British Invasion Tee {boys summer collection}

 So my husband works for a company where he handles the European market. Most of his work is in the UK and so it seemed appropriate that I make Jude a British Invasion tee. With a big bold UK flag.

 I love the finished look and the "raw" edge finish. It was quick and easy to make and could be done with any flag really.

 Start by cutting out some shapes. The flag is some simple to put together. You will need navy rectangles. I used a linen because I liked the texture but any navy would be fine.

 Then you need a red cross. How large you make the cross determines the size of the flag.

 Then in each section of the cross add the triangles and a red strip. There should be white all around each piece. You can trim the shapes as needed.

 Continue until all 4 sections are done.

 Pin everything in place. (you could also use wonder under to stick everything in place)

 Then sew around the edges. Now I frayed the edges the bit and when they were as frayed as I liked I used no fray glue (found in the notations section of a craft store) I glued all around the edge, then when it dries the edges won't fray anymore.

 Then that's all there is to it. The shirt is done and ready to wear.

 A great bold look for the summer wardrobe.

And one of Jude's favorites...

Sailboat Tee {boys summer collection}

 So let's continue with the boy's summer collection today. Another simple tee project. This one uses flocked vinyl again, since I am slightly addicted to the stuff. I thought I would mix it up a little and do some reverse applique with it as well. A fun and simple addition that adds a little pop.

 So I started by using my Silhouette machine to cut out a sailboat shape.

 Then I cut out a little scrap of fabric to place over the number.

 So that the fabric would also stick to the shirt I added some wonder under to the scrap.

 Then you will need a tee shirt.

 Then press the vinyl with the scrap in place behind the number.

 Then you have a nice little detail peeking behind the vinyl.

 Lastly I added some stitching to add some additional texture.

That's all there is to it. A fun little shirt with some added pop. This is where I would show you a picture of Jude wearing the shirt, but apparently I didn't take one... So we will just have to pretend.

Link Party #22

Did you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend? 

I love the three day weekend! Sometimes my husbands work hours are hard, but oh man we all live for the glory of the three day weekend! And remembering all the great people we have lost. 

So we are back today and with the Tuesday Link Party!

You guys amaze us as always, last week was fantastic here are some of my favorites. 

 Simple Simon and Company shared the most darling skirt, I am so in love with this color blocking and the little bow. So cute!

 Sew country chick shared not one but two darling outfits she made inspired by vintage france. I love them both!

My inner need to create made these dresses inspired by subway art and I love the way they turned out, so personal and really darling!


              I can't wait to see what you guys share this week!

New to link parties? That's totally fine here's what you have to do:

Find a entry on your blog that you want to link up.

It can be ANYTHING (unless it's an ad or something let's keep it spam free)

Say it is a great new project you just made and have been dying to share it with the crafting world. 

the link should look something like this:

http://(your blog adress/website)/(the post you want to link).html

Linking to the post is the easiest way for people to get back to that post.

Then click where it says "click here to enter" 

follow the steps to link your post and create a title, and select your picture.

Keep in mind the picture will be small thumbnail so pick a picture that shows it off the best. 

Lastly if you were so kind to add our button to your page or post, or where every you store your link party things that would be super cool. You don't have to use the button to link up, it's just there for you if you can't live without it. 

cool? cool. Let's get the party started!

<br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://www.shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x393/theshwins/tuesdayparty.jpg" /></a><br /><br />

Instagram Friday and a guest post

Welcome to today's instagram Friday! (which is short and sweet) Before we get to that I am over at No Big Dill today! I was invited to participate in Chapter 3 of the Once Upon a Thread series which is just too much fun! So come see the Animalia based project I made! Which has been played with everyday since :)

Now on with the week, which is being summed up in 3 pictures today... yep it was one of "those" weeks. 

Abbey and her Daddy spend quality time on the trampoline. Abbey loves to see how high they can go. She is by far the queen of the trampoline, she thinks she owns it and I can often find her wondering out there as early as 6:30 a.m. (something to love and hate about summer, early wake ups with the sun)

Our little Jude graduated Preschool. It was comical to see the kids "perform" Sadly I am going to miss those few hours each day that he was away at preschool... but Abbey is glad to have her buddy home all day :)

The kids have been loving playing Late last night, this is them sleeping in between rounds.

So how was your week?

Tabby Pocket Shorts {boys summer collection}

 Jude is finishing up school this week, which has been a little busier than I thought so there wasn't a tutorial yesterday, and with summer here things may get a little spotty, but we will still finish up the boy's summer collection. Today is one of my favorite pieces. (ok I say that a lot) I just love a good pair of shorts.

