by Sherri Sylvester | Sep 20, 2016
My daughters love their leggings, into the ground – literally! They get run into the asphalt school yard, sidewalk, brick walls – you name it! Take a couple of active kids, add in some biking and school-related spills and you end up with a pile of leggings with holes in the knees.
Every year I collect the fall/winter leggings and instead of giving up on them, turn them into bike shorts. The girls wear them all spring/summer under their dresses and tees. It’s a great way to re-purpose and reuse their clothes. Chances are they will still fit and it’s not as hard as it sounds!
If you’ve sewn with knits before, you are good to go. If you’d like some tips or a refresher – you can check out 12 Tips & Tricks for Sewing Knits – lots of easy steps to get you started, and some advanced ideas as well.
It’s almost fall here and our shorts-wearing days are fast becoming few and far between. If you happen to live where the seasons are getting colder, save yourself some work for next summer and mend this year’s leggings before they are packed away – they’ll be ready to wear when you unpack them in the spring! #organized #momoftheyear
How to Mend Leggings with Holes in the Knees
Tip: This will work with track pants too!
Use this tutorial to fix your child’s (or your own!) leggings, by turning them into bike shorts. If you want, use the bonus tutorial to add in a little extra detail with some ruching and buttons.
You will need:
- Ruined leggings (with a tear or hole at or below the knee)
- Matching thread
- Ballpoint/jersey or twin needle
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine and your go-to sewing supplies
- Optional: Eight inches of ¼” elastic and six buttons
Happy mending!
by Sherri Sylvester | Sep 17, 2016
Whew – time flies when you are turning your house upside down and moving everyone around! I want to make sure I squeeze a post into this week though, and I’m excited to share a throw quilt with you today.
Waaaaay back at the Creativ Festival in April, Rita from Fabric Please gave my youngest the cutest bundle of Kate and Birdie fabric. Four fat quarters to use for her very own sewing project! We decided that it should be a quilt and off we went one weekend, her and I sharing the task of piecing it together on her Janome New Home 3/4 size machine.
I have to admit, when we got the bundle I was not sure how we could create something large enough to cuddle under. But with some thought and a brilliant 4-at-a-time-HST sewing tutorial, we succeeded! I added a bit of fabric from my stash to the ends,some stripey red for the binding and we were good to go.
What about the backing you say? Ummm yes – the un-matchy backing fabric… (insert blushing embarrassed emoji here) She chose the blue ice cream flannel on her last trip to the fabric store. I almost couldn’t go through with it… I mean it DOESN’T MATCH! And it’s permanent… argh – in a quilt no less! But she was five and it was “perfect” to her – so that’s what it needed to be. Don’t argue with the child that wants to learn to sew! (She was also adamant that the middle striped block should be vertical – and not horizontal…. *sigh*)
In the end, I did quite a bit of the sewing, we worked together on the fat quarter HST’s and she decided on the final layout. We sewed them together and then it was up to me to finish the borders, binding and quilting. Which, I LOVE! It is a simple diamond pattern and it turned out great! I made them as large as I could and used the HST diagonals as a guide for the stitching. I’m definitely going to do more diagonal quilting like this in the future.
By the way there’s a #momfail video of her opening her “surprise” (finished quilt) and not giving me quite the reaction I was expecting. Ooops! She’s a good sport about it anyhow 🙂
Do your kids like to sew? What do they like to make best?
Oh – and she sewed wearing my second most favorite dress make – ever! That she just outgrew…. argh. I may never, ever get rid of this one!
by Sherri Sylvester | Jul 8, 2016
We are on vacation! I’m excited to have visited Chicago early this week and now we are relaxing in Minneapolis with family. Know any good quilt stores over here?! I’m trying to get a few photos on Instagram if you want to follow along.
When Brenda contacted me to see if I wanted to make the Sweet Talk Phone Bag pattern we were in vacation planning mode, and my kids were on my mind. This bag looked like the perfect size for a kids’ purse, and I had grand plans to make one for myself as well. I got the kids’ bags done at least – they love them – and they really are the perfect size! I got to use some fabric that I had stashed “for forever” waiting for the right project – and I’m so pleased with how they came out.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. Among Brenda’s Quilts and Bags sent me the Sweet Talk Phone Bag pattern to use in this post and this is my honest opinion about it.
This pattern makes a cross-body purse with two zipped pocket areas and one front open pocket. It is interfaced with Bosal In-R-Form or byAnnie’s Soft and Stable to create a super sturdy bag – originally intended to carry your cell phone safely – and a great way to keep a nice shape in a purse. The pattern also includes instructions to make a card holder with clear pockets. I didn’t figure the kids needed one quite yet, so I skipped that part.
