Matching Skirts

Ellison Lane Quilts (super fun & cute quilting & sewing website) is having a Summer Sewing Contest.   This is my entry in the "Clothing" category:

I love matching with my girls - I know it's kind of nerdy.  I must get it from my mom.  When I was a child she would sew coordinating outfits for myself, my little brother, and little sister.  For these skirts, I choose fabric that would all coordinate and then choose a style of skirt that reflects each of us.  My skirt (below) has a waist band, zipper and pleats.  I love that it lays nice and flat and as a bit of structure.

 Ella's skirt (below) looks more like a 12 year old.  It has an elastic waist band for an easy fit, and two longer ruffles on the bottom.  It is the perfect length for a 12 year old - not too short and hits just below the knee.  I love that it has lots of flow.

 

Sally's skirt is the perfect skirt for an energetic yet fancy 4 year old!  I originally wanted it to have two layers of ruffles.  When I had sewn the first two I realized that it was way too short.  So, another hour later, it had another ruffle.  This skirt has an elastic waist band and I covered it with 2 belt loops and a fabric sash.  Each layer of ruffle is separate from the others and has ric rac trim.

  

I decided we ALL needed to match - so the guys got coordinating ties.  Ties are interesting in their construction - I had never sewn one before.  I took apart an old tie and just used it as the pattern.  Ties are mostly pressing and hand sewing. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Let me know what you think!!

Ruffled Bag Tutorial is Here!

I am linking this post up to Family Ever After's "Pinspired...Rewired" Link Party.  I had seen ruffled tote bags all over on Pinterest.  Here is the bag that was my inspiration.  There wasn't a pattern or tutorial so I came up with this one on my own. 

What you need:
1 tote bag
6 strips of fabric 3.5"xWOF.  4 strips are for the ruffles, 1 strip for the trim, and 1 strip is for the flower.  You can use ribbon instead of making the top trim.
1 button (I made a covered button)

 

Here is my lovely denim blag.  It measures about 12" x 12" not including the handles.  

 Cut your fabric into strips 3.5" - this is a great Stash Buster project!!

 

Here are my fabrics

Do a narrow rolled hem along the 2 short sides of the 4 strips and the bottom of the strip. 

 

So the top of the strip is a raw edge.

 Turn your stitch length up to the maximum and sew 1/4" gathering stitch along the raw edge of all 4 ruffle strips.  Then pull strings and gather each ruffle like this:

 Take your tote bag and mark a line 3" from the bottom.

 Then mark 2" from your first line.  Repeat every 2" until you have 4 total lines drawn.

 Pin your bottom ruffle to the tote bag matching the raw edge of the fabric to your first marked line.  You kind of have to scrunch the bag to get it pinned.  This one is the hardest.  It SOOO doesn't have to be perfect!

  Sew along your gathering stitch.  Again, this one is the hardest, the rest get easier.  You have to bunch it around your machine - but it will work!

 

Then go over your seam with a zig zag stitch to keep it all from fraying.

Repeat this process with each ruffle matching the raw edge of the ruffle with your marked line.  Stitch along your gathering stitches and then zig zag to finish.  You don't have to zig zag the last ruffle because we will cover it.

 Take your "trim" piece of fabric and cut it so it is just slightly longer than your bag.

 Press this piece in half

 Then open it and press the two sides into the center fold.  Then bring these two sides together to make a trim piece with no raw edges. 

 Fold one end in and pin in place.  Adjust the length and trim if necessary.  Fold the other end in and pin in place.  Top stitch all the way around the trim piece.  You can totally use pre-made trim, double-fold bias tape, or ribbon.  Your bag is almost done!!  Just the flower is left!

 To make the flower, take your last 3.5"xWOF piece and fold in half - don't press in half - you want it to puff a little.  Use your gathering stitch again and run it 1/4" along the raw edge. 

 

Pull up the threads to ruffle - you want it as ruffled as possible - careful not to break the thread.  Since the fabric is double thickness, it needs a little extra care.

