pretty paper. true stories. {and scrapbooking classes with cupcakes.}

Oh, this glorious sunshine may have done crazy things to my head. Like how when someone said ‘I challenge you to DIY a special Jubilee party dress with only things you have on hand’, because I immediately thought oh yes, why of course! Then immediately wondered what on earth I would have on hand that could make something so very jubilant indeed. Sadly I didn’t have a giant supply of old union flags on hand, which might have been a more obvious choice, but it does mean you will be spared any sort of Spice Girls influence in patriotic dress sense. Instead, a bit of blue, red and black to make something for the Jubilee Street Party at The Making Spot. And to be worn on Jubilee weekend, of course, whilst the entire country tries to set a new world record for simultaneous barbecue cooking.

In terms of supplies, I rummaged up one failed dress attempt, which had been added back to my fabric stash, still half-finished, plus one plain black t-shirt from my wardrobe. That, plus thread and elastic, made the dress – no buttons, zips or facings. But all that had zero red involved, so the red cardi came from my wardrobe and I’m thinking that by just adding red in the accessories, it’s a dress I can wear in a non-patriotic way too.

It’s hard to tell from a photo, but it’s a dress rather than a skirt and top. But I started with a process of making the skirt, salvaging something between an a-line and a circle skirt from the original pieces of the abandoned sewing project from years ago. Using a running stitch on the longest setting, I basted a trial waistline and gathered the thread to see how it would look… and this sort of make-do-and-try-it-on is pretty much how I sew. It’s a little different to following directions, but I find I understand what I’m doing a bit better and therefore get less frustrated than when I follow a pattern with something not completely obvious. This stitch is just to see how the pleats and gathers will work, so I usually sew it in a contrasting colour to make it a bit easier to work with – and easier to find when I take it out later! Once the trial gathers were working just about right, I pressed the top edge back to get a clean crease at the top, then swapped out the thread in the bobbin for elasticated thread and stitched all the way around the gathered skirt three times, holding that top hem in place with the same stitches that secured all the gathering. The result is a simple skirt with a bit of flare to the length and a super stretchy waist.

The top part of the dress started as just a plain t-shirt , but the cut was far too boxy to suit a dress, so I took it in with three darts – one on each side to taper in the waist and another at the back of the neck, as the neckline didn’t hang very well, which was how it ended up in my pile of ‘cut this up and sew it into something else’ clothes. And everything is both better and more 1952 with a peter pan collar, so presto! There are lots of templates and tutorials for adding a collar to a top, and some make it look complicated and others don’t. I had a look at them and then decided I mostly needed to make a template that would be the right length from the front of the collar to the centre point at the back. As the collar is made from a non-stretchy material sewn to a stretchy jersey t-shirt, the collar needs to be two pieces, so it’s still possible to get it over one’s head. (I hate it when I don’t think of those things and I make something that can’t physically be worn. I am particularly ace at knitting hats that look really cute on the needles but have one or two rows of intarsia so tight you can’t stretch it over your head. It’s a talent, I tell you.) So anyway: paper template to find the right length from the front to the back on one side, then a bit of playing to get the rounded part right.

Folding the fabric up so two sides are pattern up and two sides are pattern down, then it’s just a case of cutting all four layers at once to make four identically shaped collar pieces.

I cut outside the pattern to create a seam allowance. It turned out I didn’t need to do this really and my collar is a bit on the extreme size. So keep that in mind, I think: collars could do with being slightly smaller than one might expect.

Pair the pieces, with right sides facing in. Cut a few little slices at the very edges of the curves so it won’t pucker. Sew almost around all the edges – leave a spot on the short straight edge open so they can be turned inside out. Then press them out, including folding in that unstitched spot, and top stitch around all the collar edges.

Then stitch it to the edge of the t-shirt – easy as that. Try the shirt on with the skirt and mark where you want the two to meet. I started out thinking the skirt should sit at a natural waist line, but in the end it looked more like a party dress with the waistline raised a bit. It’s not quite empire height, but it’s a couple inches higher than my actual waist. Oh – and that top edge of the skirt! Because there are no zips or buttons, the gathers create a quite bulky top edge, so I stitched it to the outside of the top rather than putting the two right sides together and stitching around. Either would be easy enough, but this has a cute texture with that top edge of the skirt, I think!

But of course it was still very blue and black at this point, so some red to accessorise for all things jubilee! I was going to wear red shoes as well but remembered I bought this pair of blue platform sandals at the end of last summer for a big day out and then it absolutely bucketed with rain that day so I couldn’t bring myself to wear them and ruin them, of course! Bonus of brand new shoes just waiting for this summer then – and they match perfectly. Plus every party dress needs a petticoat, right? At least in honour of 1952. I don’t have a red petticoat. I do have black, white and pink. That’s perfectly acceptable in 2012, right?

Fancy some more jubilee-themed fun? The Making Spot are hosting a street party right on the interwebs, so check out this post for plenty more projects! They also have a special offer of half off crafting patterns this weekend as part of the celebration, if you fancy something to knit or stitch. (I quite like this to pop in a frame above my sewing machine, but I haven’t the slightest idea when I would get it finished!) Or you might find a little jubilee inspiration here with this ridiculously easy bunting tutorial or five ideas with bunting including gift wrap, cakes, party decor and papercrafts!

