Cinch Halter Dress Tutorial

How to make a cinch halter dress.

Like many of you who found this tutorial, I scoured the internet looking for a pattern/tutorial for a dress for myself. I wanted it backless so that it wouldn’t look like a pillow case style dress which is not flattering on my body type. I am short and athletic. I was hoping the backless option that I included would give it a sexy appeal. Well, my form stayed true and it looked like I had a baby pouch. My 7 year-old is almost as tall as me but a good 10″ narrower around the waist. So after I had completed this but not hemed it yet, I took the back out and made it tighter and criss crossed the back straps. So you are now looking at a size 8-10 kids dress. This tutorial is fine for a kids dress or a womans dress.

This was actually a very easy project to complete. I am bummed that it is not my style. Oh well. I’ll find a more form fitted dress to make for me.

This can be completed by a beginner sewer. It will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.

Materials you will need:

1. 1-2 yards of fabric (depends on your size)
2. thread
3. sewing machine
4. thread
5. scissors
6. tape measure
7. elastic
8. iron
9. pins

Directions:

Getting materials ready to sew:

1. Measure widest point on body, add 7″ and divide by two (say 34″ is the measurement then it is 41″/2 = 20.5″
2. Cut piece of fabric, 20.5″ x 36″
3. Cut 2nd piece 4″ x 36″ (will become your strap) – longer is needed if you want to tie in a bow across the neck.
4. Cut third and final piece 20.5″ x 24″ (10″ less than your  longest piece)

Back of the dress:

1. On the shorter back piece, fold over the top 1″ then 1″ again. Stitch the bottom of the fold making a tube pocket, this will be where you put your elastic through.
2. Cut the elastic to 1/2 your widest point 17″.
3. Feed the elastic through, sew on both ends to secure.

Both pieces of the dress:

1. Face the front and back pieces together and stitch along both sides.

Front of the dress:

1. Fold over the top 1″ x 1″ and press the seam with your finger to leave an imprint of where the fold ends. Unfold.
2. Where the top of the back of the dress meets the front. Fold in the sides of the front of the dress about 1/8″ or as small as you can fold and then fold again. Press with the iron. Pin to secure.
3. Repeat of the other side.
4. Fold over the top fold again, the sides of the dress now have a clean edge.
5. Stitch the sides of the dress from below the “tube pocket” down to where the top of the back of the dress. Repeat. hint: don’t stitch over the side of your tube or you won’t be able to get your string in.
6. Stitch your tube pocket at the bottom of the fold.

String:

1. Fold your string into a bias tape. Fold in the ends to meet in the middle and then fold again. Stitch shut.
2. You can make this string as wide or as narrow as you want.
3. You can also use a ribbon or a rope.

Final Steps:

1. Feed string through front tube, gather, stitch ends to secure.
2. Hem to desired length.

YOUR DONE!

Fabric used in this tutorial is Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom, Free Spirt Collection – Bell bottom Print

The Simple Skirt Tutorial

I wanted to title this blog post ”well it is about time” but figured I’d probably get more blog hits with “The Simple Skirt Tutorial”.

I’ve wanted to make a skirt for myself for a long time. I think partly I was afraid and secondly if I don’t have time to make my girls dresses then I certainly don’t have time to make myself a skirt.

Today was hot and humid. I haven’t had time to do the laundry so my sundresses and one skirt were in the wash. It was really too hot for shorts today. I don’t mind the heat, I just like to dress appropriately. So after some morning chores, the little one was quiet and I sat down to make this skirt. Now that I’ve done it, there is no stopping me. They are much more comfortable than shorts and alot more feminine. They also go great with graffic T’s. I really think the 1950′s had fashion right and they always wore skirts. Cozy.

So here is my quick tutorial on how to make a care-free simple skirt.  This project should take a beginner sewer about 1/2 hour. I will give you some simple instructions, just like my recipes…simple steps, no cut outs, and no patterns. If you don’t have time, you love the idea and want one of your own, of course I’d be happy to make one for you. The cost is $25 if it is one of my 100% cotton fabrics in stock.

