Scrap Yarn Scarf

Simple scrap yarn scarf I made with leftover eyelash yarn doubled up with regular yarn. I'm giving it to a friend as a small Christmas gift. I try to make sure people feel appreciated (especially this time of year) - and we've been helped out a lot lately.

Jean Skirt

 A friend of mine gave me a pair of jeans. They were really comfortable but they had a ton of buttons and so were annoying to put on. Since I wear skirts more than pants and need warm skirts for winter, I decided to make a skirt out of them.

I had some trouble at first finding a pair of jeans that would work for the panels in the middle. Finally, my husband tried on some old pants and found they no longer fit. Well, they were longer but barely.

The problem became making this an ankle length skirt like I wanted. Then I got an idea - I made the hems on the original pair of jeans into a waistband. Well I was originally going to make it an elastic waistband, but I realized that would no longer work. So I put in a zipper. It doesn't match up right (I'm still learning the art of zippers), but otherwise I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Saddlebags

 I originally printed out this tutorial because Brandon got a bike (after our car died). I figured we could get a rack for it since it didn't already have one. Then we find out it's not designed for one. So much for that idea. Found out a friend wanted one, so I made it for her instead.

The pieces were easy to cut out and while tedious, easy to sew, turn, and top-stitch. My husband helped me put together a messenger bag style strap (she harvested one) that I sewed into the top piece. 

The problem came when I went to put it all together. There weren't any pictures or description to tell me how the rest of the pieces went together. So once I kinda figured it out, I realized that one of the pieces was the wrong size so I had to make a new one.

For next time there are a few tweaks that need to be made (I might eventually make some to sell) . The attachment straps need to be closer together and I need to put something stiff to keep them from getting caught in the spokes of the wheel. There was another (smaller) attachment strap for this, but I didn't have the bike and couldn't match it up well enough. My friend said something stiff solves the problem so that's probably what I'll go with in the future.

Animal PJs

 I realized the other day that Alma has grown out of his 2T pajamas and he only has one pair of 3T pajamas. So, I decided to make him some. (I use this pajama pattern to make him pants all the time. This is the 1st time I've actually made pajamas with it!).

I picked out some fabric a friend gave me, and got to work. I've never made him the shirt, so I found out when I put it on him that the sleeves are way too long, but overall totally cute.

Halloween Costume

 My son absolutely ADORES trains so I decided to make him a train conductor costume for Halloween. Found an overalls pattern on sale and a walk through for the hat online. 

The overalls were pretty easy. I didn't have a buckle so I substituted buttons and multiple button  holes (so it's adjustable) for closure. Didn't have snaps for the sides so I just sewed it together.

The hat was a little harder but worth it. It's just a band and bill with an octagon top piece folded in.

The finishing touch was a couple of felt trains (I used a cookie cutter for a pattern) - one for the hat and one for the overalls pocket. Stitch witched on then              sewn around by hand. I wanted to do Thomas, but I didn't have any more fabric transfers left. Still cute though.

Knit Slippers

 My husband was complaining that his feet get cold, but he refuses to wear socks without shoes. So I offered to make him slippers. 

I got the pattern from my granma because she makes them all the time for my dad. One came out a bit bigger, but he likes them. Although he wants me to make a tie to hold them on a bit better. They look blut in the picture for some reason, but they  are really purple - his favorite color!

Pink Duster Sweater

I've started crocheting a duster sweater for myself. I don't have enough of any one color for the whole thing, so I'm just putting together a bunch of shades of pink. Hopefully I have enough for the whole thing. I've found I prefer crocheting clothing to knitting it. It goes much quicker and you generally work it in one piece. Here's what I've gotten done so far - two sleeves. I'll post more pictures as I work on it more.