2012 Favorite Projects!

2012 was a good year.  This was the first full year I've been off of work since I was 14.  Many improvements were made to my health so I'm pleased.  My family has become closer and we enjoy each other's company.  Sewing really became a priority for me this year too!

Here is a look at my top 8 favorite projects of 2012

Top Left: Mushroom Grocery Bag
Top Middle: Pokemon Upcycled Mini Backpack
Top Right: Green Sundress
Middle Left: Owl Circle Skirt and Shirt
Middle Right: Me Shorts
Bottom Left: Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress
Bottom Middle: Mushroom Shirt
Bottom Right: Blue Soft Nightgown

I hope you had a great 2012 as well and were happy with your projects.

Here's to a wonderful 2012 and I look forward to all the projects I work on in 2013.  Remember, it's the journey that counts...enjoy the moments.

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Pneumonia and the Blizzard

Where have I been?  Sorry guys; I've been really under the weather.  The Monday after Thanksgiving I had a chest cold and figured it would just go away.  However, days turned to weeks and I kept getting worse.  Three trips to the doctor and finally they did a chest x-ray. Pneumonia.   Just what I didn't want for Xmas!

So I've actually been on the couch and in and out of the hospital the last week and a half.

I think I can hear my sewing machines crying for me; I know my fabric is.  But I'm out of the hospital and on some good meds.  I'm feeling a bit better already and know I'm on the mend.  I'll be back in the sewing saddle soon! I have a few crochet projects to share soon too (I can work on those from the couch!)

Oh!  And we are having the most beautiful blizzard today.  It is marvelous to look at!

I hope you are all in good health and excited for the coming holidays!


~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Giveaway Winner #3 ~ Vintage Pattern

The last giveaway was for a pick of any vintage pattern in my shop

And the final giveaway winner is.....

Congratulations KellyS!  I will be emailing you shortly.

Thanks everyone who participated.  I look forward to the next giveaway day!

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Giveaway Winner #2 ~ Coin Pouch

It is so much fun to read all the comments on giveaway day; so thank you for making me smile. 

The second giveaway was for a coin pouch or gift card holder as shown here

The two winners from the eligible comments were......

Congratulations Katie!  I will be emailing you shortly.

Congratulations Michele!  I will be emailing you shortly as well.

Thanks again to everyone who entered!

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Giveaway Winner #1 ~ Circle Skirt!

Thanks to all who participated in Giveaway Day with me; it is awesome to read all the comments.

The first giveaway was for a circle skirt as shown here

The winner from the eligible comments was......

Congratulations Amy!  I will be emailing you shortly.

Thanks again to everyone who entered!

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Thrifty to Nifty in 20 minutes! ~ Upcycle

I hope the cold/flu/bug/illness thingy has avoided you and yours. It sure is hitting us pretty hard. I've been sick since Thanksgiving and Miss K is on round two of it. Mr. T had it a few days and now even the puppy is sick.

When Miss K gets ill she turns into more of a diva than normal. We found this really crazy pillow case at Goodwill last week ~ she had to have, wouldn't walk away ~ and I didn't know what I was going to do with it. It is faded and super long for a pillow.  I think it's even long for a king sized pillow.  Nonetheless it was 99 cents so I let her get it.

Tonight, 30 minutes ago, Miss K decided she needed something done with it, immediately. Sigh.  I'm running on really low sleep and I just didn't feel like arguing.  I told her I'd make her a cute little sleep dress out of it.

It took me 20 minutes and I like how it turned out!

First I measured how long I wanted it on Miss K.  I kept the open, hemmed part of the pillowcase to the floor so I wouldn't have to do any hemming on it. I added an inch to the length and then cut the rest off.

Next I took the top of it (at the chest) and flipped it down 1/2 inch and again, making a casing for the elastic.  I measured 1/2 inch elastic around Miss K's chest and subtracted 1 inch, I wanted it a bit snug. Sewed around and left a hole for the elastic to thread through. 

Next I cut up some of the leftover for the straps.  I folded the two outer dark pinks into the center, ironed, then folded one side on top of the other; topstitched down both sides and wa-lah.  I measured them on Miss K to know how long I needed them and cut off the remainder.

To attach the straps I flipped 1/4 inch up on one end and then again.  I put that little square on the inside of the chest of the main part.  To figure out where to place them I found the halfway point of the chest; and placed the straps 1/4 of the way between both sides.  Worked great!

Like I said, Miss K is sick so pictures were fun to take!

 twirling

puppy had to join in! 

Originally I was in the sewing room to work on my super awesome skirt I need to finish, but is taking forever.  I drafted the pattern up from my exact measurements (more to come on how to do this yourself).  I made 2 different muslin's and added darts. I have been trying to perfect this stinker before cutting the fabric. It is an A line with a side zipper and facing on the waist - fitted, no elastic.  Here is my work in progress shot :D

What projects are you working on?

 ~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

* CLOSED * Giveaway Day ~ Part 3 ~ Vintage Patterns!

It's Giveaway Day!  I had a blast participating in the one back in May so this time around I am offering a few!
                                                      

Some will be for supplies and some will be for completed items.

The first giveaway was for a girl's circle skirt. 

The second giveaway was for coin purses or gift card pouches

This third giveaway is for your pick of a VINTAGE PATTERN!

• One winner will be picked from the comments!
• I will email the Winner who will be able to pick any one pattern from my etsy shop!
• I won't ask you to go look now (unless you want too!) because I know you have other giveaway's to enter ;-)

How do I enter?

