ElliesAlley

I've started a new adventure. My Grandma Morris taught me and my sister to sew when we were 8. We made matching tops and scarves for our 4-H project. Got a blue ribbon by the way. Growing up my Grandma Mellinger would wear an apron everyday over her dress. Both Grandmothers loved to garden, freezing or canning what they grew. And, I consider both of them to be very crafty and creative. Which leads me to my new adventure. I've taken my love of sewing and memories of days gone by and created ElliesAlley. 

In my shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElliesAlley  you'll find Aprons and Home Decor. I also have a Facebook page www.facebook.com/ElliesAlley .

Please swing by both sites for the latest apron I've sewn or a new recipe and much more. You may not see new posts on the Lindaloo blog but don't worry. Follow me on Facebook, like my page and feel free to comment. The more you do the more you will see my posts in your feed. Or you can always search for ElliesAlley on Facebook. I'm hoping to reach new and old friends so feel free to share my Facebook posts!

Thanks for checking in on me. 

Linda

Etsy.com/shop/ElliesAlley

www.facebook.com/ElliesAlley

ElliesAlley

This is Ellie. I've chosen her to represent my new endeavor. I've had friends tell me for a long time that I should sell the items I make. And now I am. You can find my creations on Etsy. 

www.Etsy.com/shop/ElliesAlley

Come take a peek at the Retro, full, reversible aprons I've made. Soon I'll have cupcake shaped pot holders to match the aprons for sale also.

You might also like some of the Home Decor I selling as well.

These can be customized with a verse of your choice. Made from Reclaimed wood.

Thanks for dropping by.     Linda

Bed Skirt

I had a bed skirt I really hated, then I washed it and it shrunk. Ugh, now I hate it even more. So painters drop cloth to the rescue. This stuff is a great neutral color and it is tough as steel. So let's get started.

I like to buy the 6 x 9 drop cloth as it doesn't have seams. 

I have a queen size bed. I don't have specific measurements so make this to fit whatever size bed you have. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING! There are options you can choose.

Get rid of the mattress and measure the dimensions of the box spring. Get two measurements, length and width, cut your base add an inch on three sides for the seam allowance. OR you could do what I did and lay the drop cloth on the box spring and with a marking pen mark where the edge (seam) to the skirt will be. I added an inch all the way around for seam allowance and cut. For the top of the bed where you will not have a skirt I used the drop cloth original hem. Why not use the factory edge, nice clean finish. And I won't have to hem that side.

Now, decide how long you want the skirt itself. Keeping this in mind and your length and width measurements. Cut two for the length and one for the width. Add enough on the bottom for a hem and enough on the top (1 inch) for the seam allowance. OR you can add pleats to your skirt like I did. Check out how I made pleats for the Slipcover. For the bed skirt I wanted a pleat half way down the length at the corners and in the middle of the end section. Using the measurements from the Slipcover project I cut appropriate lengths. Hem each section before pleating it. Makes the layout easier. Pin the skirt to the base and sew. Add each section as you go. Below you can see several views of the skirt on backwards.

AND Right side out and finished!!

Ellie wanted to get in the photo. 

I kind of wish I had put an additional pleat at each corner but overall I'm really happy with it. I've washed it already and it still looks awesome. There are endless uses for these drop clothes. I hope to make dining room curtains next! Check back in to see.

Linda

Hawaiian Shirt Refashion

This is my newest refashion! But it has a story that started 20 plus years ago. My hubby and I, my youngest sister and her hubby and my BFF and her hubby. We were planning to go to a Jimmy Buffet concert and thought we needed matching shirts. Fast forward a few years and we went to another concert, then another. When we heard he was performing in Chicago we said we were in! 

It always makes me laugh when I take selfies. Anyway, I could not show up to this concert in a shirt that looked like this. So something had to be done.

Cut off the sleeves.

Cut off the collar forming the neckline you want. Hem your new neckline. Next take in the sides. And finally give it the hem length and shape you want. I wanted mine to look more feminine so I took it up on the sides and swooped it down in the front and back.

I love it!! I'm withholding the other pictures of our family and friends in their big sloppy shirts to protect the innocent. But man oh man did we have fun! I hope you can do something just as fun this summer.

