The Practical Valentine Gift

My husband is a very practical man. He loves things that are going to be useful as well as inexpensive. I think that is why I have finally come to realize our idea of romance is quite different from each others perspectives. So this year I have tried to put myself in his shoes so that I can be more "practical" with my gift giving. 

As I was pondering over the practical gifts I could give him I noticed his bike lock bag was falling apart at the seams... in every literal sense of the word. (You can see from the photo below that it's true.) 

I decided that it couldn't be too hard to just make him a new one. So when I was at the dollar store I came across this black and red backpack. Now keep in mind it was made out of a very cheep rain poncho type of plastic and the back of the bag was lined with thin styrofoam and the same material as reusable grocery bags. I knew if I used enough layers of this I could make it work.  

Besides what did I have to lose except a dollar and a little bit of time. :)

The poor little thing had so many holes in it I was surprised he hadn't lost his lock already. 

I started the process by disassembling the bag piece by piece. 

I cut the straps off, unpicked all the seams, salvaged the zippers, and ended up with a big flat piece that would work for most of the bag. 

 After all of that I realized that I needed an accurate pattern so I unpicked all the seams to the bike bag itself and used it as a pattern. Needless to say it worked out awesomely!! Wahoo for success.

And the hubby said he likes it and I did a very fine job :) 

Happy "Practical" Valentines Everyone!

Leather and Lace

So You Think You Can Sew

Finals: "Contestants Choice"

Well this is it... this is the big one!! I can't believe I have made it to the finals. There has been so much talent shown by all those who have competed. I feel so honored to be in this last round because of all of you who have voted so far! I have felt such love and support from family and friends. Thank you to all the new followers and commenters who have encouraged me along the way. I have gotten wonderful e-mails from other contestants wishing me luck and I appreciate the spirit of friendship and kindness. Also a huge shout out to those who have featured me on

 their own blogs. This whole process has been a wonderful experience in helping me push myself. 

Thank you to Ashley from Mommy by Day Crafter By Night 

for putting this together for all of us! 

Voting starts January 25th at 8:00 am EST and 

ends January 26th at 8:00 pm EST. 

You can vote from your computer, your phone, and your ipad... well anything that lets you cruise around on the internet really. You can only vote once per device. 

Click here to vote!!

So here it is, the final project.

Inspired by the many beautiful lace dresses I have

 been seeing on pinterest.

Total Cost: Less than $20 which means my husband is happy and so am I.

 The side zip makes for a seamless back. 

The collar is all stitched in by hand.

I really don't know how to juggle, I think that is why I was laughing the whole time.
I was trying to avoid being hit with the falling oranges. :)

Hope you enjoyed following me on this crazy journey!! Thanks again for your support and your votes. 

If you are wondering what we are playing for, here are the prizes. 

The 1st Place winner will receive:

The 2nd Place Winner will receive:

The 3rd Place Winner will receive:

How to Make the Dress

Supplies:

2 Yards of Cream Lace

2 Yards of Black Stretch Cotton Poplin Spandex blend 

7 inch black Zipper

Hand Sewing Needle and Thread 

Step 1: Start with 2 yards of your black cotton poplin. Fold in half. 

Step 2: Find a dress that fits well and closely resembles the over all shape you want to achieve. (If you don't have a dress like that, then jump down to step 4.)

Step 3: Trace a chalk line around the skirt. (Remember to leave room for your hem as well as your seams.) I didn't include the top yet, only the bottom portion of the skirt.

Step 4: Find a shirt that resembles the type of basic silhouette you are going for. Trace the outlines of the shirt making sure you account for seam allowances and the zipper. (This is how I began for the shabby apple knock off dress) Follow the basic outline of how a skirt would fall. Shown in the above photos.

Step 5 - 6: Move the sleeve area over and trace the curve that is on the shirt. (I will show you how to do the sleeves in a minute)

Step 7: Taking the same shirt from above you are going to place it on top of a piece of paper. 

Step 8: Trace the outline.

Step 9: Add an extra .5 to an inch to the cuff part of your sleeve. (This will help when trimming for your seams) Also add room for your seam allowance on the top and bottom of your sleeve.

Step 10: Cut out the one side of your traced sleeve, stopping at the half way point.

Step 11: Fold over on the halfway line. (Make sure to get the angle right)

Step 12: Trace the other side.

