A Little Man's Faux Bow Tie (Tutorial)

The fact that I love a good Little Man bow tie is absolutely no secret. You can pretty much guarantee that on any given Sunday at least one of my boys will be quite dapperly (totally a word) be sporting a bow tie.

I just can't get enough of of them. Kind of obsessed. If Hubby would only allow me to put him in one, my bow tie dream world would be complete. Goosh!

For several years my boys sported the Dapper Little Man Bow Tie. That was the first bow tie pattern I made. I love it and I love that it is tied like a grown up man bow tie, but that it ties easier because of a bit of elastic. Plus it made me feel pretty legit to learn how to tie a bow tie.

So if I love it so much...why don't I marry it...

Ehem...sorry my 10 year-old self took over there for a minute...

So if I love it so much, why change it up? Why fix what isn't broken.

Three reasons...

1. a cute, but weasely four-year-old
2. my little mister bean
3. the near impossible feat of tying a bow tie on anyone under the age of 5

Since, like I said earlier I really rather enjoy a gentlemanly bow tie on my Little Men, and that includes the little wiggly ones too, I had to come up with another solution.

Hence the birth of the A Little Man's Faux Bow Tie. 

When I was coming up with this pattern, I really wanted the bow tie part to look like it would if I had tied it by hand. You know get the same look with WAY less tying effort.

I am so happy with the end result. I have actually had this pattern in my arsenal for several months. I most recently made one for Little for our family photo session. Whilst (yes I just got fancy) I was making it I realized I should share with you guys how to make one.

So I whipped up a little tutorial showing you how to make A Little Man's Faux Bow Tie.

What you will need:

1/4 yard fabric
fusible interfacing
velcro
needle and thread
Faux Bow Tie pattern

First cut out all the fabric pieces. You will need to cut out--

1. a knot piece cut according to the pattern
2. 2 main bow tie pieces
3. a neck piece cut according to the pattern
4. 1 piece of interfacing cut just smaller than bow tie piece

Iron the interfacing piece to the wrong side of one of the bow tie pieces.

Pin the bow tie pieces together, right sides facing.

Start at one of the flat edges, sew all the way around the edge with 1/4" seam allowance but leaving the edge where you started open.

Turn out the bow tie and iron.

Iron the raw edge of the open end in. Then hand sew the opening closed.

This is the only tricky part, I promise.

Lay the bow tie out flat. Start at the left side and fold over towards the right so that you make a bow loop on the left side. Then fold the bow tie piece back over to the left making a loop on the right side.

It should start looking like a bow tie without the knot.

Pinch the middle in slightly so it looks gathered. Then secure the bow tie in place by using a zig zag stitch.

Next sew the neck piece by ironing the long strip in half (lengthwise) and then iron the edges into the middle crease. Iron the whole thing in half. Sew all around the perimeter to secure. Cut a 2" piece of velcro and then cut it to fit the newly made neck band.

Lay out the band flat on the table. Sew one velcro piece to the left end that is facing up. Sew the other piece on the opposite end on the side facing down towards the table.

Next, sew the bow tie to the neck piece. Place the bow tie over the neck piece in the middle. Sew the tie to the neck piece.

Now for the knot piece.

Take the knot piece and iron it in half, wrong sides facing. Sew the with a 1/4" seam allowance on the raw edge. Then move that seam to the back and iron the piece flat so that that seam is in the back.

Take the newly ironed neck piece and wrap it around the bow tie now attached to the neck piece. Fold over the edge that will show. Sew the knot piece together and in place by hand.

Now you have a simply dapper Faux Bow Tie. Ready for any little gentleman to wear to what ever fancy function strikes his fancy.

I hope you have as much fun making little bow ties as I do.

I would love for you to pin or share on facebook.

I would also love for you to follow along with Just Another Day in Paradise

Bloglovin'        Pinterest        Facebook        Instagram

Thanks for reading!!

Linking Here:
Not Just a Housewife, Sugar Bee Crafts,
Rae Gun Ramblings,  Sew Much Ado,
Ginger Snap Crafts, 

High Waist Maxi Skirt from Bed Sheet

Remember here how I promised I had another project to show you that I made from a bed sheet?

Tada!

Have I ever mentioned that I could wear skirts everyday of the week?

Tada, Tada!

I have had this sheet for at least a year. I picked it up on clearance. Tons of different projects have been assigned to this sheet. However, time and time again I pushed all of them to the back burner.

I know why now. Subconsciously, I knew that this skirt was in my future.

Hahaha, that is totally realistic right?

It just took awhile for my brain to catch up to this fabric. I mean how could I miss it just begging to be made into a high waist maxi skirt with pockets.

