Mini Me Top

One of the things I love most here at Prudent Baby is being able to chat with crafty mamas from all around the world. Even if we don't have the same first language we can still learn so much about crafting from each other. Citra from Innocentia is here from Indonesia to share her adorable Mini Me Top. So cute, right? You can also check out her posts on how to draft a peter pan collar, sew a basic balloon dress, and a super easy way to make hangers.

Get the full tutorial for the Mini Me Top after the jump...
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How to Make Fabric Yo Yos

Last week I showed you how my mom gave Clare's favorite dress a second life with some yo yo applique. Here is a little tutorial for How to Make Yo Yos...  just like my mama taught me and her mama taught her. Once you know how to make them, you can use them on anything from t-shirts to hair clips. You can even make an entire bedspread by sewing them together like my grandmother did here. Talk about scrap busting!


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Make a Football Jersey from a T-shirt

Last weekend we had Gordon's First Birthday. It was a football themed party so, of course, he needed a tiny #1 jersey. I took to a plain white t-shirt with a pair of scissors and crafted one up quick and cheap. With the playoffs this weekend, it's the perfect time to show some spirit without shelling out big bucks for team jerseys. Here's how you do it!


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Under-an-Hour Jersey Hat

A few weeks ago, I made an Under An Hour Silkscreened Scarf. While I was at it, I whipped up a little jersey hat. Clare loves that the silkscreened pattern makes her hat and scarf a matching set, but this is also a great t-shirt project. The best part is that you still have time to make a bunch of these for Christmas gifts!

So easy, check it out...
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Prudent Baby Gift Guide: Hostess Gifts and Gift Wrapping Ideas

Whether it's a Christmas party, brunch, lunch, linner (dinner and lunch) or dinner, chances are you have a hostess to say thank you to and what better way to do it than with a homemade gift. Now that you have a gift in mind you will need to wrap it. Maybe with a felt bow? Tissue Paper Flower? No need to fret all your hostess gift giving ideas can be found right here...

Simple Serger Napkins


Tea Cup Candles


Reversible Napkin Rings


Wine Bag

Cookie Cutter Confections


Modge Podge Vase


Fat Quarter Apron


Recycled Calendar Coasters


Soft Pretzel Candy Canes

To Wrap them with...

Felt Gift Bows


Tissue Paper Flower


Magazine Gift Bows


Drawstring Gift Bags


Origami Gift Boxes


Doily Gift Wrapping

Trimmed Trees Tutorial

About two weeks ago we had Virgina from Gingercake share her adorable Vintage Pillowcase Nightgowns. We are big fans of Gingercake (as I'm sure you can tell) and love seeing what new ideas she's coming up with. If you haven't already headed over to her blog it's a definite must. Along with that, make sure to stop by her shops Ginia18 (for sewing patterns), Gingercake on Etsy (for vintage linens including pillowcases), and Gingercake Sews (best Christmas presents). Take it away Virginia...
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Ruffled Keyhole Shirt

I never seem to get tired of finding new sewing tutorials for little girl clothing. How could I when there are so many creative ideas to choose from? One of my favorites is this Ruffled Keyhole Shirt that Jessica from A Couple of Craft Addicts made. Jessica and her partner Heather are always coming up with new projects like Picture Coasters, Holiday Card Display, and the Isabella Dress. Today Jessica will take you through each step of making this adorable shirt. Her inspiration came from this beautiful ModCloth dress.

I just love it. I love the neckline, I love all the embellishment details around the neck and hemline. I love the color. I was so inspired by this dress that I decided to make a similar top for my daughter. I wanted to try something new. I wanted to push myself and my machine. I have not sewed much with embroidery stitches so this was the perfect project to experiment.

Keep reading to get the full Ruffled Keyhole Shirt tutorial after the jump...

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Vintage Pillowcase Nightgown Tutorial

While getting lost in the sea of Pinterest boards I found these beautiful pillowcase nightgowns on iCandy Handmade. I knew I just had to get my hands on this tutorial, which led me to Gingercake. You may remember before the genius Pajama Pillow Virgina, from Gingercake, shared with us earlier this year. Since I was loving these pillowcase nightgowns so much I just had to see if she would share them. She happily agreed and here she is today with this adorable tutorial...

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Jersey and Wool Felt Stocking

December 7th is quickly approaching which means the deadline for the Put a Serger in my Stocking Contest is drawing near. We have been putting all our old clothing to use with a Baby Onesie Christmas Stocking and a Recycled T-Shirt Stocking. If you don't have a piece of clothing you are ready to part with no worries, you can always pick up a bit of jersey at your local fabric store like we did here. This stocking is easy to make and perfect for someone who is just starting out using jersey/knit fabrics. Learn to make this classic Christmas stocking after the jump...

