Secondhand Fashion Week - Day Five and Simple Scarf Tutorial

Day Five

Get Thee Out of Doors

Headband - Target

Pendant - AC Moore

Shirt - TJ Maxx

Scarf - Made by me (see below)

Jacket - Yard Sale

Condition: Very Good/Used

Brand: Mossimo

Price: $1.00

Crops - Hand-me-Down

Condition: Very Good/Used

Brand: Gap

Shoes - Yard Sale

Condition: Good/Used

Brand: Airwalk

Price: $1.00

I'm sorry I'm a little late and that you can't actually see my shoes! They're Brown leather flip-flops, very similar to Rainbow's.

Simple Scarf Tutorial

I saw a scarf like this in a Land's End catalog and thought "I could do that!". All you need is 1/4 yard of 54-60" wide 100% cotton knit fabric and a pair of scissors. All you have to do is stretch it out some (pull sections of it as far as you can until you've pulled the whole thing) and cut off the two short ends at an angle. That's it, you're done!

See you later!

Secondhand Fashion Week Day Two and Dress Shirt Pillow Tutorial

Secondhand Fashion Week:

Day Two - The Polished Teacher

(Well, I try!)

Emma is turning out to be a very good photographer, don't you think?

Earrings - Belk's

Necklace - My mother : )

Ring - Gift Shop

Shoes - Belk's

Blouse - Yard Sale

Condition: Very Good/Used

Brand: Ann Taylor Loft

Price: $1.00

Skirt - Consignment Store

Condition: Good/Used

Brand: Willi Smith

Price: I think it was $7.00

I don't usually pay that much for an item when thrift shopping but I have this thing with linen skirts, I have, like, seven of them!

Today was rather busy. I have more students on Monday than any other day of the week! I must say I am glad to be sitting back, relaxing, typing this post and listening to music from such films as Penelope, Robin Hood (bet you didn't know there was a soundtrack!) and Master and Commander. Now, on to the tutorial!

Dress Shirt Pillow Tutorial

Supplies:

Enough Scrap Fabric to cut nine 5" squares

A fairly large (woman's medium and up) Button Down Shirt

Straight Pins

Scissors

A 14" square pillow form

Sewing Machine and Thread

Iron and Ironing Board

A Rotary Mat and Cutter or A piece of Paper cut to 5" square

Instructions:

Seam allowance is 1/4 inch.

1) Cut out nine 5" squares from your fabric using either your mat and cutter or your paper pattern.

2) Arrange your squares in a pleasing manner.

3) Begin sewing them together one row at a time starting with the top row and working your way down...

until all three rows are sewn.

4) Press your seams. You should press the seams of the top and bottom row towards the inside and the seams of the middle row towards the outside.

5) Begin sewing your rows together. Making sure to match and pin your seams.

6) Press your seams towards outside.

7) Button up your shirt and press the front. Place your patchwork on top centering it over the buttons. (Note: you will have cut two pieces from the shirt but you only want the one with the buttons.)

8) Pin your two squares together and sew all the way around the outside edge.

9) Clip diagonally across each corner being careful not to cut your stitching.

10) Unbutton your shirt and turn your pillowcase right side out.

11) Use the point of your closed scissors to gently poke out the corners.

12) Insert your pillow form!

Secondhand Fashion Week Day One and Ribbon Headband Tutorial

Secondhand Fashion Week:

Day One - French Couch

(According to Eady at least!)

I have been looking forward to this event! Lillian was over on Friday and helped me put together my outfits for the week. Here is today's:

It was very windy today!

Headband - Made by me (see below!)

Earrings - Belk's

Necklace - Target

T-shirt - TJ Maxx

Jacket - Thrift Store

Condition: New with tags

Brand: Fundamental Things

Price: $5.00

Skirt - Consignment Store

Condition: New with tags

Brand: Old Navy

Price: $3.50

Shoes - Church Clothing Exchange

Condition: Used/Good

Brand: Jazberry

Price: Free

Little background story on the jacket: I was shopping at a thrift store with Lillian and Eady. Eady held up a jacket and asked "didn't I like it?!". She meant it as a joke and was quite surprised when I actually bought it!

Ribbon Headband Tutorial

Supplies:

Ribbon (approx. 3/4 yard for the single ribbon headband)

A thin, stretchy Ponytail Holder

Tape Measure

Scissors

Sewing Machine and Thread

Instructions:

1) Measure around your head at the widest point passing the tape measure underneath your hair.

2) Subtract two inches from your measurement. Cut your ribbon this length.

3) Fold under one end of your ribbon about 1/4 inch. Place the ponytail holder on top of the ribbon having it even with the folded over edge.

4) Fold the end over again about 1/4 inch folding it over the ponytail.

5) Sew over the ribbon close to the folded edge several times.

6) Repeat steps 3 - 5 for with the other end of the ribbon being careful not to twist it.

