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Posts Tagged ‘sewing’

Child’s Apron Tutorial

posted by cindylouh on August 5th, 2009 | Gifts for Kids, handmade gifts, sewing |

Even though this looks complicated it really is a simple apron to make for your favorite little girls. I hope you give it a try!

Apron Template Download

Download the template and cut two pieces, one for the front and one for the back.
Cut 1 strip of fabric 4 inches by 45" (ruffle)
Cut 1 strip of fabric 5 inches by 25" (waistband) Finished size is 20 -23 inches. Take your child's waist measurement and add about 5 inches to determine the length of fabric needed.

Press ruffle piece (4 " X 45" long strip) in half lengthwise

To finish the ends of the ruffle, take the end and fold right sides together then stitch across the end about 1/4" from the edge. Repeat for other end.

Turn right side out.

Gather the ruffle piece. I do this by zig zag stitching over a piece of dental floss, making sure to not stitch into the dental floss.

Fold piece in half to find the middle and pin.

Gather evenly.

Matching center of ruffle with center of apron, pin ruffle to right side of apron.

Notice how I placed edge of ruffle hanging off the edge of the apron. To make the ruffle taper into the apron, bring the finished end point of the ruffle over to the marking line on the pattern. You may also choose instead to make it go straight by lining up the unfinished edge all the way up the side, just stop at the line (see template).

Place other apron piece on top, pin and then stitch all the way around 1/2 inch from the edge. It worked for me to hold the fabric from the front and back and slightly pull while sewing to keep the top and bottom layers flat. I have a setting that allows the needle to remain in the fabric when I stop-- this helps me also.

Turn right side out and

top stitch all the way around sides along the ruffle. You do not need to stitch across the top.

For waistband. Press 5" X 25" inch piece in half lengthwise. Open up and press each edge to center, then fold in half and press(for a visual on this technique look here on how tote bag strap is pressed). Finish each end the same way as the ruffle ends. Pin to top of apron.

Top stitch all the way around the edge. Sew a two inch piece of Velcro to the back of the front of the apron and a three inch piece to the end of the strap. This allows the waist to be adjustable.

I added a flower to the front of the apron where the Velcro was sewn. You can learn how to make the fabric flower from Wisecraft.

Not only does she look fancy while she is cooking, she can put it on and take it off all by herself!

Thanks for taking the time to visit me today!

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Towel Wrap for your hair

posted by cindylouh on September 4th, 2008 | free downloads, handmade gifts, sewing |

This a simple wrap for your hair that would make a nice gift packaged with some lotion and or things for the bath.

You will need 1 bath towel with at least 36 inches of space between the ribbing and 6 inches of 1/2 wide elastic.

Printable Towel Wrap Instructions

Fold the bath towel in half right sides together length ways. Measure 36" across the bottom of the towel (opposite) from the fold.

Cut out your shape

On the long end (where back of head goes) place a 6 inch piece of elastic folded in half about 3 inches up from the bottom

Stitch around the towel 1/2 from the edge leaving the bottom open. Zig Zag or overcast your seams to prevent unraveling.

Turn right side out and your are finished.

My sweet friend Jenni will model how this works. After your shower or bath you lean over and place your wet hair in the towel.

Then starting at your forehead you twist to the end--catching all of your hair inside

Take the end and pull it over your head and fasten in the back in the elastic loop! How cool is that?

I found the idea for this great project at Perfect Little Stitches. I though, adjusted the measurements for my version for a slightly different fit.

Here is gift idea for a child using a towel.

Child's Hooded Towel

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Lunch time!

posted by cindylouh on May 8th, 2008 | Gift for women, crafts, handmade gifts, sewing, teacher appreciation, teacher appreciation ideas |

A group of friends and I share a tradition of taking our kids' teachers lunch during teacher appreciation week. We tally up the amount of lunches we need, notify our teachers and then gather in the morning to assemble the lunches. One friend makes delicious chicken salad, another brings croissants for the sandwiches, one brings fruit, another makes wonderful pasta salad and another awesome brownies. I take care of the packaging. Last year I made these sacks. This year I made oilcloth lunch sacks.

I first made a pattern out of cardboard measuring 15 x 12. Cut a 2 1/2 inch square out of each bottom corner.

Take two pieces of oilcloth right sides together and draw around your template. Cut out. I used small clothes pins to hold the pieces together.

I used pinking shears to cut across the top (very optional- I thought it gave the edge a finished look)

Sew down each side and across the bottom. I used a stitch length of 5 and 1/4 inch seams on the entire bag. My machine handled the oilcloth beautifully, but If you have any troubles, Sew Mama Sew has a wonderful article on sewing with oilcloth.