Fins to the left!

Linda

Pillow Trio Part 2



 

My last blog was how I transferred these images onto fabric. If you want to know how to sew the pillows hang around. This is what I did.

 

 

You'll need:

- sewing machine

- thread

- pins

- scissors

- fabric (I used leftovers from curtains, curtains, curtains )

- piping (cording)

- pillow forms

- button (optional)

 

For the 2 pillows I transferred images to, I cut the image fabric and the backing fabric to the size I preferred. The bigger one is 14x14 so I cut the fabric 15x15 and planned to use a 1/2 inch seam. The smaller one I didn't use a pillow form. I had some old polyester stuffing I planned to use so I cut this fabric in a size I felt matched to image also keeping in mind I needed 1/2 inch seam allowance.

 

 

Next cut a 2 inch strip of fabric to go completely around you pillow plus a couple of inches. Also cut piping the same length. Piping is really easy to make. Lay the cording in the center of the 2" strip and fold over with wrong sides together. Using a zipper foot on your sewing machine sew as close to the cording without running over it.

 

 

Sew the piping onto the fabric making sure your sewing line is 1/2 inch from the edge. When you come to the end of the piping, clip cording to meet the starting point leaving fabric longer. Fold under fabric enough to cover the starting point and continue to sew.

 

Place transfer fabric and fabric with piping right sides together.

 

Still using the zipper foot sew on the same line around the pillow leaving an opening to be able to turn it right side out.

 

Stuff with your pillow form and hand sew the opening closed.

 

If you would rather make a pillow that can be removed to wash you'll want to adjust a little. For the back still cut a piece that is 15x15. Set aside.

Now you'll need to cut two pieces that are 15x10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fold the end of each 15x10 piece under 1 1/2 inches and hem. Lay these two pieces so they slightly overlap. They will need to now measure 15x15 as a whole. Baste together at sides.

 

 

Grab the other 15x15 piece that you sewed the piping to. With right sides together sew front to back. Turn right side out by the over lapped area.

 

I found this cute button and sewed it to the outer section. It gives it the look of a real working button but it's only purpose is decoration.

 

 

This is the finishing touch to this one little corner. I hope you make something

today that makes you smile.

 

Linda

 

Back to School

Classrooms need all the room they can get. When I was asked to make book pockets for my friends private school classroom how could I say no. You already must know it's hard for me to say no. :) She had purchased some canvas in blue and khaki and her Mom gave some decorator fabric samples to aid in the project.

 

 

 

Measure the chair back it will sit on. Decide how large you want the pockets to be. One pocket on the front lower side, one pocket on the back upper end. And there you have it. Our teachers are amazing. Let's give them all the help we can!  Linda

Curtains, Curtains, Curtains!

 

This was my starting point. I saw this fabric ages ago at Hobby Lobby and thought I want curtains made from that. I put that thought on the back burner. Several months went by and I saw it in the clearance aisle and decided it was time to swoop it up before someone else did. This is laid out in my front entry because it is a great place to cut large pieces of fabric. I'm doing a simple panel for the sliding glass door. We have lived in this house for some time now and really it is time we get something up at this slider. To do yours you will need:

fabric

lining fabric

thread

tape measure

scissors

pins

sewing machine

 

I measured the area I wanted to cover, determined where the rod would hang, added a couple inches for ruffle above the rod and decided I would sew in 1/2 inch seams. The general rule of thumb is to measure the width of the window you want to cover and then double that number. Unless of course you just want a straight flat piece of fabric hanging there. I did not so I doubled the width. Go ahead and cut your fabric. Next cut your lining fabric the same size.

 

 



Pin right sides together. Mark where you want to leave open for the rod. Sew around all sides of the curtain leaving the rod pocket area open. Turn right side out and press. You can hand sew a hem in this area if you choose. Mark horizontal lines at the top and bottom of the rod pocket. Sew to create your rod pocket.

 

 

And this is the completed project. I wanted to give just a bit of privacy and leave access to the door opening. The dark colors are a good contrast to the lighter walls.

 

This is the curtain rod I bought on clearance. I am all about keeping the budget under check when doing all my projects.

