How to Make Your Very Own Mermaid Tail: A Tutorial

 

 

Have you thought about making your own mermaid tail?

 

I began making mermaid tails because my four year old daughter loves mermaids, but wasn't a fan of the sensory socks they used at OT.  I knew that if she tried one she would love to sensation, but she couldn't be convinced to climb in. 

 

I had a feeling if I turned the sock into a tail that she could wear she would benefit from it.  So I started sewing and quickly discovered that my other kids loved the mermaid tails too.

 

You don't need a pattern to make this mermaid tail.  Here are step by step instructions that take you from measuring through sewing, so that you can create your very own custom tail.

 

To make this tail I used about a yard of spandex, three feet of elastic and a little less than 2 square feet of felt.

 

 

 

How to Make Your Own Eternity Veil: A Tutorial

Have you ever thought of trying your hand at making an eternity veil?  They're pretty simple to make and you can make them rather quickly for a low price.  I can make several eternity veils in the time it takes me to make a single snood.

For this veil I used Casa Collection lace from Joann's Fabrics.  When Joann's Casa Collection lace is full price it's $7.99.  I try not to buy it unless it's either on sale for 50% off (or more) or I have a coupon for at least 50% off (you can sign up for emails or find these in the paper or on their website).  

Your coupon means that if you have a 50% off coupon 48 inches of fabric should cost a little over $5 (and because of the width that's enough to make two veils, making each veil $2.50).  

Here's the pattern that I came up with and used for my Single Loop Eternity Veils (like the one shown above).  

First I measure out 48 inches of lace.  I usually try to buy at least three yards at a time when I'm experimenting with a new fabric, because three yards is enough to make two single loop veils, two double loop veils and at least a couple convertible veils.  If you buy exactly 48 inches and the cut is even you can skip the first couple of steps:

Next you'll cut the fabric to the correct width.  The fabric will be 18 inches (before hemming) from where it lays near your hairline to the back of your neck. If you want it to be a little bit wider this is the measurement that you would change:

Next we're going to make the loop for the eternity veil.  We'll do this with a French Seam.  First we fold the fabric in two with the wrong sides on the inside.  In other words, if there's a side to the fabric that you want to have on the outside you want it on the outside now.  I sew the first seam with the outside edge of the fabric lined up with the inside of my sewing machine foot.  Make sure to start at the edge that will be nearest to your face when you're wearing your veil, because you want to make sure that edge lines up.  

Next I trim the excess fabric, being careful not to clip too close to the seam I just sewed.  I do this so there's no chance that the rough edge of the fabric will be caught up in the next seam.  I've had that happen too many times when making French Seams on princess dresses!

Now to enclose the rough edge so no one can see it.  

You'll do this by flipping the entire veil around so that the wrong side is now on the outside of the veil.  Press the seam lightly so that the seam you just sewed is on the inside of the veil.  Press along the seam.  Next we'll sew another seam to enclose the rough edge.  Again I line up the outside edge of the seam with the inner edge of my sewing machine foot (and start at the edge closest your face again):

Press the fabric open and press the flap of fabric that the rough edge is now enclosed in to one side.  Sew that side down, carefully, along the loose edge of the fabric, being careful to keep the fabric from bunching underneath the flap so that the veil lays flat.  

Now it's time to hem the bottom of the veil.  Turn the hem under, press it and pin it in place.  I try to keep the hem as narrow as I can, but if you're looking for a measurement a 1/4 inch hem would work well for this veil and is roughly what I used for this tutorial.  

Clip any strings that are still attached to your veil and admire your handy work!  Congratulations on making your new eternity veil!  

Baptismal Gowns for Baby Boys (and what I almost finished sewing last night!)

Yesterday I sat down and sewed this:

It's not totally finished (buttons again), but it's close.  It's made out of dupioni silk, and while I was cutting it out I was trying not to panic that I was using so much silk and trying my best not to focus on the thought that if the project didn't come out exactly the way I wanted it to it might be a massive waste of the most expensive fabric in my sewing stash, which could have gone to make something like six of my most popular snoods.  

