Ruffle Clutches

This year, for Christmas, I sewed ruffle clutches for my favorite 16 and 17 year olds!  I wish I had a picture of all of them - I made 9 in all.

I used this tutorial from Noodlehead.  It was pretty straight forward.  I think you just need to do it and it makes more sense than reading the tutorial.

There is a divided pocket inside as well as a divider.

Perhaps my favorite part was looking through fabric scraps and finding fabrics that work together.  Luckily, I had enough scraps!

Each one different - each one for a different girl.

I couldn't post earlier - Christmas gifts can be hard to post about.   So this can go in your files of "ideas for next year."  Don't you have a stash of ideas like that?

Don't let zippers intimidate you - they are soooo doable!  I'm not a fancy shmancy seamstress - but I can sew straight lines and I'm not afraid to just go for it.  The end results aren't always worth it, though.  Luckily, this one came through with flying colors!  By the time I figured out what I was doing, each bag took about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish and because of my fabric stash, I only had to go buy zippers!  Not bad, if I do say so myself.

Link parties I participate in: A bowl full of lemons, Be Different Act Normal,  Blue Cricket Design, Craft-O-Maniac, Delightful Order,  Etcetorize, Home Stories a to z,  I Heart Naptime,Just a Girl,  Lolly Jane Boutique,Organize and Decorate Everything, Pokadots on Parade,  Serenity Now, Sew Chatty, Sew Much Ado, Skip to my Lou, Someday Crafts, Tatertots and Jello, The Blackberry Vine, The Girl Creative,  Thrifty Decor Chick, Today's Creative Blog

To Show Appreciation

Because I really do work with the best women . . .

Because Swedish Fish are one of favorite candies (sour patch fruit salad might have taken over first place)..

Because I found mini fish bowls for $1 . . . .

Because any project that involves candy and sitting on the table makes her happy . . .

Thankfully, eighteen25 has great ideas.  I used these for the women I work with in my church, but am planning on doing it for Teacher Appreciation week.  I did it last year, but they all have new teachers, so you can be sure I'm doing it again!

Toddler Sleeping Bag Tutorial

This year, we have a slew of little boys to give gifts to for Christmas.  Click off if you happen to be the mommy of those little boys that we are giving to - unless you don't care about the surprise (you know who you are).  This year, we're giving sleeping bags.  My sister-in-law's mother made these for her grandchildren, which happen to be my nieces and nephew - follow that?  I swiped one when I. was still 1, and took it home and copied it.  Since then, I've also made one for G.  The big kids have loved them.  I. has outgrown it - but she is 8!  Anyways, they are darling and I snapped pictures while I was sewing today.  Hope you can follow along.  It requires a medium sewing skill - plus a good ability to read my mind to try to figure out what in the world I'm explaining!

Supplies

1 1/2 yards of fleece for outside - 60" wide.  You should have a rectangle about 54" by 60"

3 yards of flannel for liner - 45" wide.    When you cut this, it should be 1" longer than your fleece.  You need 2 pieces of 30 1/2" by 55" .If you can find 60" wide, you only need 1 1/2 yards.

26" zipper

60" of ribbon - I used 1" grosgrain

These are all approximate lengths.  After you pre-wash your fabric, you'll notice some shrinking, so I just adjust my measurements to make it work.  Remember, this is a sleeping bag for a toddler - they are not very picky.  There are plenty of times I have to fudge the measurements to make this work.

If you are adding a monogram, which I believe at least quadruples the cuteness, add it at the very beginning.  I added it along the selvage edge by what will become the bottom of the sleeping bag.

Take you pieces of fleece and sew along one of the long sides and one of the short sides.  On the other long side, measure down 27" from the top and mark it with a pin.  Start at the bottom and sew to the pin.  Next, I separate the opening and sew a 1/4" guide line on the front and back.  This will help when we have to fold under 1/4" when I'm putting in the zipper.  I'm not sure if all this math is correct, but it seems to keep working for me.

 You are going to do almost the same thing with fleece.  Fold it in half (hot dog way).  Along the bottom, though, you will need to sew in the ribbon that will be used to tie it together.  I measured 1/4 of the way over (it was about 8"), and stuck a pin.  Then I folded the ribbon in half, and pinned the folded edge where I had previously stuck the pin.  Sew the seam and the ribbon gets caught in it.  Then sew up the long side, stopping 26" from the top.

Put your fleece and flannel right sides together.  I stuffed the flannel into the fleece to make it easier to sew this seam.  Sew the top together.

