How to Make a CD Case

Remember these handmade dvd/cd cases from awhile ago? I have finally made a tutorial for those of you who had asked for my pattern. Here is how I make them... First, iron your fabric and fold it so right sides are facing. You'll need about 11 inches by 13 inches worth of fabric (before folding it). Cut out a paper pattern using the dimensions below: Use the pattern as your guide for cutting your fabric to the perfect dimensions. Once the fabric is cut, pin it together. Sew around the outside with a half inch seam allowance. Don't forget to leave a two inch gap on the long side, just about an inch below the highest corner. Tip: When you reach the corner, before turning, leave the needle down, lift the foot and turn the fabric, then place the foot back down and begin sewing the new side. Don't forget to reinforce with a backward stitch right before and right after every turn. The photos above and below are my weak attempt at showing my corner turns. Hopefully it makes sense? Before flipping the fabric right side out, you'll want to trim the corners with a scissors. See below... Turn right side out. And poke out the corners using a sharp tool. This is a good time to test for size. Use a cd to figure out how far over you want to fold the fabric. Iron the fold and pin... Stitch the two sides leaving an eighth of an inch seam allowance. And ta-da! You're done! Put a cd of your favorite music in it and wrap it up for someone special.  

If you have questions about this tutorial, please let me know via comment or email and I'll do my best to help you. Happy sewing everyone...

A Finishing Touch

I was commissioned by my mother to make twelve dvd cases this week... One for her and one for each of her eleven siblings. These provide a delightful finishing touch to a burned cd or dvd...  

I am only halfway done...six down and six to go. Yes, above only five of the completed six are visible (in case you were concerned with my counting abilities)...  

My scrap fabric is proving to be quite handy indeed. And I'm thankful for the extra bit of sewing practice.  

I confess I had to make a few trial cases before I got the measurements just right.  

Once I had it figured out, I fashioned a pattern out of a thick piece of paper. If I follow the pattern exactly, I end up with uniform dimensions for each case (a happy fact for any perfectionist...).

 

If you'd like to try making some of your own just let me know and I'll send you the measurements I'm using.  

I love how this one turned out... The selvage edge is showing a bit and I love the character it adds. This post feels so wonderfully crafty. My goal is to finish the remaining six cases today. I'm getting faster...

Two In One

This is a two-in-one post. I was feeling artsy today and decided to put on a fun little outfit and paint my nails when I suddenly realized it was Wednesday. So first, this is a What I Wore Wednesday post. And...

Second, this is a little show-and-tell post. I have never been a huge fan of the towel-topper towel until I made these lovelies per my mother-in-law's request. She loves towel-topper towels, and thought it might be a simple thing to make if I was struggling for gift ideas for her this Christmas. Little does she know I took her up on it!

 

And back to the outfit. Aren't hats just the best? The ones I especially swoon over have that wide brimmed feminine look. Unfortunately, I haven't yet mustered up the courage to wear one of those in public, much less to buy one I know I may never wear. 

 

The buttons on these darling towel-topper towels come from my huge collection passed down by my mom. I could probably make a thousand or so towels and still have buttons left over.

 

My ring is a Feminine. Unique. New. design and is reminding me that I need to make more of them to wear and share with others. 

 

Before I say my farewell, here's a quick peek at the back. Cute, no?

I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy today so if you're in the mood you can check out some other What I Wore Wednesday outfits!

Happy almost Christmas everyone...

Playing With Scraps

Scraps. I love scraps. This is some fabric I had leftover from a shirt I made almost a year ago. It was time to play with it.

I started with a sketch of this little tank dress. 

 

I did my ironing, my measuring, my cutting, my pinning, and started to sew...

The result? 

The Front really ended up being the back, and I only made one strap that I braided and then attached to create a halter style top. I also ended up hating the length because the fabric was too unforgiving. So I cut off about 6 inches and made it into a tank top and then put it on, tucked it in, and covered it with a jacket. 

 Every time I begin a project I always think "Oh this one for sure is going to turn out just like I plan." Nope, hasn't happened. Not once.

Feminine and Flirty

Tonight I asked my dear husband to take me out for a photo shoot. The first place we stopped had way too many people walking about which made me nervous and uncomfortable and very inhibited. Ridiculous of me but true. The second location was actually the backdrop to a cemetery and was wonderfully quiet and peaceful. Much more conducive to my relaxation and modeling creativity. Here is the result of our excursion. 

