NO SEW QUILTED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

This year I wanted to use up the Christmas material I had stashed in my fabric closet. I search the internet and continued to see the links for the No-Sew-Quilted Ornaments. I quickley taught myself by the many Youtube videos (this one was may favorite With Jennifer Bosworth)

MATERIAL LIST 

2 1/2 inch fabric strips (Jelly Rolls work Awesome)

3" Styrofoam ball

200-300 pins

I used Twine and ribbon to finish the tops of mine

LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE PRINT DRESS

I bought this beautiful jersey print and just did not know what to make with it. This was a perfect for a summer dress. I added the eyelet lace to the top of the bust area to lend it some elegance. 

I then stepped it up with some lace trim to make a v neck strap. This style works well for any body shape and looks great with a little shrug. 

VINTAGE GIRL SUMMER DRESS

This mothers day weekend I wanted to make a dress that has a summer dress look with a vintage touch. I used the "New Look" pattern # 6468 and eliminated the top band and straps and replaced it with cream bias tape and crochet lace trim. I also added the trim to the bottom of the dress. 

Once again this is a dress that I will be able to accessories with several color combinations. 

A LINE SKIRT

This is a simple A Line skirt with an elastic waste. This is a must have staple in your pattern library and can be used time and time again for a quick outfit.

 

 

I bought the shirt above but could never find the right slacks or skirt to complement it. I looked throughout all my fabrics and patterns and just knew I an instant that this A Line skirt would work just perfect with the shirt and tan cardigan. Matched along with the new sandals and I had a hit.

 

 

LITTLE BLACK DRESS

I just love the simplicity of this little dress.

I used McCalls pattern #4450. The fabric is 100% black and white polka dot print cotton.

I cut the pattern out to be a shorter version of this long dress. I love the top part of the pattern and how well it fits at the top and flows out at the waste.

I have several half cardigans that works just perfect together with the dress and matching shoes.

Red makes a statement

The grey lends a soft look

The orange is vibrant

Add any color combination of shoes and jewelry. This little black dress is a must have in any closet as the styles will be endless when matching it with other articles of clothing and jewelry combinations. 



FOLD AWAY SHOPPING BAG

 There are several tutorials out there for the folded shopping bag that I just had to try my hand at my own design. I have created this to match my extend-a-handbags as an addition to the handbags. This one is a must have on those long shopping trips during the holiday season. 

This one was made for my sister in-law to match the extend-a-handbag i made for her last year. You can see the Extend-A-Handbag here.  

When closed up it measures about 10 inches long. You can have this bag be much smaller but I used the same fabric for this one as I did the extend-A-Handbag with is a heavy fabric.

PILLOWCASE DRESS

If you want a fast and easy dress that works both in the winter and summer or even wear it with a little shirt and legging's then this is the cutest one to create. You can add appliques, pockets, bows, and trim to create several different styles. 

The white trim on this is actual bedding border trim that my mother In-Law had in her wonderful stash of fabric that was passed onto me. 

This set is for a dear friend of mine for her two little girls. There are several sites with patterns even free ones that you can find on the web. Just do a search for pillowcase dresses and several will come up. Be creative and make your own styles. 

I also make these to send to "Little Dresses for Africa" 

Below are several that I made for Africa.

Brown's, pink's and creams are a perfect combination. 

This one is my Mini Mouse style. Wouldn't a little girl visiting Disney be dressed just perfect.

Love these two fabrics together.

Little bugs print and mint green polka dots

"AHOY"  off to a day at the sea with this adorable one. 

I love the main body fabric as you can make several styles with many different colored fabrics

Can you say ADORABLE!! 

BELOW ARE SEVERAL LINKS TO THE PILLOW CASE DRESS INSTRUCTIONS

FREE SITES

• Jen Leheny
• Nancy's Notions - Little Dresses for Africa
• Little Big Girl Studio
• Prudent Baby - This is a little bit of a different design "Just Fabulous"
• Everything Sewing

PURCHASE INSTRUCTIONS - have to pay

• Foot Loose Fancy Free 
• Foot Loose Fancy Free - Tiered Pillowcase dress
• Hadley Grace Designs
• Carletto - Etsy Store
• Viola Lee Patterns

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THESE DRESSES AND DONATE THEM TO CHARITIES BELOW ARE SOME GREAT SITES.

