Fingerless Mittens Tutorial

With kids running around and always needing their noses wiped or help with toys, I find myself constantly taking my gloves on and off.  So I decided to make myself some fingerless mittens and thought I'd share.  They are super easy.....here we go.

I made mine with fleece and then embellished with some jersey scraps and buttons I had around.

First, I traced my hand, adding about 1/2 inch all the way around.

I outlined a pattern with marker.  You want to leave extra at the top of the finger and thumb part since it's going to get folded over and sewn.  I made one set just leaving the raw edges and though it looks okay, it doesn't hold up well over time. 

Fleece definitely has a right and wrong side and one way stretches more.  So make sure you figure out which side is the right side and how it stretches.

Fold the fleece in half and cut 2 pieces for each mitten.  Sorry about the pink background, taking photos at night is tough!

Fold the top of the finger portion and thumb portion 1/4 inch to the wrong side and sew with a wide zig zag so that the seam will stretch. 

If you want to embellish, do it now!  Make sure you do the mirror image halves of the set.

Put the front and back together (1 embellished piece with 1 plain piece) and sew as shown.  Don't sew across the top or the thumb piece for obvious reasons :)

There you have it!  A cute pair of fingerless mittens!

Make a pair for yourself....

And for your favorite photographer friend.  Figuring how to to trace your friends' hands without them getting suspicious is the trick. 

Let me know what you come up with!
 

A New Skirt For ME!

Simplicity 2226.  I had to make some serious alterations to this pattern.  I made a muslin first which I wish I took a picture of before I put it in the trash.  The basic design is cute, but the skirt was so full it was ridiculous.  Not flattering on me at all. 

I really like the end result and love the pockets.  I used contrasting thread, but it doesn't show up too well unless you're up close.

It was a fun challenge taking pictures of myself with my tripod and remote.  The kids got involved too.

  Who says blogging isn't fun for the whole family :)




 
And, I have to give a shout out to my good friend over at Jane of all Trades.  I made this skirt after seeing her in a very similar and very cute skirt.  Imitation is the highest form of flattery! 

New Lens and a New Bag

After taking an Intro. to Digital Photography class this summer, I've been using my camera more (and exclusively in manual mode!) and have been wanting to buy a new lens. So, after much searching around, reading of reviews etc. I stopped into my local camera shop and just bought what they recommended. I am soooo happy with my new lens and thought I'd share some of my candid photos.

I am so in love with this lens, I can't say it enough. And, a new, larger, heavier lens, needs a new camera bag! I've been meaning to do this for a while, and this was just the kick in the pants I needed. I made the insert for the bag using this tutorial from Lil Blue Boo.

This cute, $30 Target purse is the new home of my camera and all my lenses.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Effect created using Selective Color action from The Coffee Shop blog.