DIY: Sweetheart Crop Top

Hello! I have a little refashion/DIY toddler top to share with you today! It's been forever since I've done one of these and am really hoping to get back in to doing clothing tutorials, after all that was one of the main reasons I started this blog :)

As you can tell, my own little sweetheart wasn't much in the mood for posing and modeling this morning, but her and her sister both adore their new tops for Valentine's Day. The heart ribbon was made from a die intended for cutting paper but those hearts are just too cute to stay tucked away in the pages of a scrapbook!

(I'm also giving away some felt heart ribbon - more on that below).

This top has such a cute shape and the best part is you hardly have to stitch any seams since it's refashioned from a ladies button-up top. I never ever buy new material for a project like this that will likely be outgrown or just plain abandoned within a few months - or let's be realistic, a few wears -it is white after all :)

Okay, ready to make one yourself?!!

You will need just a couple things -
*adult white button-up shirt
*5 shades of ribbon -> any will do, I cut felt to make mine (from Felt On The Fly - amazing quality, made from 100% merino wool)
*1/4" elastic
*sewing machine and thread
*pattern to make the top or draft your own

To get started -

1. Cut out your pattern. I just had 2 pieces - the body and the sleeve. Shorten the body to make the cropped shape.You can use a smock top pattern you already have or create your own by tracing the outline of a shirt - remember to leave a little room for seams! I like to use that shipping paper that comes in boxes for making patterns. It's just the right weight and you can iron it flat too (and it's free).

2. Trace your pattern onto material and cut out. I placed the pattern directly in the middle of the shirt, with the bottom of the hem at the bottom edge of the pattern. You should end up with:
- 1 front piece (cut from back of shirt)
- 1 back piece (cut from front of shirt)
- 2 sleeves (cut from extra body material)
- 1 long length of trim for bias tape around neckline

3. Position your ribbon across the front where you want it to stay and cut to measure.

4. Attach ribbon in place with vertical pins and stitch on. Use a lot of pins so it stays in place. If you want you can switch out the thread with each color of ribbon but I thought the white looked just fine - ie. I'm not that ambitious :)

5. Now stitch the garment together. (right sides together!) This is the order that works best for me...
- shoulders
- sleeves to bodice
- sides
- bottom hem if needed
- bias tape around neckline

Serge or pink your seams.

6. Figure where your child's waistline hits on the shirt and sew the elastic in there. Pin it in the middle to start with and stretch to edges to ensure even gathering. Sew in place with a zig zag stitch.

That's it! Your all done. It looks extra cute with a matching tank underneath - otherwise you could see her tummy!

If you're still reading and if your interested, I cut a little extra ribbon from all 7 colors of my felt and I'd like to send it to one of my followers so you can create your own top or just whatever you'd like. :) Just leave a comment letting me know your interested (and please follow me if you don't already) and I'll choose a winner in a week or so.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Halloween Costume: Little Mermaid

Yesterday I finished up the final kiddie costume! Saved the hardest one for last since I never did find a pattern that was just right. The green sequin material and netting came from Joann's and the purple is from a thifted wrap top and tank. Pattern was made from measuring her clothes.

We couldn't do the sea shell top because it will just be too cold so I sewed in a tank top covered with a sheer top. It's just disassembled from the wrap top and sewn together in a smaller size. Left an opening on the outside of the sleeves and added in a couple fins there. Ariel doesn't have those, I was told, but she did accept it when the costume was finished.

There are fins on the sleeves and also on the hips. I put a wire stem in each one to help them stand up a little.

And the tail. It was so hard to make this look realistic and easy to walk in. We settled in the middle and added some extra ruffle detail to make up for the lack of authenticity. There is about 2 yards wide of tulle ruffled together to help it poof out. Hmm, maybe I could just sew an extra triangle of fabric in between the fins? That might look much better.

Added a fin in the back as well.

My little gypsy fish. We're off for the first round of trick-or-treating tonight at the zoo. What are you planning to be or will you dress up at all?

Halloween Costumes - Pretty, Pretty Princess

First Halloween costume finished. Actually make that two. I've been sewing like a mad woman this last week trying to get all the kids' costumes together and only one left and still a full week ahead of me! Phew.

All the kids have stuck with the same idea for what costume they wanted since summertime, which is quite a feat if you ask me. Leah wanted to be a princess, plain and simple, so we went with a pretty, girly version with sort of a Renaissance feel.

I think the hat really makes it. It was so simple to make with just two triangles of felt, a sheer scarf and a bit of ribbon to keep it on her head.