The instructions are well explained and easy to follow. The pattern pieces are cut out using measurements. It is fully illustrated with photos and lots of text to help explain everything. Plus I like that it was a paper pattern, so everything was already printed out and ready to go!
The original bag has options for a front flap or bow, which I fully intended to use for one of the bags. Plans were waylaid when one girl got word that the other one was going to have ruffles on the front of her bag. So it was settled, the ruffles had to be on both – of course! It was simple to add, I shortened the pocket by 2 inches and then cut a piece of fabric 4″ x double the width of the bag front. Folded it in half, gathered the raw edges and set them into the top edge of the front pocket/pocket lining. It’s pretty cute – but I have to admit I really wanted one to have a bow! Next time… these would make super-cute Birthday gifts too!
The cross-body strap (that I shortened to a 36″ kid-size) is perfect for touristing. No complaints from the kids, who are usually not very excited to carry their own things. They filled them with sunglasses, tiny clipboards and markers to keep them entertained on our Chicago Architecture Boat Tour. My youngest also wanted to bring her mp3 player with her and the front pocket was perfect for the earbuds.
They also like having multiple zippered pockets for organizing their things – so cute! I love the back pocket. I put one the “right way” and flipped the other one to better fit beside the horse on the back of the purse. #fussycut everything!
I checked to see how the bag would fit my extra-large cell phone, and it works great! I’m really excited to use some of my hoarded Japanese fabrics to make one for myself. It would be so useful for running into the grocery store – or to carry my phone and cash on summer walks with the kids. I think I might attach the straps with rings and swivel snap hooks so I can take them off and use the bag like a wallet as well.
Brenda also has lots of other really great patterns, plus she sells kits or the notions, batting and stabilizers to go with them. I really like the Voyager bag and the Around the Block Bag too. I’d really recommend that you check out this Canadian shop!
I’m back to vacation mode for a few more days, but I have more fun things next week and I’m so excited for a special bloggy event – coming super-soon! (Hint, hint… It has something to do with this!) Plus, I’ll be speaking at Quilts at the Creek on July 23/24th in Toronto – so if you are in the area I’d love to see you there.
by Sherri Sylvester | Jun 27, 2016
I made hats – real hats – Fedoras, even! These were sewn as part of the Canadian Sewing Blog Hop, a collection of Canadian bloggers gushing about the amazing Canadian resources we have available – and giving 3 huge prizes away ! (Find the giveaway below and click here for more great Canadian Discounts.)
I wanted to feature a Canadian pattern designer (similar to this hop last year!) and chose Elegance and Elephants – who graciously sent me the Fedora Hat pattern I’ve been dying to make for years. My girls love the results, and I’m trying not to make about 17 more of them. (Attempting to learn how to slow down, right?!) E&E Patterns has a great collection of children’s patterns. (Epic Bubble Shorts!)
My girls are wearing two of their eight+ Bohemian Babydoll dresses in these photos. The one my youngest has on was a pattern test that used to fit my oldest. It’s by far one of my most favorite kid-friendly woven patterns – meaning I love it as much as my kids. It’s a quick sew, twirls and has ruffles – what more could you want?! Right now you can get a discount on anything in the E&E Pattern Shop during their Summer Sale. Just use the code SUMMER to get 10% off from June 27-July 4.
Back to the hats… The blue denim embroidered hat was the first one I made and it took only about 1 1/2 hours, start to finish. Such a quick, easy sew! Love, Love, Love. (All the heart-eye emojis for this one!) The pattern pieces were spot on, and since there aren’t many of them it was fast. The stashed denim is from at least 7 years ago when a fabric shop near me was going out of business. I’ve been trying to use it up ever since!
The second one (no fault of the pattern) took me about 4 1/2 hours. Lesson learned – stick to the recommended fabrics! This hat really is best sewn up in a thicker fabric with more body. The poplin I used for the pink hat just didn’t go together as easily, and you can see it in the wavy and puckered seams. While I know it does still look ok, I’m a still-recovering perfectionist, remember?! I added a little Liberty of London (dismantled from this never-worn scarf) around the crown and a twill bow, because my oldest originally wanted a white band like her sister. #keepingtheyoungunshappy
Putting a hat together is really not as hard as it might seem. I had everything I needed in my stash already. I would recommend that you are a very confidant beginner, or intermediate sewer – since making sure the curves are sewn without puckers is important. Other than that it’s very straight forward. It’s even fully lined with the same fabric as my faux-leather Marmalade jacket. (of course I forgot to photograph the inside, argh! There are good photos of the inside on the pattern listing.)
