Lace Skirt (from a pillow case & a wedding dress)

Hi all,
Another project I made out of my sister-in-law’s wedding dress lace & a pillowcase… is A LACE SKIRT. This is the ultimate up cycle project – it was totally free. Do you think the Duchess of Cambridge will ever re-use the lace from her wedding dress for anything? (After it is off of display of course).

One cold spring night in MN, I decided to bite the bullet & I tore all the lace off of this dress to save for future projects. I thought I was done with lace for awhile, but I was inspired by a few lace skirts I've seen here, here & here that are fun & Expen$ive!

I cut off the hem/opening of the pillow case & opened up the seams. I left the bottom of the pillow case seam intact (this is now one of the side seams). I cut the pillowcase to be my hip measurement +2.5” (for ease & seam allowance). The length was good as is at 16’’. I made a small double turn hem along the one edge & merrowed/serged the top edge where the waistband will be.

Then I cut may lace the length of the pillow case (err… skirt lining) & stitched it on. I let the scalloped edge hang below the skirt hem about 1.5”. I stitched it on straight along the top of the lace, meaning I did not follow the top scallop shape for my sewing line. I trimmed off the top edge of the scallop & repeated 5 times.

Each time I made sure the bottom of the scalloped lace edge covered the stitching of the lace layer below it by about ½ an inch. I then basted the edges of the lace down at the sides. I try not to pin much when I sew, basting is just faster. This way when I sewed the side seam, I made sure I caught all the lace edges.

For the waist band I used a 4x2 rib fabric that I had on hand. It was not my first choice, but it was what I had. The waistband was 4” x hip measurement. I sewed this in the a circle, folded in half lengthwise.

I then quartered it (fold it in half & in half again & mark it with a pin). I did the same with the skirt (making sure a seam was one of the points). Then I pinned the waist band rib & lace skirt together (right sides together) matching up the points I have marked. I then sewed on the rib, stretching it slightly.

I left a 2” opening & fed elastic thru the waist band (using a large safety pin). I secured the elastic ends together (stitching them in place 2 times) and closed up the hole. This sounds more complicated than it really is, I should have taken more photos of this… next time.

Forgive… these photos were taken on a brisk 42 degree day in MN. I was freezing – so no smile. FYI – I realized I could never be a swim suit model…I can’t stand to be scantily clothes in cold weather. Yes, that is the sole reason why I will never be a swim suit model – the weather. HA HA.

I really dig this skirt & how it dresses up a casual cardi nicely – I hope to wear it a lot when the weather warms up!

Thanks, Karla

Tooth Fairy Pillow - The Girl version

Hi all, I have a few lace crafts that I just did not get around to posting... So bear with me on a few more. Last month I made the BOY Tooth Fairy Pillow, now I've made a Girl version. You'll need: 1 piece of fabric 7"x9" (I used light pink satin fabric that I had on hand) 2 pieces on 3"x 9" satin 1 piece 3.5" x 9" of gathered satin (this measures 18" before gathering) 1 piece 4"x5" satin for the pocket 2 - 9" of lace 1 - 9" piece of ribbon a scrap of white felt cut into the shape of tooth Gather the longest piece of satin, sew it between the 2 skinny pieces. This is the start of the front of the pillow. Sew the lace over the skinny side pieces of satin... I let the scalloped edge lay over the seam of where the satin was joined. I trimmed off the excess from the outer edge. This is what the front & the back of the pillow look like before sewing together.

Follow the same steps from the BOY Pillow & you end up with a cute girl version of the Tooth Fairy Pillow.

Thanks, Karla

Lace Corsage/Belt

This weekend I went to a girls craft day - It was wonderful to get away & be with fellow crafters... although more chit chatting went on than actual crafting.. but it was all good! So more lace projects... this one is pretty easy. I've really been enjoying wearing belts... I feel like a actually have a waist! So for this project I'm making a lace corsage that you wear on a ribbon belt.

I followed the directions from Martha to make the lace corsage, but hot glued a small circle of felt & a pin on the back & sewed a nice rhinestone button in the center of the flower.

Then on a piece of ribbon 1.25" wide x 5 ft long, I sewed on a piece of matching felt to give it a little stability to support the pins. The felt piece was the same width as the ribbon & about 3" long. This I put at the center of the ribbon lengthwise.
The I added a few other corsages to the ribbon belt that I made from here & here.

I like them so much, I have to make two!