 

 This outfit was inspired by the completion of the sheer top you see in the photographs. It's one of my own recently finished designs. The truth is that it turned out quite differently than my original sketch, and sewing it presented new challenges due to the quickly fraying fabric. Looking at the photos I'm still not sure I'm happy with how it lays exactly, but when I put it on I feel romantic and sweetly feminine. What do you think?

 

I love tights with heels. Beautiful for the fall.

 

The glasses actually belong to James. I like to borrow them every now and then to make an "artsy statement." Someday I'd love to have my own prescription put into lenses like these. 

 

Below is a picture from the first location we stopped at. The sunshine was beautiful but unfortunately too many other people thought so too. 

I wonder, do any of you struggle with modeling in public locations? Maybe it's just me but I feel incredibly awkward taking pictures of my outfit when strangers are watching. I like to think of it as an exercise in confidence building. 

Hope you've all had a wonderful week! Love and God bless. xoxo,

Scarf Tutorial as Promised

Circle Scarf Ingredients:

3/4 yards of fabric 54'' in width (from selvage to selvage)

or 1.5 yards (54") any width cut to 27" would be even better!

Matching thread or non-matching if you wish

Fabric Scissors

Measuring tape

Sewing Machine (or just a needle if you're going to hand-sew)

Needle

Fabric pencil or chalk

To be completely honest, the fabric I bought is a decorating fabric and so is of the 54" wide variety. It was pricier than I expected so to save money I bought only 3/4 of a yard. If you choose to do this, you'll have to follow this tutorial from Step 1 to the finish. If you found a fabric you loved and were able to buy a whole yard and a half no problem, then you can join me at Step 4 and follow along to the finish.

Step 1

Fold your fabric in half from selvage edge to selvage edge and iron a crease.

Use your fabric pencil to trace the crease and then your scissors to cut on the line.

This will divide your material into two equal pieces with a selvage edge on each piece.

Step 2

Place your two pieces right sides facing each other. (Important: Your selvage edges should not be touching.)

Step 3.

Pin and sew from one selvage edge to the other selvage edge leaving a .75" seam allowance. This will give you one long piece of fabric. It should be nearly 54" long now and 27" wide.

Step 4.

Fold the fabric in half right sides facing so when it's folded and laying flat it looks like it is 54" long and only 13ish" wide. Match up the seams you made earlier for the cleanest look. It helps to iron down those seam wings as you see in the photo below.

Step 5.

Pin and sew the long edge leaving a .75" seam allowance. When you finish with Step 5 you should have a long tunnel of fabric wrong side out.

Step 6.

Start pulling one end of the tunnel through to line up with the other end so that right sides of the fabric are facing. This is a difficult step to explain so if you have a question feel free to ask me in a comment or in an email (feminineuniquenew@gmail.com).

Step 7.

Pin and sew together leaving a 3" gap. I like to put pins in an x at the point where I need to stop sewing. This way I don't accidentally sew my scarf shut!

Step 8.

Through the gap pull the scarf slowly right side out. After this step your scarf is nearly finished with the exception of the 3" hole along that seam line.

Step 9.

Blind stitch by hand the small opening closed. 

Step 10.

Iron if you wish... or be done. You can wear it hanging long or wrapped around twice. Either way you'll love it! 

Happy sewing everyone...

To visit other creative spaces click here.

Loving Circle Scarves Anyone?

Hope you'll stop back to see it. And maybe even make your own!

Yellow & Delightful

I finished another dress today! This style is similar to my Crochet & Red Cotton Design, but has a zipper and some different detailing in the bodice. Plus the skirt is longer and has a more tapered cut. 

 

Love that pinch of green in my closet.

 

The zipper was a nightmare. It reminded me how much I really don't know about sewing. But I am learning and I am gaining experience and I'm not giving up anytime soon. And the seam ripper is a life saver many times over!

 

Below is a close-up of my zipper attempt. Beauty is in imperfection right? What you can't see is the sloppy right side. This picture is making it look better than it appears in real life. Nonetheless, I will wear it proudly.

That concludes my creativity for the day. This is a creative spaces post. To see more by others visit here.

Blessings friends. And a good night...