I really must start blogging more lol

So I know I always say this, but I MUST start blogging more lol. In all reality, I think I want to get away from selling boutique clothing for a while. I have too much other stuff going on in my life right now, and I feel like I am always trying to sneak away. To sneak away when my husband isint paying attention and package orders, to sneak away when my kids are playing to cut out fabric, to get them to nap time early and get upstairs to work on orders. I feel like I am stretched TOO FAR and too thin. Four kids is a lot! Not saying I dont love having four, I do... BUT I want to spend time with them. So I am thinking maybe less time sewing for money and more time loving on them and sewing for them is what I need. So I think think this time you really will see more of me here lol. Its time to do something for ME.

Now, moving on.... I recently got my first DSLR! I am thrilled and I love it sooo much! I am already asking santa for a 50mm 1.8 lens lol. Just what I needed, another expensive hobby haha. But I have spent tons of time online reading and trying to learn to use the camera. There is so much to learn about manual shooting (bc I refuse to use the auto settings, there's no point in having one if I am gonna do that :P) But in short, I will leave you with a few pics from my new camera, and a promise to be more blog active - FOR REAL this time haha!

Thanksgiving Tunic

I decided to get an early start on my girls Thanksgiving dresses/outfits since I got Halloween done way ahead of time (Im already thinking Christmas dresses too lol) and I got this BEAUTIFUL idea in my mind and couldn't get it out, so here it is. Again, they are watermarked Emmy Lou bc thats my shop name. Im in love with this dark rich brown fabric. It has a thicker more fancy feel to it than regular woven cotton. Id be lying to you if I said I remembered what it was called though :( Sadly, my husband was rushing me through Hobby Lobby and I just grabbed it off the wall. But it was perfect. And this cream was the perfect coordinate considering the wheat embroidery I was planning to add to the bodice with GOLD metallic embroidery thread (my first time using it btw and it went amazingly well!) I got the embroidery design from Urban Threads. I have a sick obsession with their designs. And this shows you exactly why! Look at that perfect stitch out!

 So when I was walking out I passed this gold ribbon that is really for decor but i just pull the wire out and use it in bows, and I grabbed it bc I knew it would match the gold glitter trim around the bottom (also Hobby Lobby... everything here is Hobby Lobby lol). SO I made a bow with that glitter ribbon lined with a piece of brown ribbon I already had at home. And this is the result!! Oh, and this is the Lazy Susan pattern from Brownie Goose. My first time making it but it WONT be my last bc this is TO DIE FOR CUTE! Also the tights Emmy has on under the tunic are gold and from Wal-Mart! <3

Scallop Shorts Tutorial

At this point I have realized my blog will always be random and I will post what I can when I can lol. SO please just bear with me. Also Emmy Lou is my shop name thats why its watermarked that way. Anywho, I have been wanting to make my girls some scalloped shorts FOREVER. I just keep putting it off. But today I decided to do it, and I am going to show you how. You can pretty much use any shorts pattern you already have. I used this free one from the Calia Made blog bc I already knew I liked the fit on my daughter :) But you can use whatever one you want... OR you can trace a pair of shorts your little one already has and add seam allowance. Whatever works for you.

Now you will want to add length to your shorts pattern. See here i added about 3in to the length of the shorts to make room for your scallops. MAKE SURE to add the same amount to BOTH pattern pieces or it will not work. Add your length and cut out your pieces. I am providing the template I used for my scallops BUT if you want bigger scallops just zoom in some with your printing or draw your own. Or do whatever you want lol. But make sure you add the appropriate amount of length to make it work. So cut that out too.

Now cut out your fabric pieces and make sure they are nice and pressed and assemble them according to your patterns instructions, but do not add the waist elastic yet or hem the legs. When you get to this point just serge or zig zag stitch along the bottom of your legs.


Take your shorts right side out and fold up the bottom hems just enough to make sure you can fit your scallops, like this.

 Press them nice and crisp and then take a fabric marker and trace the scallops around the bottom of the shorts. Make sure where you have to restart the pattern that everything lines up and if it doesn't make sure the unperfect parts are on the inside along the inseam lol where no one should be looking.

Now after you have done both, sew along the lines you have just drawn. It is somewhat figidity but, it makes it easier if you stop at each point, pick up the presser foot, and pivot the fabric in the direction you want to go. So do that to both legs.

Now you want to clip your seam allowances and cut out each point. MAKE SURE you do not cut your stitches, it will suck if you do lol. Clip a lot bc pretty much everything here is a curve.

Now, flip your scallops right side out and your flap should be to the inside. Push out all your scallops. It will be kinda hard, I found it easier to press each one as i pushed it out. Still they weren't perfect lol but Emmy wont care. I also sprayed some starch and gave them all a good press together once I was done with that. Now, take them to the machine and top stitch along each scallop. Again its easier to pick up your foot at each point and pivot the fabric. Now you are almost done. just flip the shorts wrong side out and sew down along that flap like you would a normal hem, then add your elastic and VOLIA!

