101 Sewing Tutorials + The Flirt Skirt

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Did you happen to see Kim's post at Everything Etsy the other day? If not, oh my. Are you in for a treat! I have My Growing Home's elastic-waist Flirt Skirt all over my radar (and some destashed linen at the ready.)What are you planning on making this summer?

Things I've Made: Ruffle Tote Preview!

Hey y'all. Happy Friday! I wanted to share with you what I've been up to lately in my crafty corner of the world.

Ta da! Check out my ruffle tote! This is a sneak preview to the version I'll be adding to my shop very soon (the pattern is still a work-in-progress at this point, but it's very close to the way I want it!)

What do you think? This was made of a brown heather 100% linen outside with a brown/white swiss dots 100% cotton interior.

If you could have one in any color, which color would you choose?

Happy weekend ♥

For the Birthday Girl: Seersucker Sundress + Black Apple Doll

 black apple doll + gingham seersucker sundress

I love my birthday, partly because it is always a magical day, but also because I share it with two fantastic family members -- my Unc D and niece Lily! Lily Pop turned 4 this year, which is just a perfect age for handmade gifts. This year for Lily, I made a darling blue and white gingham seersucker sundress and a plush doll in a matching dress, adapted from Emily Martin's Black Apple doll pattern (so generously shared on Martha Stewart.)Vintage buttons, a tiny satin bow, and felt mary janes just add to the fun.

Latest Projects: Flippers Summer Slippers

 Loving my latest "flippers" summer slippers (flip flops + slippers = flippers. Clever, eh? 100% my momma. Thanks mom!) This is the 4th pair of flippers I've made and certainly not my last. The fabric shown is a repurposed thrift store fabric...I wish I had bolts of the stuff!

Freebie Friday: The Necktie (Father's Day edition)

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I got the nicest email the other day from Matt over at Tiepedia. Gotta give props to a guy doing his blogging thing, especially when it's not a tech or sports blog! It's all about the quintessential man essential: the necktie. Now, call me crazy, but I freaking love the look of a man in a necktie. It just seems right somehow. Maybe that's old-fashioned, but hey, I've been known to like all things old-fashioned.

So, as I was saying. Matt has a great post on necktie cakes, which I completely love. Definitely check it out! (Thanks for the link, Matt!)

It also got me thinking...Father's Day is Sunday. Do you want to make an extra-special gift for Pops this year? Why not make him his very own, custom-made necktie? Even dads who don't like ties would like it if you made it with your own two hands! Need a pattern? Check out Andy Gilchrist's man-friendly blog Ask Andy About Clothes for a great DIY necktie tutorial.

Happy (early) Father's Day to all the dads out there + have a great weekend!

Freebie Friday: Summer Flip Flop Slippers

Remember how I mentioned on Monday that, before summer was over, I'd like to make these completely darling flip flop-style slippers using Liz @ Lady Harvatine's pattern? Well, I made some that very evening. And I want to make gobs more. They are so great for shuffling around the house! When it's hot outside, I'm a barefoot kinda gal, but my feet get Dirty with a capital D! Ew! These little fellas fix that right up. Of course, I have lots of plans to tweak the pattern, but this is my version of said slippers. Which I call 'slippies' and usually scoot around and do a little dance, wiggling my arms like a goon. What can I say? It's what I do.

Happy weekend, peeps. I'm meeting a new friend for coffee later. Yippee! Can't wait!

list twenty: Crochet, Sewing, and Stuffing, oh my!

 {vintage dress form via See Change Design}

I feel like my life is cracking along at a nice pace lately, though I feel something big tugging at the corners of my mind just ever so slightly. (Do you ever get that feeling?) I do have quite a few projects coming along nicely, which always brings me to smiles.

Here's a list of fun projects I've been working on lately...note the gross lack of home improvement projects. What can I say? Creating little owly friends is way more fun than scraping mouldering caulk.

1. Working on owl #2 #3 for the Great Owl Crochet-along. They are cute! I want to make a bajillion! (Pics coming soon!) *Finished #2 owly last night!

