Sew Cheap Summer Challenge Final Update

It's that time again... time to update the Sew Cheap Summer Challenge List.

WAIT???  What about the 10th project?  What about the gathered clutch I had promised to sew???  Sadly, it did not happen.  I tried, but time ran out and, if I'm honest, so did my drive.  I have the pieces cut out, so maybe I'll still try to make it.  However, for the purposes of this challenge, I'd rather be truthful and tell you it didn't happen.  And you know what?  I'm ok with that.  I've really enjoyed the push of having a public goal like this challenge.  And I've had a great summer sewing up all sorts of projects for family and friends.  I will definitely set a goal like this for myself again, so in my book, the challenge was definitely a success!

Turning back to the point of this post, here is my original list of 10 sewing goals for summer updated to show the changes I've made and the projects I've completed.

1. Tiny Curtsy Skirt  Completed 6/21
2. Easy Baby Dress Completed 8/30 (was going to be the Itty Bitty Baby Dress )
3. Infant Peasant Dress  Completed 6/27
4. Summer Stripes Skirt  Completed 6/5 ( was going to be the Reversible Wrap Top)
5. The Party Dress  Completed 6/13
6. Gobble Gobble Turkey Shirt  Completed 8/29
7. Gathered Clutch DID NOT COMPLETE 
8. Felt Fringe Christmas Tree Skirt Completed 7/6 (was going to be the Mooshy Belly Bunny )
9. Lamb Pillows  Completed 7/24 
10. Pillow Cover Completed 8/30

In my July update, my spending total for the summer was $34. With these final four projects complete, my updated total spent for the summer was $65.50. Not bad for a summer's worth of sewing!

Overall, this has been just the motivation I needed to get going on my ever-expanding list of sewing to-dos!  And I would highly recommend others to try this for themselves in the future!!

Project #9: Pillows

This one was a long, long time coming.  We've had our couch two years now and ta da! It finally has pillows!  Whew... I am so relieved to get this project finished.

Who: For our family.

What: I originally thought I'd do envelope enclosures, but they didn't seem finished enough for the fabric I found.  After reading through this tutorial, I felt like I was up for trying zippers.  I didn't follow her tutorial completely, but it was the inspiration I needed to get started.

Cost: The fabric is a curtain I bought a long time ago, but didn't end up hanging up.  They cost (if I remember right) about $20 for the one panel.  I also bought the zippers from Joann's for $7 total.  The pillow forms I've had for years just waiting for this project.  (I'm not going to count their cost here, but they were from Ikea and super reasonable.)

P.S. The scripted pillow is a placemat that I filled with stuffing ages ago.  I just threw it in here for styling purposes.

Project #8: Easy Baby Dress

Who: This one is for my newest niece.  I used the same fabric earlier on the party dress (project #2).  I thought the two girl cousins might enjoy being twins.  Or at least the four year old might.  I'm not sure that the littlest one will be aware or care.  :)

What: I was originally going to use the Itty Bitty Baby Dress by Made by Rae, but changed my mind.  It's super adorable, but I wanted something with fixed straps.  Because of this, I ended up using See Kate Sew's Easy Baby Dress Pattern.  What I liked more about this option was the fixed straps which (bonus!) have elastic in them.  That should still make this one easy to get on and off baby.

Although I followed Kate's tutorial, I did make one significant change.  I cut the bodice pieces 1/2 inch longer, so that I could fold them under and sew the skirt bottom between the layers.  Basically, I took what I learned while sewing the party dress and applied it here.  It was more work, but I like this finish better.  I also top-stiched around the bodice (which I don't think is listed in the tutorial).

Cost: Almost nothing.  I had leftover fabric and thread on hand from the earlier dress.  All I needed to buy for this project was the elastic.  I paid $2.50 for a package at Joann's.

Project #7: The Gobble Gobble Turkey Shirt

I know it's September 1st.  But... it's Labor Day.  So it's kind of fitting (right???) to start the sharing of the last of my Sew Cheap Summer Challenge projects.