 Scallop shorts for your little!!! <3

The Fiona Suspender Shorts

I wanted to share a new pattern (like released TODAY kinda new!) that I tested, the Fiona Suspender Shorts from HoneyDew Kisses Patterns. This was my first pattern from this designer and I am happy to say it was a very well written pattern with great instructions and photos. I really like that it was very neat and professional looking. Best of all, I LOVE the shorts I created with it. There are so many options for this pattern. Flutters on the straps, a bow on the front or back, and even just shorts with no suspenders. I went with the shorts with suspenders and no flutters or bow and my girls LOVED THEM! They fought over them lol. So click HERE if you would like to buy the pattern - WHICH IS ON SALE RIGHT NOW - so... you really need it haha and here are my Fiona shorts!

How to create rolled hems with a serger

I know this has been addresed over and over again, but I still see people asking all the time and it wont hurt to have one more persons method out there so here it is... MY ROLLED HEM RECIPE!

These are my settings. You dont need to see the setting for the left needle since you will remove it, and dont forget to take that stitch finger out as well! And on the side all my settings are set to R!

And just like that this is what my rolled hems look like. Way less scary than it seems, I promise! I also always see a lot of people asking how to finish a rolled hem of things like the leg of shorts. What I do is simply clip the tail, serge over an inch or two past where i started, clip that tail, and dab some fray check on it. Thats it! I hope that makes it a little easier for you guys and I have included a video HERE that I made just in case you are more visual! Good luck!

I LOVE A POLICE OFFICER

Ok, I know I have been inactive for a while, and my plan was to come back next week with a bunch of fun things, but after the week I have had I really need to address something, and I think I will do it here. First, let me say if you're a grammar freak or... whatever, get over it. This is my blog of my random thoughts - not a college essay. Anyway, This week I have not been able to look farther than my own nose without seeing a police bashing article, news clip, video, fb post, IG photo, etc bashing police. Being that I am an LEO wife it does get to me, but normally I am able to pass it by and ignore. But this week has been different. This week has been TOO MUCH. My own news feed has been filled with this stuff. That means its MY people are sharing it. My friends.... or..... fb acquaintances. And its been too much. And now I want to say something. So here it is.

 First off, I have no idea what happened this week with that shooting. Sort of like how you dont know what happened either (bc you werent there - and if you were there... please forgive me... or not) only I am willing to admit it and NOT willing to speculate. But I have read all these posts and threats and hateful comments and bashing marathons and all these horrible things about police officers.. and I simply cant hold my tongue anymore. I WILL NOT let you group my husband into a place where he DOES NOT FIT. Not all police are the same. Just like not all people or dogs or trees or doctors or teachers or children or friends or foods or snowflakes..... are the same, but somehow thats easier to understand. Or so it seems. I can not take anymore HATRED spewed at my husband for what he IS NOT. And since he is not one to brag, and never has been.... I am going to take this time to tell you what he IS.

 My husband IS the policeman who gave an elderly man in town his personal number so he didnt have to keep calling the police every day bc he "heard people under his mobile home" so they would come check it out and he would have someone to talk to bc he had no family and was lonely. Now he always has someone to listen.

 My husband IS the policeman who goes to my sons school in uniform every day that he has down time to bring a sense of security to the school, and to get children more comfortable with officers in uniform and asking them for help.

 My husband IS the policeman who took it upon himself to become a consistent presence in the life of a 13 year troubled boy who was struggling with drug use whose parents were having a hard time dealing with him.

 My husband IS the policeman who stayed out way after his shift ended to help locate this boy when he ran away despite the fact that he hadnt slept in days.

 My husband IS the policeman who people in the neighborhood look for and knock on our door when any issue arises. He goes, and helps... EVERY TIME. Despite it being his ONLY off time. Bc like most police officers, the only difference to him from when he IS in uniform and when he isint... is that hes getting paid to help you (and not much mind you). Bc hes going to help you weither hes on shift or not.

 My husband IS the police officer who ripped off a car door, broke car seats, and pulled a man from a submerged car, and out of the water, and preformed cpr, while bleeding, in attempt to save the man.

Honestly, I could on like this all day. But I wont. Just please consider the fact that not all police are the same. Dont make me feel like I give my husband to you every day for nothing. Dont make me feel like I sleep alone, do homework alone, bathe kids alone, clean house alone, go grocery shopping alone, watch movies alone, and send my husband out to help and protect people who cant even appreciate it..... for NOTHING. PLEASE for the love of god tell me you see them...... tell me you can see... THE GOOD ONES.

