Thursday's Upcycled Bed Linen Fabric Sale is Underway...

ALL RECLAIMED BED LINENS ARE ON SALE TODAY. 30% OFF ALL BED SHEETS, PILLOWCASES, QUILT SQUARES, FAT QUARTER AND BED LINEN YARDAGES. HAPPY SHOPPING!

Wee One's Elastic Skirt Tutorial

So here it goes. I am not always the best at teaching something, but I guess that is what practice is for:) A few days ago, I did a post about some simple elastic waist skirts I had been making for my girls and the shop. I had been working on a tutorial for this to back right up to that post, but I have been wrestling with our internet provider attempting to deal with a very poor connectivity. It is quite difficult to run an online business without being on-line-huh:) who would have thought! Any ways lovelies. Here is the tutorial for these skirts. And if I fail miserably at making this sound as easy as it is-I won't be offended if you look up the blog world for help-there are so many of these little ditties out there.

First thing-I tend to always use reclaimed linens, it is just a little ol' obsession with me. But cotton, cotton blends, knits, polyesters, etc work just fine for these. The lighter weight, the better. You need to first determine the length you want the skirt to be and add 1 to 2 inches for the bottom hem depending on how wide you want the hem to be and 3-5 inches for the waist band depending on how wide the elastic you are using is going to be. I have been using a 2 inch wide elastic because that is what I have on hand and it seems to be super comfy on little tummies. As far as the elastic measurement...each type of elastic is different and each child is different, so I always stretch the elastic around my child's waist to see what is comfortable for them.

Next you need to measure your wee one's teeny little waist and multiply that by 1.5 for a less gathered look or by 2 for a fuller look and that will determine the width of the fabric you cut. For a size 6 which is shown on my daughter, I cut the fabric 18 inches long by 36 inches wide.

Now you are going to fold the fabric in half and sew up the side seem. It is best to finish the hem so it does not unravel in the wash. There are a variety on finishing stitches, you can use your favorite on the machine you have. I tend to use a wide zig-zag for my daughters skirts.

Next you will want to iron your bottom hem before stitching. It is a simple double fold and helps to use the iron.

After you have sewn the bottom hem, take it back to the ironing board for work on the waist band. Bring your elastic with you. First I fold down the about a half inch and iron flat.

Next fold is to make the casing for your elastic. I use my elastic for a quick guide line. Remember to leave enough fabric to stitch the tube shut but leave enough room for the elastic to slide through.

Take the skirt back to the machine. You are going to stitch the tube almost completely shut.

But leave a little opening for the elastic to be threaded through the tube.

I use a safety pin to help guide the elastic through the fabric.

I also pin the tail near the opening so it does not get accidentally lost inside the tube.

When you get the elastic pulled through the tube, pin the two ends together and stitch together. Makes sure to reinforce it well.

Slip the elastic band all the way into the tube once it is securely sewn together. You will then need to sew that little opening shut.

And there you have it. Just even out the gathers and the skirt is finished. BUT-I add in one more step on mine especially when I am using a wider elastic that can tend to twist and fold inside the tube you created for it. If you are using a thin width elastic, this step is not needed.

I place my waist band on my machine and let the needle down through the elastic and fabric.

I sew through the elastic stretching the waist as tight as I can until it is flat. I work in small sections of the waist as I go. If you do not stretch the waist as you sew through the elastic, you will no longer have a stretchy waist.

Here is how it looks with the second stitching.

Thank you my Bell who has patiently modeled each new skirt I have made.

SHOP UPDATE ...

HELLO LOVELIES!! SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION WITH THE SHOP. IT IS UP ONCE AGAIN. TODAY'S SALE IS ON UPCYCLED LINENS. THIS INCLUDES FAT QUARTER BUNDLES, QUILT SQUARES, BED LINEN YARDAGES, PILLOWCASES, SHEETS, AND FLAT RATE LINEN BOXES. THEY ARE ALL 30% OFF TODAY. HAPPY SHOPPING.

BED LINENS SALE TODAY ONLY....

IT IS THURSDAY AND ALL OF THE BED LINENS ARE ON SALE TODAY IN THE SHOP!! SHEETS, PILLOWCASES, BED LINEN YARDAGE, FAT QUARTERS, AND QUILT SQUARES ARE 30% OFF. HAPPY SHOPPING AND HAPPY CREATING!

UPCYCLED BED LINENS SALE TODAY ONLY...

TODAY ALL UPCYCLED BED LINENS ARE ON SALE IN THE SHOP-THEY ARE 30% OFF. THIS INCLUDES PILLOWCASES, SHEETS, FAT QUARTER BUNDLES, QUILT SQUARES, BED LINEN YARDAGE AND FLAT RATE BOXES. HAPPY SHOPPING...

UPCYCLED BED LINENS SALE TODAY ONLY...

