Sunday, May 14th, 2017
Here is a cute video I recently came across
that made me smile!
They are daily things that are also easily accessible, for the most part,
to try out just once for fun or to incorporate into a habit
to bring happiness and relaxation into your life!
Saturday, June 27th, 2015
Hello lovelies!! I mentioned the wide headband that I made in my bell-sleeved dress post, so here is my tutorial detailing how to make one yourself!!
The headband is shown here almost completely hidden under this giant bow. Adding details to this headband is VERY EASY!!! I have suggestions for potential details at the end of the tutorial!
Now, let’s begin the tutorial!!
Drawing your Headband Shape
Here, you can see how messily I’ve scribbled a rough pattern shape onto the wrong side of the fabric. I didn’t even use a marking pencil, just a mechanical pencil that was nearby LOL.
Anyway, the shape is 24 inches long. At its widest point in the middle, it is 6 inches wide. It’s going to be folded in half, so a 6 inch wide shape here will make a finished headband that is 3 inches wide. When I tried it on later, I actually found 3 inches to be cloooose to being too wide. For future headbands, I think that I will make them 4 inches wide at this step, resulting in a 2 inch wide headband.
The shape tapers in at the ends to about 2 inches wide – this is the part that’s going to be underneath and at the back of your head, and it’s where the elastic is going to be fed through. It’s not really necessary to taper the shape in like that, though, and in fact, since I said that future headbands that I make will be slightly narrower, I probably won’t taper the ends at all, and just use a long, simple rectangular piece.
You’ll also notice a small X drawn in the center of the piece – that’s to remind myself which side is the wrong side!
Cut and Fold in Half
I used pinking shears to cut mine, which keeps little thread pieces from falling out everywhere, but this is my own preference and you can certainly use regular fabric scissors.
Fold it in half longways, with the WRONG side out, and pin in place.
Sewing
DON’T sew the narrow ends – just sew along the long side, close to the edge. Be sure to backstitch, because you will need that reinforcement there when turning it inside out later!
Well, that one straight stitch was pretty much the whole project. We’re almost finished at this point lol. All that’s left is turning it right side out and putting a tiny piece of elastic in at the bottom!
Turning Right Side Out
The beginning of this step is the only hard part, because the ends are so narrow. I have a wooden dowel nearby my sewing supplies that helps me push fabric through, like pictured here. Any pointy-but-blunt object will work, like the end of a pen.
Almost Done Turning
Much easier at this point.
Fold and Press
With your right-side-out headband, fold it in a way so that the seam is at the bottom center, then iron it so that it’s pressed nice and flat. The fact that you can see small puckers in the fabric along my seam means that the tension on my machine was too tight. Don’t be like me. Don’t make my mistakes.
Pinning Elastic in Place
Simply cut 3 inches of elastic. What we’re going to do is feed it into the narrow ends, about 3 inches deep. Hold the ends with pins while you’re working. A lot of the fabric is going to get pushed together and gathered around those three inches. That’s what you want, so that it stretches properly and holds on to your head~
Fold the rough ends of those edges under, too, so that they look finished. Mine is still messy. It’s okay to be messy. It’s good for you. Very therapeutic.
Stitch Over Elastic
These stitches are over the ends of the elastic that are inside the headband. Go over them several times, backstitching to make sure they are each held securely.
Go over the middle, too, to close up the opening! Messiness is A-OK.
And you are finished!! Try it on to make sure it’s comfortably snug~
And these headbands are highly customizable!!
I could keep listing things for ever and ever. o_o I bet you can come up with things too!!
Friday, June 19th, 2015
Hello!! (^o^)/ For the past few days this week, I have been working on sewing this dress! It has wide bell sleeves, like a peasant top, and I decided to make it out of solid pink fabric and a beautiful pink rose print fabric, which made it look like a garden party dress~ I’M SO IN LOVE WITH IT!!
It is not a Lolita dress because the skirt is not long or full enough, however I am considering adding a wide ruffle trim to the bottom of it to add several inches (although even then it still will not be full enough to accommodate a petticoat).
I also made a wide headband out of the pink fabric, which is elasticized at the back, and a big bow from the rose fabric, which is attached with a pin on the back so it can be removed from the headband and pinned elsewhere.
(I’m not wearing makeup in this picture – usually I put at least eyeliner on but for these I was too lazy! oAo)
Now for my progress shots!!