Little Daisy's Boutique

We have another fabulous sponsor:

Little Daisy's is my favorite place to get accessories for my mini me.  

Little Daisy's Boutique makes bows and gifts for girls of all ages. All items are made for you when you order.  You have the option of choosing from the designs and colors shown on the site, or requesting your own custom designs.

I think 90% of our bows and headbands come from Little Daisy's.  

 

You can order similar bows here and here.

I really believe babies and little girls are cute in their own right and don't need their heads covered up too much by huge accessories.  Little Daisy's has the perfect collection of bows and headbands that don't detract from the cuteness of your small one.  They are the perfect compliment for any little girl.  

How cute are these Bumblee Bee and Lady Bug Clips for spring time?

This Angie Bow would look great with a spring or summer dress.

These are the most precious cloth roses I've ever seen.

I want one of these Emma Bows for me.

The colors in the Rainbow Mia are perfect!

AND...they are the only place I can find my favorite headband for babies and little girls.  This stretchy lace....so delicate and cute.  It comes in multiple sizes and thicknesses and looks great on every little head. 

If you'd like to see more, click here to go directly to the site.  They have a large collection and I'm sure you'll have a "to-buy" list by the time your done looking around.

The Deal:


For one day only, Little Daisy's is hosting an auction on Facebook available to ANYONE who wants to get their hands on some of these cute accessories.  All you need to do is log into Facebook, go to the Little Daisy's page HERE and join their page (don't forget to join or you won't be able to post a comment on the items you want).  Then bid on your favorite bows by leaving a comment on the item you would like.  This is a great chance to get BIG discounts on your favorite items from the shop.  If you want more details, view the complete invitation HERE.  The auction starts at 8:00 pm tonight (March 29th) and ends at 8:00pm tomorrow night!  The shop is based in New York, so be sure to account for the time difference.  Don't miss out on some great deals. 

I hope you enjoy our new sponsor Little Daisy's Boutique as much as we have.  


Maybe we'll run into each other at the Facebook auction!

Denim Part 2: Paper Bag Shorts/Pants

Like I mentioned before, I LOVE denim.  So naturally, I couldn't resist making another paper bag style bottom.  You can see the skirt version HERE. 

I've seen this style (hidden elastic gathered waist) in a few places.  I made a skirt for myself based on an Anthropologie skirt I saw a few months ago...unfortunately they no longer sell it online so I don't have a picture for you, but I will post about mine soon.  More recently, I have seen this style at GapKids.

I copied the name because I'm not really sure what to call them.    

 And they do kind of resemble a paper bag with the gathering at the top.  Almost as if you picked up a paper bag and squeezed it around the top to close it.    

I don't have a tutorial for these because it would be copying and pasting most of the Paper Bag Skirt tutorial, but I will explain how I made them in case you'd like to try to.

Instructions for Paper Bag Shorts/Pants:

1.  Similar to how Dana at Made makes her pants, I traced a pair of good-fitting shorts.  If you are making shorts, your pieces will turn out somewhat "L" shaped (to accommodate for crotch space).  For pants, follow MADE's instructions for cutting out and sewing the fabric.

2.  Once you have cut and sewn together your pieces, you will want to hem the pants similar to how we hemmed the skirt here.  Serge off 1/4 inch along the top edge (waistline) and iron it over 3/4 of an inch.  For the leg opening, serge off 1/4 inch and then fold over 1/2 inch and iron down.  If you are not serging fold over 1/4 inch in place of serging to hide raw edges.

3.  Attach 1/2 inch elastic inside the pants just below the folded edge of the waistline just as we did with the skirt.  I recently added an update that looks nicer on the inside.  Be sure to check it out if you want a cleaner looking inner.  Do the same for the leg openings.

4.  Make and attach belt loops.  I figured out a super easy way to make and attach belt loops, way easier/better looking than the ones I made for the skirt.  For the full tutorial, click HERE.

5.  Make the belt the same way we did for the skirt (or use the same one....they can't wear them at the same time anyways).  Be sure your belt loops are wide enough to fit the belt you wish to use.

YAY!  You're done.  We're really in to clapping these days...

 These shorts took me 30 minutes to make (I didn't remake the belt...but I'm considering making one out of printed fabric for contrast).  I think they would look cute with pockets too.  I'll probably add them next time. 

  

Once again, we have bad weather for pictures (it's snowing again) so we opted to stay indoors for photos.  

I had to bribe her with her water bottle to get her to go up the stairs so you could see the back....smart.

And when I wanted her to sit, she kept sliding off the stairs.  One of these days I'll have a more cooperative model.  

