Convertible Infinity Dress: DIY Tutorial

The full tutorial for this timeless convertible dress is found on the fabulous blog of Rowena. Her blog can be found at www.rowena.typepad.com. The tutorial is very easy to follow for those who are fairly savvy with the sewing machine. The photographs are great. I encourage you to hop on over there for look. She also has some other wonderful tutorials including one for a twist top nursing shirt, for all of you new mums out there.

How To Make Ribbon/Fabric Labels: Tutorial

A special thank you to Silly Gilly for allowing me permission to post her tutorial for making fabric/ribbon labels on my blog. Below are some very simple instructions, but to see the fabulous, full color tutorial with photos, please see her blog at www.sillygillykids.blogspot.com

Ribbon label tutorial
I needed a cheaper alternative to having my product labels custom made in the form of woven labels. It just seemed that I was going through them at a rapid pace of knots, and working out at approx $34 for 50 labels, it was just not in my budget. I also wanted a graphic on my label and that would cost even more!

So ingenuity came to the fore and I realised I can make my own labels for less than $20. So here is the Silly Gilly tutorial on making your own custom ribbon labels.....

Materials required:
A4 plain paper
Iron-on T-Shirt Transfer paper
Ribbon (I use white 15mm wide double faced Satin ribbon)
Iron and ironing board
Scissors
Printer (I use an ink jet printer)
Computer with graphics program

Step 1:
Decide on the image you want on your label. Get handy with your computer and, using an image manipulation program (I use Photoshop) create a whole page full of your logo. I adapted my Silly Gilly store logo. I have created it so that it will be a horizontal label which is folded in half.

Step 2:
Repeat it in rows to fit across the page and space them so that each row has a small amount of space around it to enable easy cutting out. Make sure your images are printed on the page reverse. This enables the image to come out the right way on the label. Do a trial run with a plain piece of paper to ensure it fits and that the images are spaced correctly.


Step 3:
Load your printer with your chosen T-Shirt Transfer paper and print your images. I print my images with the printer set on 'Standard' print and on plain paper. You may have a setting for your printer for Transfer paper.

Cut out each image individually, ensuring the height of each image will fit onto the ribbon you will be using.


Step 4:
Following the instructions particular to your T-Shirt Transfer paper, lay the cut out printed images on the ribbon and iron. I allow a small amount of ribbon between each image so that there is a seam allowance when you come to attach the label.

Step 5:
Cut out each individual label and it's ready to use on your next project!!

My pack of T-Shirt Transfer paper contained 5 x A4 sheets and I can fit approx 270 labels on those 5 sheets. Which makes the labels a lot more cost effective than buying custom made woven labels.

My example above is shown with a fold in the center as I use these on side seams as shown in the following pictures:
Hopefully this tutorial will help you if you want to save a little bit of money and have an entirely unique option for labeling your wares. Please feel free to ask any questions as this is my first attempt at writing a tutorial! Good luck and I'd love to see some examples of your efforts.

Magazine Purse Tutorial

I stumbled across this very cool tutorial quite some time ago, on making purses from recycled magazines. There is no pattern to copy, but that just leaves room for more creativity. I wish I could remember the site that I got it from (so I could give credit where it's due, but I cannot since I saved it to my computer when I found it and accidentally forgot to select the URL as well). Anyway, I just thought it was a very cool way to recycle your old magazines and set a new style trend. As always, if you happen to try this new tutorial, please post pictures! Enjoy!

Magazine Purse Tutorial

[Note: I originally posted this tutorial in 2005 here and on Craftster, but here it is again!]

It took a while, but I finally figured out how to construct a basic “magazine” tote — made this one with a vintage Spinnerin knitting/crochet pamphlet, iron on vinyl, a few grommets, some aquarium tubing and my sewing machine.

The aquarium tubing is sort of cute, though methinks next time I’ll use some lightweight chain on the inside of the tubing to give it a little extra weight and a more streamlined look.

What you’ll need:
Iron on Vinyl (matte or luster) A little less than 1 1/2 yards
Images for the Purse
Scissors
An Iron
Pencil or other writing implement
Ruler
Sewing machine, thread
Grommets and attachment tools
Aquarium tubing for handles

Choosing the Iron on vinyl:
It’s made by Therm-o-Web and is available at most major craft stores. At some shops you can buy it off a large bolt (I paid $5.99 a yard) and other places sell it pre-packaged. It’s available in both matte and luster finishes, and both will work equally well, it’s just a matter of personal preference. Whatever you fancy. The bags on this page were made with luster.

