A kid can only have so many pairs of pants. We have like a million thanks to two doting grammas. I did this project a month or so ago(before I backed up my beloved serger. tear.) and they've been worn so many times since! I definitely don't regret not keeping the pants that won't fit next fall/winter! This is really easy! Cut. Serge. Press over 1/4-1/2". Topstitch at 1/8-1/4". Bam. Shorts. With a simple serged hem. I use this hem method most of the time for dresses and skirts, too. (I wrote about my serger here if you're interested.) I ...Continue Reading
inspiration: vintage sewing for boys
Sometimes I sit down and try to think of fun things to sew for boys and just can't come up with anything. Shirt. Pants. Shorts. Boring. It's so easy to think of something to sew for a girl--A NEW DRESS! A girl can never have too many dresses! But how many pairs of simple plain shorts does a boy need? I don't know. But then I go look at vintage boy patterns and I always feel totally re-inspired! Here's a round-up of fun vintage projects to get your wheels turning!shortallsAlways adorable if you ask me. The shorter the better! 1940s McCalls, ...Continue Reading
old lady nightgown to fresh modern blouse
If there is one thing you should ALWAYS be on the lookout for at estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores, it is nightgowns! I bought my first nightgown for $3 at Salvation army and wear it all the time as a dress. I wore it in this outfit post. I had to layer it with lots of slips and underlayers, but it's so cute and I just love it. Last summer I found this maxi nightgown for another $3 and had been meaning to make it into a shorter dress. I used the bottom edge to refashion a shirt during ruffles 2012 and decided instead of another ...Continue Reading
floral sheet to high-waisted skirt with suspenders
Isn't this fabric pretty? I got a big sheet for $3 at the thrift store and used about half of it for this skirt. It's super easy to turn a sheet into a skirt, because you can use the existing hem! For this skirt, I cut off the top part of the sheet and used it as the skirt, then added a simple yoke, back zipper and suspender straps to give it a little something extra! Every part of this skirt was made with simple rectangles and measurements, so it's easy to make your own! skirt: desired length by top of sheet waistband: waist measurement ...Continue Reading
old pillowcase to new tote bag
I found this pillowcase for 25 cents at a thrift store. Isn't it gorgeous!? I think the print is so summery. It's so easy to turn a pillowcase into a tote bag. I lined and interfaced it to give it more stability, and it still took less than an hour. The first step is to cut your pillowcase in half. We'll use the nice top edge as the top of the bag. Sew the bottom edge together. I used Pellon Fusible Fleece to make my bag sturdy. Just cut it a little smaller than the pillowcase piece and stuff them in. Make sure the adhesive side is ...Continue Reading
seersucker swim cover up
Seersucker is one of my favorite summer fabrics! It's so lightweight and carefree. I love the stripes and nautical feel. I made this swim cover-up to coordinate with my yellow polka dot swimsuit. The fabric is this black and white seersucker from fabric.com. This little coverup slips right on over your head and gathers below the bust. I wanted it make it easy to get on and off but also sophisticated enough that I could wear it out if we happen to go for all-you-can-eat crab (covered in butter!) right after the beach. (Um. Yes. Please.) I think ...Continue Reading
beach essentials pouch
This little pouch holds just the essentials when you're heading down to the beach. I like taking just a few things so I don't have to constantly worry about them while I swim. This little pouch was designed just for that purpose of holding a few things, but not everything! I used an old pillowcase for the outside fabric to give it a little vintage charm. Materials:-1/2 yard fabric -1/2 lining fabric-11-12" zipper-interfacingCut your fabrics into 11" squares. You'll need two lining layers, two outer layers and four layers of interfacing. I am ...Continue Reading
vintage inspired headwraps
My go-to summer hair-do is a sloppy top knot. Yours, too? It's just too hot for blow dryers and straighteners. Plus top knots are great for pools and beaches. I made three versions of a vintage inspired hair wrap to give my hair a little direction this summer, even if they will adorn a sloppy top knot. Each of these hair wraps is a variation of a simple headband. Here's how to make the basic version: basic headband/hairwrap 1. For the basic head wrap, you'll need a strip of fabric that is 3" wide and 27" long. 2. You'll also need a piece of ...Continue Reading
sewing 101: the narrow rolled hem foot
I just got myself a narrow rolled hem foot (from amazon). This thing is amazing, and only $10! I'm kicking myself for not buying one years ago. This machine foot has a little metal thing that flips your fabric under twice right before it gets stitched down for a perfect and super narrow hem. It looks so professional! To use the rolled hem foot, simply replace your normal foot. Then, with your fabric WRONG SIDE UP, sew a few stitches. Leave the needle in the fabric as you pull the fabric into the foot's loop. Then hold the fabric steady ...Continue Reading
rhinestone refashion
I got this skirt at the thrift store for $1.61! It's a cute skirt as it is, but I wanted to add a little sparkle. I used rhinestones from fashionartprojects.com to make quirky little arrows along the hemline. These things are awesome! I got them in a box of goodies sent by Fashion Art Projects to review. I was instantly drawn to them. They iron-on really quickly and easily. It was a super fast project! The little rhinestones have a glue side. You just lay them on your fabric glue side down, cover with a press cloth, iron for 15 seconds on ...Continue Reading
starry knit workout shirt tutorial
I wrote about my failure to pack enough shirts in my summer goals post. I also only packed 1 shirt suited for exercise, and I don't even really like that shirt! I ordered this star knit jersey from fabric.com with no real intention of what I would use it for. But when it came, I set it next to my two pairs of neon leggings and I knew they were meant to be together. 90s flashback. The fabric is great because it's really lightweight and breathable, perfect for workouts! I don't sew with knits too much because it's sometimes hard to find fun ...Continue Reading
