Tutorial: Monkey Shorts

 

monkey shorts: little shorts to wear under your skirt while playing on the monkey bars.

 

the girl will be starting grade three in a few days and we've been getting ready - shoe shopping, labelling clothes, and organizing her uniform. we decided that maybe it might be nice to have some little shorts to wear over her underwear/under her skirt - to preserve a little modesty while climbing the playground equipment during recess. i used an old pair of leggings as the basis for the new shorts.

 

Materials:

- one yard of cotton jersey, pre-shrunk (can make about 6 pairs depending on size). i used navy blue to comply with school uniform requirements. old t-shirts would work well if they are very stretchy.

- 1/2" wide elastic, a couple of yards if you want to make a few pairs

- thread to match jersey fabric

- small pieces of ribbon (optional) to use as tags/labels

- tracing paper or scrap paper, paper cutting scissors, pencil, ruler

- old pair of leggings or jersey tights to use as a pattern

 

Equipment:

- sewing machine (that can sew zig zag stitch)

- serger machine (not necessary but very nice to have)

- sewing machine needle for knit fabrics

- twin sewing machine needle for knit fabrics (not necessary, but great for finishing hems on knit fabrics)

- scissors or rotary cutter (for fabric)

- pins

- measuring tape

 

Step 1: Cut the old pair of leggings to desired length and cut along seam lines.

 

 

 

 



Step 2: Lay the leggings onto the tracing paper and trace in pencil.   

 

 

 

Step 3: Add 1/4" seam allowance to the seams and 1/2" to the hem. Draw a line to indicate the grainline and label with any notes you might need. Cut out the pattern with your paper scissors.

 

 

Step 4: Pin the pattern to a double layer of the fabric, lining up the grain line. Cut out using your fabric scissors or a rotary cutter.

 

 

 

Step 5: With the fabric pieces right sides together, pin the leg seams together.

 

 

 

Step 6: Sew the leg seams making sure to remove pins as you go. If you are using a serger (as I did), just trim off a little as you sew. The seams can be sewn using a standard sewing machine - use a stretch stitch or a narrow zig zag stitch. Stretch the seams as you sew.

 

 

 

Step 7: Turn one leg right side out.

 

 

 

Step 8: Place one leg inside the other, right sides together. Match leg seams and pin.

 

 

 

Step 9: Sew the crotch (is there another word?) seam together, removing pins as you sew. Again, you can use a zig zag or stretch stitch with a standard sewing machine if you don't have a serger. Remember to stretch seams as you sew - we wouldn't want this important seam to split open while on the monkey bars or doing cart wheels!

 

 

 

Step 10: To hem the legs, turn up the bottom of each leg 1/2" and pin. Sew from the right side using a standard sewing machine with a twin needle or using one single needle with a zig zag stitch. Don't forget to stretch the fabric and remove pins as you sew.

 

 

 

Step 11: Measure the elastic waistband from the old leggings and add 1". Or wrap the elastic around your child's waist, stretching it slightly. Lap the edges of the elastic over 1/2". Zig zag stitch the elastic together.

 

 

 

Step 12: Divide the elastic waistband into four even sections and mark with pins. Do the same for the shorts. Pin the waistband to the wrong side of the shorts, aligning edges. Stitch edges from the right side using a serger OR zig zag stitch if using a standard sewing machine. Remember to stretch your fabric and elastic and to remove pins as you sew.

 

 

 

Step 13: Fold over the waistband to the wrong side (interior) of the shorts and pin. At this point you can add a little piece of ribbon to the center of the back (optional).

 

 

 

Step 14: Using the twin needle, sew the waistband while stretching the fabric/elastic and removing pins as you go. This can also be done using a standard sewing machine with a zig zag stitch.

 

 

Step 15: Make a lot of monkey shorts and play, play, play!

 

back to school prep

we've started getting ready for school to start. and after spending a small fortune on new shoes and some extra uniform pieces, i decided that i could make them new lunch bags with fabric i had in my stash. now that my little man will be in all day kindergarten he will have to take a lunch and snacks. and the girl seems to have a hollow leg so the generous size of her lunch bag will accomodate a full lunch and lots of snacks.

i used the tutorial from pink penguin with a couple of small modifications to enclose all the seams. inspired by knot, thread, stitch i traced the kids actual printing/handwriting and embroidered over it. they are thrilled with the results.

now to research some lunch ideas...

new skill: piping

this was a fun project for a friend who needed new cushion covers for her kitchen chairs. she chose the fabric - a lovely coated cotton with an abstract chrysanthemum pattern. there were a ton of videos on youtube to help learn about cutting bias strips for piping and sewing it onto cushions. i bought sash cord from the hardware store - 45 feet for about $2 - much cheaper than the fabric store. now i'm looking around the house to see how i can incorporate more piping.

