A terrible tutorial with a great result

 Last week I came across the shirt (above, right) and fell in love with it; however, it's $98 price tag was out of my budget. I snuck my way to Jo-Anne's (I say "snuck" because my husband makes fun of me for going so much. When I got back from this trip he said, "hun, why where you gone at the grocery store for so long, you must have stopped at Jo-Anne's or something". I couldn't hold back my laughter and I was caught)

To make my shirt there is an easy way and a hard way.

Easy way
1. Find a white shirt you like the shape of
2. embroider it with the different types of embroideries on your sewing machine

Hard way
1. Find a shirt in your closet you like the shape of
2. draft your pattern using that same shirt. Use the shirt from your closet to trace out the front, back, and arms)
3. I like to sew a shirt in this order : shoulders, sides, neck, sleeve, hem it!
4.embroider it with the different types of embroideries on your sewing machine. 

Thanks to my gorgeous little sister, Noksie-Pokes for modeling!

Their version: $98
Mine: $8

I know this tutorial is way confusing. sorry!!! I will try to make a tutorial soon with pictures & complete steps of a different shirt I made that can be completed in just a couple hours (pictured below)

DIY Pencil Skirt

 

Sewing actually isn't as hard as some people think. If you know how to bake cookies than you can sew this skirt. As long as you can read directions and sew in straight lines you are good to go!

I bought this fabric from Joann's last Spring thinking I would make pillows out of it. The fabric sat on my desk for months and finally I decided to make a skirt instead. The pattern I bought was for a skirt with pockets, but pockets take a lot of time so I did the skirt without pockets and I've had no regrets!

Pattern: McCalls M6757 - $1 (Jo-Ann's sale)

Fabric: HGTV Berry - $20 (with Jo-Ann's coupon)

Total Cost: $21

Total cutting time: 30 minutes

Total sewing time: 2 hours

PS. Am I the only one that enjoys watching Project Runway while I sew? 

Christmas Break

This Christmas break I made myself busy by trying out a couple of recipies. This on is called "chocolate-diped orange slices"

Soak them in hot water

melt the chocolate and dip them in

Voilà!

the "pre-Christmas" portion of the break I decided to make a dress. If only Id've known I was getting a sewing machine for Christmas I would have waited....oh well, at least I can use the machine to hem it! I had forgotten how much I loved to sew.