Baby Bubble Dress - a Refashion

While visiting my daughter's family, I got the chance to sew a baby bubble dress for my almost eight month old granddaughter and to play along with Project Run and Play's January 2015 sewing challenge and Free for All at Frances Suzanne. 

I started this project with one of my daughter's old shirts. I really loved the black, ivory and turquoise fabrics, the colors compliment this sweet babies pretty blue eyes, and her delicious chub, perfectly.  

Here's how my creation turned out using Alida Makes tutorial changed up a bit to fit this little chubster (which is what her big brother calls her).  I took a square of lace and cut it into a triangle and added these pieces to the lower sides of the dress.  A trimming look to that thigh area!

I also inserted the elastic at the top of the dress eliminating the extra ruffle.  I didn't have elastic thread to use for the bottom shirring as directed in the tutorial and had no idea how to even find any in the foreign country my daughter lives in so I used 1/2" elastic and made a casing instead and luckily, it worked.  I also added a half circle pocket to the front of the dress to hide a hole in the fabric which is why the top was no longer worn.  My granddaughter hinted that she would like a pocket to keep a toy in...ha ha!

Don't you just love her rolls, blue eyes and red hair?  Yup, she's a cutie and her grandmother kisses her dozens of times a day just knowing it'll be a long time until I get to see her again.  (Sadly, my daughter swears she won't fly half way around the world to come home with her children until it's time for her husband's job to be over.  I understand, honestly I do....I even had a hard time with the long, long flight over here.)

I sure enjoyed refashioning this top into my version of this bubble dress baby style.  I mostly enjoy my time with this little girl's family.   Do you like bubble dresses on babies?  xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Threading My Way, Creating my Way to Success, Frances Suzanne

Easy Doll Hospital Gown - a FREE Pattern

Last March, I participated in a service activity and as part of that activity, we made simple medical dolls and hospital gowns to fit those dolls.  As I was making them, I realized they are the perfect size for an American Girl doll. HERE is the link to that pattern; go to "Items to make" then to "Medical Play Dolls" and then to "Doll Gown Pattern".  This is a super easy sewing project and can be made in around 15 minutes.  

Supplies needed: 

• scrap of fabric about 9 inches wide x 20 inches long (I used flannel)
• coordinating thread 
• a package of double folded bias seam tape 

1. Cut out the pattern.
2. Sew the shoulder seams together.
3. Sew seam tape to the sleeves.
4. Sew side seams together.
5. Sew seam tape to the back around to the hem.
6. Sew seam tape to the neck leaving around 7 inches to tie the gown closed.

That's it. You're finished - you could also make one of THESE clipboards and then add a few medical charts to that clipboard.  You can download some perfectly sized charts HERE.

Happy Sewing!  xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Gina's Craft Corner/Crafty Allie

Pants Refashioned into a Doll Teepee - a Tutorial

A few weeks ago, I made an American Indian costume for an American Girl doll.  After making it, I decided it would be fun to make the doll a teepee because play time is so much more fun with accessories, right?  This doll-sized teepee is perfect for a doll 18" or smaller. The best part about making this is that it can be made from a pair of pants that you no longer wear, making this another totally inexpensive project. Following too many Christmas expenditures, this inexpensive project is the best kind of project!  

Supplies Needed:
One pair of pants - the wider the pant legs the better.
1 package of extra wide double found bias tape
Thread 
Scissors
7 - 3/8" dowels

1. Start with a pair of pants.  Cut both legs off - from the hem up needs to be at least 25 inches.  Unpick any seams and cut off the hem.  
2. Cut the pant legs into even triangles.
3. Sew the triangles together per this diagram: 
   
4. 

   After you cut an opening in the top of your teepee, round off the corners of the bottom of the fabric circle by cutting as needed. 
5. If you want a design on your teepee, cut the design from a contrasting fabric.  HERE is the deer design, if you want to copy the design I used.  I drew the antlers onto the deer with a washable fabric marker and then sewed the antler design with a tight, narrow zig zag stitch.  You'll need to cut out two deer from  this pattern.  Place the deer onto the lower portion of each flap.  One will be reversed so that your deer are facing each other and the opening of the teepee. 
   

   
6. Next stitch the "do not sew" edge or flap opening by folding over the unfinished edge and stitching close to that edge (see top right photo). 
7. Sew brown seam tape around the bottom of the circle, starting and stopping at the flap opening.
8. For the ties, take the remainder of the seam tape and cut in half.
9. Sew that seam tape together finishing off one end of each piece of seam tape.
10. Sew this seam tape at 9" from the bottom of the tee pee.
11. Follow as described in this diagram:
12. Fold in half 1" of 1/8" wide elastic and sew this to the top and bottom of each seam. This elastic will be used to hold your poles to the teepee.

13.  I next added a little white jumbo rick rack onto the bottom of the teepee by sewing at the top and bottom of the trim.  The white from this trim added a little punch of contrasting color.

14.  Thread the dowels through the elastic.

15.  Tie the dowels together right above the opening. I used a piece of leather cut into a 1/4" wide x 12" long stripe and wrapped the leather around the dowels a couple of times. This will hold your dowels together.