The finished headband should look something like this:

For the double ribbon headband cut two pieces of ribbon the same length. Place one on top of the other and treat them as one piece following the same instructions.

I'll see you tomorrow!

Panel Skirt Tutorial - Part One: Cutting

Well here it is at last, the long promised skirt tutorial! I am sorry it took so long, I really did not mean for it to. Because it is so long (I took lots of pictures) I decided to publish it in three parts: cutting, sewing the panels and sewing the ruffle. After they have all been posted they will be linked together on the sidebar. Please let me know if you think there is anything that is not clear enough or needs revision. You can click the pictures to enlarge them. As you scroll down it will look like a lot of steps but it is really very easy. I hope you enjoy!

List of Materials:

- 100% cotton Fabric in the following amounts:

1 yard for middle panels and ruffle

1/3 yard each of two fabrics for the side panels

- A Skirt that fits you in the waist and is made of a heavy weight material

- Gridded quilting Ruler or a Yardstick

- Scissors

- Straight Pins

- Iron and Ironing Board

- Sewing Machine

- Thread that matches your ruffle fabric

- Tape Measure

- Jeans/Denim Needle

Seam allowance: 1/2 inch

Instructions:

1) Wash and dry both your skirt and your fabric.

2) Lay your skirt out flat making note of the placement of all the pockets. If there are any in-seam pockets pull them out so that you don't cut them accidentally.

3) Lay the ruler on the skirt so that the bottom edge is one inch below the lowest pockets. Or, if you are using a yardstick place it across the skirt so that the top edge is up against the bottom edge of the lowest pockets



4) Place a row of straight pins across the bottom of the ruler or yard stick to mark your cutting line then remove the ruler and cut straight across just below the pins. Remove the pins.

5) Now you need to decide how wide you want your side panels to be. You don't want them quite as wide as your middle panel (the focal point) but still wide enough that they are not drawfed by it. When you decide measure the distance very carefully from the side seam on both sides and mark with a pin (you should have four pins in your skirt). Set your skirt aside.

6) Iron one of your side panel materials folding it lengthwise with a fold at the top and both selvages at the bottom. Mark the approximate middle of the top edge. Add one inch to the width you decided on. Mark the side edges of your panel centering your middle pin.

7) Use your top mark to find and mark the middle of the bottom edge.

8) Mark your panels bottom side edges. You will want the bottom wider than the top to create an A-line. Then using your ruler or yardstick as a guide pin straight down from your top edge pins to your bottom edge pins.

9) Cut out your side panels using the pins as a guide (just like on the skirt). Then take out the pins and cut the two panels apart along the fold line.

10) Iron your second side print the same way you did the first. To cut your second side panel print just lay one of your first ones on top of the fabric and cut around it.

11) Measure between your pins on the front and back of your skirt to find the top widths (the front and back may be different) of your middle panels.

12) Iron your middle/ruffle fabric. Cut off 1/3 yard of your fabric for the middle panel then cut it in half along the fold (your front and back will probably be different and will need to be cut separately. Repeat steps 6 through 9 to cut the middle panels.

13) Decide how wide you want your ruffle (I usually do 4-6 inches depending on the height of the wearer. Cut three pieces the total width of the fabric (selvage to selvage) the width you decided upon. I used my rotary mat and cutter for this but the pin method used for the panels works as well.

Now you have everything cut!

I am afraid I may have to delay posting the next part for a little while. It took me three days to do this one and I have a few things that need to be done right now. I will get back to it as soon as possible though.

Crocheted Flowers Tutorial

Supplies:

2 skeins of Perle Cotton in two colors

Crochet Hook size 5 (1.7 mm)

Scissors

Flower

1) Chain 6. Slip stitch into first chain to form a ring.

2) First Petal: chain 3, 2 treble into ring, 1 double into ring, 1 single into ring.

3) Second Petal: 1 double, 2 treble, 1 double, 1 single into ring.

4) Third Petal: work same as Second Petal.

5) Fourth Petal: 1 double, 2 treble, 1 double, 1 single into ring. Slip stitch into first chain of beginning chain three.

6) Chain 1. Cut thread and pull through chain to knot. Weave in tails.

Leaves

1) First Leaf: slip stitch between two petals.

2) Chain 3. *Wrap thread around hook twice as if preparing for a treble. Go into the same stitch as your slip stitch and bring up a loop. Pull through two loops twice.* You should have two loops left on your hook.

3) Repeat from * to * once. You should now have three loops on your hook.

4) Pull through all three loops. Chain 1. Cut thread and pull through chain to knot. Weave in tails.

5) Repeat steps 1-4 for Second Leaf.

Flower Front

Flower Back

Notes: The trick to the flower is to keep the stitches pushed together tightly on the ring, otherwise there will not be room for all your petals. An even tension is also important. Please let me know if you think this needs any corrections or revisions.

Enjoy!