Socks, Socks, & More Socks

Have you ever thought of your sock drawer as a treasure trove? Do you have a sock bag filled with single socks hoping the mate will someday magically appear? This week I am going to show you some of the things you can do with these leftover socks.

Here's a good example: The feet are worn out, but the tops are still good – so cut them off! Then, cut two small holes on the sides and make a top. By leaving the mate whole, it becomes a matching cowl neck for the top, or an infinity scarf. You can then tie the top with a piece of ribbon (or elastic) to make an adorable hat. Using hair ties on scrunchies gives a more decorative effect. Leave the tie on the outside for a cute pom pom, or reverse it for a beanie.

A few more ideas for sock upcycling are: cutting the tops off and sewing up the sides to make a cute skirt. You can make a bolero jacket by using the foot and top of a sock. Or, sew a small seam in the middle to form a pair of panties. They also make good leg/wrist warmers, or head bands for an adorable athletic look. Play around and be creative!

Tip for the week: If you want to make something special and inexpensive, head to the dollar stores, they have all kinds of socks.

Fun With Shapes -- Pt. 1

Geometry isn’t just for math class. This post is the first in a series of three entries where I will be teaching you how to take basic shapes and turn them into many different patterns. By the end of the series you’ll be able to make an entire wardrobe for your favorite doll lover, (or keep them for yourself) along with some fun accessories.

Let’s start with the circle. This is the easiest one to work with. I’m using thin interfacing (see last week’s post for more on interfacing) to make my pattern. You’ll also need:

• A pen
• A ruler or measuring tape (a ruler is easier to hold)
• And the doll you’re making your pattern for

       1.       Make the circle by folding the interfacing in half twice

2.       Make a small line at the corner of the folds for the waist

3.       Lay the doll on top of your fabric and measure from the waist to the desired length

4.       Measure this length and mark it from one edge to the other

5.       Cut out this shape, and cut the tip off the top (for the waist)

6.       When you open it up, you have a perfect circle skirt pattern

7.       Cut along one of the folds to create an opening

8.       This pattern can be modified to make various other items such as capes, and wrap-around shirts. experiment!

Follow the step by step pictures below for additional help!



The Wonderful World of Interfacing

Since this blog is all about making clothes and accessories for dolls, I thought I would start with some basics about making and preserving patterns. Patterns are made from a very thin paper and not much on durability if they are used constantly like I do (not to mention the fact they can be quite costly.) I figured out a way to not only preserve the original pattern, but also how to make little changes here and there. I discovered a magical sewing wonder – interfacing.

Interfacing is a type of fabric that is fairly inexpensive, starting about $1.20 p/yard (depending on its thickness.) I started making my patterns out of the thinner kind because it is cheaper, and easier to work with. Interfacing works so well because you can write on it with a simple pen, it's flexible for crafting different designs, and best of all it can be sewn together by simply hand basting it, which gives you a better idea of how it will fit the doll. Using interfacing to preserve your new patterns is so easy (and it sure beats spending money on new ones.) Personally, I find that the interfacing is easier to lay out on fabric as well.

Here's What to Do:

• Take some thin interfacing that you can see through and pin all your paper patterns on it face down.
• Cut very carefully around the pattern's outline (I recommend using small scissors for Barbie's patterns.)
• Once you've finished cutting the outline, leave the pins in.
• Take a pen and trace all the little details on the pattern onto the interfacing. Don't forget to label your pieces!
• You can invent all sorts of designs this way by combining different pieces. Best of all, if you make a mistake, you still have the original and can start all over again.

*Tip of the Week:

Keep an eye out for pattern sales at Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabrics. I usually wait and buy a bunch at a time when they are $0.99 to $1.99.