DIY Kindle Cover Tutorial

Bitty Bee and Gamer are both pretty big readers, just like Hubs and I are.  So this year, for Christmas, I was able to get them each a Kindle.  I found them at Half Price Books for about $20 each.  I couldn't pass that up!  I've been spending some time loading them with books that I think they will enjoy and making sure they're ready to start reading right away.

But they needed something else.  Something to hold them and protect the screens.  I know my kids, they're kinda rough and tumble.  I'm sure the Kindles will be tossed in backpacks for road trips frequently.  But why go out and buy something when I can make it, right?

I spent some time searching Pinterest for tutorials and couldn't find one that I liked, so I decided to do my own thing.

Supplies:

Kindle/Nook/iPad/Tablet of Choice

Fabric (I used two Doctor Who fabrics, available on our website)

Cardboard

Stiff Felt

1/4" Elastic

Sewing Machine

Hot Glue Gun

First, you'll need to measure your device.  The Kindles that I have measure 4.5" x 6.5".

Add 1/4" to each of these measurements, for me, that resulted in 4 3/4" x 6 3/4".

Cut two pieces of cardboard out with that measurement.

You will also need to cut a piece of your stiff felt out the same size as your cardboard.

For the outer fabric, you will add 1/2" seam allowance to the height of the cardboard, in my case, giving me a height measurement of 7 3/4".  For the width, you will double the cardboard width, add 1/2" seam allowance to both sides, plus 1" for a spine.  For mine, it was (4 3/4 x 2) + 1 +1, giving me 11 1/2" across.

I also cut my lining piece to this same measurement.

If you are adding embroidery to the front, cut a piece of stabilizer larger than your cover fabric.  This will also serve as interfacing, giving the cover some added stiffness.  Do not trim or cut the stabilizer after you finish your embroidery, except to trim it down to the size of your cover fabric.  If you are not adding embroidery, then cut a piece of iron-on interfacing the size of your cover fabric and attach.

To keep the cover closed, I wanted something simple that won't get in the way.  An elastic band seemed to be the best option, no buttons or snaps to get in the way or cause annoyance, easy for them to slip the elastic over the cover when done reading.  Cut the elastic 1/4" longer than your cover height.  You'll want it to be snug when it's closed.  I cut my first one a little long, but it still works.

Pin the elastic about 1 1/4" from the edge of the short side that will end up being the back of the cover.  Pin the lining piece in place, right sides together.  Sew the three sides of the cover, leaving the short end that will be the front of the cover open.  It will look like a long pillowcase.

Clip the corners and turn the case right side out, then press.  Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of these steps.  If I make another one, I'll remember and add them later.

Slip one of the cardboard pieces into the cover, making sure it fits snugly and is all the way to the back seam.  Seam 1 in the picture is the seam along the edge of the cardboard, securing it in place.  I used my zipper foot for this seam.  Seam 2 is sewn 7/8" from Seam 1.  This creates a spine for the cover.

Now slip the second piece of cardboard in.  Tuck the open edge in around the cardboard, I found it best to fold the cover fabric in first, then fold the lining fabric in.  I used a hot glue gun to close this opening, that way there are no stitches showing.  You can also whipstitch it closed, but I'm not a huge handsewing fan.

Now set that part aside for a bit.  Take your felt and some more of your elastic.  I cut 4 pieces of elastic about 5" long each.  Place your tablet on the felt to find the best elastic placement for your device.  For the Kindle, I discovered that on the top corners, the elastic was best placed 1" over from the corner on both top and side.  For the bottom, however, I went in 1" on the bottom, but 2" up the side.  Tape the elastic in place and flip to the back side.  I used the hot glue gun to glue the elastic pieces in place along the back.

Left: Showing placement of the top elastics, 1" from corner on both top and side, also showing glued elastic at the top of the picture (from gluing the bottom pieces)

Right: Showing placement of bottom elastics, 1" over on the bottom and 2" up the side.

To attach the holder to the case, I once again used the hot glue gun.  I lined up the edge of the felt with the seam along the edge of the cardboard.  Make sure you glue all along the edges and the corners.  You can use a different glue, such as E6000, but you will need to make sure that you place something heavy on top of the glued area and allow it to dry completely, usually 24 hours.  I like how the hot glue dries so quickly and I can move on with my projects.

Congrats, you're done!  Slip your device of choice in the elastic and start reading!

I hope that Bitty Bee and Gamer like their Kindles and the new cases to go with them.  Now to get them wrapped and under the tree before they discover my present hiding spot!!!

