DIY cardigan

Ok - this scared me. Here I have a perfectly good sweater, but I'm going to cut it and make it a cardigan (b/c that what I need ... more cardigans!)

This Gap sweater is cute, but it just doesn't fit me right. It's a kids sweater (I have no boobs), but the shoulders are just awkward.

Step 1: I cut a 1" strip straight down the middle.

Step 2: I cut the sleeves 1/2 off

Step 3: I cut the neckline into a V

Step 4: Hem everything (pain!!!)

Step 5: Turn that 1" strip of fabric into a wacky looking flower. Notice before the sweater had a cute little heart on it. I covered it up with my wacky flower.

Step 6: I sewed a button hole! I was very proud of myself for this. I had never attempted a button hole before. It was kind-of a pain (especially using sweater material), but it worked!

Ta-da! Instant cardigan!

DIY dress

So I'm still working on the 3lbs of fabric I bought at the Crate and Barrel outlet (in Illinois). It was all random sized remnants, but I had one fairly large piece.

Seriously, this piece of fabric would've cost almost $35, but I got it for about 50 cents.

I measured above my chest, and my hips, cut out a rhombus shape, sewed it up the middle, elastic at the top and ... wha-la! Instant dress!

So I didn't look like a pregnant tent, I also made a belt for cinching. (Who loved SNL in the 90s? "You just cinch it!" (Gap Girls)).

DIY skirt

I'm quite pleased with myself. I bought this fabric at the Crate & Barrel outlet in Illinois (possibly the greatest store EVER!) for 95 cents a pound. It was crazy! Normally this fabric is $35 a yard. Now that's a silly price, but my 95 cents a pound was a steal!!!

The easiest thing to make, I assumed, would be a skirt. I had never used elastic before, but how hard can it be?!?

Turns out, not hard at all - ta da!

What was hard was trying to make the blue lining for the inside. I ended up giving up on it. I hope the white skirt isn't too see-through. I guess I'll find out the first day I wear it to work.

New Dress A Day

I just found the greatest blog!

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

This girl is taking ugly, outdated dresses (most of them mumus) and trimming and hemming them into super cute things!

Adventures with bias binding

Don't even ask me how many times I sewed on the bias binding (those black strips around the neck, arm pits and bottom). It was at least 4 times.

I would sew it on, realize it was wrong, take it off, then do it correct. Then the next day, I would sew on the arm pit holes, realize I forgot how to do it, and it's wrong again.

Etc, etc, etc. Grrrrr!

Again, more Walmart fabric. I just loved it!

The black belt looks pretty lame just hanging there, all limp. But when I belt it under my boobs (is that called 'empire waist'?), it's a pretty cute dress.

Again ... if I only ever wore dresses!

I can sew (barely)

So, if you've been following my blog, you remember I bought a sewing machine back in 2007, and I finally opened it a couple months ago.

I managed to sew something. I bought this fabric at Walmart for some low, low, super low price, and I made this tent looking dress out of it!

That ribbon wraps around my neck, and ties over one shoulder. And I used bias binding around the arm sleeves. Man, bias binding is a pain to use!

In typical Amber fashion, I cut off way too much on the bottom, so it's not as long as I would've liked, but it's still wearable.

Now if I only had a reason to wear dresses ...

How to make a pot holder - part 3

Next you need to stitch your opening together. I hand stitched mine. I recommend watching TV or a movie while you hand stitch!

I'm not sure you can tell from the photo, but you can see the little bit of hand stitching.

And here is the finished product!

Side note: attention everybody I exchange Christmas presents with - you will be getting pot holders for Christmas and possibly your birthday!

How to make a pot holder - part 2

Next, take the 2 pieces of fabric, and place them on top of each other. The WRONG side of the fabrics should be facing in. So the WRONG sides of the fabric should be touching.

WARNING - my photo is incorrect. My Christmas pattern is facing out, which is wrong.

Put the batting on top.

So your order is:
Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Batting

Sew across 3 sides.

Sew across the 4th side, but leave about 4" opening. You'll use this opening to pull everything into place. Since you sew everything "inside out", you have to pull it "right side out"!

Here is my hand about to pull it "right side out".

How to make a pot holder - part 1

I recently got my sewing machine out of the box, and the easiest thing I could think to make was a pot holder.

You will need fabric for the front and back. You can use the same pattern (or solid) for each side, or use coordinating pieces. I used one Christmas print for the front, and a solid color for the back.

I used an old cardboard box to cut out a pattern. You don't have to do this, you can just measure the fabric. My square is 9 inches by 9 inches.


You will also need to purchase batting. I bought this batting at Walmart for under $5.