Make Your Own Dress Form Links

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Ever wanted to make your own dress form? Me too! I have complied a list of tutorials to choose from. Pick the one that is best for you and good luck on your dress form making endeavors!

dress form

 

This how to is from The Esty Labs Archive gives a very detailed description with pictures to make a dress form out of a t-shirt and duct tape with the help of a friend. You can also jazz it up a bit by using colored or patterned duct tape.

 

 

 

dress form

 

This paper tape dress form from Instructables is great idea with the use of paper tape, t-shirt, spray sealant foam and a friend. The instructions and pictures are extremely detailed.

 

 

 

dress form

 

This dress form from Jezebel is probably the closest to buying the real thing, but it is also a lot more involved. It uses plaster bandages, sealant foam, IV cart to create your own stand for it to go on and sewing and creating a cover to cover the form.

 

 

dress form

 

 

I love the creativity used to make this form. It seems to be so simple. Syzygyo of Worlds created one from chicken wire and some duct tape!

 

 

 

Also, if you have your own dress form already but it isn’t to you exact measurements, look at FabulousFit, they sell “fitting systems” which are pads you can buy to help make adjustments to any part of your dress form!


yoga pants

Shortened Yoga Pants

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yoga pants

This always happens when I buy new pants. They’re too long and these new yoga pants are no exception. I was a little worried about altering them because my experience with stretch fabric is next to zero. There was that one time when I used lycra for Rusty’s lions mane. But these pants needed to be about three inches shorter if I was ever going to get any use out of them. And let’s face it, when I say use, I mean lounging around my apartment, not working out in a yoga studio.

yoga pantsI folded and pinned the pants so they were the proper length while they were still on me. I changed and then measured the in-seam and the folded part to make sure that the lengths of each pant leg were even. Also, to see how much length, 3 inches, needed to be taken from each leg.

Next, I removed the pins and turned the pants inside out. I then carefully measured and cut 2 inches from each pant leg.

yoga pants

I then folded over ½ inch of fabric and pressed and then another ½ inch and pressed. Then I pinned the folds into place.

yoga pants

Rusty was not impressed by my cutting and ironing skills. I gave him a stretchy collar but he was even less impressed with that.

yoga pantsI placed my pins so they could be quickly and easily removed as I was sewing. I realized that although my machine can use a double needle, I don’t have two spools of thread in the same color. So that option was thrown out and instead I used a stretch stitch function my machine, a triple zig-zag stitch. I definitely had to pull out my user’s manual to make sure I was doing it correctly, very glad I kept it.

yoga pants

I stitched both legs using the edge of the folded fabric as my seam guide. I then pressed the seams.

yoga pants

I have crazy flip-flop tan lines on my feet. :/

I turned the pants right side out, put them on, and enjoyed my shortened yoga pants by watching TV and cuddling with Rusty.


How to Add a New Ball of Yarn to a Project

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 I am starting a new knitting project. I cast on 80 stitches and then realized that the tail was way too long and decided to trim it. Only, I didn’t just trim the tail. I also cut the thread attached to the yarn ball. You know it is time for a nap when that happens.add a new ball of yarn

I freaked out a little bit thinking I was going to redo it and then I realized that I can just tie the ends together! Like I needed to add a new ball of yarn to a project. So that’s what I did. I tied a little knot and now I go back to my project and knit away.

add a new ball of yarn


shirt collar

How to Make a Shirt Collar for a Dog

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dog shirt collar

I decided Rusty needed another piece for his work wardrobe. So I decided to make his a shirt collar. I have a pattern for it. But the easiest way, I think, for someone to make it at home is to use an old collared shirt you don’t want anymore and take apart that collar for the pattern. Or if you use my pattern, please note the sizing of 14.5inch neck and adjust the printing size accordingly. Also there is a lot of ironing for this pattern. Yes, it is annoying but taking the time to properly press each piece will end in much cleaner results and make sewing much easier.

