Protecting Your Table Decor With Plastic

 Hello Readers. I wanted to use my table for more than just eating. I wanted to decorate it and use it to display 2 dimensional items like photos, pictures or maps. This was really easy to do and adds a bit of fun to a table. Using plastic protects whatever you decide to display or decorate your table with.

Whatever you are displaying on your table can be protected with plastic sheeting. That opens up so many table display options. Precious family photos, priceless children's artwork and even educational or instructional items can all be safely displayed.

I bought this plastic material a Walmart because it was the heaviest plastic I could find. It came with a sheet of white paper layered between it that had all kids of suggestions about what you could make with it. It was thick plastic and had a nice amount of weight to it. That would help it stay in place on the table. This isn't thin plastic, it is strong and sturdy. You could also use a clear table cloth or even a clear shower curtain but check the thickness and strength of the plastic you use. Thin plastic won't last as long and could be so light weight that it shifts around on your table.

This is my kitchen table. It is fine but I wanted to display some maps so my child will learn some geography. I don't want the maps to get ruined with spilled food or drinks so I needed to cover them with something. 

Here is a look at the maps I wanted to use. I spread them out on the table and arranged them the way I wanted. This step would be the same for displaying photos for the family reunion, pictures that your child drew or even company policies on the break room table. Whatever it is you want to display needs to be spread out and arranged on the table. Just lay them out the way you want. The plastic is going to hold them in place.

I took the white paper off my piece of plastic. It is not stuck or glued on in anyway. It separates from the clear plastic easily.

 

I spread my sheet of plastic over the table and smoothed out any wrinkles. The piece was a little bigger than my table.

 

 I didn't want the plastic to hang down over the sides of the table. I wanted to cut the excess off the edges of my piece of plastic. I wanted it to be exactly the same size as the top of my table. It will stay in place better this way.

 

The plastic is easy to cut. I went around the table and made sure the plastic was the right size for my table by cutting all around the edge. I used basic craft scissors.

 

 My youngest immediately sat down with cocoa, crayons and books. He liked having something to look at on the table. I liked that the plastic would protect everything.

 

I liked this idea for displaying photos at the family reunion or get together. What a fun table that would be! Everyone could see the pictures and reminisce while they sat around the table. Even the old irreplaceable photos would be safe to show off.

It would also be a really fun way to display your child's art work. They make so many wonderful creations and the front of the refrigerator is only so big, you can only hang up so much on the refrigerator door. Cover your table with their works of art.

I hope this idea is as useful for you as it was for me. The best part is that none of this is permanent. You can remove or change your display anytime. There is no commitment. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- I hope we have learned a lot of geography from this because the maps are still on my table.

 

 

 

 

Remove a Tier From a Skirt Fast & Easy

 Hello Readers. Skirts (And dresses.) with tiers are really in style right now. I am seeing them all over my social media. They are really lovely but what if they are too long. I have a quick and easy way to shorten a skirt or dress quickly and easily. No one has a lot of extra time to sit at the sewing machine so let's do this the fast way.

Before and after.

This dress had some serious "Little House on the Prairie" vibes going on. I watched that show as a kid but it's not a fashion look I want to recreate for myself in 2023. This dress would look a lot better on me if I shortened it. I did like the little ruffle so I wanted to save that. 

 

I spread the dress out on my sewing table. I wanted to remove the bottom tier of the dress but I didn't want to sit and unpick all the stitches and then re-attach that little ruffle back on the dress. That would take a long time.

 

I decided to cut the bottom tier off the dress. I couldn't just cut it off and let it fray. I wanted it to be nice and neat. I had a plan for that. I would cut it off under the ruffle.

 

I lifted the ruffle and cut the bottom tier off but I left about 1/4 inch of fabric. I made sure to cut under the ruffle without cutting any other fabric.

 

Here is a look at the extra fabric I left on the skirt of the dress after I cut the bottom tier off. It is going to get hidden under the ruffle but it will fray so it needs a bit of sewing to finish it. 

 

That ruffle that I liked so much had it's own seam attaching it to the dress. I could use that seam to quickly finish this. I could sew the cut fabric to the seam and they would stay nice and neat under the ruffle.

 

I used my serger to stitch the cut edge to the seam. The serger will over that cut edge and it won't fray. If you do not have a serger use the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. Make your stitches close together to cover the cut edge well. All of this will be hidden inside the dress under that ruffle.

 

To make sure the hem of my dress would lay flat when I wore it and walked around. I used a straight stitch and top stitched the seam. This will keep the dress looking it's best. And that is what I want of course. This change only took 30 minutes.

 

I really liked that little ruffle at the hem of this dress. It was a sweet detail and I am glad I could keep it. I like the dress shorter too. It looks sweet but not like it is out of the pioneer days. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

***Year End Update- I love everything about this dress. The color is perfect and the shorter length made it less 'prairie". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connecting Pieces of Bias Tape

 Hello Readers. I love to sew and I love getting tips and ideas. I wanted to share how to connect 2 pieces of bias tape today. Bias tape is such a great tool when sewing but what if the piece you have isn't long enough to finish the project?

Bias tape sewn together.

I was working on a new top and I did not have enough to finish the whole project. I wanted to use the colorful bias tape but needed to make it longer. I bought some coordinating beige bias tape that was the same width. I just needed to sew them together.