Pull out the flannel and turn both pieces so you can see the right sides.  Then stuff the flannel back into the fleece so you can see the right side of the flannel.

I like to leave a border of the flannel at the top.  I measure 1/2" up from the seam, towards the flannel, fold the rest down and pin it in place.  Make sure it lines up on both sides where you are going to put the zipper.

I am no expert on how to put in a zipper - but this is how I did mine.  I'm going to fold under 1/4" on my flannel (or where I sewed that guide line).  I folded under my fleece and didn't measure it.  There was a line already in my fabric by the selvage and I used that line.  Then I stuck the zipper in between and pinned and pinned - as much pinning as I could.

 I pinned all the way down one side, making sure to catch both sides.

When I got to the end of one side, I stuffed the end of the zipper between the fleece and flannel.

Then, I unzipped the zipper and pinned up the next side, making sure to catch both the flannel and the fleece.

Then, I tried really hard not to stab myself with all the pins.  Put on your zipper foot and sew it.

I did a "stitch in the ditch" around the top, where the flannel and fleece meet.

Details:

Roll it up and tie.  No, I'm not going to clean up all the legos in the background.  That's what is keeping my kiddos busy as I'm sewing.  They are just as much a part of this project!

I think these turned out great!  My instructions, not so much.

OK - so I understand that my instructions are not the easiest thing to follow.  I have been taking custom orders for these and would be willing to sew 5 more, for a fee.  If you are local, I'm asking that you pick up the supplies and I will sew it for you.  That way you can pick out the exact fabric you want. Email me   laurelmacd@gmail.com.  Thanks!  Thanks for the feedback - I have one more opening!

A Gift for Dylan

One of our special friends had a birthday, so it was time for a gift.

I used this tutorial.  I was able to use scraps that I had - LOVE that.

I embroidered a "d" on the front car, before I appliqued it on.

Only problem - M. picked out the cars to go in it.  I think it would have worked better if she had chosen a flatter car, maybe a race car.  But she didn't, and that's OK.

Super Sweet Baby Blanket Variation

Scroll down for the basics of sewing this blanket. This variation is for my neice, so I wanted it a little girlier. I did baste the pom pom fringe all the way around (with the pom poms pinned to the right side and comin in towards the middle of the blanket), and then when I sewed the front to the back, I just followed the stitching line. I used my zipper foot so the pom poms wouldn't get caught.

Same blanket, but a little more feminine (although I would put pom poms on blankets for boys, too.)

Thought I'd share.

Super Sweet Baby Blankets

Spring is approaching and so are all the babies. I have many friends having babies. I always have grand plans to make blankets for all the babies, but it usually only happens if I really like you (meaning Tom's in town and no one's sick and I've got some time). These are my favorite blankets to make and they are so so easy, but they look pretty classy. These instructions are for a beginner seamstress. Trust me, if you are confident around the sewing machine, these instructions might seem like a no-brainer.

First, I like to make my blankets square. Since most of the fabric I like is usually 44-45" wide, I buy 1 1/4 yd (45") of a top and back fabric, preferably a nice, soft flannel, and 5 yards ric rac. I like these blankets to be used, which means they're going to need to be washable. Because of this, pre-wash your material to avoid shrinkage after you've sewed it. These two fabrics were exactly the same size before I washed and dried them:

After you wash them, just square them up so they are the same size.

Now, start laying your ric rac on the right side of your fabric. I leave about a 1" tail before I start pinning it.

Then pin about ever 3 "bumps," pinning right sides together and the ric rac in the middle - make sense?

When you get to a corner, just make the ric rac turn the corner and pin, pin, pin!

I leave about a six inch or so opening on one side, to turn it inside out. It makes the ric rac kind of look like a handle, for lack of a better explanation.

When you get back to the beginning, just over lap the ric rac.

Clip your corners

Turn inside out, iron, pin the opening shut and top stitch.

There's nothing connecting the front to the back in the middle. My dear friend made a blanket just like this for my oldest daughter, and three babies and plenty of washing later, I've never had a problem with it. Since then, I've made tons of these for my kids and still, never have had a problem. Maybe if it was bigger it might act like a giant pillowcase, but with this size, it has been fine.

Now, if you really want to make it special, monogram it. I think it's pretty easy to find someone who monograms - usually it just requires asking around. The machines are pretty expensive, and so those who have this are usually willing to charge you to help off set the cost of the machine. You could probably find someone on Craigslist. To me, it makes all the difference. And I know that all new parents love to look at their child's name.

This takes me about an hour, from start to finish - tops. All it requires is knowing how to sew straight lines.

So get sewing - and let me know if you make one!