by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 13, 2017
You can never have too many zipper pouches! What does this have to do with a blanket stitch, you ask? Well, you could add a cute applique to your latest zipper pouch! (See what I did there?! #fullcircle)
I made this cute pouch as a good excuse to be creative and use a cute applique heart I made a few months ago. One of my latest Craftsy Sewing blog posts is a tutorial on how to sew a Blanket Stitch and use it three ways. Way number two was to use it to finish the edges of an applique – resulting in this ultra-cute heart – if I do say so myself!
Figuring that it would need to be made into something sooner or later, Valentine’s Day presented itself and I pulled out some stashed fabric to play with. The bunting fabric is perfect and I love it! It’s Kelly Panacci’s Tree Party line for Riley Blake fabrics and there was just enough left over from making my kids’ Cargo Duffles.
Did you see the tiny Heather Ross strawberry on the pouch’s bum? My kids think is hilarious, and I think it’s pretty funny too! But maybe it’s just the happy vibes from “making a cute pouch with no plan in mind” talking. *grin*
Check out the Blanket Stitch tutorial. You might be surprised, I didn’t know it could be so versatile – and despite my prior feelings, I’m slowly learning hand-sewing is relaxing. Give it a try!
I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 8, 2017
Sometimes I make something on the fly, while my kids are in school, and it fails miserably. I try to rework it, and even take photos. Then I don’t post about it on the blog because, well… it failed. It’s frustrating that I spent so much time on it – and I can’t say anything positive, really. So I don’t.
Then I find the photos 2 years later and decide it’s a good opportunity to write about something that failed… funny how your perspective on “a good post” changes over the years!
These hats look cute – they even seem like they might be perfect, but the amount of trouble they caused was… well – here’s the story. (With numbered sewing fails!)
It was the winter of 2015 and my kids were at school. I wanted to create some cute unicorn winter hats for them, since “everyone” was wearing one! I had a hat pattern from a year previous (1) and a few hats to trace (2) for samples. I was set and proceeded to cut the only fabric in my stash that would be the right colour, a nice white fleece (3). Lengths and lengths of shiny knit were cut for the unicorn mane, ears sewn and horns created (4). The kids arrived home from school and tried them on, much to my dismay they didn’t fit! (5) Not to be deterred I took them apart and tried to resize them. (6) They were better, but the horns kept falling apart. (7) They didn’t get worn a lot. (8) Eventually, we gave them away, or threw them out – I can’t even remember now! It’s been bugging me ever since.
Eeep! Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong:
(1) Right – don’t use a pattern sized to your child from the year before. And don’t use the older child’s sizing to guess the younger child’s sizing… In general, I don’t make things while they are at school without double-checking the size first anymore.
(2) So, the traced hats had a different stretch than the fabric I was using for the hats. Super unfortunate – since the hats had a lot of stretch I made the fleece version way too tight.
(3) Nice white fleece + children = Nice dirty fleece – ‘nuf said!
(4) The horns were surprisingly difficult to create! It was hard to know how big to make them. Then I couldn’t make them stand up properly. I ended up hand stitching them to the top of the hat – but they fell over. Plus, the strip of knit I used to create the rings on the horn kept coming off.
(5) My size guessing resulted in hats that were too short and not big enough around.
(6) My awesome brainwave was now not working. I was demotivated to fix them and so disappointed that all that time I’d spent was seemingly wasted. Instead of fixing them properly, unfortunately I chose to do a sloppy job of trying to fix them.
(7) See (4)! I really should have hand sewn the knit wrapping the horn, but of course – that would require patience, which I was now out of.
(8) The hats were not really comfortable. Which in kid-language = not worn.
Conclusion…
So there you have it, the story of the “Failed Unicorn Hats of 2015” – to go down in history. (Or not!)
Sometimes things go wrong, and it is not fun and time is “wasted”. And you have to move on. But I will always remember those crazy hats – because they were going to be so cute! And I still might be a bit disappointed that they didn’t turn out…
Do you have any sewing fails you still remember? Do share!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 6, 2017
It’s almost February’s “Day of Love” and Valentine’s Day can kinda get a bit of a bad rep sometimes… This year, take matters into your own hands and treat yourself!
Around here, Selfish Sewing can often get put on the back burner. Well, to be honest, the back of the sewing table – or in project piles in the closet, for longer than I’d like. Everyone else (and the laundry) seems to take priority!
Here’s a little help to stop the cycle, click over to my latest Craftsy post to find 10 inspirational sewing patterns you can make to treat yourself this year. There are options for everyone, whether you are getting ready for date night or staying in!
Take the night off, grab a cup of tea and some fresh flowers floral fabric and sew!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 4, 2017
This post makes my week. Wednesday’s Fat Quarter Skirt pattern release post has everything you need to know (+ some cute pictures), but today I get to truly share my excitement with you!