Have a beautiful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

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Apparently I decided this album needed a little something. Or it was cold. So I stitched it a quilt from fabric paper. I’m sure that makes total and complete sense, right?

I love log cabin quilt designs because they are so quick and simple and just a little bit mathematical, getting the pieces lined up so it all looks at once random and orderly. Plus I keep meaning to use this slightly older stack of Dear Lizzy fabric paper, so this seemed like the answer. I cut all the fabric paper into two-inch strips then pieced it together on a sheet of kraft cardstock, and when the square was complete, I machine stitched it in that spiral-box until my eyes were crossed! The edges seemed too harsh on the album, so I cheated and added a bit of crocheted trim around the edges, then fancied up a tag for the title. It’s all stuck to the front of a 12×12 American Crafts album with copious amounts of double-sided tape.

I’m guessing the tag will eventually be worse for wear, but the quilt is flat so it should be fine, provided I don’t do something stupid like pour my coffee all over it. (You laugh, but I did that to myself today so it seems entirely possible.)

There’s a quilter’s step-by-step for the log cabin design here, if you fancy giving it a go!

I hope you’re having a lovely week so far. What is everyone working on?

xlovesx

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In school, the biggest sewing project I had to complete was a set of pockets designed to hold a reading book, notepad and pen on the edge of a bed by tucking a long tail of the pocket beneath the mattress. A nifty idea, perhaps, but it was ironing rectangles of fabric and sewing them together, and I can’t say I’d ever sat in bed really searching for a place to keep my reading book. So when a reader emailed me recently to say her daughter wanted to learn to sew things for herself but was finding her school sewing lessons a bit less than inspiring, I totally understood. She is thirteen and just getting to grips with the sewing machine, so I thought this might be a good starting project, as turning an old t-shirt into a new skirt is super easy, and you don’t even need elastic or a zipper. All you need is the shirt, plus scissors, thread, iron and sewing machine (or needle and patience). Plus an optional second piece of fabric for the waist of the skirt, if you prefer a contrast trim. In case it’s useful for you or someone you know, I’m posting it here too!

A few Sunday reminders: There are two giveaways that close tonight: the butterfly prize pack from Jenni Bowlin and the Acrylic Photo Block from your own picture. Today is also the last day to enter to win prizes for April’s 4×6 Photo Love challenge both here and at Two Peas. And you can vote or play along with Scrap Factor over at UKScrappers. Who knew it was such a busy day in the crafty world?! And now, on to the ridiculously easy skirt!

You’ll need a t-shirt to start. I had this shirt that has been bothering me – the very first time I wore it, tiny holes started to appear in the fabric. Clearly I fell for a bargain price that wasn’t actually a bargain. But all the holes were at the very top of the shirt, so it seemed something could be done from the rest of the fabric. Make do and mend, as it were! Start by making sure the work surface is clean (which seems obvious, but I can’t be the only person in the world you might have inked or misted on the same surface where they lay out their fabric? Oh. Maybe it is just me.) and iron the shirt to make it easier to cut and sew.

Cut straight across the shirt, right under the arms, so now you have a tube with an unfinished top edge. Go try it on. The bigger the shirt, the looser the skirt will be, of course. Unless you’re sewing this for someone quite young, you’ll probably find the top edge of the skirt is way too loose for the waist, even if it fits at the hips. Make a note of roughly how much you need to take in by pulling the fabric at the sides and marking the spot that would make it fit.

Then take the skirt off, turn it inside out and sew a diagonal line on both side seams that will take it in to a good size for the waist. You don’t want to make this too tight, since you’ll need to get the skirt on and off without a zipper (we’re going to add a tie to keep it snug while it’s on). Try it on again to see if it’s a good fit. If not, rip out those stitches and sew again. When you’re happy with the fit and you’re sure these stitches are secure, go ahead and cut off the excess fabric.

Next we’ll add a sash-styled waistband. For this, you can use a piece of contrast fabric or you can use the leftover fabric from the top of the t-shirt. You need a length that will go around your waist and tie. If a measurement will help, grab some string or ribbon and find your own waist + bow measurement! You can also decide how wide to make your waistband. The fabric will be folded in half, so cut a strip that is twice as wide as what you want. If you use a different piece of fabric, you may be able to cut this all in one strip. If you use the t-shirt leftovers or scraps of fabric, you’ll just need to patch and piece it together to make the length you need.

Fold the strip in half, right side out, and iron in a crease. You can also hem the very ends if you would like.

With the skirt and the sash right side out, find the centre of the sash and the front centre of the skirt. Pin the unfinished edges together, then pin around the edge of the skirt if you like. Jersey will curl around the unfinished edge, so either pin or go slowly while you sew to uncurl those edges.

Sew all the way around with a plain running stitch on your sewing machine. You’re sewing the unfinished edges together, right sides facing – the sash is going to fold up from this seam when you’re done. Leave an inch or two unstitched at the back centre of the skirt. That will let you pull in the waist of the skirt when you tie the sash.

