Super Hero Mask

Have you ever needed a last minute project? I don't typically sew on the fly, but this time I just had to make an exception. My kids were getting ready to go "trunk or treating" with their cousin. My son said to me, "Mom, I really wish you would make me a super hero mask." I sent my 16yo to JoAnn's to get some felt (it's super nice to have an extra driver in the family now). By the time she was home with the supplies, I had the pattern printed and cut out.  

The rest of the project was a simple matter of cutting out the felt and sewing the mask together. It was really, really easy to sew. And he had a mask in less than 15 minutes. As payment for making the mask for him, he agreed to be photographed. And I think he even had fun doing that!

The mask attached with a piece of elastic. There is an option in the pattern to make masks out of cardboard. I think this would be a great idea for a kid's craft project at a party. In fact I even tried to talk my son into that idea, but he really wanted a sewn mask. I love quick and easy sews that make boys happy!
(This post uses affiliate links. When you use my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!)
You can purchase this pattern at UpCraft Club. If you make a super hero mask, I'd love to see it!

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3 Tips for Successfully Sewing A Bra

This post might contain TMI for some of my readers...feel free to skip it if it's too close for comfort for you! (I am sparing you from modeled shots though! NO ONE needs to see THAT much of me!)

I'm super excited that I recently learned how to sew my own bras! I was in the test group for the Greenstyle Creations Endurance Bra. I was a bit skeptical at first for a couple of reasons: one being that I have not really had too much success in sewing anything for myselft, and a second being that it's a bra. I mean I had never sewn a bra before.

I did however learn a lot through the process. Keep in mind that this is a sports bra with a front zipper (which I totally love). It is comfortable and as far as fabric choices go--the sky is the limit!

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Here I'm posting 3 tips that I learned, and I'm sharing to hopefully encourage you to sew your own bras too! (This post contains affiliate links. When you use my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my efforts!)

1. Use Klasse' Stretch Needles

OK. This first tip is actually one that I learned long ago when sewing anything stretchy. Forget ball point needles. Just use needles that are marked "stretch". Specifically, I use Klasse' Stretch Needles. Since first using these needles, I know that I will never use another.  For these bras I used size 75/11 needle.

2. Buy a whole yard of cut and sew foam (and order 1 inch FOE online too).

The pattern calls for a piece of cut and sew foam that is basically a fat quarter. You will be able to get 2 bras out of this amount. But after sewing my muslin and getting a good fit, I wanted to sew several more bras. Purchasing a whole yard of cut and sew foam saved me waste and also saved me from needing to buy more and pay more shipping. This foam is not readily available in local shops, so you will need to order it online. I ordered from Arte Crafts. When I did the math, it was less expensive to buy a whole yard than to buy 4 fat quarters. That was a no-brainer at that point. Oh and I got free shipping because my order was over a certain amount. Sewing the foam is so much fun and it is easily my favorite part of the bra sewing process. 

Second place is attaching the FOE. By the second bra, I had realized how much I needed to stretch the FOE in order to get enough support and fit from the elastic, so all of my bras fit really really well. The foam adds support in the bra so you definitely need it. It's also soft and comfy, so no worries about rubbing or itching.

My local sewing supply store only sells 1 inch FOE in basic black and white. While that is ok for some bras, I wanted a nice chocolate brown, so I ordered online from Diaper Sewing Supplies. I must say I am impressed with their color selection of 1 inch FOE--they even have prints. You need at least 3 yards per bra using the Greenstyle Endurance Bra pattern, so again order plenty so you can make more than just one or two bras.

3. Once you have a good fit, cut out several bras at one time, then sew them production line style.

Trust me when I say that you will want to sew more than 2 bras! The first bra is definitely a muslin. While it might be wearable, it might be your perfect fit. You will definitely know what adjustments need to be made after making a muslin in order for the second bra to be a perfect fit. For my first muslin I used this orange flower print. it is actually swim lycra. For the lining I used solid white swimwear lining, although you can use the outer fabric as the lining as well.

My second bra fit exactly the way I wanted it to fit. I had to go down one cup size, after making the muslin, for the perfect fit. Once I had that perfect fit, it just made sense to cut out several bras and then sew them all production line style. Much, much faster that way! Also once you have made one bra, the sewing really goes much faster. I found that I didn't even need the instructions for the future bras that I sewed.

There are three back options in the Greenstyle Endurance Bra pattern. You can make a traditional sports bra with racer back, criss-cross straps, and there is even an option for adjustable back bra straps. This bra pattern could easily become an everyday bra with that last option. I still need to cut out and sew at least 2 more bras. I'm so excited to be able to sew my own bras! Bras are expensive to purchase and I've only ever been able to own one or two new bras at a time. This pattern has definitely opened up possibilities to me!

