December 2019 - Merritts Makes

Hello! The new year is upon us! With a new year often comes new goals, challenges, and hopefully, some fun. In January, Sew Fancy Pants is back for 2020 and bringing a bit of all those things. Returning hosts Katie and Nicole will be joined by Rumana of The Little Pomegranate, Sierra of Sierra Burrell, and Brad of Brad Schultz Design. Ready for all the details? Keep reading for information on participation, giveaways, and more.

What is Sew Fancy Pants?

The mission of Sew Fancy Pants is to get members of the sewing community making pants that are their own definition of “fancy” and have a little fun while we’re at it. Everyone’s definition of fancy pants might be different, and that’s ok, we accept all forms of fancy pants. Perhaps one may want a professional looking pair of pants for work, maybe someone wants to dip their toes into the wide leg pants trend, or maybe you simply want a pair of silk pants or velvet joggers. This challenge is for everyone. Each week of January will have a theme, some weeks will have giveaways, ending the month with a Fancy Pants Dance Off and grand prize giveaway. To participate, just sew some “fancy” pants and use the hashtag #sewfancypants2020 on IG. Read to the bottom of this post for information on how to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Week 1 (Dec 30-Jan 5): Pattern Selection

Nicole will kick off Sew Fancy Pants with a week all about patterns. There will be posts detailing personal “fancy pants” sewing plans and resources for picking a pattern right for your personal style and skill level. Don’t miss the almost daily Instagram giveaways starting January 1st!

Week 1 Sponsors:

Friday Pattern Company

Cashmerette

Megan Nielsen

Tilly and the Buttons

Thread Theory

Named Clothing

Week 2 (Jan 6-12): Fabric

Katie, fabric designer extraordinaire, will lead us in week two. This week we’ll be focusing on fabric selections and sharing tips on how to source high quality bottom weight fabrics. Look for posts filled with fabric ideas and maybe even some discount codes. We’ve teamed up with several fabric sponsors to give away gift cards and fabrics perfect for your fancy pants sewing needs. Make sure you’re following all five of us on Instagram to stay up to date on these giveaways.

Week 2 Sponsors:

Week 3 (Jan 13-19): Fitting

Sierra and Nicole are teaming up to lead in week three. This week we’ll tackle fitting. Hosts will share personal fitting tips and tricks along with favorite resources for achieving your desired fit. Fitting can be scary but, we’ll show you that good fit is an achievable goal.

Week 4 (Jan 20-26): Fancy Finishes/What Makes Your Pants Fancy?

Brad and Rumana will talk all about those details in week four. This week our focus will be adding those special details that make our fancy pants special. Whether its unique buttons, interesting trim, custom tags, or stylish top stitching, this week will be about the stuff that makes handmade items truly one of a kind.

Week 4 Sponsor:

Topstitch

Week 5 (Jan 27-31): Wrap Up and Fancy Pants Dance Off

This week we’re challenging participants to let loose and dance in your newly made fancy pants. When participants dance in their fancy pants and post it to their Instagram using #sewfancypantsdance and #sewfancypants2020, they’ll be entered to win a grand prize. Have fun, get creative, and dance those pants off (just not literally off)! The grand prize winner will be chosen by all judges, as well as two prize packages with winners chosen randomly from all participants. To be eligible for the other two prize packages, simply post your fancy pants with the #sewfancypants2020 during the month of January. While we’d LOVE to see a ton of finished fancy pants, progress counts too. Please don’t feel like you can’t participate if there’s not enough sewing time throughout the month to entirely finish your pants. (Note: prizes may be added to and updated throughout the month)

Grand Prize

$100 D & H Fabrics Gift Card

Sewing Box with Haberdashery Items up to £100 in value from Minerva Crafts

$25 Spoonflower Gift Card, Project Book, and Swatches Pack

Sew House Seven PDF Pants Pattern

$25 Closet Case Patterns Gift Card

Opian Geneve Vaulion Trousers PDF Pattern

Prize Package #1

Muna & Broad PDF Pattern

Paper Theory PDF Pattern

Blackbird Fabrics $50 CAD (approx $36 USD) Gift Card

Prize Package #2

Anna Allen Clothing PDF Pattern

Tilly and the Buttons Jessa PDF Pattern

Well, there you have it! We hope you’ll join with us in sewing fancy pants during the month of January. Just tag us in your IG captions and use #sewfancypants to participate. Stay tuned for more information and make sure to follow us on Instagram (Nicole, Katie, Rumana, Sierra, Brad) to stay up to date on all things “fancy pants.”

Hello! Today, as part of #sewbows with Vienna of @thelatesew and Rachel of @hello.littlefish, I’m sharing a quick and easy tutorial for a 10 minute twisted headband. I’ve been making these headbands since 2014 when I needed a way to keep my chin length hair out of my eyes and away from my baby’s hands. Last spring I made one as a gift for Rachel’s baby girl (she’s modeling it in these darling photos taken by Rachel). Want to make a simple gift for yourself or the babies in your life? Let’s get down to it.

Tutorial

Supplies

1/4 yard knit fabric (jersey works well)

Coordinating thread

Sizing

0-6 months: 6″ x 14″

6-12 months: 6″ x 15″

Toddler: 7″ x 16″

Child: 8″ x 18″

Adult: 9″ x 19-21″

Cutting

1. Cut a rectangle to the dimensions of desired size (listed above). Some knits have more stretch in one direction. When cutting, make sure direction of most stretch is along the length of your rectangle.

Assembly

2. Fold rectangle, right sides together, across the length (hotdog style).

3. Stitch a zig-zag stitch 1/2 inch from raw edges along the length. Leave short sides open.

4. You should now have a tube. Turn the tube so that the right sides of the fabric are now on the outside.

5. Lay the tube on a table or flat surface so that the seam is centered and facing the flat surface.

6. Pick up tube with one end in each hand. The side with the seam should still be facing down. We will now refer to the end in your left hand as the left tube end and the end in your right hand as the right tube end.

Here is where it gets a little tricky. Don’t worry. Just follow the pictures and you should do great!

7. Rotate your left tube end 90 degrees. The seam line should be facing away from you. The ends of your tube should now be forming a T-shape.

8. Fold the top half of your right tube end over the left tube end until it meets the center seam line.

9. Now fold the bottom half of your right tube end under the left tube end. It should now look like a backwards “c” around the left tube end.

10. Fold the remaining side of your left tube end under the folded right tube end. Now your ends should form a shape that looks like a squished letter “s.”

11. The tricky part is now over. Take your folded tube over to your sewing machine and sew those folds in place with a straight stitch 1/4″ from the raw edges. Backstitch at each end.