Fingerprint Fun!

Belle and I have been doing lots of "projects" together this week. Our most recent adventure was into the world of fingerprint art. We started with WASHABLE stamp pads (left over from my former life as a teacher) and some plain white paper. I fold several paper towels into a square pad and got it really wet. We used the paper towels to clean our fingers off before we switched colors. Belle had fun dotting fingerprints all over her paper. Then we decided to try putting some dots together to make critters. Belle stamped the dots and I added to embellishments. I even managed to get a new logo for Belle + Bee out of the project.

Nest step - iron-ons! I've never used printable iron-on transfers before, but I thought this was worth a shot. My plan is to create an iron-on of Belle's caterpillar and transfer it to a tee for her. And if that works, Belle + Bee designs may even begin featuring a bee logo on each item...

I'll be sure to share a pic if the tee comes out well!

Tank Dress Tutorial

The main idea with these dresses is that you can repurpose tanks and tees that are too short, have a stain, etc. With the version in this tutorial, you can even make use of that extra 1/4 of a yard of fabric you have left over from some other project. Did I do that? Of course not:) I ordered fun fabric, scoured the town for just the right tank, and picked out the perfect complementary fabric. But, the point is...you COULD do it the greener more frugal way!

Now on to the tutorial...

If you are one of those people who needs a pattern piece to trace and exact measurements before you start cutting, you can just stop reading right now. That's not the way I operate, and it surely isn't the way this tutorial is written...Sorry! But, if you can roll with it and are comfortable with ball-park measurements, then read on for a super-simple outline of how to create your own cutie-pie dress. Basic sewing knowledge is helpful with this tutorial. I didn't write out every minute detail. If you've never sewn before and want more details just let me know and I will be happy to create a more detailed tutorial with pics:)

1. Select your tank/tee. Try it on!!!! Then mark where you want the skirt to be attached. You can have it high like an empire waist, at the natural waist, or even low like a drop waist...totally up to you. Add 1/2 an inch to the length of the tee for seam allowance, draw a line across the tee, and cut off the bottom.

2. Try it on again. Measure from the bottom of the tee to the point where you want the skirt to hit on your leg (or your child's leg). If you're planning to add a ruffle, then measure to where you want the main section of the skirt to hit (about 3 inches above the bottom of the skirt). Add 1 inch to the measurement for seam allowances. This new number will be the length of skirt you need to cut. Let's pretend you want the skirt to be 14 inches long plus a 3 inch ruffle. Add an inch to the 14 and you will need to cut 15 inches of fabric for the skirt.

3. You will use pretty much the entire width of the fabric for kid-sized skirts regardless of size. Cut the length you measured in step 2. Our pretend skirt is now 15 inches long by 44 inches wide (you used the entire width of fabric, remember?). At this point you can adjust how puffy the skirt will be by trimming the width of the skirt. If you want it to really puff out then use the full 44 inches. Want it a little less puffy? Cut a few inches off. I cut about 3 inches off the width of the cow fabric for the skirt in the picture. [Adult-size skirts may need to be wider than 44 inches...you'll need to cut two pieces and combine them to get the flounce you want.]

4. Fold the skirt in half with right sides together. Sew the short ends together and reinforce with a tight zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. You now have a giant tube. If you are not adding a ruffle, then you will need to hem the bottom of the skirt at this point.

5. Ruffle - Cut two strips of fabric that are 44 inches long by 3.5 inches wide. Sew the ends of the two strips right sides together to create another giant tube of fabric. Hem the ruffle.

6. Gathering - Using the longest stitch length on your machine, sew around the top of the skirt. Then sew around the top of the ruffle. DO NOT BACKSTITCH OR OVERLAP STITCHES. Pull the top thread of the ruffle to gather it. You want to make it the same size as the bottom of your skirt. Do not gather the skirt yet!

7. Sew the top edge of the ruffle to the bottom edge of the skirt with right sides together. Reinforce raw edges with tight zagzag stitch. (If you own a serger, I am assuming you aren't still reading this tutorial, but obviously you could serge all these raw edges too.)

8. Gather the top edge of the skirt until it is the same size as the bottom edge of the tank/tee. Sew the skirt to the tee with right sides together. Finish raw edges with a tight zigzag stitch.

