How to embellish mittens

I love anthropologie. The store is full of unique clothing and accessories with a homemade vintage-y vibe. It is a good thing that the closest location is over 3 hours away, because I always find a million things I want. But after being inspired by both this and this post, I decided to "anthropologize" something myself.

I started with a set of mittens from Target (2 for $1.50!).

Then, I got out my favorite craft supplies: ribbons and laces and buttons!

After settling on several layers, I cut them to fit along the cuff of the mitten and bonded the lace to each other with washable fabric glue.

Once the glue was dry, I attached coordinating buttons in the middle of each set.

Because the lacy layers were already attached to each other, sewing them to the mitten cuff was simple (I only attached the top of the strip to the mitten).

"Anthropologizing" complete!

Would it be wrong to plan an outing this evening just so that I have an excuse to wear them? Surely, I need to pick up something from the grocery store...

How to make a hooded towel

My sister's baby shower was this past weekend and as I searched for gifts, I realized that I had no easy task. She is having a boy, and is incorporating sock monkeys as the theme for his room. Sock monkey items seem to be growing in popularity, but there still isn't too much out there. Combine this lack of selection with the fact that my sister is one of the most accomplished shoppers I know, and I realized that there was little opportunity for me to pick up something that she wouldn't have already grabbed herself.

Solution? Homemade items!

I decided to make a hooded towel using sock monkey colors - red and chocolate brown.

First, I purchased a fluffy brown towel (I never understood why infant towels are always so thin!) and a red hand towel from Target.

The width of the towel was 30"; I cut both ends, creating a 30" square. Then, I cut a right triangle out of the hand towel, which will be the hood. I apologize for not measuring; I was just making this up as I went. But, I basically made the triangle large enough to fit over an infant's head. 

To personalize the towel, I cut my nephew's first initial out of coordinating cotton.

Then, I appliqued it to the hood using a zig-zag stitch.

Extra-wide quilt binding was the easiest solution to completing the edges. I first sewed along the bottom of the triangle.

Then after pinning the hood to the towel, I sewed binding all the way around.

This project was quick and easy, and accomplished my task of giving a unique item.

More Bandana Crafts

Ever since making the drawstring bag, I haven't been able to stop thinking of all of the possibilities for crafting with bandanas. I love that the edges are already hemmed so there is less sewing, and they are cheap (Hobby Lobby sells them for $0.83). Plus, there are lots of options besides the typical paisley print; I saw solids, tie-dyed, floral, rhinestones, and even Spongebob and Dora!

So, when Christy commented yesterday that she had seen an idea for bandanas on Martha Stewart, my curiosity was instantly piqued.   

  

Look at all of these unique and easy ideas:

 

Apron

Dress and lounge pants

Bandana party (complete with hats, banner, and napkin rings)

Tablecloth 

I think I need to head to Hobby Lobby to pick up a few more bandanas. I have an idea for a variation of the apron, so if it works out like I'm planning it in my head, I will show you on Monday.   

 

P.S. Correct spelling and grammar causes me a great deal of anxiety in the writing of this blog, so this post and the previous one have been quite frustrating... How in the world do you spell the word bandana/bandanna? One dictionary only offered one spelling: bandanna. While another used "bandanna" and "bandana." Then, Martha made it more confusing and used both spellings throughout her site depending on the craft. 

"Bandana" is my spelling and I'm stickin' to it. 

How to make a drawstring bag

Recently I came across the idea to use bandanas to make a drawstring bag; I love how simple, inexpensive and versatile the project was. These would be great for so many uses. My two favorite ideas would be either to use western colors and give them as party favor bags for a cowboy birthday party, or to use them to store individual meals for a picnic. 

        

The only supplies required are two bandanas and coordinating ribbon. My color choices remind me of a watermelon - so bright and summery. 

After layering them over each other, I pinned them together wrong side to wrong side. 

I hope that you appreciate my diagramming skills. I'm sure that Simplicity or McCall's will be contacting me shortly to start illustrating for them.  

 

The dashed lines represent where I sewed; the inner circle is complete, and the outer circle has two open areas opposite each other to insert the drawstring. Each circle is about 1" away from the other. 

Also, I would recommend sewing the outer circle closer to the bandana hemline than it looks in the diagram (I sketched this by hand, because while I am sure that my computer is capable of such feats, I am not capable of using those capabilities. I used lids from jars to draw the circles, and couldn't find a larger one to draw my outer circle. Hopefully when Simplicity hires me, they will provide me with adequate drawing tools, or at least bigger jars.)

 
  

I cut my ribbon in two 36" lengths, and inserted them into the openings. In the above diagram I highlighted each ribbon by using blue and red so that you could see how it should be inserted so that it will pull closed correctly.  

Do you remember playing with flipbooks as a kid? You could flip through the pages really fast and the illustrations would look like they were moving? This is when a flipbook would come in handy. Perhaps if you scroll down really fast you can catch my drawstring action. 