Have a gathering at your house or even your local school and have a sewing party to make dresses to send to the charities below.

LITTLE DRESSES FOR AFRICA

DRESS A GIRL AROUND THE WORLD

GARDEN TIME A-LINE DRESS

This is the simplest and easiest dress style I have ever made and there are so many designs you can create from it. 

I purchased the pattern at "Whimsy Couture"

For the dress above it is a size 2T. I bought this beautiful cotton fabric at Mardins for $2.99 a yard and have had it for about a year. I think it came out just perfect for this style dress. I added some Ivory lace trim to the bottom hem. I always finish each of my garments off with a serger for that professional finish. 

This next design I took and printed another pattern the same size as the first one 2T. I then decided were I wanted the seam to be on the dress and cut the pattern. You need to add 1/2 seam allowance to each part you just cut for your sewn seam allowance. 

I added some Ivory trim and made the little rossette from ruffled lace . 

This one and the next one are size 5T. 

This fabric reminds me of vintage time. I love the color and the trim was just perfect. The trim is embroidered lace trim with a flower pattern. 

This combination of fabrics are just GORGEOUS together. I added red ruffled lace to the bodies seam and to the bottom hem. The rose is made from Grosgrain ribbon. I took and ruffled the ribbon on my sewing machine and then made the rose. 

SARONG WRAPS

I came upon an AWESOME youtube video on how to wear a sarong several different ways. I went to my fabric closet and started taking out all the sheer fabric I had bought a couple years ago at Wal-Mart for $1.50 a yard. I measured my material at 44 length x 68-72 in width and serge all 4 sides. This took no more than 10 minutes to complete each one. I spent the afternoon making several for myself and several for a friend. I will be looking for some solid colored bikinis/bathing suits to match all my sarongs. I live on a lake so these are perfect for the summer time. 

The above one is made with a sheer black fabric.

Below are several others I made for this summer season. 

This beautiful Brown and Cream combination is perfect for a night on the town. I tied to knots at the chest area and then tied it around the neck for a secure fit. 

I love this Black and Ivory print. I tied it at the chest in two knots and let the extra fabric hang down to make it look like a bow. 

I slipped a clear plastic bangle like in the video from youtube and tied it in the back. I love this look the best. 

Again tied at the neck and I added a fabric flower for a touch of elegance

This picture does not do this one any justice as it is extremely pretty. I tied it at one shoulder for a night time look. 

I made this one for my girlfriend who has beautiful red hair so you can imagine the oranges and teal will be beautiful.

There are so many other ways to be able to tie these beautiful sarongs I have made into many clothing items. Search the internet and you will find many. 

I will be heading to Mardins to get some other types of summery fabric to make several more. 

POLKA DOT HANDBAG/TOTE

LOVE LOVE LOVE the polka dot fabrics and this duck cloth find at MARDENS for 1.99 a yard was just perfcet for a new handbag/tote for my daughter. She is an Avon rep and needed a handbag big enough to hold all her books and samples. 

I added lots of pockets that are the perfect width to hold her books and samples. 

EXTEND-A-HANDBAG

I was given the challenge to make an extendable zippered handbag and have to admit I was a little intimidated to attempt it. I was going to just take a shortcut and find a great pattern online and guess what THERE WAS NONE TO BE FOUND!!!!

I then knew I had to come up with my own design. I played with my graph papers and started constructing what I wanted it to look like. I then began to construct one from some spare material. With some trial and error I believe I got it :-)

The best bag to take on that shopping trip. While all your friends are struggling to hang on to their many bags yours will be all in your shopping bag with only one item left to hold. 

Straps are long enough to hold on your shoulder when extended and still short enough when the bag is closed up to carry in your hand.

I chose not to use a zipper closier on this bag because I like the idea of not having to stop to unzip and place my items in and then zip it back up. I want to be able to just grab  it and throw it into my bag. It is however secured in the middle with a ribbon and button closier.

I wanted to have the extendable part to be in the center of the bag that you could unzip to extend. This one extends to another 10 inches.

When the bag is zippered up the inside is all finished off and neatly folds on itself. I came up with a way to not have to insert a liner but completed the liner in the 3 sections so that it would be finished off.

Below are other designs I have been working on with different size zippers and placing the zipper at different levels to achieve a different style of the bag.

You can get the instructions by going to my Craftsy Pattern Store HERE