by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 3, 2016
Today I’m posting a free school-approved non-food/candy Valentine printable! (Spoiler alert for all of our neighbors!)
These supplies are easy to find, so this project comes together super-fast! The erasers were 60 pcs for $1 from Target, the clear bags were 72 for $1 from my local Dollar Store. Sewing (or stapling) them on was simple, since I needed to make more than 70 of them. And I decided to use up my almost-empty thread spools and the fancy stitches on my Janome Skyline S5. My kids happened to like the heart stitch best, so we used it a lot.
The cards are designed in 7 colour-ways. A rainbow of colours, because I have girls – and rainbows always make things amazing. #rainbowtizeeverything Plus I wasn’t sure what to do about the boys in their classes. I suppose they will live with the frilly border and girl-centered eraser choices in blue or teal green!
Make sure, when sewing paper with your sewing machine, to use an old needle and replace it right after sewing these. (You might also want to clean the inside of your machine too!)
Supplies: Small clear bags, Sewing Machine or Stapler, Thread, Small Erasers, 4×6 Photo Paper or Cardstock
Instructions: Print as many cards as you need, cut them if necessary. Place the erasers in clear bags and attach them to the cards. Write names on them and DONE!
More Valentine Tutorials, Printables & Inspiration
by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 1, 2016
Meet Teddy! This very important bear has been through a lot. Up until the moment my daughter decided he was hers, Teddy’s life was pretty standard. He sat and watched life go by and was dusted every so often. While a bit boring perhaps, it was safe.
Then my daughter took over. Now he definitely shows all the love he’s been given in the past eight years! He has patchy fur, threadbare paws and worn ears. Somewhere in him there is a hole that keeps losing those clear weighted “bean things”, but for the life of me I cannot find it. We finally hit a tipping point right before the holidays and had to put him under to fix some major structural damage.
One (very early) morning, while I was (very much) asleep, my daughter showed up beside my bed and said “Mom, look!” Bleary eyed, I looked at her holding Teddy’s body in one hand and his head in the other. Yikes! What a way to wake up!
Needless to say, I made it a priority to fix the problem before she came home from school that day. It was a surprisingly time consuming process, mostly because his head is made so it can turn. I even had to unpick his shoulder seam, harder than I thought with 8 year old fur! More than a little hand sewing and some button thread later, Teddy was back, good as new.
Some things are so important that you should drop everything and take care of them. Even when it feels like your seams are coming un-sewn and your head is falling off! If you keep your priorities straight it will all work out in the end.
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 21, 2015
Update 2020-09-17: Since Craftsy is not available anymore – please find the tutorial on the Way Back Machine by clicking the link below:
Access the FREE ONE HOUR DOPP KIT TUTORIAL here.
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Needing a super-quick gift to sew up? This project suits the manly giftee in your life perfectly! Of course, we know how hard it is to find sewing projects for men – though or course you can make it for women or kids too.
It takes only an hour, including cutting – seriously – not kidding… You start with 3 large same-sized rectangles and 2 small same-sized ones. I was so happy when I figured out how to make it fully lined, no exposed seams and fat-quarter friendly! I hope you love it too.
This project posted up on the Craftsy sewing blog last Thursday, and I was thrilled to have someone already make a few for her grandsons. Yippee! Makes my day every time I see something posted that one of you has made from a Thread Riding Hood tutorial.
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 17, 2015
I am so pleased to feature another Maker today, my mom! I grew up crafting, and sewing was a natural extension of that. I am so grateful that my mom taught me how to sew, it has been such an amazing part of my life. The freedom to create and turn fabric into something usable is my favorite!
Recently my mom opened up an Etsy shop – Out of the Sewing Box – and even more recently she showed me the dolls she is making. Each one unique with a hand-painted face and handmade clothes. I thought it would be fun to show them to you – as a change from what I’m doing all of the time. I definitely am afraid to tackle these as a project – give me a bag or clothing pattern any day! Aren’t they great?!
Thanks so much for supporting my mom! It means the world to me. Your favorites and likes are so valued and appreciated. Please visit her at Out of the Sewing Box on Etsy or check out her Facebook page. (Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!)
The girls talk most Monday evenings on Skype with my parents. (They live super far from us in Texas.) Lots of weeks my mom will show her latest creation to the girls and they will think up names for it together. So cute, and hilarious when you hear some of the names the girls come up with! My mom has puppets, some clothing items and even a book on How to Run a Blacklight Puppet Show for sale.
Another reason these dolls came up, is that my mom made each of the girls one of these 31 inch dolls for Christmas a few years ago. One of them is the doll my youngest is photographed with in the recent reversible pinafore tutorial. My girls have loved playing with them. They’ve acquired a huge wardrobe, because the dolls fit into store-bought baby clothes, even the little ones my daughters wore when they were babies. Crazy how big they have gotten!
I’m so fortunate to have a crafty family that loves to talk about whatever we happen to be making at the time! It’s especially exciting around Christmas, when we get to see what fun projects we’ve been working on. I happen to know what my mom has made for each of us (including the girls!) and they are going to make for some amazing Instagram photos on Christmas day. I can’t wait!
