8."

2) Next, cut out your handle. 3"by 10"

3) Now cut out your tie. 2"by 12"

4) To make the tie, fold every edge over 1/4" then fold in half. Sew to secure.

5) Do the same thing in step 4 to make the handle.

6) Now take one of your squares and sew the tie in the middle. Make into a bow.

7) Now take the square with the bow and a different square, put them right sides together, and stitch the sides and the bottom. (Do not stitch the top!)

8) Do the same thing as step 7 with the other squares.

9) Fold the edges of your sewed squares 1/2" and pin handle to the sides of one.

10) The squares with the bow turn right side out. The squares without it leave inside out.

11) Put the squares that are inside out into the one with the bow.

12) Stitch the top. (Where you folded over in step 9)

You have just created a matching purse for your twirly skirt! I hope this wasn't to hard to follow. I plan to begin taking pictures to go along with the instructions to make it more simpler.