It’s official…Kailan is going to be nekked this summer.
I just can’t stop making cute twirly skirts! At least I have plenty of pants that I can cut off and sew into shorts for him. He’s blown the knees out of several. NOW I understand why people say boys are hard on their clothes. I guess we’ve been lucky thus far…he usually just blows the tops out of his shoes from crawling around on the floor.
Anyways, here is another cute twirly skirt! It’s cute! It’s twirly! It’s…blue! Yes, she actually wore it, even though it is not the optimal color. I was hoping the sparkles on the underskirt would win her over. 😉 Since she wants us to call her Sparklelina henceforth, this is a winner.
The skirt I used pre-made bias tape on the hem of the top skirt. I was lazy. The ribbon I attached first with Wondertape (my BFF), and then I stitched it down.
The applique was a new technique. I ironed some freezer paper onto a small bit of fabric, folded it in half and drew my mirror design on it. Then I cut it out while still folded in half to get this design and took off the freezer paper. It frayed the edges a bit when I took it off, so that was disappointing. It was also a huge pain to cut the fusible interfacing out to match afterwards. THEN I used too thick of a stitch, so it doesn’t look the best. As in, it doesn’t look like a machine did it. As in, I did it around Midnight on a Tuesday night, so perfection was not achieved. Oh well…it’s still cute. 😉
I did not make the t-shirt. It was purchased at the big giant fabric warehouse where it resided in a huge barrel marked with a sharpie, “shirts $3″. I got the kids several shirts that I don’t have to sew. Sometimes, something has to give.
The next evening I decided to tackle the skirt/top combo again. See! I can’t stop making them! I need some sleep!
Luckily I had a plain pink top that matched in her closet. Instead of the freezer paper method, I used a one-sided fusible interfacing. That worked better. I also cut the double sided fusible interfacing out at the same time as I cut out the pattern. Much, much better. I ironed them onto the shirt, and then I didn’t really need to do a zig zag stitch. I just did a fancy stitch and called it good. I did use tear away stabilizer underneath, too. Otherwise it gets all stretching and wonky. I added the matching flower on top, since it MATCHED and I’ve had it forever, plus it just added some bling.
The top skirt I cut with a bit of a wave on it. I have my pattern piece and I just went out a few inches and waved it along as I cut it out. I like this effect. The bias tape I made using this method. Way easy, just remember to cut your fabric on the bias, and here is another tutorial for that. The pink underskirt is a nice soft gauze fabric.
Oh, and LABELS!
I made my own labels this time since I was running out. I also wanted some size tags, so I figured why not combine them, right? First I made the label to the size I wanted in Photoshop – approximately 1 inch x 2 inches. Then I opened a new document to letter size (8.5″ x 11″) and placed my labels on it. I did half the page in Anya’s purple labels and half in Kailan’s blue labels. Then I printed it out on an iron-on fabric sheet I purchased at Michael’s. All I needed to do was cut them out, iron them on and stitch! I stitched them on for added stability. I think you really need to make sure you iron them, too, since the heat sets the ink.
Would you like a tutorial for the skirt? Well, here it is!
As always, I added this to my tutorials page where they all reside in their permanent home. 🙂
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Blogs! Yes, I forgot to share some fun creative places for you last week. So here ya go:
Childrens Fashion Workshop – she shows step by step how she makes some beautiful clothing for her daughter. Look at the bodice on the Easter dress she just made – it is a work of art!
Tea Rose Home – She’s kind of got a bit of everything. Sewing, crafting, repurposing…great ideas. I am linking this post to her Wednesday Link Party. 🙂
Unfair. Wildly unfair.
Talent like that should be liberally applied, right? 🙂
I love those outfits! She looks like she’s loving them too!
I keep telling myself I’ll start sewing again once we move into the new place and I have a spot for my sewing machine!
Thanks so much for the tutorial. It is getting added to my forever growing list of projects. I have been meaning to cut off Miller’s pants that have holes in the knees (which happens to be EVERY single pair of jeans) for this summer. It’s strange because all the khakis are fine. All his pants might get cut off and hemmed anyway. You sure were one busy lady once again this week. I love both outfits.
I so wish I had a girl. You are so right about boys, they are tough on clothes and shoes. I actually have one that is terrible rough on the shoes and not on the clothes, and the other is rough on clothes but no the shoes.
Please stop making tutorials…my tutorial folder is mocking me on my desktop…all of the things I want to try and never have time!! 🙂 I love the Sparklelina skirts…they are all things girly.
And you reminded me – I printed labels out a long time ago, but I always forget to sew them into my stuff!
LOL Poor Kai,
Do you remember the Smothers Brothers??????
And their routine: “Mom always liked you best?”
I think that you will hear that in the future……. ROFL
Yea but sewing for girls is so much fun right? Who can blame you? These turned out really well. I love the appliqued T shirts and it was interesting to hear how you achieved them. I think the flower on the second one works really well. I’ve been on holiday for over a week and sewed NOTHING :-(. I blame mum and dad and their house move.
the blue outfit! I love it! So frilly and girly, but a nice break from pink-pink-purple-pink. 😉 Love those tags, too.
Kai probably won’t mind just being without clothes all summer — and that will make less laundry for you, so clearly it’s a win-win, right?!
Anya’s clothes are GORGEOUS (as always) and I LOVE her haircut — SO CUTE!