Child's Apron Tutorial FINALLY!

Sorry for the lull this past week. I got a fun case of food poisoning/bug that kept me on the couch or in the bathroom for a few days and it's taken about a week to feel normal again. I started this tutorial before I got sick, so it's taken me several days to actually finish sewing these.
I love tutorials that are versatile. It's like two in one. This is one of them! You can use these steps to make a half apron or a full apron! I love both!

Let's get started!

Supplies:
*1/2-3/4 Yard of fabric for bottom layer, waistband, and ties
*1/2 for top layer and bib part
*Iron and Ironing board (Sometimes you can fudge and skip the ironing part, but with this you can't. It would look so wobbly and it would not lay right, so get ready to iron...a lot.)
*Basics- Sewing Machine, thread, pins, tape measure, rotary cutter and mat (not mandatory, but makes things go faster.)

Step 1: Let's start by cutting all your pieces out. This apron is perfect for scraps of fabric. That's exactly what I used, so my measuring was a little interesting. But you can make it work however you want. For the bottom piece: I made these for my nieces who are 8 and 6. I took their measurements of their waist and based everything off of that. Both had a waist of 25". So your bottom piece needs to be Half of that measurement+6" for a gather. Mine came out to 18.5", so I rounded it up to an even 20". Then determine the length you want. Mine was 10.5", keep in mind that you will have to hem it so give yourself your seam allowance, mine was 1/2".

The top layer needs to be smaller than the bottom. Make the top 3" shorter than the bottom layer and 1.5" shorter on the sides. So mine was a rectangle of 9"x17".

If you are making this a full apron (you can do both with this tutorial!) determine how wide and long you want yours to be. It depends on where you want the waistband to sit, if you want it more of an empire waist, then make your bib shorter, if you want the waistband to sit lower then make it longer. As you are going to fold over the top of your bib by 3", allow the extra fabric. Mine ended up being 11"x10". Don't forget your seam allowance!

Now for the ties and waistband. For the waistband you want to cut 2 pieces that are 3"x however long your measurements are. I wanted mine to be well behind the back, so it went all the way around, so with my measurements I made it 22". You can just rip your fabric for this, it saves time.

For your ties in the back, cut 2 2"x however long you want them. I like to have the girls' aprons tie in the front, so it has to be long enough to wrap around them. They ended up being 45" long.

For the necktie, cut it at 2"x 35-40"

Remember to iron all your fabric after you cut it so you start off with clean lines.

Step 2: Fold the bottom layer in half. Use a cup to trace at the corner and cut around your curved edge.

Step 3: Do the same for the top layer, fold it in half but with this one you will make a half circle. I just eyeballed it, but if you have a method you like, go with that.
Step 4: Now for the bib. I had to line my bib part because the fabric was too thin. Iron your sides to finish the edges. I did a half inch, then I folded the raw edge in and ironed the edge. This creates a clean hem. (If you want to make a half apron, skip this step and move down to Step 6)
Step 5: Now fold your bib piece down 3" and iron it flat. This is going to be the place for your necktie. Stitch across the raw edge.
Step 6: With most aprons you finish the edges before you put it all together, that's what we do next. As this is a curved edge, either use a rolled hem foot on your machine or if you're like me and couldn't find your foot without waking a child up, just go slowly and make a loose twist on the bottom. This takes some patience. Just go slow and just make sure your raw edge is folded under so you can't see it. You will have to iron your pieces after you finish to get them to lay flat as they might want to curl a bit, but it actually looks cute.

Do this with both the bottom and top layers. If you want, you can add lace trim after your hem is done.

Step 7: Make a gathered stitch on the top of your two layers. Gather both pieces to the desired length you want.
Step 8: Fold your bottom layer, top layer and one piece of the waistband in half. Once you find the center of each piece mark it with a pin, chalk, pen, anything that will stand out for you. Lay the two layers on top of each other, with the center marks lined up. Lay your waistband on top of your two layers, center mark lined up, and pin it to your layers, right sides together. It's easier to start from the center and work your way out.

