The 1-Hour Dopp Kit

I love patterns that say 1 hour!

Ha! Whatever! Well, it takes me almost that long just to pick the fabric. And if you quilt it, right away the one hour is out the window! Right? And maybe once you’ve made it once it will only take an hour, but the first one never takes me just an hour. Maybe you are faster than I am!

For this one I used the 1-Hour Dopp Kit Tutorial from the Craftsy Sewing Blog. Even though I’m complaining about the one hour part, I like the pattern and would like to make another one. This one was a Christmas present for my husband, but the kiddo took it instead!

I love the little handle! You could do two, but I chose to do just one. You only carry it on one end, so why do you really need two handles?

Although the inside corners take some thought, the turned out great. This feature was one reason I headed to this tutorial over some of the others. (ignore the toothpaste spots. It’s proof that it is actually being used as a toiletry bag and not a bag to carry toys!)

And the bottom! Do those stripes look familiar? I used scraps from my 2016 SMQG BOM Medallion quilt!

So what do you think? Would you give it a try? Do you have a favorite Dopp Kit pattern? I’d try a different one next time. I kinda want to make a leather one… Have you?

 

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FLIP this Pattern!

Have you been following the Flip This Pattern series over at Francis Suzanne???

 

If you remember, I met these wonderful gals during our stint on Project Run and Play! I was honored when they invited me to participate in their fun series! And then when I saw the patterns, I knew exactly which one I wanted to do!

Be sure to click on over and check out my FLIP!

 

 

Long Beach Board Shorts

Or should I call them Orange Beach Board Shorts? Obviously they fit in perfectly on any beach! I’m in love with this Long Beach Board Short pattern from Terra’s Treasures.

It was one of the patterns in the Sew Fab Sale and I’m loving it! And so is the kiddo! I wanted them to actually be swim shorts and not just shorts that look like swim shorts, so I started looking for boys swimsuit material. It’s not so easy to find! I did find some at this place called The Fabric Fairy, but it was kinda expensive for my first try at this… Sometimes it’s hard to spend 20 or so on fabric for a swim suit that I can get already made for 8 or 10 at Old Navy, etc… I love handmade more, but sometimes….

 

So I started looking at thrift shops. Then I just happened to find a solid pair of blue and a printed pair that matched perfected! On sale for 5 bucks for the two! Then I wanted the contrast and found another pair of adult swim trunks for 1 dollar!! I did use adult swim trunks for the fabric. And if you want to, be sure to find a pair without all the pockets! My blue pair I had to be very careful with how I cute the adult pair to have enough fabric.

The pattern is super easy to put together. It helps if you aren’t chatting with a long time best friend that you haven’t seen in a year though. I did sew together the back part upside down the first time adn I couldn’t figure out what in the world was wrong the pattern! Of course, it wasn’t me!!! Then I realized, HA! it was me! And of course, I had finished the seam allowances and everything before I figured it out….

Then I got back on track and I love it. I would totally make short short out of it too. As in not actual swim shorts.

And check out that piping! Sorry, for the booty shot, but it was the best picture of the piping I had. It was my first time doing real piping. I used a nylon cord for quicker drying. This one is for my Aunt! I’ve been talking to her about doing piping for years. She keeps telling me how wonderful it is and how you’ll get hooked. She was right!

And I also added in the swim suit undies. I cut these out of one of my pairs (yes, thoroughly washed, multiple times!) The pattern doesn’t give directions for this piece, but I just sized it based on my sons other bathing suits and then tucked it up under the fold of the wait before I sewed that piece down.

I also reused the ties from the other shorts for the tie on this pair. The directions call for ribbon or bias tape. So I just used the ties ans sewed them on some elastic.

And the kiddo loves them!

 

The Eared Earflap Hat! a tutorial

Bringing another tutorial home today! Things are crazy here! I’ve missed sharing with you this week! I’ll be back to normal soon, I hope! But while I’m doing too much at once, why don’t you make a fun hat!!

I was competing in Project Run and Play and got behind in other things. If you are following along this season of Project Run and Play, this hat might look familiar… It’s my ‘Eared’ Earflap hat for the kiddos!

It’s a quick one that you can do with some larger fleece scraps you might have around the house! All you need is two pieces of fleece (or you could use just one color too) and cutting tools! And you can download the pattern here.

Step 2: Cut out the pieces. You’ll need 2 of each color/print for the main pieces and the little ears. And a 3 inch strip about 15″ long (you’ll trim this later, so it doesn’t need to be exact!)

