A-hem!

Most skirts that I buy tend to be of the granny length, cost one dollar, fray and then get thrown out. One day this all changed via the discovery of the most striking floral skirt I had ever laid my eyes on. Since I was home for a few days celebrating my birthday, I asked my mom to help me hem this special skirt (since it was unnaturally long). I feel as though hemming is a lost art and even though this may be a skill that some of you are familiar with, I know that it took me 23 years to learn it, and maybe I can expedite this process for someone else! Also, feel free to share any tips that you may know on hemming with us, we would love to hear them!

  Step 1.) The skirt was very long and already had an existing hem that was done by hand so we cut off some of the excess to make it easier to work with. We turned the skirt inside out (to allow pen markings) and measured up 6 inches from the bottom of the skirt making  marks along the way to assist in creating a straight cut. This cut is very important since future measurements will be taken using the bottom of the skirt as a guide.

Step 2.) After cutting off the excess, I then tried on the skirt to pick a proper non-granny length. I folded the skirt bottom up to match the length I wanted and placed a few pins to hold the fold so I could remember where it was when I took the skirt off!

Step 3.) Turn the skirt inside out once again and pin all the way around the skirt to match the fold length you made while wearing the skirt. Be sure to measure from the bottom as you are pinning to keep a uniform length.

Step 4.) Sew along the hem using a similarly colored thread. This was the part I was unsure about prior to my momma showing me, and I am glad that she was there! The trick is to go through all of the fabric from the fold and then sew through only a few threads from the inside of the fabric to connect it. You never want your needle to go through to the front of the skirt and you literally only need to attach it to a few threads.

You can see in the picture above that the needle literally only goes through a few pink threads from the inside of the skirt.

Step 5.) Continue sewing around the skirt to finish the hem! And rock what your momma hemmed ya!

-Kay

DIY Bowtie Flats

Hello!
It's Jillybean, and I am here to bring you a simple DIY to jazz up your flats!
This DIY brought me back to my years as a ballerina. (I admit I wasn't good, but I had fun!) During the later years, split sole ballet shoes were a more serious ballet slipper. But you had to sew your own elastic straps on them! This DIY is kind of the same thing!

Things you need:
1. Pair of flats. (I bought mine at K-mart for 13 dollars!)
2. Pretty fabric (You will need 2/ 8x5 squares + 2/ 1x5 inch strips, I got a half of yard at Jo Ann's for 2.50!)
3. Scissors
4. Leather Sewing needle
5. Sewing Machine
6. Straight Pins
7. Sewing Ruler
8. Thread to match your choice of flats, and your choice of fabric!

1. Measure your elastic across the top of your shoe (with your foot inside!) Cut your strips to your size. (Remember, you are going to want to make this a bit tighter, loose elastic isn't comfortable, or not that great at holding your foot inside!) I wanted a perfect line across my flats with my elastic. So, I marked off with straight pins, and a sewing ruler.  Plus, this gives you a marking for later, when you need to keep the elastic in place.

2. (Dos! Deux! Whatever!) Measure your fabric for the bows. I used a tape measure, to cut out 2/ 8x5 squares. Reason for this: You will cut the fabric in half, and sew the two pieces together! Snip, Snip, Snip! You will also want to cut out 2 strips of 1/5 inches. This will be for your top of your bowtie. 

3.  Prepare your sewing machine! Thread your bobbin, etc. etc! Sew around the edges of your fabric. Make sure they are back to back, on the top side. Sew! Sew! Sew!! 

4. Show off your new sewed pieces to your mom, or get her to hold yours up for you and show them off. (I think my mom was thrilled at how well I picked up using a sewing machine!) 

At this point, you are so close to wearing your new flats out! So take a snack break if you choose or hang out with your lovely furry friend for a second, and carry on! 

5. Get your two piece of fabric to use for your top of your bowtie, and wrap them around your square piece of newly stitched fabric. (Little Jill Note: Fold your fabric over and under like an accordion to create more of a effect, and it also will make it easier to wrap the fabric around.) 

6. After you wrap the two around the fabric, take the pieces to your sewing machine. Sew right across the fabric. 

7. Take your elastic strands, and slip through the back of the bowtie. (Little Jill Note: I sewed a quick x- shape across the back to hold the elastic and the wrapped fabric in place on the elastic strap. But this step is completely up to you!) 

Now! You should have two elastic straps with bowties attached! Cute right!?

8. Thread your special leather sewing needle, and acquire your thimble. Keep your straight pin in the side of the shoe as long as you can to prevent the elastic from slipping, and not making a straight line. 

Repeat on the other shoe, and boom! A totally new flat!

Feel free to perfect your dance moves like myself or just wear them out!  Hehe enjoy!

Happy Crafting!
Jillybean