Tutu Tutorial

 Next on list of Christmas gifts to make is tutus for my husband's niece and for our little Sweet pea. I had made Sweet pea one for her Halloween costume this year and thought both girls would love to have one.

You'll need 3/4" elastic
thread to attach elastic together
tulle, I bought mine at Hobby Lobby in the spool

I used 1/2 spool of pink, purple and green for the one I made (for a 27" waist) , and 1/2 spool of pink  and purple for the smaller one ( a 17" waist).

First measure the waist of the girl the tutu is for, cut the elastic 2" smaller than her waist. (the elastic will stretch as it is being made) Sew the ends of the elastic together.

Next cut all the tulle into 21" strips. Both of the tutus I made are for very short people so add some inches if it is for a taller child. If your not using the tulle on the spool cut the tulle into 5 1/2"x 21" strips.

 I stretched the elastic band on the back of a chair while I tied on the strips of tulle. Take one strip and fold in half making a loop. Hold the loop behind the elastic (as in picture) and thread the ends of the tulle strip through the loop, pull tight.

 If using different colors, alternate the way around. Fluff the tulle when all of it has been added to the elastic.

 Now you have a pretty little tutu perfect for twirling in!

More Super Hero Capes!

 I finished up my three boys capes yesterday night after they went to bed. I made them all different colors this time. To make the bottom of the J I traced around a bowl and used a ruler to make the top of it. I used a bowl also to make the G . All the capes made up pretty quickly, I worked on them some two nights in row.

 Here is the little boy who wants one so bad!  (He is wearing his cousin's here so I could take pictures of it.) They all have told me they really want one. I know all three boys will be so surprised on Christmas morning!

Super Hero Cape

 For Christmas I made my husband's nephew, who is 2,  a super hero cape. (my model here is my youngest son). I am going to make my three boys one too but it will have to be late night when they are sleeping. ;)
I used a old cape from a Halloween costume from a few years ago as my pattern. The bottom of the cape measures 20 1/2" before sewing together and tappers down to 8" at the neck with a hole cut out 3 1/2" for the neck.  ***sew with 1/4" seam allowance***


You'll need 2 yards of fabric
scraps of yellow and red
heat and bond
thread

 First cut out the cape front and back. Here I used an old cape for my pattern and added a 1/4" for seam allowance.

 Next cut out the diamond shape and the letter, I made a N for his first name initial. To made the diamond I cut out a shape 8" across by 6 1/2" long. Then measured 4 1/4" across the center top. To cut out the slants to form the diamond shape measure 3" from the top down.

Use the heat and bond to instructions on the yellow and red fabrics. Cut out the diamond shape and the letter initial. I free hand the letter but you can enlarge a font from your computer. First iron on the diamond and sew around with red thread, I used a very close zig-zag stitch.  Next iron on the letter and sew around it the same as diamond.

 Then cut out the ties for around the neck. cut two 19"x 2". Fold in half and press, sew one short end and then down the lenght. turn and press.

 Place the ties to the top of neck with the raw edges of the ties over lapping just a bit. Pin the ties in place as not to sew over them when the front and back are sewn together. Pin the front to the back with right sides together. Sew around with leaving a 4" space at the bottom open for turning. clip bulk around neck. Turn and press.

 Stitch the opening at the bottom up and around the whole cape with 1/8" seam allowance.  That's it and your done! A super hero cape any little boy would love!

Happy sewing!  linking up to:

Leg Warmers

 I have seen a ccouple of leg warmer tutorials on different blogs and have wanted to make some for a time. As I was walking through Wal-mart yesterday I seen the cutest socks and had to have them!

 All I did was cut the foot part off and the middle of the foot part off (for the bottom cuff).

 Fold over the part for the cuff, but wrong sides together. ( in the picture I had it folded wrong!,lol) Then sew on the bottom of the sock where it was cut. Fold over and it's done!!

 How cute is this. :) And so easy and quick to make! 

Happy Sewing!!

Chenille Toddler Scarf Tutorial

 With Christmas coming I am now starting to make gifts. I made a chenille scarf for my husband's niece, (she is 3 years old.) I used  a very soft flannel to keep her warm and to make it better I had all the fabric at the house that I needed to make her and Sweet pea both one.

You will need:
 flannel, binding and thread. (sew with a 1/4" seam allowance)

 First cut out 4 strips of the flannel, cut them 39"x 4 1/2". One piece will be the back and the other three will be made into the chenille.

 Layer them all together, all three pieces of flannel for the chenille are layered with right side on wrong side together. (all the print in facing up). Then place the on top of the backing piece with wrong sides together. Pin in place. With a ruler in the middle of the fabric measure a 6" angle as shown in the picture. Mark with a fabric marker.

 On this line strait stitch all four layers togehter. Now strait stitch all the way across with a 1/4" between each line.Flip over and stitch down with a 1/4" all the way down to the end.

 Next cut between each sewn line, this will make the chenille.

Mark out your round courners and cut out. Sew the binding around the whole edge of the scarf.

 Now to make the chenille, wash and dry the scarf, as soon as you pull it out of the dryer it is ready to go!

Linking up to Train to Crazy

Advent Christmas Stockings

Here is our Advent calender, I just finished it tonight. I have been wanting to make one for a couple of years but didn't have the time. (I was working full time and then some.) I thought last night "how cute would it be to make an advent calender with mini stockings". I had all the fabric I needed at the house so I didn't have to go buy any.

Here is what you'll need:

About 2 1/2 yards of main fabric

scraps of fabric for the cuff

1 spool of 1/4" white ribbon

1 sheet of red felt

mini stocking for pattern

thread

sew with a 1/4" seam allowance

Step 1: trace around the stocking, adding a 1/4" seam allowance for sewing. You will 4 pieces for each stocking; the front, back, and two for the inside liner. Cut 24 sets of stocking out. I folded my fabric in half twice so I cut out one whole stocking at a time. (the one fold at center then the salvage at the other end, then fold again.)

This is what it will look like when you get them cut out.

 Step 2: cut out the numbers from the red felt, 1 through 24. I drew on the felt with my fabric marker free hand then cut them out. Sew all the numbers onto the stockings. I used my sewing machine.  

 Step 3: layer the stocking front and back with right sides together. Layer the lining of the stocking with right sides together. Now stack them on top of each other. pin in place, stitch.

Turn right side out by separating the front of the stocking from the back. When you turn the lining of the stocking seams will be in the middle of the stocking with the seams of the front and back of the stocking. ( see photo below) Continue until all 24 are stitched together.

Step 4: to cut the cuff for the stocking, cut out a piece of fabric 3 1/2" wide. Next measure it against the stocking with adding a 1/4" seam allowance for sewing and cut out. Sew the cuff into a circle band then fold in half with wrong sides together and press in place.

 Step 5: cut the ribbon 4" long. Place the cuff into the inside of the stocking with raw edges together, now place the ribbon between the cuff and the stocking, pining into place. sew around. turn cuff to the outside of the stocking. repeat for the rest of the stockings. Now you are done!

 Here is what the top/ inside of the stocking will look like finished, no raw edges or seams.

I hung mine from the mantle with a thin garland. Each stocking has a treat and a Bible verse inside.

Happy Sewing!Linking up to Tea Rose Home

Sew Much Ado