Bunny Ear Hair Clip Tutorial with the Cricut Maker

March 6, 2018March 6, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / Leave a comment

This post is sponsored by Cricut. The opinions expressed in this post are my own. Affiliate links are included.

Spring is near and it’s time to break out the pastels, the florals and of course the Easter themed crafts! I’m here today to share a super simple tutorial to create these adorable bunny ear hair clips using the Cricut Maker. You’ll be able to recreate these cute clips in just minutes and won’t have to cut out a single piece of fabric with the help of your handy Cricut Maker cutting machine.

This was my first Cricut Maker sewing project and it most definitely won’t be my last! I really found the process easy and quick to upload my own design, choose the correct material and tool and get right to cutting. I was able to multi-task and sew some of the ear pieces while the machine cut the next set.

This project takes about 20-30 minutes to complete, is great for a beginner sewist and those new to Design Space, and will give you two, adorable 4″ by 2″ bunny ear clips.

Bunny Ear Hair Clip Tutorial

Supplies Needed:

Cricut Maker
Rotary Blade tool
Fabric Cutting Mat
Fat Quarter of Two Different Fabrics (can be quilting cotton, felt, denim, linen, etc)
Hair Clips
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue Sticks
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Tube Turner
Optional: Medium Weight Interfacing (needed if using thinner fabrics such as quilting cotton, linen, etc. to help add stiffness to the ears)
Optional: embellishments such as leather bows, felt bows, floral, pom poms, etc.
Bunny Ear Cut File

Using the Cricut Maker

You’ll start by logging into Design Space and opening the Bunny Ear Cut File linked above. You can change the size and proportion of the main ear and ear contrast pieces. You can also only cut one set of each if you are using non-sew materials. If you are sewing your main ear and ear contrast pieces from fabric, you’ll want to be sure to have the two mirrored sets of each as shown below.

The yellow mat shows the ear contrast pieces. In this sample, I used lawn fabric from Cotton and Steel.

You’ll select your materials for the ear contrast pieces. In this example, I chose Medium Fabrics (like Cotton), default pressure and the Rotary Blade tool.

I placed a small piece of the cotton fabric onto the Fabric Grip cutting mat and loaded it to the Cricut Maker.

After a quick peel of the fabric from the mat, I had the four ear contrast pieces.

Next, you’ll load another Fabric Grip cutting mat with your main ear fabric. In this example, I chose white felt but you can cut from other woven fabrics if you prefer!

Within moments, you’ll have your four main bunny ear pieces!

Sewing the Bunny Ears

Place the two sets of bunny ear contrast pieces together, right sides together and raw edges lining up. Sew around the long edges of the ear contrast with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Notch around the curves or use pinking shears to trim the seam allowance. Use a tube turner and turn the ear contrast pieces right side out. Press.

Place one ear contrast piece on one main ear piece as shown below. Sew to attach the contrast to the main using a satin stitch or small straight stitch.

Place two main ear pieces (one with the contrast sewn on and one without) together, right sides touching and the raw edges lining up. Sew around the long edges with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Use a tube turner again to turn the ears right side out.

Attaching the Bunny Ears

Using a hot glue gun, attach one bunny ear to a hair clip. Other options would be to attach the ears to a headband, floral halo, fascinator, pillbox hat, etc.

Embellishing the Bunny Ears

You can add fun embellishment such as leather bows, pom poms, flowers, etc. to dress up the bunny ears and help cover the clip.

I hope that gets you inspired and prepared for spring sewing!!! If you create your own set of bunny ears from this tutorial, please tag me on Instagram! I can’t wait to see what you sew up!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

6 Things I’m Doing Differently in My Thirties

February 22, 2018February 22, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / 12 Comments

Hey friends! I really wanted to expand my blog topics to stuff other than just sewing, and this is something that has been on my mind lately. I hope you don’t mind me jumping into some “motherhood” conversations and talks about getting O L D, but I hope you can relate to some of what I have to say or maybe find inspiration to change some habits as you approach (or embrace) a new phase of life.