2. Finished a darling chambray wrap skirt, recycled from a Ralph Lauren king-sized pillow case bought for $1 at the thrift store. (pics coming soon!)

3. Finished the perfect sleeveless summer top from a vintage pattern I bought at an estate sale last year -- bright white with Battenburg lace details at the straps (entirely constructed from a white cotton bedskirt bought for $1 at the thrift store...I was on a roll!) (pics coming soon!)

4. Finished two hand-crocheted cotton market totes - 1 for the giveaway and 1 for my store. Loving the pattern! (Keep your peepers open for the Wakefield Market tote...it's coming soon!)

5. Nearly finished with an all jute crocheted tote from an original pattern. Just need to sew a lining and find some leather straps. I like it, but I'd like it better if it were bigger! Next time...

6. I really should get around to hanging my inspiration bulletin board.

7. Grand plans for a sewing machine cover from the great fat quarter bundle from Spool that Bubs bought me for Christmas.

8. I have yet another fantastic heap of fabric -- this is a pretty vintage floral in lime greens and yellows -- of which to fashion this darling wrap dress from Butterick.

9. Working on some new soft goods + sewn items for Hello Magpie Etsy.

10. Before summer's over, I'd like to make I have made these flip-flop slippers :) *Done! Made my first pair last night. Love 'em but going to modify the pattern a bit I think. Best part? I didn't need to buy a thing...I had every material required!

How are your projects coming along?

*sorry for the gross lack of photos. I'm just being lazy. I'll take a bunch and share very soon! I promise! And I also promise my fingers weren't crossed when I promised just then...it will happen...eventually...)

Oh! And don't forget to check back tomorrow...Good Morning Ohio Giveaway winner will be announced!

Freebie Friday: Upcycled T-shirt Tote Tutorial

My sister and I love, love, LOVE to brainstorm. Whether it's a new little something to sew, products to source, or packaging, she has the eye for design, an ear to listen, and one heck of a contributing voice! Out of one of those sessions comes this fun, cheap, and easy DIY project. Turn any old t-shirt into an easy tote bag - perfect for the beach, playground, or park. I don't have much experience in pattern making, so I'll do my best to walk you through the tutorial...please ask questions if something's unclear. Enjoy :o)





Above, you'll see the basic instructions for my t-shirt tote bag. Below, I've listed a few extra details I've done to jazz up my finished tote (top image.)


Have you used this tute to make a tote of your own? I'd love to see your finished product! Email me at reevetobe{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll happily share your photos with the world!

xo,
Evelyn

p.s. This tutorial + pattern are for your personal use only, please. Share and share alike, but please give me credit when reposting!

Freebie Friday: A Darn Good Lesson

{LIFE via Google}

Yep. That was a pun. Today's freebie is a lesson on how to darn. Aren't you excited?! For years I was fascinated with the seemingly antiquated necessity to darn things, especially socks. I mean...socks. If they get a hole, you buy a new package and toss the old ones, right? Not necessarily. Now those holey items may be given a bit more life, thanks to Penny Sanford's handy dandy darning instructions. Now that I grasp the process of darning,  I finally get to use my grandmother's old darning eggs! Once a favorite to play with (my grandma's sewing room was full of mystery and imagination and was one of my favorite play places), those darning eggs are living in my office, upon a shelf, inside the basket I wove on my honeymoon in Jamaica. My grandma would love that.

So here you go. A quick + dirty guide to darning. Give it a go before you toss out that old favorite!

And in case you'd like one more tutorial, Craftzine offers a pretty good one, too (with great photos for darning things other than socks.)

Make Do & Mend: Patching Holes

 {farouche etsy}

For quite awhile now, I've been thinking about my spending patterns, what they mean, the impact they have on my household and the global picture, what it means to truly "make do and mend" and, to go one step further, how to apply those philosophies to my every day life.

