I'm a Catch! 2013 Valentine's Shirt

I'm a catch!

I've had this idea to make this shirt for Valentine's Day since last year.

I followed the Freezer Paper Stencil Tutorial from Dana's Made Blog - there area ton of tutorials in blog land, this was my first attempt & they are all right... it is addicting! 

I can't wait to make some more fun graphics for summer.

 I just had one little spot that had "seepage" under the freezer paper.

 I then used left over "scaly" looking fabric from my Mermaid Halloween costume  circa 1998 for the body & tail of the fish.

(yes, that's right 1998!)

I actually stitched a few rows of scales in a contrasting color...

 Added felt fishing pole, eyes & heart shaped lips...

 Done - watch out girls... He really is a catch!

Thanks, Karla

Camper Shirt

Hi All,  A few weeks back, we had the privilege of going camping (in our driveway)... Anders is obsessed with Campers, so I thought I would make a shirt to commemorate the fun occasion.

I don't have a step by step, I just used scrap fabric, Stitch Witchery & kind of "went for it"

I used iron on letters for Happy & assumed everyone could tell it was a camper, but someone actually asked what "Happy Trailer" meant?

He loves the shirt, but next time he wants a "high hitch camper" aka a 5th wheel.

Thanks, Karla

Sweater 911

Hi~

I have a super simple craft to update any top (or to rescue a sweater with a stain - which never happens to me).

I don't have detailed photos, but this one is pretty easy. 

I cut out a few flowers from a pillowcase I got from GW (Goodwill).  Used a little Stitch Witchery & simply sandwiched the Stitch Witchery between the cut outs & the sweater, ironed them down & then stitched them down.  I used  a sewing machine to sew the appliques on, but you could easily hand sew it too. I left the edges raw so they would fray a little in the wash (It must have been a high thread count, because the fraying has been minimal).

Then I gathered up a few seed beads,  hand sewed them in the centers of the flowers & a few on the petals.  You could use rhinestones or sequins & glue if you weren't in the mood for needle & thread.

Another Sweater Saved!
Thanks, Karla

4 Year Fire Helmet Shirt

Another year has passed & I'm sharing with you the shirt I made for Anders 4th (YES, his 4th BIRTHDAY)!

 I'm hooked on reverse appliques, I have made shirts many in the past. 

Here are the links if you want to revisit them...

2nd year

3rd year

2011 Valentine's

2012 Valentine's

This year, we are going with a fire truck theme for a party, so I made the shirt to follow suit.  Plus, I secretly hope this will become his "all time favorite shirt" that I need to pry off of him each night to wash to be ready for the next day.

I Googled images until I found one I liked.  This one has considerable more detail than previous tees I've made, So I reversed the image, to try something new...

  I sandwiched the fabric that I want exposed (black) between the reversed image & the wrong side of the shirt & literally sewed right thru the paper.

(my theory was a double negative, will make a positive)

 I then carefully peeled away the paper (this was trickier & took way longer that I thought it would).  I used a slightly smaller stitch length (3) than I normally sew with to try to prevent stitches from breaking while pulling away the paper.

Here is the exterior.  I went over the stitching again for security & because I like a thicker outline of the detail.

 Then I cut away the red... again, with this amount of detail & closeness of stitching lines, it was more challenging than past reverse appliques.

 I used a scrap piece of white knit fabric & Stitch Witchery for the front of the helmet & cheated with an iron on number (of which I stitched down also)

 WARNING:  With this amount of detail & closeness's of stitching lines, there was a spot that ripped :( 

I went back over the outside edge of the helmet with a small zig zag stitch to fix the hole & try to prevent future tears.

Overall, I do love the look of this shirt & so does Peepers!

Thank You

Kisses 25c - Start Saving Your Quarters

Hi All,  I whipped up this Valentine's shirt this past weekend during the Super Bowl.  Let's face it, since the Packers weren't playing (BOO HOO HOO) I was only half watching it.  So I was  half munching on appetizers and half working on this shirt. 

I had not really planned on making Peepers a Valentine's Shirt this year, but I found a red 3T shirt stashed away (I'm sure I intended on doing something with & just never got around to it).  So I thought I better make something with it & quick before he grows out of it.  I came up with a simple shirt that I knew I already had everything I needed to make it.

• Striped fabric
• Silver fabric
• Cross stitch thread
• Scissors, thread, needle, pins etc...

I used the  Reverse Applique technique that I have used on many projects. 

 Here is a back view.

 As a last minute addition, I added sleeves to the shirt by just following one of his existing shirts for the size.  I pinned the sleeve on & stitched it to the shirt following the existing hem sleeve.

 I used the psychedelic silver fabric to cut out a coin (I used a spool of thread as my circle template).  I've had the silver fabric in my stash for about 15 years & just knew there would be a need for it someday.

 I free handed the word "KISSES" and used Back Stitch technique and cross stitch thread to hand embroider the word.

 Finished!

 I had to bribe my model for a few photos.

Thank you, Karla

Hooded Towel

We stared swim lessons last week & I realized we (the boy) needs a hooded swim towel. We have one for bath time, but need something fun to wrap him up to be my "Baby Burrito". We loved the hooded towels as a baby & they still work out great for us, we just need more.

You'll need one large towel & 2 wash cloths. Target has some wonderful towels colors... I had a hard time choosing, but settled on this beach blue.With right sides together, sew 2 sides of the wash cloths together.
This makes your hood

Find the center of the long side of the towel, line up the center back of the hood with the center of the towel.

Pin & stitch the hood on the towel.
A little added feature: take a few inches of ribbon & sew a loop at the center back of the towel to hang up on a hook.


Stitch down the seam allowance at the top of the hood & where the hood joins the towel.

TA DA... a few simple seams and about 15 minutes & you have a cute hooded towel.


I made a few...
in fun colors.

Last year, I made Peepers a hooded towel for bathtime - I tricked this one up a bit... with just a few simple steps.

After you have made the hooded towel, use a dinner plate as a guideline for rounding the top edge of the towel. This just makes appling the binding easier. I used 1 pkg of contrast binding (the really wide stuff) to bind the edge of the hood & towel.
I them used scrap fabric to monogram the towel. There are tons of cute applique ideas (shark, star fish, waves, race car, flowers or fruit) or you could make fun animal ears on the hood.


Thanks, Karla