Please be sure to check out the other Canadian blogs below for more Canadian content and supplies. And, if you need any fabric, I know a great Pinterest board with over 60 Canadian shops on it. *wink, wink* I’m so proud of us – the Canadian shops have really stepped it up over the last few years and can now supply pretty much everything we need! Bonus – if you are from the US – your $$ go really far up here!
Canadian Sewing Blog Hop Schedule
Visit each of these blogs for more on our outstanding Canadian designers and suppliers, and be sure to enter the giveaway for some amazing prizes!
June 24: The Tour Starts at Happy Okapi ~ June 25: Celine guest posts on Happy Okapi; Marsha @ Seam of my Pants ~ June 26: Fiona @ Tangled Blossoms Designs; Carla @ Half Dozen Daily ~ June 27: Sherri @ Thread Riding Hood; Reece @ Happy Okapi ~ June 28: Nicky guest posts on Seam of my Pants ~ June 29: Daniela @ On the Cutting Floor; Reece @ Happy Okapi ~ June 30: Michelle @ Canada Day–June 31*: Ula @ Lulu & Celeste ~ July 2: Marsha @ Seam of my Pants ~ July 3: Keshia @ Sand Dollar Design Studio ~ July 4: Wrap Up @ Happy Okapi ~ July 6: Giveaway winners announced ~ * Yes, we know!
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Thanks for reading Thread Riding Hood. Don’t miss a post – come #alongforthreadride!
Today’s #RandomFunFact: Since styling my oldest with boots and knee-high socks for this photo shoot, she has decided that this is her new style and wears it everywhere. We really need to get this girl some Dr Martens! Can you tell I went to high school in the 90’s?!
Disclosure and Privacy Policy: The Fedora Hat pattern from E&E Patterns was sent to me free of charge as part of this blog hop. As always, my opinions are my own.
by Sherri Sylvester | Jun 10, 2016
Thank you so much everyone for all of your kind words on my last post. I have found that rest is helping so, so much, and I am doing my very best to not overbook myself going forward. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of creative things available for doing – but I am learning that it is ok not to be “doing” all of the time. Also, I was relieve to find that the number of people visiting this blog did not go down while I was away – good news for sure!
I’ve pulled an oldie-but-goodie project today (read: made last year and sat in the mending pile until last month!). This also happens to be Thread Riding Hood’s 499th post – wow! I think I will do a little pdf pattern giveaway next week for the 500th. Crazy that I’ve written that much! I am so grateful for each and every one of you for coming back post after post.
Last year around this time, my youngest had an end-of-the-year school presentation for her junior-kindergarten class. Her teacher had chosen to act out Eric Carle’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar – and worked for months on the project I’m sure. It was so cute! Little 4 and 5 year old’s each being one of the foods in the story, while a “caterpillar” ate them up. My daughter was chosen to be a narrator (ie. “read” some of the book) and she was SO proud! How could I not sew something for her to wear? Of course this happened the night before the presentation, as usual!
I’ve always loved No Big Dill’s Once Upon a Thread series, so making clothing based on a book seemed natural. Eric Carle’s design style is amazing. I love the illustrations in his books. He paints onto paper and then cuts it out to create each shape. I figured I could sew up another Potato Chip Skirt and do something with random fabric piecing. Turns out it works great!
I left all of the edges raw to make my life easier – but since they are fused to the skirt they haven’t frayed too much so far. The button caterpillar was based on this idea for a onesie that I found. Instead of embroidering the antennae I used a paint pen for them.
I tried to photographed the skirt while my daughter was on her way out the door to school. (Explaining the different photos in this post.) Here begins the adventure that has lasted a year. Sending a 4 year old to kindergarten in a white skirt required a trip through the wash. In the wash one of the sun’s rays fell off. The skirt then landed in the middle of a giant mending pile.
I finally found my embroidery floss a month or so ago and stitched each fabric piece onto the skirt. Now she can wear it whenever she wants – thank goodness. Turns out she’s talking about bugs right now in school – it’s perfect, like I might have planned it even. (Our little secret, right?!)
I am still so happy with the results – despite being terrified to let her wear a white skirt. Really, if I could I would love to frame it – but she wants to wear it, so that will have to wait. Kinda makes me want to sew up a giant one as a baby quilt though…. The only thing I was a bit sad about was not piecing in the smiling sun face – but that would have been a bit over the top for a “the night before” project!
What crazy last-minute (or not!) projects have you made lately?
by Sherri Sylvester | May 22, 2016
I’ve spent the last few weeks slowly getting into gear and planning the next few months of blog posts. So many things to share! I think I could schedule posts until November if I wanted to. I’ve also been cleaning house here – literally – and donating/organizing and re-organizing our spaces.