Frieda's Machine

our house is only one of four on a block with views of the gulf islands, each lot with a substantial garden. we've been lucky to make friends with the family next door who have lived here for over 40 years. our kids play with their kids, running through the sprinklers and playing in treehouses and forts together. we feel fortunate to have such friendly neighbors.

the beautiful house behind us has just been sold. it is a beautiful custom built mid-century home and we hope the new owners don't tear it down. the original owner is a lovely lady named Frieda. she lived there on her own until she was 93 and started to need a little extra help though i know she is still sharp as tack. she's is now in a senior's home and according to her family, enjoying the outings and company. we got to know her by waving across our yards and when it snowed we shovelled her walk. we made sure to take her garbage cans back from the curb. we chatted every few days when we saw each other out shopping on our local market street and learned about all of the changes in our neighborhood over the last 50 years. we took over cookies, muffins, and vegetables from our garden. she was always lovely to my kids and they learned to be 'neighbourly'. Frieda would tell me not to sew too late into the night - her kitchen looked onto my sewing studio and she said she said she wished her eyes would still let her sew. she brought over fabric and we talked about sewing projects. my favourite memory of her will be when she hired a maintenance crew called 'men in kilts' to clean out her gutters and spent a lot of time checking that the base of the ladders was secure for the handsome, kilted workmen.

it has taken Frieda's family the better part of a year to clear out her belongings. it must be heartbreaking to find new homes for all of your belongings and then sell the family home. Frieda's family was very kind to donate much of it to charity. we are very grateful for the doll dishes, child's chair, and a lovely slipper chair sits in the corner of my bedroom. but i was most touched to receive the little desk and chair in the picture above. the top folds out to become a sewing table and a beautiful 1963 Singer Touch & Sew pops up. it came with all the accessories and instructions and has knee controls. i can't wait to teach my kids how to sew on this machine and carry on the handmaking/sewing/crafting tradition that Frieda enjoyed. we miss you, neighbor.

summer reading

this post could also be called 'restrain oneself from kissing postal delivery person'. i was so thrilled to get the mail on monday - a gigantic box of books and even my favourite sewing magazine delivered to my door. most of these books have been on the bookstore shelves for some time but not on my own shelves. i've needed a little fresh inspiration and these are scratching that itch. this september (in one month!) i will be able to focus on my interior design business thanks to all-day kindergarden.

i am really enjoying lisa soloman's 'knot,thread,stitch'. great projects, clear instructions, and lots of encouragement to try stitching your own way. i can't wait to transfer some of my kids' drawings onto pillows for them. and to get them started on a little hand stitching of their own.

lest you think i've been only reading books with pictures, here's a list of what i've read this summer on my kobo ereader and from the library. and no, i have not succumbed to reading any of the 'fifty shades of grey' books - yet.

summer reading list 2012 (in no particular order):

the birth house - ami mckay
cutting for stone - abraham verghese
the descendents - kaui hart hemmings
freedom - jonathan franzen
irma voth - miriam toews
let's pretend this never happened - jenny lawson
the sense of an ending - julian barnes
the sentimentalists - johann skibsrud
the shoemaker's wife - adriana trigiani
the sisters brothers - patrick dewitt
this is how: overcoming shyness,... - ausgusten burroughs
committed - elizabeth gilbert
the 100-mile diet - alisa smith and j.b. mackinnon
life a user's manual - georges perec

if i keep going at this pace i may need a new prescription for my glasses...

new pouches

the last couple of months just got away from me. i had every intention to post but very little time. it's nice to relax a little after a couple of fast paced months.

the kids are at summer camp, the laundry is done, and i don't have to go into work today and it is absolutely lovely to have a little time to myself. it was an entirely pleasant process gettting some new bags photographed and listed in my etsy shop. i love the new size of pouches - just right for pencils or makeup.