This pattern also allows you to customize the bottom band. For this bra I added 2 inches to the bottom of the band and used 1.5" elastic instead of 1" elastic. I love the support that this added to the bra. This pattern calls for knit elastic. I always just thought that elastic was elastic. Not true! Knit elastic retains its shape when stretched. I am now a huge fan of knit elastic for certain applications.

Before sewing these bras, I had already watched a Craftsy class about bra making. The class is for a more traditional bra with underwires and a back closure. You can totally sew Greenstyle Endurance Bra without the Craftsy class, but I did find the information helpful as far as measuring and terminology. There is even an entire lesson in one of the bra making classes on sewing with cut and sew bra foam.

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Back To School--Teacher Gift Idea

Back to school. I love that time of year. New backpacks. And books. And school supplies. Shoes. New clothes. It's all just so much fun...for the kids at least. This post includes a giveaway and links to other stops on today's back to school tour--so don't forget to read to the end for all that good stuff!

It's also a good time for sewing up new clothes for the kids. Last year I wrote about my favorite patterns for back to school. And this year I released my very first sewing pattern--a lunch bag (also a market tote). Now is the perfect time to sew a new tote as well! This month I'm offering a 50% discount on my pattern with the code BACK2SCHOOL2016 in my Etsy shop. Coupon is valid until the end of August 2016.

(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase by using my affiliate links, I receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my creative efforts!)

Even though I homeschool my kids, I decided to participate in the back to school blog tour anyway. I mean we are always learning and growing, and we do officially start our new school year in August. BUT instead of making something for the kids, I made this apple core mini quilt, which I picked up from UpCraft Club. It's a perfect seasonal quilt or one that's perfect for anytime. 

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I haven't quilted too much in my sewing career. I have made a couple rag quilts, also some quilts out of some amazing ModKid knit fabric. Last year I made a diamond quilt from an issue of One Thimble. I really love that one--the colors are amazing!

So mini quilts are really fun for me because they can be started and finished in one day (or several short sewing sessions). I happened to have an afternoon without any distractions, so I was able to finish it right away. And this pattern has instructions for making a larger quilt if you would prefer.

The instructions for this quilt are simple and straightforward. I have not sewn this type of block before with curves. Naturally I was a bit hesitant to use any of my really nice fabric, but I just went ahead and used this lovely print that I really love. The instructions guided me to first cut strips of a certain width, cut them into squares, and then use the curved shapes to cut accurately. The quilt is a variation of the drunkards path. Once I had made one block, the others were really easy to churn out. The leaf shape and seeds are appliqued onto the quilt front after it is assembled.

I used solid white fabric for the background and the backing as well. The binding is the same print used in part of the apple. I also inserted pockets into the binding so I could hang it. I decided to quilt this mini quilt with a continuous spiral. It really wasn't as easy as I though it would be. And now I wish I had quilted with straight lines to be a contrast to the circular shape of the apple. But really, I'm quite pleased with the finished result.

I think I'm going to hang this in my kitchen area. I'm auditioning hanging spots, and I think I really like this one. (I received this pattern for free. I wasn't required to write a blog post about it, nor was I required to share about the pattern on social media. I only share with my readers those products and services that I love.)

What back to school sewing are you doing this year? Don't forget to check out UpCraft Club for all your sewing pattern needs!

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Check out the rest of today's stops on the tour:

Filles à Maman - Sew Happily Ever After - Tales of a Tester - 5 Out of 4 Patterns - The Crafting Fiend - Lulu & Celeste

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Thank you to all the sponsors for this tour!

Get Out of That Sewing Funk!

Have you ever been in one of those funks? You know the one where you want to sew, you just don't know what exactly it is that you want to make. You just don't know where to start. Or which fabric to use. Or what pattern to sew. You start browsing Pinterest hoping to find some inspiration, but 3 hours later you realize that you have been completely sucked in, you didn't get any actual sewing or crafting time, and now your kids are ready for dinner. Yep, true story. It's happened to me.

(This post contains affiliate links. When you use my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my site!)

I'm always so glad when a new issue of (affiliate) One Thimble comes out. I love the fresh layout and the sewing articles, but mostly I look forward to the new patterns! Each issue is packed with not only information, but also brand new patterns. The patterns in each issue are drafted specifically for the theme of that issue, so you are guaranteed to have several new patterns all at once and none of them will be duplicates.

The theme for this issue is watercolor--what an inspiring and pretty theme for this season.