This size for this skirt is what I call a mini. Not ”Spears” short but I like to wear my skirts on my natural waist line which is my hip bones and this skirt falls right above my knee. If you want a longer size, just add yardage to your cut. So instead of a 1/2 yard, maybe 3/4 of a yard.

I hope these instructions help and thank you for stopping by!!

My best, Jen

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Here are the materials:

1. 1/2 yard of fabric, you will use the whole piece.
2. 1 package of “waist band” elastic band
3. thread
4. pins
5. sewing machine
6. iron

Steps:

1. for this step you need to find the cut (rough) edges not the selvage edges, the top and bottom of the fabric where it was cut
2. take each rough edge separately and overcast/serge
3. then fold in half and seam/overcast the selvedge edges together one on top of each other
4. fold over top 1.5″ press, then again 1.5″ – press again with iron
5. sew all the way around the skirt at the fold leaving 3″ opening where you will put the elastic through
6. sew the hem or bottom repeating step 4 and 5 but with no opening.
7. I also like to add one extra stitch all the way around at the very bottom of the skirt so when you wash it stays flat and doesn’t bunch up.
8. measure your natural waist, this is the size of your elastic (not bigger as the elastic will stretch)
9. attach a safety pin to each side of your elastic and push all the way around the top of the skirt coming out the otherside through the opening (be careful not to lose the other side)
10. stitch the elastic ends together, tuck inside
11. stitch the opening closed
12. your done

Quick how to…Jammies, Dads Work Shirt – Upcycled Birthday Pillow

My friend wanted to preserve the Jammies that all three of her boys had worn and adored. The jammies were torn where it was appliqued. She wanted to make it into a pillow. When I think of pillows, I think of making it into a pillow cover, especially with kids. So I got the idea of asking her for one of dad’s worn out work shirts to use as the backing of the pillow. She loved the idea. While I was cutting it out, I thought wouldn’t the patch be so cute as a pocket. They could put little notes inside, birthday cards or even as he gets older a remote.

So here is what you will need for the project.

• Jammie top
• Dad’s work shirt
• Interfacing
• thread
• sewing machine
• scissors
• pillow form

And here are the steps:

• cut jammie top into a square both front and back together (knits are thin – this one had some tears too).
• measure dads shirt with pillow form inside his shirt and mark with chalk, remove pillow and cut into square outside the pins, leaving at least 1/8″ around the outside of pillow for stitching
• sew jammie top into a pocket using both sides of jammies as one piece, a piece of interfacing, and a piece of dads shirt for the back side.
• attach pocket to dads shirt not button side
• sew shirt all the way around, you will be able to open and turn inside out with the buttons.
• turn inside out
• insert pillow form
• Done!

Time to complete, about 2 hours.

A few words on Hand Embroidery

It is safe to say that Hand Embroidery has been around for a long time, possibly 500 B.C., so as much as I’d like to invest 5 thousand dollars into a mediocre machine, I think I am good with an old standby that is well labor intensive but not costly. There are so many stitches that I am eager to learn. Once you try one stitch, you’ll very easily get hooked on some others.

The first step in any embroidery project is deciding what you want to stitch. A letter or a flower, keep your first one simple. You’ll need an embroidery needle (several types – they come in a variety pack based on how big the loop on the needle is for the thread and how sharp the point, Embroidery floss, and a hoop. To make a pattern, you can draw it on interfacing or use chalk. I prefer interfacing and I pin it to the backside of my fabric.

I also recommend Martha Stewart’s encyclopedia of sewing and fabric crafts. You can borrow it from your local library. There are some great resources online too, utube and the like.

The first type of stitch is the easiest, and is called a running stitch. You take your needle and just go over and under and repeat along your pattern. I taught my 6-year-old to do a running stitch and she is quite good at it. It is a fun easy way to get going.

The next type of stitch is my new favorite and is called a backstitch, similar to a running but you go one step forward and then a half step backwards. Like a waltz, you don’t get very far fast but the end result is breathtaking.

A satin stitch is great for filling in a space. From the starting point, go straight across to the other side of your design, carry your stitch under and insert right next to where you started, keep going until the space is filled. It should be filled in on both sides of your design when you are finished.

So many to choose from but those three should get you started.

Pictures shown above are behind the scenes. Here are the finished pieces.