Hooded beach towel

Who doesn't like hooded towels? I know as a mom I love them. And if you are a busy mom like me, then this is perfect for you... These are so easy to make! And fast!!

Supplies:
1 - beach (or bath towel)
1 - hand towel

First take your hand towel and cut it in half. I like to fold it and use a pin to mark the middle on each side, mark it and cut it. Set one half aside for another project.





Fold the half of the hand towel in half. making sure the raw edge you just cut is along the top. And pin it together. About 2 1/2" from the top, on the side with the fold, mare a curve. Then cut it.

Next sew that raw edge shut. If you have a serger, I suggest using it. If you are like me and you don't then I would do a straight stitch first. Then go back over that stitch with a zig zag.


Flip it right side out and you've got your hood.

Fold your beach towel in half and mark the middle with a pin.

Fold the hood in half and mark the middle with a pin.

Lay the hood on top of the beach towel, lining up the pins, and pin the hood to the towel.


Using a zig zag stitch, sew the hood to the towel. (Since the hand towel and beach towel had finished edges there is no need to reinforce the stitching)

Voila! You made your very own hooded towel!

Bandana Top/Dress Tutorial

I have really been neglecting my blog. I hope that a couple fun tutorials will make up for it!

Things have been very crazy here the last couple months and I have missed posting tutorials. So to make up for it, I'm going to post more then one this month. Up first...

A girls top or baby/toddler dress made out of bandanas! I got my bandanas at Walmart for $1 each. So you can easily make these for under $5 each 

Supplies:
2 bandanas
1-2 yds of grosgrain ribbon (I am using 7/8")
Thread

Start by making a seam across the top of each bandanas. This will be where we run the ribbon through at the end.




For a baby dress, if you's like it shorter. Trim a few inches off the top. Then sew your seam. On this one I trimmed 4" off the top.

Next we need to mark where the side seam ends and the arm holes begin. Measure from the top 4-6 inches down and mark the fabric with a marker.


You'll have two that look something like this.

I like to pin the bandanas together, stopping where I put my mark. Then sew up both sides, stopping at your mark.


Flip the top right side out and run your ribbon through the top seam. I just have the girls stand here to figure out the best length. But if they aren't around, I like to pull the ribbon through both sides, then pull the looped end out about 2", and have 6" of loose ribbon on the other end. Then I cut the ribbon.


Gather the fabric up a bit. And have your girl put it on. Tie the bow. (sorry the pics aren't better. It's hard to convince a 19 month old to be a model)


Now if you don't want to cut it shorter, you can still use the bandanas to make a toddler dress. Peyton is in 18m, this is her in the top Annsleigh was wearing above. I personally like them a bit shorter though. I think this would fit her better if she were in a 3t.

You can add other embellishments if you wanted. Like trim or a ruffle along the bottom, an applique or embroidery, etc.


Another way to make a summer top for older girls is to make it a tie back halter. For this you only need one bandana.

You do the top seam the same as the others. Then attach a strip of ribbon to both sides. Since it's for Annsleigh, I cut the ribbon's length, the same width as the bandana. I like to get the ribbon placed as close to the middle of the bandana as possible to attach them. For the ribbon length at the neck I double the width of the bandana. Run the ribbon through the seam and you're done! You can do a similar top to this by making the top seam from one of the corner sections. This makes the bottom go to a point.