Maxi Skirt, my first sewing project for me!

I am loving my new sewing machine! After making Caden some shorts, I made myself a maxi skirt! It seriously took about 30 minutes and was very easy. I bought some cute, stretchy, on the expensive side, fabric from JoAnn's. Since I spent $16 on the fabric after my coupon, I really didn't want to mess this up. I took a skirt that fits me around the waste. I laid it over the fabric. I cut a little extra around it on the sides. I then laid on top of the fabric to measure how long I am. I'm sure there are other ways to do this. Then I finished cutting the skirt out. I sewed along the one edge inside out. Then I put it on to check how long to make it. I hemmed the bottom. Then I put the skirt on and folded the waist in. I sewed two stitches to secure the waist. Since the fabric is stretchy, I didn't need elastic. I just made my own waist band using the skirt itself. This was a fast and fun project! I think I'll wear it to church on Sunday.

What do you think? I think I'm going to either make another skirt or try making some yoga pants. I bought some black stretchy fabric as well.

Lay the skirt you own on top of the folded fabric

Cut in the shape you want

Turn inside out and line up the edges and pin

I pinned the bottom and did the same with the top to hold the fabric in place

All done! It is the perfect length with my boots, which I'm not wearing.

First clothes- son's shorts and my skirt

How I sewed boys shorts without a pattern

I made my first clothing item for my son today! I made him a pair of shorts. I bought some flannel to line the inside of my rice hot/cold packs and my son wanted shorts made out of it. I don't know how to read a pattern, yet, so I took a pair of his pajama pants and studied them. Then I cut some fabric and sewed it together. I added an elastic waste, which was easier than I though it would be. The whole project took me about an hour. I think they turned out cute and my son loves them, which is the most important thing!

Hot/Cold Hand and Neck Rice Packs

I finally got a sewing machine that I can use! My grandmother gave me a Singer Feather Weight 12 years ago but I never got the hang of using it. For Christmas this year, Collin bought me one. I got a Brother CS6000i sewing machine. I love it! My first project was making some hot/cold hand and neck warmers for Christmas gifts. Over the course of 3 days, I made 6 neck warmers and 9 hand warmer sets of 2. Here is a picture of a few of them. I made some in a few other colors but forgot to take a picture before giving them away.

This was a great first sewing project. I'm just learning how to use a sewing machine and I thought these gifts would be personal and useful. To make them, I cut cotton fabric at the length I wanted for the neck warmers and the length I wanted for the hand warmers. I also cut flannel to line the inside of the warmers. I sewed them inside out like you would a pillow. Then I turned them right-side out and filled them with rice. Then I sewed the end up. To use, you heat the neck warmers in the microwave for 1 minute. For the hand warmers heat for about 20-30 seconds. You can also put these in the freezer in the summer to cool you down. I loved my first sewing project and hope you do too!

First Christmas as a family of 4!

This was our first Christmas as a family of 4. Gracie's 1st Christmas was very nice and Caden loved having someone else to play with. It was almost like they got double the toys because they were both interested in what each other got as well as what they got. It was so cute and fun to watch!

My friend, Emily, came over for breakfast Christmas Eve. Collin worked half a day and then as a family we went out to lunch. Christmas Day we spent with my family. Overall we had a wonderful time! I feel like I was the most blessed this year. I have two beautiful children and one on the way. I also got a sewing machine and a serger. There will be lots of fun projects in my future!

This was our first Christmas without Collin's dad being on this earth. That was tough. I really wish his mom lived in our city or was closer but I am so glad she lives close to one of his brothers. 

I hope your family had a wonderful Christmas and has a blessed New Year!