Step 3: Cut the slit in the outside fabric. You can do it on the inside pieces, but I’ve found with fleece that it doesn’t really need the darts on the inside.

Step 4: Make your ears. Sew the ears together and then turn right side out.

Step 5: Place the ears in the hat.

Step 6: Sew it together! First sew the ear slit closed. Then sew the middle 3″ slit between the two side pieces. And sew the middle strip and side pieces of the inside pieces together too.

Step 7: Trim the excess of the middle piece off. I trim it in a slight curve between the two sides.

Step 8: Put the inside and outside together, one inside the other, with right sides facing.

Step 9: Sew along the side edge. You do need to leave a hole, about 2 inches.

Step 10: Optional, but you can trim the curved pieces. With fleece it’s not quite as critical, but if you were sewing it with a different fabric, this really helps to get the fabric to lay flat. Since the fleece kinda stretches around, it’s not as critical.

Step 11: Pull through the hole.

Step 12: Hand sew the hole.

And you’ve got a hat! Pretty easy! It would also be fun to recycle a sweater for this project!

And what about in green?? Do you see it? A frog hat? hehehe!

The Jack and Jill Shirt turned PJ’s

Last month I was a lucky lady who got to work with a fabulous woman (who you probably all know), Shannon, the woman behind the blog, Little Kids Grow. Shannon has recently started a pattern line called Peaches and Peanuts. And I got to test her first pattern, the Jack and Jill Color Block Shirt.

The pattern is a unisex pattern with all sorts of options in sizes 4 through 12! You’ll have to check out Shannon’s story on why she started her new pattern line. It totally makes sense! And so far, she’s on the right track!

Our shirt is a little wacky, so I thought I’d show you how the other testers made theirs. Theirs are a bit more reserved. And it just goes to show how lovely this pattern can be. When I saw Shannon’s son in the shirt, I knew I was in love! He’s adorable! It’s just a lovely shirt that can be very dressy, casual and as I’m showin’ ya, very casual!

I chose kinda crazy fabric for a couple of reasons. One, that’s the way the kiddo and I roll. Bright and Crazy! And Two, I knew I wanted the shirt for some PJ’s. I think Shannon was looking more for the not so crazy, but she was sweet about our craziness just the same!

The pattern has a few details that make it stand out from other boy’s shirts patterns. I’ll start with the back detail. The back pleat is a nice detail that I think makes the shirt a bit more comfy. From the front it looks like a slightly fitted shirt, but you know there’s some real room to run and play in it!

The sleeve detail is also a refreshing change from the usual. I got a bit confused by it. But that’s why I was a tester and Shannon quickly updated the pattern (before publication) based on my confusion so you won’t be confused! Look how cute it looks once I figured it out!

I’ve always been a bit confused about dress shirts and collars. But that is a confusion of the past! After working her pattern a light went off and I have figured it out and am no longer afraid of dress shirt collars!

And what do you think about that pocket? The long pocket is fun! Especially since my monsters fit perfectly for the size of the pattern!

The pants are not part of the pattern. They are my own pattern that I made using my tutorial for Comfy Pants.

So, I asked the kiddo to model his pj’s and it was like pulling teeth to get him out there. I said, ‘you know you love it once I’m taking pictures.’ And he said I could only take 3 or 4 pictures. But do these pictures look like he hates having his picture taken? Um. No. He even made me take more and more! What a ham!

Be sure to check out Shannon’s Jack and Jill pattern for your kiddos! I know one kiddo who’s happy to have it!

KCW- Purple Shorts

Ok, it’s not much today, but I did make something!

I had to finish up my last pair of dragon wings for the Halloween season, then I turned to some Kids Clothes Week! Some purple shorts! I started with the pattern for the Kickin Back Sweats from Sewing for Boys. I thought, that since I had the pattern, I should use it. Right? It’s super simple. But they are HUGE! This is the size 2/3 on my 5 year old! And I even sized it down a little from the 2/3! Either way, they fit great!

And I cut out the green pj’s to go with the purple shorts… Know where I’m going with this????

Coastal Cargos

I think I’ve probably mentioned this before, but when we go to our beach house in Orange Beach, AL one of my favorite things to do is sit out on the porch and sew. Everyone goes to bed and I sit out and listen to the waves, the quiet, the occasional night fishing boat and sew. Love it! And this year I made clothes for the kiddo!

