Easy Mushrooms with Sizzix Circle Dies

I'm over on the Sizzix blog today showing you how to make these really easy mushrooms with various Sizzix circle die cut sizes. You can customize them any way you'd like, to make coasters, decorative tea towels or hot pads.

I made this entire set for my swap partner when I hosted the Gnome Swap on instagram. She asked for something "gnomey" for her kitchen, and I just couldn't resist. The coasters fit perfectly in this little cross stitch box I picked up at Target. They finish at 3 1/2" wide.

 
If you want to make a cute and simple tea towel or bar towel set, do a little needle turn applique or make it quicker with raw edge applique as I did.

To make a set of hot pads - make them as quick and easy as the coasters, or treat them like mini quilts and add some fun quilting and of course binding around the edge.

Check out the tutorial over on the Sizzix blog and share your #kidgiddy mushrooms with me on Instagram or Facebook! 

Thanks for stopping by. For more info about my dies with Sizzix, check out the Sizzix Website and watch my videos on You Tube. To get the kid giddy inside scoop before everyone else - sign up for my newsletter below. Have a great weekend.

6 Weeks of Softies Guest Blogger on Sew Mama Sew

I'm excited to be a guest on the Sew Mama Sew blog today for their "6 Weeks of Softies". It's been a very long time since I was on the Sew Mama Sew blog, with my Mini Tent Tutorial (in 2011), so I'm glad to be back. Of all the options and avenues to explore for this 6 week intensive on all things Softies, I decided to gear my post towards Storytelling and Sewing. After all, my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love: 18 toy patterns for the storytelling sewist, is just that, a lot of sewing and a lot of stories. A perfect fit - right?!

F&W was kind enough to allow use of my Casco the Dolphin pattern straight from the Coastal Waters section in my Sewing Tales book - so download a copy and get sewing. It's among the five easiest patterns in my book - and can be easier if made a little larger, esp for children. I can't wait to see your dolphins, and hear all about their awesome adventures. Share your pics and stories on Instagram and tag me @kidgiddy and #kidgiddy.

Last week I was in Southern California filming some demo videos for my upcoming Sizzix dies and will share some behind the scenes pics, so check back soon.

Happy sewing and storytelling!

Camp Doll Diaries - Cooking Up Fun in the Sewing Studio

This tutorial has been a long time coming. I first designed this quick chef hat pattern for all the young women at my church to make for girls camp. I wanted to post a tutorial, and then decided to write a book instead. Many months later since then, the folks over at Doll Diaries, contacted me and wondered if I wanted to share a tutorial for all their doll diaries fans. I have two American Girl Doll fans right here in my own home, so technically, we all jumped at the chance to participate in their 2014 Camp Doll Diaries event this summer. If you are coming from the Doll Diaries site - welcome to my Kid Giddy blog. This post will show you how to make the Chef hat. If you have come to my site first - you can make your hat and then visit my Apron post on the Doll Diaries site.

Hi everyone, I'm so excited you are here. We love cooking in the kitchen, but we also love to sew. Today we are going to sew this cute chef hat, and matching apron, so pick out some cute fabric you love and let's get started.

These chef hats and aprons are fairly quick and require a little bit of previous sewing skills, or the help of someone who already sews. The cost of making your own hat and apron will be approximately $3-$5 if you already have the basics, and I will share below some many options to personalize your hat and apron.

What you'll need:
2 fat quarters (your choice of fabric - it can be white or printed) (for beginners I recommend felt for the apron, as it is easier to hand sew, and less flimsy)
2-4 buttons
36" (or 1 yard) of grosgrain ribbon (satin is not recommended)
Basics: Pencil, paper, scissors, needle, thread, pins, sewing machine (helpful but is not necessary if you can and are willing to hand sew), and an iron.

What you'll do:

Step 1: Cut your chef hat band piece to 12.5" x 3". Fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew along the short raw edge, using a 1/4" seam allowance (green band). Open the band into a circle and press open the sewn seam (purple band). Fold the band in half so the right sides are facing outward and press (blue band).

Step 2: Press the band flat with the seam at one end (green band). Fold the band in half, and each half in half again (purple band). Press the whole band (blue band) to create crease marks for ease of use in later steps. Your band should look like the navy band above. Set the band aside.

Step 3: Cut out the chef hat top using any dinner plate that is approx 34" around. If you have a circle cutter or special ruler, maybe even a protractor - by all means use what you have that is easiest. I also recommend tracing on a piece of paper first to use as a template.

Step 4: Fold the top piece in half, and then each half in half again. Press all folds so you have crease marks to match up to the bands.

