The Train To Crazy

Taking pants down a size (or two) tutorial

The problem with losing weight is having to buy new clothes. Often in sizes you don't wish to own. So what do you do when you find yourself wearing jeans that look like this: 

No, this won't do! No worries. There is a very quick fix that doesn't involve taking apart waistbands and hems.

1. Put your pants on inside out. Figure out how much extra in the waist and legs you need to take in. PIn the top and carefully step out of the pants.

2. Sew down each side. Make sure to sew an even amount on each side so you don't have a wonky seam up your backside. 

Notice here I made an original seam then tried the pants on and realized I wanted to take them in 1/4" on each side so I sewed another seam.

3. Finish the seam. Use a serger, pinking sheers or a zigzag stitch. 

4. Sew the seam down at the waist and bottom of the pant leg. The outside will look like this: 

Can you see that stitching 1/4" to the left of the seam? The inside will look like this: 

Sometimes you will want to take in the inseam as well to get a better fit. Just go for it in the same manor you did the side seams.

Now wear those pants with pride for the next 4 weeks until you go down another size!

Looking for adorable little girl patterns? Have you seen Petite Kids Boutique?

Feature Friday

Thanks everyone for linking up to Make It Wear It this week! The party is still open if you haven't had a chance to link up! If you link back here there is a chance you'll be featured!

Siesta's and Sewing: interlock Sailboat Pants

Maybe Matilda: Sidewalk Shawl

Melly Sews: Pintucked Poppies dress

If you are featured here at The Train To Crazy please feel free to grab a featured button to display on your blog if you'd like!

Make It Wear It Thursday

This week is dragging by for me. I hope yours is a little less slow motion! Have you been sewing? Knitting? Jewelry making? What have you been creating lately? If it is something that can be worn it can be linked!

Want me to feature it on facebook, twitter or this blog? Make sure you link back. Grab a button if you'd like. Don't worry, linking back isn't a requirement. I know it isn't everyone's "thing".

Last week's "WOW"? This adorable dress. Check out how A+a=Z painted and made this dress.

Wednesday Pinterest Love

Pinterst is a wonderful, beautiful tool. Or it can be when used correctly. I love finding ways to make life more wonderful. I dislike when it makes me want things I don't need.

Here are some things that won't make you covet your neghbor's house, body, cooking abilities, crafting abilities or partner.

Source: designspongeonline.com via Andrea on Pinterest

 

A wonderful way to remember special movents every day. Store them on cards with the date so the following year's special moment is on the same card. 

Source: weheartit.com via Andrea on Pinterest

 

This is me. Exactly.

Source: 9gag.com via Andrea on Pinterest

 

This is also me. =)

 

Source: theamericankid.com via Andrea on Pinterest

 

I think I could like this dog.

Need fabric? Raspberry Creek Fabric has what you want! Have you checked out the store yet?

The end of Project Run & Play but the beginning of oh so much

I'm beginning the sewing for my soon to be 7 year old's room makeover. I started by making a pinboard. Of course. You can't start anything without a pinboard anymore, can you?

Then I picked out some fabrics. Oh my. I think she'll be in love.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to go with more of a neutral duvet cover or a floral quilty one. You can probably guess which way I went. 

Considering this color pallet, what color would you paint the wall? Nothing pink. She shares her room with her little brother. Though I'm sure he doesn't care!

Random Bits:

• All Advertising revenue earned from this blog from now through March will be donated to help my kids raise $5,100 for a house for an orphan family through World Vision. You can see their efforts through their blog at Heart & Felt. Current rates are $1 per day. Get advertising and make an effort in an orphan's life at the same time! Win, win! Contact me with questions.
• Did you see Crap I Made is quitting the business of blogging? I love seeing people set priorities with their time. Good for you Char!
• I'm out of Project Run & Play. Did you hear me exhale? I was pretty relieved. Those projects were taking me forever to sew and they are not helping me get my daily life and my list done!
• Project 16 for Craft Hope has been announced. If you can knit, crochet or sew this one is for you! Even if you're a beginner! Go check it out. This one is benefiting children with cancer. Totally worth your time.
• Ashley from Lil Blue Boo talks about how people react to her bald head. You'll want to read this so you know how to behave around people who obviously  have cancer. 

Car Play Mat Garage Tutorial

I was so excited for the book Sewing for Boys: 24 Projects to Create a Handmade Wardrobe to be published. I patiently awaited it's release date and flipped through it as soon as I received it. The first project I chose from the book is the Car Play Mat. My kids love little cars and my son received a whole box of hot wheels for Christmas so this was perfect! 
I followed the pattern for the road but made some of my own adjustments. I wanted a play mat that would be used for more than two minutes so it needed a bit more appeal. 

To make your play mat like mine you'll want to cut your background fabric larger than the pattern (I used a heavy denim which I think is a great weight for this). Mine is about 36"x36" but you could certainly make it larger.

Then you can add a zip pouch to the background by cutting a piece of fabric about 18"x7". I used a 12 inch zipper.

Cut a slit in your garage fabric an inch shorter than the length of the zipper teeth.

Then cut a little "Y" at each end and iron it like this. You will now have an open rectangle in which to sew your zipper. I then laid the zipper down and used stitch witchery (double sided bonding) to attach it to the fabric before stitching.  Then flip over your garage fabric to the right side and, using a zipper foot just sew a rectangle around the zipper. Most machines can't sew through a zipper so if your fabric covers a bit of the zipper end make sure to avoid the teeth.

