Pattern Pouch Tutorial

Now that there are all these amazing PDF patterns out there (shameless plug, I know), you're going to need a good way to store them and keep them organized.  How about a simple, reusable pattern pouch.

Here's what you'll need to make one:
- one piece of clear vinyl, 24 by 9.5 inches (I used 12 gauge)
- one package, 1/2 wide double fold bias tape, or make your own
- one piece of hook and loop tape, sew in or stick on

Measure 13 inches from one edge and fold the vinyl back.  The top part should be 11 inches and the back should be 2 inches longer.  The 2 inch excess will be the flap.  Sew the bias tape across the top of 11 inch side of the vinyl. 

Round the corners on the flap

At the center of the bias tape, sew or adhere a strip of hook and loop tape that's about 2 inches long and cut in half lengthwise.

Take the remaining bias tape and fold one raw edge to the inside to finish it off.  Starting at the bottom of one side enclose the vinyl in the bias tape and sew all the way around.

When you get to the other side stop about an inch short of the other end and cut off the bias tape leaving about a 1 inch tail (sorry if this is confusing, I didn't realize until I put this together that I flipped it over from the previous picture).

Fold the raw bias tape edge in like before, and finish the seam.

Adhere or sew the other half of the hook and loop tape on the flap.

All done!  Fill it up with your favorite pattern!

Not just for patterns either.  Great for organizing school-work as well.

What will you put in yours?

Girls Night Out Clutch - New Pattern!

 After putting together my first PDF pattern for the Mirabelle Messegner Bag, I didn't think I'd have it in me to do another pattern.  Then one night, I went out with some girlfriends and realized all my purses are big, kid snack toting, former diaper bags.  With both kids out of diapers, it was time for a cute little, going out bag. 

So I came up with this pattern, and made a few.  Well, 5 to be exact.  The thing is, the pattern requires so little fabric and hadware that making 5 is pretty easy.  You could easily make one for every outfit!

 The size is big enough to fit your wallet, keys, phone, even some tissues, yet small enough to tuck under your arm or carry on your wrist.  The side strap attaches at the top so you can just tuck it into the purse if you don't want to use it. 

 There are so many possibilities for this bag.  I show you how to add some pretty piping along the flap.

 You can keep is simple with a beautiful print.

 You can add a chunky button to the flap.

Want to make your own?  You can buy it here, from my shop,

$7

Or if you'd rather buy it through etsy, they now offer an instant download feature as well.  Get the pattern HERE.

Add your finished bags to my Flickr group.  I love seeing what you come up with!

Pajama Day

My son's preschool does some fun activities for the month of March, the first of which is pajama day.  A great excuse to make some new PJS.  I found these great flannel prints at Joann's and used Dana's Basic Kid Pant Tutorial and Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee for the shirt.

 Dana's tutorial includes a PDF pattern that's sized at 2T-3T, but for my skinny boy was almost a 4T.  I laid a pair of his pants on top of the pieced pattern before cutting and just added a little bit to the top.  I actually made the legs a bit skinnier as well.  I've used the pattern before and remembered that the pants were a bit wide in the leg for my taste. 

 It was so great to have both these patterns right at my finger tips.  I have both size ranges for Rae's tee pattern and I use them regularly.  Definitely worth the investment.

 The boy was very happy with his new PJs.  He put them on in the afternoon for the photo shoot, and wanted to take them off before dinner because he didn't want them to get dirty.

What a ham!  Love this pose.

~Flip Vest Pattern~ Review and Giveaway-WINNERS

Wow, thanks for making this my most successful Giveaway!

Here are the winners.....  

76. Tara said " I love this pattern--would be good for BOTH of my boy/girl twins!"

94. KellyF said "  my Godchildren would look fab in flip vests! "

78. Anonymous said " Would love it for my boy!"

Congratulations winners!

~Flip Vest Pattern~ Review and Giveaway-CLOSED

A few weeks back Dana from Made asked me to test out her newest pattern.  I was so excited to just be asked and then even more excited when I found out it was for a vest.  Not only a vest, but a reversible vest!  I am a lover of vests and I've got 2 kids that love being cozy, how perfect.

Dana gives great tips and fabric suggestions in the pattern and in typcial fashion I decided to push the envelope. I upcycled a sweater for one side and used microfleece for the other.  The vest and pattern are great, but I wasn't thrilled with my initial fabric choices. 

 For my second attempt I used flannel and blizzard fleece.  Much better choices in my opinion. 

 The blizzard fleece and flannel are a little less floppy and gave the vest little more structure.

I cut a 3T/4T for the skinny 4 year old boy, and the sizing is just right.  He's on the taller side too, so I think next time I might make it longer.