Still I nervously watched as it came together and it wasn't really clear until the last moment when I finished the last enclosed seam and flipped the whole thing over that it actually looked exactly like the picture that I already had in my head.

I know as I've been making the gown a few people have asked "why a gown for a boy?"

Not everyone was thrilled by our choice
of a gown.  Patchy really didn't like
being squeezed into the
almost two small jacket...

For me, it's totally a matter of personal preference.  I just like the look of a baptismal gown better than most of the little suits out there.  You can probably just blame it on my love of old fashioned fashions.  One of the problems I actually find myself having with a lot of the boy's gowns and suits available is that I feel like a good number of the ones I've run across (because I obviously have spent way, way too much time looking at baptismal gowns online) will, to me at least, look dated fairly quickly, kind of like that prom dress that seemed so perfect in 1980 (or 1970, or 1990... or...) that now looks kind of ridiculous in hindsight.  But again, that's totally a matter of personal preference.

I'm betting there are tons of people who, as a matter of personal preference, don't like gowns for boys.  And it isn't that I don't like little suits (I see tons of adorable little babies looking perfect for their big day in my Facebook news feed).  I just like gowns more.

I don't feel like one is better than the other, just that it's a matter of taste.

If the question extends beyond why gowns now, to why gowns in the past, I think that the main reason gowns were traditionally worn was because little boys, up until the start of the 20th century often wore gowns in the western world, from birth to anywhere from the age of 2-5.  I remember reading a really interesting article about how young boys in Victorian times wore dresses, which of course, I can't find now, but this Wikipedia post goes into it a bit and how "breeching" was actually a rite of passage for boys when they were old enough to wear pants.  Part of the carry over from that is also likely that many people have antique gowns that are handed down, that generation after generation in their family has worn.

Anyways, that's the latest off of my sewing machine, and my explanation for anyone who's wondered or asked why the gown for a boy!

After getting so far on the gown I'm cautiously optimistic that I might actually finish the entire thing before the baby arrives... as long as he continues to stay put.  Less than a week to go!

The Baptismal Gown

It's finished.  At least I hope it is!  Last night I finished the last button hole and sewed on the last six buttons.  I'm not entirely sure about the neck being wide enough... although the top buttons are close enough together that I might just leave one unbuttoned if it does end up being too small.  I think it should be okay...  And so, here it is!  The Baptismal Gown:

And of course I had to show close ups of each full picture!

Here's the front:

And the back:

I wish the details of the lace on the sleeves showed up a bit better in these...

And lastly here are the hand sewed buttons and button holes.

It would have definitely gone much more quickly if the button foot on my sewing machine had fit, but I learned something!

The gown itself is made with a high quality "satin" 100% cotton.  Next I'm planning on making a light weight slip, also out of cotton and a jacket and bonnet out of the white dupioni silk that I have laying around!  I'm basing the jacket loosely on Patch's jacket, so I'm hoping it turns out like this:

 We'll see if I can pull it off before he arrives!  Either way at least the gown itself is done!

The beginnings of the gown...

In my extra sewing time, little by little, I've been working on making a baptism gown for the new baby.  These pictures, which are totally washed out by my flash, don't quite do it justice, but I still wanted to share.  It also doesn't quite fit on the kid hanger that I put it on, which make the shoulders look not quite right... but here it is.  

I used Patch's gown as a pattern and laid it out and traced each piece of the top to get an idea of the sizing of the sleeves and front and back and measured out the bottom to get an idea of how fabric to use for the rest of the gown.  I made one pattern out of fabric to keep and then copied it to make this gown.  

Surprisingly, the white cotton that I grabbed off the shelf in my room (I believe it was described as "satin cotton" when I bought it months and months ago) was the exact same cotton used in Patch's gown.  And after measuring out the pattern and the gown I had the perfect amount of fabric.  I still need to sew buttons on the gown, and I'm going to sew a slip and a matching jacket, but here's the main part.  

