Christmas Stocking Tutorial with Wooden Initials

I've got a great Christmas tutorial to share with you all today!

I made mine and hubby's very first stockings together! And let me tell you. I love um so much we're using them until we're 80. NO JOKE.

I wanted a pretty neutral stocking, but still wanted it to be cute. I picked a linen with a gold detail and a matching base fabric for the accent top and bow. The little bow and the wooden initials are what make them so adorable I think!!

Now, I can do some basic sewing, but wrapping my head around a stocking just was not quite working for me.  So, it was a trip to mom's house for some guidance :)

So here's what we did. I didn't really write down measurements along the way because they are pretty basic to figure out.  If anyone is really desparate for the info let me know I'll try to backstep and measure :)

Be warned: picture heavy tutorial ahead!

How to Make Simple Curtains

One of the first things we did after we moved into our new house was paint our family room.  The color wasn't exactly what I was imagining (wanted more of a tan/light brown and it's a little more orange-ish!!) But  I sure didn't feel like repainting so my goal was to make curtains that pulled the wall color in and brought in another color to dress the room up with matching accessories!

I decided on the Parisian Jacquard in Aqua from Fabric.com

Here are the curtains after I was done!

I'm not a great sewer, but these are even easier to make then pillows.  You just have to sew in a straight line for the whole thing!

I cut out two rectangles with a couple inches longer on each than I wanted the finished panels to be.  

Along the left, right, and bottom sides of the panels I folded the fabric edge (right side down)  over about 3/4 of an inch and ironed the seam down. 

Then I folded the fabric edge over the seam again, ironed, and pinned in place.

I sewed down the left and right sides first, then the bottom.

For the top of each panel, I did everything the same except for when I went to fold the seam over after I had ironed it down once, I brought it down about 2 inches and then ironed the seam. This leaves space to the curtain rod to go in!

After I sewed along the top seams, I inserted my curtain rod and got the hubby to hang them up for me! 

Yay - curtains! I'm so happy with them, I think they will really help to bring the room together.  I'm super glad they are done though...even though they are easy to make I measured wrong the first time around and had to order new fabric because my first set was too short :(  Then, the second time around my sewing machine broke while sewing them! Ugh. Oh well.  They are finished now and I'm very please with them.  Even if they still may be an inch short...but goodness knows I'm not making them a third time :)

 I'll be linking up to these parties:

Monday: CraftOManiac Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Market Yourself Monday, Motivate Me Monday. Craftastic Monday, Your So Very Creative,  Just Something I Whipped Up, Inspire Me Mondays, More the Merrier Monday, Made By You Mondays, Making the World Cuter,Weekend Warrior

Tuesdays: Tip Me Tuesday, Tutorial Tuesday, Sew Cute Tuesday, Anything Related Tuesday, Take-a-Look Tuesday, Show Me What Ya Got, Talent Tuesday, Who's Got Glam, Get Your Craft On, Running With Glitter, Homework, Ta-da Tuesday

Wednesdays: Your Whims Wednesday, Inspired By You Wednesday, Creative Share Wednesday, We did it Wednesday, Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design, Sugar and Spice, Tea Rose Home, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Show & Share, 

Thursdays: A Crafty Soiree, Strut Your Stuff, 20 Below Thursdays, Crazy Cute Thursdays, Hookin Up With House of Hepworths, Catch a Glimpse, Lesley's Super Sweet Thursday Par-tay

Friday: It's Fun to Craft, Friday Favs on Naptime Crafters, Weekend Wrap-Up Party, Frugal Friday, Sassy Sites, Show and Share Day, Fridays Unfolded,  Friday Favorites, Fantabulous Friday, Simply Creations Friday, Once Upon a Weekend, Weekend Bloggy Reading

Saturdays: Whatcha Got Weekend, Saturday Night Special, Show and Tell Saturdays, Lovely Crafty Weekend, Saturday is Crafty Day ,Scraptastic Saturday, Sweet Saturday

Sundays: Sunday Blog Love, Sundae Scoop, Sunday Showcase, Think Pink Sundays 

Purple Rosette Zippered Wristlet Tutorial

I've got a sewing tutorial this week!

I go back to school this coming Saturday and needed a wristlet to take with to carry my phone, ID card, etc with me around campus. I looked around on etsy but they were all at least $25 dollars and I couldn't find any I loved anyway.

When I saw this tutorial by Mommy by Day...Crafter by Night, I thought that she made it look pretty easy to make a zippered pouch, even for someone like me who can only sew pillows. 

So....I told myself it was baisically a pillow with a lining...and zipper....and wristlet part....and attempted one!

This is my finished product:

To make one, cut out two pieces of 8" x 6" fabric for the main fabric, lining, and fabric interfacing.

 

I had iron on interfacing lying around, so I ironed it on to the back side of the lining fabric.

Then I laid my front piece of fabric right side down, with a zipper right side down on top, with the interfacing right side down on-top of the zipper. I pinned all the pieces in place and sewed together.

Do the same thing with the other side. This is what is should look like...kind of. Although sew yours straighter than I did. (This was my first time sewing a zipper, give me some props ok?? haha)

Note: at this point you should unzip the zipper half way! 

For the wristlet part of the bag I ran a stitch down some bias tape to use.

 Pin the right sides together of the exterior fabric and sew around the whole outside.

I also pinned the wristlet part on at this point....although I should have stopped and realized that this was the inside of the exterior fabric....and sewing it on the inside  would not allow me to use it on the outside....but I didn't until it was too late.

So, I made it work...which I explain later.  But if you ever make one, make sure you pin and sew it on the right way!!!

Next I pinned the lining right side together, and sewed all around it except the corner which matches up with the wristlet side.

Then I flipped everything to the right side (that's why you needed to keep the zipper halfway open!) and I pulled the wristlet strap through the hole in the lining, and then sewed that hole up.

Not the cleanest way to do it....but, now I know better for next time!

Here's the bag almost done:

I made some rolled fabric rosettes for it and attached them....and then was done!

Just the right size to keep all my essentials!

I'll be sharing this with all the link parties in my header including Today's Creative Blog and Christina's Adventures