Let me first start off by saying that I looooooved my twenties. I had a stellar group of friends. I had a great job teaching and a side job of leading group exercise classes too. Life was good. Enter my thirties. We moved, meaning I had to say goodbye to the paradise life of Hawaii, goodbye to some of the most incredible friends I could dream of, and start a new adventure. Ch-Ch-Changes everywhere. And, somewhere along the way, my body decided it was going to stop living the good life too. I found myself no longer able to stay up to the wee hours of the morning sewing. I could no longer eat whatever I wanted without noticing a change in my skin or figure. I had to all of a sudden be really intentional about relationships. I couldn’t keep up with the frantic pace I set in my twenties. After a bit of a downward slump, I decided something needed to change. So, today friends, I am sharing 6 new habits I embraced while facing this new phase of life.

I gave myself a bedtime. Thanks to a dear, new friend who introduced me to the bedtime feature on the iPhone. We were out for a Moms Night Out when I noticed her phone screen light up with a notification to go to bed. I didn’t mean to be nosey, but if you know me, I of course blurted out “You have a bedtime?!!?!” She explained how much she enjoys a full night of sleep and how the bedtime app helps her get to bed on time. That simple conversation stuck with me and about a week later, I decided to check out this bedtime feature on my phone. I set myself up for a solid 8 hours of sleep each night during the week, with no alarm on the weekend. Let me tell you- GAME CHANGER! The app alerts me 15 minutes prior to my bedtime so that I can go through my bedtime routine and make it into bed in time to allow me a full nights rest.

2. I started driving in the slow lane. After watching an amazing video by Mandy Arioto, in which she encouraged people to try taking the slow lane (on the road, in the grocery store, etc) for two weeks and see how that slows the pace of their lives. I gave it a go, and here I am several months later still taking the slow lane. I used to try and maximize my schedule every day- filling in every open space of time with some type of task. This left me tired, frazzled and constantly late. I hated disappointing others who were waiting for me to show up. I hated finally sitting down at the end of the day feeling completely depleted and yet still not 100% successful. Since then, I’ve built in cushion time to my day so that I don’t have to rush. Now I actually show up early to things for a change. I stopped trying to multi-task or fill every single minute of the day and instead I started letting go of tasks and things that weren’t essential. I don’t miss the rush. I don’t miss the exhausted pigeon lifestyle. I do, however, enjoy driving in the slow lane with the silver-haired geniuses that figured out this habit long before I did.

3. I started a quarterly “Treat Yo Self” day. After being a mom and constantly putting others’ needs above my own for 8+ years, I decided that four times a year I could treat myself to a really wonderful spa treatment. I found a local spa that offers a special each season with fresh ingredients used in the massage, scrub and body masque treatment. In addition, the spa grants access for the day to their sauna, spa, multiple outdoor pools, steam room and beautiful grounds. I look forward to the change of seasons knowing that means a new spa menu is being made and my appointment is coming up! Having a special treat to look forward to is so rewarding and encouraging. Spending the morning just to myself, in peace and quiet and pampering renews my tired mama heart. I am finding that after my treatment I feel more alive, more rejuvenated and more energized than ever!

4. I started taking care of my skin. I remember on my wedding day, I was putting eye shadow on my mom and I made a comment about how the skin on her eyelid moved with the brush. She laughed and said something about one day mine will too. Welp. She was right… my eyelid skin now moves around as I attempt to put on some shadow to brighten my tired eyes. Darn it. And, I recently read an article that said if you don’t wash your face before bed each night you’ll age like a billion times faster. Ok, maybe it didn’t say a billion but the point was made. In my twenties, I definitely just plopped into bed without going through a really solid bedtime skin care routine. Well, you can teach an old dog new tricks because now I actually look forward to the whole face washing ordeal! I have started using a face brush and probiotic cleanser (affiliate links). I’m still on the hunt for a good night time moisturizer, so if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below! With my 15 minute notification before my bedtime, I make it a point to care for my skin and keep it clean!

