Fan Tote Tute with a Special Surprise

Today starts a series of special posts. My friend Karen from Baking in a Tornado and I are teaming up  to bring you some tailgating specials! 

Check out Karen's Raspberry Steak with Lemon Yogurt Sauce!


On to the tutorial!

My contribution to the tailgating theme! A team tote to carry all your fan gear/tailgating supplies!! 

What I Used -

The equivalent of 4 fat quarters 
  2 for the body of the bag
  1 for the straps and pocket
  1 for the contrast at the top of the bag

Step 1

First I cut one fat quarter in half.
One half will be the handles and the other will be the pocket.
The half for the handles should be cut in half again.
Fold with right sides together and press. 
Sew up the long side of each.



Step 2 -

Turn the handles right side out and press.
Top stitch along the edges.
Remove the cat from your work space.
Press again. 


Step 3 -

I did NOT use fat quarters. I used a long strip of contrasting fabric. I folded it in half and pressed. Folded in half again and pressed.
If you use fat quarters -
Cut it in half. Sew the ends together to make a longer piece.
Fold in half and press. Do that again.


Step 4 -

If you are using fat quarters, this is where you will sew up one side ONLY. Pin the 2 fat quarters with right sides together and sew up one side seam.



Step 5 -

Now, with right sides together, pin the contrast strip at the top of your fabric.
If you are using fat quarters, line up the side seams.
Once you have sewn the contrast strip to the top, press the seam UP.
Now, top stitch or stitch in the ditch. 
*Stitch in the Ditch means to run a line of straight stitches on top of the fabric in the seam line. I did NOT stitch in the ditch. I top stitched instead. 


Step 6 -

Now we are going to attach the handles.
On the right side, pin the bottoms of the handles to the contrast strip. Your handles should be hanging upside down with the wrong side showing.
Line up the handles on the other side and pin in place.
Now, attach the handles.
Once you've attached all 4 ends, you are going to fold the handles up and pin them in place,
Now, sew a box with an X in the middle. That makes sure the handles stay on even if you are carrying a heavy load. 


Step 7 -

Take your remaining fat quarter half and fold it up into a pocket.
Turn the sides in and press.
Pin it to the front of your bag and stitch in place. 

Step 8 -

Pin and sew up the remaining side and bottom.
Clip your corners.
Turn the bag right side out and press.

YOU ARE DONE!!!!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!

Don't forget to check out Karen's DELICIOUS tailgating recipe!!! OMG, that looks sooooo good! I'm drooling on my keyboard. 

Isaac Newton Learning Resources

Our next science topic will be Isaac Newton. We will be starting this one as soon as we are done with Leonardo da Vinci. 

As always, I provide resources for a variety of ages.
I am not affiliated with any company or web site. I just share as many great links as I can find. ;)

All the books should be easily found on Amazon or your local library.

All printables are free unless marked under $$.

Activity Sheets - Easy Science for Kids

Coloring Page - Physics Central

Copywork and Notebooking Pages - HS Launch

Grammar Worksheet - Education World

Notebooking Page - Homeschool Helper Online

Notebooking Pages - Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus (scroll down)

Printable Picture - Free Printables

Worksheets - Education.com

Worksheets - Homeschooling.about.com

Worksheets - TES

Worksheets, Activities, Info and More - Garden of Praise (scroll all the way down for printables)

$$$

CurrClick

Teachers Pay Teachers

Activities - Education.com

Activities - Homeschool Enrichment

Activities - Lesson Pathways

Activity - BBC

Activity - Energy Quest

Games - Science K 12

Info - Biography.com

Info - Buzzle

Info - Ducksters

Info - Mental Floss

Info - Spark Notes

Info and Activities - NASA (click on the grade levels for activities)

Interactive Info - Science Channel

Lessons - Physics Classroom 

Song - Kids Know It

Video - Science Kids

Videos - Watch Know Learn

Videos, Quizzes and Games - Neo K 12

I hope that gets you started!!

Have fun learning!!!

Our Week in Review - Sept. 8-12, 2014

We had a lot going on this week, just not necessarily what you might call "school work".

We met up with one of our new homeschool groups and had a BLAST!!! 

The kids explored the creek in our local park. So much fun. Colin says he "survived a great adventure". He and Cailey walked the creek with the other kids while the other parents and I chose to take the path along the creek. 

Then we learned how to felt pumpkins and acorns! Even Deanna joined in the fun. ;)


Next week Cailey and Colin start their Art and Architecture class! We can't wait!


Oh! Before I forget, check out what I found at World Market......

                      Have fun learning!!!!

