feathered turkey shirt tutorial

I know I've been MIA the last week or so and that this post it TOTALLY last minute, but here is a quick tutorial for the turkey applique shirt I make Ella to wear on Thanksgiving. Don't worry, it's super easy and a super quick project. Have a great Tuesday!

ruffle pumpkin shirt tutorial

Remember the shirt Ella wore to our outing at Apple Hill? Here's the tutorial so you can all make one for your little pumpkins. It's a pretty self explanatory tutorial so i'll let the pictures speak for themselves. If you have any questions leave them in the comments and  i'll try and answer them.

All Done!

Today's Creative Blog, Embellishing Life, Craft O Maniac, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Skip to my Lou, Tip Junkie, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Coastal Charm, Just Something I Whipped Up, Making the World Cuter, C.R.A.F.T., You're Talking Too Much

apple hill + halloween outfit

As soon as October hits and there is the slightest feeling of Fall in the air everyone in Northern California gears up to head out to Apple Hill. Never mind that it's still 85 degrees outside, if the apple pie, apple butter, apple donuts, apple-you-name-it is being made then then we consider Fall among us. 

Apple Hill is a tradition around these parts. Basically, its just a group of 20+ apple orchards that open up for the Fall for apple picking, craft vendors, yummy apple baked goods, pumpkin patches and an all around good time. Each farm is different and offers different things, some more kid/family friendly with attractions and tractor rides and some are just for apple picking. 

Yesterday I ignored that it was 77 degrees out and dressed Ella in her Halloween outfit for our trip up to Apple Hill, because c'mon now I spent all that time making it and it's almost Halloween and she hasn't worn the getup once. Sorry Ella if you were sweating through that black shirt. All in the name of fashion, right?

I'm going to share the ruffle pumpkin shirt tutorial next Monday, but it's such a quick project you'll have no time getting it done before the 31st. Plus, it's a pretty basic Fall design so you should be able to carry on the wearing of it until Thanksgiving rolls around.

The ruffle pants are my favorite part of the outfit. Those I made with some fabric I picked up in the remnants section at the fabric store (yay for cheap!). Travis calls them her halloween bell bottoms, I call them just plain adorable. 

 (In case you were wondering about her bow, it was leftover from last years halloween bows I had in the shop). 

sewing for fall: easy leggings

Between the millions of other sewing projects I have going on right now, I've managed to add a couple more pieces to Ella's Fall wardrobe. The most recent addition are these stretchy leggings. I bought a double needle, and have been excited to try using it, so when I came across a $.99 striped knit shirt at the thrift store I knew it would be perfect for fashioning into some leggings for Little Lady.

They really are the easiest things ever, and sewing with the double needle was a breeze. I just traced a pair of leggings that fit Ella on folded fabric, then used my double needle to sew up the sides and the crotch, folded the waist down and added elastic, and hemmed the legs (two pieces! easy peasy!). 

If you'd like to read a great intro into sewing with knits/stretchy fabrics and using a double needle i'd suggest reading this. And if you'd like a tutorial using the same method I did to make them, this is a great one (Lots of pictures and helpful instructions).

I definitely will be using my double needle more often, and making a few more pairs of these pants for her. You can use old t-shirts, yoga pants, anything that has stretch to it, so it's a great idea for refashioning items you're looking to get rid of.

Keep an eye out, because I've also used the same method with an added twist to make something else for the Fall season...i'll share that soon!

Sewing For Fall

Here it is, outfit/item #2 in the Sewing For Fall series I'm doing. At the end of the series like to have at least 8 pieces made for Ella's Fall wardrobe, a few tops, dresses, bottoms, accessories and maybe even a sweater. This simple peasant dress is similar to the cap sleeved tunic  (item #1), but with a full sleeve and elastic casing around the neck and arms. I didn't use a pattern for this dress, but again it's similar to this free tutorial and this pattern.

I think that it'll look darling with leggings, and I love the combo of polka dots and the funky strawberry print. (I can't find the names of the fabric, but they were ordered online. If anyone recognizes what they are please email me or leave a comment with the names.)

Since this is the second top/dress, I'll be doing a pair of bottoms next. I've been thinking about working with knit/jersey fabric on the next project, and leggings seem like a good addition to Elle's fall wardrobe. I've never really sewn with those types of fabrics, but I've been seeing a lot of great tutorials using jersey/knits. 

Are you doing any sewing for fall? Please share!

{Sewing For Fall - Cap Sleeve Tunic + Headband}

We've been lucky this year in Northern California to have a mild summer. Temps here can reach into the 100's for weeks at a time. Instead of blistering heat we've been treated to temps in the 80's and low 90's most of the summer. I'm hoping this mild weather transitions into Fall earlier than normal this year. In preparation for the next season I've been sewing up a few things for Ella. I've decided I'd like to make a majority of her pieces this Fall and buy her just basics/staples. Below is the first completed item in the Fall wardrobe, a cap sleeve tunic and headband. 

I was brave and didn't use a pattern for the top. In my braveness I had to cut and resew the sleeves twice, frustrating yes, but I guess thats what you get for "winging" it. It's your basic peasant top except that I cut the sleeves a tad shorter to make them capped, and I omitted the elastic from them. This top is more like a tunic as is hits Ella below the hip. It'll be perfect with tights and leggings or over jeans. 

If you want to make one and don't want to wing it, this pattern and this pattern are similar.  The headband is just a mismatch of felt flowers glued to an elastic headband (you could also use 1/4" elastic. 

I think the whole thing turned out so cute! I've since refined my non pattern using skills and whipped up a few other pieces for fall. I'll share those soon!