The Train To Crazy

spotlight: bag tutorials

12 free bag and purse tutorials rounded up by How About Orange. 

sewist spotlight: The Sew Weekly

If you're into sewing women's clothes, you'll want to keep your eye on Mena Trott. She's the creative mind behind The Sew Weekly. Beautiful dresses, fun themes, blossoming community.

I especially appreciate her recent Make This Look series.

She so very kindly finds a pattern and the fabric for you. Thank you Mena! 

She started her blog to chronical her weekly sewing goal. One dress a week. Friends, that's a lot of dresses. Go check out what she made in 2010!

Feeling inspired? 

Make It Wear It Thursday

Did you check out the links last week? Go do that! Last week's standouts:

Jodi at Sew Fearless made this maxi dress that is suitable for nursing! Check out how she made it! As a side note, this mama of 4 little ones somehow finds time to accomplish a lot of sewing. I'm in awe.

Cheryl at Sew Can Do shows you how to make your own underwear. Think you'd want to make your own underwear?

Suburbs Mama shows you how to make this. But we really all want to know is how to look that good once we've made one.

With Love By Rach found inspiration on Pinterest and created this dress with the help of a pattern. Check out how she made it! 

Stitch to my Lou made mermaid tails! And she just put up a tutorial so you can go make one for yourself. Or, if you'd rather, one for a child.

The Rules:

• Must be wearable. Think; hat, dress, shoes, necklace.
• You must have made it.
• No shops please, only blogs.
• Link back here if you'd like to be featured. Grab a button or link with text.
• Check out the other links!! You all are amazingly talented.

Mr. & Mrs. Crazy and the little Crazies

... that was fun

Football Softie Tutorial

I'm sure you've all been stuck at one point or another wondering what to make for someone's new little baby. You want to make something that will be useful, cute, and get used. Many handmade items don't always fit into those categories. But here is something that does. The football softie tutorial!

The perfect way to use up some scraps of fabric and ribbon. I used flannel scraps here but quilting fabric or even minky would work great. I think the taggies on the football make the toy super cute and a bit more interesting for babies. Of course, you could omit those and it would still be just as useful! I've also added jingle bells inside the football but feel free to omit those as well.

Gather your supplies:

• Print the football template, or draw your own
• Cut 4 pieces for the football (I like to use freezer paper to get the job done quickly)
• Cut 1 ribbon 6.5" long (if you use a different size football cut ribbon accordingly)
• Cut 8 ribbons 3" long
• Jingle bells (3-5)
• Cut a small scrap about 2" x 4"
• Stuffing

1. Pin ribbons onto one piece of the football 

Turn ends under on the center ribbon. Loop the other ribbons and tuck them under the center ribbon. Sew center ribbon along edges.

2. Sew the football pieces together, right sides together. Use a 1/4" seam allowance. Stop sewing 1/4" from the ends.

3. Sew the next pieces of the football together (right sides). Edges should join as so:

(notice how the points meet in the middle and don't overlap?)

4. Leave a 2-3" opening when joining the final pieces. This will allow you to turn the football right side out and stuff.

5. Turn right side out

6. Use the small scrap of fabric to encase the jingle bells. It doesn't have to be pretty it just needs to hold them together.

7. Stuff the football, placing the jingle bell pouch in the middle of the stuffing.

8. Hand sew the opening closed.

And finally, present your special taggie football to a little special guy or gal.

Make It Wear It Thursday

Another week, another banner. And LOOK! New buttons! I hope you enjoy the new branding here at The Train To Crazy!

Enjoy these features (and as always, if you are featured please grab a button to display on your blog if you'd like!)

Katie from Kadiddlehopper sewed her first gymnastics leotard. Check out how she did it!

GeorgiaBE has a tutorial on using buttonhole elastic to make a better fitting waistband. I know I could use this!

Sabra from Sew a Straight Line made a jet pack. A JET PACK!! How cool is this?

Nicole from Shabby Beach Nest has a tutorial for making a starfish hairpin.

Wildflowers & Whimsy has a tutorial for making this darling bustle twirly dress.

The rules:

• Must be wearable or I'll delete. Sorry.
• I only feature projects that link back here either in the blog post or with the button on the blog visibly somewhere.

I try to visit all of the links! I'm sorry if I don't have time to leave everyone a comment. Thank you so much for coming week after week! I really appreciate you!

Make It Wear It Thursday

Maxi dresses are in the air! Did you see these ones linked up last week?

Made It On Monday shows you how she made this one.

Sarah from Lunt Family shows you how to create one of these for yourself (including how to dye it)

Emma from Hello Beautiful created this one with a Burda Style pattern

What do you have to share with us this week?? Just make sure you can wear it. I'll delete links that aren't wearable.

New rule, I don't mind if you don't link back but I will only be featuring blogs that have a button or a link back here somewhere. It's only fair! Plus, the more people that know about Make It Wear It, the more inspiration we all have!

Mental Block

Do you ever get to the point where the list of things you want to sew is so long you can't figure out where to start and so you don't? 

Or how about letting your space get so cluttered you just stay away? 

That's me! Thankfully I spent an entire day (amazing what one can do without 4 kids under foot) refolding and organizing fabric and supplies. Then I rearranged the furniture and came up with a much better set up for creating. I think. I have considered sewing several times since I did all this last weekend. Hopefully I'll actually sew soon!

Am I alone or do you work (or rather not work) this way?

Are you on twitter or facebook? I'd love if you'd join me there! Follow the links on the upper right side bar!

Make It Wear It Thursday

Welcome!

Sorry I'm late! I'll make up for it by posting a couple extra features from last week. Do you click through to all the links? There are SO many talented people out there!! Here are a few of last week's highlights!

Let's all agree these are amazing. 

Welcome To The Good Life. Wow. Great Anthro DIY.

Little Betty's vintage Simplicity turned out fabulous

Made It On Monday created this simple knit dress. Go find out how to make your own!

Me Sew Crazy has a cute knit cover up tutorial. 


The Boy Trifecta reviews a romper pattern.

Now, I'm off to play assistant to this guy.

I know what you're thinking. 'look at those thighs!' I know, thank you. I've been working hard. OH, you meant HIS thighs. Yes, delicious. Speaking of working hard. My three oldest kiddos are spending the week with their grandparents so I'll be SEWING!!! Imagine that! 

"The Cheerio Incident"

Perhaps you can relate...