I have been all about high-waisted skirts lately. I recently made a stripped summer skirt. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE maxi skirts. I have several stretchy ones, but recently I have seen quite a few more lady-like ones.

So again, as this sheet was speaking to me saying, "I am a skirt, I am a skirt!"...Is anyone else worried sheets are talking to me? Did I mention I do not get tons of sleep...you know with the baby and all?

Anywho, thanks to the talking sheet and my love for both high-waisted and maxi skirts, I was bound to come up with this idea.

It really was inevitable.

I may or may not have already busted out a couple. This skirt is super easy to make. Since it is made from a sheet, some of the work is already done for you. Woohoo, just how I like it.

Another bonus, these sheets only cost $5 a piece. Add a zipper for just over $2 and you have a $7 skirt. A fabulous looking $7 skirt.

All you will need:

1 twin flat sheet
1 coordinating invisible zipper
coordinating thread

After taking out your sheet, find the top of the sheet. Cut off the entire top. This will be your waistband. An instant waistband. Woohoo. Measure around your waist where you want your skirt to hit. Add 1/2". Then cut that length from the top strip.

Next take the rest of your sheet. If it is not already folded in half side to side, then fold it in half. Measure how long you want your skirt. Measure from your waist to just below the ankle. Subtract the height of the waistband. Then add an inch at the bottom for the hem.

Cut the length from the folded sheet.

Then cut the sheet in half along the fold.

For the skirt piece, I didn't quite double my waist measurement. I didn't want it that poofy. It probably worked out to be 1 and 1/2 times the measurement of my waist. I actually just kept the original width of the sheet. If that works for you, then set aside one rectangle of your cut in half sheet.

Fold the other piece in half lengthwise. Cut along the fold again. These will be the back two panels.

If the width of the sheet will be too much, made the necessary adjustments to the front and side panels.

When all is said and done you should have a larger front panel, and two smaller and equal sized back panels.

Now it is time to make the pockets.

With the left over sheet material still folded in half, place your hand so that it is in a way that would comfortably fit in a pocket. Trace liberally around it. Cut out. There should be two pieces.

Then reverse the pocket and cut out another one from the sheet. Now you should have two more pieces.

Four pieces in total. Two complete pockets.

Pin each individual pocket piece to the pieces of the skirt. Two pockets for the front panel and 1 each for the back panels.

Measure down from the top 4 1/2" and pin the pocket to the skirt right sides facing.

Sew the pocket piece to the skirt panels.

Once the pockets are all attached to the panels. Pin the two back panels with pocket pieces to the front panel with pocket pieces.

They should match up. Remember when sewing around the pockets to sew around the outside not straight down the side seem.

After you are done attaching all the panels you should have one long piece without the back panels sewn to each other.

Now is the time to attach the waist band.

First sew along the top of the skirt with a basting stitch. Then gather. Gather so that the skirt piece is the same width of the waist band. Also make sure that the panels are gathered evenly, so that the pockets are on the sides of the skirt.

Pin the waist band and skirt pieces right sides together. They will be pinned at the raw edges. Start by pinning the mid point of the waist band to the middle point of the front panel. Again, this will help make sure that the pockets are in the right place.

Sew in place, giving enough of a seam allowance to cover the gathering stitch. Mine was about 5/8".

Now time for the zipper. Whew...

I am new to zippers and still feel lame-o at explaining how to do it. Luckily I have the easiest tutorial that I follow when I sew in a zipper.

HERE is that tutorial.

Maybe you already know how to sew in a zipper like a pro...I am jealous and bow down to your sewing superiority.

I sewed in my invisible zipper and then finished the skirt by sewing the back to panels together with a 5/8" seam allowance.

One lady like skirt done.

Imagine that. All from a inexpensive sheet from The Mart.

I am now obsessed with looking at sheets. I just can't stop myself from perusing the bedding aisle every time I go now. A whole new world has opened up.

I hope you take time to notice the lovely sheets around you now.

Sharing Here:
Craft O Maniac Monday: Craft O Maniac
Making Mondays Marvelous: C.R.A.F.T.
Made By You Mondays: Skip to My Lou
Just Something I Whipped Up: Project Inspire
Take a Look Tuesdays: Sugar Bee Crafts
Craft and Tell: Cherished Bliss

Ron Swanson T-shirt Tutorial

We just had a pretty rockin' Ron Swanson Birthday party in these parts.

One of the presents was this Ron Swanson T-shirt.

It was SO easy to make, and it complemented the party perfectly. This isn't the first time I have given personalized t-shirts as gifts. I love making them! They are so much fun and can be a really unique gift for that special person in your life.

SO if you know a Ron Swanson fan...gather up some supplies and whip out this fast and easy Ron Swanson t-shirt.