 I cut a 4T/5T for the 6 year old, who is also a tall and skinny.  I added a few inches to the length and made the armholes bigger before adding the binding.

 She's all about the pink and was in love with this flannel.  I convinced her the green buttons would be a nice touch rather than pink.  And the fit is great too.

So overall, the pattern is great!  There's one pattern piece, awesome, and the instructions are really easy and clear.  I sewed both of my second attempt vests in under 2 hours!  Including cutting time!  It doesn't get much better than that.

Checkout some other great Flip Vests here and here.  You can read more about the pattern (and purchase a copy) HERE.

So, are you ready to win a copy of your own?  

Leave a comment with your email address to enter to win a printable copy of The Flip Vest pattern (pattern will be emailed).

Giveaway ends FRIDAY, MARCH 1, at midnight Eastern Time.

3 winners will be chosen at random!!

1 entry per person please. 

And, a huge thank you to Dana for including me in this recent pattern launch.  So fun!

DIY St. Patrick's Day Garland

I'm not typically big on decorating for holidays.  It feels like by the time I get something out, it's time to put it away and get out another set of decorations.  We missed the boat on Valentine's Day.  But, since we're home for February break, I thought it might be time we made a St. Patrick's Day garland.

 I grabbed my big bag of felt scraps and pulled out all the green shades and some white.  I punched out a cardboard circle and my daughter and I got to work tracing and cutting.  We cut 47 circles, then laid them out in a random pattern.

 I stacked them up in order, which was really helpful when it came time to sew.  I didn't have to worry about the pattern.  Just grab the circle on top and sew.

 I left just a tiny bit of space in between each circle.  I've seen these kinds of garlands done many times, but never actually done it myself. So easy.

So pretty.

Reminds me of Spring.

Guess I can keep it up for a while beyond St. Patty's Day.  Definitely my kind of decorating.

WOW....I'm in a Magazine!

I have some exciting news to share.  A few months back the editors at Sew-It Today contacted me and asked if they could feature my fold-up tote tutorial in their Spring Issue.  I can't even tell you how excited I was to get this opportunity, and now to see it in print...

 Sew-It Today is a new sewing magazine featuring lots of approachable and fun projects.  Check out this cute coloring book holder.  Will definitely be making one of these for each of my kids.

Eliza the Chicky might be making an appearance in our Easter baskets this year.  Too cute!

They also published my washcloth tutorial, which I got to photograph myself!  That's my tub and rubber ducky.  Well, not my personal rubber ducky...

And, wow, I get to be featured next to Jessica of Running With Scissors! 

Thanks for letting me share my few minutes of fame with you.  I really enjoy sharing sewing projects and connecting with other sewists out there through this blog.  It's really rewarding and helps me keep some balance in my life.  And every once in while, I get to feel famous.  Then it's back to rushing off to work or the bus stop.  

Oh, and remember that giveaway I mentioned?  Sometime next week I'll be giving away 3, oh yes 3, copies of Dana's new Flip Vest pattern.  

Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day

Boy, the time does fly these days!  I can't believe it's already half way through February.  I've got some great posts planned, including a really fabulous giveaway for a new pattern from a well-known blog friend....are you dying with curiosity?  Stay tuned...

 In the meantime, I thought I'd share our Valentine's day so far.

 This little girl wanted to make something special for her brother and sewed a cute heart shaped pillow all by herself!  The focus she has is amazing.

I got some beautiful handmade cards from the little ones.

And the kids headed off to school to celebrate in their new Valentine's Day shirts.  I've never made one of these tie applique shirts, but I see more in our future.  So adorable!

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Refashioning

I've been trying to be better lately about not buying clothing that I won't or don't wear.  I love clothes and I'm often swayed by a good deal.  So, in an effort to be more economical, I went through my closet and tried to come up with ways to refashion things I have.  

I have a wonderful and expensive down coat that I bought years ago when I worked at an outdoor clothing store.  It's really great quality, but there are things about it I no longer love.  

 I found some cheap faux fur and decided to add some fur trim to the hood.  I also wanted to get rid of the snaps that I never use and don't really like.

 I cute a strip 4 inches wide, pinned it to the right side of the hood an sewed it in place with the ends folded up.

I folded the trim to the right side and topstitched.  It looks much better in real life that this picture shows, and now I love my coat again.

 This sweater refashion was really easy and I really love my "new" sweater.  The neck on the original was just too big and the fit overall was reminiscent of maternity clothing aka not very flattering.  All I did for this one was to move some hidden snaps from the turtle-neck to the neck center, fold the turtle-neck down and move the buttons to the other side of the newly created collar. I sewed up the sides a bit to make it a little more fitted.  So much more wearable.