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I was able to get my hands on two patterns from this issue, both from the designer Molly and Mama. The(affliate) Darling Daisy Girls Bag is a darling little open purse with a beautifully hand embroidered smiling daisy on the front. I opted to leave the daisy off of this purse. It's a very darling little size and I can just see some little lady carrying this beauty into church one day with her crayons and a little Bible inside.

I added the ribbon ties as an afterthought to keep it closed. The purse is a very easy sew, which would make it a really perfect project for a child learning to sew. The embroidery instructions are very well written as well and I do believe a beginner with patience could accomplish that bit of hand sewing as well.

The (affiliate) Flutterby Kite pattern is a beautiful pattern for learning beginning quilting techniques. I chose to make the strip work version and boy did I have a fun time sifting through my scrap bins! I pretty much pulled fabrics that I liked and cut them into 1.5 inch strips. I was really going for a scrappy look so I didn't pay any attention to the colors or patterns that I chose. I simply chose the ones that I liked or that reminded me of a special event or project. I even managed to sneak a strip of already pieced fabric from the Whip It Up challenge that I participated in.

I love how it turned out! I have done some quilting before, so this wasn't a new type of project to me. I did choose to do a traditional quilt binding on this kite rather than the bias tape binding that is called for in the pattern. I actually used some of the same 1.5 inch strips from the main kite to make a very narrow binding. I love attaching the quilt binding to quilts. I know that seems a bit odd, but I really love this aspect of quilting. It is just very satisfying to see all the pieces finally come together!

You definitely won't want to miss this issue. Purchase your copy today and get out of that sewing funk! It's the perfect opportunity to sneak in some back to school sewing too. You can check out all of the individual patterns in the One Thimble shop, but really purchasing the entire magazine is the best way to purchase because then you can read all of the articles and features and gather a little extra inspiration from the photographs.  Don't forget to share what you create. I love seeing what my readers sew. (I received these patterns for free. I wasn't required to write a positive blog post about it. I only share with my readers those products and services that I love.)

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Don't miss a stop on the tour!

8/12

Call Ajaire

Bunch O Berries

Sew Happily Ever After

8/13

Once Upon a Sewing Machine

Tales of a Tester

All Things Katy

8/14

House Of Estrela

Sun Flower Seams

Stitches by Laura

8/15

That's Sew Kari

Coral and Co.

Threading Rainbows

8/16

Lulu and Celeste

Max California

Pearberry Lane

8/17

Sprouting JJ

Create Three Point Five

Made By Melli

8/18

Snickerdoodle Stew

Beri Bee Designs

Candice Ayala

Sew Sophie Lynn

8/19

Pattern Revolution

Adventures with Bubba and Bug

Made by Sara

Summer of Sewing--Soleil Dress

I'm back today with my favorite dress pattern to sew for summer. And modeling it is my adorable niece. Her measurements were just under the recommended measurements for the Soleil Dress pattern for size 12 months, but since that was the smallest size available in the pattern, I went ahead and made it for her. So she has a little bit of room to grow into it, and maybe it will fit her next summer as a little tunic. 
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(This post contains affiliate links. When you use my affiliate links, I get a small commission. Thanks for supporting my efforts!)
My very favorite detail in this dress is the back opening. I love that little surprise. An option for a closed back is also included in the pattern if you wish for that instead.

My second favorite detail in this dress is the pockets. They are so adorable in size 12 months, but you can see in my previous post that they are just as fun in the larger sizes.

This dress calls for knit fabric and ribbing for the bindings. You could also substitute fold over elastic (FOE) if you prefer that look. I like working with FOE but it is a bit tricky to really get the hang of it. The best tip I can give is to stretch the FOE slightly while applying and be sure not to stretch the fabric at all. But truthfully it just takes practice. My first few attempts at FOE ended up in the trash can. #truestory

I also really love how the gathers in the front of the dress are all bunched together at the center. This helps the pockets to be shaped well. In fact this pattern is the first one that I have ever made and bound pockets in this way, so it took me a minute to wrap my mind around the construction. If you have never sewn with knit, this would be a great dress to try it out on--especially if you choose the solid back option. Normally I like to sew knits with my serger, but lately I've been finding that I really love my standard sewing machine for knits by using the knit stitch. If you don't have a special knit stitch, just use a short zig zag stitch.

I love patterns by Lauren at Baste and Gather. You can purchase all of her patterns at (affiliate link) UpCraft Club. If you are a member, you can even purchase them with your monthly credit too. 

Who will you be making a Soleil Dress for?

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Summer of Sewing--Satya Romper

Rompers are simply adorable. And they are easy to sew. When rompers first started coming back into style, I had horrible flashbacks to my childhood of hideous styles and impossible to get off rompers when I had to go to the bathroom. Thankfully the Satya romper is not one of these styles! 

