Another hem tutorial...contrasting fabric...and some cute skirts

I made up some little simple skirt sets for my shop. Kinda a funky bright colored sets.

And follows is a little tutorial on a quick easy way to add a contrasting fabric hem. This can be used on skirts, dresses and pants. :)

First you cut the width of your skirt that you want to have a contrasting fabric hem. Then cut a strip a few inches longer than your skirt width and 2-3" wide (depending on how much fabric you want to be on the hem...I used 3" here). If you need to use 2 strips to get the length, sew them together on one end, but leave the other end open.

Now your skirt should be together on the sides (I wait to sew up my waist and add elastic til after my hem is done). Start at one seam on the underside of the skirt and fold the side of your strip under about an inch and lay the strip down on the raw edge of the bottom of the skirt with the right side facing the wrong side of the skirt.

Now sew along edge and last end of the strip does not need to be turned under...it will not show when you flip the strip over.

Here is what the front side of your skirt will look like when you've finished this step.

Here is a close up of the 2 ends. The part on the bottom when sewed is turned under, but the top one is not.

Now with skirt flipped out right side out, turn your sew on strip up to meet the raw edge of the skirt.
Now turn it up once more and topstitch down. Now you are done! Hope this wasn't too confusing, because I realize that if I didn't know how to do it already, I probably would have a hard time understanding this explanation! ;)

Oh and I finally added pictures to my hoodie towel tutorial too if you want to check it out. :)

I'm hoping to get my serger back soon. And I will do a simple skirt, twirl skirt and bubble skirt tutorial. For now we are headed to visit family tomorrow for the last half of spring break. See ya next week!

Two new tees

Tulips

Rabbit (or if you are 2 year old Maressa, 'raddit')

I made up these 2 new tees for my shop. Both are size xs or 4/5. I thought they turned out cute. Now K wants one of each for her. :)

Rainbow of hoodie towels

This is by far my favorite thing to give and I'm told received at baby showers. The big hoodie towel. I've used these for all my kids and still do, though Z at almost 7 1/2 years is kinda too big for them since they were made for toddlers. I may make him a super big one one day as he likes to be very well covered when he gets out of the bath.

I made these for my shop, but if you want to make your own, check out my tutorial on the right side column.

And check out these cutie pie models:

The little girl in the green towel is my girlfriend's 16 month old. Isn't she sweet??

Make some spring tees

Make your little ones some cute shirts for spring. Target has a great selection in the little girl and big girl section of striped and solid tees.

You can draw your shapes by hand or use free coloring page sites online. Once you have what you want and size on paper then trace your applique on wonder under lite.

More instructions are in this post. If your animal/shape you want turned a certain way, remember that when you trace it on wonder under it will be reversed. So you need to reverse your drawing/print. Simply trace the back of your paper with a heavy marker and use that for tracing on the iron-on paper.

Use fun prints, layer fabrics and add buttons and/or embroidery for fun details.

Or just order/buy one from my shop. Bunny and tulip shirts coming up.

...And baby hooded towels, toddler skirts sets, big girl tees...... :)

I'm excited to announce Deanna's Designs is finally open!

Here she is! My first listing over on etsy (check out the little etsy link on the left sidebar)! I've had this sweet set of overalls for a couple of years. I think I had them up on ebay originally. Then I've had to wait til spring to sell them, as obviously, they are a springy/Easter type item. I really loved these and never had the size fit at the right time for Maressa or I would have kept them!

Today I've got a rainbow of hoodie towels to list, some other baby goodies and eventually some simple toddler sets (size 2t).

Serger was dropped off this morning. Will do my twirly skirt tutorial when I get it back. I've got some others to do til then and more party talk. For now I'm gonna get sewing! :)