TUTORIAL: DIY "D" Ring Belts

Have you seen the bright and beautiful belts for Spring?

Whale Belt from Vineyard Vines CLICK HERE

Monkey Bum Designs Etsy Shop

Owl ribbon belt or argyle belt

 CLICK HERE

Fashionably Lauren - Etsy Shop - CLICK HERE

Or you can easily make one like this:

You can make them for anyone! Your kids, your husband and don't forget about yourself!!

Some of these (shown above0 are made with webbing, some have interfacing between the layers and some are simply two fabrics sewn together. The one I am showing you is made with just two fabrics, but you can always interface them, too!

I have made belts before using old ties, ribbons and fabric and wanted to share it with you so you could make one (or many)! Here goes!

TUTORIAL:

How to Sew a Belt

1. Gather Materials: belt fabric, lining fabric, two "D" rings (or "O" rings like shown below), pins, scissors, sewing machine

2. Measure your waist and add 7 inches. EXAMPLE: My waist is 26. So 26 + 7 = 33 inches.

3. Cut a piece of fabric 2.5 inches long x that width.
EXAMPLE: I will cut a 2.5 inch long x 33 inches wide strip in my MAIN belt fabric.

 Cut another in your lining fabric this same size.

**If you wanted to interface these, you would cut a strip of interfacing the same size as the lining, then trim off 3/8 inch all the way around (so the interfacing will not be sewn in your seam allowance). Center it and press with an iron on the wrong side of the lining. Continue.

4. Lay your two fabrics right sides together. Pin along both widths (the long edges).

5. Sew along both widths (the long edges) using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Trim threads.

6. Turn belt right side out. I do this by inserting a safety pin onto just the lining fabric, then feeding the safety pin through the belt and out the other side.

Don't skip this: Press with an iron. I know some of you don't like ironing, but it will give it a crisp look!

Topstitch using a 1/16 inch seam allowance along both long edges to keep fabrics in place and give it a professional look.

7. Double fold one raw edge half an inch and then another half an inch. Pin. Sew along this folded edge using a vertical stitch along  your double fold. Trim threads.

8. Lay your belt right side down. Slide BOTH "D" rings (or "O" rings) onto the belt at the remaining raw edge. Fold over the raw edge half an inch and pin

9. Sew along your pinned edge using a vertical stitch along your double folded edge. Make sure you do not hit the "D" ring with your sewing machine needle. Trim threads.

10. TRY IT ON!! You did it!! 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you learned something new that you are excited to try!!

Have fun sewing!
Jenny
seaminglysmitten@gmail.com
Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns - CLICK HERE

My Easter Dress - Butterick Pattern B5307

For my Easter dress this year I decided to make it! That was only after I saw this fabric! I LOVED this fabric! (from JoAnns).  Emerald green is supposedly the "IT" color of Spring 2013 and navy is a true classic - so this was the perfect match for me!

Dress front:

I grabbed the pattern Butterick B5307 because I loved the V-neckline and a contrast midriff. I have only played around with darts before, but this time I went for it! I raised the bust darts and widened them because I am petite and I know that if the bust does not fit properly, the whole dress will look baggy.

This dress has a lined bodice, a centered back zipper and a contrast midriff band. I left off the contrast skirt band because I simply loved the green and navy fabric the most and wanted to show it off.

The zipper went in pretty well! I'm not going to lie...I was nervous at first because it was the final touch and had to be just right, and wouldn't you know it, I need the seam ripper as soon as I started :) ha! But I kept going after that without a hitch! The only mistake was the back contrast midriff band - see how one side is taller than the other? I must have been off a bit when cutting out the pattern piece, or used a different seam allowance accidentally. Whoops! :)

 

See? Not perfect, but perfect enough for me to wear! :)

I love it! The fit is pretty good. Not perfect - it could be narrower in the waist, but when I was going to alter it and had it pinned, I noticed the bottom of the zipper poked out some from the back view. That would throw off the whole look, so I opted not to take it in a half an inch and left it alone.

Overall it took about 6 hours - partly because I was so nervous about the darts and the zipper - but if I did it again it would probably take 3 hours. :) Nerves...sheesh!!

I love it and cannot wait to wear it on Easter! We are heading to the beach and I am looking forward to some fun time with my kids and husband!!

TUTORIAL: Bias Tape Trimmed Skirt Tutorial

Last week I made this super cute (and QUICK) bias tape trimmed skirt for a neighbor's little girl and LOVED how simply it was done!!

Want to know how to sew one? Great! Let's do it!!

TUTORIAL:

1. Gather materials: skirt material, waistband material, one package of bias tape, scissors, pins, sewing machine and thread

 

2. Figure out the LENGTH of the skirt you want. Cut a piece of fabric the final skirt length minus 1 inch x the entire width of your fabric Example: I want my skirt to be 11 inches when it's finished, so I cut my fabric to 10 inches long x 44 inches wide.

3. Cut a piece of your waistband fabric 3 inches long x 44 inches wide.

4. Iron your waistband fabric wrong sides together and pin along the long edge. Now your waistband is 1.5 inches long x 44 inches wide.

5. Lay your skirt fabric right side up and pin the raw edge of your waistband (not the folded edge) along the top edge (the width) of your skirt.

6. Sew using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Trim threads. Serge or zig-zag stitch the raw edges. You can also use pinking shears to reduce fraying.

