sewing projects

Sewing a Pillow

September 16, 2012 By Valerie Mcclintick 4 Comments

If you follow me on Pinterest you might have noticed my Pillow board.

I have been drooling over all sorts of amazing pillows,
quietly “planning” to do them….SOME DAY.

I was waiting for the perfect weekend to start sewing.
a weekend in which I had nothing else to do,
when the laudry is all folded, and the windows are clean,
the children are HAPPILY playing together on the carpet.

But as the weeks passed,
I slowly realized that the day would NEVER come.

So amid huge towers of laundry, fingerprint windows,
and bickering children I dropped everything, got out
my sewing machine and went to work.

I chose to tackle this neck roll pillow.
by DIYDesign.

It seemed most simple, she posted lots of photos and measurements,
and I already had the pillow forms.

Also, just a side note that this is a Stash Buster project!
There are small amounts of fabric required so it’s great for using up left over fabric,
or to clear out those remnants you picked up on impluse from Joanns.

Ahem.

I used some White Blossom Eyelet fabric left over from my curtains,
and the other white fabric is “who knows what” from the sale bin.

As embelishment I used cheepo lace, some twine, and some tan edging.

So want to see how they came out?

For some reason my first pillow came out a little tight.
On my second one I added another half inch to the length of the pattern as I seem to take liberty with my seam allowances.

Here is one next to my “store bought” pillows.

Not to SHABBY if I do say so myself!

My daughter was so impressed she gasped at how pretty they turned out.

(or perhaps in surprise that I was the one who sewed it. )

And the best thing about this pattern is that you can easily untie the sides
and change your pillow case whenever you like!

Sewing for the Birthday Boy!

February 1, 2012 By Valerie Mcclintick 7 Comments

Someone very special is turning 1 this month!
Someone cute, and adorable,
and someone who’s diaper I don’t have to change!

Someone who made me an Aunt for the very first time!
Someone who deserves an AMAZING 1st birthday gift,
(you know…..to remind him who his ~~favorite~~ Aunt is)

I found (via Pinterest of course)
this wonderfully simple tutorial for making a drawstring bag.
I just had to make one!

…..with a little more color!

For the outer fabric:Celebrate Seuss Squiggle Stripe Multi

And for the inner fabric:Celebrate Seuss Book Titles White

You can purchase these by the 1/2 yard at Fabric.com or by the yard on Amazon here.
(they have TONS of other Seussical prints too….be careful!)

I’m using a Fat Quarter of each.

As far as constructing the bag
I pretty much followed the tutorial here on Mother Huddle,
Since I was using a lining fabric, I just put them wrong sides together,
and followed the pattern step by step as if I was just working with on fabric.

HOWEVER:
Before I sewed up the sides of the bag,
I decided it would be fun to add in a little peek-a-boo window
(another idea spawned from Pinterest)

I just cut out a rectangle (through both fabrics)
and then used a plastic scrapbook page protector (both layers)
as the window.

Note: I have never done this before,
it sewed just fine, and makes a nice crinkly sound,
but it already has “folds” and “creases” in it.
I would suggest that you use a clear table cloth or something more sturdy.

However it was thin enough for me to use two layers
so I made it into a pocket and inserted some foam numbers
before sewing up the final edge.
(This is just a very tight zig-zag all the way around)

Then I decided to make a pocket from the scrap rectangle I just cut out.
I just ironed and folded the edges and then added a bit of bias tape across the top.
I also added ribbon to the sides (using this method)

At the end of the ribbons I wanted three little fishes:
So to make them I just drew a rough template, cut out a few sizes,
sewed them back to back with some chenille,
and made them “crinkly” by stuffing them with old
baby wipe packages. (tutorial here)

I love these little fishies!

Note: Button eyes would be super cute…
but I’m super paranoid and since it’s a gift I’m keeping it extra baby friendly!

Then I went back to following the tutorial.
I sewed up the sides, squared off the corners, and added the draw string.
(mine is actually a cord)

The bag was complete and ready to fill up with goodies:
Note: Those are just little plastic balls, like from the ball pit at Mickey D’s.
I have not idea why photoshop is turning them into crazy psychedelic orbs?

Anyway, I stuffed in an adorable Dr. Seuss baby book,
filled with interactive pages that squeek and rattle.