 

 

I bought extra fabric and decided the other windows in the kitchen and side door needed to match. This is over the kitchen sink. I wanted something that laid more flat but had a little something special about them. I decided to make pleats in them.

 

This one is at the side door.

 

At the top of the pleats I added a little bling so I could hide my hand stitching of holding the pleats together.

 

Basically I just added enough width to iron in a pleat. I ran the rod threw the pocket. With the pleat tacked at the top on the front side only, it allows the pleat to remain in place and the rod to go all the way through.

 

I had some fabric I liked to line these two little valances. It really gives a little extra pizazz when you look at the window from outside. Find the fabric you love and give those windows some extra love with your creations!

 

 

Slipcover

This project was started before the bathroom remodel and with all the other sewing and craft projects I've been dabbling in I have finally finished it. I love this chair and ottoman. It was a splurge when I got it long ago.

As you can see the check is dated and Harper left his mark on the ottoman. In this photo I have already taken the skirts off both the chair and ottoman.

Harper is our chocolate Lab. He is a totally laid back dog. If he could talk we are pretty sure he'd say "dude" a lot. But when we first got him he was a little curious when we left him alone. Thus the damage to the ottoman.

This is Ellie. She is a sweetie and keeps Harper on his toes. They both like to be next to me when I'm working on a project. But back to the project "slipcover".

A friend of mine was working on a slipcover herself and told me her secret. She purchased these painters drop cloth from Lowes. They are 6 X 9 and have no seams. Once washed and ironed the canvas is soft and it is going to be super durable. And they were only $9.99 each. I used 4 for both the chair and ottoman.

I started with the ottoman. I measured around the top and middle of the ottoman to find the approximate length of piping needed. One at a time I laid the piping on the fabric and cut 3" wide stripes, leaving a little extra fabric at the ends.

To repair the area Harper took a bite out of I added upholstery foam the size needed then covered it with batting and then covered that with a piece of cotton fabric I had. I hand sewed this to the ottoman. I cut a piece of the painters canvas the approximate size of the top.

At this point I cut strips for the sides, sewing them at the back corners to make it look more fitted.

Piping is really easy to make. Lay the cording in the center of the 3" strip and fold over with wrong sides together. Using a zipper foot on your sewing machine sew as close to the cording without running over it.

I sewed the piping to the top piece.

Then added the side piece.

The skirt was easier as I could use the old skirt as a pattern. Measure the height. Mine was 10" that gave me 1/2" seams and hem. Now measure the pleats. This skirt was in made with pleated sections and straight sections. The pleats went where the corners are. I measured each section and cut appropriately with a 10" height. Hem your fabric after cutting. Now iron in your pleats just as they were on the original. I believe my pleats were 2 1/2" folds making the entire pleat 5". I sewed the raw edges using a zig zag stitch. you could also do an other the edge stitch or if you have a serger you could use that.  

I pinned this with right sides together right on the ottoman, making sure the piping was sewn in as I went. This would have been easier if I had sewn the piping to the skirt and then added it to the top portion.

Ottoman complete!! Now on to the chair.

I took several pictures of the cushions to remember how to put it back together. The seat and back cushion each had a zipper that I reused. Once photos were taken I started ripping the seams out. Iron the pieces and use them as patterns to cut the new fabric.

Making the piping in the same fashion as for the ottoman, sew the pieces together using the pictures taken before disassembling the original.

After the bath remodel we went on vacation to relieve all the stress from a remodel. Oh I wish we were there again. The beaches of Florida are wonderful.

Using the upholstery I cut pieces that were approximate.

Pinning right sides together to fit sew piece by piece.

I chose to make an opening down the back. Make sure these pieces are big enough to over lap a bit and to hem. I will be using buttons to close this.

The original chair did not have piping around the armrests but I felt it made a good tailored look.

This shows how I placed the slipcover on backwards to make sure it was a tight fit when pinning.

As I did with the skirt of the ottoman I made the skirt to the chair in the same manner. Sorry, I didn't take a picture of the button holes and buttons I attached. The buttons I used are 1". My machine has a button holer attachment so it makes it super easy to make them.

I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.

Remind me to tell Harper it's not food. :)