  

Can you believe how simple that was? And I forgot to mention - the bag is reversible. Imagine the possibilities!  

How would you use this little bag? 

How to make an art apron

The crayon roll has been a hit at church lately (except for the fact that I should have made another one, because there is always a fight in the pew for who gets to hold it). So, when I was out perusing the shops this weekend and came across the idea for a crayon holder apron, I knew my daughter would love to have one at home for her art projects. And I had just the fabric to do it with. 

 

Do you notice how shiny the fabric is? That is because I was finally able to put to use a product that Pink and Polka Dot turned me onto: 

Iron-on Vinyl. 

I love this product. It is made by the same company that makes Heat N Bond. I have only been able to find it at Joanne's, and it can be pricey ($9 for a 2 yard roll). But I happened to catch it when it was half off so I picked up a couple of rolls. It gives the fabric a smooth shiny finish, almost like oilcloth, except easier to maneuver because it is thinner. 

Another great benefit of using this product is that while oilcloth can be hard to find and typically comes in limited patterns, now I can use any fabric my heart desires to create wipe-able cloth. Baby bibs are another project that I want to try.

 

And no, I am not the new Iron-on Vinyl company spokeswoman (but I would be interested if they are looking...)

  

What was I talking about? Oh yes, the apron.

I began with 3 rectangles:

- 6 X 16 1/2"

- 8 X 16 1/2"

- 3 X 44"

 

After cutting my rectangles, I folded the pocket piece (6 X 16 1/2") in half lengthwise, and pinned it to the bottom edge of the larger rectangle, folded side facing up. 

Starting 1 1/4" from the right side, I began sewing the sections 1" apart. This will give you 16 openings with 1 1/4" on each end. 

To finish the edges, I used a double fold bias tape around the sides and bottom. 

I wanted to create a gathered look, but was worried how the vinylized cloth would look if I tried to ruffle it. Luckily, using a basting stitch (an extra-long stitch) I was able to pull the thread and create a gathered waist just like I would with any other fabric (finished width: 12"). 

Taking my 3 X 44" piece, I ironed the long edges in and then in half to create the sash. (notice that I did not use the vinyl on my sash, because I wanted it to be easy to tie). 

After pinning the sash by folding it over the top of the skirt, I stitched it down and continued to sew along the edges of the rest of the sash.

 

My budding artist loves her new apron. And since she has been showing maturity with her art supplies, I inserted miniature markers into each slot, but they are perfectly sized for crayons as well. 

Now I want a vinylized apron for myself!  

How To Make a Fabric Bucket

A couple of weeks ago, Tanna at Complete Organizing Solutions challenged her readers to come up with a creative way to use scrap denim that came from her son's cutoff jeans. And I was the one who won that opportunity. 

 

Considering the fact that she is a professional organizer and that her entire blog is dedicated to organizing solutions, I figured that I should probably gear my project toward something organize-y.  

Hence, fabric buckets. For stuff. You know, kid stuff, like little dolls, or blocks, or play dishes.

Using the denim as the outside fabric and child/western print as the interior, I got cuttin' (I'm using western-ish prints, can't I talk like a cowgirl?)

Here is where I had to use some math skills. Fun!

I wanted the bucket's base to measure 7" across (its diameter), and for it to be approximately 7" tall. So I cut one 7" circle from both the denim and interior fabrics, and a bunch of 7" tall pieces at random widths from the denim and interior fabrics. Then, I sewed the random strips so that they formed long rectangles. To determine how long the rectangle should be, I had to find the circle's circumference.

To determine the circumference you just multiply its diameter (7") by pi, which is about 22." 

Is it all coming back to you now? If it is I'm jealous; I thought it was pi times the radius squared, which actually would have given me the area of the circle. Thankfully the internet (my beloved) saved me from craft disaster. 

After I had my 22" strip, I attached the ends to form a tube. 

Then, pinned the 7" circle to one end of the tube, and sewed it on. 

I repeated the exact same process with my interior fabric. Then I turned the denim right side out, but left the interior fabric right side in. 

I almost have a bucket! I just slid the interior into the denim. 

To finish the top edge, I used double fold bias tape. 

I formed little handles out of 5" strips of fabric. I purposely made the denim a little wider, so that it would create a border. 

Then I folded them...

And finished the bottom edge with bias tape. 

Embellishing is always the best part. I sewed the handles to the outside, but to hide the ugly stitching from attaching them, I used wide ric rac all the way around the top edge. Finally, I used iron-on letters to spell out "my stuff."

I had to part with this one, but plan on making several more because they were so easy (especially now that I remember how to figure the circumference!). 

Wouldn't they make adorable baby shower gifts (made to match the child's room) stuffed with newborn necessities? Or imagine nesting buckets, where each one was smaller than the next? They could be used for anything! 

 

Yes, this is definitely something that I will make again.  

How to make a jewelry organizer

Wanna see how I organized this mess of necklaces?

Check out my tutorial on Blissfully Domestic!