Some colorful balls, one for each color of the rainbow,
plus a super Seusical pink tuff ball

And then I finished it off with a set of dollar store preschool flashcards,
which I laminated and then tied together with a matching ribbon.
(they look so much more adorable this way, and baby can drool away!)

All packed up and ready to go!!

Sure wish I could “hand deliver” this one!

Sewing Baby Boots

December 13, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 8 Comments

Recently I decided that I needed to make my little nephew something for Christmas.

I found these adorable baby boot patterns from a website called I Think Sew.

I’m in love.

It was hard to decide between all the adorable little booties they had,
but I finally settled on the “Charlie” pattern.

The Charlie patterns is usually $4.00,
but they are having a holiday sale until Jan 8, 2012
and you can get it for $2.00!!

The pattern was super easy to follow,
I didn’t even mess up once.
(That means easy peasy because I almost ALWAYS have to get out my seam ripper)

I love that for each age group there is a different pattern
(none of this “add an extra inch for a larger size stuff)

I made the 9-12 months size
and here’s how my little charlie boots turned out:

I used wool suiting for the outside,
and a plaid flannel for the inside.
I love that I can fold them down too!:

My favorite part was the little ribbon tag,
I think I’ll be adding a little checkered tag to everything from now on!

And best of all the bottoms have the No-slip grip fabric (Joann’s):

I can’t wait to see these on my little nephew.
With the way he grows I’ll be lucky if they still fit him by Christmas!

The Stockings Were Hung….

December 11, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 3 Comments

Do you have a “Crafty” To-do list?

There are so many amazing projects out there,
that sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the inspiration.

Sometimes I’ll bookmark and idea, sometimes I’ll pin it on pinterest, and other times
I’ll just quitely mull over it in my head until the perfect moment.

~~For Years~~ Lately, I’ve been mulling over two different projects that I’ve wanted to do:

These beautiful drop cloth stockings from Shanty 2 Chic:

And these precious children’s silhouette pilllows:

Well finally it struck me that I could turn these two projects into one!

So here’s how it all went down:

I used the same freezer paper stencil technique that I used for these baby onsies.
I’m using some cheepo painters drop cloth from Lowes,
and I simply traced our old stockings (plus one inch all the way around)

Once they were dry I started to sew them together.

I followed the tutorial on Shanty 2 Chic, and then added in my own embelishments for the heel and toe.

Ruffles for the girls:

And wool edging for the boys:

And buttons aplenty:

I Just LOVE how they turned out!

TIP: When you’re cutting out your freezer paper stencil, if you’re careful you can use the “negative” for another project.

I simply ironed them to the canvas, and painted around them.

I’m thinking of stretching this across a canvas for some family wall art!

Makes all that tedious cutting worth it!

Now, If I could just find the time to make a matching Tree Skirt!

My First Handmade Purse!

November 27, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 14 Comments

I did it!

I made a purse.

WITH a zipper.

This is my first Official Purse.

Actually…..
I did make this handbag a couple of years ago,
but there was no zipper
so I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t count.

This time there IS a zipper,
and let me tell ya,
there were a few times I almost threw
this little purse out the window.

But I’m sooooo glad I didn’t.

It was worth it ALL!

I used this pattern I found online
(It’s an Amy Butler of course!)

And I chose these fabrics:

And after 3 NIGHTS OF HARDCORE SEWING
read: seam ripping, how to video watching, and even some yelling.

I was finished!

So let me take you on a little tour of my new little bag:

Here she is sitting on my purse table:

The side detail of the straps
(This is my favorite and……second most frustrating part)

The front flap has a magnetic closure:
(These are super easy to install by the way)

And now for a look inside!

Glorious Zipper!
(okay, not perfect but it works so I’m happy!)

Packed up with goodies:
(Two diapers and wipes fit perfect in the middle!)

And ready to GO!:

I HEART this purse!

I even pinned myself on Pinterest.

Is that allowed?

Yo Yo Hairbows

August 6, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick Leave a Comment

Last night, I dared to look into my craft closet.

I know what your thinking…
and YES the entire closet if filled with crafts

It’s nothing special, just a simple linen closet completly devoid of linen.
I love my Craft Closet.
There is a scrapbooking shelf, a sewing shelf, a knitting/yarn craft shelf
and then a shelf of “Open Projects” as I like to call them.

