My Vacation in Pictures

I'm back!  Vacation was a blast, but hectic.  I'm too exhausted to get into detail about each photo, and I don't want to bore you...but here are some pics.

Just Checking In!

Because I just can't stay away.....
I thought I would post a few pics of the dresses I made right before we left.
I found the tanks at Target on sale for $2.00 each.  The gorgeous skirt fabric is Amy Butler's Love Collection.

All I did was make a skirt and sewed it onto the tanks.  Total time: 20 minutes for each dress.

Be Back Soon!!

I'm on my favorite old school.....

in.....

Be Back Soon!

Free Pattern & Tutorial: The Anyday Banded Shorts

I am so ready to get started on Back To School clothes!  

My family and I are taking a much needed vacation soon, so this will be the last tutorial until I get back at the end of August.  (although I might find something to share) 

I really felt like I was running out of inspiration this last leg of summer, but my head is swimming with ideas for the fall and winter.  Since you can wear these now into the fall, I thought I would go ahead and share them now.

I'm calling these shorts the AnyDay shorts because you really can wear them any day, and type of weather.  I wanted to show you a picture of them with a sweater and tights...but typical model behavior was in effect this morning.  And trust me...they looked adorable with the sweater!  We also couldn't take any pictures outside because we had some seriously dangerous weather this morning.  So crappy lighting in my daughters bedroom was our backdrop.

Some things you need to know about this pattern before you download:

1. I suck at converting my hand drawn pattern into a pdf file.  I scanned it in, realized my mistake, wanted to recan it, and then my scanner stopped functioning.  SO...when you print, you have to set it to "print to fit page".  The pattern still came out in the correct size, you just have a big empty border around the edges.

2. I placed arrows on each page.  After each page is printed, the arrow orientation should be top right corner.

There are also color coded shapes on each page. That is just to help you line up the papers correctly.  So the red square should line up directly over top another red square, before you tape it in place.

3. This pattern will fit a range of sizes.  The green line fits sizes 2/3.  The red line fits sizes 3/4. The blue line fits sizes 4/5.  But in reality, these are such roomy shorts, there is not a major difference between the 2/3 and the 4/5.  It's all in the leg bands.

4. The seam allowance on the pattern is 5/8 inch. EXCEPT when attaching the leg band.  The seam allowance for the leg band is 1/2 inch.

5. I forgot to include in the pattern on the leg band, that you cut on the fold. I will remind you during the tutorial.

6.  This is the first time I've uploaded my files to Media Fire.  The files are out of order, but I guess it really doesn't matter because you need to download all of them anyway.

7.  Finish your seams how you like....pinking shears, serger, overcasting stitch, etc.  I won't be covering that in this tutorial.

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

Materials:

DOWNLOAD PATTERN

1/2 yard of material for shorts

1/4 yard of material for the band

1/2 inch elastic

basic sewing supplies

Print out all pattern pieces.  Before cutting them out, arrange them.  There are arrows on each page.  Every arrow should point up in the right corner of the page.  That will help you with page orientation.  You will also notice colored shapes.  These shapes should line up on top of each other for proper alignment of the pattern pieces.

Cut out your pieces.  Cut 2 for the front and cut 2 for the back part of the shorts.

The leg band should be cut on the fold because it needs to be double the width of the pattern piece.  You need to cut 2.

Lay out your cut pattern pieces, they should resemble this.

Start with the back pieces.  Line them up with right sides touching.  Pin in place and sew 5/8 inch away from edge.  Do not sew the front of the crotch yet.

When you open it up it will look like this.  Put this piece aside for now.

Repeat process for front pieces.  Right sides should be touching.  Do not sew the crotch.

Take your completed front and back pieces and with right sides touching, align the crotch and sew it across.

Now that the crotch is sewn, line up the sides of your shorts.  They should look like a pair of shorts now.  Sew up the sides.

Turn your shorts right side out.  

Gather the edge of the leg openings by setting your tension low and setting your stitch length long.

Take your leg band pieces and fold the length in half with right sides touching.  Sew each one separately 1/2 inch away from the edge.

Fold your band in half so wrong sides are touching.

Press flat.  Yes, I have red crayon on my cutting mat...doesn't everyone?