Getting pattern tester photos in my email is like Christmas! It’s so fun to see what they have created. It reminds me how great our sewing community is. I am so grateful for all of their hard work, double-checking my measurements and finding new and better ways to do things.
Working together has made this pattern better that I could have alone, 2 whole pages longer, and more beginner friendly. The very hardest part of my job was to go through and pick one or two photos from each of them to share. So, especially to the pattern testers… Thank you for helping to make this release a success! And thank you for all your kind words!
Purchase the Fat Quarter Skirt PDF Pattern – $8.50 CDN
Enjoy the cuteness!
Sewn by Barbara. (Find her on Instagram)
Love, Love the twirl! The kittens and sea-foam green are perfect together. Plus, I think I need some of her shoes in my size!
Sewn by Lauren.
Lauren has made 4 skirts already! Including one with a matching bib. It was so hard to pick which ones to show you!
Sewn by Maire.
Mermaids and bright colours, my girls would love this skirt. Also, I’m wishing it was this warm in my part of the world!
Size 2
Sewn by Bev.
Happy Birthday Canada! I’m so glad Bev chose to use this fabric for her skirt. Check out the perfect folding and sewing on the contrast band. Wow!
Sewn by Christina. (Find her at Glengarry Rose Boutique (FB), Instagram)
Tiny skirts on little people! Gah! She’s so cute. Makes me wish my little ones were still little! The little bit of extra width on the smaller sizes makes a nice full twirly skirt.
Sewn by Francesca. (Find her on Instagram.)
The combination of fabrics here looks so Bright and Happy! Great choices Francesca!
Sewn by Mirjam. (Find her on: Dekawear and Facebook)
There’s something about little ones in black and white that is just perfect! I love the upward stripe Mirjam chose to use here. This skirt would go with almost any outfit!
Sewn by Monique.
Monique’s model wasn’t available, but that didn’t stop her – this skirt fits on the life-size doll her daughter’s grandmother gave her. And yes, I am drooling over the amazing machine and sewing box too!
Sewn by Nikki.
I’ve got to get me some of this bird fabric! The contrast band is just perfect with it.
Sewn by Simone.
This little one looks like she’s enjoying her skirt! Seriously – could it get any happier than this?! No questions here!
Size 3
Sewn by Andrea. (Find her on Instagram.)
Is that Tula Pink fabric I spy?! Gorgeous! And I love Andrea’s idea to add a ribbon tag and size marking to the back of the skirt!
Sewn by Jessica.
The Minnie Mouse fabric is fabulous and you can’t go wrong with Swiss Dots! Plus, look at her tiny feet!
Sewn by Julie.
These look like super warm cozy flannel. Great idea Julie! They’re so cute!
Sewn by Liz.
This little super hero is decked out for action! Love that Liz added a row of baby rickrack, it’s so cute!
Sewn by Robin.
This sunny skirt is sure to be loved by its new owner. I hope she likes twirling!
Sewn by Tori. (Find her on: British Farm Wife in Training, Instagram)
Cutest! In her blog post Tori says, “It is also TWIRL-TASTIC!! (Niece S approves!!)” She has written a great review of the pattern, check it out to find out more!
Size 4
Sewn by Alison.
This fabric is great for a little dinosaur-lover! I’m sure they’re going to love it. Thank you Alison!
Sewn by Danielle. (Find her on: Instagram)
Gah! Sloths! This fabric is so fun! And each sister got a skirt, way to go Danielle! In my house new patterns usually “need” to be sewn for both sisters too!
Sewn by Kelly. (Find her at: Kelly Panacci Inc, Instagram, Kelly Pannaci Inc. (FB))
Kelly sewed this skirt from her latest fabric collection – “Road Trip” for Riley Blake Designs. The vertical strip is so fun! I happen to have gotten some of her fabric to play with too, and I can’t wait! I also made some Cargo Duffles with her “Tree Party” collection.
Sewn by Melody.
I love this puzzle piece fabric, makes me want to see if I can put it together! Either way, these prints are great together. And I love Melody’s careful top-stitching.
Sewn by Pam.
This skirt is the perfect shades of lavender to go with everything. I bet she’s loving it!
Sewn by Susan.
Such a cute outfit, way to go Susan! This little one even got a matching bow to go with her new skirt!
Size 5
Sewn by Aurelie.
The embellishments Aurelie added are so good. Can’t go wrong with pompom trim and pockets! The yellow pops right off the print, it’s perfect!
Sewn by Elena. (Find her on Rascando Horas)
This skirt is perfect with tights for winter. Love the cute dog in the photo too! Elena was one of the first testers to blog about this skirt, she provides summer and winter styling for it + a twirly photo!
Sewn by Laura. (Find her on Instagram)
These bold large scale prints look great here! So summery, and still great with leggings for colder weather.
Sewn by Stacey. (Find her on Instagram)
Love yellow and pink together! And this fabric looks extra comfy with its textured pattern.