Confession: August got away from me.  It was busier than I had anticipated.  When I last posted in July, I thought it would be a breeze to finish this challenge.  But that was not the case.  For almost the entire month, I lost my sewing mojo.  But it's back.  And I just spent this long weekend catching up on my sewing.  Today, I have the first of my final four projects to share with you- the Gobble Gobble Turkey Shirt.

Who: This is for a niece.

What: My inspiration for the project was this shirt by The Cottage Mama.  I drafted my own pattern pieces which ended up being super easy.

I bought the t-shirt at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and then used different scraps of fabric for the feathers and body.  It was a great scrap-busting project.  In addition, I believe I sent this same niece the striped skirt (project #1), so she should be able to wear the two together.  Happy coincidence!

Cost: The shirt was clearances for $2.  I had the fabric, thread, and interfacing already.

Hooked on Hot Pads

I've been watching a lot of TV lately.  I don't know what it is- the heat, the reduced work load, something repressed from my childhood- but I can sit for hours and watch reruns.  Total time suck!  

To assuage my guilt a little, I've been trying to crochet or knit during these epic viewing marathons.  HOWEVER.... I can't take on any larger crochet or knit projects because I have two pillows I've been putting off for months and it just wouldn't be fair to them.  (Anyone else feel like they can't start a new project because they've been neglecting an older project for months? Please say I'm not alone in this!!)  So what's a TV viewing gal to do?  Crochet a hot pad, of course!

Who: This one is for my family to enjoy.

What: I was inspired by Sew Take a Hike's tutorial here.  I found a tip here about using freezer paper when sewing crochet onto fabric.  What a lifesaver!!  

Cost: Nothing.  Again.  Sorry!!!  I had several bits of yarn from previous projects- so this was a great stash-busting yarn project.  For the fabric, I used a very well-worn pair of khaki pants that I had in my throw away pile.  It was perfect- so soft, but still very strong for use in a hot pad.

Sew Cheap Summer Challenge July Update

It's the end of July (can you believe how fast the summer is going by?) and time to update the Sew Cheap Summer Challenge List.  Once again, here is my original list of 10 sewing goals for summer updated to show the changes I've made and the projects I've completed.  

1. Tiny Curtsy Skirt  Completed 6/21
2. Itty Bitty Baby Dress
3. Infant Peasant Dress  Completed 6/27
4. Summer Stripes Skirt  Completed 6/5 ( was going to be the Reversible Wrap Top)
5. The Party Dress  Completed 6/13
6. Gobble Gobble Turkey Shirt
7. Gathered Clutch
8. Felt Fringe Christmas Tree Skirt Completed 7/6 (was going to be the Mooshy Belly Bunny )
9. Lamb Pillows Completed 7/24 
10. Pillow Cover

And now a word about budget.  When I last updated you, I had spent $25.  Since then, I've spent an additional $9.00 on the peasant dress and tree skirt.  The lamb pillow was made with materials I already had on hand.  This brings my total for summer to $34.  Not bad, I think.

  

Project #6: Little Lamb Pillow

Today, I bring you my girly version of the Little Lamb Pillow.  This was seriously one of the fastest and most immediately pleasing projects of the summer.  I think I had the whole thing cut, sewn and filled within an hour.  And it turned out adorable!!  I love it!!

And now for the details:

Who: Well if the pictures below are any indication, this one may go to the dog.

What: I used this pattern and tutorial from The Purl Bee.

Brief Tangent- have you checked out Purl Soho's website (The Purl Bee) before?  It's one of my absolute favorite spots to go for crafting inspiration.  They have a wonderful collection of sewing, crocheting, knitting (and more) projects for all skill levels.  As a newbie knitter, I've had success with their knitting projects.  Also as a long-time crocheter, I've found their patterns super easy to follow.  And, of course, their sewing projects are also really unique and inspired.  Really, I can't say enough good things about this site.  

Cost: Nothing.  I had the pink felt from the winter and the white felt was leftover from my tree skirt.  I even had just enough stuffing sitting around to finish this off.  I love when a project works out like this.

Before you go, I originally planned to photograph this on the couch with a blanket.  However, Mollie had other ideas as you can see.  What a cutie!!