"R" is for Ruffles

Ruffled pouches.

 Perfect for Mom, for the pool or beach, anywhere to keep all those small important things contained:

I was inspired by Maggie's post here at Midwestern Sewing Girl.

She gives a great tutorial on how to make a ruffled clutch.

I loved Maggie's idea because it doesn't involve a zipper!

Who wants to sew in a zipper?

I used leftover pieces of drop cloth here, the finished size is about 8"l x 7"h.

Here's how I made the pouches:

1. Cut fabric: 2 pieces for exterior, 2 interfacing, 2 lining - all same size (mine are about 9" x 8")

ruffle piece: 2 x your length  by 1 1/2" wide (cut on bias)

velcro: equal to your length

2. Iron on interfacing to wrong side of exterior fabric, sew on ruffle about 1/3 from bottom edge:

3. Sew velco onto right side of lining pieces:

4. Sew lining pieces (right sides together) on sides and bottom edge leaving about 4" open on bottom edge:

5. Sew exterior pieces (right sides together) on sides and bottom edge:

6. Snip corner seams to get nice points.

7. Turn exterior piece right side out and place into lining, line up side seams and pin around top edge:

8. Sew all around top edge.

9. Pull exterior piece out through open hole in bottom edge of lining piece:

10. Sew bottom edge of lining shut.

11. Ease lining into pouch, pressing top edge seam smooth.

12. Sew around top edge for finished look.

Thanks Maggie for a great idea.

Over our Easter vacation I was able to make a few:

I raided my mom's fabric stash and borrowed her machine to make these:

I used bias tape (ironed flat) to make the ruffle.

A quick, easy and very useful sewing project.

I'm linking up to:

             

"H" is for Horse

A rocking horse makeover.

Aunt B had given this rocking horse to girl #1 and #2 for Christmas a few years back:

My girls were little then and loved the rocking horse but now they're big and the poor horse deserves some attention.

The horse was actually in very good condition but it did have my girls names painted on the rockers.

I decided to give it a makeover so Aunt B can have it for her daughter Lily.

Here's the process:

1. Tape back mane and tail, remove ears and rope bridle.

2. Sand.

3. Paint with two coats Behr off white.

4. Paint pink polka dots and name:

5. Sand again to distress.

6. Stain with Minwax antique brown.

7. Seal with clear satin poly.

8. Attach new sisal rope for bridle and new leather ears:

9. Brush out yarn mane and tail, trim and add bow (tied and hot glued) to tail:

Now she's a show pony!

A few detail shots:

One last side by side:

Giddy up Lily!

I'm linking up to: