Pink and Brown Buttercup Bag

Hi everyone!  Here's a Buttercup Bag that I made last month for my sister Rebecca's friend Rachel.  This was my 2nd custom order (my first being this bag Rebecca ordered for another friend's birthday). 

 

 Rachel like big purses, so this is the larger version plus 3 inches added to the length.  It makes for a very roomy purse! 

Rachel picked out the fabric.  I like pink and brown together.

Thanks for looking!

~Christina

Cute blue skirt

I found this awesome fabric at Wal-Mart for $2 a yard and knew that I needed to make a skirt with it.  I didn't use a pattern, I just kind made it up as I went.  Real quick, here's what I did (if I make another, I write down what I did and maybe take process pictures, like a tutorial!): I cut 3 layers of fabric and serged the bottom edge of each layer to make my hemline.  I just kinda guessed on the width the skirt because I decided I was going to shir the waistband.  I attached all layers at the top edge, folding the back layer to the front to create a clean edge.  The I stitched the sides of the layers.  Then I shirred the waistband.  I had to wash it a few times to shrink it down because it was a bit big initially.  It helped that I didn't pre-wash the fabric (even though I usually do).  I got it done in time to wear to my cousin's graduation.  Enough talk, on to the pictures!!

 *****EDIT*****
 Ok, This morning I drew up some quick sketches of my process...or what it will be next time to make it easier.  I think it will work better this way than they way I did it.  Basically, I switched the order of 2 of the steps, this way will create nicer seams I think.  This will me a lite tutorial, meaning I didn't include any measurements as I didn't really measure much of anything.  It was more of an eh, that looks good process for me.  Ready?  Here we go! (please don't laugh at my sad little sketches...)

 I hope those made sense.  You can find many great tutorials for shirring.  I love Dana's over at Made.  Her tutorials and patterns are so professional looking and full of pictures and suggestions.  Someday maybe mine will look like that awesome.  Ok, now on to the pictures!!

As you can see, I made the layers different lengths to make it more interesting:

Here's a side by side of me wearing the skirt, both tucked and untucked.  I am more of an untucked kind of girl.  I just think it's more comfortable.

And of course, here's a pic of me wearing my new skirt:

I mentioned something about a possible tutorial for this skirt, which may happen in the future.  Right now I am working on a different tutorial.  I am working on a fun summer top that I am making up as I go.  Don't worry, I am taking plenty of pictures and writing down little notes and measurements as I go.  Hopefully I'll finish it some time soon!  I'm excited about possibly posting my first tutorial!!  Ok, I have 2 more purses to blog about, I need to take pictures of 1 of them so I can share them with you.  I'll hopefully get those up soon.

Thanks for looking!  Become a follower if you aren't already!  Leave a comment if you like something!  I love reading your comments!! 

~Christina

Fancy Skirt with POCKETS!!!

I can't believe I haven't posted this one yet!  I made a skirt for me!!  I used some of the Tutti Frutti fabric from Jo-Anne's that I had been saving.  I used a New Look pattern for this skirt.  I love that Wal-Mart sells cheap patterns! 

New Look 6899, View F.

I mostly used view F.  I made it without the sash and I added the pockets from view A/C.  I am so happy that I added pockets!  That means that I might actually wear this skirt.  I'm a girl that requires pockets!

Here's my new skirt!

Here is is again blowing in the breeze!  I posted this so you can see the fullness of it.

Did I mention this skirt has pockets?  It does!!  And an invisible zipper!!

  Here I am wearing my new skirt!!  I like the second pic, it's all like yep, I got pockets!

And here I am running like a crazy person!!  We have too much fun in the woods!!

Thanks for looking!!

~Christina

Happy Mother's Day!!

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day yesterday!!  I made my mom a little quilted zippered pouch and we also got her some flower pots.  This pouch was my first quilted project and I am quit pleased with it. I used the lining fabric on the bottom edge.  My sister thinks it looks like grass.  I quilted the batting to the outside fabric then added the ric-rac to the seam.  then I added the zipper and sewed it all together. 

Here's the pouch:

Here's the inside:

For my mother-in-law, Joy, I made some Picnic-tastic Place Mats.  Well, technically this is also her birthday present.  For her birthday I told her I would let her pick out some material and I would make her some.  Well I ended up making 8 of them and finished them in time for Mother's Day.  Rick also picked out some flowers for her and I found a tiny "Joy" book for her at work. 

Here they are all rolled up:

Here's the 2 different styles of these place mats.  I made 4 of each:

In other news, I didn't make it into the Top 60 for Spring Top Week.  There were so many great tops entered this year.  I'll have to try harder next year!  I'm just pleased that I'm learning how to sew clothing and I completed and entered 5 different tops this year.

