The no tie scarf

This is the basic scarf before you pull it through the loop on the end. I serged all the way around the fabric and then sewed the loop on the end to pull the fabric through.


The bow tie scarf



The ascot scarf



neckerchief scarf

I love using my serger for quick little projects like this one. This scarf is made out of taffeta. The purpose of making this scarf was to practice one-step inner and outer corners on a serger. It is a little trickier than a regular sewing machine because you have more than one needle to deal with and the cutting knife that trims the fabric as you serge. I will admit the outer corner is not as easy as serging off the edges but it looks pretty when the corners are so smooth.

The hardest part of this project was serging an inner corner and not cutting the fabric deep into the corner. I will need to practice it a bit more to perfect it but for a first try, I think it turned out fairly nice.

I used a three thread rolled hem on this scarf. I used serger thread in the needle and woolly nylon in the upper and lower loopers for a beautiful edge. The machine stitch length was set on one to create a closed edged look.

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Easter Bunny visit 2011

Kaylee and Sophia visiting the Easter bunny 2011.




We woke really early today and took the girls out for breakfast for a treat. I was super careful to cover their dresses with bibs so they wouldn't get food on their little dresses and matching floppy hats.

We told our sweet girls we were going to visit the Easter bunny. Kaylee just looked at us with an unknowing blank look but Sophia knew what we were talking about.




Here is Sophia smiling when she found out where the Easter bunny was located.

This photo was taken shortly after we were ambushed by the mall stores and a St Louis magazine papparazzi. They wanted photos of these outfits I sewed for my girls. Who knew we would feel like celebrities just by going to see the Easter bunny. In fact, quite honestly I would never have expected to have been approached for a magazine photo shoot in the mall, but I guess they find you sometimes wherever you go. I will let you know if we get published.

It made me feel good that several women swarmed us because they liked the dresses and hats I sewed and wanted to know if I was on Etsy so they could buy them. Guess I better get busy making more of my floppy hats and dresses.





The girls telling the bunny what they wanted. I overheard the conversation. It went something like this, " Easter bunny this is Kaylee Mae. She is my sister and she wants surprises. I want surprises too. Here is what I like. I want Squinkies and a chocolate bar.  Daddy wants M&M's so can you bring those for him. Please come to my house and hide the eggs. We love you.  Thank You."

I was surprised at how long Kaylee lasted although she screamed right after this photo was taken. She doesn't like big furry creatures like Sophia.  I was so proud of my girls being so good yesterday.

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Omg! I just made a matching hat for the dresses.

So, I have always wondered if I could make a hat. Well, I think the answer is "Yes! I can!"


I serged up this little reversible hat on my serger this afternoon.


I am so excited that it was so easy.


Obviously, my three year old was goofing off when I let her be my model.

I guess I will making the mini version for Kaylee tomorrow so they both have matching bonnets.

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The mini dress

I serged a quick mini version of the ruffled flowered zebra print dress for Kaylee.


Here is the back. It is even although the photo doesn't look that way. It is hanging crooked on the hanger on the doorknob.


Here is where I made the basic mini dress patterns. They are a little hard to see because the reflection of the light on the vinyl.


The second time making this dress was easier. I cut out all the same shapes as the original for this dress just a little bit smaller for Kaylee's dress.


Kaylee is always on the move so it is hard to snap a good picture of her wearing the dress.


Here is another view under Sophia's bike.


She is such a busy girl.


This is where everything landed when we got home


Standing but crouched over.


Now, my next challenge is to make the accessories for this dress.

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Ruffles and zebra with flowers

My daughter Sophia just loves zebra print so I stopped in my tracks when I saw this adorable zebra flowered print.  I am personally a little tired of the zebra print with hot pink look so I thought I would switch it up a bit with turquoise polka dots.  Aware that spring fashion this year is showing flowers on everything, shoes, clothes, purses, hair barrettes and headbands, I figured might as well get my flower girls in on the girlie styles of spring.  I love little girls in super frilly cute ruffled dresses but they cost a lot.  I thought well, why not design one for my girls.  

If I were taking an advanced sewing and serging course this would have been the "Final" project of the year because I utilized everything I have been learning throughout my sewing adventure to create in sewing this little dress. 

This time I wanted to make an original fun dress without a store-bought pattern for my girls. I started by sketching out the idea on scratch paper and writing in what colors I wanted and where.  That was the easy part.  Then, I started to draw the pattern on a scrap piece of vinyl that I had lying around. I did use a partial pattern for the size estimate.   I drew the front.  (Pardon my sketches, I am terrible at drawing but I know what I mean.)

Here is the back of the dress pattern.  Then, I assembled it.  I started by serging the straps which wrapped around the shoulders and down under the arms.  Then I attached them to the main front and back of the dress

Then, I serged and sewed the gathered ruffles and attached them at the hem and around the shoulder straps before sewing the side seams.  Then, I serged all the seams together and added the ruffled scrunchy patch pockets.  I made almost the entire dress on the serger except for the topstitching which my serger cannot do although some can with a coverstitch.   

The idea was for this to be a spring/summer sundress.  



Here is the basic layout before seams were completed.

Sophia tried it on before I added the pockets to see if I needed to tweak the size a bit.  She told me she liked it without the pockets. I told her I was going to sew them on and as you can see she loved it even more with the ruffled scrunchy patch pockets.  Its all in the details.

Here she is showing off and dancing.

 "Mommy, I like my new dress!"

"Are you going to make Kaylee one too?"

 Here is a side and back view of Sophia's new dress.

Now that it is complete, I better start working on Kaylee's dress so she doesn't get jealous of big sis in her new ruffled zebra flower print dress.

Notes for me:   I finished all edges of the dress in a three thread rolled hem even though this was a cotton fabric.. I also used a new technique.  I placed embroidery thread normally used with embroidery sewing machines in the upper looper and lower looper to finish the edges beautifully. I love the way it looks, almost as much as using woolly nylon in the loopers although it does not spread out like woolly nylon on the seam.  It appears more shiny like embroidery on fabric.  I have wanted to try this technique for a while but was scared of all the tension dials and adjustments required to use another kind of thread I was unfamiliar with thus far. I finally tried it and just might have to use embroidery thread in my serger again.   I especially like the way it turned out on the ruffles like a ribbon edge.

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