tutorial – Preciously Paired

Easy 3-Step Kimono Tutorial with Lace Trim

posted in diy, sewing, sewing for women, tutorial, women's fashion by Hanna on May 22, 2015

5 MORE WEEKS! As excited as I am for this baby to come, and to gain back some comfort, I’ve been enjoying the quiet moments. With the hubby at school for most of the day and it just being me and Addie at home, life is rather simple and peaceful (most days anyway). We’re not your hustle and bustle kind of family. We really enjoy being at home and our down-time together. Really I’m just trying to soak it all in before our lives get thrown into the chaotic whirlwind of having a new baby. You guys I’m not going to lie, I honestly feel completely unprepared and a bit anxious about life with a new baby and a toddler all while my husband is in graduate school. For those of you who know me I may seem completely at ease, but inside I’m freaking out a little bit. However, with all that being said, there is just something so miraculous and wonderful about holding your baby for the first time and watching them grow that makes it all so worth it… even on the very worst days.

But back to the present, this increasingly warm weather and growing belly of mine has made getting dressed some days a challenge (that is the days I actually get dressed). At this stage in pregnancy, comfort also plays a huge role in what I wear. And my new favorite thing besides yoga pants and maxi dresses, are kimonos. They are the perfect layering piece for those warm summer days and oh so comfortable! Not only are they comfortable, but they are extremely easy to make… seriously, like 3 steps easy!

My original inspiration for this lace trim kimono came from a lace trim kimono from Novae Clothing. And, as with a lot of clothing I see, my first thought was, “Hey, I could make that!”. So, here is what you’ll need:

Materials:

1 3/4 – 2 yards of chiffon, silk, or any type of lightweight fabric (I got mine from Joann’s)
3 yards of lace trim
coordinating thread
measuring tape
sewing machine

1. Fold your fabric in half hot dog style with right sides together. Before you cut out the kimono you’ll need to get a few quick measurements.

Sleeve length: hold arms straight out and measure from one end of sleeve to the other (my measurement was 38″)
Width of armhole: my measurement was 14″ in diameter
Length of sleeve from body of kimono: I measured about 5-6″ from the end of each sleeve
Length of kimono: measure from top of shoulder to desired length (I simply used the entire length of the fabric and didn’t cut any off of the bottom)

Once you have your measurements it is time to make some cuts. First cut out the shape of the sleeves, then cut the front opening. When cutting the front opening, make sure you are only cutting your top piece of fabric. DO NOT CUT ALONG THE FOLDED EDGE.

2. Pin side seams together and sew from the end of sleeve to the bottom hem on each side. I used my serger here to prevent fraying, but if you don’t have a serger you can zigzag stitch the edges or use some Fray Check.

3. Now, hem around all openings including the armholes, bottom hem, and front opening. I used a simple rolled hem by folding the edges over twice. At this point you can leave it as is or add some lace trim to the bottom of the kimono and sleeves. Simply measure around the bottom of sleeves and the bottom of the kimono to know how long to cut your lace, then pin the lace around the openings and sew on using a straight stitch.

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend! Happy sewing!

Please feel free to email or post a comment with any questions.

XOXO,

Sara

Easy T-Shirt Maxi Dress Tutorial

posted in diy, fall, sewing, sewing for women, tutorial, women's fashion by Sara on April 21, 2015

31 weeks! I can officially count down the number of weeks before this baby is due on two hands! I feel extremely blessed that me and baby are both healthy, but man has the discomfort set in! With my body expanding and with the weather getting warmer and warmer, I figured I needed to add a few more comfort pieces to my wardrobe (that aren’t classified as pajamas) to get me through the rest of this pregnancy. First on my list: a light-weight, flowy maxi dress. It might as well be classified as pajamas because it is so comfortable– I could live in this dress! This dress is especially great because it is extremely easy to make, and will work perfectly when I’m not pregnant as well! Full tutorial below:

Supplies:

2.5 yards of stretchy knit material (I purchased mine from Girl Charlee Fabrics)
coordinating thread
double needle for your sewing machine

1. Cut your fabric. I used a maxi dress that I already had as my pattern, but you can use a t-shirt as well and simply extend the length. You’ll need a DRESS FRONT, DRESS BACK, and two SLEEVES, be sure to cut on the folded edge as illustrated above. I like to use a neckband to finish off the neckline, but you are welcome to use your preferred neckline method. Neckbands work best when using a serger, but a stretch stitch on a regular sewing machine would work too. To cut a NECKBAND, measure the circumference of the neckline and cut a 1 1/2″ strip that is about 3 inches smaller.

