Sewing - Elf on the Shelf Skirt Tutorial

I am constantly calling the Elves ‘he’!  The girls keep informing me that they are ‘girl’ elves.  I told them that girls are not as bad as these two elves are but they insist they are girls!  The next time they showed up at our house, they were wearing skirts so I guess they really are mischievous girls!  There are lots of skirt tutorials on Pinterest.  This is what I did.

Cut the skirt fabric 4 inches long by 15 inches wide.  Chalk mark and press both long edges 1/2”.

Sew one edge for the elastic casing. Attach a safety pin to one end of 1/8 inch elastic cut to 4.5 inches long and insert into your casing.

Stitch to secure the elastic.

Open hem and sew center back seam.

I sewed some trim on the front catching the hem at the same time.

And that’s it.

I am constantly calling the Elves ‘he’!  The girls keep informing me that they are ‘girl’ elves.  I told them that girls are not as bad as these two elves are but they insist they are girls!  The next time they showed up at our house, they were wearing skirts so I guess they really are mischievous girls!  There are lots of skirt tutorials on Pinterest.  This is what I did.

Cut the skirt fabric 4 inches long by 15 inches wide.  Chalk mark and press both long edges 1/2”.

Sew one edge for the elastic casing. Attach a safety pin to one end of 1/8 inch elastic cut to 4.5 inches long and insert into your casing.

Stitch to secure the elastic.

Open hem and sew center back seam.

I sewed some trim on the front catching the hem at the same time.

And that’s it.

Sewing - Children's Draw String Tea Towel Apron

Here is an easy apron even if you aren’t a seamstress. Because the tea towel is already hemmed, much of the sewing work is already done.

Find center and mark with a pin.  Measure 3” on either side of the center pin and mark.

Measure down 10” on each side and mark with pins.  Fold from the top pin to the side pin on each side and press.

Measure and mark a ¾” seam allowance from the folds.  Cut away.

Serge on this line, re-press and topstitch.  Repeat for other side.

 I found this towel a little too long for my 5 year old so I blind hemmed the bottom.  I didn’t really like so much white showing anyways.  I had to add my sewing label, of course!

Cut 3” wide strips of fabric to total 75” long for one continuous tie for a 4 to 6 year old child.  No need to cut on the bias.  Click HERE to see how to join the strips.

Press in half then press each half to the center.

Topstitch both long sides.

 Zigzag across ends.

Feed the tie starting at one side of the apron.

Continue feeding the ties down the other side.

Tie knots in each end so the tie won’t pull out.

Cut a piece of fabric 10” by 12”.

With right sides together, fold to make a piece 5” x 12”.

Sew right sides together with ¼” seam allowance leaving an opening to turn.

Clip corners, turn and press.  Topstitch across the top of the pocket – the opposite end of the opening – I think I forgot to do this!  Find the center of the apron across from the ties.

Lightly press a center line on the pocket. Pin to apron.

Topstitch on to apron.

Sew down center of the pocket.

 

And you are ready to bake!

Here is an easy apron even if you aren’t a seamstress. Because the tea towel is already hemmed, much of the sewing work is already done.

Find center and mark with a pin.  Measure 3” on either side of the center pin and mark.

Measure down 10” on each side and mark with pins.  Fold from the top pin to the side pin on each side and press.

Measure and mark a ¾” seam allowance from the folds.  Cut away.

Serge on this line, re-press and topstitch.  Repeat for other side.

 I found this towel a little too long for my 5 year old so I blind hemmed the bottom.  I didn’t really like so much white showing anyways.  I had to add my sewing label, of course!

Cut 3” wide strips of fabric to total 75” long for one continuous tie for a 4 to 6 year old child.  No need to cut on the bias.  Click HERE to see how to join the strips.

Press in half then press each half to the center.

Topstitch both long sides.

 Zigzag across ends.

Feed the tie starting at one side of the apron.

Continue feeding the ties down the other side.

Tie knots in each end so the tie won’t pull out.

Cut a piece of fabric 10” by 12”.

With right sides together, fold to make a piece 5” x 12”.

Sew right sides together with ¼” seam allowance leaving an opening to turn.

Clip corners, turn and press.  Topstitch across the top of the pocket – the opposite end of the opening – I think I forgot to do this!  Find the center of the apron across from the ties.

Lightly press a center line on the pocket. Pin to apron.

Topstitch on to apron.

Sew down center of the pocket.

 

And you are ready to bake!

Sewing - Clothes Pin Holder

I am fortunate to have a clothes line at the house we purchased from Orpha in town.  I found this clothes pin bag full of clothes pins in Orpha’s coat closet so while the reno’s were still going on, I decided I would make it into this clothes pin bag I seen on this page called ‘Make a Clothespin Bag’.  This lady didn’t have a pattern to share so thought I would figure something out for myself.

I really liked the fabric – it reminds me of parachute fabric.  I think it would dry quickly outside if it got wet.  The first thing I did was pick this bag apart.

Press the fabric and square it.

This piece of fabric ended up being 18” wide x 45” long.  Fold with right sides together.  Mark the center of the short ends.

Lay a coat hanger with the neck of the hanger on the pin or at the center mark.  Trace the top part of the hanger onto the fabric.

Mark lines on either side of the hangers neck.  My chalk marks don’t show up very good but they are there.

