Shirring with a Brother Sewing Machine

If you don't know what shirring is, its a fun way to sew with elastic thread to make something nice and stretchy. If you do not have a brother sewing machine, Ashley from Make It-Love It has a great tutorial with some fab tips here

Brother sewing machines are a bit different though. Every tutorial you read about filling your bobbin says not to wrap the elastic thread on tightly. Brother likes to break the rules though, and instead, you are going to stretch it on nice and tight. Wind your bobbin completely full, because it will run out fast.

Adjust your stitch length to the longest stitch (mine is 5).  Like my sweet photoshop drawing skills? I've been brushing up on them with the "draw something" :)

Drop in your bobbin as you normally would, while keeping elastic thread tail pulled out.

Turn the wheel until the thread pulls the bobbin thread out. Leave a good two or three inches out before sewing.

Now sew a straight line, and your sewing should be stretchy and gathering. Do a second line. I use my sewing machine foot as a line guide for each row.  Repeat until you have enough rows. 

Steam the elastic thread with your iron and watch it shrink.

I did both cotton and knit here to show the different types of materials. I did the bottom edge of a dress from a tshirt I made using the Sienna pattern from Lil Blue Boo. It made it into a cute little tunic!

If this doesn't work for you and your brother sewing machine, try this tutorial on things to tweak. I didn't need to do mine, but it might help for you.
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Boy's Cardigan Pattern and Tutorial

I saw this idea on pinterest originally, which prompted me to make a pattern up for my sons! Its a cardigan made from a men's sweater.

The idea had the buttons sewn directly on, rather than having buttonholes, but I really like the buttonholes and the option to open the sweater. Pair it with a nice shirt and tie, and its a really thrifty project that makes your little guy look like a million bucks!

There are two pdf''s. One is the pattern (print and make sure the box is an inch!) and the other is the tutorial. Be kind, its my first one! These are for sizes 4/5 and 6/7.

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Duct Tape Roses Tutorial

My grandma has discovered the world of duct tape crafts.

So, she taught me how to do duct tape roses.

Here's what you do:

Get about 4 inches of wire to tape the petals to.  She uses this old lap board to do all of her taping and measuring with.

Then start cutting 3 inch long strips for petals. You will need to cut 24. 

Now fold over like this:

and then over again like this: 

Wrap the petal around your wire.

Keep wrapping petals around as you make them:

After you have done all 24, it should look like this:

Now let's work on the petals. 

Cut a 6 inch strip of green and 4 pieces of 3 inches apiece of wire, 

Place the four pieces of wire on the sticky part of the tape, then cover with another piece of tape.

Cut leaf shapes out:

Twist the four leafs together

Then wrap the whole stem with the rose and leaves together with another piece of green

Complete!

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Thrifty Little Apron Tutorial and Giveaway

What can you do with some curtains, sheets or even an old muumuu? Lots of things, of course! I got a pretty flat sheet from the thrift store and made it into this:

Do you want it? I am giving it away this week at Thrifty Decorating! Leave a comment at her blog this evening through Thursday and you can enter to win it Friday! Follow me and leave a comment that you did so and receive an extra entry! Follow her and leave a comment that you did so and receive an extra entry! That is three chances!

Tutorial:

First let me apologize for the dark pictures. Sometimes, my sewing is done late at night once the kids are in bed :)

Using a flat sheet (because of the finished hems), an old curtain to use for trim, and ric rac and two d-rings I had here, I made up this thrifty little tutorial so that you too can make this apron. 

(please don't gauge the pieces in picture to actual measurements for apron. there's extra pieces and different sizes of fabric. this is just an example of the three coordinating fabrics you will use.)

For Apron Body, you will need two pieces

• for top, cut 13 inches W x 12 1/2 long. 
• for bottom, cut 24 inches x 24 inches

For straps you will need: 

• 2 d rings
•  2 fabric pieces 4 inch x 36 inch long (side straps)
• 1 piece 4 inch x 3 inch long (for d rings)
• 1 piece 4 inch x 24 inch long (neck strap)

For pocket you will need:

• 1 7x7 cut on fold, or 7x14 not cut on fold
• 1 7x3 cut on fold or 1 7x6 not cut on fold
• ric rac

Bottom Edge

• 1 4 inch x 25 inch piece
• ric rac 

Let's start cutting and sewing! 

For the top, see how i used the top of the sheet for my top hem? it makes it sturdier because the hem is bigger than the bottom of the sheet would be. 

now fold this in half and cut diagonally 2 1/2 inches at your starting point

Open your piece back up and you should have a trapezoid. 

(trapezoid in case you need a picture :))

Now fold over 1/4 an inch on sides, iron and fold again, and iron. Sew. This is your side hems for the top. (Your bottom edge of the top should still be raw)

Now let's make a pocket. I am using old gingam fabric and an old curtain for the pocket and the straps. 

Cut your pocket on the fold 7x7 (sorry i dont have a picture of this)

The cut your trim piece on the fold, 7x3 (or you can just cut 7x6 and fold it)

Trim piece:

now fold into the center on both sides and iron.

The fold again and iron

insert your pocket into the trim piece so that the trim pieces sandwich the raw edges. the fold of the pocket should be at the bottom. 

now sew the trim on:

add ric rac over the sewn line: pin and sew

fold side edges in on wrong side of pocket and iron

Pin it in the center of your top portion of your apron and then sew all three sides on, leaving top.

Pocket is complete!

Now lets work on top straps.

 Fold over right sides together and sew shut to make a long tube:

Using a safety pin, turn right side out:

Then iron flat and top stitch the long sides, leaving the ends open.

Now take your tiny strap piece, slide d-rings on and sew into place across d rings:

Pin onto the top of your top piece like this:

and sew on:

Sew on your neck strap on the other edge of the top piece and then finish the edge not sewn on by folding over and ironing and then folding into a diagonal. sew into place.

top is finished! Let's work on the bottom.

Your bottom edge of the bottom piece should already be hemmed, thanks to the sheet's edge. All you need to do is the two side pieces. Fold over 1/4 inch, iron, fold again and iron, then sew for both sides.

Now we are going to take the top raw edge of the bottom piece and make pleats. If you do not want to make pleats, you can also gather it the width of the bottom of the top piece. 

Fold a 1/2 inch and pin every couple of inches until your pleats are all symmetrical and the width matches the width of your bottom top piece.

Iron pleats

and sew across 1/4 inch down from edge

Now pin right sides together, and sew top of apron onto bottom of apron:

top stitch.

Tada! Main body piece is finished! Now for side straps:

Using same method as the neck straps, do both side straps, then sew onto the sides of the bottom portion of apron where top was sewn on like this:

Side straps are finished!

Now, you can stop and be done since your bottom edge is hemmed for you, or you can add more of the curtain and ric rac to finish the edge. 

Fold over your 4 inch x 25 inch bottom edge and iron.

For side edges: fold 1/4 inch, iron and repeat. Sew into place. Do this for both edges.

Pin piece onto bottom of apron and sew on

Then add ric rac where you just sewed.

Your apron is now finished! Step back and admire your thrifty work!

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