A new outfit for Miss C plus a giveaway!

A couple months ago I received a little bundle of eight fat quarters from Art Gallery.  I chose fabrics from the Poetica line.  

My original intent with these was to sew a make-up travel bag, but then I had a realization.  I don’t travel.  I don’t need another bag, but Miss C needed a new skirt.  Then I decided she needed a matching shirt so I ordered an extra ½ yard of fabric for the shirt. 

We had a super fast "Mom are you serious?" photo shoot the other day.  At least I didn't have to bribe her with anything this time.

Miss C LOVES pink and purple so this fabric was a hit.  She is hard on her clothes so I didn’t want to put a huge amount of time into this project, and I wanted to stick with just the fabric I had.  I used a pattern for the shirt that I purchased a couple years ago, but the other projects were just ones I came up with using that little stack of 7 fat quarters (one fat quarter was used for the sleeves on the shirt).  I put together a few very simple tutorials on her little outfit.  

Tapered Strip Skirt

Here is a quick rundown of how I made the skirt.  Prewash all fabrics.  I used 7 different fat quarters for this project (2 strips of each fabric).  For a fuller skirt just use a few more strips.  Cut fabric to desired length.  After prewashing and trimming, my strips were 17.5” which was a perfect length for her. 

1. Cut 14 strips 5” x 17.5”
2. On one short end, make a mark 1” from each edge.  Trim the long sides of the fabric from the bottom corner to the 1” mark at the other end creating a tapered strip.  This makes one end of the strip 3" while the other end remains 5". 
3. Sew all strips together along the long sides using ¼” seams, short ends on the top, wider ends at the bottom.  Finish raw edges using a serger or zig-zag.  My friend Barbie over  at The Quilting Mill has also put together a couple great tutorials on finishing seams.  Check out her tutorials on French seams and finishing gathered seams if you don't have a serger.
4. I chose to serge my edges and then edge-stitch to keep everything in place.  
5. Hem base of skirt.  I used a ¼” hem, although I’m tempted to go back and sew on a 2” ruffle hem to make the skirt a bit longer.  Miss C would love the ruffle. 
6. Finish the waist.  I went a bit of a lazy route on this and just attached 2” white elastic to the waist.  I may go back one of these days and add a fabric casing instead of the elastic, but for now the elastic works fine.

Reversible Headband Cover

Next up is the headband.  I have a few ½” plastic headbands I bought about a year ago with the intention of making removeable headband covers.    Download my little hand-drawn pattern here. You’ll need two strips of fabric 16” x 2.5” as well as some fusible interfacing.

1. Cut the fabric and interfacing using the pattern.
2. Attach the interfacing.
3. Fold and press short edges under ½’. Edge-stitch in place.
4. Sew fabric along one long side seam.  Press seam.
5. Press raw edges of fabric in ¼” on other long sides.  Edge-stitch each long side together about 1/8”. Leave short ends open to insert headband.  Finished!

Reversible Mini Tote

Finally, Miss C needed a little bag to go with her outfit.  

  
I used the remaining fabric to make a little reversible tote for her.  You’ll need two pieces of fabric 12” x 18” for the bag and lining, and two pieces 4” x 18” for the handles.  Cut interfacing as well: (2) 12” x 18” and (2) 3.5” x 18”.  

1. Attach interfacing to bag pieces and handles as directed.
2. Make handles.  Press each piece in half along the length then press each edge to meet in the center.  Edge-stitch along each long side to seal seams. Set aside. Leave short ends unfinished.
3. Fold each bag piece in half and sew ¼” seam along each side.
4. Box corners of both bag pieces and measure a 3” line as shown.  Pin and stitch across line.  Trim corners 1/4" from the stitch line.
5. Attach handles.  Measure 3” in from each seam for handle placement.  Baste handles to the right side of one bag piece.  Make sure they are not twisted. 
6. Place right sides of bag pieces together matching side seams.  Pin in place and sew around the top of the bag. Leave 3-4” opening to turn bag.  Turn bag right side out, press top seam, edge-stitch 1/8” from edge to finish and seal seams.  Press.

There you have it!  From eight fat quarters and a 1/2 yard she has a fun little new outfit.  Plus I still have enough fabric to make little sis a bag as well.  I might have to make another skirt and shirt from my stash. 

Now for a little giveaway! (Giveaway closed)
Art Gallery sent me an extra set of fat quarters to give away.  Just leave a comment.  I'll announce the winner on Thursday.

Have a great Monday!