Whimsy Couture Vintage Baby Romper

I needed something to make my girls for beach pics when we go on vacation and when I saw this romper I knew it was PERFECT!

Everyone knows the best beach pics are in white and khaki, right? Or did I make that up? LoL Either way.... I LOVE these colors together! The pattern comes in sizes 3m-6 in girls and can be found HERE!

Emmy had a lot of fun taking these pics, I mostly just followed her around and let her run.

The bodice on this romper is perfect for adding a center ruffle, or applique, anything to make it your own!

The pattern comes with only three printable pieces. The rest are measurements, which we all know I prefer! So I was pretty happy about that! And as always with Whimsy Couture, the instructions and pictures were clear and easy to follow! There are are no buttons, no zippers, nothing tricky! The romper slips right on and off with elastic casings in the back and shoulder straps, which makes it very easy to take off to potty (and comes with instructions for snap crotch if you prefer!).

So there it is :) I hope you all love this new romper as much as I do!

CKC sew along day FOUR

Hey everyone! Sorry we skipped day three lol all the bad weather here set me back a day. Good news though, not much rain today and all the flood waters have started to recede. Anywho, lets get with it.

Once again I am sorry for the poor lighting in the pics, I did them all in my kitchen at night and the light sucks there lol.

First, lets look at yesterday's steps for the Jeffrey. I like my button holes to be extra sturdy so when I sewed my bib together I added a piece of interfacing here along the top where the button holes will be. You can see that here.

After that I assembled my bib and straps according to the pattern!

For the Tegan I didnt take a photo of yesterday's steps but I did them just as the pattern said :)

Now, on to today. For the Jeffrey I wanted to change up my pocket a bit because I wanted to put his name on it. Some of you know I said I don't like to put my children's names on their clothing because I am afraid a stranger will call to them by the name they see on them and my kids will come thinking this person must know them. BUT baby Josh is only 5 (ish) months old so hes not coming no matter what lol. So I changed my pocket to suit my needs. I made the 3-6m size and I cut two pieces 3.5X5.35in and sewed them wrong sides together leaving a gap to turn, clipped my corners, turned, pressed, and top stitched along the top, closing my gap. I know pockets were not supposed to be added at this point but I wanted to do mine now bc i thought that would make it easier to line up. So I hooped stabilizer (pretend I didnt waste all that stabilizer lol it was a piece I had cut for my 5x7 hoop that didnt fit so I just stuck it on there) used adhesive spray to hold the fabric in place in the middle and then pinned all around. You can see that here.

Now to attache my pocket I just sewed around the two sides and the bottom leaveing the top open and then attached the shorts just like the pattern called for!

For the Tegan I did the steps just like the pattern again today lol I'm following the rules for once. I picked a rayon challis for my main skirt fabric because I think it will look cool with the bubble effect though! So I did change SOMETHING lol. Now don't forget to post your pics in the event today! See yall tomorrow!

CKC sew a long day TWO

Today is day two of our sew along with ckc. If you haven't joined in yet you can still find us in my sewing group HERE. So, lets get started!

Not too much going on today with the Tegan. Just button loops and straps. Pretty straight forward. I meant to mention the pattern materials dont actually say you will need elastic thread and I should have mentioned that before now but I forgot. So I hope you have some lol

Here are my completed pieces for today. If you dont have the ability to do a rolled hem, Add half an inch to your width on your sleeve strips and fold each long side down a quarter inch and then in another quarter inch and sew it down. 

And if you want to see a close up of the shirring here it is. If you dont know how to shirr there are many tutorials out there but I found one video for you HERE.

For the Jeffrey today, we are making the shorts and cuffs. I sew my cuffs on a little differently and I will show you how here. Please excuse my photos the inside light SUCKS and I it was dark when I did these. 

Here is a picture of the shorts and cuffs sewn together. I did this just as the pattern called for.

 

Here is where I switch it up. I like the seams to be enclosed so that they dont show. So instead of sewing the cuffs to the right side of the shorts, I pin and sew them to the WRONG side. Like you see here in my photos.

Now, I just turn the shorts right side out and fold the cuffs up the way they should look. Notice how the inside of my leg looks. No exposed seam. 

This is what it looks like inside the cuff.

Now I press them and make them stay in place and they look like this. Notice one of my cuffs was taller than the other lol I went back and fixed that but forgot to take a picture after lol SO pretend it looks right!

Now I just sew a vertical line up each side  of the cuff in the crotch and on the side outside like this to hold the cuff in place. 

There it is! We are done for today! And if anyone remembers my Rayana rompers that I did with the cuffs, I do those cuffs the same way! I know a few of you asked about that. Alright yall, see you tomorrow and dont forget to post your pics in the event on Sew & Tell!