2. With front sides together, sewing the shoulder seams together. I used my serger to do this, but a straight stitch on your sewing machine will work great too.

3. Open your dress, with the right sides up, and match the top point of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. With right sides together, pin the edge of the sleeve to the arm hole then sewing together. Repeat for the second sleeve.

4. Fold right sides together and match up the sides of your dress. Sew from the bottom edge of the sleeve to the bottom edge of the dress.

5. Hem the sleeves and bottom of the dress to your desired length using a double needle which allows for some stretch. You could also use a stretch stitch here.

6. To add the neckband, first sew the ends of the neckband together with right sides facing one another to create a circle. Next fold the band in half, so that the right side is facing out. Pin the neckband to the outside of the neckline, stretching the neckband to fit. Remember that your neckband is suppose to be smaller that your actual neckline. This will allow the neckband to lay flat once you’ve sewn it on. Serge the neckband to the opening, pulling the neckband flat as you go. Fold the serged edge of the neckband to the inside of the dress and iron flat. For a more detailed tutorial with step-by-step pictures click over to our DIY Slouchy Tee tutorial.

It is really so easy and comfortable, I plan on making a few more to get me through the rest of this pregnancy and post-pregnancy too.

Happy sewing!!

XOXO,

Sara

DIY Girl’s Graphic Sweater: Valentines Outfit Inspiration

posted in color block party skirts, diy, kids, shop, tutorial, Uncategorized by Hanna on February 11, 2015

In case you missed it, the other day I posted about a DIY graphic tee I did in lou of Valentines day which I paired with our Color Block Party skirt. Today I’m sharing a second graphic tee that that I did, but this time I tried to do something a little different. Instead of just painting words onto a shirt I decided to start with a sweater and use a single-crocheted, chain of yarn and sewed that to the shirt in the form of a word. I made this sweater for my daughter but I think it would be equally cute in adult form.

So for another quick “how-to” here are the thing you’ll need for this simple project.

Supplies

– sweater/sweatshirt

-Yarn

– Crochet hook

– Pins

– Needle and thread

– Beads (optional)

I wanted to give the shirt a little more interest so I decided to start by stringing some beads onto my yarn before I turned it into a chain. This is all up to what you want to do, but I’ll still let you know exactly what I did. I single-crocheted 8 times and then did a bead and just repeated until I had a chain long enough to form the word I wanted. Once I had my chain finished and after working in the ends I formed the word I wanted with it on my shirt. When I had it the way I wanted it I pinned it to the shirt and then sewed it on with my needle and thread. See…easy peasy!

The next step was obviously to pair it with her Color Block Party skirt. I’ll dress Mia in pants and by the end of the day she is either in this skirt or her tutu. Needless to say, she LOVES this skirt, so you all know what she will be wearing this Valentines Day.

There you have it, my 2 diy graphic tops perfect for Valentines and all the days after. I think after doing these shirts I’m definitely hooked on graphic tees and now want a tone. Anyone have a fav they would like to point me in the direction of getting?

XOXO,

Hanna

Metal Pumpkin Tutorial

posted in crafts, decor, diy, fall, tutorial by Sara on October 27, 2014

It has been raining non-stop for the past week, and both me and my daughter have been sick. So naturally we have stayed nice and cozy indoors, sipping hot chocolate, eating lots of soup, watching episode after episode of Gilmore Girls, and crafting. Yep, this is the life… well except the being sick part… and it would be nice to actually see the sun once in a while.