I didn’t sew as much as I typically do, but I did get 2 pairs of pants done for the kiddo. The first pair of pants I made for him was the Coastal Cargos by Blank Slate Patterns (affiliate link).  This pattern is an intermediate pattern with all sorts of little details! Like welt pockets in the back, bias tape closures on the seams, zippers, belt loops, pockets….

What I loved most about this pattern was that it’s not just pants, but it’s shorts too! Yeah! The pattern called for the use of buttons for the strap to hold up the pants. And of course, I used snaps! Like usual. No buttons for this gal! So it’s long pants.

No it’s short pants!

So I always thought that cargo pants were pants that transformed from pants to shorts. But I just learned a little something! It has nothing to do with the length, but it’s all about the pockets! According to m-w.com, cargo pants are pants with cargo pockets typically on the sides of the legs at thigh level! And that they have!

This pattern is an intermediate pattern with all sorts of little details! Like welt pockets in the back, bias tape closures on the seams, zippers, belt loops, pockets….

Welt pockets are something I have never actually tried before, so I loved learning how. Pretty darn simple, actually! Mine didn’t turn out as pretty as some other things I have done before, hence no close ups! And check out the coordinating belt loops. Yep!

The bias tape closure over the seams is a great idea! I have to admit that I have a love hate relationship with this detail! It took me a little while to figure out why the pants are designed this way. Ah, ha! So they don’t have any visible seams once the pants are rolled up! LOVE it. The hate it part is mostly user error. The fact that I was ironing my bias tape outside in the coastal humidity, so the seams didn’t stay too well. Ok, they didn’t stay hardly at all! Note to self, don’t expect crisp seams when ironing outside at the beach in the south.  And, secondly,  I wasn’t using my own machine that I can maneuver fabric around easier in.

The pattern even warns ya that the hard part is coming up! And it wasn’t hard. It’s slow moving. It was just the moving everything around to get it so you aren’t sewing over other pieces! Was it worth it in the end? Yes! Hence the LOVE part!

Will I make them again? You betcha! (but not outside at the beach on my beach sewing machine) I love how they turned out!

Be sure to check out all of the Blank Slate Patterns and see which one you want to try!

(All links to Blank Slate Patterns are affiliate links! Thanks!)

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KCW Day 7- Almost…

I had a good run at KCW this year, but I didn’t quite complete all of my projects…

I did work yesterday on another project, but didn’t anywhere near done…

I have three projects that I didn’t get done. Project 1: A cute little romper for a friends son, which means I need to make a pattern ’cause I can’t find one that I want. Project 2: A new pair of pants for my son, using Blank Slate’s Coastal Cargos pattern. And the last project, Project 3: Turning this adult octopus t-shirt into a kids tee.

Just cause KCW has come to a close, it doesn’t mean that I’m stopping! This week I have to switch direction to party decorations and quilting. But you will see these projects soon!

Did you finish all your projects??

The Banyan Tee by Figgy’s

ok, So have you gotten the Sew Fab e-pattern bundle yet? Yes, there’s a lot of girl patterns, but there are boy patterns there too! Including the Banyan Tee by Figgy’s.

Can I say super easy?? Yes, I can!

If you follow me on Instagram, you know how excited I was yesterday when I got my double needle to work to do the knits! YEA!! It wasn’t much at all, but I’ve been scared of it for a while. All I did was add two spools to the spool and threaded them both through to the double needle and off we went! SO in that sense, and the fact that the shirt was so easy to make, it was a great day.

But here’s the flop… I hate the fabric I used. It’s so girly! I love the color. But the dots and the weight of the fabric are too girly. Hence the  reason the Kiddo is wearing it over a hoodie. The pattern calls for a pocket, but with this fabric, I didn’t like the pocket, so I left it off. I don’t know, would the pocket help it not be so girlie???

Ok, enough about the flop side of my sewing…. Back to the plus! I love the little sleeve detail! Love it! A little turned up sleeve!

The pattern actually has a version for boys and a version for girls. Check out how cute it is on Jessica’s (from Craftiness is Not Optional) little lady! (her little lady is absolutely adorable, but you have to go to her website to see the whole precious thing!!)

And on a slightly different subject, it seems like the 100th Day of School Celebration is taking over this year. I’ve never heard of it before this year, but now I’m seeing in on blogs and FB all over the place. We had to bring in 100 things in sets of 10. So we decided to make a garland of 100 squares in 10 different colors.

According to the teachers it was a hit! The kids pulled it out across the room. And 100 2 inch squares makes about a 17 foot garland. So it honestly did stretch across the whole room!

