Candy Corn Cutie Tutorial

It's that time of year again!! Time to make Cailey a new Halloween outfit!!!

Here are the years past.




Halloween Peasant Dress from last year. SIGH... It's now a tunic. 




This was the Ghostly Giggles Skirt from 2 years ago. 

Bigger SIGH.... It's now knee length. SIGH.... 

She has grown so much in the past 2 years. MAKE IT STOP!!! NOW!!!!! 

WAH!!!!!

At the end of this post is something super special!!! Karen from Baking in a Tornado has a faBOOlous recipe for Candy Corn Bread. OMG!! To die for!!!! 



On to the tutorial!!!

I ALWAYS ask Cailey's opinions on what I am making for her. In this case I asked her about sleeve length, top length and the looseness of the pants. She opted for looser pants over regular leggings. She also opted for long sleeves. 

WHAT I USED - 

1 yard of white cotton knit (didn't use the whole yard)

1/2 yard of yellow cotton interlock (used the whole thing)

1 1/2 yards of orange poly interlock  (that was the only orange knit I could find)(used most of it) 

3/4" elastic


STEP 1

I used the pattern piece that I made from one of Cailey's shirts and cut the front and back bodice pieces.

Make sure to cut on the fold.

Then I used the same pattern to cut the sleeves. 

Also cut them on the fold. 


STEP 2

Pin the shoulders together and sew the seams.



STEP 3

Lay out the bodice spread out with the right side up. 

Pin in the sleeve and sew the seam. 


STEP 4

Cut the 1/2 yard of yellow in half. 


STEP 5

Run a gathering stitch across the tops of both pieces of yellow.


STEP 6

With right sides together, pin the top of the yellow to the bottom of the white, adjusting gathers as needed. Sew the pieces together.


STEP 7

Turn it inside out and pin all the way up the sides and the sleeves.

Sew the seam.

STEP 8

Cut a piece of white that is about 4" wide and 17" long.
Fold in half and press. 


STEP 9 



With right sides together, pin the collar.

Sew the seam.

If you want you can go back and stitch in the ditch.


STEP 10

Instead of a normal hem, I did a zigzag stitch across the bottom of the top and the sleeves. If you pull slightly as you stitch it will give you a lettuce edge.


STEP 11

Take a pair of pants that fit your child well and use them as a guide for the pants.


STEP 12

Pin from the point of the crotch to the ankle and sew the seam.


STEP 13

Turn one leg right side out and slide it into the other leg that is wrong side out.

Pin in place and sew the seam.


STEP 14

Since I was using a double needle, I turned the pants right side out to stitch the elastic casing.

Then I turned the top in 1" and pressed. Then I turned it in another inch and pressed.

Pin in place and sew the elastic casing, making sure to leave a space to insert the elastic.


STEP 15 

Insert the elastic into the casing.

Sew the ends of the elastic together.

Sew the opening closed.


While I was sewing the ends of the elastic together, my double needle broke. :/ I used a zigzag stitch to finish sewing the elastic casing closed.


STEP 16

Since I was upset about my double needle (I've broken 4 of them in the past couple of months), I forgot to take a picture of the hem of the pants.

I turned the ankles in by 1/2", pressed and using a zigzag stitch, I hemmed both. 


ALL DONE!!!

What I love most about this look is that you can change it up. A yellow, white or green legging and you have a Spring look! ;)

NOW for something REALLY special!!!!!

Now, head on over to Baking in a Tornado for some YUMMMMMMY Candy Corn Bread!!!

Sunshine Day Tunic and Clam Diggers - Tutorial

Well, the name is Sunshine Day BUT the pictures for this were taken on the COLDEST day we have had since moving here!!!!! LOL There was no way I was going to make Cailey stand outside in 40 degrees.....



For some reason this outfit (or maybe just the striped fabric) reminds me of.......



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NaCCG7QkM_c



Y'all remember that, right??? LOL I loved watching Brady Bunch reruns after school when I was a kid.





ANYWAY.... Here is the tutorial.





What I used - 

3/4 yard of the stripes (very silky and flowy)

1/4 yard of the gold cotton for the yoke at the top

1 yard of heavier, stretchier cotton for the clam diggers

1" elastic











I had this idea... I was going to make the front and back yoke one piece.... with lining..... Yeah... I even cut a muslin (above).

It took me a bit to figure out the problem. LOL

One I realized that I wouldn't be able to turn it right side out after sewing the lining, I resigned myself to 4 pieces instead of 2.