Making the bag:
The front and back purse images that I used were both 8″ x 11″, straight out of a knitting/crochet pamphlet so no cutting was required. You’ll also need 2 additional pieces of 8″ x 11″ paper for the inner lining.

For the sides of the bag simply take another 8″ x 11″ piece of paper and fold it in half lengthwise. Repeat the process to make the other side.

For the bottom piece of the bag use another 8″ x 11″ piece of paper,however, this time you’ll fold it as if you were folding a letter that you’d put into an envelope. When you’re done it should have three layers.

Now it’s time to whip out the iron on vinyl. Lay it paper side up out on a flat surface and trace each of the purse pieces leaving a one inch border around the pieces. Using a ruler helps to make sure it’s even.

For the front panel of the purse : Cut 2 pieces of vinyl, one for the front, one for the lining.

For the back panel of the purse: Cut 2 pieces of vinyl, one for the front, one for the lining.

For the two side panels: 4 pieces of vinyl, one for each side.

For the base of the purse: 2 pieces, for the bottom of the bag and for the lining.

Then, following the manufacturers instructions for use, attach the vinyl to each side of the images.

This is where the 1 inch border you allowed for comes in to play….Iron the vinyl to one panel and set it aside. Then repeat the process with it’s matching counterpart. You’ll then have two seperate pieces with the vinyl ironed on to them. Place one face down and place the other face up so that the sticky portion of the vinyl matches up.Follow the manufacturers instructions and iron them, hence fusing the two images together.You now have one panel of the bag.Simply repeat the process three more times with the remaining pieces.Later when the bag is sewn together you can trim away any excess vinyl if desired.

When you’re done attaching the vinyl to the paper, your pieces will look a little something like this.

Almost time to start sewing! But it’s uber important to note that you should not use pins! They’ll leave unsightly holes in the bag. Careful, straight sewing is imperative too, because taking out seams will also leave wee holes and marks.

The next photo shows how to lay out your bag. Notice that the outer images are all face down. What you see here is the inner lining.

Whip out the sewing machine.

Take the front panel and one piece of lining and sew a straight line across the top of the bag. This is to reinforce the pieces together. Do the same thing with the back panel and the other piece of lining.

What you’re going to do next is to place the front panel FACE UP and attach it to the base of the bag. In other words, sew the top panel facing upward to the inner lining. The “raw” edges of the bag will be on the outside of the bag.

When you’re done, repeat the process on the other side of the base.Then do the same thing with the two side panels. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem to line up 100% perfectly, just do your best to center the pieces.

So far so good! Your bag should look like this from an upside down view:

Now here comes the tricky, pain in the butt part, which is sewing the bottom corners.

Carefully press the bag flat with your fingers. Then gently sew up the side of the bag starting at the base. This will definitely seem somewhat awkward and cumbersome, but just do your best to sew a straight, even line.

Repeat this process three more times, once for each side of the bag.

When you’re done simply cut away any excess threads.

Add 2 grommets on each of the front panels and thread your tubing through, holding it in place by tying a knot on each side. Trim away any excess vinyl around the bag.

Here’s the finished product, shown from the front and back.

You’re done! Wear it proudly.

WANTED: Yeast Free Recipes

Hello Everyone,
I'm not sure how many of you out there have yourselves or your loved ones on a special diet, but my son is on a Gluten Free/Casein Free Yeast Free Diet. There are some things that have been very difficult to find replacements for. One of the things he used to love so much was Pretzels. I am looking for some tried and true taste tested yeast free pretzel recipes. If you love to cook, would you please experiment with this and share your favorites with us? Also needed are GF/CF YF sandwich bread recipes. Keep in mind that with either recipe, if you can just nail down the yeast free aspect, then I can modify most recipes to make then gluten and casein free as well.

Also, for those of you who are gluten free, Chex cereal is now gluten free. Not all are casein free though, so be sure to read your labels. Be aware that if certain grocery stores have not sold all of the non-gluten free Chex product they've previously purchased, the old gluten filled ones may still be on the shelves. Always read your labels. The new gluten free ones are labeled as such! Of course, you may already be aware of this. I'm usually the last to know! :)