In the past, I have been guilty of replacing items with brand-new because I was tired of the old one (*guilty of following flash-in-the-pan trends and not investing  in classic foundation pieces). I've also donated clothing that was ill-fitting before ever trying to alter it to fit me properly (*guilty of not seeing the value in already-owned pieces and getting creative with my seamstress abilities) and, lastly, I recognize that, in the past, I've put way too much value on the 'new' instead of saving my money and making do with what I already own. Well, I'm proud to say that, for me, those wasteful days are over. From now on, I'm going to apply the philosophies of generations past and make do and mend. It's not going to be any walk in the park, but I hope that checking in with my progress will inspire you to tackle some projects of your own and share tips as we discover them. I hope you'll join me in "using it up, wearing it out, making it do and doing without"!

Here's what I did last week:

1. Sewed up a tear and patched two holes in a vintage pillowcase liner.



2. Sewed up two tiny holes in a $2 thrift store sweater I recently bought.

3. Finished an elastic skirt made from a new cotton sheet and white grosgrain ribbon. Added some pockets using Susan at Freshly Picked's tutorial here. (Not the greatest pic, but I had to share it. I love the pockets!)

4. Made a notebook tote for my best friend's son's 2nd birthday (I'll post pics after I give it to him!)

What's up next on the Make Do & Mend list (and this isn't just limited to clothing, folks!):

- Hem about 6 pairs of pants
- Make some kind of window covering for spare bedroom window
- Pick up & strip wood benches from my grandma's old house (hopefully pick up over Easter weekend...)
- Reinforce a seam on a pair of suede flats (holes already awled and ready for stitching)

What's on your Make Do & Mend list?

Freebie Friday: 2 Super Cute Japanese Bag Tutes

I came across these two tutorials and loved them so much, I had to share. The illustrations are almost cuter than the bags, don't you think? The little lumpy cat-dog-bear animal with the apple on its head? C'mon, that's just adorable! Sure wish I could read the instructions, but I think that anyone with intermediate sewing skills can follow along. Can't wait to give it a try myself!

tutorial 1: one-handle loop satchel (top)

tutorial 2: two-handled bag (bottom)

Happy weekend!

Freebie Friday: nani IRO 2010 Patterns

There is such a lovely, inspiring simplicity to nani IRO patterns and fabric, isn't there? Textile designer Naomi Ito makes me love the idea of sewing every day. A perfect, breezy summer tunic here or a  mommy-and-me apron set? I can't lie. I long for the day when I can whip up darling little frocks for my own wee brood. Until then, I have to live vicariously through all you hot craft mamas out there!

To take the legwork out of tracking down some seriously adorable patterns yourself, here are a few of my  favorite Nani Iro patterns, all courtesy of Kokka Japan.

note: patterns are in Japanese and metric, but it shouldn't stop you! 








Just click on an image below to open the corresponding pattern in another window. Enjoy!

Sea Creatures.

Loving these plush sea creatures by Tamar Mogendorff.

DIY LOVE: Vintage Angel Embroidery Patterns

These completely adorable kitschy cherubs are for all those crafty folks who love a vintage Christmas. Thanks to Floresita and her treasure trove of vintage transfers, we all get to enjoy these little angels! {Click here for the pattern.}

{Finished project by Sew It's For You}

Happy Hanukkah!

To all of you who celebrate,
I wish you a very Happy Hanukkah!

{floresita via casasugar}

I'm STILL Wishing DIY Meant "Did It Yesterday"...

Last week was a productive wedding prep week. I managed to fashion together all of our pew wreaths (24 in total, phew!), made a puffy bow for the programs basket, had FMIL cut the circle for the cake stand, started working on the grab bags for out-of-towners and began working on my special chair back covers for our own personalized bride & groom reception chairs. I would've finished the chair back covers entirely, but it didn't begin well...wrong size template and yarn weight. Fear not! I'll get it worked out and they should look smashing :)

Here are the remaining DIY projects:

- print & assemble programs
- print menus
- print & assemble escort "cards"
- finish chair back covers
- finish cake stand
- make veil

