Easy Superhero Reversible Cape

Wow! I'm loving these for birthday party gifts. If you can sew a bib, you can sew a cape. The cape takes less than an hour and depending on the intricacy of the superhero logo/s you choose 20-40 minutes for the logos.

• Use a large garbage bag to trace out your pattern and add 5/8" seam allowance.
• Cut from two coordinating fabrics. (I recommend using the same type of fabric for both sides if you are a beginner.)
• Pin right sides together...use twice as many pins as usual if you are using a slippery fabric!
• Sew together leaving the neckline open.
• Remove pins and press.
• Optional: top stitch
• Cut length of double-sided bias tape to length or for a girl, try ironing 1" ribbon in half.
• Pin bias tape/ribbon to neckline.
• Sew full length of bias tape and tack ends or for ribbon, just along the neckline.
• Optional: double stitch neckline for strength
• Download your favorite superhero logos and create paper pattern.
• Apply double sided fusing medium to the logo fabric using manufacturer's directions.
• Cut out logo using Exact-o knife or scissors.
• Apply to cape using manufacturer's directions.

Altered & Embellished Girls T-Shirt

My daughter has very broad shoulders and I frequently find myself making alterations to her clothes so the length is appropriate. Back in the '80s, when my mom was doing this for me, the extra bits of fabric became matching hair scrunchies, but the hair scrunchie has no place in 2010. My daughter loves the princess frills, so I decided to try out a technique to embellish the otherwise basic shirt. I had read about the technique in Threads Magazine a few months back. (Sorry I couldn't find a link!) It's a super simple process. (1) Cut strips of fabric. (2) Stitch a basting stitch down the center. (3) Gather. (4) Pin to fabric and stitch. (5) To create flowers use a stabilizing fabric and stitch in a circle then sew onto shirt.

How I Made My Own Tailor's Ham In Under An Hour

I've been wanting a tailor's ham for about a year now, but the cheap one's I saw at Joann's seemed a little small and I questioned how well they were made. This morning I finally got around to looking at how they were made and it turned out I already had everything I needed! There are a number of how-to directions online, I went with the directions from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension's Make Your Own Pressing Equipement. They recommend woven wool on one side and unbleached cotton on the other...no problem, I had a scarf from Scotland that my husband had shrunk and yards of muslin. For stuffing it said to use wool and for half a moment my heart sank until I realized that I've saved every scrap of wool leftover from making longies for my kids. My daughter who is obsessed with practicing her new cutting skills helped me chop up two giant mixing bowls of sweater scraps. In under an hour I had a perfect tailor's ham and a slightly less cluttered sewing room. :-)