I found, as I was coming up with ideas for this gown, that I'm actually pretty picky.  I went through pages and pages of photos of boy's baptismal gowns and none of them were quite what I had in mind.  I love the gowns over the suit style, and I like the Peter Pan style necklines over the point suite type necklines, but I really like the plain, simple neckline over both of those.  And I'm okay with a little bit of lace.

I also followed the example of Patch's gown and used a single layer of fabric for the top part of the gown skirt and then doubled over the bottom half and carefully sewed a double layer that gives the lower part a bit more weight.

I hand-stitched the sleeve hems and the lace and the top and bottom of the waistband... hand stitching is so relaxing to me (like knitting!):

Here's a close up of the lace.  Everything I used for this I already had in my sewing room.  The only extra that I'll need is small buttons because all of my white buttons are much too large:

I held it up to Patch's old gown after it was finished and it looks like the sizing is still on and it should fit!  Time will tell!

You might be wondering why I've made another gown for the new baby.  The reason might seem a little bit silly with a perfectly good gown in the closet.

I've always loved the idea of having the kids' baptism gowns framed in a shadow box.  I have had this picture in my head of having one for each of our children that includes a picture of them in the gown from their day in a neat little case lining one of the hallways in our (someday) house.

It's been such a special idea that we've managed to make it work so far, but I knew there was no wiggle room at all in the budget for a new gown this time around... and I thought that after the thousands of hours I've spent sewing over the last few years I could probably pull of making a gown now.  So I started planning and so far I'm happy with the results!  Hopefully the jacket is as easy to make!  It's silk and while I actually have quite a lot of white dupioni silk (and I'll definitely be making a mock up in cotton first) it will make me a little bit nervous using it on such a big project!

My First Attempt at Swimwear Sewing: A Maternity Swimsuit

Long, long ago I got two swim passes for our family that added up to around 12 trips to a local heated indoor pool.  So far we haven't used them.  A few days ago I thought it would be a great plan to go and take the kids... and then I realized that I still can't find my maternity suit and there isn't a single non-maternity suit that I can fit into these days. 

As I was measuring out mermaid tail fabric I had an idea.  I set aside an extra yard that I'd purchased and the next night I started sewing.  I started with the bump section, measuring out an ample amount of fabric and then running elastic that I'd pulled really tightly taut down the sides.  It was something I'd seen on pinterest and it worked perfectly to make a little rounded out area for the rapidly growing bump.  Then I made the bust area and straps, brought it in a little and hemmed it and the top was done.

I also made bottoms, which have really good coverage and a separate skirt to go over it.

Here's the finished result.  I think it's one of my all time favorite bathing suits. I also think I'm going to try my hand at making one postpartum at some point next spring if I can find the time!  I loved being able to figure out the neckline and how much coverage I wanted!  And with coupons it cost around $8 to make, which is great because while there are plenty of bathing suits I see out there that I love, they're pretty much always out of the price range that I can imagine spending for any piece of clothing. 

So here's the finished result.  My newly made maternity swim suit:

Let the Crafting Begin: Getting Ready for Birthdays

The girls' birthdays have been steadily sneaking up on me. I know I need to find time to kick into birthday present making high gear before I'm completely blindsided by the fact that Sadie's birthday is now in less than two weeks and Mae's birthday is less than a month away.  

So tonight, after doing everything else that needed to be done, I made the first thing that popped into my head.  It's a mermaid costume for Mae's doll.  Mae's doll (which I didn't make) hasn't gotten a huge amount of play time since Mae has fallen in love with all things mermaid (at the expense of anything that doesn't have a tail), so I thought I would fix that by making the doll about a million times more interesting to our little mermaid fan.

I'm planning on making a few outfits for each of the girls dolls, along with a few other presents (like mermaid outfits for each of them) that I'm still working up plans for in my head.  I have all the mermaid costume fabric... and the dolls will be the test runs before I make the real things (which are actually totally different from the dolls, but I thought the dolls would be good practice for the bottom part of the fins, which were what I was the most worried about making).