mother's day

mother's day is quickly approaching. one of these little pouches would be a great gift - filled with with a gift card or some beauty products for your mom, grandma, or aunt.

open for business

spring is here and katemakes is open for business! it's been a busy few weeks in the studio. lots of little pouches, pillow cushion covers, and bags. these little bags are perfect for summer travels, as a gift for a mom, dad or new graduate - just pop in a little note, a special lipstick, or a gift card. now if the sun would only come out so i can take some decent photos of all the other katemakes products that are ready to list. stay tuned. 

warming up

spring is on the way. it's a beautiful sunny day - the perfect opportunity to practice a bit with the camera. the rainy, overcast days have been a great chance to get re-aquainted with my grandmother's sewing machine and there's quite a little stockpile of pouches and bags gathering here in my studio. i'm gettting warmed up to re-launching my etsy shop.

reunited : resolutions

 so it is quite apparent that my photography skills have not improved in the least. put that on the 2012 resolutions list... that along with more sewing. this bucket is directly from 1, 2 , 3 Sew by Ellen Luckett Baker. it could not have been more simple to make and is big enough to hold all the bits that float around. the fabric is from ikea and is just about the last of it after making big cushion covers for our living room. i highly recommend Ellen's book but if you're not inclined to sew yourself a storage bucket, head on over to Leslie's etsy shop, smidgebox. she is one talented lady.
resolutions: more organization. improve my skills. take more pictures.

i sewed and knitted my fingers to the bone for much of november and december in the lead up to christmas. it took me a bit to recover. in the past week i have made a long sleeved t-shirt and a pair of cords that i really love and actually wear. in public.
resolution: make stuff, lots of it.

vancouver has been hit with a bit of snow this week so we chose today to take a 'snow day' - it being friday and all. we are all still in pajamas. lovely. we are making stuff.
resolution: to have more fun with my kids every day.

reunited:
my mom brought me the sewing machine that had been my paternal grandmother's and had been in storage for over 20 years. my generous sister sent me some money for christmas so i was able to get the machine serviced and tuned up. the christmas i was 6 i received a holly hobby kid's sewing machine and quickly outgrew it. i played around with this machine (even sewing my finger at one point) until my maternal grandmother showed me how to sew properly on her singer featherweight. this beauty is a singer slant-o-matic 403 from 1958 and it is entirely made of metal. it has 9 cams to determine different stitch styles and my grandmother bought just about every attachment you can imagine. adjustable pintucker, ruffler, and even a foot that makes and applies bias strips at the same time! i can't wait to get sewing with it again. i really really still want a Bernina 440QE or 550QE but that will remain a dream for a long while yet.
resolution: learn more. use what i have. try new things.

books

my birthday was lovely. a transformer (to play with my little boy), an itunes card (to buy more disco music to educate my big boy with), and a book (to read with my girl). but the one thing i can't seem to put down is the kobo reader. when i ask "have you seen my books?" the family knows just what item i'm in search of. it's pretty fantastic to have a ton of books literally at my fingertips. the little pouch i made the next day so i can carry it with me always. i found the tutorial on sew mama sew.

can't wait to make

the postman very nearly got a big hug this morning. i ordered print workshop several months ago but it was out of stock. and i hesitated on 1 2 3 sew as i can already sew but it has a lot to teach. Ellen (of the longthread blog) is the only other person that i know of who sews zippers into pouches and bags in the same way that i do. both books are filled with great projects, clear instructions and a ton of inspiration. i have so much admiration for people with the ability to come up with creative ideas and who then are willing to share them with others in such a clear and approachable way.

cheerful

this summer has not provided me with many opportunities to sew. there are stacks of fabric ready, patterns chosen, and notions bought but i have yet to make something for myself. i sewed this cushion cover and bolster cover for a friend and her family. i love her fabric choices - ikea, i still love you! - and it looks so cheerful in their new gorgeous house. absolutely cheerful and the perfect spot to read a book or have a cocktail.

lovely lucky day

today has been a great day. woke up to my first fabric sale on etsy - thank you kind new yorker (that's a person, not the magazine). kids were very cooperative this morning. had a great day at work. made plans to play hookie with my kids to meet up with our dearest friends tomorrow. and heard from two potential clients for my interior design business. oh yeah, and it is sunny and warm. lovely.

i'm off to buy lottery tickets!

spring fever = itchy fingers

spring is here and the knitting has been packed away in the craftcrap closet. and with the canucks in the stanley cup playoffs i needed something to take the edge off while cheering on my team as i can't take the tension. my playoff plan this year was to load up on linen and embroidery floss and just experiment. these will likely become one of a kind pouches.

i know i'm not the only one to be inspired by the Penguins Classics covers by Jillian Tamaki. so stunning and inspiring. i would never get rid of my dog-eared copies but... maybe just get these to display.

saturday sewing: collaboration

when the weather is a little gloomy i like to do a little saturday sewing. we are going to a birthday party at a pony stable tomorrow and needed a gift for our little cousin. my best girl entirely designed this: drew pictures, chose the fabrics and selected the button. it was so fun to see her working so hard to get it just the way she envisioned. i was happy to supply sewing labour. she's a bit of a taskmaster but to her credit, she let me have lots of coffee breaks. she put a little toy horse in the purse as a little surprise. sweet. but the best part, my best girl asked me to teach her how to sew. my heart is pinching with happiness.

and.... finally, after great deliberation (and much procrastination) i activated my etsy shop. in the near future i will be selling the things i make but for the time being i am selling some vintage Japanese fabric packs. my mom brought these gorgeous linens and cottons home to Canada with her with the intention of me making some quilts. i have a ton of fabric and have saved my favourites but i would like to see these fabrics go to someone who will make something fantastic. a quilt, some zakka goods, a patchwork pillow cover, a bag.... so many possibilities.
ok, now time for another saturday tradition, the saturday siesta!

i heart art

for my best girl's 6th birthday (waaay back when it was warm and sunny) we had an art party at Collage Collage for a few of her friends. i made the bag, pencil roll, and pencil case. the apron and art supplies were bought at the local dollar store. it's a real sign of how unorganized i have let things get - i just found the extra goodie bag when i did the 'big craft closet clean out of 2011' the other week!

saturday sewing

one benefit of the rainy saturday was some making time. i made this bag for my sister's birthday present. the pattern is from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. i followed it almost exactly but added a zippered pocket and a magnetic snap closure. it was very straightforward and easier to sew leather than i expected - just need a special needle.
the entire project cost under $20 so i covered three of my 2011 sewing intentions:

1. make birthday presents (and cards, too)
2. sew a leather bag
3. stick to a budget - be more thoughtful of how i spend my money

obviously, the intention to take better photos is a work in progress...                                    

tutorial: towel trimming

here's a quick and easy tutorial for trimming towels. just in case you want to designate your very own towels from all the other towels in the house. after all, who knows how well your toddler is washing his little paws?

supplies:

 - towel (pre-shrunk) - i used an ikea hand towel 15" wide x 22" long

 - border fabric: cotton fabric (pre-shrunk) the width of your towel plus 1" and two times the depth of the border you would like plus 1/2". - my border strip was 3" deep x 23" long and the finished sized was 1 1/2" x 22".

- fabric loop: 3" x 5" cotton fabric (pre-shrunk)

- sewing machine, measuring tape or ruler, scissors, pins, handsewing needle, thread to match cotton trimming fabric, iron

instructions:

1. fold the fabric in half lengthwise and press. press in each long side 1/4". fold in each short  end of fabric 1/2" and press - the strip should be only slightly longer than the towel edge.

 2. lay the towel edge over one side of the fabric strip. the strip should be just slightly longer than the towel.

3.  pin through all layers, keeping the edges of the fabric trim strip lined up.

4. carefully sew along the edge of the fabric trim strip making sure to catch all the layers of fabric and towel. backstich at the begining and end.

5. with a handsewing needle, slipstitch the ends of the fabric trim stitch closed.

ta da! there is your towel, just for you! if you want to add a loop, continue on...

 

6. for the fabric loop: fold the 3"x5" fabric piece in half lenthwise and press. press both long edges in to the centre fold and press again. sew along the long edge.

7. center the loop on the center of the towel edge with about 1 1/2" space between each end. pin and stitch along the towel hem line, backstitching at the beginning and end.

8) fold over the fabric loop and stitch along the edge of the towel, backstitching at the beginning and end.

9) fold it the way you want or hang it from a hook so high no toddler can reach it. make it really girly and chances are your husband or teenage son will not touch it either. just hoping...