I’ve been taking stock of things here on the blog as well and doing my best to make good on long-promised tutorials. Today I’ve written a tutorial on how to transition a summer short-sleeved dolman top pattern for spring/fall.
This tutorial will show you how to draft a longer sleeve addition for any dolman top. I LOVE 3/4 length sleeves in the spring and fall – and this tutorial works great for those and for adding length for long sleeves. I’ve seen sleeve additions like this showing up in ready-to-wear dolman sleeve clothing a lot as well. It’s great alternative to cutting long sleeves directly with the bodice of a dolman top, since you can save fabric by cutting the longer sleeve piece separately.
I wear the first Seafarer Top I made with longer sleeves (above) all the time. It is my most-worn handmade top by a long shot. I think the reason is it’s versatile colour (gray!) and also that the fabric is really easy to wash and wear. The silver and cream striped top I made for this post (below) is not likely to get the same treatment. Unfortunately the fabric I purchased washed up scratchy and clingy – not sure it will last long in my closet. I did widen the neckline by cutting two front pieces (on purpose!) instead of a front and a back to make a super comfy larger neck opening. I’m excited to find some better quality fabric and repeat that in my next version.
You can use any dolman sleeve pattern as a base for drafting this sleeve addition. I have used the kid size dolman Skipper Top from Sew Much Ado because the pattern pieces are smaller and easier to photograph. (Find the women’s Seafarer here.) You can also easily draft and sew your own Dolman Sleeve Top using a well fitting tee.
Draft the Dolman Sleeve Length Addition Pattern Piece
Materials:
- paper
- ruler
- marker
- pattern weights (or heart shaped rocks!)
- any dolman sleeve pattern
This tutorial is written for pattern pieces with seam allowances included. The new sleeve addition will have added seam allowances as well, except where noted. Mark and fold back the seam allowance along the sleeve opening of your pattern. Note the seam allowance for your particular pattern and use this throughout this tutorial.
Step 1: Measure the wearer’s arm or an existing tee to find your desired sleeve length. Keep in mind that this method adds to the length of your pre-existing dolman sleeve. The lengthening starts AFTER the sleeve, not at the shoulder where a normal sleeve would start. Also, if your pattern calls for sleeve bands instead of hemming, make sure to shorten your desired additional length accordingly, leaving a seam allowance on end of sleeve where the band will be sewn.
Step 2: Draw a line 90 degrees from top of shoulder/sleeve to your desired length. (A)
Step 3: Decide how wide the end of the sleeve needs to be to fit around your arm. Divide this measurement by 2 and add your seam allowance. Draw this measurement as a line 90 degrees down. (A) to (B).
Step 4: Draw line (C) connecting (B) to the bottom of the original pattern’s sleeve opening.
Step 5:Add the sleeve opening seam allowance.
- Unfold the seam allowance on your original pattern piece.
- Mark seam allowances at top and bottom as ((D) and (E)
- Mark the edges of your drafted sleeve addition as (F) and (G)
- Place the original pattern right side down on the new sleeve addition matching pints (D) and (F) and points (E) and (G).
- Trace the bottom seam allowance – from points E and G to the edge – and then trace the sleeve opening as line (H).
- Remove the pattern piece and connect line A to line H with a 90 degree corner.
Step 6: Label your pattern piece with all the necessary information and mark the “Cut on fold” line.
Determining new sleeve band size (if applicable): Sleeve band width is the same as the hem band width. Measure double the final width of the new sleeve opening (A) to (B). Double this measurement to determine the final width. Remove about 1/4″ of this width to get the new width for the sleeve band. Since all knits stretch differently, this is only a guide. Use your judgement as to how tight you want the final sleeve band to be.
Example : Sleeve Opening = 9″ (includes seam allowance), remove 1″ (1/2″ seam allowance on each side) = 8″ final width. Remove 1/4 of 8 = 6″ width. Add the seam allowances back in 6+ 1″ (1/2″ seam allowance on each side) to get a 7″ final width.
How to Sew the Dolman Sleeve Length Addition
Materials:
- sleeve length addition pattern piece, drafted above
- dolman tee pattern
- fabric (you may need extra to account for the longer sleeve)
- general sewing things
Step 1: Follow your pattern to the step where both shoulders are sewn together.
Step 2: Line up the long sleeve addition right sides together with the original sleeve, matching the sleeve openings.
Step 3: Sew the seam with the original pattern’s seam allowance. Serge/finish the edges and press the seam allowance towards the new sleeve.
Step 4:Finish your tee as indicated in your pattern.
I hope you enjoy your tee! Check out more tutorials like this on the tutorials tab above, or follow along to keep track of new projects!
