How to Defuzz Your Sweater

Is your beloved sweater collection looking a little sad? Thrift store finds of once lovely sweaters can be easily passed up when they are covered with pilling and fuzz. Not anymore. Let's perk up those cozy knits, easy peasy.

Tools:
fuzzy sweater
pumice stone

Yes, they make "special" pumice stones for sweaters but they are really the same thing you get from your hardware store.
I do not recommend using an old razor as it can snag and cut fibers. Special combs and electric defuzzers can work wonders but I like low tech- and I'm cheap.

Good sweater candidates for de-pilling:
100% acrylic and acrylic blend sweaters (Target cardigans are perfect!)
100% wool and wool blend

Not so good sweaters for using pumice:
cotton
fine woven fabrics, like silk
angora

Always do a test patch!

Let's get started.

Lay out your sweater on a clean surface.
Hold one end of your sleeve to keep it in place, use the other to make small sweeps with the pumice stone. Brush away the little fur balls as they pile up. Keep going, double checking front, back, sides, and details (like ties and collars).

Shake off your fluff balls and use a lint roller (or tape wrapped around your hand, sticky side out) to get the last bits.

Now, doesn't that look better? I'd love to hear what you are going to spruce up first!
Love this sweater? You can get it in the shop this week!

Moth Anthropologie Sweater Coat 

Little Chick Thrifty Quilt- in progress

This isn't your average quilt. It's thrifty and easy. I know you can do this and if you have actual quilting experience...no doubt even better. But if you have no experience but can stitch a stitch- you can make this, too.

I used:
a thrifted sheet with embroidered trim, cut into 42" square
wool blanket someone had washed and tossed in the dryer- super soft!
found doily and sweet hanky I stitched with one of my favorite embroidery patterns you can see here, Aunt Martha's 3753

Lay 'em out, stitch 'em up!
Place your scrappy bits (lace, trim, doilies, hankies, etc) on your top sheet until you have the look you want. Sew in place.

Now, lay your blanket right side DOWN on your kitchen floor. Layer your sheet on top, right side UP. Pin and smooth, pin and smooth. You want to make sure you don't stitch any lumps in place.

I used my acrylic ruler that happened to be four inches wide to draw lines across the quilt with a disappearing ink pen. Hand stitch (or machine) down each line.

The blanket is almost done! I still need to make the binding (using this method) and bind it. Bedrest has me stitching up a storm but no able to dash off for the perfect fabric for the trim. I'm a big believer in using what you have but I want a certain something not in my collection of fabrics. We'll see if I hold out for a fabric shop run or make do! I'll post the finished quilt soon. For more crafty ideas, follow along with my Pinterest board, Handmade and Handmade Embroidery!
What are you working up lately?
xo,
Amy

Embroidery Projects- finished!

A couple of weeks ago I shared a handful of stitchery projects I was working on. Well, I finished them up and a few more, too!

 Aunt Martha's 3771 Hooty Owls

                                                   Aunt Martha's 3753 Barnyard Happenings

another pick from Aunt Martha's Hooty Owls #3771

a happy little whale. not sure where I found him.

What projects are you working on? For more of my favorite embroidery ideas and patterns, follow along with my Pinterest board: Handmade, Embroidery!

Enjoy!

xo,

Amy

Easy Gnome Costume with a Vampire Bonus

This isn't really a tutorial. It's an idea you can easily re-create.
A few years ago, I was a gnome. One of my guys was a vampire. Easiest. Costume. Ever.
For the mere hefty price of some super realistic glue in fangs and a black jacket, you have one instant costume. I know. It's been done. Because it's pretty darn good and easy.

A friend was going to be a gnome and had some great ideas on the basics. We split up the sewing, each making two of the same piece. Easy peasy! Share the work or spend a couple of hours whipping up the basics.

The Basics:

• red felt cone hat (tutorial here, and here, ) 
• beard (tutorials here, and here )
• peasant blouse
• wide leather belt or sash cut from brown fabric and tied
• rain boots, faux boots, brown shoes or just forget the bottom half 'cause people will see the hat and the beard and smile and that is enough for me. 

Bam. You are a gnome!

Enjoy!

xo,

Amy

Vintage Book Bunting

I know it's not even Halloween but it's never too early to start getting ready for Christmas. The bias tape was made in one long Saturday of sewing heaven using a lovely tutorial by Coletterie Patterns (see link below). You are going to want to spend some time on this blog. Bite size tidbits to help your sewing skills grow.

Green Eggs and Ham with a damaged cover becomes a cheery bunting instead!