There are so many more non-crafty things that need to be done, too (such as...getting our wedding license and making final payments to nearly everyone, nobigdeal.) October is shaping up to be a busy month, but I'm confident that we'll get it all completed, despite being down one key member of Team E+D...Sissy (aka the MoH) is moving away at the end of the month! ACK =( I'm very sad. But she'll be coming back for the wedding and staying nearly a week. We're all very excited for her, but she's my Gibraltar. It's going to be an interesting adjustment for me, maintaining my sanity without her close by. My excitement and hope for her success is getting me through, though! Poor D. He's going to have to bear the whole weight of my wedding stress now. Well, there's always my momma. She's always good for a chat or twelve :)

Now, back to the DIY projects. Because we are delaying our honeymoon departure until the first week in December, I'd like to make us new luggage tag sets sometime before then. D. has requested red ones to match the black luggage I bought him a few years ago and I plan to go with some bright, cheery pattern to match the navy/white Diane von Furstenberg luggage he bought me for my birthday (hurray!)

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While snooping the interwebs for a freebie pattern (one less thing I have to figure out myself through trial & error is a good thing, at this point), I came across this completely great quickie luggage tag tutorial. Aren't they darling? I think I'll fashion ours much the same way, though I am going to attempt to sew on a bit of clear plastic to hold our contact information. Being ever so thrifty, I hold onto all of those vinyl bags that new sheets and such come in and I think that vinyl weight will hold together nicely. Rather than sew 3 sides to form a sleeve for the information card to slide into, I may just sew all 4 sides to keep it from falling out. We won't be moving for awhile, anyway :)

Sew in Love

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D. bought me Amy Butler's Frenchy Bag pattern for my birthday and I want to make it so badly I can hardly stand it! I've been eyeing some Heather Bailey fabrics that are completely adorable, but I don't think anywhere local sells them...hmm...may have to pop over to a few shops and find something for the time being because, really. There's no such thing as too many purses.

Oh, and check out the completely awesome wrap dress pattern I snagged on sale for $1 a few weeks ago. Lurv it! This is most definitely going to be a winter project, though, which is a little depressing. I've just been so busy lately that most of my own projects have been sidled for later. At least I have something to look forward to come springtime, though! It could make a perfect Easter dress...all it needs is a cute little cardi over it, don't you think?

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Deja vu?

Am I losing it? Have I posted this before? Well, even if I have, there (still) aren't words for how much I heart this birdie mobile. It reminds me very much of a fantastically hip cloth elephant mobile with a rustic bell on the end that my Aunt Vicky gave to me years ago (I have a thing for elephants, you see.) Alas..I think all but one elephant has survived, but one never forgets!

Are you feeling a little DIY action? Oh yeah. Me, too. Instructions ici.

{all this jazz is courtesy Spool Sewing via casasugar, btw. I'm such a fan.}

DIY LOVE: ORGANZA FLOWERS

So..I came across the most fantastic DIY craftiblog loveliness today via Reese Dixon's blog. Oh, be still my heart! And my legs...otherwise, I'm going to JoAnn's tonight to get organza to start whipping up copious amounts of these little darlings using Reese's rockin' tutorial. I must find a place in my life for these flowers. It is a moral imperative. Perhaps a garland strung up in my office? Or several, fluttering in the breeze against my window? Or tacked in bunches to a decorative pillow, maybe? Ooh ooh can you imagine the possibilities?!

{insert happy dance here}

{Courtesy: Reese Dixon}

Make Do and Mend with the Shoreditch Sisters WI (Pt. 2)

Make Do and Mend with the Shoreditch Sisters WI

What a FANTASTIC group of ladies with one of the best ideas I've seen in ages. Why doesn't Columbus have a group like this yet? You know me...I'm all about repurposing, reusing and refashioning. Another thing I love about this social club? Women getting together to help, support and befriend one another. I don't know about you, but I don't spend enough time making friends. This seems to me like a great opportunity to make friends AND cool stuff. That's win-win! All you Columbus ladies out there...let me know if you'd be interested in getting together for our own Make Do Mend session!

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