DIY Bugaboo Canopy and Seat liner for just over $2.00!!

After I made my first Bugaboo Cameleon Hood I decided I wanted to make another, along with a matching seat liner.  It seems like my son always manages to get snacks under the seat so I wanted to get something that would keep the snacks out, and be super cute. 

All fabrics used on this set are vintage that I purchased from a huge donation made to the thrift store I volunteer at.  Vintage denim and blue and white cotton make for this perfect "tshirt and jeans" Cameleon set. 

I need to do a bit more work on the 1 piece seat liner template in order to recreate a tailored fit.  My template didn't fit and I adjusted the liner without adjusting the template.  To make this, I combined the designs from the original Bugaboo seat fabric and footmuff.  What do you think? 

I have a great response out in public and I am really pleased with the result. 

The details
Demin - $0.99
Cottom - $0.99
Binding - Approx. $0.10
Total cost? Under $2.50 including tax and supplies!

Multi-use fabric box.

My latest sewing project was a fabric box.  I tried to document most of the construction for you so you can also attempt it yourself.  I've seen other tutorials online but decided to fashion my own because I knew I wanted to sew handles right into mine, instead of on to it.  Currently I am looking for creative ways to store my sons things, the first fabric box is for books, the next will be for those giant legos.  That one will have a lid so I will post that one when I am finished.

I got to planning....

My rough plan.  I have found that if you plan things out first and think a few steps ahead you will always have a neater finish.  It's definitely a good habit to have, I know as I have unfinished projects and projects I have had to re-work because I was too hasty.

1.  Cut 5 13''X13'' squares in 1 color for the outside, and the same in another color for the inside of the
box.  That's 10 squares total.
2.  Cut 5 12''X12" squares of interfacing.

• 2A. If you are going to embellish the sides, do so now.  I created a book and a sign that says "Books" for my box.  I toyed with the idea of sewing on contrasting circles to create polka dots.  Be creative.  This is where you will add your personal touch. 

3. It would be helpful to iron on the interfacing before you start sewing the squares together. (Which I did not: Hasty)

4.  Sew both outer and inner layer of  squares into "t" shapes.










5.  Line up the "t's" and start on the handles.

6.  With right sides together, so up all the side of the "t" so that both the inside and the outside layers are sewn into boxes.  (See my drawing: A to B, C to D, E to F and G to H)

7.  Match up all the seams of both inner and outer layers and top stitch over them starting on the bottom.  Then top stitch from the bottom of the box, up to the opening of the box.  This will help the box hold it's shape and stand even without anything inside of it.






8.  Fold the top of the the box and top stitch all the way around. 

After writing out the instructions, I realized I do not have enough pictures.  Not to worry!  I plan to make another box so I will add in the photos accordingly. 
Thanks for looking! I hope you know that you can easily make a fabric box for whatever your uses, just as easy.  Be sure you comment with your fabric box. 








The details:
The inner blue fabric was from freecycle and left over from this project.
The brown fabric was from my old floor cushions, which I cut apart and used the above project.  Recycling the recycling!  The lighter fabrics were from a pants I cut apart and left over canvas from this project.  The interfacing was from the thrift store I volunteer at for $0.99 and I did not use all of it.  Total spent: approximately $0.75! 

Until next time!

Finished custom shirt for under $3.00!!

Here is the where what and why.

Where (did I get my supplies)? Thrift stores of course!  The fabric was vintage and donated to the thrift store I volunteer at along with ALOT of other fabric so I scored it at the huge fabric sale that they arranged.  The piece was 1 and a quarter yard for $1.99.  The buttons were from an assorted bag of buttons I picked up at another thrift store for $3.99.  I used much less then half so I'm going to say I used about $0.75 of the buttons.  The pattern I worked from was from a book I rented from the library so that was free.  The time/learning was priceless :-P

What (is it)?  The pattern was originally for a shift dress.  I took all my measurements and based on the books suggestions of my body type, the shift dress would be most flattering to my (very oddly shaped :-P) figure.  I got to work knowing I was going to alter it into a shirt.  There was also some extra alterations suggested to make the American Pastoral dress.  I just added and subtracted from there.

Why (did I make this)? Like my previous post and above paragraph states, my oddly shaped figure.  Okay okay, maybe it isn't so oddly shaped as ready to wear clothing is cut to 1standard to get it out as fast and cheap as possible.  MANY of us have issues with ready to wear,  and most clothing can be remedied with a few alterations.  I have already started altering some of my clothes but decided I wanted to do something from scratch.  This adds another "why?"  When I was volunteering at the thrift store, getting the fabric ready for the big sale, I got to speak with some of the other volunteers.  Most, okay all, were from another time.  A time when making your own clothes was cheaper then buying off the rack.   In high school, they made all their own clothes.  I envied them, they grew up in a time when sewing skills were not only taught, but necessary.  It really inspired me so I got to work on my sons hoodie right away and knew I wanted to start on clothing from scratch.

Here is my first attempt at a shirt from scratch tailored for my body.  It took several hours of adjusting, trying and retrying on, sewing and resewing.  The muslin I used to check my pattern was free from freecycle.

My estimated costs? Under $3.00 with tax!

In some other news, the weather is amazing and this is just the ultimate feel good tune.  Until next time... :-)

P.S Interested in new show about a sewing competition?
Check out The Great British Sewing Bee, the full season is currently up on youtube.

Quick update...shirt making!

Just a quick update here.  I have been working on and off and learning my way around making myself a shirt.  I have an annoying shirt size and no shirt ever fits right off the rack.
It's taking me a pretty long time because A) I never made a shirt before B) My health and motherhood have been completely exhausting and C) I deviated from a basic pattern that did not include how to do a collar, or cuffs.  I didn't really think about that at the time, but now it seems very odd.

Anyway here is my progress.

 Mock sleeve with tailored placket cuff.  My first try at attempting this.  I gave myself a grade of "B" because I understand how to do it, but I could have paid attention to the details.  I looked at a sewing book from the library, as well as a current shirt that I  own.  The book did not include specific details about measurements so I took the measurements from my shirt.

Peter pan collar.  Was a little off center but since I only pinned it, I was able to unpin it and get it centered better.  I am not loving the point at which it will be joined with buttons but, the pattern was too basic and did not include any information on attaching a proper collar.

Since there wasn't any information on the pattern I was stuck for a long time trying to figure out how to attach a collar, today it just came to me out of no where, after having no luck finding any good tutorials online.  Even though there was a basic pattern it seemed to only cover 40% of what I needed to do.  The other 60% was anticipating what needed to be done and learning it on my own.  At least I am learning though, right? :-)

The fabric was purchased from the thrift store I volunteer at for $1.99 so I hope to have a, thrifty priced, wearable shirt when it's done.  I will post the final product when I am finished!