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Recycled T Shirt Stocking

Here is my "entry" into our Put A Serger in My Stocking Contest, where we are giving away a new Brother 5234 PRW Serger to the Prudent Mama who makes the winning stocking incorporating jersey material in one way or another. Jacinda made her stocking from baby onesies and craft paint in an adorable patchwork. Now it's my turn! For this stocking, I took a couple old t-shirts and quilted 'em up to make this sparkly bow-tied version for Scarlet. Not so traditional, what do you think? See how I did it after the jump...
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Patchwork Baby Onesie Christmas Stocking

Do you have trouble parting with those adorable tiny clothes? Turn some into a keepsake Christmas stocking for baby! Inspired the gorgeous new Martha Stewart Craft Paint that I was invited to try out, I stenciled, patchworked and stitched up a stocking that will always remind me of when he was a sweet lil' dumpling. Want to make one? Here's what I did...


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To Quilt Market We Go!

Last weekend I road-tripped to Houston to see all the news in quilting and also fabric, sewing patterns, trim and craft books. As you might imagine, I took hundreds of photos so I'll be sharing more throughout the week. Here are some gorgeous highlights of all the delish eye candy that I spotted like the circa 52 by monaluna for birch fabrics organic (available in november) pictured above. The new Ruby Star Shining by Melody Miller for Kokka featured on a vintage suitcase (below) was one of the show darlings.

Sarai Mitnick was there signing her new sewing book, The Colette Sewing Handbook: Inspired Styles and Classic Techniques for the New Seamstress, and showcasing her collection of beautiful sewing patterns. Here are her frocks...

Natalie Lymer was there with her sweet Woodland collection. The embroidery patterns were pure sweetness.

Of course, you already know how we feel about Anna Maria. Here is the bag that I stole off of the wall in her booth. Just kidding. However, if you felt the stunning velveteen, I doubt you would have blamed me. Yes, there is much much more from Anna Maria's booth to come. Want to see more...


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Machine Quilt Binding 101 + Quilt Binding DIY

A few weeks ago we showed you how to take advantage of 'the lovely cheater quilt' and promised to return with instructions for how to bind that bad boy. Since it was a cheater quilt, we know you are down with a good short-cut so let's start with the fastest way to bind a quilt, by machine of course! But first, here are some simple instructions for making your own quilt binding.


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Make a Doll Suitcase

Does your Dolly need a place of her own? Boy do we have a great tutorial for you all today. Just wait until you see the magic inside this simple green suitcase.

Stacy from Hart + Sew is here today to share a wonderfully imaginative and creative tutorial with all of you. Stacy's inspiring ideas do not stop there. Hop on over to Hart + Sew to check out her other creations such as the Animal Ear Headbands she surprised her daughter with for Christmas. Or check out her daughter's first sewing project and get a peak inside her girls' darling bedroom. Along with creating her blog, she also has a Vintage clothing store for babies and toddlers.


How much do you want to make this burst of creativity in a suitcase? Stacy will take you through each step after the jump...

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Shirred Maternity Tunic Top

If you love Anthropologie and you love sewing you will love this tutorial by Megan from DIY Maternity. Megan has come up with a plethora of ideas for sewing up your own maternity wear. She has told us about some of her favorite Fall/Winter posts such as How to Make a Wrap Cardigan, Maternity Maxi Skirt, and even her Fall/Winter Sewing list, where she assembles weekly outfits and provides you with 13 do-it-yourself sewing pieces. For all of you with your little bun in the oven, make sure to check out the Maternity Calendar Shirt post to start the big countdown.

Now, let's get to sewing. Megan will tell you all about how to make this adorable top after the jump...

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Making Your Own Pattern

We often hear that new sewists are intimidated by drawing their own patterns, so we were thrilled to see Katy from Sweet Verbana made a fantastically easy Make Your Own Pattern Tutorial that everyone, yes everyone, can do!

Make sure to stop by Sweet Verbana's to check out many of Katy's other tutorials like the adorable Maxi Dress, an infinity loop scarf (perfect for winter) and even a learn how to do reverse applique (I'm seeing Holiday gifts!).

Don't go anywhere just yet, keep reading for the Making Your Own Pattern Tutorial after the jump.

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Introduction to Cheater Quilts

Cheater is such an ugly word for such a beautiful thing. Cheater quilts are a perfect project for new sewists or folks with little time for craftiness. Featuring fabric designed and printed to look like patchwork or applique, a cheater quilt allows you to skip the huge task of doing piecework on a quilt. All you have to do is quilt and bind. I quilted this lovely baby quilt in about 30 minutes. All that's left to do is bind it, which can be done quickly on the machine or heirloom quality by hand. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on the different ways to bind a quilt.

But I know the big question, right? What is that gorgeous fabric? It's Jay-Cyn Designs Storyboek for Birch Fabrics - Field Stroll Cheater and the back (which I think would be so cute for Christmas) is Field Friends Coral. Both are on sale right now at Fabricworm.

And the baby... is Gordon, who is totally man enough to pose with a pink quilt. Thanks buddy, I owe you the boy version.

Read on to learn more about how to make a cheater quilt.
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Bluebird Costume Tutorial

Little sister was happy to play bluebird to big sister's Snow White, especially when the alternative was a bearded dwarf. My mother told me I could ABSOLUTELY NOT dress little sister as a bearded dwarf.


So we are loving this sweet bluebird costume, especially for toddler types who are finicky about costume-wearing in general. These directions can be easily modified for an owl, a bat or any winged critter. I've even caught princess Snow White herself wearing it around the house!


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