Make Something Now

Barcelona Skirt Addiction

2008-07-17T16:14:00.004-04:00

This is the 4th Barcelona skirt I've made this summer (plus the two Barcelona Not-So-Reversible Wraps I tried to invent). This time I made a plaid one for a friend. We don't have the same body type at all (don't I wish we did) yet the medium size Barcelona skirt fits us both beautifully.

E. Jr.

2008-07-13T15:07:00.004-04:00

I have two boys so I don't get to make a lot of cute, sweet things for them. I love love the Black Apple dolls and decided to try my hand at an evil boy version. And here he is: E. Jr. Obviously I skipped the pink cheeks and beautiful, hand-painted eyes. Sharpie worked well for the mouth. (The real E. is suggesting I color the teeth gold like he's wearing grills...) The hair is authentic to the real boy who has mean cowlicks and an eight-head, rather than a forehead.

The real E. is delighted with E. Jr. He asked what would happen if we stuck pins in the doll. I told him he needs to be a very good boy--or else he'll find out.

Not-so-reversible Barcelona Wrap Skirt

2008-07-09T14:35:00.006-04:00

This is a typical I-need-to-make-something-NOW project. Translation: it was fun to make and I learned some things along the way, but the end result is far from how I imagined it. The story begins with my desire for a wrap skirt. I've seen lots of draft-your-own pattern equations online and in mags but that requires math. Math is not a friend of mine. So I thought, Amy Butler's Barcelona skirt pattern fits beautifully and is easy so why not use that? The next day, both of my kids end up out of the house so I start on it. I cut three front panels from each fabric. The goal was a chambray/gingham reversible skirt. I have tons of this light chambray so cutting was fine, but then when I got to the blue gingham (had only 2 yds), things got sketchy. I won't belabor the details here, but lets just say I had to piece together one panel and ended up funking up so badly that the gingham is now only really a sweet lining. I had to kiss truly "reversible" goodbye.

I tried to make it up to myself by making matching covered buttons (instead of a lumpy waist-tie). The buttons seemed like a good idea; why tie a bow around my worst feature?

They I decided to trim with rickrack. Nothing screams "homemade" like rickrack, I know, but it's black. And it's already done. I was pleased with how it sandwiched in between the two layers. I had not tried this before. I stopped myself from using it around the entire hem. It just runs up the front edge.
After wearing this skirt for a few hours now, I wish I had made the waist tighter. Also, because the Barcelona fairs out at the bottom, it hangs a little funny at the bottom corners. Next time, I'll cut the sides straighter (like every single wrap skirt pattern I've ever seen). I'll probably also go with the traditional tie. Maybe I'll get to it tomorrow.

Conclusion: for less time and money than a movie, it's not a bad project.

Welcome Matilda

2008-07-09T10:09:00.009-04:00

A beautiful little painting arrived yesterday from Amanda Blake's Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5016424 "Matilda" sits on my dining room mantel and her eyes follow me around. She is so petite she can fit almost anywhere. I'll be moving her around my house for a long time--looking for just the right spot.

Pillowcase Dress

2008-07-07T13:11:00.006-04:00

I love the 70s vibe of this pillowcase. And it was just the right size for a dress/tunic for this young lady.

To make: remove the casing at pillowcase's open end. I used that to make the matching belt. Cut two diagonal arm openings from the two top corners. I cut 2" in from corners and down about 6 inches. Cut the top end open and hem down to make a drawstring casings (front and back do not connect). Thread soft cotton rope through to create the shoulder drawstrings. Then hem to dress or tunic length. You could also use the belt fabric to make matching shoulder ties instead of the rope.

Vintage Linen Wristlet

2008-07-03T16:45:00.004-04:00

I love this fabric (formerly someone else's kitchen curtians) so much that I havn't been able to cut into it for more than a year. Today was finally the day. I'm happy to say I like how the wristlet turned out. Ever since I learned to sew a lined zipper pouch last month, I can't stop. They are so easy, useful, and satisfying.