5. I invested in friendships. This sounds so odd, but it’s definitely something moms forget to do in the chaos of raising young children. In the past, I found it so easy to meet new people, to “collect” acquaintances wherever I went and to be super social. Fast forward to my 30s and all of a sudden I’m shy, self conscious and just probably a little too tired to put forth effort to make new friends. Instead, I realized I needed to invest in the few, valuable friendships that I already had. Carving out time to text, FaceTime, message on IG, etc. became a priority for long-distance friendships. Making a point to get together for a play date, coffee talk or even better- a girls night out moved up on my list of to-dos. There’s that saying “Friends are like shoes; you don’t need own a few hundred pairs, all you need is a few good ones.” I am so grateful for my tribe, my support system and my go-to gals. They know who they are and they know they are far more valuable than a hundred pairs of shoes!

6. I started saying no. Being a people-pleaser to my core, I could never turn down a request for help, a friend in need, or a network opportunity on social media. I loved a full plate and then I was grabbing for more dishes. Again, cue the exhausted pigeon, multi-tasking yet failing, ragged self. A dear mentor mom encouraged me to focus on two things: is this right for my family, is it really as important as I think it is? If the request didn’t pass those two questions, then I felt confident and able to say no. And, not say no and make up a lie why I couldn’t do it…but say no and leave it at that. I don’t know why I feel like it’s so hard to just politely decline something, but it definitely took a lot of conscious effort on my part to change my constant “yes” reply to whatever came my way. With this new freedom, I’ve been able to spend more quality time with my family (that intentional, not sidetracked time), feel more creative and make things just for the fun of it, and have more down time to just do nothing!

Phew! That felt therapeutic to put out there! I hope you found some inspiration, encouragement and maybe a few ideas to put into practice in whatever phase of life you are going through. I’d love to hear your feedback and if you have any insights to share about the good ol’ aging deal. Thanks for reading.

-XOXO

Cassie

// Outfit details: Piper top (modified) and Pixie top patterns from Violette Field Threads. Top Fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics. Bottoms, shoes and hat from Target. Photos taken by Alexis of My Sweet Sunshine. Tutorial for hair bows on my Instagram.

Quick & Easy Sewing with the Cricut Maker: A Review

February 20, 2018February 22, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / Leave a comment

This post is sponsored by Cricut. The opinions expressed in this post are my own. Affiliate links are included.

If you remember back to last summer, Cricut partnered with several sewing bloggers to initiate a #SewCricut collaboration. I was one of the fortunate few that were asked to try the Cricut Air Explore 2 and blog about a sewing project I created with the help from the Cricut machine. You can read my post and see photos of what I made here.

Well, lucky me…again! This time they sent the new Cricut Maker machine and asked that I share a review of the newest cutting machine in their lineup. I played around with the new Maker for about a month to get comfortable enough to share my thoughts. I’ll be back again in March to show you a sewing project I created with the Cricut Maker’s help so stay tuned for that follow up post!

First, let’s talk about the details of the Cricut Maker and what sets it apart from the other cutting machines.

Most notably: Easily and quickly cuts through hundreds of fabric types without stabilizers needed using a rotary blade.
Compatible with hundreds of digital sewing patterns available in Cricut Design Space, including patterns from Simplicity and Riley Blake.
Easily and quickly marks seam allowances on fabric with the Washable Fabric pen.
Double Tool Holder means you can go from marking to cutting the fabric without having to change a thing!
New Adaptive Tool System™ with 10x the cutting force.
Can cut through many more materials such as leather, mat board, vinyl, paper, etc.
Thoughtful storage compartments on the top and in front flap.
Tablet or phone dock as well as a usb port to charge devices.

Here’s how the Cricut Maker can help you to complete sewing projects quickly and easily:

The fabric no longer needs to be bonded to something like stabilizer in order for the machine to cut it. The Cricut Maker has a rotary blade tool that works just like your handheld rotary blade. It’s super precise and can cut curves, tight corners, etc. without a snag! This means you can put your fabric directly on the mat and with a press of a button your pattern pieces can be cut out with precision and speed!

The machine also can mark seam allowances and stitching lines with the Washable Fabric pen. When sewing small projects like doll clothes, accessories and such, having a clear seam allowance guide is super helpful. Since the pen and rotary blade can be in the tool system at the same time, you don’t have to change out anything in between tasks.

