Winter Hats

Hobby Lobby and Joann's have had 99 cent patterns sales in the last couple weeks, so be prepared to see a lot more pattered pieces!  This week, I wanted to make my first sewn hat.  I have been knitting for a few years now, but can't ever commit to buying really nice yarn, so my hats tend to look cheap.  So I thought, what better way to make fun hats then with my new best friend, fleece?

Price Breakdown:

Fleece from remnant pile:  Free
Thread                                      
FREE!

I started with Pattern M6213 from McCalls.  I really liked the hat in the upper left corner.  It was hard not to make leg warmers while I was at it, but they will come later, I am sure!

I started out making my brim by sewing the two pattern pieces, RS together.

I then sewed my two facing pieces, RS together on the only straight edge, on what will turn into the back and sides of my hat.

Next, I sewed the facing pieces to the brim of my hat by pinning them RS together and sewing them to the brim and then placing a top stitch on the RS of the hat.

Next, I created darts for the first time, which created the rounded look at the top of the hat.  I will admit that I did them incorrectly the first time and ended up taking out 4 rows of stitching...a very frustrating moment!  This is what they should look like when they are done.

With the WS out, I pinned the crown of my hat to the facing and brim.  Be sure to try the hat on before stitching this step.  I ended up making the hat too small for Sadie, and had to take out seams for a second time on this project and resew for the correct fit.

Last, turn your hat RS out and pull the seams along your darts until they are visible.  Stitch over these for extra hold.

So, just how cute is this hat?  See below:

Every set of footie jammies needs a cool hat!

My First Jacket

So I made my first jacket this week - in fleece.  The great thing about fleece is that it is extremely forgivable!  It can stretch and be worked over and over again and still looks great when it is complete!  Unfortunately, I don't have a bunch of how-to pics because I was taking the class at JoAnn's.  I promise to make another one soon though and add some step-by-step info along the way.  Here is the price breakdown.  This jacket was pricier to make the first time around due to the fact that I couldn't find patterns on sale.

$12.00 Fleece
$8.00 Pattern
$1.99 Lightweight Interfacing
thread
button (from my button stash)        
$21.99

This jacket can be made extremely inexpensive the next time around because I already have the pattern and fleece is always on sale!

I started out with Simplicity Pattern 4032.  I felt that this pattern was extremely easy to use and was great for a first timer!  I made the one in the middle.  I hope to do the first view in corduroy soon!

And this is what it looked like when it was complete.  Again, sorry for the lack of pictures...but I worked on something else this week...maybe I will post it soon!

Easy Pocket Scarf

This project is great and SUPER DUPER easy!  Price and materials breakdown:

Fun Fleece  $3.99/yd (I barely used any of it, so I need to find a new project for the rest)

Thread

Buttons (I already had a stash)          

Total: $3.99

My super cute fabric

First, cut your fleece down to scarf size.  Mine was 60 inches long, while I made Sadie's 48 inches.  

 

Measure the scarf 8 inches wide and cut, cut, cut.

Fold the ends of your scarf into a triangle, both facing down and pin.

Sew, sew, sew.  Leave the top of the triangle open, as this is your pocket.

My awesome yellow thread

Add on some funky buttons for fun.

Is anyone else as excited about winter as I am???

Fat Quarter Purse

Sew Mama Sew!, a blog that caught my attention a few weeks ago, had a tutorial on Fat Quarter purses and I thought it would be super fun to make one.  This purse is great because it is extremely cost effective and easy to make.

Here is the cost breakdown:

$1.99 fabric quarter
$1.50 yard of interfacing
$.68 remnant of muslin (which I only used a quarter of!)
$ 2.50 purse handle
thread________________
$6.67


I pretty much followed this blog's instructions to the T since I hadn't ever made a bag.

• First I cut two inches of fabric off the side of my quarter for my handles.
• Then, I cut the rest of my quarter in half.

• I ironed my pieces so they could be pretty and flat.
• I sewed my 2 inch piece together with the RIGHT sides facing one another.  I then cut the piece into 4 equal pieces and turned them back right side out.

• I pulled the 4 straps through my handles and put them aside for later.

• Next, I cut two pieces of muslin (for my lining) and 4 pieces of fusible interfacing (which gives the bag strength) the same size as one of my fabric pieces.
• Next, I applied fusible interfacing to the back of each my fabric and muslin.  This involved an iron and damp cloth.  Note:  Do not iron on the kitchen table even if you have a towel underneath it.  You will leave heat marks and have to explain to your husband.

• After my interfacing dried, I pinned my handles to the RIGHT side of my fabric.  The length that you leave exposed at the end of the hem will depend on how long you want the straps to your handle to go.

• Next, I pinned my muslin to the same side, covering the handle and RIGHT side of my fabric.  I stitched this hem 4 times, since the I blog I was learning from explained that this was a big stress point for the bag.  Use the zipper foot for this step, so that you can get closer to your handle.

Zipper Foot

Regular Foot

• After both of my handles were stitched on, I pinned my RIGHT sides together and my muslin together.  Your handles should be in between your pieces of fabric.

•  Stitch every side except for what will be the bottom of your lining.  Turn your bag right side out.

•  I tucked the edges of my lining under and pinned them together to sew them shut.  My tutorial blog recommended sewing the lining all but 4 inches while it was still inside out and them hand stitching it shut, but my hand sewing skills are way below par.  I think I liked the way the other blog looked better though and will try it that way next time.

•  I tucked my lining in and Viola!  My first Fat Quarter purse!

My First Project

This week I decided to work on an idea I was inspired by at the Crescent Hill 4th of July Festival.  The concept is to take a man's button up shirt and convert it to a toddler dress.

Price breakdown:

$2.99 Pattern
$3.00 Shirt from Margaret's Consignment
thread                   
$5.99 

• First, I took out my seam ripper and took off the long sleeves.
• Then, I used Simplicity Pattern 4927 to make a simple A line toddler dress

• I changed the back of the shirt to be the front of the dress so the cute pleats would show.

• I made the buttons (front of the men's shirt) into the back of the dress by sewing the buttons closed.

• I used my seam ripper to take the pocket off.  I reattached it to the middle of the dress and sewed down the middle of the pocket to create a double pocket.

• I am not super experienced yet, but I did sew around the collar and arm cuffs to complete them.  The pattern said you could use ribbon around the arm cuff to cover the raw edge, but I liked how simple this dress was.

 Enjoy!