Easy Hemming Tutorial

If there is anything I hate dislike doing, that would be jean shopping! Why do I dislike it so much? Well, I am short so every time I try on jeans I have the issue where they remain too long and it drives me crazy. Especially when it rains and the whole bottom get wet and then they start to tear....ugghhh!

If you've ever felt this way, then I have the perfect solution for you using this easy peasy hemming tutorial. It literally takes like 10 minutes to do. This is the easiest way to hem your pants keeping the original hem.

What you'll need for this tutorial is:

-Sewing Machine
-Pins

-Scissors

-Iron

What you will need to do first is try on the pair of jeans/pants and fold the pant leg up to the desired size that you would need it to be at (as seen below) and then bring it up about 1/2'' more.

Next go ahead and pin it to hold it in place.

Now sew right below the original hem (see below)

 Once you're done you will see the new hem as seen below in black.

What you do next is cut right below the new hem line. This will help to remove all of the excess fabric. Try to cut as close to it as possible.

 This is what it looks like when it's all cut (see below)

 Now just unroll the new hem and iron it flat.

Voila...just like new!

Romper

I decided to try out the Petti Romper Tutorial from Sew Like My Mom's blog before I start the real one for my daughter's birthday, which I want to make for her in the Daisy Duck colors, pink/purple/white.

I tried to make it in jean and white fabric that I had lying around and accessorized with some pearls to complete her outfit. She had fun modeling for the camera.

Isn't she just gorgeous? My baby is growing up so fast...she will soon be 3 years old.

Red Damask Coasters

I have a fancy idea of what I would like to give to my employees for Christmas. I want to make something unique, fun and perhaps something they would enjoy. Since we all need a little jolt of energy in the mornings to get us through the day, I figured a coffee something or another is how we would start.

Then I got to thinking how our desks are quite sensitive to the hot/cold of drinks and always leave stains, so I figured that some nice little coasters would work for this gifting idea. I decided to make mine using fat quarters I found at Wal-Mart that were pretty inexpensive. I purchased them in red and the damask style to make the ruffles.

**Tip: You can create the ruffles by setting your sewing machine to the longest stitch and the highest tension to create easy ruffles.**

With that in mind, I decided to add a little flair to the coffee mugs I plan on giving them. The whole thing is going to be a coffee mug, some baked treats or something edible (maybe even like pretzels dipped in chocolate with green/red sprinkles or hot cocoa dippers made with marshmallows partially covered in chocolate and sprinkles), the coasters (of course), cellophane and a pretty ribbon of some sorts to top the whole thing off.

I have been looking online for some ideas and found this awesome idea to use some porcelain paint to add a little personal message or design to each mug. Therefore, making it more personalized for each employee as an individual. Perhaps different size and shaped mugs would also make this a little more fun as well.

Let's see what else I come up with? Let me know what you think?!

Christmas Stockings

Hopefully soon I will be posting pictures of my homemade stockings, but first I need to decipher what style I am going for. Whether I would prefer the regular classic stocking, the elf style ones, what type of fabric I want to use, do I want it fluffy at the top? Should I monogram our names/initials onto it. Should I applique just the first letter of our names on it? My brain hurts....too many ideas to choose from.

My favorite would have to be the classy elf looking stockings. I want to make one for each of us, which would mean 4 stockings. Or should I make all 4 of them different to match each of us? Hmmm...lots to think about. Sounds like a weekend project to me since I know for sure that during the week I don't have much time for it.

While surfing the net, these are some of the pictures I found for inspiration:

Burlap Stocking with Ruffles

Peacock Elf Stocking

Fleece Stockings

Elf Fun Patterned Stocking

Felt Classic Stockings

I'd love to read your input on what style you think would be nice.

Sewing Machine

One of the greatest investments in my crafting collection is my Singer Confidence.

This is the story of how I found true love: I happened to walk into JoAnn's Fabric that day in search of a sewing machine. While searching I realized that they were trying to sell their new line of sewing machines that I can't even pronounce, Husqvarna. I was in shock because I was so used to seeing them always sell Singer sewing machines, which according to them were always the best. So then I see a sign that says "for sale" on what looks like the best little sewing machine.Here they were selling it dirt cheap. Oh well, their loss is my GAIN!

