Robot doll

I know it's been a while, but life has been crazy. Luckily I just got done with a big project in one of my classes, so I have a bit to fix up a new tutorial.

If you Pinterest, you have probably seen this picture of a cute robot doll,

 

When I saw that it said DIY I was hoping for instructions, but alas, the link took me to a website that didn't even have the picture. So, I forgot about it until it showed up on my sister in law's Pinterest board for the new baby that's on the way. I thought, I bet I could come up with a way to do that, so here it is. I figured I could share how I did it, and what I would change to make it easier next time, in case there are other disappointed crafters out there.

You will need 

• about 1/2 yard of material (mine was grey faux suede left overs), 
• a bit of pink ribbon, 
• 2 black buttons, 
• heart applique (or pink scrap fabric to make your own), 
• 10 in of elastic or cord, 
• 1 skein of dark grey embroidery floss, and 
• a little black embroidery floss (you can just use the grey if you don't have any black)

Step 1: Cut your pieces. you will need 6 4"X4" squares, 6 5"X 5" squares, 12 3"X 3" squares and 4 4"X5" rectangles. I used a paper pattern to cut mine.

 Step 2: Add the applique heart. If you're like me, you don't want to spend the money for a pre-made one when you can do it yourself. (If you have a pre-made one, iron it on and skip to step 3.) Find a material and a piece of interfacing (surprisingly, a dryer sheet can also work in place of interfacing). Trace a heart shape on each, and cut it out with about 1/4 in seam allowance. Stitch your pieces together wrong sides together, leaving a small hole for turning.

Turn it right-side-out. 

 Pin under the open edge. Press the heart. (Even if you don't use iron-on interfacing, this will help it stay flat.)

 Sew around it using zig zag set on the shortest stitch. So cute!

 

 Step 3: Start stitching your cubes together. Line up the sides of corresponding squares, and stitch. I added a zig zag in the seam allowance after to help hold up.

 Sew 4 together, then sew the end squares together.

Sew on a bottom

 Add the top, but leave one side open. Turn right-side-out.

Step 4: Stuff. Be sure to fluff up your stuffing before you stuff your robot, otherwise it will be dense, and lumpy.

 Step 5: Close the cubes. Use a hidden stitch to close the openings left in the cubes.

 Be sure your knot at the end is small. it should just blend in.

 Step 6: Decorative stitching. This is optional, but I really like how it squares it up. I think this part took the longest, but it is really the easiest, so just put on your favorite T.V. show. Use the grey embroidery floss to stitch around the edges of each cube.

(No more love handles!)

Step 7: Make the arm tubes. Start with your 4"by 5" rectangle.

 Fold it in half, and gather along the raw edges. (It should look kind of like this, but shorter. This was the initial experiment, but was just too long.) Once you have gathered it to your liking, baste along your first stitch line.

 Turn it right side out. (This was the right length)

 Step 8: Sew on the arms. I sewed on the outside of the arm first, but I would recommend sewing the elastic or cord on first. Just place the elastic in the center of the hand, and stitch straight across.

 Then around that stitch the outer arm on, using a hidden stitch.

 It should look like this

 Then, do the same on the body. Stitch the elastic on at the shoulder, and the outer arm around the elastic. Repeat for the other arm and the legs.

Step 9: Sewing the face. First, sew on the button eyes. I did mine low on the face, and kind of wide apart, to try and match the picture.

 Then sew on the eyelashes using your black embroidery floss. I basically, just eyeballed it.

  I stitched all 5 eyelashes, then went back, and added a second stitch halfway down, following the first. (Sorry, that sounds confusing. See the picture.)

Step 10: Add the bow. First make 2 loops with your pink ribbon. Stitch the center to secure in place.

 Then, cut an extra piece and tie it around the loops. (Sorry for the terrible picture. Apparently it is the only one I got for this part, but hopefully it helps.)

 Secure the knot with a stitch or two.

 Cut off the ends of the extra piece to hide them. Dab all of the ribbon ends with clear nail polish or white glue to keep them from fraying.