Step 13: Cut out your sleeve pattern

Step 14: You should be able to place your pattern under the original sleeve to make sure you have accounted for your seams. 

Step 15: Place sleeve pattern on your fabric and trace with chalk. (You don't have to add extra space to this one because you have already accounted for the seam allowance.)

Step 16: This is what it should look like when you are done chalking.  

Step 17: Cut out your dress and sleeves.

Step 18: I separated my pieces and cut out basic neck lines.

Step 19- 24: Line up the bottom of your dress with the shell pattern on your lace fabric. (I messed up and cut my lace before I pinned my hem.) DON'T DO THAT!! Cut your lace after you pin your hem. That way the lace will hang down slightly lower than the hem of your black lining. Make sure your hems are equal and straight. 

Step 25: Now place your black fabric overtop your lace.

Step 26: Cut out your lace leaving at least 1.5 inches around all sides. Carefully sandwich your two lace pieces between the two black pieces of dress. (Just like an Oreo) 

Step 27: Now that your hem is pinned it is time to pin your sides.

Step 28: Fold back your lace on so that it lays flat to both sides of your black fabric. 

Step 29: Pin in place.

Step 30: Continue around the edge of your dress. Don't pin the sleeves or the shoulders of your dress.

Step 31: When you come to the right side of your dress, about an inch below the sleeve line, start pinning for your zipper. Remember you are going to want at least an inch on both sides of your seams to pin your zipper in place later!! Just as a tip I use different colored pins to indicate hem lines, zippers, an straight seams. It helps me remember what I am doing when I get to my sewing machine. 

Step 32: Begin sewing your hem. Make sure you don't include your lace in the hem!!

Step 33: Right before you get to your side seams stop your needle, back stitch and fold your lace down and include it in your seam. (This will help everything stay nice) 

Step 34: Continue on to the edge of your seam, backstitch and then finish. 

Step 35: Now you are ready to continue up the sides.  

Step 36: I pressed my seams once I was done sewing them.

Step 37: When you get to the zipper portion of your dress back stitch a few times and then turn your stitch length to 4. Run your basting stitch up the zipper portion of your dress. 

Step 38: This is what your dress should look like when you are done. 

Step 39: Find your basting stitch portion of your dress and press

your seam open.

Step 40: Place your zipper on top of your seam so that the center of your zipper is aligned with your seam line. Pin in place.

Step 41: Sew in your zipper like it says on your zipper instructions.

Step 42: I used black thread but you could use cream.

Step 43: Once you are done carefully unpick your basting stitch. 

Step 44: Make sure you don't catch any of your lace!!

Step 45: This is how your zipper should look when it is done.
Step 46: Now we are moving on the the neck line. I carefully traced out a line about 7.5 inches wide. As seen below.

Step 47: Snip little tabs in the neck line so that you can fold it over more easily. (Don't snip too far or it will show on the other side and fray. 

Step 48: Use the same tab method for the outer sleeve part. Press down so they stay flat.

Step 49: Fold over your lace on your shoulder portion of your dress 

and sew down. 

Step 50: Sew down the tabs on your sleeves as well s the bottom portion of the sleeve. 

Step 51: Here is what it looks like when it is right side out.  

Step 52: Place your sleeve on top of your folded lace. 

Step 53: Cut out your lace, leaving your extra space for overlap.

Step 54: Make your lace tabs and iron down flat.
Step 55: Sew down your lace, around the outer sleeve edge. Try to stay on the line you previously sewed.

Step 56: It should look like this while you are sewing. 

Step 57: Remember to leave the other side of the lace alone. It will look like this when you flip it right side out.
Step 58: Fold your sleeve in half and sew the bottom piece together. (I like to go over mine a few times to ensure that it will hold) You don't want to rip a hole in the underarm area of your dress)

Step 59: This is what it should look like when you flip it right side out.

Step 60: Now gently open up the sleeve hole in your dress and slide the sleeve inside like the picture shows. 

Step 61: Pin in place while folding over your lace edge.

Step 62: It should look like this.

Step 63-64: Once pinned you can check to make sure it is right by pulling the sleeve out. If it looks like this, then you are good to go and sew it. 

Step 65: This is is also the time to sew down the tabs on your neck lines.