Slip the band over the the gathered opening of the leg.  Raw edges should line up with raw edges.  The outside of the band that is facing you now, is going to end up facing inside (just an FYI in case you preferred one side and need to flip it.)

Now sew 1/2 inch away from the raw edges. Finish your seams how you like (pinking shears, serge, overcast)  

As you can see here, I could really use the serger that I entered to win from Sew Mama Sew.

Almost done!

 

The waistband in simply finished by making a casing for the elastic.  You can either serge the raw edge and fold over 3/4 inch and press, or you can fold over the fabric 1/4 inch and press it, and then fold over again 3/4 inch and press it.  Sew around 1/4 away from the open edge, leaving a small opening for you to insert your elastic.  

Sew the elastic ends together, and close up the small opening.

All done!

As with any of my work, you may share, and reprint this pattern and tutorial, but credit must be placed with Create and Delegate.  You may not sell this pattern, but you may sell clothing made from this pattern.

I will be sharing this pattern and tutorial with the fun and awesome link parties found at the bottom of this page.  You can also find them listed in the "linked to" button on my navi bar!

Trendy Treehouse Shutter Love Tuesday

The theme this week at Trendy Treehouse's Shutter Love Tuesday is

"VACATION"

Our family vacation doesn't start for another 2 weeks, so I thought I would post one of my favorite photo's taken a few months ago while I was on my "girls" cruise with my best friend Hills.

This picture was taken at the port in Cozumel.  I think it's a pretty decent picture considering I took it with my point and shoot.

I Delegated...You Created!

My friend LeAnn posted a few pictures to my Flickr group of her beautiful girl and some of the projects she finished.

a covered headband

aww, she looks so pretty in pink

a j.crew inspired wildflower dress

LeAnn made this out of a sheet!  I love using sheets when making dresses.  It's yards of soft cotton fabric on the cheap.

She's also one heck of a carpenter!

She's made a lot of projects with the help of Anna from Knock Off Wood.

Thanks LeAnn for sharing your creations!

Sew Mama Sew Back To School Giveaway

(CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway..I am NOT the one hosting this giveaway, I am just entering:)

Sew Mama Sew is giving away one of these.....

       Husqvarna Viking s21 Serger

You can be the lucky winner of this incredible prize if you answer this one question.

How would your life be better with a serger?

Well, that isn't hard for me to answer at all.  If I won this serger, I could only imagine all the extra time I will gain to sew more spend with my family.  1100 stitches per minute is no joke.  No more meticulously folding my seams over and over again and burning my fingers with the iron.  I wouldn't have to walk around with a little pair of scissors in my purse, to cut the stray threads that fall from my child's clothing after it's washed.

Wouldn't you love to see this little girl be happy and carefree, instead of sad and embarrassed that her mom took a  lighter to the chiffon on her skirt ruffles in an attempt to keep them from fraying? (oh yes I did, and I don't recommend it)

A Must See Blog! The Aesthetic Nest

There is a lot to sift through on my Google Reader on a daily basis.  I try to take the time to read all the posts from the blogs I follow, but sometimes, I find something that stops me dead in my tracks.

Like this....

Photo via Aesthetic Nest

Photo via Aesthetic Nest

A handmade heirloom cut chenille blanket by Aesthetic Nest
Go to the tutorial, and make your own gorgeous blanket. Annelise gives you detailed and easy to follow instructions. 


After your done drooling over the blanket, take a look around at her other tutorials and patterns.  You will be so glad you did.

It's peach and blackberry picking season!  We live in one of the most beautiful parts of Maryland.  Summers here are the best because there is so much to do outdoors when you live near the MD/VA/WV line.  The best of all three states is a 20 minute drive in all directions.  This past weekend we crossed over into Virginia's wine country.  So we didn't look like completely awful parents toting our kid around a bunch of vineyards, we stopped by a pick your own farm to gather some blackberries and peaches first.

She was ready to pick some peaches.

Thankfully peach trees have low branches.

Enough of these heavy peaches, lets get to the blackberries!

It's kind of a messy job.

Trying one for the first time.

That one was a little tart.

My husband giving me his serious look.

A view of of the vines.

My favorite stop on the tour...Notaviva

Indoor view of Notaviva's tasting room.

I can't wait until my girl is old enough to do things like white water rafting in Harper's Ferry.  The hardest part will be convincing my husband to go too.