 Stitch the bow in place, be sure to secure both the loops and the short piece.

 Step 11: Put on the head. Stitch between the head and body, starting in the center, and going in a circle around the head. Pull it tight and be sure to tie a knot that will not pull through the fabric.

 Done!
I was thinking that if I was to do it again, I might put the face on, and put the arms and legs on the body before I sewed the cubes together, but I think it turned out pretty well.

Isn't she cute?

Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

School starts next week, so I've been busy making sure I have everything ready. I am excited and kinda nervous at the same time, so wish me luck!

So for today's tutorial, I thought I would share the skirt that I wore on Sunday. I got lots of compliments, and I am quite happy with how it turned out.

All you will need an old skirt or slip, and scrap fabric (most of my pieces were from old sheets).

Step 1: Cut your scrap fabric into strips 6in wide and as long as you can make them.You are going to piece together any short ones and cut long ones to length as you go. Zigzag or serge any raw edges (feel free to use the finished selvage) and gather the ruffle about 1/2 in from one long edge.

 

Step 2:  Start with one of your longer strips, and pin it around the circumference of your hem. If if is too long, cut it an inch longer than you need, and pin under the extra to hide the raw edge. If it is too short, grab another strip, tuck the raw edge under and continue pinning. Sew. Join the tucked under raw edges with a straight stitch (perpendicular to your gather). Be sure not to stitch into your skirt. (And no, this is not my first ruffle. I thought the contrast would help you see  better.)

Step 3: Continue pinning, stitching and joining until your skirt is covered in ruffles. You can alternate fabrics and textures to give you skirt more interest. Be sure to stretch your skirt as you pin and sew if it is stretchy material or has an elastic waistband. I alternated where I started each ruffle (right side, then left) so that I didn't have all my ruffle seams in a line. For a zippered skirt, cut your ruffle off at each side of the zipper, and finish the raw edge as described above.

Don't worry about being perfect. The imperfections will give it more charm.

So, here's my finished skirt. I didn't have quite enough of my favorite fabric, so my top ruffle is only 4 or 5in wide.

I hope that all made sense. Please let me know if you have any questions. I would love to hear from you.
Good luck to those starting school soon!

Large button-up to pintuck blouse

First of all, if you haven't noticed, I have moved! After posting last week, one of my friends let me know that in order for a reader to comment on my blog they had to have a Wordpress account... and nobody wants to get another account just to comment on a blog. So, I decided to move over to Blogger where things seemed easier for the reader in general, and Google users can now comment on my posts.

Second, I have a new tutorial for you guys. I got the inspiration from this site, but of course I had to do my own version. (Especially since it will be a really long time until I need anything maternity.)

Step1: Find a large button-up shirt. I think this was a man's shirt.

Step2: If it has pockets, carefully remove them.

Step 3: Cut off the sleeves and down each side along the seam. Carefully take out the shoulder seams. You must leave the seam allowance on the shoulder to re-sew later.

Step 4: Decide how many pintucks you want. Be sure that the blouse will still be able to fit after alterations. I took 4 tucks 1/4 in wide so I marked 8 lines 1/2 in apart, most of the way down the shirt.

Step 5: Pin the tucks, matching the lines all the way down.

Step 6: Sew the tucks along your marks.

 Step 7: Press them. I liked mine pressed towards the center.

Step 8: Turn inside out and stitch the shoulder seam back up.

Step 9: Lay a well fitting shirt on top and, leaving an extra inch for seam allowance (maybe a little more if your example top stretches), trim around it. Be sure the front of your new blouse is buttoned or your measurement might be off. Then, stitch up the sides with about 1/2 in seam allowance.

Step 11: Pin the sleeves on, with the shirt inside out, and the right side of the sleeve to the right side of the shirt, pleating the top of the sleeve to fit the new hole. Once you like it, stitch around the sleeve.

That's it! No one will ever know that this was once manly.

I am really loving the loose sleeves, and the cute fitted front. I would love to see your version!