Step 9: Stitch the three pieces together. Once done, iron your waistband up, making a clean line. Continue to iron the fold of the waistband extending out to the ends.

Step 10: Find the center of your bib, by folding and marking, just like the others. Line the center with your waistband center. Pin them together and stitch along the edge of the bib. Iron flat after you make your stitch. Continue to iron the fold of the waistband extending out to the ends. (If you are making a half apron skip to next step)

Step 11: Take other piece of your waistband and place it on top of the bib on the back side of your apron. Lay it so that the wrong side is facing you. Pin it to the bib/waistband raw edge of your apron and all the way out to the ends of the front waistband and stitch. Iron your waistband up.

Step 12: Iron the waistband down, so the raw edge is pointing down, using the same seam allowance you used with the front waistband. Pin all the way across from the front waistband, over the layers on the bottom, and to the other side of the waistband. This creates a clean, professional look to your apron. Iron after you stitch them all up.
Step 13: Sew your ties together. Fold each in half, right side together, and stitch up the raw edge. Take a safety pin and turn each inside out. Iron flat. With the waist ties, tuck one end in on each piece and stitch it closed. With the necktie finish both ends.

Step 14: Tuck in your waistband pieces and put your waist ties in the opening and pin in place. Stitch both sides closed. (If you're making a half apron, this is your last step!)

Step 15: Take a safety pin and string your necktie through the opening on your bib.

And that's it!!!!!!
I also made a second one for my other niece so they could have aprons together and play house. I love how they both turned out and it really will be something that they will use for a very long time!
Just so you guys know, it has taken me all week to get this tutorial finished! Both of my kids are sick this week, I am incredibly sleep deprived, and I'm a bit sluggish because of all the things I've been staying up late to make. I'll post pictures tomorrow...hopefully, of all my creations that I've made so far. I only have a handful left to make, but they won't take me much time to do, so I am way ahead of schedule than I was last year! Hope you all are enjoying your season!

Candy Corn Hair Pretty Tutorial

Being in a festive mood, I decided to make my daughter and soon to be niece some festive hair pretties. These were super easy and fun to make!

Supplies:
*White, Orange, and Yellow fabric cut/torn into strips
*Felt or fleece for the body
*Sewing Machine
*Needle and Thread

Step 1: Cut 2 fleece or felt into a rounded triangle, one for the body and the other to hold your hair clip. I did two sizes. One for my 4 year old and on for a baby (That should be out any minute.. like, she's in the hospital on the OR table.)

Step 2: Cut/tear your fabric into strips of the same width. They don't have to be the same length, just need to be long enough to get ruffled and fit on your triangle. I made mine freakishly long, because it's easier to cut things off than to not have enough.

Step 3: Take your needle and thread and do a gathering stitch down the center of your strips. Do it to all three strips.

Step 4: Place them onto your triangle, overlapping the fabrics. You will pin these down and stitch on the top of the orange strip and then the yellow. This holds your fabric down so there aren't any holes.

This is before I pinned them and stitched them onto the triangle.

Step 5: After you have stitched your fabric strips down, flip your triangle over and stitch around your triangle, getting as close to the edge as you can get.

Step 6: Trim your extra fabric all the way around the edges. Then glue the second triangle you cut out onto the back, adding your alligator clip.

Add a little bow on the top and clip it onto your hair! I mean your kids' hair.I also made this little candy corn dress for baby Emma to go with the hair pretty. She has to be festive looking for her first Halloween!

Have Fun!

Getting His Craft On

So, as you can see I have been a little MIA as of late. I wish I had some fun fabulous excuse, but the reality is that I have been helping a friend with her bridal shop in doing dress alterations and I have just been a smidge busy with those. Maybe I will do a fun tutorial for you so you can learn how to take in a formal dress with boning. I'm pro now! Lol Or not.

Any-hoo, my cute little husband was watching one of his gaming forums and they had a tutorial for making gaming t-shirts using bleach in a spray bottle and a cut out design. I didn't have the heart to tell him that that particular idea has been around in blogland for some time now and that mom's have been making these for a long time. But I let him think that this gaming sight (which probably got the idea from a woman) had an original idea. But he was so cute in making them that I had to take pictures to show that a man can make things too.

