Baby Kawaii Kimono Shoes

My sister is having her first baby this month, and I was unable to make it to the shower :(. A bummer, but a reality since we live so far apart. My mom flew out for the occassion, so I sent a little piece of my gift to her - baby shoes!

I bought the pattern on Etsy a few years ago (you can find the pattern here). I have seen similar patterns for free on some different blogs, however, the pattern came with shoe sizes through 18 months - which I didn't find anywhere else. The shoes are reversible, and the gender is a surprise so I made each side a neutral color.

One side is a brown polka-dot - love!

The other side is a green polka-dot - also love!

The pattern was simple to cut out and the step-by-step pictures were very helpful. I would consider this to be for the advanced beginner or the medium level sewer (if you make them reversible). I would definetly recommend this pattern! I think they turned out cute, and I can't wait to see how they look on cute little feet!

What do you like to give/make for a new little baby?

I would love to get more ideas!

Blogs I link to: CraftOManiac, Brassy Apple, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tip Junkie, Shwin and Shwin, Home Stories A to Z, Creative Itch, Sugar Bee Crafts, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Chef in Training, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Southern Lovely, Passionately Artistic, Sew Woodsy, Savvy Southern Style, Ginger Snaps, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, Rae Gun Ramblings, Delightful Order, House of Hepworths, The CSI Project, Remodelaholic, Tatertots & Jello, Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Simple Home Life, 30 Handmade Days, Family Ever After, Craftionary, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Nifty Thrifty Things

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Tutorial and Free Pattern: Shannon's Apron

I always loved spending time with my mom in the kitchen growing up (you can read about how we made sugar cookies here). She had a knack for throwing together a good meal, and I loved to help out! I would help mix or taste - and let's be honest, there is always enough clean up for everyone to help out with! When I think of growing up and spending time with my mom, I can imagine her kneading out bread dough and opening up her orange Betty Crocker cookbook (you know the one I'm talking about?). She is still the one I call if I have a question about a quick substitution or for a favorite recipe.

Anyway, when I was planning out Christmas gifts for this year, I knew that I wanted to do a cooking theme for my sister-in-law's family (since I, at least, associate family and food). Shannon has a toddler who loves to help out, so I found a good cookbook for toddlers and some smaller-sized kitchen utensils (like little spatulas, a whisk, and tongs). I also wanted to make an apron for the mother-daughter pair, but I really didn't want them to be too matchy-matchy. I was all ready to design the patterns myself, when I realized that I have no idea how big a toddler actually is. Luckily, Kelly at Sewing in No Man's Land (can I just say that she is one talented lady!) put out a free pattern for a toddler apron earlier this year. This is how that turned out. I couldn't be more in love with how cute it is.

For Shannon (my sister-in-law), I decided I wanted her apron to have some similar features. I wanted the same round pocket and the ruffle at the bottom. However, I decided I wanted her apron to be just from the waist down. I bought the same print in a different color (more oranges, yellows, and greens) and accented it with an orange coordinating fabric. This time, I made the pattern myself (I know about how big an adult is!). And, I am going to share the full tutorial and pattern with you today! Are you as excited as I am?

Shannon's Apron

*all seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted*

Now, for fair warning before we begin. This is the first pattern I have ever created. I don't have pattern making software; I used a pen, paper, my scanner, and Word. I tried my best to get every line to match up and to get everything the right dimension. If you need to shift a piece of paper to the right or the left a little bit to get all of the edges matched up as you piece together the pattern - then do that! Let me know if there are any major problems, so that way I can adjust them for you and future readers. Just know I tried my best, and I realize I am not perfect :).

You can download the pattern here.

Print your pattern pieces. There are 11 pages, making a total of 5 pattern pieces for this project. Tape together the edges with cooresponding shapes and cut around each of the pieces. On each pattern piece, it says which fabric and how many of that fabric you need to cut out. Make sure your fabric is folded on the Fold lines. If you have a directional print, note the top and bottom of the main apron piece.

1. Cut out a total of 8 pieces of fabric. (unpictured is the white, lining piece)

2. Place your two pocket pieces right-sides together. I put two pins close to each other for my starting and ending point, to make sure I leave a gap in order to turn the piece right-side out.

Sew around the pocket leaving an opening at the top. Clip the corners and the rounded edges (careful not to cut the seams).

Turn your pocket right-side out and press. Sew the opening closed using a small seam allowance (I also topstitched an 1/8" from the top edge of the pocket).

3. Choose where you want your pocket to be on the main apron piece, and pin in place.

Sew an 1/8" from the edge around three sides of the pocket
(leaving the top of the pocket open).

4. Prepare the ruffle. Hem the bottom, left, and right sides of the ruffle under
(I ironed first and then sewed).

5. Prepare the waist band. Iron each short end in about 1/4".
Iron the waist band in half the long way.

6. Place your ruffle (on the bottom) and the waist band (on the top) on the main apron piece.

With right sides together, place the ruffle on top of the main apron piece, lining up the two corners. Pin back the rest of the ruffle so it is not touching the outer edge of the main apron piece (we don't want it to get sewn in!).