You will need:

freezer paper for stenciling
exacto knife
Ron Swanson print-off

I used this image found here.

Download the image on to your computer. Insert into a word document. Then print off.

fabric paint

craft brush

t-shirt
iron
hair dryer

First, place the Ron Swanson print-off underneath a piece of freezer paper. Trace the outline.

Cut out with an exacto knife. Remember, slow and steady is the best way to be precise.

Once your image is cut out, lay the t-shirt out flat on an ironing board. Pick where you want the image to be. Iron the freezer paper stencil in place...yes it will stay. AHMAZING.

Place a piece of cardboard between the layers of the shirt so that the paint doesn't bleed through.

Slowly apply paint to the t-shirt. Apply lightly at first, then go back an apply more. Make sure to be careful around edges to avoid bleeding.

You can let it set for 4 hrs...but who wants to do that??

Plug in your handy dandy blow dryer and speed up that process.

Once it is completely dry, peel away the freezer paper.

Bam! You now have a pretty awesome Ron Swanson t-shirt.

Wear it OR fold it up, wrap it up, and give it away as the most awesome gift ever.

Wipes Case Tutorial

While we are on break cuddling and snuggling Bean, 

I thought I would share some of the things

I did to prepare for him to come.

Enjoy!

Remember my diaper bag accessories from yesterday.

Well here is the super fast and easy wipes case cover tutorial.

You will need:

1 piece of fabric measuring 10" x 6 1/2"

2 pieces measuring 10" x 4"

biased tape

coordinating thread

First attach the biased tape to the top edge of both smaller pieces.

It will look like this when you are done.

Then with like sides facing, pin on smaller piece to the larger piece. Make sure the biased tape edge is in the middle.

Pin the other small piece on top of the larger piece, overlapping on top of the already pinned piece.

Sew all around the edges with 1/4" seam allowance. Turn right side out.

Fill your plastic wipes case and then slip the case into your cover.

See...how easy was that? Super duper easy. Grab the coordinating changing pad and some teeny tiny diapers and you are ready to go.

Changing Pad and Wipes Case Cover Tutorial part 1

While we are on break cuddling and snuggling Bean, 

I thought I would share some of the things

I did to prepare for him to come.

Enjoy!

 

So I found this oh-so-stinkin'-cute handbag and immediately decided it was going to be my new diaper bag. I have used the same $10 diaper bag for all three of the older boys. It has definitely seen better days. I decided that I could splurge a little on this happy little owl bag for this last baby. PLUS I can use it as a regular bag when Bean is old enough not to have an arsenal of baby supplies toted everywhere we go.

The bag is  Kate Landry bag...not like I know what that means...hahaha. I got it HERE.

Since this isn't meant to be a diaper bag I decided I needed a couple of accessories for inside the diaper bag.

I made a changing pad and a wipes case cover.

Originally I made the wipes case to simply hold loose wipes. I lined the sucker with vinyl and everything. ALAS, the moisture from the wipes still leaked through a little and the outside fabric got wet. The good news is that the little wipes pouch perfectly pockets a small wipes case. So wipes went into the case, case went into the fabric cover, and fabric stayed dry. 

Today I am going to show you how to make the changing pad. Tomorrow I will share the simple wipes case cover.

What you will need:

2 rectangles of coordinating fabric, 17" x 13"

piece of vinyl, 17" x 13"

biased tape, either homemade or store bought

velcro

thread in coordinating colors

used this tutorial for biased tape from MADE.

First iron inside fabric into thirds, you can see not evenly. The middle should measure about 7" across. 4" on the one side and 6" on the other. Fold it right side up and into itself...like it will be once it is assembled.

Lay this fabric inside the outside fabric with wrong sides facing. then iron the outside fabric following the inside already ironed folds.

Unfold. Place the vinyl onto the top of the inside fabric, the outside fabric should be directly under the inside fabric. Again, wrong sides facing. Pin the vinyl in place. When you pin the vinyl in place, pin as little as possible because the vinyl will not hide the holes.

Once the vinyl is pinned in place, sew the vinyl, the inside, and the outside fabric together by sewing directly in the folds. So you will sew in two places. I used a thread that coordinated with the biased tape. Sorry, no picture of this step...oops.


Next, place the one piece of velcro to the the inside fabric on top of the vinyl, but not through to the outside fabric.

Match placement of the other velcro piece to the outside fabric. Pin to just the outside fabric.

Sew in place (hey now you can kind of see where I sewed in the folds...)

Now take your biased tape and attach all the way around the edges.

Once the biased tape is sewn completely in place...you are done.

Now it is all ready to throw in the diaper bag. Now I am all prepared to diaper a little bum.

How cute are these diapers?!?

Okay tomorrow I will show you how to whip this case out. Super easy.