1. Using a new or gently used pillowcase, cut along the top of the pillowcase (where it is sewed together--opposite of the open end). This will become the top of the dress.
2. Lay the pillow case flat and measure J-shaped armholes at the top corners (3 to 4"X 3 to 4"-depending upon how big the pillowcase is--king sized for bigger girls, etc.)
3. Make casing by turning the top of the cut edge under ¼ “ and then another ¼”. Iron in place—it needs to be wide enough so that 1/4" to 1/2" wide elastic pieces will slide through easily. Sew close to the edge. Repeat this step for the back of the dress. You should now have a casing on both sides at the top of each side of the pillowcase.
4. Cut 2 pieces of ¼” or ½” elastic, each 7 inches long. Attach a safety pin to one end of one of the cut pieces of elastic and pull it through the casing using caution not to pull it too far. Sew across each end of the casing to hold the elastic in place. Repeat this step for the other side. You should now have a gathered top on both the front and back of the dress.
(Make sure you remove the safety pin).
Using double-fold bias tape, cut 2 pieces approximately 32-34”long. These will bind the armholes and become the ties at the shoulders, so they should be long enough to tie a bow at the top.
5. Fold one tie in half to find the center and line it up with the center of the armhole--then work outward from there to both sides. Pin the open ends of the bias tape over the raw edges of the armhole--the ties will extend evenly over each top.
*Special Note on the ties: Packaged bias tape is folded not quite in half lengthwise. When you get ready to sew it on make sure the narrower half of the tape faces up. That way you will be sure you are always catching the underside of the tape, even around the curves. Beginners should sew one side at a time--open up the bias tape and attach to armhole--then fold it over and sew again--this will insure that the ties are attached properly with no gaps.
6. Fold the raw edges of the ends of the bias tape inside and when you sew along the tape you will catch those also.
7. Tie your ties and your dress is finished!
Website Reference
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Peanut Butter S'more Turnovers
1 box Puff Pastry (2 sheets), thawed
3 whole graham crackers, gently broken into fourths
9 small milk chocolate bars (I used Hershey's .49 oz. bars)
1/2 cup creamy peanut buttersmall bowl of water
1 egg whisked with 1 Tablespoon water (to make egg wash)
1/2 cup jarred Marshmallow Creme (or Fluff)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
2. Lay Puff Pastry on cutting board. Working with one sheet of Puff Pastry at a time, cut on three folds, creating 3 rectangles (about 3" x 10" each). Cut each 3 x 10 rectangle in half. You'll have 6 pieces to work with for each sheet of Puff Pastry.
3. Assemble turnovers: Lay graham cracker on 1/2 of each square, top with chocolate that has been cut down to match the length of the graham cracker. Scoop a scant 1 Tablespoon peanut butter on top of each chocolate bar.
4. Working with one turnover at a time, wet edges of Puff Pastry and fold (over) in half to meet opposite edges. Gently push edges together to stick; use fork to seal edges together and create ridged pattern. Repeat with each turnover until all are sealed up. Gently move sealed turnovers to baking sheet with a small spatula. (At this point, the turnovers may be refrigerated for up to an hour before baking- cover baking sheet with plastic wrap- when ready to bake, remove from refrigerator and continue with instructions).
5. Brush turnovers lightly with egg wash, then use a sharp knife to cut two small slits into the top of each turnover.
6. Bake 15 minutes, or until turnovers are puffed and golden. Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes. Scoop marshmallow creme into a zip baggie (don't zip). Microwave for 8 seconds to soften. Zip bag and snip a small piece off of the corner of the bag. Drizzle marshmallow onto the top of each turnover. Serve immediately.
Tips:
*Use any sort of chocolate that sounds good to you. Just cut it down or break it into pieces that fit on top of a 1/4 of a whole graham cracker. (Leftover mini Hershey's bars from Halloween work great!)*I tested this recipe with real marshmallows and they didn't work as well as the marshmallow creme.*This recipe can be easily cut in half- just thaw out one sheet of Puff Pastry.*These are best served while warm & gooey, but they can certainly be eaten any time!
Website Reference
3 whole graham crackers, gently broken into fourths
9 small milk chocolate bars (I used Hershey's .49 oz. bars)
1/2 cup creamy peanut buttersmall bowl of water
1 egg whisked with 1 Tablespoon water (to make egg wash)
1/2 cup jarred Marshmallow Creme (or Fluff)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
2. Lay Puff Pastry on cutting board. Working with one sheet of Puff Pastry at a time, cut on three folds, creating 3 rectangles (about 3" x 10" each). Cut each 3 x 10 rectangle in half. You'll have 6 pieces to work with for each sheet of Puff Pastry.
3. Assemble turnovers: Lay graham cracker on 1/2 of each square, top with chocolate that has been cut down to match the length of the graham cracker. Scoop a scant 1 Tablespoon peanut butter on top of each chocolate bar.
4. Working with one turnover at a time, wet edges of Puff Pastry and fold (over) in half to meet opposite edges. Gently push edges together to stick; use fork to seal edges together and create ridged pattern. Repeat with each turnover until all are sealed up. Gently move sealed turnovers to baking sheet with a small spatula. (At this point, the turnovers may be refrigerated for up to an hour before baking- cover baking sheet with plastic wrap- when ready to bake, remove from refrigerator and continue with instructions).
5. Brush turnovers lightly with egg wash, then use a sharp knife to cut two small slits into the top of each turnover.
6. Bake 15 minutes, or until turnovers are puffed and golden. Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes. Scoop marshmallow creme into a zip baggie (don't zip). Microwave for 8 seconds to soften. Zip bag and snip a small piece off of the corner of the bag. Drizzle marshmallow onto the top of each turnover. Serve immediately.
