Butterfly Dress

I have a little niece who just recently celebrated her FIRST birthday (Happy Birthday Lu!!).  When I saw this Butterfly Dress on Sewing in No Mans Land- I knew that's what I wanted to make her.  The pattern is great and the tutorial easy to follow- I had a little bit of trouble with the front opening, but I'm sure next time I'll do better... I would suggest practicing on a scrap before doing it in the actual dress.  This was also the first time I'd ever used bias tape- fun to try something new!  I also copied her tutorial for this headband.  I loved the way it turned out (and if it looks huge in my picture, it was- apparently the size of my 2 1/2 year old's head is WAY bigger than a one year old girl.  Luckily too big was easy to fix).

Twirl Skirt

One of Missy's girls had a birthday and I couldn't resist the urge to make another skirt.  This Twirly Skirt from House of Hill Road has been on my to-try list for over a year; I love the way it turned out.  The tutorial is very easy to follow with great pictures. She gives the dimensions that you need for your fabric pieces depending on the measurements of your skirt-wearer; very nice for when I make skirts for girls that do not live in my house!

Anthro Knock-Off Bag

I LOVE this Anthro Knock-Off Bag!  And I just love it when someone else does all the work and creates and printable pattern!!!  Hooray to Leslie at The Little Apple Seed for sharing this amazing tutorial and pattern!!

Market Skirt

I have a sweet friend who has loaned me a pair of maternity jeans to wear for the next few months; I was going to take a thank you card over to her today and decided it would be way more fun to include a little skirt for her baby girl with my thank you.  I have never made an infant-size skirt before, but thought I'd give it a go.  I used the Market Skirt Tutorial from Made, and used her sizing info to make a 3-6 month size skirt.  I loved this bright, yellow fabric I had in my stash because it screamed "Spring", and I think it would look so cute with white leggings and a bright pink cardigan.  Overall the skirt was pretty simple to make (I LOVE Made's tutorials) and I was able to whip it up rather quickly- definitely a fun project for anyone with a baby girl (which Dana gives measurements for any size you need, so even if you're baby girl is no longer a baby...).  Very fun project for the morning while my boys were busy with Legos.

Framed Bow Board

Check out this darling framed bow board from iCandy handmade... so cute!  This would make a great gift idea for a baby shower!!

Knit Ruffled Skirt

Oh, I am so in love with this adorable knit Ruffled Skirt!  Don't you think it's even cuter from behind?? (I've gotta start watching what I say... my 3-yr old now walks up to me and says "I love that little tush."  But hey, at least someone loves it... although it's not little. HAHA)

Thanks to Ellie from Homestitched for this tutorial!!

Interchangeable Crochet Flower Headband

Jill from Women Who Do It All is sharing the free pattern for this adorable Interchangeable Crochet Flower Headband.  Love it!!  You know what I'm going to be busy doing...

Valentine Countdown *Free Download*

I thought it would be fun to make my kiddos a Valentine Countdown, and thought I'd share what I made.  I did a boy version & a girl version.  To be honest I made the girl one first, but then when I saw how pink it was I didn't think my husband boys would like it- hence the two versions.

Download the girl version here

And download the boy version here

The circles are the perfect size to attach a Hershey Kiss or Hug on each one.  I used glue dots so that I will (hopefully) be able to reuse them next year- I also mounted mine on cardstock to make them a little sturdier & cuter.
What better way to countdown to Valentine's Day than by eating a piece of chocolate??  I do suggest you make one for each child: 3 kids + 3 advents= no fighting over the chocolate

Ruffled Skirt Tutorial

I have a couple of nieces with birthdays in January and one coming up in May, so I've been busy sewing a few skirts.  For one January birthday I used this Ruffled Skirt Tutorial from Grand Revival Designs.  LOVE this skirt- whipped up fairly quickly and looks darling.  She says in her tutorial that the size is for a 5 or 6 year old, but I used her sizes and it fits my average-sized 4-year old niece perfectly (perhaps I like skirts a little longer than some people).

For the other two birthdays I used tutorials we've featured before.  The Tiered Skirt-  it turned out darling and did not take that long.  Definitely a project for any beginner (which I am).  I also made the Sidney Skirt.  The fanciest looking of the 3, the most difficult, but doable even for me. 

If you're looking for some good tutorials for some cute skirts- give any of these 3 a try.  If you're planning on making a lot of skirts (or even just one of each of these), I would recommend investing in a ruffler foot for your sewing maching- it was a LOT of ruffles.  

12 Days of Giveaways & Fancy Rubber Gloves Tutorial

We're excited for our chance to participate in the 12 Days of Giveaways!!  Today we are giving away a pair of Fancy Rubber Gloves (we think every woman should still look fashionable when washing dishes or cleaning toilets).

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave us a comment with your name and email address. It's that easy!

You can get one additional entry if you are a follower of if I could... Just leave a separate comment letting us know.
 

This giveaway is open to US residents only, and will close at Noon (MST) on Saturday, December 11th. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced later that afternoon.

Good Luck!!!

Now if you're not lucky enough to win a pair of gloves but still want some, here's how you can make your very own...