The patterns in Design Space have step-by-step directions including size of fabric cuts, extra materials that may be needed, what to load on each mat, how to assemble (including full color photos), tips and also approximate time needed to complete the project. There is also the option to upload your own patterns, but I have yet to try this feature.

For those sewing small projects like doll clothing, wallets and purses, hair accessories, small quilts, stuffed animals, baby shoes, etc. the Cricut Maker can cut out most if not all of your fabric pieces saving you tons time and energy! Also, Cricut has a super handy sewing kit that comes with the essential tools needed while sewing with the Cricut Maker.

Here are a few photos to show you my first attempt at using the Cricut Maker for a sewing project. The Vintage Fabric Bunting Banner project is available in Design Space here.

Now to my thoughts on the Cricut Maker:

I really appreciate the extra storage, usb charging port and the increased cutting speed. Sometimes it’s the little things that totally win me over!

I am excited to utilize the rotary blade and sewing patterns to continue to help my 8 year old become an independent sewist. One area that tends to give me the most worry is having her cut out the projects as she is still developing her scissor cutting skills and isn’t quite mature enough to use a handheld rotary cutter. Having that step done safely and quickly with the Cricut Maker will allow us to spend more time working on her sewing skills and keeping her little fingers safe.

The larger fabric cutting mat (12″ x 24″) really opens up the possibilities in terms of sewing project size. No need to be constrained to tiny projects!

Cricut Design Space seems to be so intuitive for me to use and I love that the machine comes with a starter project. As soon as you plug your Cricut in and connect to a device, it literally walks you through a step by step project (materials included) to get you comfortable with the main features of the machine. The Cricut Maker came with a really great card with a small fabric feature. In completing the project, I learned how to install the pen to the tool dock, use multiple mats specific to the type of material used, install the rotary blade to cut fabric, and assemble a multi-layered project. In 5 minutes, I had a really great overview of how I can use the Cricut Maker to create amazing projects.

The Cricut Maker isn’t only for fabric- I’ve used mine so many times in the last month for all sorts of projects. I linked to the projects in Design Space so you can easily re-create them too!

Last minute Valentine’s Cards for my kids (last minute as in 10 pm on February 13th with a 10:35 pm bedtime!) with Natalie Malan’s paper.

Personalized map artwork for my master bedroom with vinyl.

100th Day of School tees for my kids (with their help!) using Iron On.

A new front door mat using a stencil made from cardstock.

I hope you found this review helpful and inspirational! Please let me know if you have further questions about the Maker and I will do my best to address them in the follow up post coming at the beginning of March. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this new cutting machine! Tell me your favorite feature or what you hope to sew using the Cricut Maker in the comments below!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

{One Thimble} Issue 18 Blog Tour

February 17, 2018February 15, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / 13 Comments

Issue 18??!?!? How is that so?? I remember joining the Pattern Revolution team back with One Thimble Issue 2 and have sewn something from nearly every single issue since! I’ll recap some of my favorites at the end of this post. But for now, let’s take a look at the Ladies Ballerina Tie Top from The Wolf and The Tree.

I sewed this top up in about an hour using this really beautiful sage green knit from Hobby Lobby. I made my top with the double sided tie option, medium sleeve length, and the neckband finish.

I love that the ties can wrap around the front, or across the back, can be sewn to the same side and tie across the body, etc. The styling options are endless!

The pattern also includes a cowl neck option, perfect for those in cooler temps! A huge size range, Ladies 0-22 US, makes this pattern very versatile for tweens through women! Also, the Ladies Ballerina Tie Top has 5 different sleeve options, making it a great year-round sew!

The pattern includes the layer printing option which allows you to print only the size(s) you want! Great for saving ink and paper!

If you’re looking to branch out into some self-care sewing, this would be the perfect beginner pattern! Sewing a top with stretch allows you some wiggle room in the fit and the simple construction will have you feeling confident and successful.

Wanting to make Mom-and-Me outfits? The Ballerina Tie top also can be made in girls sizes!

{Sewing with Denim} Adding Embellishments & A FREE 3D Appliqué Tutorial

February 9, 2018February 8, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / Leave a comment

Hey friends! I am back to share with you a highly requested tutorial for the 3D appliqué you all saw on my instagram stories last week *and* to share some inspiration for denim embellishments!