Easy, right? 

Now fold the edges under 1/4", iron, then fold 1/4" again and iron. Pin it in place on your play mat. I pinned the two long edges down, leaving the side edges unpinned. I pinned the sides 5" apart. Then sew the long sides down 1/8" from the edge.The short sides will be loose like the above picture. Make a fold on each end so it lays flat then sew.

Now customize your mat using wool felt. Why wool felt? It looks best, holds up well and because it is felt you don't need to worry about fraying. Most chain fabric stores carry some wool felt blends and those work great.

Those cars need some place to go so make your mat interesting! I added a tunnel but made it detatchable with velcro. 

And finally, because I made it from a heavy denim, I didn't back it. That way I can continue to customize it! I just finished the edges of the mat and it is ready to play with. 

Do your kids need a car mat?

Project Run & Play Week Three

I have survived Project Run & Play another week! Did you see all the boy outfits last week? So impressive! This week's challenge is to make something from another decade. What do you think when you hear that? Flapper dresses? 60's dresses? I turned to google images for a little inspiration. Every time I found a dress I loved I realized it wouldn't look good on a little girl (or be inappropriate) or it would probably be a popular choice. Then I realized the obvious choice for me was the right one. So I did a little google image research on dresses from the 1910's. That's right. I was totally inspired by Downton Abbey. Don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about because it is only the best show on TV right now!

The Edwardian Era of dress fascinates me. That transition from corsets to modern dress that happened during WWI was amazing. Shorter skirts over long skirts, sheer fabrics, straight skirts, oh my! And, of course, there was a huge difference in dress from 1910 to 1919. 

These are a few of the dresses I drew inspiration from. Yes, those are the sisters of Downton Abbey. Oh Edith and Mary, you vicious girls. Though I must admit I have a lot more grace for Mary. And Cybil, dear Cybil is the best. Love her character! Who is your favorite?

Enough about my inspiration, let's get to the dresses!

Two dresses because I can hardly make one for one girl and not the other. And, of course, their little sister is wondering why she didn't get a fancy dress.

This pink fabric is a taffeta from JoAnn Fabrics. I love the gathers. She picked it out so it probably isn't a traditional Edwardian Era color but who can deny this girl her pink dress? The floor length skirt is layered with a knee length over skirt of the same fabric, as was traditional at that time. The waistband is black satin and the shoulder straps are a gray silk. The top is fully lined, of course. The back is closed with an invisible zipper. It turns out invisible zippers are difficult when you have so many layers and pleats, etc. I've never had so much trouble getting a zipper to work right!

The second dress is made from a gorgeous satin from JoAnn Fabrics. The satin looks like it has a lace overlay and is very feminine without being too girly. The bodice is fully lined and the skirt is floor length. The top is overlayed with a black chiffon. If you have ever worked with chiffon you know its difficulties. I hemmed the neckline and the sleeves with a gorgeious trim that I think adds the perfect touch to the top. The dress is finished with a velvet wasitband. The back is closed with a zipper again.

What do you think? Did I hit the mark on the Downton Abbey style? We will just ignore the fact that during this era children stopped being dressed like adults. I love the adult style way too much to deny a little girl just a beautiful dress!

Now go on over and VOTE for me in Project Run & Play. Voting is in the top left sidebar on their website. I'd love your vote if you like my dresses! I'm hoping to stay in at least one more week!

Make It Wear It Thursday

Welcome to the link party for only things that you've made to be worn! It's a special party where you don't have to wade through recipes and wreaths to find those projects you are interested in. Yes!

I can't wait to see what you've made. I'll be featuring some favorites so make sure to link back here if you want to be featured! Grab a button if you'd like.

Have you "liked" my page on facebook yet? When we get to 1,000 fans I've got something special for you! Go check it out!

Project Run & Play Week Two

***Have you been to Heart & Felt yet? Will you support my kids and their effort?***

Week two of Project Run & Play is here! It is Boy Week and I made "The Peddler". The outfit is completely inspired by Caps for Sale. Do you know that book? It is a favorite around here. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it.

I made these gray wool pants with a soft ribbed waistband, fly, front pockets, back flap pockets, pieced knees and ribbed ankle bands (perfect for growing boys!). 

The sweater is made from an adult sweater. I loved the stripe pattern and it is hard to find good sweater material. The burnt orange chevrons were sewn onto the sleeve to create a more modern, boy feel.

The knees are peiced. I rotated the pattern so they would stand out a bit and double topstitched just like the pockets and inseams.

And the caps. OH THE CAPS! Yes, I made them all. I used the Little Cap pattern. They are in the traditional colors of the book. I added appliqués to most of them for added appeal. There are nine in total. NINE. What was I thinking? Imagine getting a three year old to sit still enough to keep them stacked upright.

I happen to love the rolled ribbed cuff. This style would be especially great for quick growers and early walkers. 

So what do you think?? Go on over and VOTE!

Make It Wear It Thursday

It's BACK! Thanks for bearing with me during Make It Wear It's hiatus! Have you been creating things you can wear? Anything is elegible as long as you made it, it can be worn, and it isn't a shop! 

I can't wait to see what you've made. I'll be featuring some favorites so make sure to link back here if you want to be featured! Grab a button if you'd like.

Have you "liked" my page on facebook yet? When we get to 1,000 fans I've got something special for you! Go check it out!