Coletterie Bias Tape Tutorial. Start with this one until it really clicks.
Then kick out your bias tape quick with this more advance method for continuous bias tape here.

For more of my favorite paper crafting ideas, follow along with my Pinterest board: Handmade- Paper!
Enjoy,
Amy

How to Make an Owl Cupcake DIY

 A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I had a cupcake company. This little cupcake tutorial was shared on my former cupcake blog and I'd like to share it with you here and now. Owl cupcakes. Happy Fall!

Supplies:

• cupcakes. any flavor. mine are coconut vanilla bean
• white buttercream frosting
• walnut halves
• Lifesavers, I used gummy
• chocolate chips
• coconut flakes, toasted or untoasted
• Milk Duds

1. Slather a messy swirl of buttercream on top and spread to cover. You don't need a lot, this is just to glue your goodies on.

2. Grab the bottom of the cupcake, turn it over and roll the top in coconut to cover. Gently so it stays a bit fluffy and isn't totally mashed into the frosting.

3. Using Lifesavers for eyes, put them in place. Add chocolate chip to the center.

4. Turn the walnut half on it's side and make grumpy or perky brows, depending on your mood.

5. Turn the Milk Dud on it's side for a wee beak.

For more sweet ideas, follow along with my Pinterest board, Eat: Sweet!
Enjoy!
xo,
Amy

Bed Rest DIY Project Round Up

All is well but Chillaxin' is the order of the week by my midwife and by order of my Fisherman. Carrying both of my boys required three months of full bedrest. Practicing Spanish, stacks of audiobooks, learning new embroidery stitches...I kept busy.

I'm not worried about this wee one either, just taking it easy to keep things calm and rolling along in good time. A little walk here and there and getting up to cut out 24 tiny  pinwheels are all on my Can Do list. Then it's back down for resting. Not exactly resting. One can get a heck of a lot done while laying on your side. Trust me.

Later this week I'll be sharing more of what I've been working on but for now, here's a round up of projects to do while on bedrest, full or moderate. Oh, and here's a great over-view article with a list of things you might not of thought of if this is your first rodeo time on bedrest. One word to the wise: ask for help in prep and gathering materials. People want to support you, they just might not know dropping by a handful of glue sticks will make your day.

1. Stitching Handwriting on Cards 2. Sweater Wreath 3. Home Management Binder 
4. Handmade Envelopes from Magazines 5. Paper Pinwheels  6. Organize Recipes
7. Photobooks 8. Scrap Map 9. Learn to Embroider Videos

For more of my favorite crafty ideas, follow along with my Pinterest board, Handmade!
Enjoy!
 xo,
Amy

Easy Baby Pants with Room for Cloth Diapers

I admit it. At only three months along, I had already sewn up all the basics and simply could not wait to find out if I should focus on ruffly skirts or cargo pants next. So...I started sewing both. Even though we've been told it's a girl, ya just never know until the day they actually come to show you themselves. Besides, she just might not be a twirly skirt kinda girl.

Free tutorial and pattern I used from Made by Rae here. 

• Dana Made It has a kids pants pattern with all the bells and whistles: pockets, warm lining, knee patches, and more here.
• Sweater sleeve sweat pants by Green Kitchen.

I whipped up all three of these in less than two hours, including plenty of time to hem and haw over fabric from my scraps bin and a piece from a vintage dress. They have an extra big bum for cloth diapered kiddos- hooray! For more ideas on sewing for little ones, follow along with my Pinterest board, Handmade: Wee Ones! Enjoy.
xo,
Amy

Easy Teeny Tiny Baby Skirts with Vintage Linens

I love vintage linens. Tablecloths, sheets, fluffy floral terry cloth towels, lone luncheon napkins- all of them. Sewing up teeny tiny baby skirts is the perfect thing to use up some of my scraps.

Using a rough tutorial from Bulldogs and Babies, I whipped up these little sweeties. Actually, they aren't super teeny tiny. My boys both came in form or pretty darn close of ten pounds each so I'm not really expecting a dainty little daisy from this little one either. I added an inch to her waist measurements and two inches to the length.  Here are a few more tutorials:

• some good suggestions and tweaks to the Bulldogs and Babies tutorial I used are shared by I Times 2 here
• super cute circle skirt by Dana Made It here
• Wink Designs has a tutorial using only one fat quarter of cotton here

Pick one that works for you and whip up some yourself! Easy peasy baby shower gifts to have on hand, too.
For more ideas on sewing for tiny ones, follow my Pinterest board, Handmade: For Wee Ones!
Enjoy!
xo,
Amy