Note: These next steps (5-8) will be the most challenging as it requires a lot of pins. If you have wonder clips, those may work better for younger children, as will skipping steps 5-8 and start at 10.

Step 5: Open up the top circle piece and lay it right side up. Place the band in the center, with the raw edge up, and begin to line up the crease marks on the circle to the marks on the band. Begin with both sides, the top, and bottom.

Step 6: Pin the crease marks that are in between the sides, top and bottom that you just pinned. You should now have 8 pins (or clips).

Step 7: There are now 8 sections that are going to be divided once more. Pull each section to the sides to find the center and pin in place. Repeat this step to the other 7 sections.

Your chef hat should look like this, and have 16 sections.

Step 8: Option 1 - flatten and accordion each section in the center to create a box pleat.

Your chef hat would look like this.

Step 8: Option 2 - fold over each section to the right to create a knife pleat.

Your chef hat would look like this, and would have a sort of spiral effect.

Step 9: Once you have decided which way you want to finish your hat, place the hat around the arm of the machine and stitch the raw edges of the top and the band using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 10: If you do not want to pleat your hat at all, and would prefer to gather the edge for a completely different look, switch your machine to a larger stitch length. Leave a good 3" of thread on the beginning and stitch all the way around the top using a 1/8" seam allowance, and leave a 3" tail at the end too. Gently pull on one thread at time to find the piece that will cause it to gather. One will and one won't.

Step 11: Continue to gather the top piece from both ends of the thread, and space the gatherings evenly all the way around as best you can.

Step 12: Pin the band to the inside using the crease marks as your guide (same as steps 5, 6)

Step 13: Sew the raw edge all the way around using a 1/4" seam allowance, and remove the gathering stitch to finish.

Your chef hat will look like this and have a gathered fluffy look.

If you'd like to personalize the hat or apron you could add the following:
1. Name or initials
2. Pocket on the apron (2.5" x 3")
3. Applique shapes
4. Embroidery details
5. Fabric markers, paint or tie dye
6. Felt flower embellishments

Now that you have finished sewing your hats and aprons, it's time to get cooking in the kitchen. Some of our most favorite recipes are Cherry Salad (which is Gluten free!!! and has been pinned like crazy on pinterest), Wonton Soup, and my childhood memory Fluffernutter Balls!

There are so many ways to make this chef hat and apron set just the way you want it and yummy things to whip up. I would love to see your creations, and hope you'll share them with me. Please follow and tag me on Instagram and on Twitter @kidgiddy, or visit my Kid Giddy Facebook page to post a picture of your doll's new chef attire and be sure to use the #kidgiddydolldiaries hashtag. I can't wait to hear what's cooking in your kitchen. As for ours, it's smoothies galore these days, and a few bunny grahams. Be sure to check out the other Camp Doll Diaries events to see what other fun things there are to do this summer, for all your doll fans.

Thanks so much for visiting and sewing with me. If you are new to my blog, please be sure to click the follow button on the right, sign up for my emails (clicking the link below), and all that good stuff. Happy sewing!

Busy Monday: Kid Giddy Mini Tent Tutorial

Good Morning everyone! Some of you are visiting my site for the first time - welcome...and thanks for stopping in!

I've created this fun Mini Tent Pattern and WAS being featured on the SewMamaSew blog but that website is no longer active! Download the template by clicking on the image.

What You Need:

• Mini-Tent Pattern
• Tent – Fabric A: 4 Fat Quarters or approx 1 yard
• Flooring – Fabric B: 2 Fat Quarters or approx 1/2 yard
• 4 Corner Tabs – Fabric A, B, or C: your choice scraps – cut 3 1/2″ x 1 1/2″
• 16 Tent Pole Tabs – Fabric A, B, or C: your choice scraps – cut 3″ x 2 1/2″
• 1 Ribbon – 14″ piece
• 2 Poles – 3/8″ x 30″ Faucet Connector & a sharp knife or blade to shorten
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine
• Ruler Mat
• Iron

What You Do:
Pre-wash and press all of your fabric. This will be completely washable if made with cotton, and pre-washing will prevent twisting and tugging later on.
Use all 1/4″ seam allowances, except on top stitching.
Trace pattern pieces (click image above) onto your pattern paper (connect the red and blue line for the tent sides). This is the only way it would properly print on a standard 8 1/2 x 11. BE SURE TO PLACE PIECES ON THE FOLD AS DIRECTED.
Cut out all of your tab pieces (there are no pattern pieces for these). The tent pole tabs can be a combination of two fabrics, you choose, while the corner tabs are only one fabric.
Pin the pattern pieces onto your fabric and cut your fabric accordingly. The tent flooring square should be cut to 11 1/4 x 11 1/4. You can cut more doors out of the side panels if you wish, just be sure to cut additional door frames too.

