Super Easy Skirt Tutorial

We are heading into spring around here *as soon as the snow stops* and my girls are in need of some warmer weather clothes. Both my little ladies are all about skirts and dresses and I'm all about how easy they are to sew up in an evening.

My girls love Cars. I originally used this material to make a jumper for my oldest when she was 2. I was looking through my stash and realized that I still had over half a yard of this material so I asked my youngest if she'd like a Cars skirt and she lit up with an immediate YES!

What you need for your skirt is:

 * Fabric (1 yard should be plenty)

 * 1/2 or 3/4 inch elastic ( I used 3/4)

 * The waist measurement and length for your little one

Start with a rectangle that is 2 times your waist measurement plus 1 inch for seam allowance by the length you want the skirt to be plus 3 inches for the elastic casing and hem.

Abby's measurements were:

 - Waist 21.5 inches

 - Length 10 inches

So the rectangle I cut was 43" x 13" You will need to cut the elastic 1 inch shorter than your child's waist measurement as well. Simple enough right?

The next step is to fold your fabric in half with the right sides together. Make sure that your 2 short sides match up. Sew up the side with 1/2 inch seam allowance and surge to finish. (If you don't have a serger you can skip that step or trim close to your stitched line with pinking shears for a finished look that won't frey)

While your skirt is still right sides together fold the bottom up 1/2 inch and press then fold it another 1/2 inch and press. This will be the finished bottom of your skirt. Stitch close to the folded edge.

Next you will be making the casing for your elastic on the top. Serge across the top of the skirt then fold down the top 1 inch and sew as close to the edge as possible. Make sure to leave a 2-3 inch gap in the back to insert the elastic. (If you don't have a serger just fold the edge down 1/4 inch and press then 1 inch and press and stitch as close to the edge as possible. This will create the same finished look that won't frey.)

The trick to adding elastic is safety pins. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and feed it through the opening in the tube you just created. If you are worried about losing the other end of the elastic in the casing you can secure it to the skirt with a second safety pin while you are feeding the elastic. Once you have your elastic all the way through you will want to overlap the 2 ends about an inch and either hand stitch them together or sew them a few times on your machine.

The last step is closing up the opening in your casing and you're done.

This is a super easy skirt that you can make in an evening and your little one will be excited to wear. If you use this tutorial to make a skirt I would love for you to leave a link to your finished skirt or post it on my Facebook Page.

Linking up at:

Make it Pretty Monday
Tell Me Tuesday
WOW Me Wednesday
Super Link Party
My Merry Messy Life
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Weekend Wonders
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This is Me - March

The This is Me link party over at While Wearing Heels is in it's third month. This is a great link party that gets you out from behind the camera and actually involved in the picture yourself. This has been an amazing journey. This months theme is Looking Down.

 

While I was taking pictures of my girls for my post about their Easter dresses here they decided to be silly (go figure) and I got this adorable shot of them. Can you tell they were trying to be Snow White and Sleeping Beauty?

 

 

While we were running around slipper free on a rare semi-warm spring evening I was able to capture this fun picture with my girls.

 

 

When is the last time you came out from behind the camera? Hop over and join me and many other amazing women in our photo journeys.

Importing GFC Reading List into Bloglovin'

So I'm sure by now that all of you have heard that Google Friend Connect (GFC) is going away this summer. Once this happens how will you keep up with all your favorite bloggers? I've had a Bloglovin' account for almost a year now. I like the layout but used GFC most the time because it's all in one place. The best thing about Bloglovin' is that you can import your GFC reading list and you don't have to go to each of your favorite blogs and follow them seperately.

Want to know how?

Start by creating a Bloglovin' account here if you don't already have one.

Next you will want to go to the Account tab in the top right and select Settings

Once you are there, scroll to the bottom and click on the Import Blogs button under Other.

Now you will come to a screen with two buttons. You will want to select the Google Reader button.

If you have more than one Google account you will be asked to verify which account you want to Import from. I had 123 blogs to import so it took a little while. While you are waiting the screen will look like this.

When it's done it will automatically take you back to your reader list and you are all set.

I would love for you to follow me on Bloglovin' below or by clicking on the button in my sidebar.

Linking up at:

Shine on Fridays

Weekend Wonders

Keep Calm and Link Up

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SIMACB

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1 year Blogiversary - Top 10 Posts

I started blogging a year ago to give me something to do that was for myself. As moms we spend so much time taking care of others that we sometimes forget to do something little for ourselves.

I love interacting with all the other amazing bloggers out there. I thought that the Top 10 posts of my last year would be a great way to celebrate my first year as a craft blogger and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

10. Spiders

9. Whimsy Couture Harem Pants - Pattern Review

8. How I Organize - Coupons

7. Red, White and Blue Jello Cake

6. Whimsy Couture Ruffled Bolero - Pattern Review

5. Scrabble Wall Art

4. French Braid How To

3. Candy Corn Pillowcase Dress - Tutorial

2. Pool Noodle Pencil - That Writes

1. How to Organize a Pantry on a $0 Budget



Easter Dresses

I was waiting for some better weather to get the girls outside and take pictures of their Easter dresses but the snow just won't go away so please excuse the bad lighting. I used the Almost Famous Tulle Dress by Whimsy Couture to make these dresses. I learned that shirring with elastic thread is not a scary as it seems and tulle is a pain in the but to sew.

I decided to add a special touch to the dresses by embroidering the girls names on the ends of the straps.



Now for the picture overload because well....they're that cute!

 

And for those super rare moments when they are getting along and being loving to each other my favorite is below.

Many nights and about 20 yards of tulle later I loved how these dresses turned out and so do my little ladies.

Linking up at:

You Inspired
Naptime Crafters
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WKWW

Thrift Shop Find - Vintage Sewing Machine

 I've noticed lately that our home lacks tables. I'm just now getting around to adding night stands and accent tables. It makes decorating and lighting rooms so much easier. DUH!

Recently I stopped by our local Goodwill and spotted this little gem. From across the store I thought it was a beautiful table in really great shape.

Then I started looking at it and opened it. SURPRISE!!!! It's was a vintage electric sewing machine.

With all it parts....that worked. Complete with a door on the front that held the original instruction manual, all the original feet an bobbins and some vintage thread.

For only $14.99!!! Seriously I about died. I didn't even think twice before I scooped this baby up.

Isn't she beautiful. I've been trying to search out when exactly this was made, but I'm not having any luck. Modern Home Machines were pretty generic and there is no publishing date in the manual. Based on the look of it and the table it's in my best guess is 1950's. If anyone knows more about this adorable machine I'd love to hear.

For now she sits all tucked away in my room across from my bed, but as soon as I finally get my craft space organized I'm going to move her there.

Have you found any diamonds in the rough lately while Thrift shopping?

Envelope Clutch Sew-along

When the always amazing Kate over at See Kate Sew posted that she was doing a sew-along for this adorable Envelope Clutch I immediately signed up. For me it was a no brainer. She comes up with the most adorable sewing projects.

I enlisted my oldest, Maddie to help pick out the fabric. She rummaged through my stash and found this adorable whale fabric. The piece was just big enough for the clutch so it was perfect. I helped her find a coordinating fabric for the inside. We went with a shiny silver satin-ish (not real) fabric and a bright yellow button for a pop of color.

If you want to join in on the fun too it's not too late. The pattern is available here along with some very easy to follow instruction and examples of the finished clutch.

Happy Sewing!