Anyway, before I got sick, I attended a little blogging event at my local Orchard Supply Hardware store where I got to meet some wonderful women and learn some fun holiday craft ideas including this cute pumpkin made from pipe hanger strapping. It was too cute not to share! Besides it’s classy design, it only costs about $5 to make and you can finish it in less than 30 minutes. It having been a while since my last blog tutorial, I completely forgot to take step-by-step pictures, but this project is fairly foolproof. Believe me, it is a piece of cake! All you’ll need are the supplies listed below:

** Note: Pipe hanger strapping also comes in copper, which makes for a nice shiny orange pumpkin.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut the strapping into pieces at your desired length using snips (or anything you have that will cut metal). I cut mine by measuring out 10 of the big holes, then cut as close to the small hole making a straight edge.

2. Once you’ve cut all your straps, bend each one into a horseshoe shape so that both ends of the straps will stack flat on top of each other. (refer to images below for a better look). Since the corners of the straps are sharp, I’d recommend using a pair of gloves for this part or a pair of needle nose pliers.

3. Now, screw 1 nut onto the very end of the threaded rod, then follow it with a washer. Then begin to layer the straps onto the rod and arrange them evenly around it. I used 7 straps, but you may use as many as you’d like.

4. Once you’ve added all your straps, place another washer followed by a nut on top of the layered straps. Twist tight to secure the straps in place.

5. Next, thread another nut about 1.25″ – 1.5″ down from the top of the rod, followed by a washer. This makes a stopping point for your straps. Then thread the straps onto the top part of the rod.

6. After all the straps are threaded onto the rod, clinch them down with the last washer and nut. You may want to use a crescent wrench to make sure all the nuts are tight. At this point I played with the shape of the straps a bit more to get that perfect pumpkin shape.

You should now have something that resembles a pumpkin! You can now spray paint it, or simply leave it the way it is. I chose to spray paint mine using a Ivory Satin spray paint to better match the rest of my home’s decor. Then I added some curly twine to the stem of the pumpkin. To do this, I dipped pieces of twine in a mixture of Elmers glue and water, then wrapped in around a No.2 pencil to dry. Once dry, I glued the pieces of curled twine onto the the stem. You could also use wire, fabric, or leaves to decorate the top.

Foolproof right? It may seem a bit confusing at times on paper, but once you get into the process of making it, it all comes together quite easily. Just keep bending and twisting until it is the way you like it… you really can’t mess it up. There is no right or wrong way with these types of things. However, please feel free to leave a comment or email us if you have any questions or if something in the instructions seem unclear.

Happy Fall!!

Friday Finds #17: Colorblocked

posted in color block party skirts, decor, Friday Finds, inspiration, tutorial, women's fashion by Sara on August 15, 2014

So lets talk some more colorblock… we’re kind of addicted to it! There’s just something so fun and playful about it and the best part is it can be done in many different ways! You can pair similar or contrasting colors together to create a colorful outfit, or you can wear a colorblock piece of clothing that has already been created for you. It is also very easy to DIY your own colorblock pieces, just take a look at this quick jewelry update tutorial or this refashioned dress tutorial.

At the head of all this colorblock hype is of course our Color Block Party Skirt that is featured in our shop. We had a great opening week and are grateful for all of you who helped spread the word. If you have not yet seen our Color Block Party Skirts, check out our shop to view all four fabulous colors! For more colorblock inspiration and finds, visit some of the links below!

1|2|3|4|5|6|7

Enjoy and have a great weekend!!

Be sure to join us Monday for the Your Design This Time linky party!

Linked to: http://www.prototypemama.com/2014/08/15/thats-fresh-friday-38/, http://lollyjane.com/creative-collection-group-link-party-13/

Gingham and Color Blocking

posted in sewing, sewing for women, shop, tutorial, women's fashion by Sara on July 29, 2014

I have a confession to make… I’ve missed you guys! My mind has been everywhere but the blog the last couple of weeks and it feels nice to be sitting down again to share with you some of the greatest and latest news. For those of you who have been following along, you may remember me saying that I quit my day job last month to pursue my dream of dressmaking. For the past couple of months I’ve spent hours sewing and agonizing over making my first design something that could be loved by all– complete with pockets, an exposed zipper, and four different color options.

