New Favorite Accessory

With the weather we've been having here, you definitely need something to cover your ears when you step outside! These embellished earwarmers are just the thing and I've been wearing mine everywhere!

I received Kay Whitt's newest book, Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook, for Christmas and this was one of the projects in the Winter section. The book has many tips and tricks from Kay and 8 different projects separated by season. There's also room for taking notes - I've been using the note section to keep track of all the projects I make this year!

 

This earwarmer project is completely handsewn and features wool and fleece as well as hand embroidery and beads. I don't know a lot about embroidery, but this project uses a simple backstitch and I was able to learn it quickly after looking up a tutorial online.

 

The flower is made from six heart shapes and leaves a cool three dimensional effect once you sew it on the headband. The headband attaches behind your head with velcro.

 

These headband make great gifts too! I made one on New Year's Eve for myself (the one I'm wearing in the picture) and another one New Years Day for my aunt. They are quick to sew and would be great for on the go projects since you don't need a sewing machine. I already have ideas for more color options! I'm thinking red fleece, black wool, a red wool flower and red beads.

 

Perfect for cold winter days!

 

Do you prefer to wear a hat or headband in the cold?

~Elizabeth

The Flip Vest

I was so excited when I found out I won a pattern giveaway for Dana's newest pattern! It's the Flip Vest - a reversible vest for ages 6 months to 5 years. This is such a versatile pattern with many different choices. You can use fleece, flannel, cotton, corduroy, denim and more. Dana gives you options for a velcro or button closure, but you could use snaps or zippers too.

 

The pattern is very easy to follow and everything is explained well with lots of pictures. I had not sewn ribbing before, but Dana walks you through the steps, making it very easy to do and she provides you with two different options for finishing the armholes.  It's a quick sewing project - I made 6 vests in a day in a half!

I think I lost my mind a little bit, but my little brothers were so excited to get their new vests! The 4 year old kept coming into the sewing room and asking if I was done yet. I made the 4 year old a 3T-4T and the 2 year old a 2T-3T. They both fit great right now, but next time I might make it a size bigger just so there is some room for growing.

 

I used flannel for the outside and fleece for the inside on all the vests. I made the button closure, so it's not reversible, but I think the printed flannel side will get more wear anyway.

 

 

I think this is the cutest picture ever!

 

 

I made the 12-24 month size for my 7 month old sister. It is perfect for her and leaves plenty of growing room!

 

 

There is only one pattern piece which makes cutting super simple. The fabric requirements are only 1/2 yard of each for the small sizes and 2/3 yard of each for the bigger sizes. I only had to buy the flannel as I had everything else to make the vest. It was such a hit with my siblings (the 2 year old wanted to wear his to bed!) and I will definitely be making it again.

 

 

I think she is very happy with her cozy new vest!

 

~Elizabeth

I will be linking to some of the link parties listed here.

Black Friday Finds and Some Thrifting

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I did! I spent it at home with my family, worked a couple of days and didn't even open my textbooks. These next couple of weeks before finals will be spent studying hard though and then I get a month long break! Yay!

On Black Friday, I went shopping with my mom and sisters but we waited until late morning. We went to Joann Fabrics, Kohl's and Target.

At Joanns I found some fleece, zippers, and interfacing. There was a great deal on interfacing, so I bought five yards. The fleece was on sale for a really good price too (somewhere around $4/yd). I bought some zebra print and solid blue fleece to make a gift for a friend.

 

The next stop was Kohl's. I was looking for some fashion boots that would look nice with skirts and would also be comfortable. I found some that were the last pair in my size!

 

 

Target didn't have a lot of deals, but I did find some mustard colored tights and fleece-lined leggings. The fleece leggings are so warm to wear in the cold weather under my skirts! I also found a frying pan because none of my roommates have one big enough to cook anything in and we cook fairly often.

 

When I was home over the Thanksgiving break, I went to check out a new thrift store that has just opened in our town. They have clothes, games, shoes, some toys and games, and some antiques. The antique stuff is priced higher but the clothes are very reasonable. I found two things for myself and one thing for my sister.

 

 

Isn't this a beautiful sweater? I bought it for my 9 year old sister and it fits her perfectly. It was only $5.

 

 

I found this sweater for myself. It was $2.

 

 

This jacket was only $5 and it is a forever 21 brand. The hem on one sleeve is undone, but that's something I can easily fix.

 

Did you go Black Friday shopping? I'd love to hear what kind of deals you found!



~Elizabeth

Sewing and Reading

What's better than sewing and reading? A book about sewing! A fiction murder mystery, that takes place in the south and involves sewing, to be exact. What could be better than that?

I love to read. However, this summer I was having a hard time finding a book I enjoyed, other than ones I have already read. So, I went online and searched "sewing fiction books." One of the first things I found from this search was the Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series, by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. Just looking at the names of the books got me interested (Sew Deadly, Death Threads, Pinned for Murder).

I am now on Book number 4, "Deadly Notions," and I plan to read all of them. They are such a fun read and I love the characters. Each book provides you with the opportunity to get to know the characters a little more. It takes place in the south and is about a group of friends who all share a love of sewing. I love the series for the sewing aspect, and also for the close knit friendships that are formed. These sewing circle women show you what true friendship is both through thick and thin.

The first book starts out when Tori Sinclair moves to Sweet Briar, North Carolina for a job at the library. Sweet Briar is a small town, and soon everyone is talking about her. Leona Elkin is one of the first friends she makes and who helps her adjust to the ways of the south. Soon, she wins over the ladies of the sewing circle and shares her new ideas for the library. Just as she seems to be settling in, a murder takes place and it doesn't look good for her, as she is new in town. Will her new friends help her or will they turn against her?

The books are suspenseful, funny, interesting, and keeps you guessing until the end. You won't be disappointed. You can read more about the books at the author's website, here.

Another thing I love about these books is the sewing tips and sewing project at the end. There are instructions for making a similar project of what Tori and her sewing group worked on in that book. In "Pinned For Murder," the Sweet Briar Sewing Circle made hats and scarves for a women's shelter. I decided to try my hand at making a hat a scarf, and it is probably one of the easiest projects I have ever made!

Here's the scarf:

 

 

 

Basically, you just layer four fleece rectangles, sew down the middle and make cuts every 1 inch on both sides. Then you fluff it out and you have nice warm scarf!

 

 

The hat was very simple too. You just cut one rectangle, folded the rectangle in half and sewed all but 4 inches on the side. Then turning it right side out, you cut fringes on the part you did not sew and tied it off.

 

 

They are both very warm and I know I will get a lot of use out of them this winter. I would really like to make a bunch of them for some type of  service project like Tori and her friends did in the book.

Do you have any book recommendations? Let me know what you think if you decide to read this series!

~Elizabeth