~*~Princess Bee~*~

Bitty Bee's Simple Doll Shirt Tutorial

Bitty Bee loves her American Girl dolls, she has started making movies of their adventures, at least one will join us on family trips, and she's constantly wanting to add girls to her family of dolls.

One thing she thinks she needs more of is clothes for the dolls.  She loves changing their outfits and thinks that they shouldn't have to wear the same outfit twice in one year.  The horror!!!

Kirsten and Samantha are both wearing Bitty Bee's Simple Top
Tutorial for the simple wrap skirt here.

Bitty Bee is also learning how to sew, and I wanted to give her an easy project that she can do on her own with little help from me.  A long time ago, I downloaded a free simple doll shirt pattern and now it's nowhere to be found online, so I would like to share my version of this little doll top.

Supplies:

Fabric (Can use a fat quarter)

1/4" Elastic - 9"

I like making a template for smaller pattern pieces, since to me, it makes cutting easier.
You will need to cut two pieces 8 1/2" x 10 1/4".

Finish the edges of both sides and the top.  This is easiest done on a serger, but you can also use a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine.

Press the top edge down 1/2".

Unfold the pressed edge and measure down 4" from the top.
You will sew from that mark to the bottom.

Press the side seams open and stitch down the pressed seams.  I used a 3/8" seam allowance.

Re-fold the top along the pressed edge and sew your casing, using a 3/8" seam allowance.

Thread your 9" of 1/4" elastic through the casings, going straight from one side to the other.
Overlap the ends and sew together.  Work the elastic into the casings so that it's even on both sides.
None of the elastic will be showing.

For the hem, I finished the bottom edge and folded the finished edge under one time, then sewed in place with a 1/8" seam allowance.

Congrats, you're done!

This top looks adorable with leggings or tucked into a cute wrap skirt.
Nellie looks adorable, pairing it with black leggings and faux fur slouch boots.

Happy Sewing, Beauties!

~*~Princess Bee~*~

Adding Pockets for Bitty Bee

Bitty Bee has taken a fancy to rompers this summer and has tasked me with making her some new ones this summer.  Normally an easy task, but she also loves having pockets and not all romper patterns have pockets.  For example, this free romper pattern from The Purl Bee.

When trying out new designers, I like to make a trial run out of some of my older fabric stash before cutting into good stuff.  For this trial run, I had some really pretty green Native American style fabric.  Bitty Bee loves that it has horses running across the front.

The fit was pretty good on her, she's tall for her age and I made the size 8/9.  For future ones, I'm adding about an inch to the bodice length and an inch to the length of the shorts.

The challenge she gave me for her next one: she wanted pockets!

I can do this, easy peasy!  All I needed was a shorts/pants pattern that has pockets.  For mine, I used Simplicity 1625.  This pattern uses a single piece pocket instead of two separate pieces, like I've seen in many PDF patterns.  I prefer the single piece pocket.

 

I took the pocket piece and cut out the pocket curve from my romper front short pattern piece.  Then I made a new pattern piece for the fold over pocket, since the Simplicity pattern has a slight curve to the hip.  I kept the overall size of the pocket the same, just made the outer edges of the pocket piece straight instead of curved.

To insert my pocket, I lined up the shorts front to the pocket piece, right sides together.  I used a 1/4" seam allowance for my seam.  Make sure you clip the curve before turning to press.  I topstitched along the curved edge after pressing.

Next, to make the pocket, I folded the pocket piece so that the edge lined up with the side seam of the shorts and pressed in place.  Then I ran the bottom of the pocket through the serger.  I basted the pocket edges the side seam and top of the shorts front to make the rest of the construction easier.  (I forgot to take a picture of my basting.  Oops!)

After adding the pockets to the shorts, I followed along with the remaining instructions on The Purl Bee.

The Exploding TARDIS fabric can be found on our website.

This romper is becoming a staple in my summer sewing collection!  Bitty Bee love the style and with the elastic in the bodice, she is able to get it on and off without untying the straps.  That's a definite win for me!

~*~Princess Bee~*~

Kanzashi Tree Tutorial

I am so excited to be part of the Sew McCool 12 Days of Christmas blog tour!  I had no idea what I would be making for the blog post, but I was excited to be a part of it!  Deanna is celebrating her one-year anniversary of her blog and has put together a great blog tour to celebrate!  Please stop by Sew McCool to vote for my project this week!  Voting ends 12/21/14.

While thinking of Christmas crafts, my mind kept wandering back to Christmas trees and also to my Kanzashi flower makers from Clover.  Then one day, the lightbulb went off and I had my idea!  I saw a few other tutorials for trees made with Kanzashi petals, but all of them had you making individual petals and attach them to a cone.  Surely there was an easier way!  And I found it!

