Piano Practice Books

I made these books for my students. I decided to bribe them to practice. After they practice ten hours, they will get a candy bar/pack of gum/tictacs or the like of their choice. I created a table to record daily practice time, based on the books I used growing up, a place for assignments and a tiny musical staff at the bottom. I had them copied double sided on pre punched three hole paper, then put them in a three pronged folder. Each book cost about two dollars.

If you'd like to print your own, send me an email: emmillee(AT)gmail(dot)com with "piano practice sheet" in the subject line. I tried to open the document in google docs but the columns disappeared.

Easy Slip/Skirt

This is another one of my dollar dresses. It's a few sizes too big, which is perfect for a fuller skirt. I cut off the top, added a casing and some elastic. I like the white ruffle peeking out under other skirts and dresses. My mom would be proud that I'm not anti slip anymore.

Before:

Sweet Sweatshirt!

I took a hand me down men's size large sweatshirt and made a cuter one.



I didn't realize that a lot of sweatshirts don't have side seams. I cut out the design and cut the sweatshirt below the sleeves. I used one of Ansley's dresses as a width guide and to trace the sleeves. I had enough material to overlap the front. I like the asymmetry and the buttons.



Here's the original front of the sweatshirt:





Linked here:

My Maybe Matilda McIntosh Knock Off Dress

Rachel at Maybe Matilda is a genius. The wide sash is exactly what a grown up tee shirt dress needs. I used her tutorial, found here. The higher waistline is a new look for me and I think I like it. I didn't allow enough fabric to tie my sash in a bow but I think it looks fine knotted. I used an old (and seamless- must figure out how to make another one!) Victoria Secret shirt from forever ago that I never wore because it was too short and a linen look fabric (it's 65% poly 35% cotton).

The Marilla Skirt

Inspired by the Maria skirt from Banana Republic:



I love the asymmetric ruffles, but not the color. My version cost $2 (same fabric as this skirt, from one of my five dollar five yard Walmart bolts)and the original is currently $49.99 on sale. Do you think I should dye it?

Here's how I made it:



I made a waistband by stretching my knit fabric around my waist (the stretchy direction around my waist) until it felt snug. My waistband is tall so I can fold it over or leave it up if (IF!) I need a maternity skirt again. No pictures b/c single layered, it's pretty sheer and it's snugger than you want to see.

I made three tiers, each about one and a half times my hip measurement, which was close enough cutting from selvedge to selvedge. My longest tier was about 17.5 inches. The next ones were 1.5 or 2 inches shorter.

I sewed (without backstitching) along the width of each rectangle with my longest stitch (a 4 on my machine). I gathered each rectangle until it fit around my hips. (I did them individually b/c it was impossible to gather thee layers of thin bedsheet when I was making another project).

I sewed the three rectangles together with a zigzag stitch. I sewed two together first, then the third to the other two.

I sewed the waistband together so it made a tube.

I sewed the skirt together. I thought it would be a good idea to make sure all of the tiers were sewn together in the single seam. It's not a good idea. Leave yours free and sew them together after you cut your angled ruffles.

I sewed the skirt and waistband together, right sides together.

Then came the kind of scary part- cutting the angled ruffles. I didn't measure anything, I just eyeballed it. Look at the diagram and go slow- you can always cut more if you need to. Mine isn't perfect and I might cut it some more. . . .

Linked here (so excited for this series!):

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and at this lovely link party:

Another New Favorite Skirt

Just like this one except the front and back weren't completely symmetrical so I'm wearing it the "correct" way. The brown skirt went back to its original owners. I love how flouncy the ruffles are. Hooray for free skirts.

Linked here:



and here:

Another Day, Another Dollar, Another Dress

Another day of being sick (and another night of Ansley not sleeping)/me going crazy with the unnecessary crying b/c I won't let her watch Curious George all day long.

One of the dollar dresses I bought at Walmart (yes, only a dollar!) with plans to repurpose them. I know the before picture isn't the exact dress but it's the same style, weight, etc. The one I used was a size 16 in women's.

My favorite pattern as of late. Also seen here and here. It's obviously a bit big in the arms and length but I want it to fit her for a while and I didn't measure the length on her b/c she was napping for a few minutes. The fabric is actually two layers. It would've been really thin if it wasn't. I'm not sure it'll last that long if it gets snagged on anything but it sure is comfy, lightweight, and airy- perfect for summer.

