Ribbon edged tutu tutorial

This year, T decided she wanted to be a "Princess Ballerina" for Halloween.  Who knew 2-year olds could be so opinionated!?  I've made the no-sew tutus before, but I thought the ribbon edged ones looked just a bit more "princessy". I purchased yellow, pink, and purple tulle, but in the end, just made a purple tutu. 

Materials needed:

1-2 yards of tulle (depending on size and how many layers you want)

1-2 spools of coordinating 1/2 inch satin ribbon

3/4 inch elastic for waistband

thread

scissors/rotary cutting materials

sewing machine (serger not necessary)

First, I took her measurements and figured out what size to cut the tulle. 

Length (waist to knee) 8".

Waist 20"

I planned to fold over the tulle to create a casing for the elastic, with this in mind, I doubled the length measurement and added 2 inches for the casing.

To get a full skirt, you generally double the waist measurement.  I wanted to get the most out of my tulle, and since I bought a yard, I used the 36" as my width.

So, I cut three layers at 18" x 36". Then, cut the ribbon to the width measurement, here 36".

You will be attaching ribbon to both long edges of the tulle such that, when folded in half, the right sides are facing the same way.  Placing the ribbon down first, I sewed the tulle using a straight stitch down the middle of the ribbon.

 Then, making sure when folded in half, the right sides face the same way, attach ribbon to the other long side of the tulle.

With right sides of the ribbon facing in, fold the tulle into a tube (with ribbon at the top and bottom edge) and sew up the side.  I used a serger here (mostly because I love using it and try to find ways to incorporate it any way I can, but don't be like me, use a coordinating thread if you do this), but a straight stitch is perfectly fine since tulle won't unravel.

 (I just love when the trimmed edges collect from my serger.  See, I'm obsessed with it!)

Repeat with all your layers, whether of the same or different colors.  Take all your tubes and insert one into another.  From here, find the middle of the tube and mark the center.  I used pins here, feel free to use those fancy fading markers.  However, tulle loves to shift on you and I found I had to pin like crazy (I hate pinning!), so I definitely recommend pinning the tulle.

 I found that if I rolled up the edges in toward that center, the tulle shifted less and was easier to manage.

 Sew through all layers along that center line, being careful to keep the tube of tulle open.

 Use that sewn center line as a guide and fold the tube into itself so that the right sides of the ribbon are now facing out.  Create a casing by sewing 3/8" from the center sew line all around, and then 1" from that stitched line, leaving a one inch opening to insert your waistband.  This makes a little ruffle around the top of the waistband as an additional detail, very cute over a leotard.

Cut your elastic waistband 2 inches smaller than the waist measurement.  Using a safety pin, feed it through the casing, and using a boxed-X pattern, sew the two ends together.

And you're done!  The proof that my daughter loves it?  She wore it all night (even to sleep), and then the next day!  I'd love to show it to you on her, but that is another post in our Halloween costume wrap-up!

My superstar!

What a bummer of a month, January is, huh?  Without fail, I am always very sick during the month of January.  This year, it was both T and I that were knocked down by whatever infection was going around.  Hers lasted a week (thanks to antibiotics), mine lasted almost two weeks!  Add to that writing up my thesis, having a committee meeting, and trying to graduate!  Phew!  I am worn out!  But the end is in sight.  I really, really do have some cool posts, tutorials, and reviews planned.  I just need to get to them!  Plus, I'll be sending a HUGE thank you to some lovely ladies for the surprise I got in the mail the other day - so stick with me, OK?

Today, though, I wanted to share what an awesome little lady we have in our house!  Miss T is growing up so fast and I'm so impressed by what she is doing every single day!  She's singing her ABCs, counting to 14 (although she always skips 10!), and potty training has been going so well!  In fact, we met a huge potty training milestone this weekend!  She used a big potty at a store!  Woohoo!  Bad mommy that I am, I even forgot her potty insert seat and had to balance her on the edge and she still did it and had no accidents the whole time we were out!  I'm so proud of my little girl!  On top of that, she did pees and poops on the potty at church yesterday!  She's also staying dry through naptime more often too!  Woohoo!