Denim is great for apparel (obviously) but also great for featuring your clever and creative embellishments! A huge trend right now is hand embroidery and denim provides the perfect canvas (see what I did there) for your embroidered designs! I’ve shared a few of my faves from Pinterest below.

Denim is also great for other embellishments such as tassels, beadwork, pom trim, lace, etc. I’ve linked some of my favorite inspiration below.

Here’s why denim is so great for embellishments:

It’s sturdy. When adding appliqués, beading, lace, etc. you need a good foundation in the fabric to work with or your embellishments will be floppy, may fall off, etc. Denim is a great substrate to use as it’s got the perfect weave and weight.
It’s a blank canvas. Literally. Denim typically comes in a solid color or wash and therefore makes it super easy to add color and texture.

Have I convinced you to embellish ALL the denim yet?!?! If not…let’s take a look at this quick and easy tutorial to add a 3D appliqué to your favorite denim apparel!

How to sew a 3D applique

Materials needed:

Apparel item (I chose the Catherine front bodice for this example, from Clay Traces streaked denim by AGF)
Fusible interfacing (quick shop affiliate link: Amazon)
Fussy cut fabric (you can cut two like I did, or just cut one main and one for the lining). By the way, “fussy cut” means to cut a specific area of the fabric print rather than just randomly cutting the fabric. In this case, I fussy cut out two moths.

Step 1: Iron on the fusible web to the wrong side of the main appliqué piece.

You can opt to cut out the fusible web to the same shape as the appliqué first. This will keep your iron from getting gummy.

Step 2: Place the main appliqué on the lining appliqué, right sides together. Sew carefully around the appliqué with a small seam allowance, leaving a small opening along a straight side. I used 1/8″ seam allowance since this is a tiny moth!

Step 3: Trim seam allowance at corners, clip into corners and notch curves. Be careful not to catch your stitches. Do not trim seam allowance at the opening.

Step 4: Use a turning tool to pull appliqué right side out through the opening. I love this tool (quick shop affiliate link).

Step 5: Press appliqué. Topstitch all the way around appliqué OR hand stitch the opening closed.

Step 6: Fold the appliqué in half, main sides touching. Press to create a crease.

Step 7: Place appliqué on the apparel item. If you are sewing more than one appliqué, you can lay out your arrangement before sewing to be sure you like the spacing and placement. Pin appliqué(s) in place. Sew a small line of stitches close to the fold to secure appliqué to apparel item. Repeat for remaining appliqués.

Step 8: Finger press or use a light iron to press appliqué flat along the crease. You may also hand tack corners of the appliqué as you see fit.

How fun, quick and easy is that!??!!? Check out the finished look below:

I hope you are feeling inspired and equipped to create some lovely 3D appliqués for your next denim apparel project! Please share if you do! Be sure to tag me on Instagram with @lilyshinecreates or send me an email so I can share!

June’s Cottage: Briar Hill Designs Fabric Blog Tour

February 6, 2018February 5, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / Leave a comment

Spring is coming soon and the new June’s Cottage fabric collection is going to be a must have!!! Beautiful painted roses, delicate blossoms and berries, dainty florals in hues such as amethyst, candlelight, pear tree, and raindrop create a romantic collection with a vintage touch.

We are so excited to be a part of the June’s Cottage fabric blog tour hosted by Briar Hill Designs for RJR Fabrics. Let’s check out what I sewed up!

I couldn’t resist the gorgeous Prized Roses in Mayfair! I adore the hand painted look and anything purple is my little girl’s favorite! I paired the rose print with Baby’s Breath in Ribbon and added a sweet lilac velvet ribbon for a sash.

For the second dress, I chose Forget Me Not in Tea Cup and Laurel in Coast. I had a beautiful white lace trim that completed the look! Both dresses were made from the Penelope dress pattern by Violette Field Threads.

The lovely ladies of Briar Hill Designs are hosting a fun giveaway along with this great fabric blog tour! The giveaway will run on Instagram starting Saturday, February 10th. One lucky winner will receive a fat quarter bundle of the June’s Cottage fabric, six Briar Hill Designs quilt patterns and an original piece of watercolor art.

