Stacy Sews and Schools

March 10, 2013

Reverse Applique Knee Patches Tutorial

Here is what I have been working on for so long.... A while ago my cousin (Sandra over at Rivas & Co.) commissioned me to make a t-shirt into short-alls and a pair of leggings with diamond shaped reverse appliqued knee patches with a matching bib. It took me FOREVER, or at least it felt that way!! I goofed SO many times on this.... I think I made 4 different sets!!! The first time my machine at the leggings. GRRRR!! The 2nd time I cut and/or sewed the patches in the wrong way. The print is a little crazy and the lines are not straight. I had to cut, pin and sew them JUUUST right. Then on the 3rd, I did every thing just right but when I went to cut the top layer over the patches, I cut the leggings instead!!! YILES!!!! Finally the 4th time was a charm! Good grief! LOL

So here is what I did.

The 2nd and 3rd attempts were made from this black t-shirt. The 4th attempt was from a different one. The 1st attempt was from some black jersey knit.

First I cut off the sleeves and collar. Then I cut the shoulders and sides. That left me with enough fabric to make 2 pairs of toddler leggings.

Then I cut the legs. These are for leggings so the legs are skinny and there is more room in the seat. ;)

When I cut them, I used the t-shirt hem for the leggings hems. ;)

Next, I cut the diamond shapes from 2 fabrics, 1 main and 1 for stabilizing.

Then I pinned and sewed the patches to the INSIDE of the leggings.

Next, I trimmed the excess from around the stitching. Be very careful here! THAT'S where I cut the hole in the leggings!!!

Now, I very carefully snipped the fabric from over the top of the patches and cut off the excess.

After that is done, you simply sew the leggings like you would any pair of pants. :)

This is the matching bib. :) I hope she loves them!!!

If you would like a step by step tutorial for making the leggings, you can follow my tutorial for the T-shirt Tunic and Leggings.

If you feel that you would prefer a pattern, try SquigglyTwigs Designs Quick Pants (you might recognize the model over there), just be sure to cut the legs narrower. :)

My next few projects will probably be very hush-hush. ;) I'll be working on my Pay It Forward gifts for 2013! I can't wait to get started!!

HAPPY SEWING!!!!!

March 8, 2013

Secret Subject Swap - March - Take 1

Welcome to Take One of March’s Secret Subject Swaps. This week, 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com

http://chewylicious.wordpress.com/

http://smn0409.blogspot.com/

http://dinoheromommy.com/

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/

http://followmehome.shellybean.com

http://stacysewsandschools.wordpress.com/

http://lifeonthesonnyside.blogspot.com/

dates2diapers2.blogspot.com

http://www.tinystepsmommy.com

http://menopausalmother.blogspot.com/

www.amotherlife.com

http://sadderbutwiser.wordpress.com/

http://mybrainonkids.net/

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/

My subject is: There is no such thing as a do-over, but let's pretend there is. What is one thing you would do over and what would you do differently? It was submitted by Sadder But Wiser Girl. Here goes:

Just pick one thing???? YEESH!!! That's a tough one... ONE thing... I can think of MANY things that I would like to do over. Not that I would necessarily do anything differently. I think my choices, good AND bad, are what helped to make me the person I am today. The bad situations/choices only made me stronger. Without tears there can be no laughter. ;)

If I were to do ANYTHING over it would be just to relive those precious moments that are gone soooo quickly. I guess I would go back to the day that my oldest child, Jacob, was born. I would start there and live each and every day to its fullest. I would relive the births of all 5 of my kids over. I would redo those baby years, the toddler years and even they WHY years. Then I would fast forward back to THIS day!!!!! LOL I am not done with teen years yet and I think going through those once is DEFINITELY enough!! I pat myself on the back everyday knowing I managed to get THIS far, 19, 17, 16, 9 (this month) and 6 (this month). Yeah. That is what I would do. I can relive sleepless nights and clothes covered in spit up. I DO NOT want to relive the pod people years.

Yes, POD people. One day they are your sweet little angels and the next day it's like a pod person has taken over their bodies!!!! THAT is the teen years. I wouldn't want to even do MY teen years over again. BLECK!! No, thank you!!

I miss my babies being babies. I love my kids and I am proud of who they are growing into, I just wish that it could last longer. This whole leaving the nest thing is almost more than I can take! I may go around the bend when the last one leaves. THANKFULLY, I have 12 more years before that happens!

THAT is going to be ME!!!! LOL

Now, be sure to check out all the other blogs!! They are AMAZING!!!!!

March 6, 2013

Middle Ages Unit Study

Yesterday was crazy busy here. Both girls had appointments at the eye doc. Both girls will be getting new glasses. SIGH..... Seems their vision is getting worse. BOTH OF THEM!!! Deanna is going back to bifocals and Cailey's astigmatisms are getting worse. SO not good news!!!! I had hoped to have a new tutorial up for you today but it looks like that may have to wait until tomorrow or the next day. :/ In the meantime, check out this unit study!

Most of the units I put together can be used for elementary through middle school and some could be stretched to high school, as well. I usually try to throw in some things for younger kids, too. I know that most of us are teaching a few ages at once! LOL

BOOKS -

Most of these can be found at your library or cheap on Amazon.

DK Eyewitness Medieval Life

DK Eyewitness Knight

DK Eyewitness Castle

Castles, Pyramids and Palaces

In the Time of Knights

The Great Castle Search

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures - Medieval Castle

Castle

Discovering Knights and Castles

Knights & Castles : 50 Hands on Activities to Experience the Middle Ages

Knight : A Noble Guide for Young Squires

The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House, Bk 2)

Magic Tree House - The Knight at Dawn

Magic Tree House Research Guide - Knights and Castles

Days of the Knights - Eyewitness Reader (Level 4)

Measly Middle Ages - Horrible Histories

Terrible Tudors - Horrible Histories

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Medieval Knight

You Wouldn't Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century

You Wouldn't Want to Be in a Medieval Dungeon

Saint George and the Dragon

Time Warp Trio - Knights of the Kitchen Table

Mary, Bloody Mary

Beware, Princess Elizabeth

Nine Days a Queen

Catherine, Called Birdy

The Whipping Boy

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Ghosts of the Tower of London

Beware the King

The Door in the Wall

The Ravenmaster's Secret

KINDLE BOOKS -

If you don't have a Kindle, don't worry! You can add the app to your computer or cell phone for free! We have it on our desktop, laptop and my iPhone! LOL My e-reader is a Nook. ;)