USE YOUR WORDS - September 2014

                                                       




Today’s post is a writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

http://www.BakingInATornado.com                              Baking In A Tornado

http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/                          Spatulas on Parade

http://stacysewsandschools.blogspot.com/                     Stacy Sews and Schools

http://sparklyjenn.blogspot.com/                                   Sparkly Poetic Weirdo

http://www.eviljoyspeaks.wordpress.com                       Evil Joy Speaks 

http://www.someoneelsesgenius.com                            Someone Else’s Genius

http://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/                              Confessions of a part-time working mom

http://followmehome.shellybean.com                            Follow me home . . .

http://berghamchronicles.blogspot.com                        The Bergham’s Life Chronicles   

http://thesadderbutwisergirl.com                                 The Sadder But Wiser Girl   

http://batteredhope.blogspot.com                                Battered Hope   

Your words are: fall ~ unwilling ~ cease ~ court ~ nature ~ wooden

They were submitted by: http://Bakinginatornado.com    

I have discovered something about myself recently that I am not too happy about. I seem to have fall(en) into the habit of road rage. Well, maybe not RAGE so much as extreme aggravation! I have become an unwilling participant in my own actions. BUT I am aware of them now and will try to cease before I end up in court!!! It is absolutely against my nature to behave in this way! 

I'll tell you a little story. 

I was in a big city last weekend, the biggest city I have ever been. I was trying desperately to get over into the lane I needed to get to the interstate. NO ONE would let me over. So, I made my own way over. There was a bit of a break and I nosed the HUGE, GIANT rental truck over into that break. The next thing I knew horns were blaring. The Hubby asked me if I had just made everyone mad. I answered, "Yes, but I really don't give a !#$%!" The next thing I know someone is pulling up along side me and yelling. I look over and give them a little "go on about your business" hand wave, sort of like what they are saying to me doesn't matter one whit. They keep on yelling but I keep on flicking my hand at them. Now, was I in the wrong? Absolutely, but at the time I felt I had every right to do what I did. I have been beating myself up over it ever since. What if I had caused an accident???? 

That's not the only thing. When I was driving back from my Dad's funeral, I became that aggressive driver that everyone hates! I was coming up on slow traffic in the pass lane and nearly riding their bumpers until they moved out of the way! (I also ended up with a speeding ticket.)

Sometimes I get upset and start fussing out loud at all the idiot drivers on the road. Yep, I say quite a few bad words, too. 

BUT!!!! Now I am very aware of this behavior and I am going to try my best to stop it!!!! I am normally a very passive person. I just don't know what gets into me when I drive! 

From here on out whenever I start to feel upset I am just going to paste a wooden smile on my face until the feeling passes.

WISH ME LUCK!!!!

Thank you, Karen, for the great words! I was able to out myself and take responsibility for my bad behavior!!!

Don't forget to click all the links and read the amazing posts!!!

Chevron Knit Pajama Tutorial

Colin really loves his new pajamas! YAY!! Score for mom!! :D 

The fabric I used was some that I won a few months ago from Knits and Giggles. Colin claimed the purple chevron right away. Purple is his favorite color.

What I Used 

1 yard of purple chevron

Less than 1/2 a yard of white knit

Things to keep in mind while sewing with knits. 

  -Use a zigzag stitch or other stretchy stitch. I didn't     always do that here but I should have.

  -DO NOT PULL unless otherwise instructed. It will         pull the fabric all out of shape.

Step 1

I used one of Colin's PJ tops to cut the pattern for the new PJ top. Cut 2 on the fold. 

Step 2 -

Next I cut the sleeves, the cuffs for the sleeve, the cuffs for the legs and the neck. 

I cut the neck and arm cuffs at 2". You will sew them folded over. 

The leg cuffs I cut at 4". You will sew them folded over as well.

To cut the sleeves, use the arm holes on the top that you cut out. You can make them long or short, just measure your child's arm length. 

Step 3

Looks like I forgot to take a picture of the next step. No matter, I can substitute with this one. ;)

Use a pair of PJ pants (or any pants) as a guide to cut the legs of the PJs. 

Make sure to leave 2 1/2 to 3" extra at the top for the waist band. 

Cut 2 on the fold.

Step 4

Next, pin the shoulders, right sides together (it doesn't really matter with a plain knit). 

Sew the seams.

Step 5

Next, pin the sleeve to the arm hole, right sides together. Sew the seam.

Do the same to the other side.

Step 6

 

Next you need to fold the sleeve cuffs in half. Pin the center of the cuff to the center of the sleeve. 

Now, stretch the end of the cuff to the end of the sleeve as you sew. Go ahead and stretch it good! 

Do the same to the other side.

Step 7

Pin the sides all the way from the bottom to the end of the sleeve. Sew the seams!

Step 8

Next, fold over the neckline piece and pin it in place. Now, this time I didn't pull the cuff as I stitched. I think it might have looked better in the end if I had. 

Sew the ends of the neck piece together. 

Next, stitch in the ditch.

Step 9

Now, fold over the ankle cuffs and pin the center in the center of the bottom of the leg.

Stretch as you sew!

Step 10

Now, pin the inseam (lining up those chevrons) and sew from the ankle to the point of the crotch.

Step 11

Now, turn one leg right side out and slide it into the other leg, right sides together.

Pin in place (lining up the chevrons) and sew around, creating the crotch seam.

Step 12 

Now, you're almost done!!

Fold over the top of the PJ bottoms 1", press and fold again.

Sew a line directly across the top.

Sew another line at the bottom but leave an opening for the elastic.

Insert the elastic and sew the ends together.

Sew the opening closed and you are DONE!!!!

Let me know what you think!!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!