• Sorry but this is only open to US residents (I will only ship to a US address)
• Be a follower of my blog (upper right hand sidebar)
• Leave a comment ~ TODAY I'M ASKING: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE FABRIC STORE?
• Make sure I have a way to contact you!
• Giveaway open until Dec. 7th; I will email the winner by Dec. 9th and ship by Dec 14th.  Random number generator to pick a winner from the comments. Winner will then be able to choose one pattern from the shop.  

That's it! Below is a link and some pics from the shop (if the link feels like working...). Thanks and good luck!

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

* CLOSED* Giveaway Day ~ Part 2 ~ Coin Purse or Gift Card Pouches

I'm so excited that Giveaway Day has come!  I had a blast participating in the one back in May.
                                                      

I plan on having a few giveaway's this time.  Some will be for supplies and some will be for completed items.

The first giveaway was for a girl's circle skirt. 

The second giveaway is COIN PURSE OR GIFT CARD POUCHES!

• Two winners will be picked from the comments!
• I will give you a choice of 3 different fabrics (you pick one and I'll use that to make it)
• Measures roughly 3 1/2 inches by 4 inches wide

How do I enter?

• Sorry but this is only open to US residents (I will only ship to a US address)
• Be a follower of my blog (upper right hand sidebar)
• Leave a comment ~ can be about anything
• Make sure I have a way to contact you!
• Giveaway open until Dec. 7th; I will email the winner by Dec. 9th and ship by Dec 14th.  Random number generator to pick two winners from the comments. Winner will receive one pouch.  

That's it!  Thanks and good luck!

I'll be listing other Giveaway's in the next day or two so come back to check them out!

Head back to Sew, Mama, Sew! for more giveaways

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

* CLOSED* Giveaway Day ~ Part 1 ~ Circle Skirt

Yay! Giveaway Day is here!  I'm so excited.  I had a blast participating in the one back in May.

I plan on having a few giveaway's this time.  Some will be for supplies and some will be for completed items.

The first one up is a GIRL'S CIRCLE SKIRT!

• I will make the skirt according to the measurements you provide. (will need waist and length)
• I will give you a choice of 3 different fabrics (you pick one and I'll use that to make the skirt)
• I will also ask if you want exposed 3 inch elastic or normal; as well as bias trim on the bottom or a double hem. 
• Must be for a girl between 0-16 years old

How do I enter?

• Sorry but this is only open to US residents (I will only ship to a US address)
• Be a follower of my blog here (upper right hand sidebar)
• Leave one comment ~ can be about anything
• Make sure I have a way to contact you!
• Giveaway open until Dec. 7th; I will email the winner by Dec. 9th and ship by Dec 14th.  Random number generator to pick the winner from the comments.  

That's it!  Thanks and good luck!

I'll be listing other Giveaway's in the next day or two so come back to check them out!

Head back to Sew, Mama, Sew! for more giveaways

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Crochet Scarf

Last year Miss K begged and pleaded with me to crochet her a scarf.  I worked on it sporadically but never really got too far with it.
Last month I found an older stash of yarn I had shoved somewhere and she really liked the colors.  I started double-crocheting in the back loop and before I knew it the scarf was finished!

I really like how it turned out and Miss K is thrilled.  I'm also working on one for Mr. T but I'm not crocheting in the back loop.  I'm doing a single chain, then double chain, and opposite on the way back through.  It is a bit more time consuming but I'm hopeful to get it done in a few weeks.  I like to work on them when I'm sitting by the kids' beds at night; makes me feel productive.

On a side note, I've been avoiding my sewing machine lately because we all became ill after Thanksgiving and I've been dealing with my other health issues as well.  I just haven't felt up to the work involved with the sewing.  However, I'll get back at it soon; I just need a tiny break.

I hope all is well with you in your world and that Christmas is not giving too much stress.

~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

Cute Coin Purses or Holiday Gift Card Holders~ Tutorial ~ Scrap Buster!

Coin Purse or Gift Card Holder Tutorial

Step 1:
Cut out 2 pieces of fabric and 1 piece of fleece to the dimensions below
(Fleece will be inside fabrics and will not show on finished coin purse)

Step 2:

Place pieces in order of:  1. fabric with right side up. 2. fabric with right side down. 3. fleece on top and centered. Pin together. 

 Step 3: Sew around all fabrics with 1/2 inch seam allowance and leaving a 2 inch opening on the side as shown below.  Clip seams to 1/8 inch and clip corners.

Step 4: Turn inside out from hole in side so that fleece is in the inside and both right sides of fabric are now showing.  Push out all corners (*Hint* I use a bic clicker pencil, with no lead out, to easily push out the small corners).

  Be careful to fold the "hole" together correctly and press entire piece.

 Step 5: Fold like an envelope bringing bottom to the middle and top flap over.  This will show you where you need to place the button on the piece below the flap.  For me it was about 2 inches above the bottom as shown in 3rd picture.

 Mark spot for button and attach it to the piece.  (*Hint* I like to put a toothpick under the button so there is some "give" to the button and is easier for little hands to use within the button hole)

Step 6: After sewing on the button re-fold the envelope and begin to top stitch around all layers of the outside.

(Ignore that there is no button on the bottom here. Oops, forgot to attach first on this one!)

WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE START POINT PIVOT THE NEEDLE TO SEW ACROSS THE TOP FLAP ONLY *** DO NOT SEW ACROSS THE OPENING FOR THE PURSE! *** Follow the green line as shown below.  I used the edge of my sewing foot as a guide along the top opening of the purse to sew across here.

Step 7: Add button hole to top flap. 

And you are done! Here is the inside:

And here are your pouches!

Fabric used:

                  
Boys will be Boys                      Kaufman Owls Corduroy

Need some fabric? Want to save some money?  Head to Fabric.com Wednesday for some great sales!



~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~