Thank you, Karla

PS: Thank you Anna for hosting & Bethany for taking the photos :)

Lace Tee (AKA fixing a hole)

Hello crafters, family & friends~

Are any of you frustrated by getting little hole in the front of your Tee??? I'm not sure the reason for these mystery holes... because no matter where I buy the tee or how much a spend, I still get a hole. I blame it on my belt buckle (it is square, with a nice pointy corner) & on my seat belt that rubs on aforementioned belt buckle. So during my lace month, I decided to fix a hole in my tee & decorate a shirt.


First, I stitched the little hole shut, you can do this by hand of by machine. Then cut a strip on lace long enough to go from shoulder to hem + a few (4) inches for turning back. My lace is about 4.5" wide, so I used 2 strips down the front.

Pin the pieces of lace in place so that the scalloped edges overlap at Center Front (so where one strip of lace curves in, the other curves out to look like one piece of lace).

I then used a large zig zag stitch to stitch down the lace. You'll do this along both outer edges of the lace & once down the center where the 2 pieces overlap.

I then hemmed the lace that hangs past the shirt along the bottom edge - I just flipped it to the back side of the shirt & again used a a large zig zag stitch.

I did the same thing along the neckline - this tee was a v-neck so it was easier to just fold the extra lace to the back side & zigzag in place. If the neckline would have been curved, I would have clipped the lace in about 1/2" ever 1/2" along the curve & tuck it under & stitched it instead of folding it to the back side.
Finished & no more hole!

Thank you for stopping by my blog to see my latest projects.

PS: Yes, we have twinkle lights up in our porch... we keep them up all year :)

Karla

Lace sachet

This lace craft is so easy, It's like cheating...
I started with the lace from the sleeve of the wedding dress, used a few scraps of ribbon & some lavender (or potpourri).

Cut lace to your desired shape, sew into desired shape (rights sides together) . Loop ribbon & tuck between the 2 layers. Leave a 3" opening to fill with scented (or stinky stuff as my Husband calls it).Carefully fill with stinky stuff & hand stitch opening closed.

Happy Valentine's Day! Karla

* Note: I used another layer of wedding dress fabric (chiffon) under the lace to help keep the stinky stuff inside the sachet.

Tooth Fairy Pillow - Boy Version

More wedding dress crafts - this one is a Tooth Fairy Pillow.

If you just google it - there are a ton out there that I drew my inspirations from ... But I still needed to make it look masculine & use lace... I know know... the word masculine doesn't exactly come to mind when you think of lace.

You'll need:
2 pieces of fabric 7"x9" (I used light blue flannel)
1 piece 4"x5" for the pocket
9" of lace
3 - 9" pieces of ribbon
a scrap of white felt cut into the shape of a tooth
Sew the tooth on the pocket & the pocket on one piece of fabric - this will be the back of the pillow. I sewed the tooth on a bit crooked, but centered the pocket on the back of the pillow.

I positioned the lace down the center of the front of the pillow. Then positioned the ribbon on each side of the lace. Pin it & sew down the inside edge of the ribbon.

Since the lace is scalloped, I trimmed off the excess...

Then stitched down the outer edge of the ribbon.

Stitch down the ribbon handle along the top edge. I went is 2" from each side.

Now, put the back & the front together (RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER) Something you should have learned that from 7th grade sewing class. And sew the 2 pieces together, leaving open one short end. Then stuff your pillow, and sew the opening shut.

Put your tooth in the pocket, hang on the door & wait for the Tooth Fairy to exchange it for a dollar. PS: Peepers is years away from needing this... I just need to be prepared.
Plus, I love to take photos of him sleeping.

For more fun boy crafts check out THE BOY button to the right - a full month of boy inspiration starts Feb 15th.

Enjoy, Karla

Lace Bracelet

Hi All, this is my first post about all the fun ways you can re-use a wedding dress & lace.

Today, I am making a bracelet.

You'll need: Lace, clothes pins, a plastic bracelet & glue. The glue I borrowed from my Mom, we made a bracelet like this a few years back using a crochet doilies. It turned out really cute, so I Thought a lace one would be nice & easy. This glue is wonderful!

Spread the glue all over the bracelet, I did about 2" at a time on the outside & inside of the bracelet.

Apply the lace to the outside of the bracelet, wrapping & pulling tight to the inside of the bracelet & hold in in place with clothes pins.

Let sit & dry...

And dry...
And wear!

Karla :)