I hope you are having a wonderful Holiday season. And wish you more hours in the day to finish your last-minute sewing projects – especially if you tend to procrastinate like I do!
What’s up with you? How are your holiday projects coming along?
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 10, 2015
It’s a Shweshwe Holiday over here! This post is sponsored by Meerkat Sweshwe, who contacted me a while ago to see if I’d like to create something with their fabrics. I fell in love with the these red prints and we agreed they would be perfect for a holiday pinafore. (+ Come back tomorrow to find out how to sew a reversible pinafore, and hear the story of why my daughter’s doll has a matching dress!)
Before we get too far into the Pinafore tutorial – I know some of you are asking, “What exactly is shweshwe?” It’s a lot less complicated than it sounds! This fabric is 100% high quality cotton, produced in South Africa. It’s history is fascinating, and you can find out a lot more about where it came from, or get a condensed version in my earlier interview with Meerkat Shweshwe’s owner, Céleste.
This unique fabric is treated with starch, a traditional way of preserving it during long sea voyages. Depending on who you purchase it from it comes pre-washed or in it’s original state. I was curious to pre-wash it myself and my youngest and I had lots of fun doing it. The fabric started out very stiff and it smelled like a new box of crayons. First, we pre-soaked it in super-hot water, to remove the treatment. (Pushing it underwater with a wooden spoon is super fun according to the five year old!) Then I washed and dried it like I would a regular load of laundry and it came out super soft, just like any cotton fabric you’d use for a project. It is really nice to iron as well, very crisp and easy to press. And you can tell it is high quality – with a tight weave that will last. I tried to take a few before and after photos below so you can see the difference in the fabric.
Unwashed Shweshwe
Unwashed Shweshwe
Soft, Washed Shweshwe
I’m also excited to let you know that Meerkat Shweshwe just opened an online store! Their well laid out shop has large photos and lots of options. There is an opening special of 10% off everything in the store, until December 18, 2015! Use the promo code DOORCRASHER, minimum order $18 before tax and shipping.
If you ever get a chance to talk to Céleste directly take it! (at Creativ Festival maybe?) She is so passionate about these fabrics and their use, and it is so fun to talk to her because of it. You’ll have to ask her about her having a part in working to provide more jobs for South Africans by supporting the Da Gama Textile factory. I really appreciated talking to her and being able to work with fabrics that hold so much history!
This tutorial will show you how to draft Pinafore pattern pieces in any size. I will be finishing this series up tomorrow with a tutorial on how to use these pattern pieces to sew a reversible pinafore. It’s easier than you think – and my fashion-loving five year old really likes being able to choose (and change) her outfit so easily. I love the traditional look of a pinafore, and it adds extra warmth (and cuteness!) to a basic shirt/leggings in the winter.
This drafting tutorial requires a simple woven dress bodice pattern to use as a base, it works especially well with a bodice that has flutter sleeves or no sleeves. I have used the First Day Dress as my base to draft from.
This tutorial assumes your base pattern has a 1/2″ seam allowance. If your seam allowance is different, please be sure to compensate for that when drafting this pattern.
Draft the Pinafore Bodices:
- Trace the bodice front and back onto a larger sheet of blank paper. Choose a bodice size that is generous, to allow for a shirt to be worn under the pinafore. I added 3/4″ to the centre of the front bodice to allow for even more extra room.
- We are drafting an empire waist pinafore. If your base pattern has an empire waist, skip this step. If not, measure 2-3″ (+ 1/2″ seam allowance) down from the armhole along the side seam and mark the empire waist as a straight line across the front and back bodice.
- Many pinafores have a lower rounded or square front neckline. If you would like to change it, mark the changes on your pattern piece. Remember, your neckline will be 1/2″ lower than your new marking because of the seam allowance. (Pink line below.)
- The back of the pinafore is also generally cut into a v-shape, which fits well with the button closure we will be using. Mark a line from the inside of the shoulder to about 2″ up from the empire waist line. Remember the actual pinafore will be 1/2″ smaller due to the seam allowance.
- Mark the centre fold, size, cutting directions and name on each pattern piece and cut them out. The Front Bodice is cut once on the fold, the Back Bodice is cut twice.
Draft the Pinafore Skirt:The skirt pieces are large rectangles. You will need one “Skirt Front” and two “Skirt Back” pieces. Follow the steps below to find the measurements for each one.
- Skirt Front and Back Length: Measure the length of the skirt in your base pattern + the amount you removed to make the empire waist + 1″ for seam allowances and hem. Example: My base skirt length 14″ + the 4″ I removed to make the empire waist + 1″ for seams and hem = 19″ Skirt Length.
- Skirt Front Width: Measure the width of the bottom of your drafted Front Bodice, double it to account for cutting the bodice on the fold, multiply it by 1.75 to add fabric for gathering. Example: My Front Bodice width was 7 1/2″, doubled is 15″, multiplied by 1.75 = 26 1/4″ Front Skirt Width (I changed this to 26″ for easy cutting).