Don’t forget to check out all the great stops on the tour!!!

Feb 5th: Blossom Heart Quilts

Feb 6th: Lily Shine Creates

Feb 7th: Tangled Blossoms

Feb 8th: Aggie and Francois

Feb 9th: Katy Livings

Feb 10th: Briar Hill Designs

Big thanks to the ladies of Briar Hill Designs and the team at RJR Fabrics for including us in this fun maker’s tour!

{Sewing with Denim} The Perfect Fitting Pant

February 1, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / Leave a comment

After the first Sewing with Denim post, many readers brought up concerns in sewing pants for themselves or their children. Many also made comments that pants patterns seem intimidating and measurements all over the board mean size mashing is needed. Don’t worry, friends! I’ve got you!!! In this blog post we’ll talk about the anatomy of a pant (I don’t know if that’s a thing but I’m calling it that!), how to reference a size chart and how to modify a pants pattern for the perfect fit. This post is meant to be easy for a beginner to read and put into practice, but at the end of the post I’ll be linking up other great resources for more in-depth alterations that may be needed! Let’s get to it!

The Anatomy of the Pant Pattern

Let’s take a look at the key part of the pant pattern that you will want to pay close attention to when mashing sizes or altering a pattern for a better fit. For example sake, I’ve created a general pattern piece for a pant front and back, please note that it is not intended for real use.

Side Seam: This is the part of the pant that is on the outside of the legs from the waist to the hem, where the front and the back pant pieces are joined.

Inseam: This is the part of the pant that runs along the inside of the legs, from the crotch to the hem.

Front rise: This is the curve of the pant that runs along the front from the waist to the crotch.

Back rise: This is the curve of the pant that runs along the front from the waist to the crotch. Usually the back rise is longer than the front to accommodate the bum!

Measuring for a Better Fit

Taking accurate measurements and using those measurements to reference a size chart is critical in sewing a great fitting garment. There are a few key measurements needed in order to help choose the correct size(s) to use when cutting out your pants pattern.

Waist: Measure around the wearer where the top of the pant will sit. Keep in mind that usually a waistband is added, so measure lower for the top of the pant versus the top of the waistband.

Hip: Measure around the wearer at the fullest part of the hip. The hip measurement is usually take between the waist and the crotch.

Thigh: Measure around the fullest part of the wearer’s leg.

Knee: Measure around the wearer’s knee.

Inseam: Measure from the crotch to where you’d like the hem to hit along the inside of the wearer’s leg.

Leg opening: Measure around the wearer’s ankle, allowing for ease to fit the foot through the leg opening.

After taking these measurements, reference the size chart for the pants pattern you’d like to use. Keep in mind size charts vary by designer so just because the wearer needs a size 4 for one company doesn’t mean they will need a size 4 for another.

When referencing the size chart, find where the wearer’s measurements fall for each of the key points mentioned above. Specifics such as the knee and leg opening may not be included. You can use those measurements and the size chart to mash sizes for each of those key points if needed.

Mashing for a Better Fit

Since most people don’t fit the same standard size according to a size chart for their waist, hip, thigh and inseam, mashing multiple sizes is needed for a great fitting garment. Let’s look at a specific example and some tips for mashing multiple sizes. Note: This technique works best when mashing among 2-3 sizes. If further mashing is needed, a muslin is suggested with custom alterations for the most perfect fit.

In this specific example, let’s say size 4 is blue, size 5 is green and size 6 is yellow. The black lines drawn in is the new custom pattern piece. Note that the sizes are nested with the crotch points aligned. This will make for easy mashing. If you have a pants pattern where that point is not aligned, you may want to cut out each size, align them at the crotch point and tape them together before starting to mash.

If the wearer has a size 4 waist, size 5 hip and thigh and a size 6 length, mashing will help you sew pants that will fit the wearer nicely.

