Seriously ? Easy Tank Top!

Hi sugar tartes!  It a fabulous winter's day here in North Carolina! The birds are chirping, the sun is beaming through my windows and the warmth of my hot cocoa is warming my fingertips.

Some of you may remember Charity, whom I began this blog with.  Remember she sells the AMAZING dolls that I featured here.  She also sells patterns here.  They are all simple, easy to follow and they're great because they are made by her :)

She had written up a tutorial for her SERIOUSLY? EASY TANK TOP, that makes the pattern into a standard tank, and I am sharing it with you all today. I actually had this post started over a year ago, but I must have forgotten it, and left it in the drafts.  Better late than never?  Here it is now...



Cut strips of stretchy knit fabric (like jersey or rib knit) 4" long. I usually cut the strips as wide as I can using the entire width of the fabric.



Fold your 4" strips in half, making them 2". Match the raw edges of the strips with the raw edge of one of the the arm openings in your tank top front piece. Pin down all the way accross the arm opening. Once all the way accross trim off what is left to use on the next arm opening!





Go to your machine and stitch in place. I then serge the raw edges, if you do not have access to a serger no problem... just either zigzag or overcast stitch the raw edges with your sewing machine. NOTE... knit fabrics normally do not fray... so if you choose you can leave your edges raw as well! :-)







Now off to the sewing machine again... now you will need to top stitch your seam down... this makes for a much neater and more professional finished look!





Follow these steps with all arm and both neck and bottom openings. Now you will follow all instructions that came in your pattern to construct your top. I have decided to show you another option also... I am going to simply hem the bottom of this tank top instead of using our red band of fabric on the bottom...



I serged the bottom first, all the way around. Next, I folded up 1/2" all the way around. Now Press, and go to the sewing machine! Sew with either a zigzag or a straight stitch (its all in what you like the look of better) And your finshed!





The flower on this tank top was a lot of fun too... I just used strips of a t-shirt that I was using when making a matching skirt! Runched the strips up and stitched on! 

Don't forget, you can find Charity's patterns over at her Big Cartel Shop, TheVinesBranches.com

American Girl Doll peppermint skirt TUTORIAL

American Girl Doll peppermint skirt TUTORIAL

Ok sugar tartes, as promised here is another tutorial featuring Lily.  Remember her from here?

This skirt is SUPER DUPER easy!  You can make it in less that 1 hour!!  The best part? It is full and twirly and if you little doll could dance, she'd surely pirouette for hours with this little number!

Sometimes little dollies that are pampered with new clothing and accessories whenever they have a whim, can become......a little like......um.......a PRIMA DONNA.  So sadly is the case for Lily.  She was in the middle of her midday nap when I began this project.  So please be patient with us.  And.....Shhhhh!

gather all of your supplies....

you will need:

 fabric for your waistband, and skirt

elastic

scissors

sewing machine 

-or- needle and thread

Make your cuts:

3 X 15 {waistband}

10 X 30 {main skirt)

10 1/4 {1/4" elastic}

Next, iron both of your skirt pieces in half, lengthwise.

Head over to your sewing machine.  At the raw edges run a basting stitch across the length. 

{don't backstitch}

To gather, you simply pull on the the bobbin thread until it bunches up.

{remember to leave long tails at each end so that you can gather the fabric}

The best way to gather for me, is to find the midpoint of each piece and mark with a pin.

Start to gather on one end until the edge of the skirt matches up with the edge of the waistband.

Once the pieces are the same length, then stitch them into place.

Then iron down the skirt and topstitch.  

{I have chosen to leave the edge here raw, but feel free to finish your edge with a zig zag stitch, or a serger}

Grab your elastic, and attach a safety pin at one end.

Run the elastic to the other end.  Making sure that when the tail is at the edge, you pin it in place.  Then make sure to pin it into place at the other end.  Leaving a piece that is sticking out.

Stitch down your elastic so that it stays put.

Line up the sides and stitch together (right sides together).  You can pin it here, but for such a small skirt, I chose to just stitch ;)

Trim the edge up, being carful not to cut any stitches.

....turn inside out...

TADA!  ...and notice how sleeping beauty is wide eyed and bushy tailed once she saw her new skirt!  Oh the life of a doll!

Come back for MORE tutorials coming soon!!