For the dress, I used Simplicity 2463 and 2460 for the sleeves. Had really wanted to add those long flowy sleeves but there just wasn't enough material in the dress I upcycled.

These sleeves are super cute though. The same one's I used for her 4th birthday dress.

Also added some trim to the middle section to give the look of a corset. Along the front neckline and sleeves I added some pintucked material from a thrifted silk top. And rather than gathering the skirt along the top, I added pleats.

Ooh and the skirt is my favorite part! It was just cut from the bottom of the thrifted dress so no need for hemming or anything! I turned the vent to the front so there would be a mountain of tulle piling out. There is also a large gathering right in the rear so she has a big booty bump like all the gowns in Cinderella. KWIM?

On the inside, I pinned up sections all around and just stitched a little pinch to give it this look that I'm not really sure is called - drapyness? If there is time, I'd be great to go back in and hand sew little flowers or beads at all the pinches. Am crossing my fingers for that.

And the before of the material. It was a pretty Vera Wang bridesmaids dress that I picked up for $1. Tags still attached. A shame really, I almost hated to cut into it, but it was the perfect shade of pale pink.

Check back tomorrow for a peek at the black Spiderman :)

Refashion: Mourning Gown

We had the misfortune of starting off the week with a funeral - our landlady passed away on Friday at the age of 92. She was such a sweetheart - couldn't hear a thing - but always lots of good jokes and lots of candy. She will be missed and I only hope that if I should live as long to have as much energy and feist and wit as she did. They told so many funny stories at her funeral about the things she said that it was hard to feel sad - and I don't think she would have wanted it any other way. Her life was certainly long and full.

Of course it is standard to wear black as a symbol of mourning but the only thing my daughter owns in black is a pair of leggings and a faded Harley tee that was once mine. After digging through the donate pile, I found a sparkly black dolmain sleeve top that was too large and got to work. The material is so stretchy so no zipper required. Also added some nude satin and tulle at the sleeves and chest.

The sleeves and bodice are a mix of a couple different Simplicity patterns and the skirt is just 2 rectangles.

It won't be long until her hair is the color of that hay again.  Here's the before of the shirt:

I'll be linking this up at Project Restyle.

This little stinker also had her first visit to the ER yesterday. She fell off the tetter-totter at the park from about 2 feet and conked her head on the metal bar below. She kept falling asleep and was disoriented on the ride home and then threw up pretty hard so we raced into town! Nothing big like this has ever happened before and I was terrified. Turns out it was nothing - not even a small concussion - thank goodness. Needless to say, we won't be playing at that park anytime soon. At least until they remove all the busted old equipment.

Refashion: Sweater to Scarf + Leg Warmers

This is my little ballerina. Or some days she's a princess. "I'm sorry mom, I'm just a princess," she tells me with a shrug when she does something wrong - clearly this is enough of an explanation.

Anyway someone gave us a pretty knit, boucle sweater that was several sizes too large. Rather than save it, I combined it with some rosette fabric that you use to make baby blankets to make a scarf and used the arms of the sweater to make matching leg warmers.

Oops, I forgot the before pic!!

The leg warmers were easy peasy - just add elastic to the shoulder end of the sleeve.

The scarf was pretty simple too - just a few stretch issues as I was feeding it through the machine. On one side it's all the rosette material. I did not have enough sweater material for the entire reverse side and so added in the extra boucle to fill it out. It's just a little bulky but is sure to keep her warm and cozy this winter.

Are you ready for December weather yet?

Refashion: 2 Ill-fitting Tops to Sweater Set

Sometimes the way ideas come you is just magical and other times it seems so obvious you wonder why you didn't think of it before. The second instance is the case for this sweet sweater set. I was organizing the girl's dresser when I came upon two shirts that were cute but just didn't fit that well. The long sleeve tee was just too sloppy and the sweater rode up. Into the donation pile they went. Then I saw them sitting there on top of one another, all matchy-matchy and it occurred to me that they belong together.

Of course I forget to take the before photos! To make the pink under-tank, I cut off the sleeves, made ruffle strips and attached them to the chest. It also had to be taken in about 4 inches - that material is way too loose. With the cardigan, I cut it down the center, sealed the seam with some leftover arm material and added some elastic in the neckline to keep it from drooping.

To help it match just a little more, I appliqued hearts to the elbows like this ModCloth cardi and added a bow to the tank to top off the ruffles. It turned out just darling if I do say so. What have you remade lately?