For my tree, I used Pearle Metallic fabric from Timeless Treasures.  I love how it looks like it's dusted in snow.  I would guess that I used between 1/2 - 3/4 yard of fabric.  This project goes really fast if you're using the Clover brand Kanzashi flower makers.  I used the 3" pointed petal for the majority of the tree and the 2" daisy petal for the top layer.

I made multiple rings of petals for the tree layers.

From the pointed petal flower maker, I made the following rings of petals:
1 - 5 petal ring
2 - 7 petal rings
2 - 10 petal rings
2 - 15 petal rings
1 - 17 petal ring
1 - 20 petal ring

From the daisy petal flower maker, I made one 6 petal ring.

From a scrap piece of felt, I traced the inner circle of the 20-petal ring and then drew a cut line away from the inner circle.  This will be the base of the tree.  Using a hot glue gun, I attached the 20-petal ring to the felt circle.  I forgot to take a picture of this step, I'm so sorry!

I did have Gamer Bee take a picture of me gluing the second ring (the 17-petal ring) onto the first ring.  I placed each ring on top of the previous ring, made sure it was lined up, and then gently lifted the petals to glue them in place.  Repeat this for all of the rings, going from largest to smallest and ending with the 6-petal daisy ring on top.

It's a tree!!!  But it's a little plain, do you think?  It needs some pretty baubles.

I had this strand of plastic pearl and silver beads in my sewing stash, so I cut it apart and stacked some of the beads to make a tree topper.  Then I took the single silver beads and glued them randomly around the tree to decorate it.

Bitty Bee loves the new tree!  At one point tonight, I found it up in her room, set up in Holly and Molly's "bedroom".  I guess I'll be making them a Christmas tree soon!  But for now, the snowmen are enjoying their new tree!

Be sure to visit the other talented bloggers on the tour and come back to vote for your favorite when we're all done!

 

~*~Princess Bee~*~

Don't forget to visit all of the bloggers who are creating tutorials for the Sew McCool 12 Days of Christmas challenge! Voting will begin on www.sewmccool.com on December 13 and go through 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on December 20. The blogger with the most votes will win $100 - just in time for Christmas!

December 1

Ren @ The Inspired Wren * Stephanie @ Swoodson Says * Alicia @ Felt With Love Designs

December 2

Natalie @ Sew Outnumbered *Deby @ So-Sew-Easy * Ajaire @ Call Ajaire

December 3

Amy @ Friends Stitched Together * Maris @ Sew Maris * Gemia @ Phat Quarters

December 4

Amy @ How I Make Stuff * Michelle @ Falafel and the Bee

December 5

Beth @ Beth Jarrett * Jen @ Just Joshin

December 6

Lauren @ Molly and Mama * Krista @ Bee Quilted Beauties

December 7

Vicky @ Vicky Myers Creations * Deb @ Sprouting Jube Jube

December 8

Addie @ Addie K * Michelle @ Not My Tree

December 9

Ula @ Lulu & Celeste * Sara @ Made By Sara * Chelsea @ GYCT Designs

December 10

Nichole @ Bluebird & the Boy * Darcy @ Ginger House Designs * Shelly @ Coral & Co.

December 11

Amy @ Britches 'n Bloomers * Kelly @ Kelly J Designs

December 12

Maegen @ Mae and K * Jess @ Gracious Threads * Jone @ Knot Sew Normal

Voile Infinity Scarf Tutorial

Christmas is right around the corner and I love giving a handmade gift to those I love.  We've been adding more voile to the shop and I love making infinity scarves with it!  These go together faster than the other method I tried last month.

Supplies:
Voile (3/4 yard)
Sewing Machine
Rolled Hem Foot
Rotary Cutter & Mat (optional)

Step 1:
Cut fabric 20" wide, leaving it the width of the fabric.  Trim selvage edges off. This size will work for both adults and children, Bitty Bee and I are both wearing scarves made with these measurements.

Step 2:
Do a small rolled hem along both long edges on the sewing machine.  If you're having trouble with the rolled hem, check out the blog post here.

Step 3:
Now we will start our french seam.  Bring the short ends together so the fabric is wrong sides together.  I know, this goes against the sewing instinct to always sew with right sides together.  Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Trim seam allowance to 1/8".

Step 4:
Turn the scarf so that the right sides are together and press.  Sew along the previously sewn edge with a 3/8" seam allowance.  Now you have a french seam!

Step 5:
Press the seam allowance to one side (it doesn't matter which way you press it) and sew along the edge so that it lies flat.  This step makes it similar to a flat felled seam, like you find on the inseam of most jeans.  Flat felled seams are very strong and used mainly in places that need extra strength.  We're not using it for the extra strength, we're using it to keep the seam allowance flat on the scarf.

