I have a few extra special pleating sewing 101 posts lined up to help us get perfect pleats! Here is the very first, enjoy!a topstitching secret Pleats are so fun because there is a lot you can do with them. You can leave them as it, just pressing them down in the seam, or you can sew part way or all the way down it for an extra decorative touch. One problem I sometimes run into is horrible topstitching.Topstitching is hard! Sometimes it's just not straight. It is supposed to make the garment look better, but uneven topstitching just makes it ...Continue Reading
pleat week guest! – sachiko from tea rose home
Today we have Sachiko from Tea Rose Home! I know you've seen that ruffle blouse (below) around. Her blog is full of lots of great stuff, including tons of tutorials. I think this is the cutest felt food I've ever seen. One of my favorite parts about Tea Rose Home is the quilted projects, like this five fat quarter scarf. I also want to try this sweater to jacket refashion! Lots to do! Today Sachiko is sharing a super cute pleated skirt tutorial. ............ Hi everyone! I am Sachiko from Tea Rose Home. On my blog I share sewing, clothes ...Continue Reading
design for shabby apple – paper bag dress!
We interrupt pleat week to give you this special post: My entry for the shabby apple dare to design contest. The challenge is to design a dress for their spring line. Check out Shabby Apple dresses. .......................... the linen and lace paper bag dress Every year I watch this contest go by, thinking I should design a dress for it. And somehow it slips me by. I decided that this year would be the perfect year, since I was already crazy busy this week, why not add one more thing? Done. Have you noticed I got through phases. Bows. ...Continue Reading
paper bag two….. variation with pockets + a sash!
I liked my first paper bag skirt so much that I made another one! I used the tutorial I posted yesterday. This one is little different for a few reasons:1. I didn't face it since this fabric is the same on both sides. I faced the other one because the backside of the fabric was hideous and showed at the top. This time I made a little hem on top by folding over 1/4" twice and sewing it down. In a normal skirt you'd just make a waistband, but since the paper bag skirt goes extra high and doesn't have a waistband, the hem is a good solution. 2. I ...Continue Reading
pleat week guest! – jess from craftiness is not optional
Jess from Craftiness is not Optional is here today! She's a two-girl momma with some serious sewing skills! This toddler sweatshirt is adorable and might be my favorite of her projects. I want one of these in my size, do you think I could pull it off? Jess also has sew alongs every month or so and free patterns on her website. She makes me want a baby girl every time I read a post! .................. Hi there! I'm Jess, and I blog over at Craftiness is not Optional. I want to thank Kate for inviting me to join in on her Pleat Week! I love ...Continue Reading
the paper bag skirt
Don't you just love the classic paper bag skirt? I gave you a little preview of this here. I really love it! Super high waisted. Stiff as can be. It feels so high fashion. I can just see it with some cute grey tights and a tucked in cardi when it gets cooler. ... If it gets cooler? So this is my twist on a classic style. There are a few ways to make paper bag skirts, this way using...(can you guess?)..pleats! (good guess!) Fabric Pointers: To make this skirt extra paper-baggy you need a stiff material, something that will almost crinkle when ...Continue Reading
pleat week guest! – amy from naptime crafters
Amy from Naptime Crafters is headlining our pleat week guests! You may know Amy by her adorable baby girl clothing tutorials. She has a whole lot of them. My favorites include this polka dot dress tutorial, the sweetheart halter, and the dahlia tee. She also hosts the American Crafter craft competition. After seeing only cute stuff come out of her blog, I knew she would come up with something awesome for pleat week and she did! ................ the lollipop skirt I'm so excited to be a part of pleat week! I was planning on yet another ...Continue Reading
sewing 101: basic PLEAT lingo
I thought it would be best to start pleat week off with a little pleat dictionary. There are lots of types of pleats and they all have different names. In order to, you know, pleat with authority, we gotta get the lingo right. These are the most basic pleats, most of which will come up a few times during the pleat weeks. All definitions are straight from dictionary.com. Who knew they were so sewing saavy? There are lots more, too! Honeycomb pleats(based from pintucks), fluted pleats, plisse pleats, heat set pleats, and about ...Continue Reading
sewing 101: opening up a buttonhole
One wrong move with your seam ripper could cost you your whole project! Here's a little trick to make sure you don't mess up when you're opening buttonholes. Short and sweet. More sewing 101 lessons here.Vest details here.It's Friday! Do you know what that means!? Pleat weeks are so soon!!! Like MONDAY soon! Ready to get your pleat on? I'm am so excited!! It has been seriously hard to keep so many secrets filed under "draft". Can't wait! ...Continue Reading
bow tutorial
This tutorial was originally posted at Living with Punks for the Scrap your Stash series. bow brooch/pin/clip One of my favorite things to make with extra scraps is bows! You can make them any size, from any kind of scrap. I've been making lots lately! Let's begin: First collect your materials: (brooch pins or hair clips, 1 piece of fabric for the bow, 1 little piece for the tie, thread, and a needle) For the bow shown in the tutorial, I used a scrap 6" by 12" but you can use any size. The ratio just needs to be x by ...Continue Reading
the 9 to 5(1/2) faux bow headband tutorial
the 9 to 5(.5) faux bow headband My model friend is in town for a while so I started making a line of headbands for her to model. I love an excuse to make something new, and having friends model is way better than taking pictures of myself in the mirror. (Better for you and me!) Her hair is gorgeous so headbands were perfect! Headband tutorial, anyone? This is a super easy headband. The best part is all you need is a scrap of fabric 9 by 5.5 inches. I called it a faux bow because it sorta looks like a bow. And faux is one of my favorite ...Continue Reading