Tips:
*Use any sort of chocolate that sounds good to you. Just cut it down or break it into pieces that fit on top of a 1/4 of a whole graham cracker. (Leftover mini Hershey's bars from Halloween work great!)*I tested this recipe with real marshmallows and they didn't work as well as the marshmallow creme.*This recipe can be easily cut in half- just thaw out one sheet of Puff Pastry.*These are best served while warm & gooey, but they can certainly be eaten any time!
Website Reference
Monday, June 6, 2011
Baby Car Seat Covers
Measure the car seat from top to bottom, and then from the left to the right side. Add 10 inches for each measurement, since the cover is going to wrap around the seat a bit. This way you will have enough fabric to completely cover the car seat. When you purchase the fabric, be sure to multiply the amount of fabric you need by 2, because you are going to double up the fabric for the car seat.
Choose a fabric and purchase the amount you need according to the measurements you took. It won't hurt to have a little extra. A sturdy cotton fabric is a good choice because the material is breathable. Cotton is also easy to wash---just be sure to use a low dryer setting to avoid shrinking it too much. It may be a good idea to prewash the fabric before you sew it so it will preshrink.
Make your own pattern for the car seat. Lay a piece of transparent paper or tissue on a flat surface. Using a meter stick or tape measure, measure out the length of the car seat. Don't forget to add the 10 inches, 5 inches extra on top, and 5 extra on bottom. Make a pencil mark on the paper at the top and bottom of the measurements.
Measure and mark the width, adding the extra 5 inches to each side. Connect the marks around the paper by drawing a circle or oval; your car-seat shape will determine the shape of the pattern. Cut out the pattern carefully.
Fold your fabric in half and pin the edges to keep the fabric from shifting. Lay the pattern on top of the fabric and pin the pattern to the fabric. Carefully cut the fabric in the shape of the pattern, then remove the pattern.
Turn the two pieces of fabric around so that the outer sides are touching each other. Make sure they are even around the sides, then pin the pieces together.
Use a sewing machine to sew three-quarters of the car-seat cover. Then turn the cover inside out to where the correct sides are facing out again. Continue to sew the car seat up, but leave a 1-inch hole.
Make a casing around the edge of the cover. Mark a 1/2- to 1-inch section all the way around the cover. Pin together and sew a seam around the car-seat cover. Be sure to leave a hole in the casing where you left the 1-inch hole when sewing the cover together.
Pin a very large safety pin on one end of your elastic. Place the safety pin inside the 1-inch hole you left open, and "walk" the pin around the casing, pulling the elastic around the casing. Take the safety pin off and apply the plastic clip to the ends of the elastic. You should be able to press on the clip button and pull the elastic so that the car-seat cover tightens or loosens.
Lay the cover in the car seat. Wrap the sides around the car seat and test it by tightening the elastic.
Make slits in the cover to allow the car-seat straps to get through. With the cover lying in the car seat, take a pencil or other marking tool and make a small mark wherever a car-seat strap rests beneath the cover. Take the cover off and measure the length of the car-seat strap slits.
Mark the same measurement on the car-seat cover. Gently slice the fabric open with a very sharp knife or cutting tool. Hand-sew the edges to prevent fraying.
Website Reference
Choose a fabric and purchase the amount you need according to the measurements you took. It won't hurt to have a little extra. A sturdy cotton fabric is a good choice because the material is breathable. Cotton is also easy to wash---just be sure to use a low dryer setting to avoid shrinking it too much. It may be a good idea to prewash the fabric before you sew it so it will preshrink.
Make your own pattern for the car seat. Lay a piece of transparent paper or tissue on a flat surface. Using a meter stick or tape measure, measure out the length of the car seat. Don't forget to add the 10 inches, 5 inches extra on top, and 5 extra on bottom. Make a pencil mark on the paper at the top and bottom of the measurements.
Measure and mark the width, adding the extra 5 inches to each side. Connect the marks around the paper by drawing a circle or oval; your car-seat shape will determine the shape of the pattern. Cut out the pattern carefully.
Fold your fabric in half and pin the edges to keep the fabric from shifting. Lay the pattern on top of the fabric and pin the pattern to the fabric. Carefully cut the fabric in the shape of the pattern, then remove the pattern.
Turn the two pieces of fabric around so that the outer sides are touching each other. Make sure they are even around the sides, then pin the pieces together.
Use a sewing machine to sew three-quarters of the car-seat cover. Then turn the cover inside out to where the correct sides are facing out again. Continue to sew the car seat up, but leave a 1-inch hole.
Make a casing around the edge of the cover. Mark a 1/2- to 1-inch section all the way around the cover. Pin together and sew a seam around the car-seat cover. Be sure to leave a hole in the casing where you left the 1-inch hole when sewing the cover together.
Pin a very large safety pin on one end of your elastic. Place the safety pin inside the 1-inch hole you left open, and "walk" the pin around the casing, pulling the elastic around the casing. Take the safety pin off and apply the plastic clip to the ends of the elastic. You should be able to press on the clip button and pull the elastic so that the car-seat cover tightens or loosens.
Lay the cover in the car seat. Wrap the sides around the car seat and test it by tightening the elastic.
Make slits in the cover to allow the car-seat straps to get through. With the cover lying in the car seat, take a pencil or other marking tool and make a small mark wherever a car-seat strap rests beneath the cover. Take the cover off and measure the length of the car-seat strap slits.
Mark the same measurement on the car-seat cover. Gently slice the fabric open with a very sharp knife or cutting tool. Hand-sew the edges to prevent fraying.
Website Reference
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