Summer Shorts

What's a common problem we all seem to face in America? Finding high-quality jeans! It may be a small problem, but it does bug me that the only pants I ever fit are at least $50. No way I'm spending that much money! Well, here's a way to get cute shorts for under $10.

First, raid your closet for any jeans or pants that fit well at the waist, hips, and thighs. Then find the pairs that have torn/grass stained knees, ratty bottoms, or that have gotten too short. As long as they still fit at the top, they'll do! If you don't own any of these, then go to a local thrift store and pick up a pair. Many cute pairs of jeans get thrown out just because they're torn along the bottom! The only other thing you need will be matching thread. If you don't have any around the house, take a trip to Walmart because thread is cheap there.

Next, put on said pair of jeans/pants and decide what length you want your shorts to be. I wanted mine to be somewhere between bermuda and mid-thigh. You can even make capris this way if you'd like! I'm not sure how well short shorts would work, but you can try it if you're into that sorta thing. Next, grab a pencil or pen (depending on how dark your jeans are) and lightly mark the length you want all the way around your leg. Take your pants off and cut 1" below your mark, then put your pants back on, check if the cut is straight, and adjust as needed. Finally, pin the edge under 1" and you're ready to sew!

First, sew a straight line 1/4" from the bottom of your shorts. Then sew a straight line 1/2" from the bottom. The two rows of stitching adds extra stability and keeps the edge from looking "wavy". Trim your threads and you're done! Piece of cake, right? My shorts were free because I had these cute but too-long Silver jeans lying around for the longest time. Now they're finally getting put to good use as comfy summer shorts!

Adorable Apron DIY

Sorry I haven't posted in so long! Life's been crazy with camping and rain, LOTS of rain! It even snowed for a few hours. Let's just say I had a wet week. Our tent even flooded! Well, at least is was memorable.
You'll all be excited to hear that I've once again been working on pioneer trek clothing! Today, I made my apron, which is SO CUTE! I really want to make one out of chevron fabric and use it as an everyday apron. Here's the tutorial.

Supplies:
1 yd muslin or white/cream fabric (42-44" width)
matching thread and contrast thread
tape measure, scissors, pins, etc.

1. Cutting

• Main piece: length is the measurement from your waist to your knees, plus 1" for seam allowance. width is just your waist measurement
• Sash: you will need to cut out three strips for your sash. two will be 3" by your waist measurement, while the third will be 1/2 of your waist. add 1" to each length for seam allowance
• Pockets: cut out two 9" squares
• Pocket stays: cut out four 1" strips that are each 6" long

Hopefully that all makes sense! Just let me know in the comments if you are confused. If I had more time I'd make a diagram, but I thing you guys can figure it out. :)

2. Hemming main piece
This step is very simple. Start with one of the main piece's sides. Fold the side under 1/2" so that the raw edge is no longer in view and sew in place. Repeat for the opposite side and finally the bottom edge.

3. Preparing the sash
Here's another easy step. You'll want to sew together your 3" sash strips, using a 1/2" seam allowance. Sew the strips together so that the short strip will be in the middle, with the long strips attached to each end of the short one. In other words, long, short, long. Press your seams open.
OK, next you need to fold one of the long sides under 1/2" and sew in place. Now you're ready to gather the apron!

4. Gathering the main piece
Now, are you ready to learn a new sewing technique? This will come in handy during almost every sewing project. Let's get gathering! I'm showing you the simpler, faster way to gather that doesn't look quite as nice but is perfect for just making an apron.

• Set your sewing machine to a zig-zag stitch. It's best to make the zig-zag as big as possible.
• Cut a long piece of thread that contrasts your fabric. You want to be able to easily see it.
• Lay your thread about 1/4" away from the top edge of your main apron piece and zig-zag. Make sure the thread is inside of the zig-zag, but not caught in the stitching.
  
  
  
  
• Pin the sash to the apron main piece with raw edges matching raw egdes and right sides together. Have each apron side line up with the seams you made while sewing together your sash. At the moment, you only want to pin at these seams and nowhere else.
  