TODAY THERE IS A SALE ON UPCYCLED BED LINENS IN THE SHOP. THEY ARE 25% OFF.

THIS INCLUDES...

PILLOWCASES...

BED SHEETS...

BED LINEN FAT QUARTERS...

BED LINEN QUILT SQUARES...

YARDAGE OF UPCYCLED BED LINENS...

Thursday's Upcycled Linens Sale...

The Thursday Bed Linen Sale is underway....

All upcycled bed linens are 20% off today.

Fun new linens added daily. Have a lovely day!!

To Keep My Mind Occupied...

Last week, while cleaning and preparing to begin working outside, I injured my back. I honestly could not even tell the doctor what I was doing when it happened, it just kind of snuck up on me last Tuesday and Wednesday. At first I could not even pinpoint what it was exactly because the pain was making me so nauseous, I almost thought I was sick. But gradually the pain set in on one area and it was quite evident I had pulled something in my back. Up until this morning I have been attempting to just get through the pain while taking it easy, but this morning I woke up and there was no waiting until even tomorrow for my Drs appointment. Hopefully after today I will begin to heal(quickly). So, in the down times, when I could manage to sit for awhile, I have put some more love into the rug I began last week. I added a raspberry layer to it. I took the afternoon off of teaching since the medicine I am on makes me feel like I am moving in slow motion. I was able to sit outside while the kids played in the sunshine, and braided at least a few rounds for the circle.

Thursday's Upcycled Bed Linen Fabric Sale is Underway...

25% off of all upcycled bed linens today....

Sitting at My Table....

It has been awhile since I have done any quilting. Bell's quilt for her birthday was the last time I sat down to do any quilting and after doing her quilt while we were away for our Anniversary, I have had a strong desire to get back to quilting a bit more. So many ideas to work out and such beautiful prints to combine. So, this past week I have stolen away little bits of time to get these quilt tops quilted. They are all smaller baby and toddler sized quilt tops making them manageable in small windows of time.

This first one is a combination of modern and vintage linens along with some beautiful modern quilting fabrics. The center floral panel was taken from a pillow sham I found while in Door County for our Anniversary. I was so taken with how well the new and old came together! And of course the dots add some fun.

The second is made completely from vintage bed linens. I just had to showcase the floral print with some retro stripes. The fabric speaks for itself!

And the third is similar to some I have done in the past. It uses some of my favorite happy bright scraps taken from clothing, linens, and vintage fabrics. I used a lemon striped bed linen for the longer strips.

Just need to bind all of these fun quilts now.

I have also finished this past weekend, a boy doll for Noah, which he has been asking for ever since Bell got her "Elizabeth" on Valentines Day. Joslyn has also been requesting a doll for just as long, so I have now done one for her as well. Both of them just make me giggle and seem to have a personality all their own. Looking forward to surprising them!

Beautiful layers from the Past...

I finished with a big wholesale order this week and it has been a few weeks since I have sat at the machine for anything else:). Each night, I thought I would be able to sit down to work on some ideas swimming around in my brain, but the nights came and went with other priorities to tend to. But today has been a rainy day with no pressing needs outside the house, the kids have been hard at work on their studies and in between working with them, I was able to finish a new tote I hope to use at Easter. Most of my bags are pretty dark or wild:) so I have been slowly designing one that is neutral and a tad bit elegant for those dressier occasions.

Here is what I began with....

Two basic but lovely beige linen napkins-I found these at a thrift shop. I bought 4 of them for $2.00.

I have some muse boxes that I keep my laces, trims, doilies and hankies in not only for projects but for inspiration. I pulled these out to find just the right pieces to add to the tote.

I start by playing around and layering hankies and the needlework pieces I think I want to use.

Once I have it the way I like it...I take a picture for reference(the age of digital is so fabulous!) because then I back track and start sewing each piece on one by one, slowly layering them. Here are the steps I went through...

Sections of vintage hankies went on first.

Next I added the vintage needlework pieces, pinning them a bit just to keep them from bunching.

Once the front of the tote is finished( I left the back plain)-I picked out the fabric for the handles and the lining. This type of tote really would not need to be lined due to the way it was sewn but a little extra strength to it is always nice. I had set this striped bed linen aside for some summer beach pants for my Noah but there is just enough extra to cut a strap for the tote. It was just way to perfect looking to pass up.

Then for the lining I decided to pick this softer and subtle daisy bed linen fabric that kind of plays off of the yellow flowers on the hankie.

This is how it all turned out. It is a larger tote. I believe it is something like 20x20. But especially on Easter, with my husband being a Pastor, I am usually single- momming -it and require a few aides which require a large bag:) Let's call it the grown up version of a diaper bag since I no longer have babies but my wee ones still need a few things on longer mornings.

And here are a few favorite pics of mine of the process. ah..peace...

And last but not least, a quick pic of part of the wholesale order I filled this past week.

6 fun pillowcase dresses. It is that time again!