Also on the list is a new weighted vest for Mae (made out of the same material I used to make the mermaid outfit) and an idea I'm playing with for a weighted fish, since all things aquatic seem to make the cut when it's playtime.  

Here's the start of my birthday preparations! Hopefully there won't be a huge last minute rush... although it seems to me that even when I've started much, much earlier there always is!

The Cape

I wasn't sure if I was going to finish Sadie's cape in time for tonight, and I wasn't even sure once I started it if it was going to turn out.  I was afraid that I didn't have a long enough piece of the "fur" lining fabric... but it came together a little less than an hour after I finished the dress and was perfect!  It will help keep her snuggly warm on the way to the ball with Daddy tonight!

The Latest from My Workshop:

I spent a bit of time today figuring out how to use the embroidery portion of my sewing machine.  Sadie even got in on the fun when I set up the fabric and let her press the start button so that she "embroidered" a little heart on a piece of linen.  And then I posted the latest items I'd managed to get photographed in my Mae Bae shop.  There are now animal rolls and bug rolls and a few of my favorite quilts!  Here are some of the highlights:

Jungle Roll

Bug Rolls

This is a copy of the quilt that I made for Patrick right after he was born.  I am a huge fan of the cute little classic teddy bear print:

Teddy Bear Quilt

 It took me a while to decide to use the cotton fabric below, because when there's a fabric that I really, really like, I tend to hoard it while waiting for the "perfect" project.  I finally decided that the perfect fabric was in fact, a quilt:

Water Color Butterfly Quilt

Of course there's a dinosaur quilt:

Dinosaur Quilt

Speaking of fabrics I waited and waited to use... I hauled the cotton print below from California to Florida to Michigan.  I finally decided it would be lovely as a quilt (and I'm really, really tempted to make another to keep with the last little bit that I have):

Flower Quilt

 Cuddly lions:

Lion Quilt

Bright colored little birds:

Bird Quilt

 Itty Bitty Hand Prints:

Double Flannel Hand Print Baby Blanket

Now to get some rest before a busy Wednesday!  Paul works his first shift at his new job tomorrow!

Just Keep Sewing, Just Keep Sewing... still...

I'm exhausted this morning (I know, you're ready for a post that doesn't say that, right?)!  But I feel like I accomplished something yesterday.  8-10 was sewing machine fixing time.  10 am until just before 11pm (when I started falling asleep while sitting up) was sewing while stopping occasionally to nurse and feed the children time.  Movies were watched.  There was much talk of Olivia the pig since we found two Olivia DVDs for under $4 a piece at Meijer the other day.  This puts me at somewhere around 63 hours of sewing in six days.  I am going to be so relieved when this craft fair is here and everything is done.  And I'm going to start preparing for the December craft fair right away instead of mostly waiting until two months before to see if I'm accepted or not.

Paul had his first day of classes.  He's officially started his 3L year.  I wish summer had been a bit longer (what was that?  5 days?).  He's informed me they're going to involve "a lot" of reading (is that "a lot" for law school?  Or just "a lot" in general?).

And I finished quilting the last quilts, bumping my quilted quilts total up to 45.  I really wanted to have 50 finished but I think I might have to be happy with 45.

Yesterday morning the two hours of sewing machine repair nearly had me sick over the idea that I might now be able to handle the problem on my own.  I ran to the store since I couldn't find my sewing machine oil anywhere and then got to work.  I bought a oil spray that coated all the sewing machine parts and it worked really well (it had been squeaking even once it was clean... which screamed "I need oil" to me).  I've been asked for sewing machine tips, but I'm afraid I'm not much help in explaining how I actually fix my machines.  I can tell you what I do, however.  I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a strategy for anyone else, because I'm never quite sure if it will work, or if my machine is about to be killed by my attempts.

I have a feeling I won't be finishing one of these in time...