bottompatterntoppattern

Things you need:

  • fabric, preferably cotton
  • interfacing
  • matching thread
  • if you’re like me, a sewing machine that can make a button-hole because I don’t know how to do it by hand.
  • button

1. Place, pin and cut out fabric and interfacing pattern pieces.

applyinterfacing

2. Apply interfacing B to Fabric A leaving about ¼ inch of fabric at the top of A.

3. Apply interfacing D to fabric C leaving about ¼ inch of fabric at the bottom of C.

shirt collar

4. On pieces, A and B fold over and press raw edges on 3 sides, leaving the bottom as is.

5. Pin together A and B, right sides out, and sew with a ¼ inch top stitch and the 3 sides you’ve pressed the edges.

6. On pieces C and D fold over about ¼ inch and press all four sides.

7. Center AB in between C and D and pin all the layers together, right sides out.

8. Stitch around all four sides of C and D, encasing AB in between the layers making one piece.

9. Position and mark where the button-hole should be, and use your machines button-hole foot to create the button-hole. If you don’t have a machine that can do that click here to learn how to do it by hand.

10. Sew on the button.

shirt collarshirt collar

11. Put it on your pooch and enjoy!

shirt collarshirt collar

 

Hopefully your dog will enjoy it more than Rusty because he looks scared in these pictures 🙁

 


shirt

How to Shorten Shoulder Straps

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shoulder strap

I bought a really cute top for work, the only problem is that it is not petite sized. The straps are way too long making me expose too much of myself. Luckily I knew I could easily fix this after examining the shirt.

First I needed to figure out how much to take off of the straps so I put it on and pinned them into the correct place. I then carefully removed the shirt and measured the amount I needed to take off.

Next I turned the shirt inside out and got my handy seam ripper and opened the area where the strap connects to the shirt.

shoulder strapNext, I pulled out the 2 inches it needed to be shortened by and pinned it into place. Repeat for the other strap. shoulder strap

Using matching thread and the proper needle, I sewed the shoulder straps into place, using a back-stitch at each end to make sure they’re secure. I didn’t cut off the extra because it’ll be sitting in between the two layers of the shirt so they won’t be an issue. Turn it right side out and brand new shirt that actually fits.

shoulder strap


basket weave scarf

Basket Weave Scarf

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basket weave scarf

So remember way back in November when I started to knit a basket weave scarf for my husband? Well I FINALLY finished it! Just in time for this 90 degree and humid weather we’re having. So my husband will have to wait a few months to wear it but I’m very happy to have finally finished it.

Here’s what happened. I don’t enjoy long projects so I started knitting it in November worked on it for maybe two weeks and put it away. Then a few weeks ago I was sorting my yarn when I found this unfinished project sitting at the bottom of basket. I decided it was time I got back at it. I’m very happy with the results. The pattern is just nice enough to give it some visual interest without being overbearing. I love it. Now I need to tackle some other unfinished projects.

It ended up being  about 5½ inches wide x 6 feet long.

basket weave scarf

basket weave scarf


Fixed Latch on a Canister

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I read the book Vitamin Water by Arnel Ricafranca. It’s a free kindle book that explains how to make your own vitamin water.  It inspired me to create my own. But I didn’t have an air tight glass pitcher or one that didn’t take up a lot of space. Then I found this glass canister at Marshalls! $3.00!!!!

canister

canister

I was so excited that I didn’t even notice it was missing part of the latch. Of course, the simple thing would have been for me to return it. But why? Of course I could fix it. First I tried a paper clip. That didn’t work because it was too flimsy. I decided to try a wire hanger. I grabbed my husband’s tools and some of my own and got to work with Gordon Ramsey yelling at the chefs on Hell’s Kitchen in the background.

canister

It took a lot longer than I expected, like 3 episodes of Hell’s Kitchen on Hulu. I thought I’d just use part of the hanger that’s already bent because it’ll be more pliable. But no, it snapped in two. So I took a piece about 3 inches long from the straight part of the bottom of the hanger and used pliers and my tiny muscles to bend it. My fingers hurt after I finished but it was worth. It’s not pretty but it works! Now I can make delicious vitamin water.

canister


knit belt pattern

Slip Stitch Knit Belt Pattern for Kids

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knit belt pattern

I decided to make slip stitch knit belts for nieces because I loved mine so much! But the problem was the pattern is for an adult and too wide for 4 and 6-year-old girls. I needed to come up with a new knit belt pattern. You can find the adult version in Chick with Sticks. I decided to use the leftover yarn from when I knitted wash cloths. It’s 100% cotton and I think worsted weight? Actually, I’m making the weight of the yarn up because I no longer have the labels for them. I’ll have to remember to keep them from now on.

Using US size 4 needles (3.50mm), I cast on 6 stitches.

Knit stitch the first 4 stitches

Bring the yarn forward

Slip stitch the last 2 stitches

Repeat until desired length, I usually go about 4-6 inches longer than waist size

Cast off.

I hope my nieces love them!

knit belt pattern

knit belt pattern


hem shorts

How to Hem Shorts and Pants

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My husband needed his shorts hemmed. They were about an inch too long and it’s almost summer, well it’s May we just aren’t having summer weather yet, his shorts needed to be completed. The measuring and pressing part of hemming them is the most important part of this process. It is with most but usually I don’t pay too close attention but with it I needed to be precise.

Step 1. I needed to figure out what the desired length was and then turn the shorts right side in.

hem shorts

Step 2. Seam rip the bottom of both legs

Step 3. Press the bottom of the shorts and measure and mark desired length.

Step 4. Measure about an inch and a half below your desired finished length and cut off excess fabric.

Step 5. Fold over about 1/4 of an inch and press

hem shorts

Step 6. Fold over about 1.5 inches and press

shorts, pants, hem, shorten

Step 7. Sew your new seam as close to the edge as possible, I moved my needle over to the left and used the foot edge as my guide.

Step 8. Press again, flip right side out and press again.

Step 9. Repeat for the other leg.

hem shorts

inside finished seam

hem shorts

ready to wear close up

hem shorts

ready to wear

 

 

 

 


dog tank top

How to Make a Tank Top for a Dog

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dog tank topMy husband was getting rid of an old pair of athletic shorts and I saw them and thought that would be a cute dog tank top. Let’s face it, I have a difficult time coming up with things that aren’t costumes for Rusty. But this tank top is the perfect summer athletic shirt for him. Even if he didn’t seem too impressed with it, I like it.

dog tank top

Rusty checking out the shorts.

First thing I did was cut off the top of the shorts right below where the tired elastic and draw string are. Next thing I did was seam rip the two legs apart.

dog tank top

Next, I folded the fabric in half and pinned it closed. Then I took a tank top I had with large arm holes and measured Rusty and it to make sure it would work as a pattern for him and traced the lines for the arm holes and neck.

dog tank topThen I cut out the pattern and placed the fabric inside out. I pinned and sewed the shoulder seams together. I used a jersey needle in my sewing machine because I found the universal needle was too rough on the nylon fabric. I then tried it on Manne to check fit and how I wanted to velcro it shut.

dog tank top

Manne the model

It might not be very noticeable in the picture, but I made this tank top to where one of Rusty’s leg has to go through a hole and then his head goes through the neck hole and it velcro to make the other leg hole and close the shirt. I did it this way so couldn’t shake it off.

Next I folded over and pressed all unfinished edges, and then folded them over again to encase the raw edges and sewed the seam.

To finish I took some fusible velcro, cut to the right size, and ironed them on to correct spots. I used a pressing cloth for this because the iron needed to be set to a steam setting. All that there was left for me to do was to have Rusty model it.

 

dog tank top

Model shot

dog tank top

He’s about had it.

dog tank top

He’s over it.