So even though I love the pattern, but am not in love with the fabric of the shirt, my son loved it and wouldn’t take it off. He wore it to school and even told his teachers that I made it for him! I’d call that a 10 percent flop, 90 percent WOOOHOOO!

Be sure to get your bundle of patterns before time runs out (super early Monday morning)! Click here to purchase yours today!

 

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Hot Dog Day Vest Tutorial!

This is a re-post from a post I did back in July for Narelle’s blog Cook, Clean, Craft when she hosted the series Boy’s Own Style! I thought now that people are thinking about Halloween this could be a fun little project to share!

Enjoy!

First off, I have to say Happy National Hot Dog Day! Maybe it’s a US thing, but everyone can play along right??? Thanks for stopping by to join me here on Narelle’s blog! I’m Louise from I’m Feelin’ Crafty!

Who doesn’t love hot dogs?? And who doesn’t love dressing this kids up like a hot dog??? When Narelle asked me join in on her series, of course the first thing I did was say yes. Then I looked at the calendar and knew I had to join in on National Hot Dog Day! My husband and I brainstormed for an idea and he actually came up with the idea for a hot dog bun vest. At first I was like, no way! Then the details started coming to me and I fell in love with the idea!

So here’s how I made my vest!

Step 1- Gather materials: Red and White fleece, khaki colored denim, yellow buttons (for the drops of mustard ya know!), thread and the pattern. My pattern is for somewhere between a 3T and 4T.

Or you can make your own by tracing a vest that already fits (which is basically how I made mine…)

Step 2- Cut out all your pieces. Denim for the outside, Red Fleece for the inside, pockets, buttonhole piece and collar and White fleece for the mayonnaise pockets.

Step 3- Sew in the Pockets. 1, position the pockets about 4.5″ inches from the corner of the armhole at side seam, right sides to right sides. 2, Sew the pockets on the seam side only. 3, If you want to topstitch, do so now! Here I folded over the pocket and did a little topstitching. 4, Iron open the pockets, but be sure to not iron the fleece directly (put a cover over it before ironing)! 5, Stack the front and back pieces, right sides together, and pin. 6, Sew a continuous seam from the armhole to the bottom hem edge going around the pocket. If you did add the topstitching, it adds a little funkiness to the laying out and stitching the front and back together, but you just have to move it around a bit and be careful to not stitch over the topstitching.

Step 4: Add the mayo!  First turn over the top of the mayo and stitch. Sew on the mayo squirts on to the right sides of the front flaps of the inside pieces of red fleece.

Step 5: Sew lining. Sew front sides to back, right sides together. Leave a 4″ hole in one of the side seams to pull it all through later.

Step 6: Collar. Sew the two collar pieces together, right sides together. Only sew the two short sides and curved side of the collar. Trim the corners and turn right side out. Topstitch the three sides.

Step 7: Buttonhole strip. Just like the collar, sew the short sides and the curvy side together, right sides to right sides. Trim the corners, snip the curves (so that they fold over easier) and turn right side out.

Step 8: Add the buttonholes. Honestly, I am not a fan of buttonholes. On my machine, the buttonhole function doesn’t work. I need to get that fixed…. So please excuse my not so perfect buttonholes. Anyway, for this project, I added the buttonholes and I didn’t line them up on purpose. Have you ever seen a compete straight line of mustard drops on your bun? Me neither! So neither are my mustard buttons!

Step 9: Put it all together! First off, sew the shoulders together for the front and back, right sides to right sides. Pin the collar and the buttonhole strip to the front of the vest, right sides to right sides. Next, pin the inside of the vest to the outside, again, right sides to right sides.

Step 10: Sew it all together. Sew all the outside edges (but not the armholes! I got carried away and forgot to NOT sew the armholes and had to pull out the seams at the armholes!!!) Don’t forget to trim the corners!

Step 11: Pull it all through the hole you left in the lining and topstitch all around the edges, including under the collar.

Step 12: Sew on the buttons. I had an extra button, so I added a drop of mustard to the inside of the vest!

Step 13: Close the armholes. Fold over the outside and the inside towards the inside about .5″ and pin. Then pin the two together lining up the shoulder seam and the side seam. Topstitch!

And WAH-LA! You’ve got a little hot dog!

And we’re off to have a hot dog! Thanks again, Narelle, for having me!  While you’re eating yours, be sure to visit me at I’m Feelin’ Crafty!

 

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