Thanks for looking!!
~Christina

Sunday Sewing

I had a pretty good sewing day.  I made Rick another pair of PJ shorts.  I realized I never posted the first pair I made so I'll show both of them to you now.  The grey pair was made on my sewing machine and the green pair was made on my serger.  They are both made using a jersey knit from Joann's.  I used stretch stitches on my sewing machine on the grey pair.  On the green pair I used a three thread over-lock stitch on the seams and a flat-lock on the waistband and hem.  

OK, enough about the stitches, here's a picture!!

I also finally made my sister's shirt that I promised her.  She loves this pink tank top so much that she wanted another one.  Her only request was for it to have wider straps.  I found the fabric at Wal-Mart and it screamed Rebbie!!  It's a thin knit with stripes of red, grey and yellow dots.  I made the pattern using her shirt and I got to used my serger on it (did I mention that I love my new serger!?!?)

Here's my usual side by side of the before and after:

Here's a close-up so you can see the awesome fabric:

I'll update later with some pictures of the shirt on my sister.  I think she likes it.  :-)

Spring Top Week officially starts tomorrow over at Made By Rae.  New tops will be posted each day (Mon-Fri) so be sure to check so you can vote for for your favorite!  I hope you pick mine if I'm am lucky enough to be in the top 50!!  There were so many great entries this year.  I'm just happy that I completed my 5 tops.

Here's my five tops again.  I like seeing them all lined up!

All in all, today was a pretty good day.  Thanks for looking!!
~Christina

Spring Top Week Entry #5!!

It's the moment you've been waiting for!! My final entry for Spring Top Week!! I used a pattern for this one. The main fabric is calico from Hobby Lobby and the trim is some quilting fabric from Wal-mart. I worked really hard on this. I successfully altered a pattern!

I started with New Look 6895 View E.

On the front pattern piece, I took away the space that was added in for the gathers in the center. And I subtracted the seam allowance from the back pieces so that I could use one piece of fabric instead of two, thus eliminating the back seam and button. The reason I removed the ruffles is because I wanted to add a placket, using Rae's very easy to follow placket tutorial! Oh, I totally used my new serger on this project too! I used the 4 thread mock safety stitch on the seams and the hem.

Here's my fancy new top!!

Some close-up shots of the fancy placket, closed and open:

I love girly gathered sleeves:

Look at that serged edge!! Fancy!!

And finally, here are some pics of me wearing my new top!! I'm all ready for spring!!

And here's my square crop for the Spring Top Week Flickr pool:

I am so happy that I completed 5 tops in time! This was an awesome experience. Thank you Rae for the challenge!!
Thanks for looking!!!!
~Christina

Spring Top Week Entry #4

Hi! I finished my Spring Top Week entries!! This is is my 4th entry. It's simple, but cute. I got the fabric from Hobby Lobby. It is a pink knit fabric with sweet white flowers printed on it. (BTW, I love sewing knits with now! Not so scary!) This is my first completed top using a pattern. (I don't want to talk about the ones that aren't completed) The pattern I used was New Look 6950, view C.

Sometime I'll have to make those awesome stretch pants...lol. Oh yeah!! I got to use my new serger on this top! I LOVE my new serger!!! I used the basic 3 thread stitch for the side seams and the blind hem stitch on...you guessed it...the hem!

I love this top! Simple, comfy and girly. Good for layering or on its own!

Close-up of top-stitching. I'm pretty proud of it:


My first attempt at the blind-hem stitch:


And here I am, enjoying the sun in my new spring top!


And here's my official square pic for the Spring Top Week Flickr pool:

One more to go! Thanks for looking!!
~Christina

Quick Update

Hi! Just a quick update on my spring top week progress and some other exciting news. I have completed a pink knit tank top that I plan on entering, just need to get some good pictures. Tonight I have started what will be my final entry for Spring Top Week. I'm very excited about it because I'm using a pattern, but altering a bit and adding a placket from a Made By Rae tutorial. So far so good. I should have it done in time!

One of my tops made it on Rae's blog yesterday!! Keep in mind that this doesn't mean I'm ahead or anything, she just wanted to give peek to all the awesome spring tops that everyone has been making. She has them sorted by color. I'm in the Grey row. Check it out! I'm excited!! I can't believe voting happens next week. Rae is awesome for doing Spring Top Week. I have had a lot of fun trying out new things. It has been a great challenge and learning experience for me.

And now for my super exciting news!! Last Thursday, a very special package came for me. A new SERGER!!! I lost the Janome contest and was very sad. :-( Rick said I should go ahead and get one. Because he's awesome! I found a cheap one on Amazon that got great reviews and it was also featured on Sew,Mama, Sew! So, I got it. And I LOVE IT!!! It's a Brother 1034D 3/4 Lay-In Thread Serger

 

It's so pretty!! I definitely used on my last 2 spring tops. My list of things to sew has just grown immensely. I'm super excited.


I'll be back soon with pictures of my last 2 tops. I'll let you know when to vote next week!
~Christina