How to Create a Shark Pocket on a Garment

 

Here is the finished shirt

I really like how the shark mouth pocket opens up when sewn into the garment.

I added another detail on the waistband,

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I hope this will help you create 

your own special pocket!

Deborah

Update: 3/11/21

Lynn Hordal Fortier decided to try to make the shark pocket using this tutorial and here are her fabulous results:

Her grandson is going to LOVE IT!

Hipster Bunny Top and Paper-Bag Pants

This hipster bunny was just waiting in my fabric stash to be a "something special" outfit. 

 

I have been experimenting with the "Story" pattern from the Project Run and Play collection.  This time I again created the color blocked front yoke on the top front.  The placement of the yoke allows me to center the hipster bunny in just the right place. 

 I love the little cap sleeve I used, instead of the long sleeve.

The pattern does feature a sweet little curved neckline that I quite like!  My granddaughter does not like hoods, and so many patterns now days feature hoods instead of a curved neckline.

I used my coverstitch sewing machine to sew two lines of topstitching. This topstitching keeps the neckline flat and is a fun design element too. As you can see, I reduced the width of the neckline ribbing a lot. I wanted just a hint of the aqua blue....

 

I hemmed the shirt instead of using a rib band at the bottom, because I wanted it to be tucked into the waist of the coordinating paper bag pants.

These comfortable pants feature elastic at the waist and hemline.  Easy on and so comfortable to wear in this cotton/spandex knit fabric. 

I centered a bunny on each of the back pockets.

These long narrow pockets in the front add just the right amount of punch.  I banded the pockets with thin strips of the XXX fabric. 

I hope you enjoyed see my "One of a Kind" creation.

Smiles,

Deborah

Valentine Shirt with a Hidden Surprise

This top started with "The Story" pattern from the 

Project Run and Play Library.

 I hacked the pattern slightly by color-blocking the

 shirt front and creating a yoke.

Next, I removed the gathering at the top of the sleeve seam and kept the gathering at the lower cuff area on the sleeve. 

I like how the sleeve gently billowed out at the cuff.

Lastly, I decreased the width of the neck binding.

 

To personalize this Valentine shirt for my granddaughter

I embroidered the individual letters

of her name onto some of the hearts in the jar.

I think I am not going to mention it to her and

see if she notices what I've done

all on her own.  

Smiles,

Deborah

A Comfortable Trio of Garments for a Be-you-ti-ful Girl

I created a coordinated outfit out of soft bamboo and cotton knit for my

 be-you-ti-ful granddaughter.

 It's so soft and fluid that I know she will enjoy wearing it.

 

The first shirt that I made for her has long sleeves

that feature soft, floaty, romantic, and comfortable half bishop sleeves.

Notice how the fabric is gathered to the top of the sleeve and billows out, then is gathered again at the cuff.

 

This pattern is from a collection of patterns featured on 

Project Run and Play

called the

Project Lounge Library Capsule.

This particular pattern is the "Story." 

The second shirt was drafted from the Story pattern also. I changed the sleeves into a short cap  sleeve.

 Isn't it amazing how different a pattern can look when you just change

the style of sleeves.  Another change I made was to decrease the width of the

 neck binding to 1 3/4 inch.  The design of the fabric provided the opportunity

to use a vinyl iron-on decal to add a bit of personality to the garment.

Lastly, I made some comfortable jogger pants with a paper-bag

elastic waistline. The added waistline tie added even more to the design.

Of course, this outfit was 

"made with love."

Faux Smocking

 I like to try new sewing techniques.

 It's part of my personal style... a willingness to try new ideas.  

So when I saw this technique featured on a Project Run Play Sewing Challenge, I knew that one day I would give it a try.

The dress features this lovely back, with piped edges.

She loves the big pockets.

Smiles,

Deborah

The Star Front Pirate Hoodie

YoHoHo...A Pirates Life For Me!!!

I think kids like how pirates disregard the rules and societal conventions, that they would never dare break themselves, or even want to. Kids find their 'bad behavior' funny. If your children like a character full of naughtiness and grossness, you can hardly find a better character than a pirate in children's books! 

So this hoodie pokes fun at a pirate that is now a skeleton, which is perfect for this time of the year....Halloween. Yet, it isn't just a costume, but a fun shirt to wear all winter long. 

This comfortable and soft knit hoodie also has matching knit pants.  My grandson reminded me that he likes my comfy pants, and not to forget to create a pair to go along with the hoodie.

I love this treasure map fabric, and how you have to look for

 the "X" marks the spot. 

                 Instead of candy for Halloween, I think I will send 

these books to go along with the hoodie.

Smiles,

Deborah

Using my Left-over Knit Scrap Fabric to Make a Hoodie!

When I see a pile of left-over scraps like this
or 
that drawer of saved scraps,

I see possibilities!
Yeap, that is one of my personal style traits:
Using those little bits
that others would throw away! 

I just finished making my granddaughter 

some new summer clothes that 

are mix- and match with

similar color tones...watercolors.

While cleaning up my sewing room, I began to think 

of how I could incorporate these

scraps into a shirt.

The fabrics are 220 gram cotton/spandex 

and they feel so soft yet durable.

So, I didn't want to waste an inch.

The shirt front features a log cabin square, 

and this sets the tone of soft watercolors.

Each sleeve has 4 or 5 color-blocked

layers of prints, stripes, or a water-color print

that feels like a solid more than a print.
And it turned out like this:

So many wonderful 
color-blocks
that just need 
a bit
of fabric.

I used a larger
scrap of the back, 
because your eyes
need a break
when you use so many 
different prints and stripes.

 

YUMMY




So much fun to make that I just 
had to make another
scrap shirt. 

So that is my
Personal
Style

Use those left-overs
and keep 
your money in the bank.




The dinosaur scrappy t-shirt turned out better that I imagined, but what to wear with them? Scrappy shorts with Dinosaur footprints on your butt, of course. I appliqued the dinosaur footprints onto a piece of the original black fabric from the panel, 
then cut out the shorts back.