Infinity Scarf

Pretty and simple. The infinity scarf is called such because it goes on and on, the two ends are sewn

together in a loop. It makes a lovely gift. I used two pieces of jersey (t-shirt) fabric 11" x width of the fabric. One of the fabrics is bamboo, extra soft! 

1. Pre-wash fabric

2. Iron fabric flat and place right side together

3. Sew long edges of fabric

4. Turn tube right side out and iron (the short sides will be open and un-sewn)

5. Fold the tube in half, match the opposite short sides with raw edges together

6. A little confusing but...sew along these short raw edges together, you will be able to get almost the whole way around until you have to leave a couple inches --- these you can sew up together by hand.

Poofy Pants for Baby: Retrofit Dess Shirt to Harem Pants

Cloth diapers make for big bootie. And most conventional pants just don't quite work for that great big tush. Yesterday we had to change the baby into a disposable to fit into some pants to attend a friend's baptism.  Definitely time to get out the sewing machine. 

Thankfully custom pants are pretty easy to make though. I found this men's shirt at a church basement thrift shop Saturday. It didn't take much to modify it. I used a pair of pants I'd previously made and a looser cut pair of jeans to help figure these out. I decided for a two piece pants pattern rather than a typical four piece. This is easier to cut and I think it makes for a bit more "poof". 

This shirt is actually fine double layered muslin cotton (the kind that's so trendy for baby blankets right now). It made for a great two-tone look.

I cut from the middle of the shirt and folded over 3" just above the breast pocket for the waist band. I used the full width of the shirt from the shoulders. I basically just cut a square with a little upside-down "U" shape for the crotch. The bottom of the pants I hemmed backwards (hem out) as I knew I wanted to roll up the bottom. I could have doubled this seam up but I've got my mum's serger for a bit and so the seems were already finished. 

I've included a few other little tricks through the pics. Oh, one other thing to note, the longer the crotch the longer the legs should be because they get pulled up with the crotch when baby is in a seat that does up at the waist (i.e. stroller, carrier, or car seat). I just roll up the pants when he's not seated.

Irons are a good way to avoid pinning

Safety pin to thread the (no roll) elastic *

Trick I learned as a student, when sewing along a circle make sure you sew from the inside
(so the fabric comes up and over the back of the foot)

Looking a little like men's boxers, but still pretty sweet

Keep the mouse in the house!
Shirt pocket turned hip pocket

*I cheeped out on the elastic with the last pair of pants but learned it's worth the extra buck or two so the elastic doesn't roll inside the waistband.

New Buttons: Ocean dynasoar silk dress

Earlier this week my brother showed up at work for a surprise lunch date because his construction hole got flooded out. He ended up spending the night and as my husband had band practice, we went thrifting.

I found this gorgeous silk dress sans buttons. I might have passed it up if it had not been for my recent jaunt to Button Button which started dreams of recreating all my clothes based on their fasteners. Unfortunately the dress' price tag apparently already considered the fact that someone only got half-way through the re-buttoning project and left it stripped of its decency. I bought it anyways. Admittedly, I spent more on the buttons ($13.55) than I did on the dress ($10.99).

In Gastown today I first went to Dressew to pick up some ribbon I needed for another project. I did a pretty thorough perusal of their buttons and actually ended up purchasing a set of six pinkish plastic buttons before going to Button Button. Once in the door I realized I should not have doubted the possibility of finding something to accentuate this already beautiful dress. First I found sweet black buttons with astar-like fireworks in peach. However, there were only two of those. I next was drawn to pewterish pressed images of oceanic dynasoars. As there were only five (and to not draw attention away), plainer round pewterish buttons for the sleeves to replace the plane black ones were chosen.

What better company for a silky black night sky dress of flowers than silvery fossilized aquatic prehistorian?