Pillowcase Halter Dress for 80 Cents!

Many pillowcase dress tutorials have been floating around the web lately (see here, here, and here for example).  But I am going to let you in on a secret, many of these tutorials do not require you to use a pillowcase (GASP)!   I decided to try my hand at one of these and, by golly, I  used an actual pillowcase!  I will let you in on another secret, I bought it at the thrift store for $0.80!

I love thrift stores.  Let me say it again…I LOVE thrift stores!  Some may be grossed out about me buying a pillowcase at a thrift store.  Luckily for me I live near a Value Village and I always find the stuff there has been pre-washed and barely used.  I was able to find a bunch of pillowcases in like new or new condition and for only 80 cents a pop!  AWESOME!  I was especially excited to find a pillowcase with a patriotic print (don’t ask me why someone would want a patriotic pillowcase, but God bless them for it).  I found a few others that I will use to make some  nightgowns later.

I decided to make a nice, summery halter dress with the patriotic pillowcase.  I bought a pattern a couple of months ago for an easy halter dress and used that as a model.  Let me tell you,  this was the quickest and easiest thing I have ever made.   I was done is less than 45 minutes.

I cut about 6-7 inches off the closed end.

I cut 2 strips for straps (length/width depending on preference) folded them over twice lengthwise and stitched.

For the rest I used the pattern instructions mentioned above to insert the elastic and stitch the straps in place.  EASY PEASY!!

Pillowcase with straps before the elastic is inserted.

Finished!

Yay!!!!

Of everything I have made so far, I am most proud of this dress.  It may not be fancy, but I can’t get over how inexpensive it was to make.  You can’t beat 80 cents!

You know what’s Pinteresting?

I don’t know about you all, but I am TOTALLY addicted to Pinterest.  I am not naturally a crafty type person, but since finding out about Pinterest I’ve been hanging out at Jo Ann’s a lot more.  I love my sewing board (which I would love for you to follow) and I have pinned many a cute pattern or tutorial.  This week I fell in love with this cute idea:

and this

Easy pillow case nightgown

Isn’t that so cute and EASY!?  Click on the picture for a direct link to the tutorial.  I cannot wait to go to the thrift store and pick out pillow cases to make some of these.   

Fabric flowers are all the rage on Pinterest right now.  There are hundreds of tutorials, mostly free, that will teach you how to make them.  I found this super easy tutorial floating around pinterest and of course I had to pin it:

I liked this one because it is slightly different than all the rest.  I liked the scalloped edging on the flower.  You can easily use fabric buttons for the middle too!  So cute!

And over at One Tough Mother, she is having an ongoing weekly Pinterest challenge!  Every week she will pick 3 crafts that she has spotted on Pinterest and asks her readers to try one of them and post the results.  Fun!  

 So there you have it, some fun things I am pinning on Pinterest this week.  I will continue to share more and feel free to link your Pinterest boards so I can follow as well! 

Fabric Scraps Refashioned

A few weeks ago I came across a bag of fabric scraps at my local thrift store.  I really couldn’t tell what was in the bag because it was all squished together and I couldn’t open it.  It looked nice from the outside though and I ended up buying the bag (and with a 20% off coupon) for only a buck!  This is what the bag contained:

I scored big time.  The bag contained a bunch of fabric scraps from someone’s quilting project.  Obviously they were patriotic and lucky for me, so am I!  Yay!  I couldn’t wait to make something fun with these.  I found this great headband tutorial on Pinterest.  As a newbie sewist a small project like a headband is great!  Click on the picture below and it will take you to the tutorial from the blog Happy Together.

So, I decided to use my awesome thrift store fabric scraps and refashioned them into my own patriotic headband!

 

and it’s reversible!  See…

I plan on making a bunch of these for my sisters and nieces for the 4th of July.    I still will have a ton of fabric left over too, so I will have to think of something else fun to make.  Any ideas?

50% off Impressions Fabric by Ty Pennington @ Fat Quarter Shop

Using code IMPRESS, you can get 50% off Impressions fabric collection by Ty Pennington at Fat Quarter Shop.  The code expires Friday 4/27 at midnight CST.  Also, check out the pre cuts sale going on right now at Fat Quarter Shop.  Lots of goodies are on sale.

I personally love the “Little Helpers” fabric by Quilting Treasures.  It is adorable!  You can get a 9 piece FQ bundle with a 23″ panel for $20.70, originally $34.50.

So head on over to Fat Quarter Shop and stock up on some great fabric at a great price!

Giveaways Galore!

I have been entering contests like crazy this week and I wanted to share them with you.  Of course I mentioned yesterday about the ongoing Fat Quarter Idol contest on Sew, Mama, Sew!  You can read about that contest here.  Burda Style is also having a similar contest, using Pinterest Boards to enter.  All you have to do is make a Burda Style Pinterest board and pin 6 of your favorite patterns onto the board.  They also suggest you pin other stuff you find on there as well.  You can read all the details here.  Prizes?  Why, yes!  Grand Prize: 100 Classic Business Cards AND 40 Postcards from MOO.com.  Runner Up Prizes: A set each of 100 Classic Business Cards from MOO.com for 2 separate runners up.  And these business cards look pretty snazzy.

Over at Luv In the Mommyhood they are giving away 2 yards of Birch fabric from fabricworm:

All you have to do is fill out an entry form provided.  Hurry because this giveaway ends May 1 @Midnight PST.

And if you love Craftsy as much as I do, head on over to Art of Crafts where you have a chance to win one of 5 Craftsy Online Classes.  Currently Craftsy is offering a whole bunch of COOL classes and they tend to be a bit pricey, so this would be awesome to win.  Click here to get a sample of what they are offering in the sewing category.  Neat stuff!!  This giveaway will be closed at 11.59 pm on the 30th April 2012.

So, lots of cool stuff out there to win!  If you find any others, leave a link in the comments.  Good luck to everyone!

Fat Quarter Idol Voting and This Week’s Theme

Round 1 finalists have been posted over at Sew, Mama, Sew!  I think they have a list of 10 finalists and everyone votes on their 3 favorites.  If you are unsure what the Fat Quarter Idol is all about, check out the rules:

I for one think the idea is brilliant!  The new theme for this week is, “Meet Me at the Picnic,” and you need to have your entry in by this Friday.  Good luck!

Fun Finds (or what I am drooling over this week)

I have a couple things I am in love with this week.  First this fabric that Riley Blake Designs posted on Pinterest:

What is even more special is that you can buy it as an apron panel!!  Could life get any better!?!?!

Any speaking of aprons, I found this jem at an awesome blog called Bee In My Bonnet:

Love!

Is that not the cutest apron pattern you have ever seen!?  And the blog is great too.  It has so many goodies, my slow laptop stalled loading the page!

I also found this super cute bag pattern from the Strait Stitch Society:

They have a bunch of other cute patterns as well, including a cute coin purse and mini sewing kit.  They also have a “change your mind slipcover bag” pattern, so if you can’t make up your mind which color to go with, you can change the outside fabric!  The patterns are $8.95/ea.  which I think is a little pricey, but still tempting for me to buy!

Neat stuff this week.  I am sure I will find lots more too!