Sew on the chalk lines making sure to leave a hole at the top for the hanger.  Trim.

Find something round to trace a circle.  My plates are square and a pizza pan was too big but I found this Tupperware lid that worked good – it is 10.5”.  Find the center then place the lid about 2” down from your stitching line and trace.

Cut out circle through ONE THICKNESS ONLY.

I should look like this when you are done.

I used my serger to trim the circle for the time being but when I get to the city, I will pick up some bias tape to finish it.  I think it would make a stronger finish.  Sew the side seams.  I used a scant ¼” as there wasn’t too much room left once the hanger is in there.

For a little more security, I cut 2 pieces of ribbon about 15” long, folded them in half and sewed to my side seams.

Turn right side out and insert hanger.

I tied the ribbon on to each end of the hanger.  Not sure this is necessary.  I can always cut them off if they are a nuisance.

 

I am fortunate to have a clothes line at the house we purchased from Orpha in town.  I found this clothes pin bag full of clothes pins in Orpha’s coat closet so while the reno’s were still going on, I decided I would make it into this clothes pin bag I seen on this page called ‘Make a Clothespin Bag’.  This lady didn’t have a pattern to share so thought I would figure something out for myself.

I really liked the fabric – it reminds me of parachute fabric.  I think it would dry quickly outside if it got wet.  The first thing I did was pick this bag apart.

Press the fabric and square it.

This piece of fabric ended up being 18” wide x 45” long.  Fold with right sides together.  Mark the center of the short ends.

Lay a coat hanger with the neck of the hanger on the pin or at the center mark.  Trace the top part of the hanger onto the fabric.

Mark lines on either side of the hangers neck.  My chalk marks don’t show up very good but they are there.

Sew on the chalk lines making sure to leave a hole at the top for the hanger.  Trim.

Find something round to trace a circle.  My plates are square and a pizza pan was too big but I found this Tupperware lid that worked good – it is 10.5”.  Find the center then place the lid about 2” down from your stitching line and trace.

Cut out circle through ONE THICKNESS ONLY.

I should look like this when you are done.

I used my serger to trim the circle for the time being but when I get to the city, I will pick up some bias tape to finish it.  I think it would make a stronger finish.  Sew the side seams.  I used a scant ¼” as there wasn’t too much room left once the hanger is in there.

For a little more security, I cut 2 pieces of ribbon about 15” long, folded them in half and sewed to my side seams.

Turn right side out and insert hanger.

I tied the ribbon on to each end of the hanger.  Not sure this is necessary.  I can always cut them off if they are a nuisance.

 

Sewing – Sewing Machine Cushion

Another find on Pinterest!  I love it as I always end up with a pile of pins lying around the sewing machine or my other trick is I leave my regular pin cushion on the kitchen table!

 

 

I measured the flat part of the front of my sewing machine which was about 3” tall x 4.5” wide.

 

 

So I cut my fabric 5.25” x 6” to allow for seam allowances.  Press under the short ends about ¼”.

 

 

Lightly press in half with wrong sides together.

 

 

Wrap ¾” elastic around the sides and back of the sewing machine.  Add 4” onto that measurement and cut.

 

 

Cut that 4” off.  Now you have 2 pieces.

 

 

Pin elastics about half way between the folded and pressed lines.

 

 

Pin and sew both side seams.  Just be careful not to catch the elastic tails.

 

 

Sew about 1” of the top closed from both ends.  Wrapping the corners helps make a nice point.

 

 

It should look like this now.

 

 

Stuff with steel wool.  Did you know that steel wool is supposed to sharpen pins and needles?

 

 

Stitch hole closed.

 

 

Wrap your pin cushion around your machine to make a snug fit.  You may have to trim off some of the elastic.  Attach Velcro to each end of the elastic.

 

 

Attach it to your sewing machine and you will always have a pincushion right at the most convenient spot.

 

 

You can turn it to the inside of your sewing machine if that is more convenient!  Isn't it just the simplest things that make life so much easier?

Another find on Pinterest!  I love it as I always end up with a pile of pins lying around the sewing machine or my other trick is I leave my regular pin cushion on the kitchen table!

 

 

I measured the flat part of the front of my sewing machine which was about 3” tall x 4.5” wide.

 

 

So I cut my fabric 5.25” x 6” to allow for seam allowances.  Press under the short ends about ¼”.

 

 

Lightly press in half with wrong sides together.

 

 

Wrap ¾” elastic around the sides and back of the sewing machine.  Add 4” onto that measurement and cut.

 

 

Cut that 4” off.  Now you have 2 pieces.

 

 

Pin elastics about half way between the folded and pressed lines.

 

 

Pin and sew both side seams.  Just be careful not to catch the elastic tails.

 

 

Sew about 1” of the top closed from both ends.  Wrapping the corners helps make a nice point.

 

 

It should look like this now.

 

 

Stuff with steel wool.  Did you know that steel wool is supposed to sharpen pins and needles?

 

 

Stitch hole closed.

 

 

Wrap your pin cushion around your machine to make a snug fit.  You may have to trim off some of the elastic.  Attach Velcro to each end of the elastic.

 

 

Attach it to your sewing machine and you will always have a pincushion right at the most convenient spot.

 

 

You can turn it to the inside of your sewing machine if that is more convenient!  Isn't it just the simplest things that make life so much easier?