I'm honored to be participating in the Poolside Beach Party blog tour with lots of awesome bloggers. Check in each day on the Sprouting JubeJube blog for links to all the posts. Enter the different giveaways. And don't forget to read to the very end of my post for the discount coupon codes from a few generous shops! (This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my creative efforts!)

The Satya romper pattern was created by (affiliate link) Jennuine Designs. I first sewed this pattern last year when I was in her tester group. That was this bitty girl was a wee few months old. She was so tiny, that I made her the newborn size. This summer she is just over a year old and I was able to make her a 9-12 month. 

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I chose to make the romper and didn't include any snaps in the crotch. The romper is easy to remove for diaper changes, but really I think it would be more convenient to have snaps. So next time I will add the snaps.

I also chose to put elastic in the legs of the romper. I adore the little bubble look that it adds to the outfit. 

This gorgeous romper would be perfect to put on after a day at the pool or beach. It's cool and breezy and easy to put on when you are finished swimming. Use those adorable pockets for collecting shells or other treasures while you take a break from the water.

The back of the romper is just as cute as the front. Those straps are made out of fold-over elastic (FOE), which really has excellent stretch and recovery. FOE used to be a bit of a challenge to find, but I have noticed in recent years that many of the local shops are carrying a very nice selection. If you don't want to use FOE, instructions are given in the pattern for fabric covered elastic straps, which look equally adorable. Those FOE straps are what makes the romper easy to put on and easy to remove.

This pattern is available in sizes newborn through 12 years. I love sewing clothes in smaller sizes. They take very little fabric and sew up so quickly that you can easily have a new outfit in no time at all! Other options include:

• playsuit length
• romper length
• optional snaps added to the crotch
• FOE straps
• fabric covered elastic straps

I love to purchase my PDF patterns through the (affiliate link) UpCraft Club. Are you a member yet? There are 3 levels of membership available, so you can choose the one that best applies to your situation. You also receive free pattern credit to use each month as well as a convenient discount on any additional patterns you wish to purchase. And did I mention webinars? That's a fabulous perk to the membership. I adore that free pattern credit each month (and who can resist a discount anyway?). 

This little cutie thinks you should run (don't walk) and purchase your Satya romper soon! I would love to see what fabric you use for your romper. 

Now for the discounts: I'm giving all of my readers a 50% discount in my Etsy shop. Use the coupon code PoolSideParty16 to receive half off your pattern order. Code is valid until July 4, 2016. You can also receive a very generous 25% discount on any patterns in the Modkid shop using the code POOLSIDE2016. I have my eye on a couple patterns over there too.

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Summer of Sewing--A New Bag

I have decided that it is time to do a little bit of sewing for me this summer. Also I needed a new bag. I almost always carry a cross body bag. I like to have my hands free and since I carry my purse everywhere, it's convenient to just wear it rather than find a safe place to keep it where it won't be bothered.

(This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site.)
For this summer's bag of choice, I sewed the Sandra Saddle Bag pattern by Swoon Sewing Patterns. I like that Swoon sewing patterns help me produce a high end and quality product that looks like it was bought in a store. People who don't know me, don't know and can't tell that I made my own bag. I like that. I have learned how to produce high quality bags and have also learned a thing or two about hardware and interfacing.

For this bag, I worked with a new type of fabric--vinyl. This particular vinyl happened to be in the remnant bin at my local JoAnn's. Of course I can never pass up a bargain in the remnant bin! One trick that I learned while sewing with vinyl is that in order for the presser foot to glide across the vinyl, you need either a teflon foot or a walking foot. I chose to use my walking foot, and I am very pleased to report how well it worked on the vinyl. In fact I love my walking foot so much that I have used it on almost every other project that I've sewn since this one!
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Changes that I made to the pattern: 

• I placed the zipper pocket on the back of the bag instead of in the inside. I wanted to be able to have quick and easy access to my cell phone. With this pocket on the back of the bag, I knew that it would be secure since it would be worn against my body and zipped shut. But I also didn't want to hassle with having to lift the front flap and dig through my purse to find my phone.

• I added 2 slip pockets into the inside of the purse. I made these to face the front of the bag so that the bulk from the items in the pockets wouldn't add to the bulk from the back zipper pocket.
• I didn't have the required hardware for this project on hand. Since I wanted to sew it right away, I improvised and placed the strap into the top seam instead of on the side of the bag.

I'm really pleased with my bag and have gotten several compliments on this one. Next I want to try to sew with cork. Which pattern should I use for that project?

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