9. Top-Stitching - I like to topstitch my ruffles so they lay better. To do this, flip the ruffle down and run a straight seam on the top side of the skirt, approximately 1/8 inch above the skirt/ruffle seam. Do not do this on the tank or you will have stretch problems when you try to put it on.

A NOTE ABOUT GENERAL MEASUREMENTS: The skirt is about twice as wide as the tank/tee. The ruffle is about twice as wide as the skirt. That's how you get the flounce. Adjust the ratio for more or less flounce.

Happy Mother's Day to Me:)

I NEVER sew for myself. NEVER! Who has time when you have 2 adorable little girls to make things for??? But I made an exception just this one time...

AND I LOVE IT! Of course, I used insanely cheap fabric. I don't bat an eye at buying $10/yd. fabric for my girls, but couldn't dream of doing the same for myself. The $2.99 stuff will just have to do:)

Tutorial for these super simple dresses coming soon...

Crafting for Others

With only 3 days until market day, things are a little crazy around here! But, I have found a few websites that allow you to put your crafting skills to good use. Craft Hope and the Red Scarf Project are just 2 ways that you can give back while still enjoying the process of creation. I've added links to both of these project sites to the blog. I would love to link to other similar sites, so if you know of or come across any, please let me know.

Looking forward to the market, but also can't wait until May 2 when I can get back to sewing for my girls and possibly getting started on a red scarf or two!

A Sweet and Simple Apron

A friend of mine asked for some helping making aprons as gifts. Once upon a really long time ago, I had found a "pattern" for making aprons from kitchen towels. I unearthed the resulting Christmas apron and set to work updating the design. The result of this new "pattern" is so simple and absolutely adorable. The directions are below. They are so easy to follow you will be cooking up a new apron in no time (the puns are a little over-the-top, but I'm feeling silly today).

1. Select a thin kitchen towel. The towel will hang horizontally, so choose a print that will look good hanging that way. The thinner the towel, the easier it will be to sew. Choose 1 or 1.5 inch wide grograin ribbon to coordinate with your towel.

2. Set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length and run a seam line down the long side of the towel, about 1/2 an inch from the edge (I ran mine just inside the hemmed edge).

3. Pull the top threads to gather the towel until it is between 16 and 18 inches in length. You can gather as much or as little as you want to fit your waist. I like mine to hit just outside my hips.

4. Cut a length of ribbon for the tie. It will take at least 60 inches, but you can cut it longer to fit if you would like. Pin the ribbon to the towel so that the towel is centered on the ribbon and a small ruffle of towel is visible above the ribbon (see pic).

5. Sew the ribbon and towel together along both the top and bottom edges of the ribbon. Sew the ends of the towel to the ribbon as well.

6. Use a lighter to heat seal the ends of the ribbon. Hold the end of the ribbon close to, but not touching the flame until you see the edges begin to fuse together.

You could also add pockets, ruffles or other trimmings to make your apron a unique creation.

Just Couldn't Wait...

My crochet hooks were getting really jealous! And after all that yearning for yarn, I just had to scratch the itch:)

I took Belle and Bee to the "projects" store, as Belle calls it. We had a specific mission...more ribbon for dresses. How we ended up with a new crochet pattern book in the cart is still a mystery! I guess Tasty Crochet by Rose Langlitz was just too appetizing.

So late last night, when my fingertips were just too sore to sew another stitch, I dusted off the hooks and made a couple of sweet little toys. A plump strawberry and a juicy carrot will make the perfect little gift sets with the onesies I have in the inventory box. A small silver lunch pail completes the meal. Next mission: A picnic set of foods perfect for a sunny afternoon tea party!

Looking Forward to Home-Spun Fun!

If you love to knit or crochet and are not a member of the Lion Brand website, it is a must! With your FREE membership you receive two catalogs per year and endless online patterns. My first catalog came today and it is packed with tons of new project ideas. I spent over an hour (when I should have been sewing for the upcoming market) perusing its pages, circling my favorites, and printing the "must-trys". On tap for my post-market days: baby blocks, tote bags, cowl scarves, baby cardis, a beautiful sampler blanket, and so much more. After the winter we had, I never thought I would be longing for cold weather again, but I love to crochet on frosty nights.

Be sure to check out www.lionbrand.com to collect project ideas of your own. And if anyone knows how to knit and wants to give lessons...that's on my to-do list too:)

Here's that throw I'm yearning to start...