Cowboy Table Runner

Here this is again.  Well, I got this crazy idea to enter a competition...a sewing competition.  It is over here.  It is called "Sew-vivor".  I entered this sewing project that I made.  We will see how this goes.  Next week they will post the Top 10.  I know, crazy, but a whole lotta fun.

This was something I made for my family reunion auction.  A little complicated but totally doable.  First, I found pictures that I printed off the internet in the size I wanted.  I then pinned them to a piece of white fabric and started cutting the outline.  I had to be careful on the small pieces to make sure I didn't cut them off.   I put wonder under on the appliques and ironed them on and then zig zagged around each piece.  Then I found red cowboy fabric in my sisters stash and made a border and a back.  I put a thin layer of batting between and pinned it all around.  I used my machine to do the stitching.  It was fun, but definitely my first time, and you can tell so don't look too close.  When I was done with that, I used bias tape for the binding.  Mostly because I was in a hurry.  But then I had to do it twice cause the first time didn't work to good, so I might as well have used my own bias tape.  Oh well, you live and learn right.  I really liked how it turned out.  It took a long time and only sold for $6.  Definitely worth more,  but it's a family thing, so I can't complain.

Let's Party!!

Okay, late time I talked about having a party.  Let's do it!  Here are the rules.  It will start on April 15 and run until May 15.  We are going to call it Sew into Spring.  Here is what it is all about.

I am on a limited budget and my kids need summer clothes.  So I decided that I wanted to make as many clothes for my kids without spending tons of money.  So all of you sewers out there, get on your sewing cap and start sewing.  You can sew, glue, refashion, upcycle, really however you want to do it as long as someone can wear it.  No pet clothes. 

Let's get started.  Ready, Set, GO!

Summer shirts to....Winter Shirts!

I am so excited about this one.  I have had this in my head for a long time and now it's out. 

Have any of you noticed the trends with long sleeve shirts lately?

What I am talking about is the sleeves.  They look like a short sleeve shirt with a long sleeve underneath in a different color, print, or fabric.  Will one day while I was out shopping for winter shirts I noticed this (it was actually months ago).  My son has a bunch of summer shirts that aren't quite too small yet and are still useable but next summer they will be too small.

The solution??
Make long sleeves.  This is so simple and you can do it no matter what size shirt.  Heck, you could do this to your husband's shirts if you wanted too.  Mine would be less than thrilled if I did this to his shirts.  But nevertheless you can always try.

Here are the directions:

First, pick out the shirt that you want to use.  Lay it out flat and measure the opening of the sleeve.  So layed flat, if it was 3 1/2 inches wide then you would need 7 inches wide.  Then using a long sleeve shirt as a pattern I measured how long I needed the rest of my sleeve.  For example,  if the sleeve on the short sleeve shirt from the shoulder seam was 4 inches and the sleeve from the long sleeve shirt was 12 inches then you would need to cut your sleeve that you are going to add 8 inches plus 1 inch of overlap for a total of 9 inches.

With all of your measurements ready it is time to start cutting.  I went to a thrift store months ago with this project in mind and found men's t-shirts in the the best condition as possible and for cheap as possible.  I got most of mine for a buck.  I made sure they had neck ribbing on in case I wanted to add ribbing to the sleeves.  With that done, I laid the t-shirt out and took my measurements of the sleeve that I wanted and started cutting. 

Make sure you cut your sleeve out on a fold so you don't have a seam on top and bottom of the sleeve.  I cut my sleeves from the bottom corners of the sleeves so I could use the hem from the bottom of the shirt as the hem for my sleeves.  I also tapered the sleeve so that it would be not as wide near the wrist.  You can make it the same width all the way down or taper it.  Be careful not to taper it too much or it will be too tight.

Once you have your sleeve cut out, turn right sides together and sew starting at the hem and going along the edge.  I used a serger.  The nice thing about knit is that is doesn't fray.  Once I had a sleeve looking thing, I pinned the long sleeve into the short sleeve and sewed around it. 

On most all sleeves unless it is not hemmed they have a hem line.  I sewed directly on the seam of the previous hem line in a matching thread so you would never know it was added later.  Once you have sewed your sleeve on you are done, unless you added the ribbing for the hem.  The sewing was a bit tricky and you had to maneuver it carefully so you don't sew the sleeve together.

These turned out so great and I saved money too.  Always a plus if you ask me.  A beginner could totally do this.  It took about 5 minutes start to finish.  Happy long sleeving all of your shirts!!

Note:  The lighting in my sewing room is really terrible.  Waiting for a new light.

Shorts Refashion

I Got a pair of shorts at DI.  I knew exactly what I was going to do with them the minute I saw them.  They have some embroidery detail on the front and back pockets.