A Gray Ballerina Top

I have a few posts almost ready to share from our little trip soon. The main reason me and the girls headed up to Charlottesville, VA at the beginning of this month was for my cousins wedding. My oldest was a flower girl and I was a bridesmaid so I had a few opportunities to break out the sewing machine.

I wanted to make a ballerina sweater style out of knit fabric. Then I began to envision what kind of clothing to pair it with to make the whole outfit.

I headed to Target and got the skirt, top, and stockings from there. The shoes we had from Old Navy, purchased back in December.

This became her outfit for the rehearsal dinner.

She had so much fun and looked so cute! I'll have pics from that dinner and the wedding soon.

The Lace Beret Tutorial

I'm always buying up lace curtains, tablecloths, etc. when I see them at thrift stores. They just call to me. There's just something about lace (well, pretty lace that is). Since I have some laying around I wanted to use it for something.

I thought a beret might be a good project for it. They are easy to make and a cute little accessory to go with an outfit.

I wasn't sure how this was going to work for me style wise, but I wanted to take the chance and see what would happen.

I'm glad I did! I like it :) I also really like this super cute bracelet I used to style this outfit with. It's the Sewing Senorita Charm Bracelet c/o L.A.R.K. and it suits crafty me oh so well! She has a ton of cute jewelry and even has a charm bracelet DIY kit where you can pick the charms you want. A perfect gift idea.

And guess what? Ching, the creator behind the fabulousness of L.A.R.K., is offering Happy Together readers 15% off using code HAPPYTOGETHER15 on anything in her shop from now until Feb. 29! Free Shipping too! 

Now let's grab some lace and get to sewing!

I have to admit that these are going to be all iPhone pics. It's just way easier with having the two little munchkins around and it's hard to take pics at night when they are asleep (and I want to be sleeping too ;).

Start by measuring the circumference of your head. Next determine the radius of the circle. The equation to use is:

 radius = circumference/ (2 x pi)

So mine looked like this:

radius = 23"/6.28   which rounded up equals about 3.7"

Now you need to grab some paper, pencil, and something to create a circle with (either a ruler or compass). I took one piece of printer paper and folded it in half so I could make a half circle. I took a ruler and made various dots all 3.7" inches away from edge of the paper on the fold.

Then I connected the dots. Of course, you can use a compass and make this easier.

Now you are going to make another 1/4 of a circle 2.5" further from your original. So just add 2.5" to your radius for the new radius. Then I just did the little dots the same way and connected them. (I realized I did have to add some more paper so it would fit though :).

Then I folded the paper in half on the original fold I made and cut out the half circle on the furthest line.

Once opened, it's a half circle to use.

Now fold your fabric in half and place your pattern on the fold. Cut it out. Repeat one more time.

You now have two circles.

Fold your pattern piece in half once again and cut out the first smaller half circle you created.

Open and place pattern piece on one of the circles and cut out the middle.

It will look like this.

Now place that piece on top of the other circle, right sides facing, and pin together. Sew around the edges with a small straight stitch. Go over the raw edge with a v-stitch if you like.

Now you need to cut the band part. Pull on your fabric to determine which way the lace stretches some. You want the stretch to go horizontally. Then cut a piece out that measures (circumference of head + .5") x 3". The longest length (the head size + .5") should be cut horizontally, where the stretch is.

Since I was using a curtain, I just cut off a piece at the top. Since it was already folded in half, I only cut it to be 1.5" tall though.

And yay! The stretch was horizontal :)

So I just folded it in half, right sides facing, and sewed together. But, since most of you probably won't do that, take your piece of fabric and fold it in half long ways (short ends meet), right sides facing, and sew together. Then fold in half height wise (this will still be a circle, but the bottom will be the fold and the top will be the two raw edges).

With your hat still wrong side out, pin the band to it. The raw edges should all meet. I found pinning in two spots, opposite of each other, then pinning the rest made it easier with this type of lace material.

Once it's pinned, sew together with a small straight stitch. V-stitch around the raw edge if you like.

And that is one lace beret ready to be worn! I like to wear mine to the side, but play around with it and see how it works best for you :) I would also suggest maybe using one or two bobby pin to help keep it in place.

Happy Sewing!
-Jess

Family Walks

Something that we have been doing while living in Florida is taking advantage of all the state parks.

When we were in Jacksonville, there were a ton! Hubby and I even went to some on an anniversary trip to Key West during that time and stopped at some on the way there and in Key West as well. There aren't as many here in the Pensacola area, but we have finally made it to one!

It's Blackwater River State Park. Beautiful. Many people we know like to go tubing down the river in the summer. That sounds like fun!

The girls had fun. They both really enjoy these times together. It's such a blessing. Will carried baby so I could play around and take some pictures. He's a thoughtful husband he is :)

Are there any special places you enjoy with your family?

More of the Same

I have been in a total "I don't feel like doing anything but be with my family" time these past few days. I do believe it's a combination of just being exhausted from traveling and dealing with everyone getting sick (baby being sick was the worst! It was so sad :( So we have just been recovering and spending time together. I do have these two projects to share real quick that I've made for two soon to be here girls.

I made a born here onesie, girl style!, for our friends across the street. Now I sooo need to make one for my own baby girl!

And I just had to made a little headband to go with it :)

I also made another owl hat for another friend of ours who is having a girl (I used this pattern).

Then I found a matching onesie and cute little leg warmers from Target to go with it. What can I say? It's so much fun making baby presents! And I just found out 2 more of my friends are pregnant!!!!!!!! Maybe one of them will have a boy so I can venture into the sewing world for boys yet again. Wouldn't that be fun?

I'm a Country Woman! & Any Questions?

No, really I am ;) Check out my feature on Country Woman Magazine's Blog and Crafter Spotlight here.

It has spurred me on to get moving on a Q & A section for the blog. I plan on answering questions I get asked a lot such as:

-What sewing machine/serger do you use?

-What camera do you use?

-How do you find time?

-Tips on promoting your craft blog

-Can we make things using your patterns/tutorials and sell them?

Those are a few.....anything else you wanna know?

February Giveaway Day

This month's giveaway is all about the girls! Lots of pretty things :) Go here to see all of the giveaways at one time (make sure to scroll down to see each one posted).

1. Teal/Brown Girl's Rosette Custom Size Beanie Baby by The Sweet Stuff

{See here for details}

2. Winner's Choice of Baby Flower Headband by Ashlyn's Accessories

{See here for details}

3. Pair of Pink Lemonade Bobby Pins by Ali Grace

{See here for details}

And of course, if you are interested in offering a product on Giveaway Day you can read more information on that here. We're always looking for great things to offer Happy Together readers.