• Pull on your contrasting thread to "bunch up" or ruffle the apron fabric. Keep pulling the thread until the apron piece is the same size as the small part of the sash that you have it pinned to. Make sure that while you're pulling, you don't pull the thread out! Once it's all gathered, spread the gathers out evenly and pin in place.

• Sew down your gathers 1/2" from the edge. Then you can pull out your gathering thread.

5. Finishing the sash

• Now you need to fold up the raw long edge of your sash and sew it down on either side of the apron. Then fold over the two very short ends of your sash and sew them down too.
• Take your sash and fold it completely over the raw gathered edge of your main apron piece. Pin it down so that your line of stitching along the sash's edge lines up with the row of stitching on your main apron piece.
  
  
  
  
• Sew your sash down using stitch in the ditch. Simply make sure the apron front is facing up and sew in the seam that's already there. Since it's already well pinned, you will sew down the back of the sash without causing any unsightly, wavy stitching on the front of your apron.

6. Pockets
Your apron is looking lovely, and guess what? It's almost done! Yay!! All that's left are the pockets. I've designed them to be roomy, even if you have large hands.

• Take one of your squares and gather one end using the method I've already described. Then, sew one of the 1" strips onto your gathered pocket, right sides together.
• fold your strip over to the back of your pocket so that none of the strip is visible. Then sew it down 1/4" from the edge. The strip mostly just works as a "stay" to make sure your gathers don't move around.                        

 (view from inside pocket)

 

 

(view from outside of pocket)

 

Now, just repeat this step for the bottom of your pocket. Then fold the two sides under 1/2" and sew them down too. Repeat all of this for the second pocket.

 

 

Next, try on your apron and put your hand where you'd like your pocket to be. Lightly mark this spot with a pencil. Take off your apron and pin one pocket on. Sew the pocket down on all sides except for the top. Then repeat for the other pocket.

Now you have completed a super cute apron! If you'd like to make one for everyday use, just make sure to "finish" all of your edges. You can either zig-zag all of the raw edges of your apron before folding under your edges, or you can just fold your edges under twice so that no raw edges are showing. Either way, your product will be more professional and won't have those annoying dangly strings. Happy sewing!







 

Paper Bag Journals

Hello again!
Today I've been working with my mom to make journals for girls camp. She's in charge of making one for all 36 young women in our ward! We decided to go with the kind of journal I made for my secret sister last year: a paper bag journal! They are cute, easy, inexpensive, and customizable. You'll need:

• 3 jumbo 6x12" brown bags
• scrapbook paper
• ribbon or tabs
• glue

For today, I designed all of the pages and we made a prototype. It isn't finished yet because we're out of colored ink (always a wonderful surprise). This one is also very minimalist because, like I said, we're making 36. You, however, can go all-out with as many stickers, hole punches, and paper flowers as you'd like!

 

This year, our theme will be "stand ye in holy places" and each ward got to choose a temple. We have the Samoa temple, so that's why we have a cute turtle on the front. For the back page and the temple insert, you can look up whatever free printables you want and size them. If you want the "stand ye in holy places" printable and the Samoa temple pic, just go to these websites:
http://shopringmasters.com/article/2013-mutual-theme-free-printable-stand-ye-holy-placeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Apia_Samoa_Temple-pre_fire-crop.jpg

These are the printable pages that I made. They are for PERSONAL USE ONLY!! No selling your final product. They aren't good enough to sell anyway :) I just made them on Word and Publisher.

 

All you have to do is right click on one of the images, paste it in word or something, and resize it to 5x5". You will need one of each except for the blank one at the top, you will need to print 5 of that one. Ready? Ok, let's get crafting!

 

Main Journal

Take your three paper bags. Lay them one on top of the other (don't pop out the bottom!) and simply staple 3 times vertically along the center. Now you should have a book!

 

Pages 1 through 8

For these, you can decorate them any way you want. We simply attached background papers then glued down our printed journal pages in the order shown. For fourth years and junior staff, you can just insert some more blank lined pages into the front opening of a bag so that they can journal on Monday.

