Sunday, August 21, 2016

Eveylyn Jane Reversible Skirt --- Pattern Review.

If you're looking for a cute skirt, that is super fast to sew together, Check out the Evelyn Jane Reversible Skirt Pattern.   This is a great pattern for beginners, it is very easy, and has wonderful step by step photo instructions. 


One of my favorite features is the flat front, elastic back.  I love an easy elastic skirt, really grows with your child, but I find that sometimes full elastic, if there is no drop waist, looks a bit full or young.  The flat front is the perfect solution and gives a more grown up look to any skirt or pant.


The best part is that you get TWO skirts in one.  Since it's reversible, all of your seams are inside, and completely hidden, so no need to use a serger, or zigzag.  It comes together very quickly, even if you add the contrast band at the bottom. 


On my next one I want to add some piping or ricrac to change it up a bit.   I find it's a great way to make a holiday skirt, that can still be warn year round.  Pop on over to Heidi's page today and check out this and other patterns.  Her Cecily Rose dress is one of my absolute favorite patterns.  Pollywoggles Patterns


Saturday, August 20, 2016

Tic-Tac-Toe Mini Quilt Set.



Sewing items for boys has always put me at a loss.  It's hard for me to come up with new ideas, and keep a stock of cute fabric around that they would like.  My friend Reece over at Happy Okapi posted this idea a few days ago.  I thought they were so cute, and would be fun.   (Check out her blog to find out more about how she made them, and where she got that adorable pirate fabric.)



I made the one side with the scrap of Paw Patrol fabric i had left, and the other side with the StarWars for his big brother.  Now they can play tic-tac-toe, and always have their own sides.  I made a mini duffle bag and it looks pretty manly, if I do say so myself, and just the right size to keep everything together.  My daughter keeps wanting to play with it.












 

The squares I used were 3" to start with, using a 1/4" SA. When I finished the quilt, I found them too big, so went back and sewed inside another 1/4".  So if you plan on using the same measurements for the quilt, then you want them to finish at 2" square.   Of course you can make them any size you want.  It would be super fun with a mini charm pack.




 Reece used poly pellets, but I used rice, since I had a huge bag on hand.  You can fill them with pretty much anything you like.  You could also put a small magnet inside, and then a small cookie sheet with washi tape to make a travel board. 





 
For the tic-tac-toe board I made a mini quilt.   I used some of my charm pack I had laying around.  I cut each 5" piece into 2.5" squares.  I sewed on 1/2" of black fabric to the right hand side of the first two squares in each row (I chain pieced them).  I then sewed on the last square in each row.  With all three rows nicely pressed, I sewed two 1/2" pieces down the middles.  I used some double sided fusible interfacing, black fabric on the back, and black binding.  

The bag is just a simple zipper pouch, that I boxed the corners on, and added some straps made out of webbing.  I nice bright lining makes it easy to find everything.


Both the Paw Patrol and Star Wars fabric were purchased from Funky Monkey Fabrics