I decided to check the price tag on the Singer and saw that it was only $150. Woohoo ::jumping for joy::

When they saw me looking at the Singer sewing machine they were quick to sell me one of the Husqvarna from their new line. Curiously, I asked the price on it....and it was $700 for the cheapest one. Say what?! That's something that would definitely hurt my pocket. Besides, since I do not sew often, I am really just a novice and I mostly sew items to practice my sewing skills...I knew that this was just not the kind of sewing machine I was looking for.

I quickly grabbed my new little Singer and off I went to a happy place of sewing, my craft room. I have loved it ever since. This little handy dandy machine comes with 30 decorative stitching options, the drop in bobbin system (the old school ones were a pain), it has a built in threading system (especially if you're blind as a bat!) ...and just so much more. I have been able to make purses, pillows, clutch purses, re-fashioned upcycled clothing and so much more. There's a sewing machine out there for each of us.

I have to admit, I <3 my Singer Confidence!

Zipper Pouch Tutorial

I <3 purses and make up bags! I wanted to give my new sewing machine a test run and decided to create these cute little boxy zipper pouches. You can always change the dimensions of the fabric to make your pouch larger or smaller (also dependent upon zipper size).

Learn how you can make your own by following this easy tutorial I found online.

T-Shirt Shrug Tutorial

Upcycling old items and turning them into new ones can be so much fun. Why give the clothes away to Goodwill if they're just going to turn around and re-sell them?! Aren't they supposed to be for the needy anyways? Speaking of which...Goodwill is actually a good place to shop as well to gather new material in order to create new things.

So I got this idea to make a T-Shirt Shrug for my daughter out of an old plain white t-shirt that no longer fit my son.

Here's my tute on how to make your own:

GRAB A SHIRT

CUT ALONG THE RED LINE & CUT OFF NECK BAND.

TURN T-SHIRT INSIDE OUT AND FOLD 1 INCH ALONG THE  RED LINE TO FORM THE CASING.

PIN AND SEW.

LAST, PULL THE RIBBON THROUGH THE CASING  USING A SAFETY PIN, PULL TIGHT AND TIE. 

VOILA!!

Sew In Love

Sewing is not my forte, but I must admit I have been practicing and learning a lot of new techniques online as I go. As my husband likes to say, "I attended Google University." LoL.

Since this was a long weekend for me, I decided to get a little daring and actually try to create a shirt out of 2 old uniforms that I no longer wear. I've been reading online that people are now "thrifting" in order to find outfits that they can recreate or alter. Since I have a lot of clothes in my closet that I no longer use, I decided to give it a go...and this is what I came up with....

The bottom part of the shirt is a silky button down, while the top part is a stretchy material. I loved the look today with some blue jeans and a pair of brown/gold pointy heels.

The next thing I decided to try out was a clutch purse pattern that I purchased about 3 years ago. I was never brave enough to do it until now. Sewing is so much fun when there are no rules. Imagine if I really knew how to sew and all of the rules that come with it?? I probably would NEVER sew. hahaha. Anywho, the clutch I fell in love with is called the Olivia Clutch (<---- you can find it by clicking on this link.) Ali Foster has some amazing purse/handbag patterns, which are really cute. However, this particular one caught my attention so I had to buy it...and her prices are really inexpensive. Her version of the pattern looks like this.....

I had some fabric lying around that my grandmother purchased for me some time ago so that I can make a different clutch and I decided to finally put it to use as well. So this is what I came up with...

I am SEW IN LOVE! <3

Summer Fun Clutch

I <3 Jeans...and I <3 purses...so what better way to combine the two?! I looked for some inspiration online and then started to plan my design and this is what I came up with.

This design was created using a jean leg piece of fabric. The outside of the clutch is decorated with a summery type of ruffled fabric. The inside is created using an orange fabric and a jean pocket to hold any items such as credit cards/license/cell phone, etc. The closure was created using a belt holder from the jean and Velcro to close it.

May you have a design of your own...or tried to make one like this....I'd love to see it.