Trim any loose threads and iron the waistband so the join of the two fabrics are smooth. And that’s the basic skirt done! Of course, you can further customise it with patches, bling, embroidered butterflies… whatever your style may be.

And if you have extra fabric left over from the top of your shirt? You can cut that up to create fabric flowers or an alice band or something else lovely to match your new skirt from your old t-shirt.

…and I’m not sure which is better: super easy projects or projects that work for both youngsters and grown-ups!

So… what have you been making this weekend?

xlovesx

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I have to admit I am really superstitious when it comes to baby presents, and making them or buying them or giving them too early just makes me extra nervous. Just one of those things. So with new nephew all arrived and fine and healthy and happy (yay!), I decided to have a bit of a crafty afternoon with a baby theme, including this quick and easy customisation of a onesie or babygro or whatever you prefer to call such a one-piece-garment-for-infants. For the record, spellcheck likes neither onesie nor babygro. Spellcheck is much happier with t-shirt, and should you like this idea but not have an infant available as your crafting muse, you can use the same steps to alter a t-shirt for yourself. So I figured I’d share a little how-to for this easy sewing project.

You will need the item you want to customise (onesie/babygro, t-shirt, etc), a handful of fabric scraps (soft fabrics are good), scissors and an iron. You’ll also need a sewing machine and thread, and a seam ripper and ruler may be helpful. If your fabrics are creased, be sure to iron everything before you start.

Start by cutting your fabrics to size. I am not big on measuring, so I just cut one to suit the pattern…

…then use it as a template to cut all the other pieces.

Line up the blocks in the order you like, and make sure this strip is wider than the garment you’re going to alter (you will lose a bit of length in the seams).

With a straight running stitch, sew all the pieces in the line. When you’re sewing the blocks, the right sides of the fabrics will be facing each other and you’ll be sewing looking at the wrong side of the fabric.

When you finish that, they will all be attached but they won’t be very flat.

Turn the strip over and iron from the back, pressing the seams apart.

Presto – now the patchwork strip is flat!

This step is optional – you can omit these stitches and the patchwork will still hold together, but I prefer the extra stitching on either side of the seam. It’s just a straight running stitch like everything else, about 1/8” either side of each seam.

Double check that the length is still plenty to go across the garment. If not, add another square or two and repeat the steps for ironing and stitching. Then we can start to alter the original item.

The patchwork strip will go immediately below the point where the bottom of the sleeve joins the body of the shirt. Turn the garment inside-out and use a seam ripper or your scissors to unpick the stitches below the sleeve, using the patchwork strip as a guide for when to stop unpicking. There is usually a locked stitch or heavier stitching at the join of the arm to the side seam. If you can, avoid unpicking that stitch, so you won’t lose any strength in that stretch point. (If you do, don’t panic – you can just stitch more later.)
Repeat on the other side seam.

Triple check that you are looking at the front of the garment – it’s easy to get mixed up since it’s inside-out! When you’re sure you have the front, cut a straight line from the middle of your unpicked stitching on one side right across to the other side.

Fold the fabric back to create the size of window you want for your patchwork strip. The window should be slightly smaller than your strip, since you’ll loose a little bit either side for the seam. Press the folds flat with the iron – this will make it much easier to sew the patchwork in a straight line.

Line up the patchworked strip with the top fold, with the right sides facing each other. The edge of the patchworked strip will be in line with the crease you ironed. You can pin this if you like – I am a bit of a disaster with pins so I try to avoid them if possible! What is worth remembering is the knitted fabric will stretch and your patchwork strip won’t, so pull the knitted fabric a little bit when you sew – not lots, just a bit. Use that same plain running stitch along this whole seam.

If you flip it right-side-out after you’ve sewn that seam, you can see it’s starting to look right! But go back to inside-out for now.

Line up the bottom crease with the bottom of the patchwork strip and sew again – right sides facing each other.

Check that there are no gaps in the stitching and iron this flat. You can trim back bigger pieces of fabric and get rid of long threads at this point too.

Turn it right-side-out and check that everything looks how it should. If so…

…we need to stitch those side seams back into place. Make sure to sew backward and forward at the end of each bit of stitching, since side seams need some strength. You can pull on the shirt to see if any holes appear. If they do, sew some more!

You can leave it just like this and call that finished…

…or you can go back and repeat the stitching 1/8” either side of the seams, like before. These stitches can be a bit wobbly since you’re sewing through all those seam bits on the other side, but they are actually the seams I love, wonkiness and all. (Clearly I would be fired from a garment sewing factory. And I also keep this a secret from my neighbour who is a retired quality control inspector and kept men’s shirt collars in check for many years, apparently!)

And that’s that! Completely unnecessary in life? Yes. But also fun and super inexpensive and the whole project took under an hour. So I think that makes it okay! Especially as now I can make sure at least once in my nephew’s life, he can be clothed in both astronauts, VW Beetles and 1970s mushrooms. Yes indeed.

So have you been doing anything crafty this Sunday? Do share!

xlovesx

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