Size 6
Sewn by Gillian. (Find her at Tall Tales of the Kantor Family)
This grin. How can you resist?! Her mom said her daughter “… would like to add that, as you mentioned in the pattern, the skirt is definitely great for twirling.” They took advantage of the separate casing and used a fun contrasting fabric there too. *Update: Gillian has blogged about the skirt! Find more about her experience sewing with her daughter.*
Sewn by Jen.
Rainboots, Love it! These fabrics are so cute together. I happen to know this little girl in real life and her mom said she was excited to wear her new skirt the very next day.
Sewn by Starly. (Find her at: Sew Starly, Instagram)
I totally need this girl’s style! Love the boots! The mixy-matchy print-on-print skirt is perfect.
Sewn by Tiffany. (Find her on Instagram)
This little girl is ready for Valentine’s Day with the most adorable cozy outfit. Love the tiny envelopes in the fabric!
Purchase the Fat Quarter Skirt PDF Pattern – $8.50 CDN
I’m so glad that so many of you love the Fat Quarter Skirt and I’m excited to keep seeing them popping up around the interwebs. I would love to see your photos! Link over to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (links below) using the hashtags #fatquarterskirt, #alongforthreadride and/or #threadridinghood. Thank you!
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 2, 2017
The Fat Quarter Skirt pattern is now available!
This skirt pattern has been a favorite at our house for years. Combine just two fat quarters of fabric (commonly stashed in many sewing rooms!) to fit a child wearing sizes 2-6. My girls love wearing them with sweaters and leggings in the winter and t-shirts in the summer time. I love that it is cost-effective and quick sew.
“The only thing that would have made this pattern better was less choice in my stash so I could decide faster!” ~ Stacey, pattern tester
This “twirl-friendly” skirt has a fun contrast band at the bottom and an easy-to-fit elastic waistband. It is a simple, beginner-friendly pattern with a few tricks to keep it easy and fun. Great for quilters who haven’t had garment sewing experience and would like a simple starter project – it even has a 1/4″ seam allowance! Or, are you teaching your kids to sew? It’s simple enough for them to understand as well.
Make your little girl happy and de-stash some fabric. (Win, Win!)
Purchase the Fat Quarter Skirt PDF Pattern – $8.50 CDN
“… love that my four-year-old could help out a little… she assisted in fabric selection, cutting and a couple of side seams. Great for learning!” ~ Gillian, pattern tester
This skirt features 5 sizes, child’s 2-6, to create a skirt that is 9-11 1/2″ (23-30cm) long. The easily adjusted elastic waistband fits your child perfectly, and it makes dressing easier too! A hidden casing is simple to sew and the hem band eliminates the need to press multiple folds, plus it adds a cute pop of colour!
Expect lots of tips and tricks throughout, a glossary of terms, recommended best practices and instructions geared towards an absolute beginner. This pattern is truly a quick sew – allow yourself just 1-3 hours to finish, including your fabric cutting time. It’s also a great stash-buster, requiring only 2 fat quarters and a length of elastic… things you probably already have in your stash.
“I like your little extras like the “seam allowance icon” and the “check boxes”. Great ideas!” ~ Kelly, pattern tester
Here is what you can expect when you purchase the instant PDF Pattern download:
- An 8 page PDF pattern e-book with clear instructions.
- No pattern pieces to print out! Use the easy-to-follow cutting chart.
- Simple, detailed instructions to help you complete each step.
- Clearly marked colour photos to illustrate the step-by-step process.
- Both metric and imperial measurements throughout.
- This e-book is viewable on your mobile device, or print to letter size or A4 paper.
- Granny’s Sewing Basket – highlights Notes and Tips to make your project faster and easier! (introduction to Granny)
- Large seam allowance icons throughout, no more searching when you forget.
- Check boxes in all lists and for each step, for those of you who love to keep track of your progress.
- This pattern includes a limited production seller’s license.
“It was a lovely, quick project that was nice to do in between other projects. And who doesn’t love a quick, cute, easy to complete project?” ~ Monique, pattern tester
Supplies needed to complete any size of Fat Quarter Skirt:
- 1 fat quarter for the main skirt
- 1 fat quarter for the contrast band and casing
- thread (for sewing and edge-stitching)
- 1 yard (metre) of 3/4″ (20 mm) elastic (non-roll recommended)
- safety pin, bodkin for threading elastic
- scissors, sewing machine, pins, ruler, iron, pressing surface etc.
More inspiration and tester photos will be posted this week. It will be a fun photo-bomb of twirly happy children!
“I love it! What a great stash buster.” ~ Liz, pattern tester
Sew a skirt (or seven) for your favorite twirl-loving child!
Purchase the Fat Quarter Skirt PDF Pattern – $8.50 CDN
If you need any more information or help throughout the pattern I am always available – please email sherri@threadridinghood.com