Step 66: Don't sew down your lace with your neck lines!! Make sure to leave it out.

Step 67: It should look like this.

Step 68: The back side... see how you don't see any stitch marks.

Step 69: Once everything is sewn down and ironed  it is time to cut the extra lace. 

Step 70: Trim your lace so that it is close to your neckline. Don't cut it too close because the lace will hang down when your dress is on. 

Step 71: Should look something like this.

Step 72: Cut out a scalloped edge from your left over lace. You will want 3 pieces cut. 2 for the front side and one for the back of the neck.

Step 73: Cut them by measuring the length of the neck lines.

Step 74: Place them on top of your dress to see how they will look the best. (I left a small gap between the lace pieces once it hit the bottom point of the neck line. 

Step 75: Carefully! Trim your lace so that it slowly gets larger as you move up the neck line. (See how I started really close to the edge on the bottom and got slightly larger as I went up.)

Step 76 - 79: Fold and iron the extra lace that is on your dress. Using a needle and thread begin by whipstitching your lace in place. Make sure you hit as many points on the lace as possible. Don't leave any gaps or it will look funny. Basically you are going to whipstitch your lace pieces together all around your neck line. Once you want to join the scalloped pieces together, try on your dress and safety pin together where it falls the nicest on the neckline. Whipstitch those and trim edges slightly. You don't want to trim too close though or you run the risk of ripping your lace.

Congratulations my friend, you just made a lace dress!!

The Alligator Skirt

Well I can't believe that another week is here!! 

It is such a pleasure to be back this week for the

 So You Think You Can Sew Competition.  Last week was a really close race. Thank you so much for your votes and your support throughout this process. Seriously, without your votes I wouldn't be able to continue on in this awesome contest. It has been a really exciting ride so far and I am ecstatic for this week. There was a tie in the voting last week so that means that 4 people will be cut this round. YIKES! 

Just goes to show the saying "every vote counts" is true!! 

Head on over to mommybydaycrafterbynight to place your vote.

Remember voting starts Wednesday January 18th, at 8:00am EST and 

ends January 19th at 8:00 pm EST.

One vote per computer, phone, or ipad. 

This is the last round before the finals. Please vote!

Welcome to Week 3: "Apparel"

Inspiration comes in lots of shapes and sizes. 

I have had this 1 yard of beautiful green fabric in my sewing supplies for almost 6 months now. I bought it knowing it would be a skirt but I wasn't sure what it should look like. Finally inspiration struck. Call it a mix of crazy and fun... but part of this skirt came about because of my Cajun Christmas this year. My husband and I were fortunate enough to spend the holidays with family in Texas. Almost all the food we had was Cajun. As we sat around playing cards and visiting, the music that played in the background was Cajun. To my surprise, a song came on that retold the story The Night Before Christmas. It was a very new version to me that related the story of Papa Noél and his team of alligators that brought the presents to the good little boys and girls in the Louisiana bayou.   

Apparently when I got home my mind recalled that story and my fabric was transformed into an alligator style skirt.  Here is where my imagination landed me.  Hope you like it!!

I am putting out my alligator vibe... kind of a tough girl look. 

Step 1: Start with 1 yard of semi stretchy fabric. Fold in half. 

Step 2: Find a skirt that fits well and closely resembles the over all shape you want to achieve.

Step 3: Trace a chalk line around the skirt. (Remember to leave room for your hem as well as your seams.) I didn't include the waist band, only the bottom portion of the skirt.

Step 4: I added an extra 2 inches to one side of my pattern. This will be useful when sewing the flap over later. 

Step 5: Using the skirt, trace the 2 inch extra all the way up. 

Step 6: Move the skirt up slightly to include the waist band.  

Step 7: Trace a chalk line around the skirt band... 

remember to keep the curves. 

Step 8: Add an extra 6 inches to one side of the pattern. This will be helpful for the flap portion of the buttons.

Step 9: Cut out one side of the skirt.

Step 10: Cut out the second side of the skirt. This side will include the extra 2 inches.

Step 11: Lay both pieces on top of each other. Wrong sides out. 

Step 12: Pin hem and sides together.

Step 13: Press seams flat.

Step 14: Before sewing unpin bottom sides about 2.5 inches up the skirt. (This will be sewn as your slits to help you move in your skirt.) Do this on both sides of your skirt. 