Tunic Number 2

2008-07-02T16:15:00.005-04:00

I was very excited to make this more tailored version of my first tunic. I was really inspired by the Wiksten shirts http://www.wikstenmade.bigcartel.com/. But now I see why she only offers them in small sizes (I thought perhaps she only had skinny friends). It could also be the fault of my photographer (who just turned 7). I sort of wish I had not bribed him with chocolate to take mommy's picture because now the spell is broken. In the picture it looks more scrubs than chic. In my mind, it is crisp and flattering. Maybe I need a new photo, one where I angle my body a bit instead of aiming my headlights straight into the camera. But I'm out of chocolate.

Bandanna Pants for the Whole Family

2008-07-01T21:40:00.015-04:00

Last night I delivered the new bandanna pants and it turns out all the girls in the family want some. So I adjusted the rise and made another pair for an adult size.

Adjustments for different sizes of bandanna pants/capris/long shorts:

Rise for a 5-6 year old = 8".

Rise for a 8-9 year old (pictured & in tutorial) = 10".

Rise for adult = 13" My friend suggests perhaps creating a contoured waist--lower at the front--to reduce the excess fabric around the tummy. But then, even after three kids, she still can wear--and look good in--a bikini.

Bandanna Pants Tutorial

2008-06-30T17:48:00.022-04:00

I made some of these cute bandanna pants a few years ago for a little friend. They were a bit too big then. A few weeks ago, I spied her wearing them--after I had forgotten all about them. Now a few more girlz in my hood would like a pair and maybe you would too. They are a perfect Make Something Now project because they only take about a half an hour to make.

The pattern was from a Martha Stewart Kids magazine (2002?). The directions are still posted on her website http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=9cf3ce908332f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default but there is no tutorial. I have also altered the rise (from her 8 inches to a more generous 10 inches). So here's my tute, which took longer to put together than the pants themselves.

You need two XL (27 inch) bandannas, thread, and twill tape or drawstring for waist. Wash the bandannas once or twice before you begin.

Match the bandannas right sides together. Bandannas are not perfectly square, so don't worry. Just match the edges, they'll work out fine. Pin down the left and right sides.

Now fold both bandanna in half lengthwise so that the pinned sides are on top of each other.

Prepare to cut the crotch: along the pinned edge, measure down 10 inches and mark.

Then measure to the right 1.5 inches. Mark the spot with an X.

Move to the top corner and measure in 2 inches. Mark.

Connect your X's.

Curve the line toward the edge.

Now cut along this edge. You may need to remove some of your original pins. You are cutting through both bandanns both still folded in half.

Open up the bandannas so they look like this. Now it's time to sew. Sew along both of these freshly cut crotch curves. I followed up with a zigzag along raw edge.

Next, reposition the bandannas so that the two sewn seams are now together in the middle.

The inseam is next. Pin and sew up to the crotch and then back down the other leg. You won't need to finish the edges because the bandanna is already hemmed.

The waistband is next. Fold down about 1.5 inches and pin. Sew around the waist leaving a small opening to thread the drawstring through.

Thread a drawstring or twill tape through your waistband. I like the old giant safety pin method.

They're finished but inside out.

Flip them right-side out and trim your strings. They're ready to wear.

Let me know how the tute worked out. (It's my first effort.)

Best Toy Ever

2008-06-30T14:29:00.005-04:00

The six-foot bamboo pole is without rival for versatility, durability, and utility. Today it fishes for rocks in puddles. Tomorrow? We'll have to wait and see.

First Tunic

2008-06-30T12:30:00.009-04:00

I love the fact that tunics are back in style, but was not been able to find one I liked well enough to buy. Since my sewing confidence has had a boost thanks to my three Barcelona skirts, I found an easy one to make. Its Simplicity Pattern 4149. http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=4149

Gnome Under the Pines

2008-06-30T12:12:00.006-04:00

Birdland

2008-06-30T11:35:00.016-04:00

The other week I was daydreaming about making some fabric birds into a mobile. I sketched it out, thinking what a great new baby gift for my friend. I had been messing around with the little bird in Last Minute Patchwork Gifts.

http://www.purlbee.com/

Then I stumbled upon this. http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/2008/05/16/bird-mobile/and my heart skipped two beats. So I cut some out and sewed them at the pool. I love how they just perch there. I have made a single bird on a branch as a prototype for the mobile. Balancing several birds and branches proved too fiddly. So I made these.