all tied up

i received a letter from my brother in the MTC about how excited he was to get a tie that i had made just for him.

yea.....ties are definitely hard to make from scratch. it's the truth.

but i realllly wanted to make dennis a tie so i dealt with it. that's why when you look at the pictures to follow, there will be two different types of fabric because one tie bit the dust. hahaha how embarrassing....

but hey, the failure led to success. i'm down with that.  so, would you like to make a tie for someone?!

yes!!!

let's hop to it!

you will need

an old tie (as a pattern)

half a yard of fabric (you will have a bit extra)

contrasting fabric

thread

some good eyeballs

tons and tons of patience

grab your old tie

 cut it into pieces (only where there are seams though)

 especially those two neck seams

 take the pieces and pin them down on your fabric

 and cut the pieces out

 iron over your tie's tips by folding the bottom up and iron, then continue to the sides by folding, then ironing making a point at the bottom. do the same to your contrasting pieces 

now it gets tricky. you need to do what i call an invisible stitch by sewing through the middle layers of the fabric, not the outside. and it needs to be done by hand

your end product should look something like this

remember those neck seams? well now it is time to connect all the pieces. make sure they line up!

 after sewing those pieces together, fold over the sides and iron them down

\

 then fold the sides over again and iron

 now, to make the tie holder on the back, just take your outlined piece, fold and iron on both sides, and hand or machine stitch the ends like so

 if you want to, embroider your name/logo on the front

 now, for another tricky invisible stitch. you need to sew the two ironed sides together by going back and forth between the pieces without the thread showing. i couldn't take a picture of it because it is invisible. so if you need to just look at another tie you have lying around to see how it is stitched invisibly back and forth

now, pin your tie holder about five inches where your side pieces meet. pin it in place

 and sew the back of it on by hand

lightly iron it into its new found shape....and

WOWZA

look at your tie! ah!!!! so proud 

 a little crooked, but hey i like crooked :)

 love love love

 and some bonus footage of my uber hot model :)

he told me not to use it because his hair isn't done......so silly

i think dennis is going to love it! if i ever get a picture from that kid of him wearing it, expect to see it!

now, go take some time out of your daily schedule to sew up a tie for someone just from you

and have a great monday!

plaid-tastic

quick shout out to the people who haven't locked their wifi yet, because i can have internet while mine is down. still. i know, i know, my life is tuff. hahaha

anyways

see this top? 

i liked the way it looked. i love the bow at the neck, the pattern, and immediately thought 

hey i think i could make that...

the statement that creates all of these projects. hahaha

so i made this one

want one too?

here we go!

you will need:

1 yard fabric

needle

thread

6 buttons

1. use an existing top to create the top. fold your fabric in half. fold the existing shirt in half, and while cutting create a kind of cap sleeve. make another piece identical to the front piece

2. take one of body pieces and cut it in half. now, you should have three pieces: a back piece, and two front pieces (see the slight cap sleeve?)

3. sew the sides and shoulders together

4. now, let's make the placket. take a strip of fabric about 5 inches wide and should be the same length as the front cut on your shirt piece. fold over .5 inches on each side like so

6. take on side that you have folded over and place it on the inside of the front cut and pin.

 then sew! it should look like this

7. get the other piece that you folded over and place it on top of the front cut, lining it up with the piece you just sewed. pin it and sewww!

8. placket done! and shirt almost done, great job :) ok, onto the buttons. if you have a button hole foot, that is awesome. i don't. so i did these by hand and it wasn't too bad actually. so, place pins where you want your buttons. space them out evenly. you will want one right at the collar and one near the bottom

i ended up needing six buttons 

 9. using your wonderful and dexterous fingers sew a little rectangle where you put your pin. i suggest making somewhat tiny stitches so the fabric doesn't run

10. using a seam ripper or scissors, cut open your rectangle and you now have a button hole! so go ahead and sew your button right behind it

11. after finishing all six button holes and button placements, i had a kit kat. so go get one. or whatever chocolate you prefer and take a BREAK. because you deserve it!

12. alright, we are almost at the finish line! cut a piece of fabric 4 inches wide and 48 inches long. i cut mine in half on accident. don't do that. hahaha

13. now, just make a tube by folding the fabric in half, pinning, and sewing. turn it right side out

14. pin this yummy little tube around your neck hole (yes, it is a word) and carefully sew it on. when you get to the edges of the neck line, decrease the seam allowance so that it flows out smoothly

15. HOLY CRAP. SO FLIPPIN CUTE.

i put a little piece of elastic in the back to fit my shape a little better, but that is totally optional.

you know what is awesome about this top? it has a HUGE bow on it! right under my face! 

i don't know why but that makes me really happy

and it doesn't hurt that it was freeeee. 

my favorite thing to wear with this shirt:

a cardigan

oh my lanta.

yes.

so go make it guys! i want to see what yours looks like! and please feel free to ask any questions. i looove questions.

ps- only THREE followers until the giveaway begins! i am so excited you guys!

plaid rehab

one of my first attempts at refashioning.....my husband's glittery plaid shirt. why he bought a men's shirt with golden glittery stripes i do not know...but i am glad i have it now. it's very girly :) hahaha i'm sorry i don't have picture of it before or pictures as guides for this tutorial....but hopefully the words will be descriptive enough :) i copied  found the idea for this shirt from Liz over at  Cotton and Curls. she is amazing and i blog stalk her and she doesn't even know it. oh and comment if you have a question :)

you will probably need........

sewing machine

thread

a smile

patience

1. steal find a huge plaid shirt

2. cut the sides off- you can do this one of two ways. either use a shirt you like and use that as a foundation, or two (if you're lazy like me) just eyeball it. you know what size you are :) just don't forget the seam allowance like i did...

3. cut the sleeves to approximately the length you want them with a reasonable seam allowance

4. cut out the collar. now, don't cut too wide because it might create a little bit of a boatneck like mine (if you like boatnecks, awesome. cut wide)

5. cut the bottom. be careful to leave enough to roll the bottom hem up twice for a more polished look.

6. pin your sides and sleeves and SEW

7. roll the collar's hem and sewwww

8. roll the bottom's hem and sew sew sew! 

(*i opted for the rounded bottom- it is a little harder but very much worth it*)

9. YOU DID IT!!!!!!

(my subtle smile of success...)

and if you want a sash.....(which you do)

10. take the sleeves and cut them into four equally sized rectangles.

11. sew the shirt sides together, creating a realllly long rectangle.

12. sew up on side of the rectangle, creating a long tube. 

13. pull the tube right side out and by golly, you've got a matching sash that will make this shirt hug your every curve!

14. i just added a 14th step because i didn't want to end on an unlucky number.

ya, i'm still a lil' awkward with the whole posing thing...one day i'll be a model.

i apologize for the wordiness, but it's just how i communicate. my poor husband. well, i hope you enjoy this tiny tutorial and i hope you find a shirt and make it tailor fit your adorable self :)