Animals, Applique, and the German pattern "Tilt"

 I just made this cute shirt last night with a German pattern called "Tilt."  I stayed up until 3:00 am sewing since I was having so much fun!

 

I like how the pattern lets you combine fabric patterns so easily.

 

Grommets are getting easier and easier to apply. Thank Goodness!

 

And now for the applique that took way to long to do.

 At about 2:00 am, I began to wish that animals only had

 ONE leg each, instead of four. 

This water buffalo has no legs...hee hee.

Smiles,

Deborah

Using the Fancy Stitches on Your Machine

You know how much I love to recycle!

Well, I had this flowered fabric and I wanted to make some shorts to go with the top that I was planning.

This is also a perfect time to use some of those fancy stitches on my sewing machine that I never use.

First, I used fabric tailor chalk and created a grid on one side of the shorts. 

Next, I selected an embroidery pattern that a pre-teen would like....XXXXX.

This particular pattern sews over the X's twice so it is nice and bold. I could have used 2 red threads at a time too. 

Yeap, I sewed through the pocket too.

Now, I matched up the grid on the other side of the shorts. 

Add more XXXXX.

Keep going.... it's really fun.

By the way, I only put the XXXX on the front of the shorts.

I don't have a fancy sewing machine that makes embroidery patches, so I used part of my sewing stash... these cute flowers to match the flowers in the fabric I found for my top. All I did was carefully iron them on.

If you do have an embroidery machine, this would be a great time to use your machine again and embroider some flowers directly onto the jeans. 

So I hope you have enjoyed my little tutorial, and plan to have some fun yourself creating with those machine stitches that you never use!

Smiles,

Deborah  

A 'Happily Ever After' Recycled Outfit

I really enjoying harvesting the fabric out of used clothing and creating something entirely new.  First, it engages my brain. You need to mentally deconstruct the garment and devise a plan to reuse the parts.  So let's have some fun!



Once upon a time this dress belonged to a 29 year old woman.  She loved it, but alas her body changed and she passed it on to me. "Create something new for your 10 year old granddaughter," she said.
As I looked closer, I saw possibilities!

First, I began to deconstruct the dress.

 

What if I added a bit of new cotton and lycra knit fabric for the lower front and back of the top? I could use the recycled ruffled black and white print for the upper front and back...then all I would need to do is fill  in that scoop with the new fabric.

 After checking, I realized that there would be enough of this black and white ruffled fabric length to keep the curved seam on the front.


 

Adding this fabric at the top of the back will fill in that scoop. Now, I have a new back that will eventually support the neck edge of my hoodie that I will be adding.  

 When I cut out the pocket, there was not enough fabric to place it on the fold, so I'll just add a seam down the center.  I wish I had a coverstitch machine to do some decorative stitching. But I have a plan to use one of the decorative stitches on my machine to simulate a coverstitch. 

I will use some vibrant red thread to highlight the seams and no one will ever suspect that it should have been one large pocket instead of two. Stitching in the ditch down the middle of the seam will instantly make 2 pockets.

 Now on to the hood. I'll use more of my black dress fabric for the hood and the hood lining. The bright print will draw the eye to her face, and the red topstitiching will repeat the decorative element on the hood and the pocket together.

Use a bit of turquoise fabric, from the dress band, for the grommet area, and I'll even make the ties from more of the black skirt fabric.

Reuse the knit bias tape by basting it in place first. Then topstitch it on with the machine.
Lastly, add the bottom band on the shirt and 
we    are   done! 

My granddaughter loves it and this story ends with ... her wearing the top "happily ever after."  Oh gosh, I forgot to mention the matching knit pants that I made out of a recycled pair of stretch knit pants of mine. It was pure magic!!!!

Old lady pants to hip-hop-hot body hugging pants

 perfect for a 5th grader.

Smiles,

Deborah