7. Press the waistband up with an iron. Topstitch your waistband seam using a 1/8 inch seam allowance. This will hold your waistband in place.

8. Open up your bias tape and sandwich your skirt's lower edge fabric between it. Sew on your bias tape. Trim threads.

9. Measure your child's waist and subtract an inch. Cut a piece of 3/8 inch elastic this length. (Exampe: My daughter's waist is 20, so I cut a piece of elastic that is 19 inches long.)

10. Insert the elastic into the waistband casing, pin the elastic at both ends. Stitch across the ends of your elastic using a vertical stitch to hold your elastic in place.

11. Lay your skirt right sides together, matching the sides (raw edges), waistband and bias tape. Pin. Sew using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Serge or zig-zag stitch.

 

 

You DID IT!! Try it on your little girl and watch her twirl and SMILE!!!

Upcycled pants to toddler trousers

Have you ever upcycled something that you were not so sure about cutting up? My husband was getting rid of some Brooks Brothers pants the other day and instead of giving them away he asked me if I wanted them for the material! I was floored!! With a YES I took them and put them in my sewing room, knowing that I would use the Nantucket red trousers to make my son his Easter pants.

 Can I tell you how nervous I was to cut into them? These were "real" pants - trousers - not just any pants or pants of mine that I was using for the material. But I was so glad my husband gave me the go-ahead!!  I used my Classic Fit Pants pattern, cut out a size 5 for him and cut off an inch across the top. I cut out a piece of fabric that was 2 inch x the width of the pant front and repeated to have two pieces for the waistband.

I sewed the pants as usual, sewed the waistband right sides together to form a loop, then sewed on the waistband, folded it in half and folded it over to hide the waist seam, then inserted my elastic. Finally I took off the belt loops from my husband's pants and put them on my son's. I added the button and DONE!

The only thing is they are dry clean only - YIKES! But, I gave them a good steam and they look great for now!

I will definitely post some pictures after he wears them this weekend for our Easter egg hunt, along with his seersucker shirt that I made (read about it here) and my daughter will wear her coordinating seersucker dress.

 

 

 

My friend, Rebecca, owns Little Lady Monograms - CLICK HERE TO SEE, and put an entwined monogram on the front of my daughter's dress and it came out great!!

Both kids outfits are finally done! I've had many requests to make my daughter's dress a pattern and I absolutely will do that for you all!

Have a wonderful weekend and have fun sewing those Easter projects and Spring projects you're working on!

Boy's Romper Sewing Pattern

It's here!! I've been wanting to create a boy's romper pattern for you all for so long, and it's finally here to share with you!!

Finding classic boy's clothing is getting trickier these days. When my son was an infant and toddler I didn't want him wearing clothes with large numbers on them, or silly phrases like some stores have. I wanted him to look classic, boyish and handsomely sweet all at the same time.

Well my son now is about to be 5, so he is ages away from wearing a romper, but I did make him his rompers when he was younger. I loved it. Knowing that I created something just for him, in his favorite color, or for a special occasion, made me so proud of myself and I want to share that proud feeling with you after you make your son one of his own!

Pattern testers enjoyed sewing this Classic Boy's Romper sewing pattern - there are no zippers or snaps here. It is simply a romper and it can be reversible if you use another fabric that you love an the lining instead of a plain white cotton or broadcloth. Add a monogram or an applique to each side (before it is sewn together) and you have two sweet outfits!!

You can get yours in the pattern shop (CLICK HERE). Can you imagine this beauty as a madras plaid romper, seersucker romper, gingham romper or even a John Deere romper like the picture below? Oh the possibilities you will sew!!!

Thank you for helping create Seamingly Smitten to be what it is today! Designing, sewing and growing from one pattern to the next is what I do just for you!

Sweet William finally smiled for the camera! Handsome boy!

Jenni made this for her son and even added a pocket on the reverse side. Her son is ready to play!!

John Deere romper - perfect for those boys that could be outside from sun up til sun down!

The sunshine, a ball and the great outdoors. Too good to be true on a beautiful day!

 

I love seeing these Mommy made creations!!

Have fun with your fabric, ladies!

 

Jenny

www.seaminglysmitten.com

 

How to sew shorts for a boy

It is finally warming up around here and yesterday's 80 degree high made me realize my kids need some new Spring clothes! Does that ever sneak up on you?

Are you going to sew your children some clothes this Spring? I'm going to challenge myself to make their Spring wardrobe this year! That means some shorts and pants for my son and dresses, capris, tops and skirts for my daughter that are all mix and match. I figure I have all this fabric so I might as well use it! :)

Here is the first pair of shorts I made for my son. I used my Classic Fit Pants sewing pattern, but cut a 6 and 1/2 inch inseam instead of tracing the entire pant leg (to make a size 5T). Then I  sewed on the pockets before assembling the pants and then followed all the pant directions and gave it a hem. Easy  sew shorts!!

You'll notice one pocket the stripes don't match up, but since he will be running around outside, I'm not sure it matters. I tried a new tab pocket style and I think I love it! I just used a 2 and 1/2 inch bias tape strip, looped it and stuck it under the pocket when I sewed it on. Boyish detail, right?

Here are some pictures.

So far my Spring Wardrobe sewing includes:

*a seersucker shirt for my son (CLICK HERE TO SEE)

*this pair of shorts

I will keep you posted as I make more of my kids' Spring wardrobe! Next up is my daugther's seersucker Easter dress!