 This pair (even though the back welt pocket didn't turn out as I was hoping) I didn't make a tutorial for... because they are these pants only I cut them off at the knee and made them into shorts. (I also did not make the leg as skinny for the shorts) It was the best way to turn a pants pattern I loved into shorts that I also love.

 I used a baby blue cotton with white and yellow accents which make for slightly unexpected, yet super comfortable boys shorts, that go with nearly every tee he has for summer (score)

I also made the cuff a little longer and the length a tad long so hopefully he will not outgrow them before the end of summer (as he has been known to do the darn kid :) SO that's it for today... but there are more fun projects still to come!

Link Party 21

I know I know, I am late to my own party, but better late than never right?

You guys linked up some great things last week! Here are a few of my favorites:

 Jane Marie Blog shared this awesome DIY pendent, I love the look and with the jewel. Beautiful!

 Boy oh Boy oh Boy shared her create and barrel knock off pillow, I love how colorful it is, and those doodles? Man! So cool!

Lastly the Bear Rabbit Bear shared this adorable lens scrunchie, it helps get kids to look at the camera, (something my kids hate to do) So great!


              I can't wait to see what you guys share this week!

New to link parties? That's totally fine here's what you have to do:

Find a entry on your blog that you want to link up.

It can be ANYTHING (unless it's an ad or something let's keep it spam free)

Say it is a great new project you just made and have been dying to share it with the crafting world. 

the link should look something like this:

http://(your blog adress/website)/(the post you want to link).html

Linking to the post is the easiest way for people to get back to that post.

Then click where it says "click here to enter" 

follow the steps to link your post and create a title, and select your picture.

Keep in mind the picture will be small thumbnail so pick a picture that shows it off the best. 

Lastly if you were so kind to add our button to your page or post, or where every you store your link party things that would be super cool. You don't have to use the button to link up, it's just there for you if you can't live without it. 

cool? cool. Let's get the party started!

<br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://www.shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x393/theshwins/tuesdayparty.jpg" /></a><br /><br />

Simple Boys Belt

 Something really simple for you today. A boy's belt, which really is just a belt and a girl can wear it just the same, this one was just happened to be made for my boy. Cause if you are like me you like belts but you choke a little when you see the price at some places. (20 bucks for a belt? what?) So let's just make one, for a few bucks.

 You will need some trim, I found this (and a million other styles) in the by-the-yard trim section at Joanns, I got a yard even though I could have used much less. You will also need 2 "D" rings. I found them near the snaps and buckles.

 Then pull one end through both "D" rings.

 Fold the edge under and then fold that flap down.

 Then sew it in place. I sew a square and then an X through the square so it is nice and secure.

Then you weave the other end through the "D" rings so the belt forms a nice loop. Decide the length you want the belt and then trim and fold the raw edge and then sew in place.
That's it a simple belt that is ready to wear.

A simple and classic look, and so easily adjustable to any size. (Pants are here)

Instagram Friday (on saturday) and a winner!

We are doing Instagram Friday on Saturday today since yesterday got away from me. 

First before we jump in we have a winner from the KK Children Designs giveaway!

Lucky number 33! Which is:

AlwaysInspiredMay 14, 2012 3:32 PM

I just love them all, but I really love the bold colors of Bouquet De Fleurs Blue.

Congratulation AlwaysInspired look for an email later today!

Now on to the week...

 My husband brought me home the best little treasure known to man. His Grandpa was cleaning house and asked my husband if I would like this jar of buttons. Knowing he would have been killed if he turned it down :) He took the jar and then made my day! A sweet little treasure of vintage (and not so vintage) buttons, the coolest part... they have been stored all these years in a jar, which had it's original label on it still with the expiration date marked July 1952, it's sweet.

 Another sweet treasure arrived. When we were kids Shwin and I had (well we still do) quite active imaginations. We made up "imagination games" all the time. Our favorite was a game we made to the song "late last night" we played that game for hours on end. Well my mom found it on CD and sent it to me for my kids, they love it and I love seeing them use their imagination.

 My husband didn't think he had enough to do in a week that he thought he would get an old school lawn mower so that he is required to mow the front lawn 2-3 times a week instead of once. Ok, I am kidding, he did it because he is a little lawn obsessed, and it really does make a huge difference plus it is quiet, so I like it :)

 Abbey was as sweet as can be and asked me if we could go on a walk, she held my hand the whole time and sang me a song about her boots. I can not love that girl enough, I got very lucky with her. (and the orange and pink was her idea...)