Step 15: This photo shows the way the pins should look if pinned correctly.

Step 16: Sew your hem and your side seams, including your slits. 

Step 17: This is what the bottom portion should look like. Remember one side of the skirt should be larger than the other.

Step 18: Begin cutting the skirt band.

Step 19 - 21: You will have two pieces, one piece that is 6 inches longer than the other.

Step 22: Lay the two pieces of fabric on top of each other wrong sides facing out. Pin in place.

Step 23: Take your skirt band and iron down the top seam. 

Step 24: Skip to step #55 -56 (I messed this up and so this is what you can do to fix it.)

Step 25: Pull extra fabric from the middle of your skirt flatten out to the right side of your skirt.

Step 26: Measure 3 inches in from the edge of your skirt. 

Step 27: Looking at this photo you can see the seam of the skirt and the edge of your fabric are two different things. Make sure and measure from the edge of the skirt... not the seam.

Step 28: Mark a line 3 inches in up the skirt.

Step 29: Cut the fabric on the line. 

Step 30: Line up the seams and overlap fabric.

Step 31-32: Fold over and press a small seam in both sides of the raw edges of the fabric.

Step 33: Using the left over fabric measure a 4.5 inch strip.

Step 34: Cut strip. Unfold the length of the strip so

it is as long as possible. 

Step 35: Fold strip in half width ways. 

Step 36: Press the seam down.

Step 37: Fold down the top and bottom edges of your strip.

Step 38: Let the strip close with the edges hidden.

Step 39: Set your stitch length to 4, sew a few stitches then backstitch. Finish down the strip don't backstitch on the end of the strip.

Step 40: Leave your thread tails long. 

Step 41: Starting at the bottom end of the strip, gently pull the bottom thread till your fabric begins to ruffle. 

Step 42: Create your ruffles so that it fits the length or your skirt.

Step 43: Pin the skirt band to the bottom of the skirt. Make sure that all your seams line up. Sew.

Step 44: Pin the ruffle to the edge of your right side of your skirt. Don't pin the top portion of the ruffle!! This will later be pinned to the left side of the skirt. 

Step 45: Sew down the ruffle.

Step 46: Place skirt flat.

Step 47: Flip skirt wrong side out. Take the raw edge of the fabric and place it on top of the ruffle. 

Step 48-50: You should see the 3 edges of the fabric.  Pin evenly up the edge of the fabrics. When you are sewing this try to sew in the same or over the edge of the preexisting sewing line from the ruffle. (This will be turned inside out so that only the ruffle shows and not the sewing lines.

Step 51: Pin the extra ruffle to the left side of your fabric. Pin so that the ruffle is on the right side of the fabric. (As shown in the photos)

Step 52: Pick out 3 buttons that match. 

Step 53: Measure the place you want your buttons and chalk lines. 

Step 55: Cut an extra strip piece of fabric to fit the length of the waist band. Fold it over so that it becomes at least doubled up. You should now have 3 layers of fabric. Pin to the top of and bottom of your waist band. Sew this piece of fabric as if it were just like the rest of your skirt band. (I didn't add this in till I realized my button holes needed extra support.) Do This Starting On Step 24.

Step 56: To fix mine I sewed in the extra fabric as best I could and matched up my sewing lines.

Step 57: Using your marked chalk lines of where you would like your buttonholes to go. Sew on your three buttonholes. (Practice on a scrap piece of fabric before hand, unless you are really good at buttonholes)

Step 58: Clip any strings and check out your buttonholes.

Step 59: Using a seam ripper, gently cut the inside fabric of your buttonholes. Remember you should be cutting 3 layers of fabric so it might be a little hard.

Step 60: Mark your placement of your buttons and sew on.

Step 61: Now that everything is finished iron out any wrinkles.

Step 62: Fold over your ruffle so that it is angled back 

toward your side seam.

Step 63: Steam press down your ruffle. This will help it look nicer once you try it on. 

Wahoo you are all done!! Go show off your new skirt.

This is more a summer look. The skirt paired with a loose fitting lace top.

As my Grandpa used to say : "See ya later alligator..." 

Don't forget to vote this week!! 

I have something extra special planned for the finals if I am fortunate enough to make it that far. 

Talk about Leather and Lace!! ;)