The Rarity Tunic/Dress Pattern and Tutorial

My next free pattern, available in 2T-5T, along with a tutorial for the version shown below is now up on my Fresh Off the Bolt blog! Go and check it out now by clicking on the Fresh Off the Bolt tab above! Thanks and happy sewing!

The Summer Faux Wrap Top Pattern is Here!

Well, I eeked this one in here in the knick of time to keep my promise from yesterday! Enjoy!



Free pattern is here!

Reversible Piped Vest for Boys: Free Pattern & Tutorial!

Yay! My first free boy's pattern and it's so easy, anyone can do it! Click on the Fresh Off the Bolt page link above for the free pdf pattern and a quick tutorial! 

Have a wonderful day, lovelies!

The Bella Dress: Free Pattern and Tutorial

Click on the Fresh Off the Bolt tab above to get your free size 4T Bella dress pattern and tutorial! =)

Happy sewing!

Tutorial for the Between Seasons Vintage-Inspired Blouse

As promised, I've got a tutorial for you so you can make your own little between-the-seasons-blouse! (I really need a shorter name for this one, what do you think?) I think i will make myself one as well during Selfish Sewing Week (see my sidebar for the link to that). 

Before we even start with the tutorial, I feel the need for a disclaimer: I'm not a professional seamstress or designer so there are probably better ways to do what I did but I've made everything as simple to do and understand so that even a beginning sewist could create a similar look. Ok- now let's have some fun!

An explanation about the pattern pieces: I used a bodice pattern I keep on hand for making tops for my daughter. I simply traced it and doubled the width of one shoulder to allow for pleats then I flipped the pattern right across to the other side and traced the bodice to make the other side to complete the front piece.

When I traced the bodice for the back pieces, I increased the width at the neck (or center back) by 1" to allow for a placket for buttons. Make sure you cut two separate pieces. I normally cut it on the fold and then use my rotary cutter to make a straight cut up the center. If using a light weight fabric, interfacing should be used at the placket to stabilize it. 

The sleeves are cut longer so they end around her elbows. Measure your wearer to get a good idea of how long you'll need them to be. 

All right, now your pieces are cut and you can start putting it together!

We'll start with making the pleats in the shoulder.

When you fold your pleats down, make sure they stay aligned with the original cut of the shoulder so that once all pleats are in place, the seam/edge looks just like the other shoulder.

Set the front bodice aside and let's work on the back pieces.

Don't forget to finish your seams and then press them!

Confession: I do bias tape the lazy way. It works, so why not? It achieves the same look in half the time so don't judge! =)

Sorry- it's hard to read the above picture but it just states for a fact that I did not use twill tape to encase my elastic. Instead, I sewed down the seam to create a casing for it instead. It works and it was the exact spot that I wanted to use it.

Whew- you made it this far??? Congrats! Time for buttons! 

My snap buttons were placed 2 inches apart and I ended up putting 4 of them in.

And it's done! I'd pair this blouse with skirts, leggings, shorts, skinny jeans...endless possibilities! 

By the way, if I was unclear about any of the instructions, don't hesitate to point it out to me in the comments below and I will attempt to correct it immediately. 

I plan to make more variations of this blouse and will feature them when I do. There are so many other things I want to do with it so the bulk of K's fall wardrobe will probably come from just this one pattern. 

And just one last look! I love how it tricks you into believing she's wearing a dress! And a super duper cute vintagey one at that! 

A DIY Mermaid Skirt

In a couple of weeks, there's going to be a fun Bubble Guppies birthday that we'll be going to and I thought it would be fun to outfit the birthday girl (my niece) in something befitting of the theme and the location at a beach. If you don't know yet, Bubble Guppies is an animated show about mermaid boys and girls- but that's about the extent of my knowledge that I can share with you. 

I wanted an outfit that would be great for the beach, to get wet and run around in and still fit the theme. At first, I sketched up a very complicated dress and then kept simplifying it about four more times before I went to bed at one in the morning. Then, at about 7am that very morning, while still half asleep, the light bulb turned on and I knew exactly what I was going to do. Inspiration truly does strike at the oddest moments for me!

I envisioned a bow bandeau, or bow-deau as I call it, with a knee length mermaid-esque skirt. I wanted to keep it a quick-sew project since I'll be making three of them so I decided a few randomly placed scales would be better than attempting to attach scales to the entire skirt.

And I came up with this adorable outfit that I think the girls will all love. I plan to make them in different color combinations for all three girls and this is the first version I made.

I put together a quick and hopefully concise tutorial so you can make one for your own girl. It's sized for about a 3T/4T but because of the elasticized waist, can fit even more size ranges. I'll put together a separate tutorial for the bow-deau a little later this week! Enjoy!

I used a stretch satin charmeuse in teal for the skirt with a matching tulle. I think the satiny fabrics work best for a shiny, oceany effect. I'm definitely making up a bunch of new words as I go but you totally get what I mean, right? All right, other than fabric, you will also need:

-3/4" elastic

-coordinating thread

-iron

-scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat

Ok- let's get going!

Cut your skirt fabric in a rectangular shape. Mine was 12.5"x33". I wanted the tulle to flare out right above the knee and still be roomy enough inside to walk or run in. Measure your wearer from waist to knee to make sure you get the right length.

Cut your scales out. Mine were various sizes (3"-4" wide) and I did not use a pattern for it. I was lazy so I just freehanded these. Once they're sewn, it won't even matter if they're cut crooked! 

Once you've got them pinned where you want them, sew them on.

Set your skirt aside and pull out the tulle. The tulle I used was folded down once already, creating a 27" width and two layers of tulle. I believe that's how it came on the bolt. So I just folded down the 27" tulle until it created the length I desired for the flared tulle at the bottom of the skirt. I wanted 6" of flared tulle and knew I would need to trim the raw edges so they aligned better so I cut it at 7". 

I don't have a picture of the skirt being gathered, but it is gathered at the bottom hem and should match the size of the tulle as well.

Pull out the gathering stitches in both the tulle and the skirt before moving on to the next step.

Pretty easy, right? If I was unclear about anything, let me know in the comments and I will try to explain as best I can. I do have to make two more of these so if I come up with something I forgot to mention here, I will return to update this tutorial. 

I gotta admit, she is pretty darn cute in this! I love the bow-deau but I think it's gonna need straps to go around the neck! Running around at the beach in it will surely cause it to slip! Stay tuned for the tutorial on that one!