Halloween Undertaking!

My husband was so kind to remind me last night that I have been seriously slacking on my "Self Improvement Sunday" tasks (you can read about those here). However, I have undertaken a huge task in getting Halloween costumes ready that will be 4 months worth of "Self Improvement Sunday" projects.

Our little family is going as Peter Pan. My 3 year old is dying to be Peter Pan, my almost 2 year old will be the crocodile, my dear husband as Captain Hook and you guessed it! Yours truly as Wendy Darling. Yes. I am making all of the costumes by myself (with the exception of the crocodile. But he will have some homemade accessories). And, yes, I am a bit intimidated by it all.

photo courtesy of Google

I started on my dress last night. This is the pattern I am using (the dress on the left).

photo courtesy of simplicity.com

Let me just give you a quick run down on all the new sewing techniques I will be learning for this project.
1. Using a pattern. I have never used an honest to goodness for real pattern that hasn't been my own without the help of my mother. Sad, I know. It freaks me out a little bit knowing she isn't here to rescue my poor little dress.
2. I am altering the pattern just a smidgen. I want it less formal dress like and more nightgown like. Mainly, no overlay and adding a real sash rather than a silly wire ribbon bow on front.
3. Gathering (I got that one down this morning!) and button holes.
4. Sewing with satin. Yes, satin. I already understand why my mother tried changing my mind when I asked for satin Easter dresses. It's not a very friendly material.

So there's five pretty good new techniques I am learning; and that's just on my costume! I still have Peter Pan, Captain Hook and bits of a crocodile to do!!

I am excited though. My dress already has one perfect little sleeve (I'm really hoping that's the hardest part...)!! It will be fun to say I did it all myself (fingers crossed). And if it all turns out well, then who knows what I could do next?!?

I will definitely keep you posted!

Self Improvement Sunday

If you follow me on Facebook,
you know that I have recently had a teenage girl ask me to teach her how to sew
(even after warning her repeatedly that I am probably not the best person to ask).

My Mom sent me an idea yesterday from Sew Like My Mom that I thought would be perfect!
It's a tutorial for a super easy, super cheap summer skirt. It will be perfect for Paxton's first sewing attempt.

AND, it provided me the opportunity to try a new sewing technique: shirring.
I followed this tutorial to learn how to do it.

I LOVE it!! I am now thinking of all sorts of fun things to make!!
By the way, I did finish my skirt. It cost me $3.00 to make. And I do love it.
I think it will be the perfect skirt to take on vacation with me later this week.
So I'll save the "finished" photo for now, cause I'm pretty sure the skirt will look tons better
either on the beach, or at Disneyland!

"Self Improvement Sunday"

Earlier this week, I shared my "lack of sewing skills" secret. You can read it here if you wish.

The first sewing technique I tackled was sewing in a zipper, using the zipper foot on my sewing machine (after I figured out which of the 4 extra feet that came with my machine was actually the zipper foot. Embarrassing, I know.).

This is how it turned out. I used scrap material that I had laying around, and the outer material I ended up using was cotton that I had lined with batting (it's original purpose was to be used as burp cloths). It obviously makes the cotton thicker which I really liked for this little zipper pouch. Makes it feel like it has more substance.

It's not perfect, and I only ripped it apart about a half a dozen times, but for my first shot at it, I'm happy!

My goal is to share a new technique that I've tried with you every Sunday. Hopefully, I'll get organized enough to start turning these into tutorials. And hopefully, I'm not the only one who is seriously lacking in some skills that will appreciate my attempts.

Any suggestions as to new techniques or projects I should try? I am seriously open to anything...I have a lot to learn!