a frock and a new toy

When I started making the Frock for All Season dresses, I learned how to make bias tape. You can buy bias tape also, but it generally only comes in certain colors. By making it yourself, you have the freedom to use whatever fabric you want!

Bias tape is not hard to make at all! For the arm holes of the Frocks, for example, you cut a strip of fabric {on the bias} measuring 2" by 24". Fold the strip in half longways, so it's 1" tall by 24" and press with an iron. Open the strip up and fold each long end in, towards the middle. Then press again - and you have a length of bias tape! (Then you fold it in half around the unfinished edge of the arm holes, pin and sew, if you were wondering!}

After reading {this blog post} I was determined to get a Bias Tape Maker! Like I said, it's not hard to make.....however.......I tend to burn the tips of my fingers with the iron often b/c my nails are short and the fabric is only 2" tall! And, if I'm making more than one Frock, I could be at my ironing board for quite some time! So I made a trip to Hobby Lobby with my 40% off coupon and bought myself this little beauty...

I can not say how much faster this is than manually making bias tape! I made bias tape for eight sets of armholes in minutes!! I would highly recommend {this machine} and if you use the 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby, it's really a great deal! The only place cheaper than HobLob+coupon was ebay for a used machine!

I had a custom order for two Team Spirit Frocks in Minnesota Vikings fabric....

Super cute!!

Gift Card Holders

I recently stumbled across a tutorial for fabric gift card holders and I gave it a try. I wasn't impressed with the way the tutorial made them, so I changed the measurements, added some interfacing, and changed the layout a but and got this....

Multiple gift cards fit in well also, so it could even be used after the holidays for a safe spot to hold all the gift cards you've received!!

I was so thrilled with how they turned out that I made over 30 of them to sell at my work this week!

Here's how to do it...

Materials:

• 
  
  two backing pieces of fabric that each measure 3.5" x 4.5" (these can be the same fabric or coordinating). I made some that were holiday themed, Chicago Bears themed, and also some from coordinating scraps I had lying around...the possibilities are endless!!


• 
  
  one pocket piece of fabric (coordinating the backing pieces) that measures 3.5" x 3.5"


• 
  
  one piece of fusible interfacing that measures 3.5" x 4.5"


• 
  
  one piece of fusible interfacing that measures 3.5" x 3.5"


• 
  
  coordinating thread


• 
  
  embellishments such as buttons, lace, rosettes, ric-rac etc.

What to do:

• 
  
  Iron the interfacing to one back piece and the pocket piece of fabric. I place the fabric pieces on the interfacing, iron and then cut them out.


• 
  
  Take the pocket piece and fold down 1/4" and sew a hem across.


• 
  
  Place the pocket piece on top of the back piece with the interfacing on the back. Lay the other back piece on top, right sides together. Pin and sew with a 1/8" seam allowance all the way up the two sides and across the top, leaving the bottom open. Clip the top corners.


• 
  
  Turn right side in and tuck the open end up 1/4". Sew around the entire rectangle with a 1/8" seam allowance.


• 
  
  Using hot glue, add your embellishment to the front of the pocket.


• 
  
  Stick a gift card inside and you've got yourself a cute lil gift!!

To make the rosette, I just cut a 10" x 3" length of fabric and fold it in half. I start at one end and twist the fabric and forming a circle. Once I'm done, I put a dot of hot glue on the back and attach it to where I want it and then add glue where needed to attach it securely. Pretty easy and pretty cute!!