Line up the raw edge of the waist band with the top of the apron piece. Center the waist band horizontally (there should be a 1/4" gap between the edge of the waist and the edge of the apron). Pin back the rest of the waist band so it is not touching the outer edge of the main apron piece (we don't want that to get sewn in either!).

7. Lay the main apron piece lining on top of the main apron piece fabric, right sides together. Pin all the way around.

8. Sew around the apron, using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Leave an opening on one of the sides of the apron (enough to turn the apron right side out).

9. Turn the apron right side out and press. Sew the opening shut on the side of the apron. Sew around just the main apron piece (DO NOT sew over top of the waist band) using less than 1/4" seam allowance (I used an 1/8").

10. Prepare the waist ties. With right-sides together, sew each of the waist ties in half down one long side and one short end. Snip the corner and turn each waist tie right side out (you should have two waist ties). Press flat.

11. Insert the raw edge of the waist tie inside of the waist band. Pin in place.

Sew close to the edge (closing the hole and attaching the waist tie) - making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam. Repeat on the other side.

12. Now you have your completed apron!

I would love to see what your completed apron looks like!

Write a comment linking it to your blog or email me a picture!

Have a great sewing day!

Blogs I link to: CraftOManiac, Brassy Apple, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tip Junkie, Shwin and Shwin, Home Stories A to Z, Creative Itch, Sugar Bee Crafts, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Chef in Training, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Southern Lovely, Passionately Artistic, Sew Woodsy, Savvy Southern Style, Ginger Snaps, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, Rae Gun Ramblings, Delightful Order, House of Hepworths, The CSI Project, Remodelaholic, Tatertots & Jello, Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Simple Home Life, 30 Handmade Days, Family Ever After, Craftionary, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Nifty Thrifty Things

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Tutorial: Fixing the Length of a Zipper

In my New Year's Resolutions, I decided that this year I am going to make a dent in this:

Oh yeah, that is a pile of 50 zippers that my friend bought me for $1.

48 of the zippers work, and they come in a huge variety of colors.

The problem is that not every zipper is the right color or length for the project I am completing. But that isn't a problem, because there is a way to lengthen or shorten any zipper to fit your project! I am going to show you both ways today.

Note: There are other great ways to lengthen and shorten a zipper.
I am just showing you what I do!

How to Lengthen a Zipper

beware - this is involves some math and planning!

Recently, I was making a zippered clutch (I will be showing you a tutorial on it soon). The length of my fabric was 10.5", but my zipper was only 7.5". I really wanted to use a yellow zipper from the pile. So, I decided to add tabs on either side of my zipper.

When I was sewing this clutch together, I was using a 0.25" seam allowance. This means that the the length of my finished clutch would be 10". That means that I needed to add a total of 2.5" of tabs to my 7.5" zipper to equal 10".

2.5 + 7.5 = 10

A tab goes on either side of the zipper. So the finished size of each tab (because I want each of my tabs to be the same size) is 1.25". In order to have finished edges, I took this number times four. 1.25" x 4 = 5". So I need each tab to be cut 5" long by 1" (because that is the width of the zipper).

I then ironed the tab in half - hamburger style.

I opened it up and brought each edge in to the center crease. I ironed these flat.

I re-ironed the tab in half, so the raw edges are on the inside.

Now, attach the tabs to each end of the zipper. I pinned the tabs on either end so that the folded edges are closest to the zipper. The width of the fabric (in this case, 1") should be the same width as the zipper.

I sewed as close to the zipper as I could (about 1/8") with coordinating thread. After trimming the threads, the length of the zipper with the tabs is 10". Perfect for the clutch I am making.

Note: Your zipper is still the same length, but the tabs allow for you to use the zipper if a larger one is required for your project. Make sure that this is appropriate for your project.

How to Shorten a Zipper

relax - this method takes less math!

Sometimes the zipper you want to use is too long for the project you are sewing.

In this case, we can shorten the zipper to be the right size.

First off, figure out how long you want the zipper to be.

For ease, let's say that we want the zipper to be a finished size of 10".

I make sure the zipper is closed and measure from the top of the pull and make a mark 10" down (I used a piece of tape - where the side closest to the zipper pull is where I want my zipper to end). This is where we want the end of the zipper to be.

Using my sewing machine, I zig-zag back and forth over the zipper right where I made the mark several times.

After I trim the threads, I use scissors and cut the zipper just after the new 'end' (about 1/2" down). I used regular scissors (and not my fabric scissors) because I didn't want them to get dull from cutting through the plastic or metal of the zipper.

So, does anyone else have a lot of zippers that they are going to be using this year? What projects do you have planned?

Feel free to comment or email me with any questions!

Blogs I link to: CraftOManiac, Brassy Apple, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Tip Junkie, Shwin and Shwin, Home Stories A to Z, Creative Itch, Sugar Bee Crafts, Coastal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Chef in Training, Mommy By Day Crafter By Night, Southern Lovely, Passionately Artistic, Sew Woodsy, Savvy Southern Style, Ginger Snaps, Someday Crafts, Creations by Kara, Rae Gun Ramblings, Delightful Order, Remodelaholic, Tatertots & Jello, Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring, Simple Home Life, 30 Handmade Days, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Nifty Thrifty Things

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