So, then I made a pattern piece after much measuring and figuring. LOL











Pin the lining pieces to the main pieces and sew all around, leaving the bottom open.









Clip the corners, turn right side out and press.









Cut the pieces for the bottom of the tunic. I cut the top of it about a 1/4" wider than the bottom of the yoke.

Make it as long as you like, widening as you go and curving the bottom.









Pin the bottom of the yoke to the top of the bottom piece, with right sides together. Sew then press your seams.











Now, pin the front to the back, with right sides together. Sew the shoulder and the sides.



Next, fold up and press 1/2" on the bottom. Then fold up and press 3/4". Sew the hem.









Remove the cat from your work space.









Grab a pair of your child's pants to use as a cutting guide for the clam diggers. Turn up the leg bottoms to your desired length.











If you have a right side/wrong side fabric, you will want to flip the pants guide over to cut the second leg.









Sew up the inseam from the bottom to the start of the crotch curve.

(If your child is very small, you will want to hem them first.)









Turn one leg right side out and slide it into the other leg. Pin and sew.









Now for the elastic casing. Fold over 1/4" and press. Fold over again by just over 1", press and sew the casing, making sure to leave a section open to insert the elastic.









Pin the ends of the elastic and insert into the opening.

Then pull both ends out and secure with zigzag stitches.

Sew the opening closed.









Fold up and press the bottom of the legs by 1/2". Fold up and press another 1/2" and sew the hem!





Turn right side out and press!



YOU ARE DONE!!!! :D







As always, let me know if you have any questions. You can always use the Contact Me button at the top of the page.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Cheesehead Tutorial

This tutorial is for the shirt. The pants are done the way I always do pants. LOL Just click the link and it will show you how. The only difference is, when I hemmed the bottoms I then turned the hem to the outside and top stitched.





On to the tutorial!

What I Used:

1 1/2 yards of main

1/2 yard of contrast

1 package of bias tape

1 package of Velcro circles

1" elastic (for the pants)

1 button-up shirt to use as a "pattern"



***Always remember to PRESS after doing any stitching***



The first thing I did was study how a button-up shirt was put together.









I paid special attention to the back yoke, back pleat and the curve of the bottom.



Here are the pieces you will need:





2 pieces for the back yoke in the contrasting color. You can draw out the back yoke on a piece of paper to use as a pattern, if you want.









2 pieces for the front out of the main fabric. You can use the button-up shirt as a guide when cutting, if you like.









1 piece for the back. This will be shorter than the front pieces because it will be attached to the back yoke.







2 sleeves out of the contrasting fabric.





Sewing It All Together



Step 1 -







Sew the back yoke pieces together, leaving the bottom open.

Fold IN the bottom by 1/4 inch and press.



Step 2-





Put the back pleat in, lining up the sides with the back yoke, pin and press. Insert the bottom of the back INSIDE the back yoke, pin and top stitch closed.  Press.



Step 3-





Part 1 0f Step 3-

Attach the back to the front at the top (shoulders). I always do a finishing stitch first and then the straight stitch.

Part 2 of Step 3-

Pin the sides together and sew up the seam.

Part 3 of Step 3-

Sew and finishing stitch along the edges of the front pieces.  Fold over 1 1/2" and press.



Step 4-





Edge stitch and top stitch along the folded edges.



Step 5-





Part 1 of Step 5-

Hem the bottom of the sleeves by folding up 1/4", press, fold another 1/4" and press. Sew the hem.

Part 2 of Step 5-

Insert the sleeves into the arm holes and pin. Sew the seam.

Part 3 of Step 5-

Open the bias tape and pin into place around the neck line. Stitch the bias tape. This is not the "proper" way to do bias tape, but I have found that it is MUCH MUCH easier and works just as well, if not better. ;)

Open the bias tape and pin into place around the bottom. Stitch it on.



Step 6-





Stick your Velcro circles on the inside of one side and the outside of the other, lining them up to match the opposite side. Then you will need to put a couple of stitched into each piece.  Press.



You are all done!!!!







I apologize that this tutorial isn't as detailed as they usually are... I wasn't quite sure if I would be doing a tutorial for it and I kept forgetting to take the pictures. LOL

Anyway, I hope it is clear enough to help you!!!

I will be working on Cailey's Packers skirt and t-shirt today! Hopefully I will have a tutorial for you by Saturday! Tomorrow is my busy day, grocery shopping and bill paying... such fun. :/