Putting Your Mini Tent Together:
Step 1: With your Door panel right side up, place the door frame right side down on top of the doorway. Stitch from one side to the other.

 Step 2: Press the frame to the inside of the tent, and top stitch that same seam.

Step 3: Sew your Tent pole tabs together. Place two pieces, right sides facing together and stitch both sides (a). Turn each piece inside out and press (b). Top stitch the side seams (c). The top and bottom are open, but they will be sewn into the tent panel seams so it’s OK.

Step 4: The image just shows that you can save time by running each tab in a continuous “running stitch.” You still need to lock in your beginning and ending stitch on each so they don’t tear apart when turning.

Step 5: Sew your corner tabs together. Lay a piece right side up (a). Fold that piece from left to right and stitch the right seam (b). Center the seam (c), and fold the sides together so the center seam is tucked inside. Stitch only one end closed (d).

Step 6: Carefully turn the corner pieces inside out. Find that center seam (a) and pull it over to one side. With a little wiggling, the corner will naturally want to be tucked in and the seam is on one side, and now looks like a little hood (b).

Step 7a: On the door panel, take a tab and fold it in half so the stitched seams are on the sides. Place the raw edge of the tab, up to the raw edge of the tent panel. You will place two tabs at the 3 inch mark, and two tabs at the 8″ mark as shown in the photo.

Step 7b: Place the corner tabs with the folded side down towards the bottom of the tent, and the opening facing the top of the tent, at the 5/8″ mark (note the red “X” marks in photo 7a).
Step 7c: Repeat steps 7a and 7b on the rear panel of the tent.

Step 8: Place one plain panel right side facing down, directly on top of the door panel. Sew only the right side seam from top to bottom, leaving 1/4″ open at the top for ribbon placement.

Step 9: Open the panel pieces, and place the other plain panel right side facing down, directly on top of the door panel. Sew the left side seam from top to bottom, leaving 1/4″ open at the top for ribbon placement. (You may notice in this picture that I forgot to put my corner tabs in… They magically appear in the next photo.)

Step 10: Place the read panel right side facing up and place the three-piece panel from Step 9, right side facing down. Line up one side and sew from top to bottom. You do not need to leave a 1/4″ open here. Repeat this step on the final edge of your tent and the top should now be complete, excluding the ribbon.

Step 11: Place the flooring right side facing up on your table and pin the top of the tent to the flooring. Carefully line up the corners and don’t pull or stretch your fabric.

Step 12: Take the other flooring piece and place it right side facing down directly on top of the whole tent. Place two pins near your tent door opening, to allow for turning it inside out. Pin the flooring in place around the entire tent, making sure to keep the corner tabs out of the way.

Step 13: Starting at one corner of the tent door opening, sew along the edge of the tent, all the way around to the other side of the tent door opening. Again, be sure your corner tabs have not been sewn into the seam!

Step 14: Turn your tent inside out through the opening. Press the opening if necessary, and top stitch this opening closed.

Step 15. Turn the tent inside out and place a piece of ribbon folded in half, up into the tip of the tent. The ends should be hanging out of the top, while the folded edge is on the inside, stitch this seam to secure the ribbon.

Step 16: CAREFULLY (adults only), trim your poles to size with a pocket knife or small blade (be sure to trim the end with the extra piece on it). One pole should be trimmed to 28″ and the other should be slightly shorter, about 27 1/2″. (One pole will sit under the other). You can cover up any printing on the poles or match them to your fabric by using duct tape. I used brown to make them look like twigs. Start at one end and twist the pole while holding the tape, and gently work your way up. Do not over wrap or the pole will not fit in through the tabs.

Step 17: Place both poles in through their tabs.

Step 18: Place two ends into their corner tabs. Then gently bend the poles to insert the opposite ends into their corner tabs.

Step 19: (not pictured) Tie the ribbon up around the two poles and you are finished.

I have some more REALLY exciting news coming in the next couple of weeks - but until then, I've got some thumb cover orders to sew up and ship out to customers that have been patiently waiting while I worked on the previously mentioned exciting news!

If you are new to my blog, stay a while, have a look around and enjoy! I hope you find something yummy to whip up or fun to make for yourselves! And I hope you'll click the follow button for even more exciting things to come later this year!

If you are not so new to my blog - welcome back and thanks again for stopping in! Talk to you all soon! Feel free to share info below and also on Instagram by tagging me @kidgiddy. This pattern is copyright protected and should not be copied as your own for your own website, esp without due credit.