Lasso The Moon

Initial Tee Tutorial

Make this with me:

First, choose the letter style that you want on your shirt.  I printed mine from the computer at about 6 inches tall.  It fit really well on the little shirts.  The font I used was called curls.  I think it's pretty standard.  Print the letter (or freedhand) and cut it out:

Then, pick your fabric.  Make sure it looks good with your tshirt.

Next, iron on a paper-backed fusible webbing to the WRONG side of the fabric.  Make sure that you read the manufacturer's instructions for this, because they are all different.  With mine, you do NOT use steam for this step.

Next, take the paper template that you made and lay it UPSIDE-DOWN on the paper backing.  Trace around it with a pencil--directly onto the paper backing. 

Using very sharp scissors, cut the letter out.  Then carefully peel the backing of of the fabric:

Then, position your letter on the shirt, exactly where you want it to stay, and carefully iron it on.  The product I use requires that I DO use steam for this step, but all products are different I have found.
This is also a good time to add any other shapes that you would like on your shirt.  I added a small heart:

Next, turn your shirt inside-out and attach a tear-away stabilizer  right behind the applique.  You can attach it using pins, or I used a temporary spray adhesive that I had left over from a quilt project.

Now you are ready to sew.  Set your sewing machine stitch to a wide, close zig-zag in a coordinating color thread.  If your tension is even a little bit off, make sure that the bobbin thread is the same color.  Stitch all the way around the letter.  Don't forget to backstitch at the beginning and end of a line of stitching!

Turn the tshirt inside out again, and CAREFULLY tear away the stabilizer.   Try to get it out of the small places, too.

To cut down on itchiness and make a more professional look, iron on a fusible knit interfacing to the inside of the shirt.  This will also help secure your stitches.  And that's it!  You now have your own initial tee!  You can now wear it, or add even more embellishment, like I did below, with the ribbon and button.

I can't wait to give these to the little flower girls!

Have fun making your own!  Or you might want to skip all that and just order them here!

Flower Girls

Well, I have been working and working and working over the last few days.  I thought the flower girl dresses would NEVER be done.  But here they are!

I am just melting over these dresses.  Abby is having 4 flower girls...ages 2 (Emma) to 7.  They are going to be just a cloud of tulle walking down the aisle.  That is, if they all cooperate.  Emma has developed a phobia of tulle lately.  I had to seriously bribe her to put it on for this picture.  I'll keep everyone posted on this subject.
Details:

I also made these little goodies for the flower girls:

Little shirts with their initials appliqued on them. I got the idea when I realized that the 4 girls initials spell the word "cake!"  How cute!  I added a tiny button and ribbon in the middle of the hearts---I love that detail.  These little shirts are so fun to do, that I'm going to offer them on Ebay pretty soon.  I'll let you know when that happens.  I'm thinking around Feb 15th.  Also, if you are the DIY type, I'm going to put up a tutorial on how to make them, and what supplies you need.  That will be tomorrow I hope.  The photos are all ready to go.
Before I go I have to share the fabric that I am using for Emma's Easter dress.  I cannot wait.

So Springy!  We don't do pastels for Easter over here!

These are the rules

This is a little project I've been thinking about, and since I have the blog now, I have somewhere to keep it and show my progress. 
I'm making a list of "house rules".  The funny part is that each rule is the result of some bit of trouble that Emma (and eventually Ethan) has actually gotten into.  It will be funny to see how the list evolves and grows over the years...so here are the first three:

#3   Lotion is for skin only.  Not Hair.

#2  Do not slurp the water out of the bathtub stopper.

#1  No rolling toys on Baby Brother's face.

Man, I'm going to have some great stories to share someday.

Anna

Welcome

Emma (2) is serving me "tea" in the living room.  It's time for her nap, but I am enjoying her company so much that I think I'll let her stay up just a little longer.  I am ultimately avoiding the flower girl dresses that I have to finish for my sister's wedding in two weeks.  They are really adorable, but somehow just having a deadline makes the whole process distasteful.  So much that I am actually trying to think up housework projects that I could do.  Yikes.
But in a few minutes I'll put her to bed, drag my six-week-old Ethan down to the "dungeon" with me, and I'll remember that I do actually like to sew.  Pictures of the dresses coming soon--maybe tonight when I finish them! 
Until next time, I'll look forward to meeting some of you crafty ones out there.
Ta ta!