We also decided to put up the trampoline... the kids love it, I fear it a little, it's from when my husband was a kid so it doesn't have all the "safety features" that newer ones have but the kids love it and they are pretty cautious kids so I guess it's ok, they LOVE jumping "high in the sky" and chatting with the neighbors :)

So how was your week?

Skinny Cuffed Trousers (and a guest post!)

One of my favorite things to do is browse JCrew kids clothing. I LOVE their style and the fashion without being too fussy, but the prices? Yikes! I am on a tighter budget then that. So when I can't buy the things that I love, I make them. These pants were very much inspired by these Only without the $50 price tag and a few little design changes these came in at only $7, not too bad at all. (Let's ignore that I was too lazy to iron them after Jude wore them around and wrinkled them all up ok) 

 He just happened to wear them at our backyard vintage tea party. In fact I am guest posting over at CINO today during Vintage May and I am sharing Abbey's dress so hop over and check it out! (then come back for the pants)

 Some slim cut pants with welt pockets. The perfect flair for dress up or casual wear.

 So to start I was going to draft a whole pattern kind of like I did here. However I wanted to save myself the trouble and I went with the Nowhere Man Pants pattern since I knew I already liked the fit I could just adjust a few things. Like to start I added a faux fly by extending out the front crotch piece like so.

 Next I wanted angled pockets not curved pockets so I simply cut the pocket at an angle.

 I was sure to do the same for the facing so they would match up.

 Then I knew I wanted a slimmer leg so I just eyeballed it and cut the leg slimmer. Then I had two legs like so, for the front. For the back I cut it the same as the pattern only making the leg slimmer as well.

 Then with the faux fly I knew I wanted a faux tab waistband so instead of cutting the front band on the fold I cut one the regular size(not on fold) and one longer with a curved edge that would over lap. Then I cut an extra set for the lining.

 I also wanted to add a little tab to the front pocket, just a little detail. So I cut two and sewed them right sides together then turned it right side out and pressed.

 I matched up the raw edge with the edge of the pocket on the front of the pant. Then sew the facing to the edge.

 Then turn the facing around to the back and top stitch the edge. Then finish the pocket as instructed.

 Then with the front pieces right sides together sew along the black dotted line in the picture to sew the faux fly.

 Then press the faux fly off to one side.

 Top stitch around the edge. Then you have a nice little faux fly.

 Now for the welt pocket in back. Cut a rectangle that is about an inch wider than you want the pocket but several inches taller. Then pin in place right sides together where you want the pocket. Then draw the pocket on the rectangle. The pocket should be fairly narrow and long.

 Sew along the edge. (the outline on the pocket) Then cut a slit down the middle and angle into the corners.

 Then turn the rectangle into the inside. Press.

 Now you want to make little accordion folds in the back so the bottom covers the opening and the top overlaps. (If you need more help on making those folds check here)

 Then sew around the edge of the pocket to secure the folds in place but be careful not to sew the pocket closed.

 Then I cut another rectangle for the pocket lining that is the same width as the first but longer, or as long as you want for the pocket depth. Sew it to the bottom of the pocket piece. (not the pants just the bottom flap)

 Then fold the pocket lining so the top meets up with the top of the pocket. Then sew along the dotted line. Only you are only sewing the pocket lining to itself, and the pocket folds but not the pants

 Then when you are done you have a pocket that is separate from the pants.

 Then for the other pocket I decided to do a faux pocket, so I just wanted a flap. (but you could do a welt pocket under the flap if you wanted) So I cut out two flap pieces and sewed them right sides together. Then turn it right side out and press.

 Then with the flap facing up sew in place along the raw edge.

 Then fold the flap down and topstitch in place to cover the raw edge. I added a button to secure the flap in place. ( you will see that later)

 Now for the waistband I did it just like this one, so the pieces over lap.

 Now I wanted belt loops so I added them to the back before I added the elastic.

 Then I added the elastic to the back and I secured the other end of the belt loop. I also added two belt loops to the front.

 Now I wanted cuffs on the pants without the pants being short so I added several inches to the leg length and I made an extra large cuff.

 Then fold up the cuff and tack in place. It's great for growth spurts too, since I can let it down if needed.

 Then the new pants were ready to go. Paired with a new belt (tutorial coming) and he had a sweet new outfit.

I love the pocket details, they just make it a little something special. Oh and the $7 dollar price tag? That makes me even happier :)