Skirt Refashion

I got this knit skirt from my piano students' mom. I cut it at my knee length. I divided the bottom part of the skirt into thirds and cut them, trimming the seams around the back slit (for "walking"- guess I take really large steps!) and the bottom hem. I sewed all of the pieces into one long strip, basted the top and gathered. After debating whether to sew it on the outside or the inside of the skirt, I sewed it on the outside with a zig zag stitch. The final step was rotating it (it was pretty much the same in the front and back) so the original back seam isn't directly in the middle of the back. I don't need any attention there. ha.

Love the collage? I just learned how via this awesome blog.

Two Pillowcase Wonder

I made a few of these scarves last week and couldn't stop thinking about the delicious pleats. I wondered what they'd look like in dress form. . . .







Side view:



Dress (and Ansley) in motion:





Want to make one? (Mine turned out pretty large for my average to short sized 21 month old).

I used two full sized jersey knit pillowcases from my stash (they might actually be the same size as queen pillowcases, since queen beds are only about six inches wider than full beds), a dress or shirt that fits your wearer well (preferably one with a similar amount of stretch), and usual sewing stuff (matching thread, pins, seam ripper, sewing machine, etc).

1. If the edges of the pillowcase are a bit wonky and/or if you want the extra three or four inches, unpick the top seam of one pillowcase.





2. Use your existing shirt or dress to make a pattern for the bodice at the top of the pillowcase (the part you just unpicked), adding your seam allowance. I added about an inch on each side of my dress and drew it on the fabric with pencil. You might want to do it the "real" way by making a pattern and using appropriate marking tools. Never made a pattern? Check out Dana's awesome tutorial. In this [awful!] picture, the sleeves are tucked back so I can draw the curve of the bodice/top of the sleeve. (any advice on how to fix these seriously washed out/weirdly shaded pictures?)



3. Make a pattern for your sleeves and cut out the sleeves from your other pillowcase. I positioned the outer edge of the sleeve on a fold I made in the pillowcase and chose to use the finished existing seam of the pillowcase as the bottom of my sleeve. Cut two sleeves.



4. Trim excess scraps towards the top of both pillowcases. Starting at the bottom (the end that's sewn shut) of the pillowcase, pin pleats, following the directions in the scarf tutorial. Remember to pin both layers. To help keep the pleats approximately the same length, I alternated between pinning pillowcases- ie I pinned the one on the right, then the one on the left. Then I pinned the one on the left and tried to copy the same distance on the right.



Notice they aren't the same length at the top opening. (which is the bottom of the picture. Sorry). It's okay- I just trimmed them later.

5. Sew the bodice pieces together, right sides together (rst), at the top shoulder seam and the side seams. I used a little zigzag to allow for some stretch in the knit fabric.

6. Sew the sleeves, rst.

7. Carefully pin the sleeve so the right side of the sleeve is pinned to the wrong side of the bodice and sew. Repeat for the other sleeve.

8. Sew one pleated panel of the skirt. I sewed five lines but in hindsight wish I'd sewn six or seven. I switched to a straight stitch for this part. Repeat for the other panel.

9. Line up the closed portion of the pillowcase (the bottom), rst. Do your best to line up each pleat as you go. Sew on both sides. (I used a small zigzag stitch again). Go slow! You have to sew through a lot of fabric and don't want it to get caught in your presser foot- ahem. Anyway, trim the excess fabric on the outside of the seam, if you have any. Be careful not to cut your seam. The beauty of knit it it won't fray so you don't have to finish it. You just made the skirt portion. (and the sun went down).



10. At the top of your skirt portion, sew a basting/gathering stitch. Use a straight stitch, not a zigzag. Do not backstitch, as you want your bobbin thread loose. The longest stitch my machine has is a 4. If you're a bit more cautious, sew a second basting stitch (in case the first one breaks).

11. Gather the skirt portion so it's the same width as your bodice. I tried to line up the side seams from the skirt with the side seams from the bodice.

12. Pin the skirt to the bodice, rst. Carefully sew them together. I used a zigzag stitch here too. Trim any excess bulk outside of your seams.



13. Finish the collar in a method of your choosing. I haven't decided if I want to fold it down and hem it or if I want to use contrasting fold over elastic. What do you think?






Linked here!

Long Sleeve Peasant Dress

I am a little hyper when it comes to sewing. I was in the middle of sewing part of my brother's Christmas present when I saw this tutorial yesterday. During one of my favorite times of day (aka nap time), I cut up one of my super sheets from my favorite store (Target). How cute is this dress on my little princess?



I made a few changes like skipping the elastic in the sleeves:



And adding a sash with angled ends that can be tied in a bow:



or a knot (which I like better):



I think she likes it.



And another shot, b/c I like her!