I first came up with the idea to make the Color Block Party Skirt several years ago when I decided to take up sewing again. I found a gathered skirt tutorial for beginners that I wanted to try, but I couldn’t choose between two different colors of fabric so I decided to use both. I’ve since made many upgrades to the original color block skirt to create a classic, quality product. It has become one of my favorite skirts to wear, as the sturdy waistband accentuates the smallest part of me and hides all my problem areas. It is comfortable, breathable, and I now wonder how I ever went without pockets in a skirt before– they’re genius and absolutely necessary!

With only two more weeks before the grand opening of our shop, I’m both excited and anxious. I put my heart and soul into each and every skirt I make and will never get enough of seeing the excitement of customers’ faces when they try one on. None of this would be possible without the help and support from my loving husband, family and friends. So mark your calendars, because on August 11th you will finally have the chance to own your very own, custom made, Color Block Party Skirt!

Also, some of you may have noticed that we’ve recently partnered up with several other bloggers as hosts for the “Your Designs This Time” linky party, which we will co-host every Monday on the blog from now on. We’ve already met some wonderful people and seen so many inspiring ideas! If you didn’t get a chance to see this week’s linky party I recommend hopping on over to join in the fun!

Linked to: http://www.mabeyshemadeit.com/tell-tuesday-34/, http://stylelixir.com/2014/07/style-sessions-fashion-link-up-the-sequin-polka-dot-dress.html, http://dcinstyle.com/printed-shorts-monday-bloom-linkup/, http://www.walkinginmemphisinhighheels.com/2014/08/trend-spin-linkup-full-skirts.html

Pottery Barn Knock-Off: Seagrass Headboard

posted in decor, diy, home, thrifted, tutorial by Hanna on July 22, 2014

One of the first rooms I wanted to put together upon moving into our new house was the guest room. It’s located in the basement, which is actually perfect as it gives guest their own space and is on the opposite end of the house where the kids are not. However, it’s a little dark down there and the green walls sure don’t help. In my effort to try and fix up the guest room without immediately painting the walls (although it’s something I still want to do) I started looking for other ways to brighten up the room and make it more cozy and relaxing.

In my search I stumbled upon THIS Seagrass Headboard from Pottery Barn’s. I thought the texture and color of the seagrass would go great against the green walls of the guest room, giving it that natural feel, but that $340 price tag didn’t seem so “natural” for me to spend! So in my attempt to be crafty and save some money I started to look for some way to do many own. I came up with this DIY seagrass headboard using a seagrass rug I found on Craigslist. The whole headboard cast me just under $75 to make!

The supplies:

– 4’x8’x3/4″ MDF board or OSB

(Use whatever is cheapest. We found ours in the clearance bin at Home Depot.)

– Seagrass rug

– King size quilt batting: Thick

– staple gun and staples

(I would recommend getting some longer staples when doing the rug since it’s so thick)

– jigsaw

– heavy duty hanging hooks or 1×3’s for the legs cut at desired height.

I’ll be honest in saying that there would be a few things that I would do differently if I did this project over again or maybe that’s just the perfectionist talking in me. All in all though I’m happy with how the headboard turned out!

I still have a few more projects for the guest room before I call it “complete” including painting it, a dresser redo and some more wall art. For now, it still gives our guests a nice place to sleep!

Linked To:

Share your Fun Creations – From Dream To Reality #127

http://www.bravenewhome.com/diyers-link-party-10/

http://www.tinysidekick.com/makers-link-party-27/

http://theblissfulbee.com/work-it-wednesday-no-57/

http://lifeinvelvet.com/2014/07/thursday-style-link-party-30/

Category: tutorial

Easy 3-Step Kimono Tutorial with Lace Trim

Easy T-Shirt Maxi Dress Tutorial

DIY Girl’s Graphic Sweater: Valentines Outfit Inspiration

Metal Pumpkin Tutorial

Friday Finds #17: Colorblocked

Gingham and Color Blocking

Pottery Barn Knock-Off: Seagrass Headboard