Handmade Necklaces

I really like to make jewelry. At the request of my mom, I made necklaces for my cousins. She's going to give them as birthday gifts. Strung jewelry is easy to make. Here is an up-close view of the clasp:

Make a Luggage Tag II

Hopefully you saw my post awhile ago about making a luggage tag. I didn't use interfacing. Well, I decided to use some scraps I had left over from when I tried to re purpose a dress a few years back (the re purposing didn't go so well) and decided to make a luggage tag from the scraps. It was just cotton, so I tried some interfacing. I used the same dimensions as before (3 1/2" x 5" and 2" x 12"). I just cut one piece of interfacing 3 1/2" x 5".

First, I sewed the interfacing to the wrong side of one of the rectangular pieces. Then I did just as before, sewed a tube from the long, skinny piece, and then sewed the two right sides together of the rectangles. Next, I turned and pressed the pieces.Then I attached the handle to the rectangle using the same method as before and top stitched the whole thing.

Appliqued Elephant Shirt

I made an elephant shirt for our little boy. I was just looking for easy silhouette shapes that were boy-appropriate and ended up with an elephant. I didn't think about it being political until I remembered I was attaching it to a red shirt...not sure he'll be wearing it outside the house very often!

More Yoga-Style Skirts

Here is the easiest skirt ever! This is an adult-size skirt, too, even better. It's done using the same idea as my original tutorial on yoga skirts. Start with an old t-shirt and cut the sleeves off. I cut it off below the armpits. Use the t-shirt's hem as the bottom.

Here's what you're left with. I had to add an extra panel to make it long enough. I'm a tall gal. I added the panel to the top of the t-shirt to ensure I wouldn't have to hem the finished skirt. I made the waist band out of an old tank top. It had some stretch to it. I made it 3" shorter than my waist measurement so it would fit tightly enough without elastic. Then I just attached it to the top of the panel I added (you can tell from this picture below). I added a little flower and a blue tube of fabric at the bottom for some color. I love blue.

I don't know what's with all my yoga skirt posts lately. I don't even do yoga.

Ironing Board Cover Tutorial

I have had a little ironing board since college. It works great for small sewing projects, but the cover was stained and just downright ugly. I decided to make a new one!

I found a man's yellow polo shirt in the Goodwill pile. I cut it off below the armpits. Then I cut down the side to open it up into a large piece of cloth.

I removed the old, stained cover and used it to measure. I cut an extra 1/2" all the way around the cover for a seam allowance. Then I folded it over 1/2" and pinned it in place.
Then I sewed it into place, leaving an opening to run a cord through (you could use elastic, but my original board used a cord which was stapled to the board). Then I ran the cord and finished it off!
After that

This is the before picture:
This is the after:I'm happy with it. And it didn't cost me a thing!