- Skirt Back Width: Measure the width of the bottom of the drafted Back Bodice, multiply this width by 1.75 to add fabric for gathering. Example: My Back Bodice width was 7 1/2″, multiply by 1.75 = 13 1/8″ Back Skirt Width (I changed this to 13″ for easy cutting).
- Each final measurement for the Front and Back Skirt piece = the Length by the appropriate Width. Example: My Front Skirt was 19″ long by 22 1/2″ wide. My Back Skirts were 19″ long by 11 1/4″ wide each.
Draft the Pinafore Pockets:
- I used simple square patch pockets for each side of the skirt. Decide on a size you like and add 1″ to the width and 1 1/2″ to the height for hemming. Example: My finished pockets are 4″ wide by 4.5″ high. The pattern piece is 5″ wide (4″ wide + 1″) by 6″ high (4 1/2″ high + 1 1/2″).
Hold that thought. (and those pattern pieces!) Tomorrow I’ll be back with the tutorial on how to sew the pinafore! In the meantime, check out the variety of fabrics in the Meerkat Shweshwe Shop.
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 2, 2015
I’m really happy to get to talk about Petit Oiseau, a Filles à Maman pattern today. The last time I worked with one of Mélanie’s patterns I made 5 of them! This time, since I am still recovering from having pneumonia I barely made the deadline. Thankfully I’m much better now – tired, but so relieved to feel almost normal!
Be sure you check out the huge pattern giveaway and discount below! {Disclaimer: I received this pattern as part of this blog tour. All opinions are always my own. Thanks for reading.}
I was excited to work with the shape of the Petit Oiseau shirt. It has a great, easy to sew in flounce/ruffle across the front. It’s pretty fun, the ruffle pattern piece is a spiral and when you extend it it frills perfectly without any gathers. I also love that it is a dolman style sleeve, no extra sleeve to cut and set in! It was a good opportunity to use one fabric on the back and another on the front. I’d love to try another one without the ruffle, since the seam across the front allows another fabric to be set in at the top of the shirt as well.
I also decided to add hem bands to the sleeves and the hem because I wanted to repeat the floral fabric again. I made a size 6 and lengthened the hem to a size 8. Turns out the shirt runs long, which I love! So now it is a really great length for wearing with leggings. Perfect for a cozy winter outfit. I also took in a bit under the dolman arm – my daughter tends to be pretty tiny through the body of shirts, so it equates to me making a size 4 through the chest. I tried it on my youngest and it fits her much better (though it’s way too long because she is a size 4/5 in height). Since the younger one is actually a size 6 around, the shirt sizing does run true to the measurements.
My oldest isn’t sure if she loves the gray with the purple floral. She thinks the orange, pink and purple don’t match – personal preference perhaps? And here I thought I had a winner! Either way, she wore it to school yesterday – so it can’t be that bad. Either she changed her mind, or she wore it because I’m behind on laundry since getting sick!
SUMMARY
- Sizing: This shirt is true to size through the body, and runs long in the sleeves and length. The pattern comes in sizes 12m-14, with short and long sleeves!
- Ease of Construction: The dolman sleeves make this a quick, easy sew.
- Instructions: The illustrated directions are great. I didn’t have issues with anything.
- Machine: I sewed most the seams on my regular machine and finished the edges with my serger. I only used the to sew the neck, arm and hem bands because they need a lot of stretch. You definitely don’t need a serger to make this shirt, though.
- Fun Factor: Playing with the ruffle and colour blocking makes for a unique shirt!
One lucky winner will win this amazing 21 pattern collection! Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below.
Jennuine designs (1 pattern of choice)- Petit à Petit Patterns (1 pattern of choice)- Paisley Roots (Safron dress and All spice patterns)- Jalie (1 pattern of choice)- Sofilantjes (1 pattern of choice)- Call Ajaire (1 pattern of choice)- Knot Sew Normal (1 pattern of choice)- Momma Quail Patterns (1 pattern of choice)- Duck Butt Designs (1 pattern of choice)- The Wolf and the Tree (1 pattern of choice)- Laela Jeyne Patterns (1 pattern of choice)- Kelly J Patterns (1 pattern of choice)- Golden Rippy (1 pattern of choice)- Dandelions ‘n’ Dungarees (1 pattern of choice)- FABulous Home sewn (1 pattern of choice)- Bishy Barnababes -(1 pattern of choice) Filles à Maman (3 patterns of choice). a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Petit Oiseau pattern is on sale all this week! Get it for just $6 (USD), no coupon code needed. Sale start Monday 30th and ends Friday Dec. 5th at midnight EDT.
Check out the rest of the tour!
Monday, November 30th: Call Ajaire – Needle and Ted – Paisley Roots – House of Estrela
Tuesday December 1st: Coffee and Thread – Max California – Sew Thrifty – Conversas de Hermanas
Wednesday December 2nd: Just Add Fabric – Sprouting JubeJube – Thread Riding Hood – From a Box
Thursday December 3rd: Rebel and Malice – Sew Shelly Sew – Create 3.5 – Made by Sara
Friday December 4th: A Jennuine Life – Lulu & Celeste – Sew Out of Control –Petit à Petit and Family
Thank you for reading the whole post! Join me on social media, come along for “thread ride” and don’t miss a post!
