Easy Ribbon Wands

I thought ribbon wands would be a fun craft project for the girls and a nice addition to the little "photo shoot" we do with their new mama-made dresses each year. The girls had fun playing with them and even got to choose ribbon from my stash to coordinate with their dresses.

These took just a few minutes to make! Here is how we made them:

1. Cut dowels into three pieces- each 12" long.
2. Sand them a little to smooth out any rough edges from the saw blade.
3. Pre-drill a small hole in the center of the end going straight down into the dowel.
4. Screw in an eye hook.
5. Cut a few yards of satin ribbon.
6. Carefully melt the ends with a lighter so the ribbon won't fray.
7. Tie the ribbon onto the hook.

There are a lot of options with these- you could let the kids be a little more involved and paint the dowels, which we might do sometime. The ribbon is easy to change out if you want a different color or it gets to be too dirty. They are also a very cheap project to make, so it would be good for a group of girls or a party craft/favor.

Here is an image to pin if you want to save it for later...

If you missed it, here is more about the upcycled dresses that I made for the girls this year...

Thrifted Sheet to 1950s Retro Dress

 Sparkly Women’s Tank to Girls’ Dress Top

Strapless Women’s Dress to Girls’ Halter Dress 

Men’s Shirt to Girls’ Vintage Style Dress

Women’s Ruffle Shirt to Toddler Dress

 Link Parties where I sometimes hang out…

Sew Can Do, Motivate Me Monday, Inspiration Monday, Take a Look Tuesday, Naptime Creations, The Gathering Spot, Carolyn’s Homework, Your Whims Wednesday, ,Create It Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Wildly Original, Thriving on Thursday, Grace at Home, The 36th Party, Freedom Fridays, Simple and Sweet Fridays, Craft Frenzy Friday, and Threading Your Way

Men's Dress Shirt to Girls' Vintage Style Dress

Ever since THESE dresses, I just can't seem to get over that whole retro, vintage style. I love the 1940s/1950s era of fashion! I wanted to do a "shirt dress" style, but decided to upcycle/refashion one out of a men's dress shirt. (There are also a few aqua polka dot details just for fun!) It even has a built in pettiskirt to make the full skirt pouf out.

I don't have a full tutorial for you, but I did take some pictures to show how I used the shirt as an effective fabric source. First, I used a seam ripper to remove the pocket and cut off the collar and sleeves.

This dress was made differently from other tutorials I have seen. I didn't like the way the men's shirt collar fit on her neckline- it was made to fit a large man, after all! So, I constructed a new collar out of fabric from one of the sleeves.

I cut the back bodice I drafted from the center back of the shirt so that I could maintain the little loop and pleats from the original shirt.

Being mindful of the buttonholes, I cut one front bodice piece out of one half of the shirt front...

...and, lining the buttonholes up, cut the other half from the other side of the shirt front. Now, I ended up messing something up and having to make new buttonholes, but this would work if you don't make my airhead mistakes.

From the remaining sleeve, I cut both sleeves for the dress. I wanted to make longer sleeves, but she wanted shorter puffy ones. She was VERY specific about the sleeve length.

Finally, the skirt came from the bottom of the shirt. I also had small scraps to make the belt loops at the waist.

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out…

Sew Can Do, Motivate Me Monday, Inspiration Monday, Take a Look Tuesday, Naptime Creations, The Gathering Spot, Carolyn’s Homework, Your Whims Wednesday, ,Create It Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Wildly Original, Thriving on Thursday, Grace at Home, The 36th Party, Freedom Fridays, Simple and Sweet Fridays, Craft Frenzy Friday, and Threading Your Way

Girls Ruffle Apron Pattern and Tutorial

My 4yo has been not so patiently waiting for her new apron. Previously, she used a hand me down one from her sister, but it was getting pretty small. She wanted to match my cupcake apron, but I let her choose the fabric for the back, ruffle, and ties.

She LOVES to bake with me. Especially cookies or anything with sprinkles. And now we can match.

I took pictures as I was making this apron, so I am throwing together a little tutorial.

You can adjust the size of the main apron piece as needed. I have a smaller one that my 7yo is quickly outgrowing, so I made this one a little bigger. It fits my 4yo (who is tall for her age) with room to grow. I made a digital pattern and it requires 4 pages. Print them out (check the "actual size" box), tape them together (left to right, top to bottom in numbered order), and cut it out. It is available HERE.

As for fabric requirements, you will need 2 yards total- a half yard for the front, a half yard for the back, and a yard for the ties and ruffles (with some to spare).

Now, I learned to quilt before I sewed anything wearable, so I do a lot of cutting things in strips with the rotary cutter from fabric off the bolt. That is usually about 44" or so. The fabric should be folded with the selvage edges together.

Cut out your pieces as listed below.

Ruffle: Cut 2 strips 6 1/2" x width of fabric (WOF)
Waist Ties: Cut 1 strip 6 1/2" x WOF
Neck Ties: Cut 1 strip 4" x WOF
Front and Back: Cut 1 of each from pattern pieces- available HERE.

I started with the ruffle. Sew one edge of each piece together on the short ends to make one long strip.

Hem the short ends of the ruffle pieces. I just folded it under twice and stitched it down.

Press the long ends together so that there is a nice fold on the bottom edge of the ruffle.

Sew two long gathering stitches and pull the bobbin threads to gather the ruffle. Pin it to the bottom of the apron, making sure the seam where the two pieces were joined is in the middle. Also, start 3 1/2" from the edge on each side to leave room for the waist ties and seam allowances.

Baste the ruffle to the apron. It just makes it easier to work with later.

Now... for the ties...

Fold each strip in half lengthwise with the right sides facing in. Stitch 1/4" from the edge on each piece to make long tubes.

Cut each piece in half, flip right sides out, and press well. Top stitch 1/8" from the edge all the way around each tie, hemming one end by folding it under twice before stitching. When I topstitch, I usually increase my stitch length a bit (to a 3).

Pin the ties in place on the main apron piece, paying attention to the hemmed ends to make sure they will face the same way. Leave 1/4" seam allowance between the tie and the edge of the apron at the corners.

Pin the back of the apron to the front of the apron, sandwiching the ruffle and ties. Be careful to make sure the waist ties are folded down so that you don't catch the edge when sewing the waist area of the apron.

Sew all the way around the edge of the apron, leaving an opening at the top between the neck ties. Also, stitch over the ties several times to make sure they are held in place really well. Use the opening to flip the apron right side out. Press it really well. Finally, topstitch 1/8" from the edge all the way around the apron. This will also close the opening at the top that you used to turn it right side out.

That is it! A pretty, ruffly apron!

Now, some things I have done differently on other aprons...

~you can make the ruffle extend all the way to the corner and put the waist ties under it if you prefer
~pockets can be added to the main body piece which is also nice if girls want to play restaurant and have a pocket to put their order tablet in ;)
~interfacing can be added to the waist ties to make them a little sturdier
~the waist ties can me made twice as long so that they wrap around and tie in a bow at the front
~the back can be made of a more contrasting fabric so that it is clearly reversible
~the ruffles and ties can be made of contrasting fabrics
~pleats instead of ruffles can be made along the bottom

UPDATE- There is a matching doll version available HERE!

Baby Clothes Memory Bear

Puffy Petal Fabric Flowers

Elastic Waist Doll Dress

Spring Quiet Book