I got about a yard of some striped fabric from the clearance section of a fabric store for about $1.50. This was my very first time using a zipper, and to make matters more difficult I got a metal one... yep. It was a separating double-zipper pull one (y'know, the kind that can zip up from the bottom and zip down from the top). To make the chevron I had to cut out the stripes diagonally. The whole bag took me about an hour and a half. It shouldn't have. But I was distracted, the bag needed to be pieced together perfectly, and the zipper was metal and had to be hacked at with wire cutters and safety scissors. So yeah. I didn't use a zipper foot because I don't have one, but it was surprisingly easy. This will either be used for a wallet or a pencil case.





Link to tutorial: http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2012/08/chevron-pencil-case-tutorial.html

Thanks for looking! C & c welcome!  

Yesterday I was bored, and while rummaging around through my (messy) closet, I found an old size L men's t-shirt from my dad. Sooo, I cut it up and made a crop top in about ten minutes. It is very versatile; I can wear it on or off the shoulder, cuff the sleeves, or wear it over a long camisole. It is boxy and oversized, easy to make, and has one of those cool drapey fishtail/high-low hem. It was so easy that my sister made one too.





Link to tutorial: http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2012/06/blog-post.html

Thanks for looking! C & c welcome! 

Since today was mother's day, I needed envelopes for the letters my family and I wrote her. I wondered what I could use. To me, magazine pages can look a little... I don't know. Funky, I guess. So I looked around, and found a whole pack of brown paper bags (the lunch bag kind, not the grocery kind). And these were born! It was so easy, it took about five minutes. One paper bag can make 2 envelopes. I love the look of these. They're kind of vintage-y looking. After getting everyone's letters, I tied them together with some string. Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things (sorry, I love The Sound of Music).




If you want to know how to make some, you can find the tutorial here: http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2012/05/happy-mothers-day-paper-bag-envelope.html

Thanks for looking! C & c welcome!   

I love the look of double strand headbands. They seem to hold up my hair better, since one strand keeps down the back and one strand holds down the front. I made one from super stretchy green jersey; no elastic. It fits well and is really comfy; it'll be great for sports.


The construction is made from 3 pieces of jersey braided together into one long braid, which is then looped and knotted. It is held in place by tacking down the fabric with a needle and thread.



If you want to make one for yourself, here is the link to the tutorial:
http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2012/03/version-aye-aye-aye-braided-headband.html
Thanks for looking! C & c welcome! 

It's getting hotter, so I decided to make myself a floaty racerback tank, based off of one from athleta. I used some gray lightweight knit that I got from the scrap bin at a fabric store for $2.  I added the little side wings for more movement. I got the pattern from an existing tank top I had, and then added the wings. I'm very proud of the binding, because it's the first time I actually top stitched the seams! It looks more finished now. On to pics!

Here's a close up of the drapey hem.


It's extremely comfortable, like I'm floating; I'm sure it'll be great in the summer for wearing or as a swimsuit coverup. I can't wait to make more out of old t-shirts! If you'd like to make your own, here's a link to the tutorial:
http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2012/03/racerback-tank-w-hanky-hem-tutorial.html
Thanks for looking! C & c welcome!  

i'm planning on making this dress (it is sold out):
http://productshots1.modcloth.com/productshots/0047/2066/e92ec4273d6fb670534efe1931f934ae.jpg?1289484817
I plan to use satin. what kind of skirt should I sew for the base of the ruffles? circle skirt, a line, gathered... I think if I do gathered, the ruffles will look funny  because they'll be sort of... wrinkled together. any help would be appreciated! thanks!  

my sewing machine makes the zigzag stitch look like a crooked straight stitch. i use a regular zigzag foot, ball point needle for knits, and 2 length with 5 width. the dial is set on zigzag stitch. it used to work, but for some reason it doesn't now no matter what needle i use. should i get a new foot for my machine? thanks!

Went to a huge fabric store on monday... one of those warehouse places. It was amazing. I got some striped fabric for only $1.98, and I was able to make this! It was super easy. Making the pattern and cutting out the fabric took longer than sewing it all together. I had so much fun making it. It was quick and gratifying. I've seen this type of top everywhere and wanted one... just, you know, not for $30. $2 is much better, don't you think? The top is super duper cute yet comfortable; the kind of thing you could wear to sleep, wake up in, and wear it the rest of the day. My sister wanted to model, so...



At first my neckline was too wide, so it kept flopping over. I ended up folding it to the inside and slip stitching it in place.


If you want to make one, here's the tutorial: http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2011/12/slouchy-boxy-tee-tutorial.html

Thanks for looking! C & c welcome!  

I made these nice liners with some gray fleece that's been sitting in my stash from Walmart. They were super easy--took about 20 minutes from start to finish, including setting up the sewing machine! Of course, the fact that I didn't hem and only had to sew 2 seams may have contributed to the quickness of the project...



Doesn't the picture above look... like something you'd find in a magazine? Maybe? Well I think it looks pretty good considering this is what they look like in real life, sans boots:



Haha, you can tell right away from the picture that I'm lazy. My sister told me to sew Hunter labels on them, lol.



If you want to make your own, here's the tutorial: http://sewkool.blogspot.com/2011/12/guest-post-sweet-lemonade.html

Thanks for looking! C & c welcome! 

Knitted out of some teal acrylic yarn held double. It's a bit scratchy, due to it being cheap (I'm not dissing you, red  heart super savers; you're... durable. oh, and did i mention you're very affordable? cuz that's what i meant by cheap). I used size 15 needles for a super quick knit. It makes a nice present. It would also be a good project for a beginner.



You can find the pattern here: http://chewynoodles.blogspot.com/2011/12/bow-earwarmer.html I want to make another one out of some wool ease thick and quick, which is unfortunately a bit more expensive than red heart... But I can imagine another one made out of a thick, chunky mustard wool, or maybe a deep, rich purple. Mmm...

Thanks for looking! C & c welcome!