Step 1: Get your shirt, line it with cardboard, cut out your shape and place it on your shirt

Step 2: Take your spray bottle with 1/2bleach 1/2water and spray over the top of your design.

Step 3: Remove your paper design and let your shirt "cure". After it is dry wash alone or with any other shirts you may have created as usual.

Here is another shirt he did. He was so proud.

And that's it! Now he has 2 shirts that he is very proud of and that don't have holes in the armpits, that's what I'm most excited about. Hope you all are having a great day!

Incredibly Versatle Shirt Tutorial

This is the long awaited tutorial on how I made my daughter's Easter Dress, found here. This is a little different, but only the sleeves. That's the cool thing about this pattern, it's so versatile! This can be made with sleeves, ties, straps, a halter top, or even just a skirt!

Supplies:
*1/2 Yard of Fabric. I used 2 Fat Quarters, but there was only enough left for straps. My daughter wears a 5T in tops, so if you have a smaller little one then the 2 Fat Quarters would work great.
*1" Elastic, measure around your child's chest, under the armpit. Take that number and divide it in half, then subtract 2 inches from that number. So my daughter's chest is 24", so it was 12" for the half and then I cut the elastic at 10".
*Lace for the trim (Optional)
*Scissors, thread, sewing machine.

Step 1: Cut your fabric.
Bottom Piece: Measure around your child's chest, cut that number in half, and then add 6". So I cut 2 pieces 18" wide. The length will be measured from just under the armpit down, so you can make it longer it you want a dress or shorter. Her's ended up being 14".
Top Band: Cut one that is half the length of your child's chest, adding 1/2" for seam allowance. So that piece for me was 12 1/2". The second piece will be the same width as your bottom pieces, so 18". Cut them 4' wide, they will be folded in half.
Straps: Either use lace, fabric, ribbon or if you want to do sleeves, you can use this tutorial for that. Just measure around your child's shoulder from pit to pit. So my daughter was 8".
(Optional and not Shown) Lace Trim: Cut it the same width as your bottom pieces.

Step 2: Working on the back piece first, pin your top band and bottom piece together, folding you top band in half length wise. Pin them right sides together.

Step 3: Sew those pieces together. No need to press the seam here, as you will do all your pressing once.

Step 4: Prepare to snake your elastic through your top band by putting a safety pin on one end, or whatever works for you.

Step 5: After you have snaked your elastic through the top, pin your elastic so it sits as close to the seam you created earlier. Do this on both sides.

Step 6: Stitch your elastic on both sides.

Optional Step 7: Lay your trim right sides together and stitch together. We will press this in a minute.

Step 8: Now for the front. Make a gathering stitch along the top of the bottom piece. Then do as before, put your top band folded in half and stitch the two pieces together. Then add your lace trim like in Step 7.

Step 9: Now this is a little hard to see as I couldn't get a clear picture of it, so I will try and describe it as best I can so you can kind of see what I'm talking about. Take you bottom hem with the lace and turn it over so you are seeing the wrong side of you fabric and the seam. Take your seam and overlap it onto the main fabric, I did about 1/4" along the entire bottom. Press it all the way across.

See the overlapping fabric over your lace? That's what you want it to look like.

Step 10: Now stitch the hem using your first stitch as your guide.

This is what it will look like in the end. Looks like there is a lace cami underneath. I love that technique.

Step 11: Pin your front and back together and stitch up the sides. Flip it inside out. You can be done now if you want to make this a skirt! Cool right?! If not, continue on.

Step 12: If you are doing straps then pin them in place here, if you are doing sleeves, then make your sleeves and then pin them in place, same with ties. Then stitch them to your shirt. If you are using lace, then make sure to do a zigzag stitch so there isn't any fraying. I try and get it as close to the top, makes it less noticeable.

Enjoy your adorable creation!!!!

I would love to see any of the many variations that this tutorial can make! Send me your links when you make them!