(One shelf actually has linen on it, with a few bedsheets smushed in between a serger and a sewing machine)

Oh, and as you’re reading this You might be noticing
that I haven’t included a photo of these lovely shelves,
It’s not because I forgot.

But Anyway, perched atop the “Open Project” shelf
I found my bag of Yo-Yo hairbows:

And like a child who just found a bag of candy treasure,
I got all giddy and excited about this long forgotten project!

You see, I’ve actually been making these for a while now,
(I even sold them in boutique store before we moved)
and now I’m passing the torch, and sharing my super secret
Yo-yo hairbow tutorial with the public.

(you’ll laugh at that later, because these are soooo easy to make)

In fact these are perfect beginning sewing projects for your little girls!
Which is exactly why I included the tutorials in our new Home Economic
Sewing Projects.

Yo-Yo Tutorial

Yo-Yo Hairbow Tutorial

Happy Sewing!

Snuggly Baby Goodies

January 11, 2011 By Valerie Mcclintick 4 Comments

I meant to post these before “Freckles” came, but time just got away from me!

This is a baby blanket that I made using a pattern from Amy Buttler’s, “Stitches for Little Ones.”

I used Chenille for the inside of the blanket:

And this adorable green print for the outside:

There is also a cute “Fun with Dick and Jane” print along the edges:

Then I decided that the fabric was too cute to just stop there!

I cut out some of the graphics and using this Onsie AppliquÃ©d Tutorial from Make Baby Stuff, I turned some plain ole’ white onesies into some adorable custom baby clothes:

I love that the sewing doesn’t have to be perfect, and it still looks cute:

We’ll have to wait to see Freckles in these, as they are all size 3-6 months ;( Darn.

Then of course I had to make a bib to match everything:

(I used the same Free Baby Bib pattern to make Monkey’s bibs last year)

And finally I decided that the rest of that snuggly chenielle couldn’t go to waste so I put it to good use!

So here is my crazy print Boppy Pillow that I scored at a Garage sale for $5.00:

Originally I was going to pick up a premade boppy cover for it, but they are so thin that the bright red just showed through.

Then I found this easy peasy and Free Boppy Pillow Case Pattern online, and decided to give it a try.

Here is how it looked without the pillow inserted:
(I was a little worried)

But once I stuffed it full of boppy it fit perfectly!

And I was able to get some adorable shots of Freckles in his new gear:

And Even though I’m completely exhausted I’m loving all the snuggle time I get with this new little baby!

Making Friends…

November 2, 2010 By Valerie Mcclintick 3 Comments

I know, I’ve been gone awhile….

Did you miss me?

Actually, I’ve been off making some NEW friends

(Don’t be jealous)

If fact, I’d like to introduce you to some of my newest playmates:

This is little Timmy

He is the adorable boy that caught my attention at the bookstore:

Timmy is a very sweet boy, and he offered to share his toys with me:

Then he showed me his Brand New playgroup shoes:

And this is Simon, he is still learning how to share:

I think we are all going to be great friends!

We can play together on the Playground

Explore the woods together:

And spend the rest of our time being silly and goofing off.

We’ll be spending quite a bit of time together over the next month,
so I might not have as much time to spend here with you,

but don’t worry we can all play together soon!

;)

Sewing Fall Skirts

October 5, 2010 By Valerie Mcclintick 6 Comments

I have been busy sewing this week.

(If you count ripping seams and restarting project mistakes as sewing)

I do.

And all the ripping and tearing has been worth it because Sissy now has THREE skirts that go past her little knobby knees.

First remember, this green flannel skirt with a zipper:

Lime Hunter Brushed Plaid

Second there was this disaster of a craft fail:

That I cut up, ripped apart and turned into this adorable skirt:

With matching Scarf and Headband no less:

And finally (my favorite one!!):

Owl Dot Print Courduroy
Sew Classic Courduroy

I used my ruffler foot to make the cute little ribbon for this skirt.

The bottom edge flairs out just a little bit…so cute!:

Course I had to make a matching scarf for this one too.

So glad to be done with Sissy’s stuff….now moving on to the Boys!

(btw: Scarves are super easy long rectangles with a fleece side and a courderoy side!! The headbands are from a free online pattern (which I can’t find) but do a search and you’ll find a zillion ways to make them! These are a great way to use up scraps and get a polished “Gymboree” look!)