SWANTS!!

I came across a brilliant idea, and I had to copy it.  

http://westknits.com/index.php/2013/11/swants-tutorial/

I saw these; and, I really "SWANTED" some. Swants make for great family photos. Pictures by Jeff Archibald jcarchibald@hotmail.com

TRAMPOLINE NET REPAIR

Trampoline nets tend to only last three years before you need to buy a new one.  Here is the way I repair mine before the holes get too big.  We are on year two.

My nice holes.

 I use a small crochet hook and nylon thread.  I loop over the end to get it started, letting my thread be doubled to make it stronger.

I start two squares above the hole.  Chain three stitches. I hook the crochet hook around the next square down. Chain three again and hook it around the next square until you have gone two squares below the hole. Pull thread through and cut.  Complete all down chains first then crochet one(s) across if needed.

Clear as mud!  We shall see if I can get it to last longer than 3 years!

CHEAP WINTER POOL COVER

 Winter Pool Covers don't come cheap.  I decided to think outside the box; and, not purchase one from the pool store. Instead I bought a Harbor Freight tarp that was half the price.  Bought dollar store rope and tied the tarp to my fence. 

Don't forget to measure your pool first.  I ended up sewing two tarps together, but probably

didn't need too since I ended up with a lot of extra at the diving board.

I'll let ya know how it went at the 

end of winter.  We will see if it lasts more than one year too!

HANDME DOWN UPCYCLE

A cute little old lady gave me this 80's dress for my daughter.  It was missing one waist tie.

We decided to upcycle it.  I split the remaining tie and made two.  We added a cute crochet doily.

 I found some hand crochet trim and added that.

I inserted elastic in the sleeves to make them gathered and poofy.

The end product, a super cute non 80's dress.

EASY SHIRRED DRESSES 

My mom bought me 1/2 yard of preshirred fabrics for my girls, and said, "Work your magic."

She bought white ribbon...I think to make straps.

So step one was to measure and sew a CB seam.  Next measure ribbon for shoulder straps and sew. You could quit here....but I didn't like it and needed more style. 

I took the extra fabric that was left over.  Sewed a rolled hem on the unfinished edge and sewed it on top of my premeasured white ribbon to make cute mini sleeves.  Notice she is wearing a shirt under it....She said the shirring was itchy.

My oldest said my youngest was crazy, and it isn't itchy.

I added lace to hers, and did not use the white ribbon.

Pretty stylish and super cinchy :) Have fun sewing!

DELICATE HOLE REPAIR

 A nice hole in a cute dress.

 Find a scrap of fabric similar to the weight and color of the fabric you are repairing a hole in.  Cut a same size piece of "whisper weft" or interfacing with glue on both sides.

Place whisper weft in between both layers of fabric and iron it.  Make sure the glue on the interfacing melts to hold the two layers left.  You can leave it like this without any sewing, but if you plan on washing the item a lot I would recommend sewing one set of stitches around the edges going with the grain.

Good as new!

BABY BOY BLESSING OUTFIT

My girls were blessed in this same dress.  My mother crocheted the amazing pineapple dress.  I did not want my baby boy to be blessed in a dress, or just in a plain fabric outfit.  I wanted there to be crocheting in it, but not too tacky.  Here is what I came up with.

Only $2.99 for the suspender parts at Savers.  Joann's wanted $8.00 for two clips and didn't have all the needed pieces.

The completed single crochet suspenders.  I added elastic on the bottom for stretch.

Can't find white pants?  No worries, just buy some girl's ones and remove the girl part. Take the legs in to make skinny jeans :)

Single crochet bow tie. 

Single crochet shoes.  I traced his foot, and then made up a pattern to fit.

My perfect little man.

I love this guy!!

I used this crochet pattern for his hat, but I made up more rows since I used a smaller yarn. http://www.mooglyblog.com/boys-cabled-golf-cap-pattern/  I also inserted plastic in the brim to make it stiff. (A cut up plastic egg carton.)