Oh, and if your wondering where I got the adorable bow and headband...it's from our sponsor, Little Daisy's Boutique.  You'll hear more about them later, but I just wanted you to know how awesome they were in advance.  

AND, I was featured over at Knock Off Decor today.  Go check it out, and while you're there look around for awhile.  Becky has a really awesome compilation of great DIY knock-off's to try.  

This post was sponsored by The Trading Post.

Create.  Trade.  Be happy.

Easy Belt Loops

This is the easiest/ cleanest looking way to make belt loops that I have found. 

Materials:

coordinating fabric scraps

Construction:

1.  Start with a fabric rectangle.  Mine is 2 1/2"x 3".  This size rectangle will accommodate a 1" wide belt when finished.  Increase the length (and width if desired) to accommodate the style of belt you plan to use with the belt loops.

2.   If you are using a serger, serge off 1/4" from both short ends of the rectangle.  If you are not using a serger, fold over each short edges 1/4" and iron flat.  I did one of each to demonstrate both.

 

3.  Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.  Serge off 1/4" down the long end.  Or sew with 1/4" seam, zig-zag and trim. 

4.  Iron flat so that the seam is in the middle of the belt loop.  It will look like this on the back:

and this in the front:

5.  Top stitch along both long edges to hold in place.

6.  Pin the belt loop onto your clothing with one of the serged (or folded) edges down.  The right sides of the belt loop and the clothing should be touching.  Your belt loop will stick up like this: 

**Above: You are looking at the right side of my fabric and the wrong side of the belt loop.

7.  Sew the belt loop on with 1/4" seam.  

8.  Fold the belt loop over and iron flat against your clothing piece.  Pin in place.

**Once folded, you are looking at the right side of the clothing and the belt loop.

9.  Top stitch (1/8" seam) along the top and bottom of the belt loop to hold in place.  I went over the seam 2 or 3 times to secure.  

Now you have hassle free, beautiful looking belt loops.  

Enjoy!

Denim Part 1: Paper Bag Skirt

I love denim.  I think it is the most versatile part of  any wardrobe...so easy to dress up or down and goes with just about everything.  Baby S needed some cute denim in her spring/summer wear, so this skirt was born.  I think it's my favorite skirt to date.  If I make it again I might tweak it a little, but overall, I like it a lot.  

Ok, so I need to clarify...I actually used a chambray for this skirt.  It's lighter and easier to gather than denim, but if you have an old worn out skirt or pair of jeans you want to recycle, you could probably still pull it off. 

The numbers in red are those used to make a skirt that fits my small 9 month old (like she still fits in her 3-6 month clothes with room, small).  Adjust numbers as necessary.

Materials:

1/2 yard fabric (more for larger skirts)

1/2" wide elastic

coordinating thread 

Construction:

1.  Measure.  

A.  Measure around the fullest part of the hips.  Mine was 21".

B.  Measure from the waist to desired length.  Mine was 10" for a high waisted skirt.

C.  Measure around the waist.  Mine was 16".

2.  Calculate and Cut.  Stay with me.  I have it written in what looks like a lot of steps, but it's just a few rectangles and actually really easy.

You will end up with 5 pieces for this skirt.  

The picture above shows pieces 1- 4.  However, I had to trim a few inches off of pieces 1 and 2 after taking this picture.  The directions below are more accurate than the photo.  

Piece 1 and 2:

Take measurement A and add 5 inches (4 for roominess and 1 inch for seems).  Then divide that length in half.  This will be the width.   You could skip this step and keep it as one long piece for a single seem skirt.

Example:

21" + 5" = 26"  

26"/2 = 13"  

For the length, take your measurement B and add 1 1/2" (seams and top hem).  Then subtract 4 inches (for the ruffle bottom).

Example:

10"+ 1 1/2" = 11 1/2"

11 1/2" -  4" = 6 1/2"  

My first two pieces will be 13" x 6 1/2"

Pieces 3 and 4:

Take measurement A and add 5 inches.  

Example:

21" + 5" = 26"  

Cut 2 pieces that are (A + 5") by 5".

My pieces are 26" x 5".

Piece 5:

The last piece is for the bow that ties in front.  Take Measurement C and add 15".  

Example

16" + 15" = 31"

Cut a piece that is (C + 15") by 2 1/2"  (larger if you want a thicker belt).

My piece is 31" x 2 1/2".

**I also added 4 belt loops to the skirt at the end.  If you would like to add this, cut 4 rectangles that are 2 1/2" x 2".  If you made the bow larger, you will need to lengthen the belt loops to accommodate a larger belt.  