Start by marking the length. You’ll want to keep the rise, the inseam and the side seam a size 6 (for this example). If you alter the rise, inseam or side seam to be any shorter than the needed length, you will end up with pants that are too short or sit too low on the wearer. If your wearer needs a shorter length than their width size, draw horizontal lines across the pattern pieces at the size for the length.

Next, mark the waist. You’ll simply extend the size 4 waist line up to the size 6 for this example.

Then, mark the hip, thigh and leg opening. You’ll draw a curve from the waist markings out to the size 5 hip, thigh and down the pant leg. You follow the same process along the rise and inseam of the pant.

Note any of these alterations will need to be transferred to other pattern pieces such as the waistband, hem facing, pockets, etc.

Once you’ve customized the pattern piece at the waist, hip, thigh, etc. you’ll cut the pattern pieces out along those new lines and get to sewing!

I hope you found some helpful tips and tricks in this post. Sometimes even further alterations are needed but get to be a bit more complicated and are geared towards the advanced sewist. Some helpful links for problem areas are included below.

A great video on altering the crotch length.

A full thigh alteration plus other great tips.

A Craftsy class for altering pants.

For more precise altering for jeans (this is geared towards ladies’ wear)

How to alter for cloth diapers.

{Introduction} Sewing with Denim

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / Leave a comment

Hey sewing friends! I’d like to begin the New Year with several series to help you build confidence in sewing apparel and to encourage you to try new things. First up, we’ll be taking a look at sewing with denim! Let’s start by learning a little bit about denim and taking a look at various types and weights of denim that are great for apparel.

What are denim fabrics?

Denim fabrics are sturdy fabrics with a particular woven construction. Typically denim is made from indigo and white yarn but over time the term has come to reference various colors other than just blue.

What are the various types of denim best for apparel? I love using Art Gallery Fabrics denims for clothing. Let’s see their denim studio offerings:

Classic Denim
- 100% Cotton
- 4.5 oz/sqm weight
Textured Denim
- 100% Cotton
- 10 oz/sqm weight
Smooth Denim
- 80% Cotton 20% Polyester
- 4.5 oz/sqm weight
Linen Blends
- 55% Linen 45% Cotton
- 220 g/sqm weight
Lovey Dobby
- 100% Cotton
- 123 g/sqm weight
Crosshatch Textured Denim
- 100% Cotton
- 10 oz/sqm weight
Outland Yarn Dyes
- 100% Cotton
- 4 oz/sqm
Streaked Blend
- 65% Cotton 34% Polyester 1% Spandex
- 5 oz/sqm

When selecting the denim that is right for your project, pay attention to the weight of the fabric (shown typically in g/sqm).

Lightweight fabrics will be less than 150 g/sqm. You’ll want to choose lightweight fabrics for apparel that needs to have a good flow or will be fully lined. Ideas for apparel items: blouses, flowy skirts, children’s apparel, etc.

Medium weight fabrics are usually between 150 & 300 g/sqm. Medium weight fabrics are great for apparel patterns that need some structure but also allow for movement. Ideas for apparel items: pants, jackets, structured skirts, etc.

Heavy weight fabrics will be 300+ g/sqm. Typically heavy weight fabrics aren’t the best for kids apparel, so I tend to steer clear of them.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the fabric content. Any denims that include spandex (like the Streaked Blend from AGF) will have some stretch to it. Denims that have a combination of cotton and polyester will typically have less wrinkling or will shrink less in the wash.

You can read more about the various AGF denim offerings on their blog.

Here are some of my favorite denims. Simply click the photo (affiliate link) to shop. I’m curious if you recognize these fabrics from any of my previous sews????

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing sewing projects made from each type of denim offered by AGF. Which type of denim listed above are you most excited to see?? Leave me a note in the comments below!

In the meantime, shop around to find what type of denim you’ll need for your next apparel sewing project. You can also check out my Pinterest board I’ll be using during this series for more inspiration!

{Friday Favorites} Sewing for Valentine’s Day

January 19, 2018January 19, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / 2 Comments

Love is in the air. Fabric love, that is! As each holiday approaches, the mad dash to the fabric store to find “the” fabric combination that will help create the most picture perfect holiday ensemble begins. I’m back for another round of Friday Favorites- this time all about Valentine’s Day! Let’s look at some of my favorite mushy, romantic prints and great patterns to coordinate! I’ve made it super easy- just click the image to shop (some contain affiliate links)!