Bias tape is made with fabric cut on the bias so that is can curve and conform to the shape of the sewing project. Bias tape is made with strips of fabric cut at a 45 degree angle. If I sew these to pieces together end to end it won't have the same give it should.

It may not seem like it but the best way to connect 2 pieces of bias tape is to connect them perpendicular to each other. 

I pinned my 2 pieces together and I marked in pencil where I wanted to stitch them together. I stitched diagonally across the corners of these 2 pieces. This is a quick and easy straight stitch to connect the 2 pieces of bias tape.

 Once I was done sewing I could take the pin out and cut off the excess.

 

After I cut the excess fabric away, The 2 pieces need to be straightened out. 

When the 2 pieces are straightened out, you have a diagonal connection. 

 

This diagonal connection is easier to wrap around a curved neckline and it is easier to sew through because the folded layers will not be all in one spot along the bias tape. It can be folded back up.

I folded my bias tape back up and look at that connection. It is smooth and it will wrap around the neckline of this top I am making.

I sewed this bias tape to the edge of this green fabric and it was very easy to sew through.

This top was done in no time once I had my bias tape all put together. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- Bias tape is not very exciting but this was a useful skill to learn.

The Strawberry Dress

 Hello Readers. When I saw this dress at a thrift store for $8 I was so excited. I thought it was amazing. I loved the strawberries and the sequins and the ruffle. I loved it all. It had some fit issues but I really wanted to fix this dress so I could wear it.

Before and after.

The dress was very low and open in the front. I needed a shirt under it just to take this picture. The length was fine but the nylon fabric was hot. REALLY HOT! I thought if I shortened the dress that it would be cooler to wear. I could also use that cut off fabric to make some kind of coverage in the bust area. 

I cut off the under skirt by about 8 inches. 

 

I cut the strawberry layer too I removed and reattached the ruffle to the hem. I really liked that ruffle. 

 

I started working on the fit of the dress at the top. I decided to make a corset back. That would add space and make more room in the front. I removed the zipper and the waist ties. Those waist ties would be my corset ties. 

 

I pinned the back to get an idea of how many metal eyelets I would need. 

 

I placed these metal eyelets where I wanted them and wacked them with a hammer. It was fun!

 

My new back was finished. The corset allows the dress to grow if needed. 

 

I used some skirt scraps to fill in the front of the dress. It was just too low cut for me. 

 

My new dress was ready to wear. I liked how it all turned out. 

 

This dress needs to go to a tea party or garden party or something. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

 ***Year End Update- I love this dress. This was my first choice for the Barbie movie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dress to Vest

 Hello Readers. I have been more into wearing layers as I have gotten older. (Almost 51!) I like having a little something over my basic top and bottom pieces. I am always looking for layering pieces and I thought this little dress would be a nice summer piece. It could be a great little sleeveless jacket.

Before and after.

 

I fell in love with the fringe of this dress. It was soft cotton and that fringe was fabulous.This dress was too small and too tight to wear as a dress but that is fine. If I cut the dress open in the front it will fit like an open vest.
 

I grabbed my scissors and I cut the dress right down the middle from the neck to the hem.

This dress was cotton and had a thin cotton lining. I cut the lining open too. 

I stitched the lining and the outer layer together along the cut edge. I put the right sides together and sewed the 2 edges together using my serger. The stitches will be hidden inside the new vest. I gave it a press with the iron too.

I liked the length and the fit was great now that it was opened up. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- I still wear this vest a lot. It just seems to work well with a lot of other clothes.

Orange Dye Disaster

 Hello Readers. I love to dye bland clothes into bright fun colors. Why be bland when fabric dye is so readily available and easy to use? It doesn't make sense. This post is about how I dyed a dress in my washer and it got messed up and then I fixed it.

Before and after some drama.

This dress was is perfect condition but the color just didn't do much for me. It was like plain oatmeal. It was way too long. I tried to refashion it a couple years ago. I decided to cut the skirt off and tie it in a knot at the waist to add some waist definition. I was not 100% happy with it so it's back. 

My first step was to dye the dress. I thought orange would be a good choice because... I like orange. So far, so good. But my washer went rogue, stopped, and the lid stayed locked for 12 hours or so. I don't know why it did that. Do I need a new washer? Maybe.

While it was in the dye I made the elastic waistband I wanted to use on this skirt. 

I used a zigzag stitch to connect the ends and make this waistband. 

 

I attached the elastic to the top of the skirt but you can see what the dye did to the skirt. It was uneven because the washer didn't run properly. I did not like the patchy orange color. I would have to order more dye to try and dye it again.

I turned the elastic under.

I turned the elastic under again so it was hidden.

I used a zigzag stitch to make this elastic waistband. 

I dyed the whole thing again. I really wanted to make the color even. 

I thought the skirt was a little too loose so I took 3-4 inches out of the skirt in the back. It made a seam down the back of the skirt but lots of skirts have a back seam like that so I thought it looked fine. 

My dress was evenly dyed a fun orange color and I liked it so much that I went out in it. I went to get a hair cut. If you are ever in Hagerstown Maryland, I recommend Jessica at Frayed Berry. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- This orange is so much better than the oatmeal mush color.