16.  Spread the "poles" apart and let a child have fun pretending.

xoxo Grandma

Purchasing Leather at a Fabulous Price - a Refashion

I wanted real leather to use to make a pair of baby booties but I didn't want to pay a ransom for the good stuff. So, I did what any leather-seeking-bargain-shopper would do. I went to my local thrift store. I happened to find this really nice leather jacket:

This jacket was only $15.00 and the fabulous leather was in perfect shape.  After purchasing this jacket, I took it home and started cutting it apart.  I would have felt perfectly wicked except it was a size 4 and I haven't fit in that size since I was in 7th grade! So no guilt in cutting up this baby! 

I first used the leather to make these booties for my grandson for Christmas using THIS pattern:

And one more pair for my growing granddaughter using THIS same pattern.

Then I made my third thing from this leather: a pair of boots using THIS pattern for my granddaughter.  I changed/improved the pattern by adding some sticky back felt onto the sole area of the boots. Then I added another layer of sticky foam because these boots needed stability and warmth for taking a child outside in this frigid weather we've been having lately.  

Sadly, these boots kept sliding off of her so I had to do a few extra things. As seen in the below photo, I added elastic right at the ankle height stitching the elastic to the seams.

Finally, these boots stayed on her cute little feet. But oh, how I wish I had of known before I sewed them together. That fur was HORRIBLE to unpick! But that leather... oh that leather! So glad I found it!  

If you want to sew with leather, be brave and purchase a leather jacket at a thrift store. Trust me, it'll save you oodles of cash that you would have spent otherwise at a fabric store. Such a fabulous price for leather!   Since you've now splurged on the leather, don't forget to get a leather needle too for your sewing machine. It'll help your sewing go so much smoother.  

xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Crafty Allie

Simply Warm Toddler Leg Warmers - a Tutorial & Free Pattern

It's been anywhere from 1 to 24 degrees where I live lately... and baby that's cold outside! Here are some toddler leg warmers you can make that will be sure to keep your little one's legs warm. The best things about these leg warmers are they are simple to make and they're super cute too.

Allow about 20 minutes maximum to make these leg warmers.

  

Supplies needed:

• Faux fur, 9 1/2" x 10"
• Elastic (I used 1" wide elastic and 1/4" wide elastic. Any size you have laying around will work for this project.)
• Thread

Directions:

That's it! They are ready to add to an outfit and should help keep those little toddler legs a lot warmer.   xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Crafty Allie, Frances Suzanne Free Patterns

Adult Sweater into a Toddler Varsity Letterman Sweater - a Refashion & Tutorial

My daughter likes to peruse Etsy from time to time to get ideas of cute things for me to make her little girl. This letterman sweater is one of those ideas. Thankfully, a friend had recently given me this pretty magenta sweater. It was too small for me, so I decided to refashion it and turn it into my daughter's wish list.  I was a little nervous to try this project but it was so, so easy... which made me a happy grandma!

Supplies needed:

• One adult sweater or child's sweater
• One monogramed letter
• Thread
• Scissors

 Take one adult sweater. 

Fold that sweater in half.  Lay on top of that sweater, a sweater or jacket that fits the child you're making this for. Using sharp scissors, cut around that article of clothing to size making sure you add at least 1/4" for seam allowances. When I cut the sweater for my granddaughter, I left as much of the ribbing of the original sweater, plus all of the bottom ribbing intact.

Try your refashioned sweater onto your little one.

Love this little girl & love that this refashioned letterman sweater fit her so perfectly!  

xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Creating my Way to Success, Nap-Time Creations, Crafty Allie

Glamorize a Sweater - a Tutorial

Do you have an old sweater that needs a little pick-up? For an easy, easy project, take that sweater and glamorize it with some ribbon and a few pearl beads. You'll be impressed with how quick and easy this project is to complete!

(This sweater was refashioned for an older child but this technique would work on any sweater, any size.) 

Supplies needed:

• 3 different ribbons
• thread
• needle
• scissors
• sweater
• pearl beads
• Bowdabra (Mini Bowdabra® Bow Making & Design Tool – Small)
• Aleene's OK to Wash-It Fabric Glue

Let's get started.  Find a sweater that you want to refashion:

Thread a needle with a length of thread that's been doubled over. FYI, the thread color should match your basic sweater color.  Using a Bowdabra, push the thread into this tool vertically.  Now horizontally, push 2 loops of ribbon onto each side of the dividing piece on this tool.  (This handy gadget holds the ribbon in place while you continue to push more layers of ribbon in place.)  You'll do this step with all three ribbons.  I started with the widest ribbon and ended with the narrowest ribbon. 

Push the ribbon tightly to the bottom.  Once all the loops are in place, take the thread and loop over the ribbon, pulling the ribbon loops to the top of the tool. Tie a knot onto the back side of the ribbons.  (The back side is the side with the widest ribbon.)

Push the needle through all the layers of ribbon.  Push the needle back through all the layers of ribbon loops and wrap the thread around the center of the ribbon.

Make as many ribbon loops as desired for your sweater.  I used six ribbon loops.  Next sew the loops in place going through the ribbon and the sweater several times per ribbon loops.

Now it's time to add the pearlized beads to the sweater.  Use white thread and a small eyed needle to sew the beads in place.

My 9 year old neighbor seemed happy with her new glamorized sweater.  

Give this technique a try because it's really easy to make these ribbon accents when using this simple Bowdabra tool and by adding pearlized beads this sweater looks more glamorous.  xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Creating My Way to Success, Nap-Time Creations, Crafty Allie