The girls’ skort into a purse project was pretty much quick and easy because all I had to do was sew up the bottom legs of the shorts part:

After sewing the legs closed I sewed a short distance up the center front/back seam to make the purse into two separate “compartments” within the purse.

To make a strap for the purse I found some solid pink fabric in my scrap box, cut the strap 20″ long and 4″ wide.  To complete the strap, fold in half with right sides together and sew the long edge with a 1/4″ seam.  Turn the strap right side out, press, then topstitch 1/4″ edges on both of the long sides.

Attach the strap to the new purse:

This skort cost $1.00 at the Mom2Mom kids resale event, and by using scrap fabric for the strap, the only “extra” thing for cost was my time.  I’m so happy to say that I actually bought 8 of these skorts (various colors and sizes) that I’ll be making into child’s purses for gifts this Christmas.

(1)  Pin-baste the seam at regular intervals, matching notches and other markings.  Place pins perpendicular to the seam line with tips just beyond the seam line and heads toward the seam edge.  The reason for placing the pin heads toward the seam edge is so they will be easy to remove during the sewing process.

(2)  Hand-baste close to the seam line, removing pins as you baste.  As your skill increases, it may not always be necessary to hand baste, but simply remove the pins as you sew with the sewing machine down the seam line.

(3)  Position the needle in the seam line ½” from the end and lower the presser foot.  Backstitch to the end, then stitch forward on the seam line, close but not through the basting.  Backstitch ½” at the end.  If the seam was pin-basted, remove the pins as you stitch.  Clip the threads close to the stitching.

(4)  Remove the basting thread.  Unless instructions specify another pressing method, the seams are first pressed flat in the same direction as they were stitched, then pressed open.  Some seams may need clipping or notching before being pressed open, such as curving seams.

Next week we’ll cover the various types of seams that can be used.

These “how to” tutorials are an excerpt from our book “Basic Clothing Construction”.   This book is a handy addition to have in your sewing room, so you can refer to the various sewing tips and tutorials at any time

I ran across a tutorial at AVeryRedKitchen.blogspot for making alphabet beanbags out of old t-shirts.  Check out this picture:

Katie has done a wonderful job of putting together a tutorial for these alphabet bean bags.  She has capital letters on one side and lower case letters on the other side.

After making a set of these bean bags, you can put a small basket in one corner and let the kids play!  I have tons of old t-shirts that have been “begging” to be recycled into something useful!  Looks like I can use the bodies of the t’s for a project and the sleeves for the alphabet bean bags.  Thanks a million, Katie for this great tutorial!

For additional ideas of projects to make for yourself, your customer waiting area, or for the next craft fair, visit PatternsThatFitYou for some free ideas, and Patterns2Go for tons of crafty ideas for men, women, children, neighbors, relatives — anybody you’d want to make something for!

          Before any waistline seam is sewn, all darts, tucks or pleats must be made in the skirt, and if attaching to a bodice, all vertical seams and darts must be finished and pressed. 

JOINING A BODICE TO A FITTED SKIRT

       Turn the skirt to the wrong side and the bodice to the right side.  Place the bodice into the skirt so that the right sides are together (A).  Line up the side seams, center front and back, and all notches and pin in place.  The skirt may be slightly larger than the bodice, which will be eased into the seams.

           Stitch the waistline seam (B) from the zipper placket edge around to the other zipper placket edge.  The machine stitching will be done from the inside, taking care not to twist the darts as you sew. Secure the stitching at the beginning and ending with a reverse stitch.

            Remove the pins and any basting threads you may have used.  Press the seam as stitched (C), and finish the seam with a zig zag stitching around the waistline.   Pull the bodice out of the skirt and press the seam again, with both seam allowances directed toward the skirt. 

           These “how to” tutorials are an excerpt from our book “Basic Clothing Construction”.   This book is a handy addition to have in your sewing room, so you can refer to the various sewing tips and tutorials at any time.

I fell in love with these quick and easy to sew felt hair bows the second I saw them.  Our local county school district has a strict uniform policy for pre-k and but the girls are allowed to wear colorful hair barrettes so I’m planning to make these in every color imaginable for both of my girls.  They’re four and have a hard time putting barrettes back in their hair so I’m excited to see that these can be made with bobby pins   Check out the Sew Gorgeous blog for step by step photos and instructions.

FaveCrafts has a great tutorial by Heidi Borchers for creating throw pillows from old sweaters.

They say you can pick up old sweaters from thrift stores or yard sales and make them into throw pillows for yourself or others (or to sell).

As an extra benefit to your own customers, how about offering a service to make THEIR old, outgrown or out of fashion sweaters into pillows.  One of my granddaughters has a beautiful sweater that she just loved, but has outgrown.  She won’t give it up to put on a yardsale or give to Good Will, so when I saw this super idea I immediately thought of her.   We are now going to make her a “cozy” pillow out of that sweater.

Thank you FaveCrafts for the great idea you’ve passed along!

At any rate, check out these sweetheart pincushions that are really little sweethearts!

I LOVE the looks of these cute pin cushions!  Thanks again Jessica for a great tutorial!

Isn’t that just the prettiest little girl and cutest little shirt!  Thanks Jessica for the great tutorial.

Isn’t that just the cutest thing ever!  The tutorial tells how to cut the necessary pieces, how to sew them together and everything you need to know about making the Boo Boo Buddy.

Thank you Trish!  With 4 year old quadruplet grandbabies and their 5 year old big brother, we will need several of these!!

Well, it appears there are other things that can be made from men’s shirts, and usually the larger the shirt the better.  Sharon at SharonSews Blogspot has a really nice tutorial about turning a man’s shirt into a ruffled strapless cami.  Now this idea would be great for anybody, and perfect for a warm summer day.  Thanks Sharon for the great tutorial.

While you’re refashioning men’s garments into women’s items,  check out the tutorial at PatternsThatFitYou for two different tops made from men’s t-shirts.

Have any of you made garments from men’s shirts – either for yourself or for children?  Let us know and send pictures.  We’d love to see these projects.