Quilting Cottons

Knits

And now some of my favorite patterns just perfect for Valentine’s Day!

I’m a sucker for circle skirts for V-day! This Lacey dress has so much twirl and the vintage style is perfect for some of those romantic prints linked above!

The bright floral knits will be perfect for this circle skirted knit dress, Juilanna!

Retro styling in red, black and white would be sublime with Hattie!

Dainty florals will pair perfectly with the sweet ruffles in Clara!

Since I’m hoping to sew more for me, I have to try this Amelia Misses pattern in gorgeous floral knits!

A touch of ruffles in the Harlow top is perfect for a romantic look!

I hope this leaves you inspired and excited to sew some LOVE with these gorgeous fabrics and pdf patterns!!! Can you guess what ones I’m selecting for my girls and I?? Leave me a comment below!

Want to win a $25 gift card to Hawthorne Threads to help fund your inspiration for Valentine’s Day sewing?? Head over to my Instagram and enter to win!

{Beginner Sewing} FREE Download: Sewing Practice Sheets

January 15, 2018January 14, 2018 / lilyshineboutique / 5 Comments

I know many set a New Year’s Resolution to learn how to sew, to get better at sewing or try new sewing techniques such as sewing apparel. I also know that many have gifted their children or grandchildren with sewing machines for Christmas and are now staring at the box thinking “Now What???” I brainstormed with my daughter how we could help motivate, encourage and educate those who are needing a little jumpstart into the realm of sewing. We came up with some great Beginner Sewing post ideas as well as a fun Instagram Highlight series. We hope you find these little tutorials helpful, fun and supportive as you jump into sewing!

Today’s post is really for those who have some basic knowledge of how to use their sewing machine, can set up their machine with thread and a full bobbin and that’s about it! If that’s not you- don’t worry, we have some more basic posts planned as well as some more advanced posts to reach as many skill levels as we can!

When I started teaching my oldest how to use her sewing machine at age 5, we started with sewing practice sheets on paper. When trying to just master a straight stitch or explore how to sew curves, using practice sheets will help you to build that muscle memory in your hands and your sewing foot (the one that presses your sewing machine pedal!). The cool thing about sewing practice sheets is that you can just print over and over to your hearts content! I’ve created 4 sewing practice sheets for the beginner that gradually advance in difficulty. Skip down to the end of this post for the full pdf download or print as images by clicking each sheet below.

Sewing Practice Sheet #1 focuses on sewing a straight line. You’ll start stitching at the top of the line and continue sewing to the end. The goal is to keep your stitch line as close to the dashed lines as possible.

Sewing Practice Sheet #2 focuses on sewing straight lines, pivoting at the end of the straight line and continuing to sew. The goal is to keep your stitch line as close to the dashed line as possible. When you get to the end of the straight line, leave your needle down in the corner point, lift your presser foot, pivot the paper, lower your presser foot and continue sewing to the next corner.

Sewing Practice Sheet #3 introduces curves. The goal is to keep your stitch line as close to the dashed curved line as possible. One helpful hint with curves is to not start and stop, push or pull the paper but rather just slowly manipulate the paper side to side as your needle tracks along the curve. Stopping and starting will cause sharp points and segments in the stitches rather than a smooth curve. This will take practice to build the muscle memory in your hands to learn how much give and how much go it will take to smooth the curve.

Sewing Practice Sheet #4 focuses on a continuous curve. The goal is the keep your stitch line as close to the dashed curves as possible. You’ll need to get really good at sewing curves when you start to sew apparel- think necklines, sleeves, pockets, circle skirt hemlines, etc. A super valuable sewing skill so take your time and practice perfect practice!

Full PDF Download: Sewing Practice Sheets

We hope you found these sewing practice sheets helpful!! We’d love to know your thoughts on the series and if you have any particular requests that we cover! Let us know in the comments below. If you’d like to follow along with our fun sewing videos, be sure to hop over to our Instagram and see the story highlights titled “Beginner Sewing.”