When things start going wrong with my machine I take it apart and clean it.  Unfortunately, most of the time, cleaning isn't the problem (I cleaned my machine three times yesterday because the fluffy fabric I was sewing sheds along cut edges until they're sewn).  So I then take the machine apart and put it back together.  A screwdriver removes the plates and the case on my machine and that's how I start.  I remove the bobbin casing and the needle and check them both.  I used to read the manual but it never actually helped at all with anything.  Then I put it back together and try sewing a test piece of fabric.  I might do this over and over again, for 2-4 hours before the problem is fixed (it happens about every 12 months).  Sometimes it takes 2-4 hours over 2-4 days.  Sometimes I think I know enough that it's getting easier, and then I have a day like yesterday and I wonder if I should just take the thing in (except that wasn't really an option because I can't give up another day of sewing at this point).

I fiddled with the screw on the bobbin casing until it felt right when I pulled the thread.  I readjusted the thread tension a few times because it felt too tight.  And I recleaned and oiled everything.  Finally my sewing machine started acting like a sewing machine again.

I've had this machine for over a year now, and I am impressed with how it's held up to sewing.  It probably averages 30 hours a week, sometimes much more, sometimes less and so far it's still chugging along.  I have a commercial machine here (a Bernina from the 1930s that was my great grandmothers, that's just beautiful!) and I want to get it's power cord repaired this summer, because I think it might better stand up to the wear and tear and I would love to sew on it.

Hopefully I'll have time for a few car rolls though!

Now I have four days to do bindings, finish the other bath time terry cloth aprons I have, and hopefully make a few more dresses since my store description said there would be little girl dresses and so far I've only finished two.

I am amazed at what a workout sewing can be.  I feel like I'm spending hours working out at the gym.  My pedal foot is exhausted, simply from being in the pressing-on-the-pedal position.  And the sewing and not snacking has meant I've actually lost weight from all this prep.  2 more lbs to my wedding weight.  With this much work to be done I might make it by the weekend!

Today I brave using the bias tape maker that I got for my birthday.  I have a lot of binding to do now, and fast.

My parents get here on Thursday.  I'm hoping I can have everything almost done by the time they arrive.  So now, off to sew!

Just Keep Sewing... Just Keep Sewing...

It's over.  Paul's second year of law school is done.  He is now, officially, a 3L.

Five years of graduate school done.  One more to go.

I should be having a party this week, right?  Sleeping in and lounging around.  Because while law school is really intense for law students, who are at the library for incredibly long amounts of time throughout the year (it's not unusual for Paul to leave for school before 10 am and get home after 1 am), it can also seem pretty stressful having him gone that long when you're in the house with three small, rowdy people four and under.  I'm totally okay during the day... but on those days he's gone through bedtime till 1... those are the days that feel long, because someone is almost always crying while I'm getting everyone else ready for bed.

However, instead I'm really nervous about this week.  I have 20 more quilts to finish.  I have dresses to make.  I have a years worth of work to fit into this week.  I've been working pretty much every day for two months on the craft fair, but so much still remains to be done.  And it has to be a success.  It just has to be.

I keep having panic attack moments where I ask Paul:  "What if no one likes them?!?!?!   What if no quilts sell?!?!?!" in a frantic voice.

Paul has agreed to take the kids this week (which means, playing with them in the living room while I work in the kitchen and basement) but already things are popping up.  He needs to go to the accounting office at the school today.  There are doctors appointments tomorrow and the next day.  Life is not cooperating with my "everything be put on hold until the 18th" request.

This might mean that blogging may be a little spotty in the next week, although I imagine I probably will end up writing each morning here, because that's what I do, and maybe once I get a ton of stuff done today I won't be as panicked tomorrow.  That's the dream at least.

It really is a beautiful day, and I'm so glad to have Paul here (for a week) before his summer classes start (yuck).  Now to get to work!

Just Keep Sewing, Just Keep Sewing...

I took a quick break from the nightly routine to post a few pictures of my projects from the last three days.  The piecing quilts are done for the day.  Maybe.  Unless I finish everything else before midnight, which may or may not happen, depending on how efficient I am.

I've pieced 30.  20 to go if I'm going to meet my goal by the end of the month (I'm not yet admitting that that might not happen).

Now to get on to the actual work from my stores!  I hope your having a good Holy Week!