As I've said before, a lot of the credit goes to our amazing daycare!  But if you're interested, here was our strategy.  We basically went cold turkey from diapers to underwear (except for nap and bedtime), and didn't turn back.  If we went out, she still wore underwear, we just brought extra clothes and were prepared for accidents (although, we haven't had any outside of the house yet!).  Accidents were expected and viewed as learning opportunities.  "Uh-oh T, looks like we had an accident.  That's okay, we'll get cleaned up, but it's a yucky feeling right?  Let's try to go pees on the potty next time and keep our underwear dry, ok?"  We didn't do any sort of reward system, but tons of praise and being super excited for when she was successful.  We also got undies that she really liked, Hello Kitty, Elmo and Zoe, etc.  Just about every hour we would say "T, let's go pees on the potty".  Sometimes she wanted to and sometimes she didn't, we never forced her.  While on the potty, we supplied books, crayons, stickers, to keep her entertained.  Sometimes I even sang to her.

For now, we're only focusing on the awake times and not sleeping times.  Our house is difficult in that for her to get to the bathroom, she needs to go down and then back up some stairs.  Plus, she's still in a crib, and we're in no rush to change that!  I'm so proud of my little peanut!

On a mommy and T breakfast date at my new favorite Dunkin Donuts!

Yes, I'm still alive

OK, so where were we...

Right, right, T was sick last week, I caught it and thought I was getting better and then things started to nose dive.

I have been sick for over a week now.  That thesis that I didn't look at last week went untouched again this week.  Crafting?  Sewing?  Yeah right, unless you call the creative mountain of tissues in the waste basket crafting, I haven't accomplished much.  I did actually get some sleep last night and the one before (woohoo!) and I was able to catch up with my awesome friend Aubrey yesterday.

On the mommy front:
We have had some ongoing potty training issues.  I've been waiting to write about it until I could call it a success, but it appears that, like everything else, it's going to take a bit longer than I expected.  She is doing great at it though, and for having started at 20 months, I'm a very proud momma!  My dear friend/cousin Erica has been having awesome success at training her son who turned 2 last month.  Glad I could be an inspiration!  Just hope our successes start to pile up like yours!

Let me state for the record that we aren't pushing her into this.  She has been showing interest for a long time, mostly because her friends at daycare were potty training (and are 4 and 6 months older than her).  One day she decided she didn't want to wear a diaper and so big girl underwear it was!  We've had a few set set backs though.  The week she was sick, we didn't do any potty time, just diapers.  The poor girl had no energy.  She's been using the potty at daycare consistently and almost never has accidents, but for the last couple of weeks, has not wanted to use the potty at home.  Poor girl would hold it all evening until we put her in her night-night diaper!  We had some success last night though, and she went on the potty at home! Woohoo!  I know there will be more set backs and accidents, but that little girl of mine is doing great!  Her teacher at daycare told me that she is the youngest to start potty training.  Everyone else was at least two years old.  Yay T!  On the other hand, not so sure how I feel about her being so influenced by the kids around her - peer pressure! ;)

Hopefully, I'm on the road to recovery and will be able to start getting some things done/made around here.  I have a huge list of things I want to make for Baby#2 as well as getting my shop back on track.  Here's hoping I can manage my time and get some things done soon!

Sugar and Spice

No snakes, or snails, or puppy dog tails... we're all girl here!

We had our anatomy ultrasound yesterday and had two people confirm for us that we are having another girl!  I'm so excited! 

Leading up to yesterday, I would have been really happy either way.  A boy would even things out, give the full experience of parenting, carried on the family name; a girl would be a best friend for T, another adorable Daddy's girl, and more sweet dresses!  Once we found out it was a girl, I was a little surprised at how happy that news made me!  Yay!  Two little girls!  Two daughters! Uh-oh, two weddings! ;)

Immediately, I began thinking about all the things I want/have to do now:

1. Sort out T's closet and dresser to make room for her sister. 
2. Wash and put away all the newborn items that we'll need right away.
3. Make a list of things we'll need to stock up on (nursing pads, newborn diapers, crib sheets, milk storage bags, etc.)
4. Research and purchase another crib.
5. Rearrange T's room to make space for two.
6. Start making handmade items:
1. sleeping gowns
2. bibs
3. hats
4. crib skirt
5. blanket

I am both daunted and excited by the list above.  I have so much going on with school, but I can't wait to start these projects too!  Here are some of my inspirations:

Source: etsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: u-createcrafts.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: makeit-loveit.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Miss T's crib skirt made from the Amy Butler Little Stitches pattern.

Source: etsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I can't wait to start tackling this list and giving you updates on my progress.  Maybe I'll even craft a tutorial or two along the way!  I'm really excited about the sleeping gown project.  How cute would it be to have it lined with minky on the inside!?  So soft and comfy!