What you'll need:
Pair of household rubber gloves (we found these cute tangerine colored ones here)
Oilcloth (1/4 yard is plenty) (we ordered ours from fabric.com)
sewing machine and thread

1.  Cut your oil cloth for your cuffs.  You will need two 19" x 3.75" rectangles.

2.  Sew the pleats in your oilcloth.  You will need to take your oil cloth from 19" to about 10.5" inches.  I think the easiest way to do this is to finger press/fold the oilcloth as you sew, making about 1/2" folds and sewing over the folds. (I like to mark my oil cloth so I know where to fold my pleats.  I marked my oil cloth every two inches, and then 1/2" before and after so my folds would be even.  So, I made marks at 1.5", 2", 2.5", 3.5", etc.  You really can skip the marking step, for me it's just easier.) 

3.  Repeat sewing pleats in the other rectangle of oil cloth.

4.  PRESS your oilcloth.  You want the pleats in the gloves to stay folded and neat.  The best way to press oil cloth is with weight. Make sure your pleats are laying flat, and stack weight on top (I used puzzles and books).  I recommend letting them get pressed overnight.

5.  After your oilcloth is pleated and pressed, put right sides of short ends of oilcloth together and sew, using a 1/4" inch seam allowance.  You should now have 2 rings of pleated oilcloth.

6.  Slide your oilcloth ring onto a glove, right sides together.  Leaving about 1.5" of glove at the top.  Fold over the glove, use a couple of pins to hold everything together and sew- using 1/2" seam allowance.  If the arm of sewing machine is skinny enough, you can fit your glove around it.  If not, you kind of have to cram everything in there to sew- kind of tricky, but doable. 

7.  Sew a second time around the glove, I just used my presser foot as a guide, just to make sure everything is secure. Repeat with other glove.

8.  Turn gloves right side out- voila!  Your own set of fancy-schmancy rubber gloves!

Baby Hat and Booties

I am loving this baby hat and booties from Little Birdie Secrets- I just need a baby girl that I can make them for!  If you're not interested in purchasing the pattern, scroll down to the bottom and there is a free pattern for an interchangeable crochet flower that is darling!!

Fluffy Chiffon Skirt

Check out this adorable Fluffy Chiffon Skirt... I am in love!  This will be a big hit at my house.  Thanks to Ashley at Make it & Love it for this fabulous tute!

Fabric Rosettes - Take 2

I love this tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets for Fabric Rosettes... very simple and easy-to-follow.  And I really love how these turned out (L.O.V.E. those stray threads).  If you like a cleaner look, try this version - but personally, I'm lovin' this look.

Anthro-inspired Headbands

I love these rosette headbands inspired by Anthropologie.  Click HERE for the tutorial from Just Sew Sassy.  Playing with the kiddos during the summer definitely takes precedence over crafting, but this one is so quick, you won't need to wait for school to start!  I think I need to make one for me and one for my 4th-grader to wear back to school!

Tiered Skirt

Char from Crap I've Made is guest-posting over at

seven thirty three today (what a cute blog - so glad I came across it). Check out her tutorial for this darling tiered skirt.  Isn't that adorable?  I've got 3 daughters - 2 that insist on wearing skirts or dresses everyday, so I can't wait to try this.  The instructions look pretty simple and I love how she gives the math so you can make it as long as you want.

  Off to the fabric store I go!  Wouldn't these fabrics be cute?

Thin Ribbon Bows

My 4 year old had a friend's birthday party last week.  When we wrapped the present I was looking for a ribbon or bow to put on top when I remembered this post from Girl and a Glue Gun.  He and I whipped up one of these Thin Ribbon Bows (in pink, of course), glued a clip on the back, and it was the perfect present topper!  When I went to pick him up from the party, the birthday girl was wearing it- so cute!

Warhol Dress

I have no girls of my own- but I am loving this little dress.  Made from a man's t-shirt, and the yoke (the neckline) is so stinkin' cute!!  Missy's little girls cry everyday that they want to wear dresses, if I was their Grandma I would make them some of these (wink, wink).  Dana from MADE is offering this pattern for free!!  Go check out the Warhol Dress and download the pattern for yourself.

Also, while you're there- you should check out Dana's Beach Towel Dress

I saw it the day she posted it and I just can't get it off my mind- I think it will be perfect for the summer.  I bought the elastic thread, beach towel, and pattern yesterday; as soon as my sewing room is clean I'm gonna give shirring a try- keep your fingers crossed for me!

Doll Apron

One of the great things about having 3 daughters is that we play with dolls a lot.  And we have a lot of dolls... specifically a lot of Barbies.  So I was thrilled to come across this tutorial for doll aprons over at Brassy Apple.  Thanks Megan for sharing!!

No-Slip Doll Blanket Tutorial & Giveaway!!

Isn't this adorable No-Slip doll blanket such a great idea??  The trick is a secret pocket the doll slides into.

Ingenious, eh?  Found this tutorial at a fabulous new blog: The Little Apple Seed - check it out.

Don't sew?  Well, don't fret... here's how you can WIN one of these super-cool blankets! You have 4 possible entries - leave a separate comment for each of the following:

1) Become a follower of If I Could...
2) "Like" our blog on Facebook
3) Become a follower of The Little Apple Seed
4) Tell us what you'd like to see more of on our blog

Giveaway closes at midnight (Mountain time) on June 3... winner will be announced on Friday, June 4.

Thanks to Leslie at The Little Apple Seed for this giveaway!
GOOD LUCK!

Jersey Knit Flowers

I was so excited to come across this tutorial the other day... check out this unique fabric flower made out of jersey knit.  Don't they look like hydrangeas?  Honestly, I am so in love with these.  This would even make a cute hair clip for my daughter. Thanks to A Little Lovely for this great idea!