 

 

 



Last 2 Pages and Cover

The 9th page is reserved for the ward picture. Just type in your ward and year in size 36 centaur font (or whatever font you want). Print it out, cut it out, then glue the words at the top or bottom of the page so there'll be room for your group pic. Then, for the next page, just find a printable relating to your girls camp theme. These two pages can really be customized however you want. I'm not showing you mine because it says my ward and city :P that wouldn't be good to post! Then, for your cover just type "Girls Camp 20--" (inserting the year, of course). I used a size 48 centaur font. Then, customize your front cover and you are almost done!

 

Inserts

For the testimony insert, glue the paper that says testimony on one side of a 5.5x5.5" piece of scrapbook paper. Then, glue a blank lined printable on the other side. Add ribbon or a tab to the right side of the insert.

Next is the temple insert. Pretty much, just find an online picture of your favorite temple, resize it so that it's smaller than 6" on each side, glue it on scrapbook paper, and add ribbon or a tab. Now you are officially done with your adorable girls camp journal!

 

The cool thing about paper bag journals is that you can make them for all occasions. It'd be fun to have everyone make one before a vacation so they'll be motivated to write in a journal. To make the printable journal pages, just create a 5x5" publisher document, type in the day or date at the top, and underscore for the rest of the page. Have lots of fun creating cool journals!

Trek Bloomers Tutorial

Hello blogging world!
I actually "started" this blog a few months ago but never got around to posting. Finally I've remembered to take pictures of something I've sewn, which is good news for you guys :) Well, here's my first tutorial: bloomers for pioneer trek! It seriously only took me 30 min the first time I made them. This time took longer because I misplaced the seam ripper somehow, plus I had a camera in hand as well, which didn't help.

 

Aren't they lovely? Well, I don't know if you could call pioneer undergarments lovely, but anyways. Have fun sewing your super-easy self drafted bloomers!

Materials:
2 yds 44-45" fabric, preferably lightweight and soft (muslin works well)
loose pj pants
3/8" elastic (nonroll)
newspaper and tape
scissors, pins, pencil/pen, sewing machine, etc.

Step 1: Make your pattern

Examine your pj pants. Is the waistband elastic, fitted, or drawstring? If it's got a drawstring, simply untie the drawstring. If the waistband has elastic or is fitted, I'll help you later on. For now, fold your pants in half, pulling out the crotch. Tape two pieces of newspaper together and lay your folded pants on the newspaper. Then, if you are using drawstring pjs, simply trace 1 to 2" around your pants. If your pants have elastic or are fitted, go straight up from the crotch. Mine have elastic, so you can see that I added a lot of extra room in the crotch area of my bloomers. Next, cut out your pattern on the lines you drew and you have your pattern! You may want to save your pattern to make more bloomers later. (After all, trek won't have showers! Might want some extra clothes on hand)

Step 2. Cutting the pieces

Pre-shrink and iron your fabric. This is REALLY important! Seriously! Otherwise, your bloomers will shrink in the wash and totally not fit you! After your fabric is primed and ready, lay your pattern along the fold line as shown below.

Then, cut out along all sides EXCEPT the fold. If you cut along the fold, you'll cut your pattern piece in half and that won't be good! Then repeat, so that you have two pattern pieces that look like this:

Step 3: Assembly (yay!)
Now comes the fun part. Just bear with me, it's easier than it looks. Lay one pattern piece on top of the other, right sides together, and pin from the top of the fabric down to the crotch point. Then sew along your pinned lines with a 5/8" seam allowance.

Open your bloomers (still keeping them right sides together) as shown.

Next, just pin and sew along the inside seam of your bloomers.

Step 4: Elastic
Now, you are going to want to go along the top of your pants and fold about 3/4" over. Make sure to do this with the pants still inside out! Otherwise your casing will show. Simply sew 1/2" over from the fold you just made. Make sure to stop 1" from where you started, leaving room to insert elastic.

Next, take a safety pin and put it through one end of your elastic. You will now proceed to thread the elastic through your casing.

Once the elastic is all the way through your casing, go try on your bloomers, still keeping them inside out. Pull the elastic until the pants aren't too tight, but won't fall off. Pin your elastic together there and sew.

Now, just trim the ends of your elastic and finish sewing the casing closed. Repeat this process for the bottom of each pant leg and you are done!!! 


(Hint: move most of the gathers to the front side of your bloomers because it makes walking easier)