 

Step 6:
Put it on and show it off!

I hope you enjoy making lots of beautiful infinity scarves!

~*~Princess Bee~*~

Rolled Hem Foot How-To

Anyone who knows me knows about my love affair with scarves, especially infinity scarves.  I have one that I got as a Christmas gift last year from my future sister-in-law and I wear it frequently.  And now that we've been getting more beautiful voile fabrics from Art Gallery, FreeSpirit and Cloud 9, I'm having fun making new infinity scarves.  Did you see the one I made for Bitty Bee last week?  I'll walk you through how to make one for your own little one or for yourself.

 

I love using voile for infinity scarves because the wrong side of the fabric doesn't look much different from the right side, so you don't have to make the fabric tube like when using fabric that has a big difference between the right and wrong sides.  This cuts down on the time drastically!  But using a rolled hem foot can seem intimidating.  Here's what it looks like, for those unfamiliar with it.

The one that I'm using for infinity scarves makes a very narrow rolled hem, and you can get larger ones.  The concept is a pretty simple one with this foot, as you feed the fabric through, the foot is rolling it and stitching, creating the rolled hem.  When using this foot, make sure that you're working with the wrong side of your fabric facing up.  You don't want to have your hem facing the wrong way!

To make it easier to feed into the foot, I like to snip the corner of my fabric, shown above.  You can see that I didn't cut the selvage edge off before I started sewing.  I did cut it on my other scarves that I have been working on, though.  It can be trimmed off later.

I was able to take a short video of how the fabric looks as it's being fed through to give you an idea of what it should look like.

The rolled hem foot is very easy to use and a quick way to add a professional looking hem on your projects.  Are you ready to make an infinity scarf now?  Check back this weekend for the scarf tutorial and flat felled seams tips.

~*~Princess Bee~*~

Bee Inspired: In the Kitchen

Hey Good Looking, What ya got cooking?  Moms spend a lot of time in the kitchen, why not make some goodies to use while you're in there?  I've rounded up some tutorials on Pinterest that are a little different than most of your usual kitchen sewing projects.

If your kitchen is anything like mine, and your kids are like mine, there is never a hand towel to be found when I need one.  My kids think that after drying their hands just one time, the towel needs to be thrown in the laundry.  I try to keep one or two hanging from the oven, but they don't stick around long, the kids don't take the time to re-hang them right so they're always on the floor.  What if they just had to toss the towel in the direction of the oven and it would just stick?  Wouldn't that be awesome?  This easy tutorial walks you through how to make that happen.

Picture from www.instructables.com

On the topic of towels and such, have you seen the latest craze of "un-paper towels"?  Talk about a way to save in the budget, not having to buy any more paper towels!!!  I've seen a few different ways to make them, but this way looks to be the easiest.

Picture from www.seasonedhomemaker.com

Another thing I've noticed in my kitchen is that I have a problem finding two pot holders when I need them.  Usually, I've got one or I have two of the glove style ones, but they're for the same hand, so I'm still out of luck.  This pretty pot holder solves that problem!  And it's so sweet, too!  Perfect for a housewarming gift!

Picture from www.craftsnob.com

I think I have a few little projects to do this week for my kitchen!  These are adorable!  You can find more on our Kitchen Craft board on Pinterest.

~Princess Bee~

Bee Inspired: Self Care Sewing

Now that almost everyone's kiddos are back in school, it's time to start focusing on sewing for ourselves!!!  So for this evening's Bee Inspired post, we're focusing on "Self Care Sewing".

What is Self Care Sewing?  It's a term coined by the ladies at Pattern Revolution and we were all part of a movement to remove the phrase "Selfish Sewing" from the sewing world.  Sewing for yourself isn't selfish, it's a way to take care of yourself.  You can join the movement here at Pattern Revolution.

So, now that you're ready to do some Self Care Sewing, here are a few tutorials to inspire you!

First up, we'll start simple with a women's pillowcase dress from Melly Sews.  This one is so cute for holding on to those last days of summer!  And super easy!!

Photo Credit: Melly Sews

Next, I found this adorable waterfall tank from So Sew Easy while browsing around Pinterest.

Photo Credit: So Sew Easy

Finally, I have something a little challenging for those of you who are wanting to expand your skills!  Sew Country Chick walks you through drafting your own hi-lo dress.

Photo Credit: Sew Country Chick

So, who's ready for some Self Care Sewing, now that you have a little bit of free time during the day?

~Princess Bee~