on the menu today...

... A tutorial!

It's been a while, huh?

I love giving my kids homemade gifts, and decided to make some Menus for Bug {E’s} Restaurant – the kid loves to ‘cook’ all day in her kitchen.

Supplies:

2 fat quarters – one each for front and back

Inkjet Printable Fabric sheet

Lightweight fusible interfacing
Medium weight fusible interfacing
Basic sewing supplies - thread, machine, rotary cutter, ruler & mat, etc.

I made my menu template in Microsoft Word. I fit four to a page. Once you are happy with the layout, print on regular paper… just to make sure you really like it. You should allow at least 3/8” on each side for seam allowance. If it looks okay, print on printable fabric sheet according to package directions.

Peel backing paper away and trim to size. Mine were just about 4” x 5”.

Cut 2” strips from one of your fat quarters. Using ¼” seam allowance, sew a piece on each side of your menu, trim to size and iron seams out

 Repeat for top and bottom.

I trimmed mine down a little here, to measure 6” x 7”. I suppose you could have just cut the strips at 1 3/4" to begin with... but sewing with two kids under foot I like to give myself a little room for error.

Attach lightweight fusible interfacing to these pieces following interfacing ironing recommendations.

With remaining fat quarter, attach medium weight interfacing to back and cut pieces to match menu front (6” x 7”).

 With right sides together, stitch, leaving a 3” opening for turning.

 Using a crochet hook, poke corners out to lay flat. Topstitch around edge at 1/8”. To further reinforce the interfacing, I also did a quick “stitch in the ditch” around the menu.

 Almost done! Repeat with other three menus and then… head over to Lia’s Crafty Journey for her great Lined Pouch tutorial that I used to make the holder for the menus!

Using her tutorial and two pieces of fabric measuring 8x20” (again with lightweight fusible interfacing on one fabric to make it a little sturdier) I made a great little pouch to put her menus away at the end of the day.

Finally, wrap and make a little girl you know very very happy on her birthday! How fun would this be given along with some felt food?

out of necessity

I love to sew clothes, quilts, etc., but sometimes the most rewarding things I make are out of necessity. Bug fell off the couch onto a chair two days ago, and after 48 hours of guarding the arm, we took her to the clinic. It looks like a slight break, and will heal on its own {yeah for that!}. However, she has to wear this sling in the meantime. To help with the comfort, I made a minky strap cover. Simple, but here's how I did it:

Measure from the front where the strap attaches to the back, and add 1/2". For the second measurement, double the width of the strap and add 3/4". I cut my piece 12 x 5".

Fold over short ends towards wrong side of fabric by 3/8" and topstitch. Fold with right sides together and sew long side together. Turn inside out... and have one happy {and compliant} girl!

Gymboree-inspired tank

I was daydreaming about spring toddler wardrobes and warm weather, and fell in love with this top at Gymboree. Cute, no? So, inspired by this top, I came up with this: Here's how I did it.

I used about 1/2 yard of main print and a 2 1/2" x 42" solid for ruffle, as well as 19" of 1/4" elastic and a few inches of bias tape.

I used a shirt that fit my toddler as a guide for the pattern. I cut it so it was a-line, not like my shirt, but whatever. My measurements are for a 3T.Unfold it and cut one arm off at a slope, like so:Cut a second piece and sew them right sides together along the side seams.On the left side of the shirt (it will have the strap) use your bias tape to finish the armhole.Serge the edge of the 2 1/2" strip, then fold it over and sew at 1/4" .I used my ruffling foot, but use whatever method you like. With right side of solid to wrong side of main fabric inside the neck hole, sew together, ruffling the solid fabric. Serge seam together when you get back to starting point.It will now look something like this:Pin ruffle down (as a side note, this is where I realized I picked the wrong pink. Bummer. Live and learn...).To make a casing for the elastic, I found my smallest safety pin and it would fir through a 1/4" seam, so that is the size of my seam. Topstitch all the way around, leaving a 1" opening for threading elastic through. Measure the top of the garment, mine is about 26" around, and I opted to make my elastic at 75% of this measurement, so 19". Thread through opening. Sew elastic together - my machine likes to have fabric to hold on to, so I sew them together on top of a scrap then trim the excess. Topstitch opening. Serge bottom edge and fold towards inside to hem at 1/4". Done!For the baby, I opted to add another strap - I simply serged both sides of a 2" piece of fabric, topstitch the serging to the inside. With the tank on the toddler, I figured out where the strap should go and topstitched along the elastic casing line. Happy toddler and happy mom!

{sailor skirt}

I have been sorting through closets in an early spring clean, and I got as far today to find one pair of capris that are just too wide in the leg... so I got the sewing machine out for a quick refashion. I got these brand new with tags from Anthropologie at our local thrift store last year for $8. Score! The legs were just too wide and I felt silly wearing them. Inspired by {this skirt} I set out to make matching skirts for the girls. Here's how I did it!

I started with really wide leg pants, but from scratch would be really quick too. (Please ignore the strange way I am standing... Moo would not stay out of the picture so she's on my shoulders. Life with a toddler.) I cut 12 1/2" for a 3t, and 11" for a 2t.The original hem is what I used for the bottom hem, so that's done already.
Turn the top over to wrong side of fabric by 1/4" and stitch.
Fold over again by 2 1/4", pin and sew again using your original seam as a guide.
Take a seam ripper and take off original belt loops. Mine were big enough I cut them in half and was able to use the five originals between the two skirts.

Place two on the front - mine are about 2 1/4" in from the side seam - and three in the back. One centered, the other two about 1 1/4" in from the seam towards the back so they were all evenly spaced. Using a zig-sag stitch, sew them in place.
After I stitched the belt loops in place, there was about 3/4" that I had to put a belt through. This will just depend on what size your loops are. For mine, I cut a piece 2 1/2" x 34". Iron in half, with both short ends ironed in. Fold both long sides towards the center, and iron again.
Stitch close to the edge of your belt. I used a contrasting thread and love how it looks. Thread it through the loops and enjoy!
The girls were unusually cooperative for the photo shoot today.
It went a lot better than our last joint picture attempt.
So cute! I want to make another one with pleats as well as the belt for a fuller look at the bottom.