Place Mat with Tassels {DIY & Tutorial}

This was an experiment that I wanted to do since a while a go. I had a remnants and pieces of fabric from when I created a give away decorative pillow cases a while back {here}. I thought why don't I make it a place mat out of these fabrics.  Then I thought why not attach the tassels on the 2 sides of the place mat? So here I created one place mat that I wanted. I am very happy with it. I am thinking to do it with many more with these fabrics {below} that I got from Calico Corners a while a go. It would be fun to use them for outdoor dining with different color of place mats.

What you need;

~ Cotton fabrics with different patterns and colors

~ Embroidery thread to match the color of fabrics

~ Sewing needle and thread

~ Sewing machine

1. Arrange the stripe of fabrics. (If you prefer to use different fabrics) This has to be a few inches larger than the actual size of place mat.

2. Using sewing machine; join them together.

3. Iron out the back of joining fabrics and draw the actual size of your place mat.

4. Folded the in seam. Iron out again and stitch them up.

1. It should look like this. And this is the actual place mat.

2. Mean time; create the tassels. You need about 12 or 13 tassels on each side.

Note: I am using the palm of my 4 finger to wrap thread around for about 13 times. When slipped it out of your 4 fingers it will look like a bunch of loop. Squeeze the loop so that they will be long in shape then fold it in half.  Then close to the end of the tassel is where you secure with a single embroidery thread a few times and tie a knot. Mine is the one with  black thread. The tip of the tassel is still in loop, you need to cut them to make it a fringe single thread. Or you can make a tassels from this site; (here).

3. Then attached the tassels by sewing it with hand to the back on each side one by one. Note: I do not know how to better attach these tassels. I was thinking to cover it with a piece of fabric but then it is to thick to run through a sewing machine. If you know how to do it please let me know because I am planning to make more of this place mat in the future. Thank you so much!

What do you think? I think it looks adorable. Imagine a few of these place mats with different colors of pattern and tassels. I think it would be fun to use out door.

These are the remnants fabric I bought from Calico Corners in Delray Florida last winter. They are huge too! And enough to create a big size decorative pillow case although it has to be good for only one side and use different pattern or fabric on the other side. Still the remainder I could use for above place mat.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Tutu Skirt {DIY & Tutorial}

Tutu skirt is so feminine, romantic and easy to make. Not to mention that tulle fabric is quite inexpensive too! And comes in many colors. Can't wait to make another one in the future. I think the most inexpensive one are the one from Jo Ann Fabrics. I like wearing this skirt with chambray top, t-shirt, plain black shirt, or sequin top. It is fun!

I show some of my findings in Pinterest below.

Huhhh!! Is that me? How did I get there!

Source: Pinterest

I apologize if my drawing isn't clear. I did not take any pictures of the actual fabric except when it was finished. I tried my best to draw all the step by step. Hope it will help.

1. Do below with all of your fabrics; lining and tulle skirt layers.

Note; I think it would be prettier if the tulle skirts are in 4 layers. Mine on the picture are 3 plus lining. It looks prettier that way. You want it to be full and look like ballerina skirt. Most tutorial do not mention this. It all depends on how much gathered you want around the waist. I do not want a lot of gather but only a little.

2. Now let's talk about 'the waist area'. As you can see I put white dots around the waist on below diagram. If you need more gathered you need to cut bigger waist and using your machine creates a gathered by loosing the stitches and pull the thread. The bigger the opening the more is the gathering. Again I do not want puffy skirt. So I cut the circular like this; Your waist + half of your waist. It means if your waist size is 28 + 14 =42". This is the opening you need to do from the very beginning. Or if you want to have a slight gathering; your waist (28") + 1/4 waist = 35" is your opening for waist. It's all up to you. If you do not want to have a gather you just need to add a few inches to join layer of skirts. BUT, please be very careful as you cut larger circle for the opening of your waist; the skirt will be shorter too! So you need to figure out and do the math yourself between THE LENGTH OF YOUR SKIRT and THE WAIST OPENING + GATHER OR NOT and also THE WIDTH of the tulle fabric.

Now let's talk about the "cut on the back  area" as below diagram. The cut is to insert the zipper but on lining only. I will show you how later.

3. Line up on top another all the 3 or 4 skirts with lining while you loosen up the stitch of your sewing machine and sew about 1" down from the edge of waist. Then pull the string so it will create gather and shorten the length of the waist to your waist size. Leave for the lining about 1" of each side to close and to attach zipper.

4. Prepare for elastic waist. Cut fabric the size of your waist let' say 28 + 4 by 10" to cover and attach hooks. 

With the cover of elastic facing down; sew around the waist then put the elastic just on the stitches facing up. Cover the elastic band and bring it down on the inside of the skirt on the waist line. Pin the whole waist line with elastic and cover fabric. This will help to keep the elastic in place when sewing it again around the waist line again.

Basically it will look like this (below)

5. Join and sew lining together and attach zipper. Tulle layers do not have to be sewn in together. (as picture below) Then attach hook in the back of elastic to fasten the waist band of the skirt.And last sew the hem of bottom of lining.

 

Good luck Everyone!

Happy sewing!

A Big Bow Thrifted Cardigan {DIY}

Hello, 

I hope you had a wonderful week-end. My week-end was pretty hectic. We arrived from Florida Friday midnight and early Saturday afternoon we had a Bar-Mitzvah party. Oh boy, have you been in a Bar-Mitzvah party? The music was pounding so loud and playing non-stop for 4 hours. And Sunday morning at 10.00 am we left for another friend's little daughter's Birthday party. Let me tell you; I did not want to get up from bed to get ready to go to the party this morning.

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It was one of those beautiful soft breezy afternoon when I took a walk around our condo in Florida. I decided to wear this DIY big bow cardigan that I created not long a go but never get to wear it until that afternoon. 

There is a tree standing right in front of our porch and by the small lake that has purplish flowers. The ground under neath the tree blanket by these fallen flowers. I gathered a few flowers to create the letter 'E' {my initial} and 'a heart shape.' I was playing around try to capture  a few pretty shots with these flowers but the wind kept on blowing off the flower that it was hard to shoot a perfect letter 'E'. I tried to fix and put the flower back to it's position; I finally got these pictures.

Tutorial.

Take an old sweater. Cut a slit in along the shoulder down to the sleeve about 7". Fold over raw edge and sew in place. Sew a piece of ribbon about 15" long to one side of neckline and another ribbon to the other side of the neckline. Tie together! Just a tip; it would be prettier if you could find a sweater that has a wide neckline. Raglan sleeve would be perfect for this style.

~~~oo00oo~~~

Thank you for stopping by!