Knifty Does It and Working with Vintage

I got busy again the last couple days, with crafting.  Finished two more projects, the more complicated ones too.

First off, I made this dress using a vintage pattern I got some time ago.  I didn’t quite follow the pattern exactly.  Basically I made the top part less poufy and the skirt more poufy.  Just the way I like it. 

Plus, the pattern called for using the same fabric for the top part and skirt and using a different fabric for the midriff part.  I thought doing it this way would be more interesting. 

Here’s another difference.  The pattern called for decorative lacing on the front, I put the lacing on the back and it isn’t decorative.  This allows me to easily adjust the fit as needed since this dress needs a snug fit in the waist to look good.  Otherwise I look like I’m wearing a horrible cheap costume or something along those lines.

As a bonus, I made this simple matching bag to go with the dress.  The construction is similar to a double layered envelope, not sure how else to explain it. 

I had intended to add gussets to give it a flat bottom, but when I tried that it ended up looking like a very pretty lunch bag.  Not what I wanted, at least not with this bag.  Of course now I have a great idea for a lunch bag, but that’s for a future project.

Now the most trying project, a knitted scarf.  I never learned to knit when I was young and around here that is kind of a big deal.  Dealing with knitting needles kind of turns me off. 

So enter the Knifty Knitter loom, I bought it on sale at Joann Fabric and Crafts and committed myself to using it.  After fiddling with the included instructions which weren’t clear, I finally got started on my first knit project. 

The finished scarf isn’t too much to look at, but there’s nothing horribly wrong with it.  It was quick to make, totally painless, and I am actually willing to do another loom project.  The loom is fun to work with despite the instructions.  I found it easier to learn by paying more attention to the illustrations than the written steps and numbers.  Weird.

Here’s the updated list:

• hair combs
• napkins
• headbands
• wrist band
• short sleeve blouse
• doll clothes
• skirt
• shorts
• scarf
• more broaches
• dress

Ten down, just one more to go.  It will probably be finished by Monday.  I’m on a roll.

Read More »

Super Five

Yesterday I had intended to blog about a finished project.  Instead, today I am blogging about five finished projects.  Yep, I’m been a busy little bee the last few days and got a good chunk of my list completed.

First up is the wristband.  At first this doesn’t look like much.  A simple stretchy wristband made from scraps of fabric I had lying around right?  What’s so remarkable about that?

Possibly the pin cushion on the other side.  This was my intended purpose.  I have seen several pincushions that go on the wrist like this and had always thought them to be extremely useful, not to mention really cool.  Now why would I go out and buy one when I can easily whip one up with a spare pin cushion and a stretchy wristband. 

More items made from the same fabric scraps.  I needed more pairs of comfy shorts, so I made this pair with some of the leftover fabric from the pajama pants I made (See Pjs and a Long Awaited Photo).  I also made a simple little skirt using leftovers from the top I made for class (See Catching Up, Again), so I can pair them together easily.  They were both super easy to make and really comfortable to wear which was the point.  Funny thing about the shorts, when my nephew saw them he thought they were like Dora’s shorts from Dora the Explorer.  He thinks his sister would like a pair, should I oblige?

Here’s the blouse, it’s being held up by my nephew in the photo.  See the cute curly hair peeking over the top?  Anyway, it’s a simple blouse with a gathered neck line and poufy sleeves.  It was a vintage pattern that had to be tweaked or else the sleeves would have been huge.   For some reason the pattern originally called for using a zipper.  I’m thinking “why?!”  I can easily pull this thing on over my head and not because it came out too big for me, the shape is like that.  Sometimes I wonder about pattern makers.  I still like it though.  I think I can make it work for me.

And of course the broaches.  I enjoyed making button broaches (See Button Broach, a Tutorial) before so much that I made even more, eleven more to be exact.  The hardest part about making these ones was finding the buttons.  I got them at SAS like the other ones, but for these I had to dig through their button barrel thingy to find just the right ones.  It was worth it though, I love to see them all gathered up like this.  I plan on listing these in my Shoppe, hopefully their new owner’s will enjoy them as much as I do. 

Here’s the updated list:

• hair combs
• napkins
• headbands
• wrist band
• short sleeve blouse
• doll clothes
• skirt
• shorts
• scarf
• more broaches
• dress

Eight down, just three more to go.  Almost done! 

Read More »

It Continues…

Do these headbands look familiar?  For some of you, they should.  I made them the same way as the ribbon wrapped pens I did before (See Pretty Pens: A Tutorial) except I used plastic headbands instead of pens.  These were surprisingly easier to make, no caps to get in the way like the pens.  It makes me wonder what else I can cover with ribbon like this.  Hmmm.

Here’s the updated list:

• hair combs
• napkins
• headbands
• wrist band
• short sleeve blouse
• doll clothes
• skirt
• shorts
• scarf
• more broaches
• dress

Three down, eight to go.  The next project should be up by Wednesday, possibly sooner.

Read More »

Ready to Use

Told you I’d have the next project up by Saturday.  I spent my morning making napkins out of muslin.  Made about twelve, two of them aren’t in the photo.  They didn’t come out quite right. 

Simple to do, but they take a fair amount of time.  Most of the time was spent ironing the darn things.  I guess they are worth the effort.  Fabric napkins are sooo much nicer than paper, more eco-friendly and more effective when eating greasy foods.  Now I need to grab something to eat.

Here’s the updated list:

• hair combs
• napkins
• headbands
• wrist band
• short sleeve blouse
• doll clothes
• skirt
• shorts
• scarf
• more broaches
• dress

Two down, nine to go.  The next one will be up by Monday, and it should look a little familiar at least to those of you that have been paying attention.

Read More »

More Combing

I had intended to post this yesterday, but I had finals to prepare for.  Actually I dozed off while attempting to “prepare for finals”.

Anyway, I loved making the last hair combs so much that I wanted to make some more but in pairs.  I made two pairs with small metal combs, some ribbon, and blue fake wired rosebuds.  I’m wondering if I should have used a color other than the blue.  I have some off white ones that probably would have worked too.  Maybe I’ll make another batch.  But I am happy with these ones.  I just need to find something to wear with them, and figure out what to do with the extra set.  Sell or gift?  Hmmm.

Here’s the updated list:

• hair combs
• napkins
• headbands
• wrist band
• short sleeve blouse
• doll clothes
• skirt
• shorts
• scarf
• more broaches
• dress

One down, ten to go.  Should have the next one up by Saturday, and by that I don’t mean Sunday with an apology.

Read More »

Bangles to Dangle

I have been meaning to post this for a while, just never got around to it.  This is a few of my favorite bracelet tutorials.  Such an easy accessory to pull off, and one can never own too many.  Especially when you make them yourself.

• Fabric Wrap Bracelets—Combine your favorite fabric scraps and metal bangle bracelets for these simple and sweet bracelets.
• Shower Curtain Ring Bracelets—Really cool looking bracelets made of shower curtain rings of all things.  Careful though, these involve cutting with a knife.  Cut the ring, not yourself.
• Shoelace Bracelets—Fun stretchy bracelets using those cute shoelaces you always see at dollar/discount stores or a set you have lying around.
• Popsicle Bracelets—This one amazes me, bracelets made by molding popsicle sticks. 
• Braided Hex Nut Bracelet—Nothing like raiding your toolbox or hardware store for craft supplies.  That’s what you need for this bracelet.  The result is a bracelet that really leaves an impression.
• Baseball Bracelet—Baseball fan or parent/sibling/etc. of a player/fan?  Show some support by donning a bracelet made from an old baseball.  It’s eco-friendly too.

Read More »