3.  Prepare the ruffled bottom of the skirt.

Take the two longest pieces (3 and 4).  For the bottom hem, fold over 1/4" and iron.  Then fold over 1/4"again and iron.

With right sides together, sew a 1/2" seam down the short edges of these pieces to create a tube with two seams.  Serge off seams or zig sag and trim.  When I sewed my pieces together I opened up the hem (as seen below) then re-folded it after it was sewn to hide the seam inside the hem.  

Ignore the serged edge above.  It is unnecessary when making a double fold hem.

 Set your machine to a gathering stitch (longest thread length, highest tension) and sew across the top of the piece with a 1/4" seam.  Pull the bobbin thread to gather to desired length, or the length of your main skirt piece which should be measurement A + 5".  Mine is 26".

4.  Prepare the skirt.

Some of the pictures for step 4 turned out too blurry to post.  We're still dealing with horrible weather/no sunlight some days.

Sew main skirt pieces (1 and 2) together along short edges, right sides together, with 1/2" seam to create a tube.  Serge off seams or zig zag and trim.  I also serged the top of my skirt at this point (no pictures).

Fold down the top of the skirt 3/4 inch and iron down.  If you did not serge you will need to fold over 1/4" then 3/4" again and iron flat.  (I did this after attaching the ruffle, but I recommend doing it before.)  It is important to follow these measurements exactly in order to attach the elastic properly later on.  

Top stitch with a 1/2" seam to finish the top of the skirt.

5.  Attach the ruffle.  

With right sides together, line up the seams of the ruffle with the seams of the skirt and pin.

Sew ruffle onto skirt with 1/2" seam.  Serge off seams or zig zag and trim.  

Now you should have a piece that looks like this (except your top will already be hemmed and finished).

6.  Creating the elasticated waist.  

Sew your elastic together to create the waistband (See the ruffled headband tutorial here if you don't know how).

Take your elastic waistband and pin in 4 spots (evenly spaced) right below the top hem inside the skirt.  To be sure your pins are evenly spaced, I pin at the side seams first and then find the mid point between the side seams on the elastic and the skirt piece and pin there as well.

The next one is kind of blurry, but may be more helpful.

Then, using one hand as your guide and the other to stretch the elastic as you go, sew your elastic onto your skirt by sewing a 1" seam on top of your skirt.  Stretch and sew from pin to pin.   

You skirt is finished!

***UPDATE:  I recently made another version of this skirt with a casing for the elastic.  Looks very similar on the outside, but quite a bit nicer on the inside if that matters to you at all.  All I did was cut a strip of fabric 2 1/2 inches wide.  I ironed in the long ends 1/2" on each side and sewed it to the inside of the skirt leaving an opening for the elastic to be inserted, closing it up afterwards.  

7.  Make the bow.  

Take your long bow piece.  Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam.  I attached a safety pin to the inside of the fold before sewing to help turn it right side out after I sewed.  

Trim edges on a 45 degree angle.

Clip corners (like the triangle below.  Then tuck in edges in and iron flat.  

Top stitch around the entire belt piece to secure edges.

8.  Belt loops.  ***UPDATE:  For an easier/better/prettier looking belt loop, go to my tutorial HERE.  You will be sad if you don't because the method below is not so fun.  

This was the most annoying part, but worth it.  Fold your pieces in half right sides together and sew along two edges leaving one short end open.  Again, I attached a safety pin inside the fold to help turn them right side out after sewing.  

Clip corners.

Push safety pin out open end to turn.  Push out corners.

Top stitch around entire belt loop.

Pin belt loops to skirt.  I attached them about 3 inches about in the middle of the front and the middle of the back.  I made sure the top of the belt loop was 1/4" above the thread that attached the elastic waistband.  To make sure the belt loops are on evenly, stretch out the waistband.  

Attach belt loops by to skirt by sewing 1/4" from the top of the belt loop (in line with the waistband seam) and 1/4" from the bottom of the belt loop.  

Thread your belt through the loops and tie a bow in the front (I think it looks cute with the bow in back too)!

And you are done!  It took me about 1 hour to finish this skirt (that was with taking pictures and re-adjusting measurements).  In all, a pretty fast completion.  Love that!

Yes, the skirt is on crooked, but it's the only front shot I took so I'm trying to deal with it.

Sorry about the middle finger.  I didn't notice till after I took it but I still kind of love this picture....not sure what that says about me.

Yes, we're crooked again.  I made the skirt about 1/2" too big so that it will fit longer.  I'm now paying for that decision.

I've linked this up to these lovely places.  

This post was sponsored by whoopdwhoop; the currency free, creative marketplace.