Ruffle Your Tops | Vanilla Bean

 Strawberry Cream

Here is the tutorial for the top I wore yesterday, which I decided to call, Strawberry Cream. Yes, it is named after the Starbucks drink. Yummy. :-) The shirt you will see in this tutorial is one I made for Gabrielle. And as her shirt is a off-white I decided to call hers, Vanilla Bean. :P

Vanilla Bean

 ~What You Will Need~

• Sewing Pins
• Scissors
• Measuring Tape
• Sewing Machine
• Old or New Long-sleeved T-shirt

1. Lay out the shirt on a flat surface. 

  2. Fold in half matching seams.

3. Measure up about 12" on the sleeve. You can cut the sleeves to any length you want, but the fabric you cut off will be the fabric you use for the ruffles. :) So, the higher up you cut the more fabric you will have. But don't cut too high! As the sleeve hole comes down lower then on a short-sleeve T-shirt. :D

4. Cut off sleeves (12" up).

5. Open up your shirt.

6. Take the sleeves you cut off and open up the seams.

7.  Lay the opened sleeves on top of each other.

8. Trim the sides to make them straight.

9. At the bottom (where the sleeve is hemmed) measure 1". Cut into strips.

10. Now you should have a whole pile of strips. :)

11. On your sewing machine adjust your stitch to its longest length. For you want to make a bunch of ruffles. You can go to ~Ruffles and Stuff~ for more information on how to make ruffles.

12. Place a strip of fabric in the middle of the sewing foot. Stitch.

13. If needed, scrunch up the ruffles. So they look like this:

14. Take one of the strips and lay it down the middle of the shirt, at the top. Pin. Now you may need to wrestle the little strip down before it stays. LOL. 

15. Repeat.  (After I took this picture I add two more strips.)

16. Sew down the middle of the each strip to secure.

17. Clip your threads. And you are done! You have just made yourself a ruffle shirt. Congratulations! =D

If you have questions, please feel free to ask away!

~Ashley

Secondhand Fashion Week - Day 4: "You are my Sunshine...."

Hello sunshine! Hello sundress! I'm so excited, as it reached into the low 80s today! Hurray!!! :D

-What I'm Wearing-

Yellow Sundress - Gabrielle made this dress - Hand-me-down from her. :)

White Jacket - Made by me

White Tiered Skirt - Bought at Epcot

Brown Wedges - Xhilaration Target

~Ashley

p.s. I hope to have the tutorial up sometime tonight. :)  As I took pictures today. Just need to write up the instructions. :)

Secondhand Fashion Week - Day 3: Pink & Spice

Today is outfit was made from refashioned hand-me-downs. How neat is that?

My top was a hand-me-up (down) from Gabrielle, as the color didn't look good on her. I took the long-sleeved shirt and turned it into a ruffle t-shirt. I hope to have a tutorial on how to make this shirt latter this week.

My skirt was originally a pair of pants that were given to me (hand-me-down). I wore them as pants until last Fall, when I was starting to get a little tired of them, but I still loved the color and print. So I decided to turn them into a skirt. :) I also did this with a pair of jeans last Fall. See post here. 

-What I'm Wearing-

Pink Ruffle T-shirt - St. John's Bay JCPenny - Hand-me-down (Free)

Striped Skirt - Talbots Kids - Hand-me-down (Free)

Pink Bracelet - AmandaBeth Original (won in a giveaway)

Gold Flats - American Eagle Payless - ($10)

Today's outfit will be entered into two fashion weeks, AmandaBeth's Secondhand Fashion Week and Natasha's Modest Online Fashion Show.

~Ashley

Secondhand Fashion Week - Day 2

Today's look features one of my favorite skirts. In fact, I have worn it through all of my teen years - well, once I reach my 20th birthday this July. :^) What I love most about this skirt is the fullness. I love long and swirly skirts. And sometimes, I like to wear ballet shoes with this skirt while I go dancing through my day like a ballerina. ;-)

-What I'm Wearing-

 Floral Skirt - Lauren Ralph Lauren - Secondhand (Free)

Maroon Shirt - Liz Claiborne ($9)

Shoes - Croft & Barrow - Secondhand (Free)

Pearl Necklace - Gift

Shades - Mudd - Kohls ($11)

Today's outfit will be entered into two fashion weeks,  AmandaBeth's Secondhand Fashion Week and Natasha's Modest Online Fashion Show.

 ~Ashley

Secondhand Fashion Week - Day 1

Today's outfit will be entered into two fashion weeks,  AmandaBeth's Secondhand Fashion Week and Natasha's Modest Online Fashion Show. Busy week for online fashion shows. =)

-What I'm Wearing-

Wool Plaid Kilt - Secondhand 

3/4 sleeve Polo - IZOD

Cardigan - Paul Harris Design - Secondhand

Cream Tights - Kohl's

Moccasin Flats - Naturalizers

Brooch - Vintage - Antique Mall

Fashion Ring - Arizona JCPenny

Look at this! My ring and brooch go together.

~Ashley

1940s "Swing" Dress - Pattern Review

Pattern: 1940s "Swing" Dress Pattern from Sense and Sensibility Patterns. 

Pattern Description: The dress has a unique yoke with gathered shoulders, two sleeve options (short and “bracelet-length”), and gored skirt.

Pattern Sizing: 8-26 (I made a 10)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Easy as pie once you figure out how to sew the shoulder seam. And if you make more than one dress. =)

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Nothing. I love all of Sense and Sensibility patterns. As a side note, this pattern is drafted for a long-waist-ed gal. This is no problem for me as I'm long-waist-ed. Makes it that much easier to sew for me. :)

Fabric Used: Simply Silky (polyester) from Joann Fabrics.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: Nope.

Would you sew it again? Yes!

Would you recommend it to others? Yes!


~Ashley