 

Then tuck the end of the fabric under so you can't see it and start to twirl it around.  You can play around to get the look you want.  Here is where I got the hot glue gun out.  I added glue each time I turned.  You can sew it too.  I was just in a hurry:)  Once the flower is done I hot glued a fabric covered button in the center.  You can use any button that you like.  Then I hot glued it to the bag. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you get the chance to make one!

Princess Draw-String Bag

We were invited to a princess birthday party.   I sewed this princess draw-string bag using this amazing tutorial again.  I am telling you - you gotta make one!  They are so much fun!  I thought it would be the perfect birthday gift for a 4 year old.  We included inside Bath & Body Works body spray & lotion and some princess sunglasses.  We were so excited for the party!  That's my little Rapunzel!!!

I won!!!

I am so excited!  I won favorite wall hanging in the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side!  Thank you to those who voted for my Whoooo La La owl wall hanging.  I didn't even think I had a chance.  It is the first thing I have won!! 

June Cleaver

I was in bed sick for a few days and decided I would spend my time watching Leave it to Beaver.  I used to watch the show a lot as a child - loving all the predicaments Beaver would get into.  As a teenager I enjoyed watching the show because Wally was so cute!  As an adult I am drawn to it because I love June Cleaver.  After watching about 25 episodes in 2 days - I feel somewhat of an expert on her!!  The pearls, the dresses, the linen table cloth, the home cooked dinners, the tray of sandwiches on Saturdays, the parties, and the propriety of it all.  Don't you want to be her?  As I was laying sick in bed with my hair in a messy bun, pjs on & Kleenex everywhere - I decided I would be more like her. 

 I visited an antique shop while visiting my parents & found these little items which reminds me of my new goal!  I don't think they are all from June's kitchen in 1957, but they are old enough to remind me to have a little more class, patience, and simplicity!

 

In every episode June is sporting a half apron.  I picked these half aprons up for 50 cents each.  They have hand embroidered work on the bottom of each.  I love them!  And more importantly I will be wearing them!

Ruffled Tote Winner Announced

I have been out of town for the Memorial Day weekend.  Now that I am back I have a winner for my Ruffled Tote bag!  The winner was drawn at random and it is Beth who commented "I am a new follower via GFC.  Love the bag!"

Thanks to all of you who stopped by my blog.  I wish I had enough bags to send everyone!  As a consolation prize, I will be posting the tutorial of how I made the ruffled tote this week so you can make your own!

Mother's Day Quilt

 I made this cute little quilt for my Mother-In-Law for Mother's day.  I  love the ruffles in the quilt.  The perfect size for a lap, table, or sofa.

Kitchen Towel Makeover

 I made these kitchen towels to go in my newly updated kitchen.  They are so much fun to make.  I love quick sewing projects like this because I get a "fabric fix" without a lot of mess!

I made these towels using "bar mop" towels from Target - they are $4 for a set of 4.  I recommend washing them - they turn all different kinds of shapes in the dryer!

 

I sewed a band of fabric with Ric Rac edges to the bottom.  I folded the raw edge in at the sides of the towel and top stitched the whole thing.  The top loop I made with ribbon and Velcro - that way I can get them on and off the handle of the oven.   I sewed an accent square out of a charm square (5") in the corner to hide the ribbon ends.  Easy Peasy!!

 

 

 

 

Giveaway Day

 This week is Giveaway Week at Sew Mama Sew.  If you are new to my blog - WELCOME!!  I am Amanda aka Jedi Craft Girl & I love to sew, craft & quilt - all while being really thrifty!  Here is what I came up with for my giveaway - a Ruffled Tote Bag.  It is a denim bag with 4 ruffles & fabric flower.  To enter to win this bag, become a follower to my blog & leave a comment.  This giveaway will be open until May 25th at 5:00 P.S.T.  The winner will be drawn at random & I will post the winner on May 27th.  (This is for domestic USA residents only. )

 

Isn't it cute!!!