Edit: I have been having problems with the comments (some getting through, others not). I am hoping the issue is fixed, however, if you have trouble posting a comment please let me know –> kim (at) mommyknows (dot) com. Thank you!

Sam is home sick. He’s definitely not well, but not unwell enough to lay in bed all day. Truthfully in a non-H1N1 world he’d be at school. They sent him home yesterday, as he was pale, complaining of a sore throat and didn’t go out for recess. Apparently, if he doesn’t go out for recess … he IS sick.

I think he has a cold, nothing more. He is stuffed up and not much else.

He was definitely up to helping me make a lunchbox out of Kool-Aid Jammers drink packets.

You’ll need:

Sewing machine
Thread
15 clean, dry drink packets
Tape
Ruler (or measuring tape)
Stick on velcro fasteners

Slice open the bottom of each packet. Wash, rinse and dry each one out.

Your lunch tote will consist of 5 parts: 1 front and 1 back (each 2×2 packets each), 2 sides (2×1 packets each) and a bottom (2 overlapped packets)

If you are a competent sewer, you could just start sewing these parts. However, because I am a beginner, I decided to tape my pieces together first.

You don’t need to tape each and every seam. Just here and there, enought to keep them from slipping and sliding while you are sewing.

The front and back are made using a 2×2 pattern like the piece above. The sides are 2×1 stacked vertically.

The bottom is a little different.

You’ll need to measure and then overlap two pieces to this length.

Once you have the 5 pieces taped and ready sew up the seams.

We used a zigzap stitch with a bright coloured thread. Sam did most of the sewing. In the above photo he is sewing up a back piece.

I think the orange thread Sam picked out looks great.

Here he is sewing the overlapping pieces that make the bottom of the lunch sack.

Once you have your 5 pieces made, you can start piecing them together.

Start by sewing the sides to the bottom piece. You’ll end up with a long narrow strip.

Next sew the back and front to the bottom. You should end up with the above. Sew up the 4 side seams, I sewed from top to bottom, carefully lining up the top edges taping with a tiny piece of tape and then sewing.

If you want a ‘brown bag’ style sack, you could be finished now. Sam and I were making this sack for Lizzy and I wanted her to be able to close her lunch sack.

I cut the 15th packet in half, folded over the cut end and sewed it to the top of the sack.

Then we added adhesive velcro fasteners.

Below is the finished product:

I hope you like it! What kind of creations have you made from recycled items, or what’s on your list?

MK xo
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Lizzy and Georgia have been gone for a few days for spring break. I’m ashamed to admit it, but mostly I’ve been tending my damn farm on facebook, putting hits out on thugs that are intent on beating me up in mafia wars, watching TV and just generally being a lazy mug.

Yesterday, I finally decided that, enough was enough and I decided to experiment with waldorf dolls. I love them and they looked relatively simple to make. You know you can find the instructions to pretty much EVERYTHING online right?

This crafters blog had the most detailed instructions on head making. There is a pattern there, but my printer is on the fritz, so I was forced to draw it by hand. Not a big deal … it turned out pretty well.

At this stage of the process, I was thinking about Ann Boleyn a lot. I guess it’s the head rolling around on the table. Meet Ann!

It was a simple process, slowed down somewhat by the fact that I didn’t have the proper wool stuffing (I used some wool quilt batting and some synthetic stuff that I had around the house), I didn’t have the gauze tubing (I used an old sock) and I didn’t have the jersey fabric for the skin (I dyed an old t-shirt of Mr. MK’s with tea). The heck with instructions, who needs them anyway?

I proceeded to make the arms, and body/legs by following the instructions on this site. With no pattern, I had a heck of a time getting the proportions right (I never did). I ended up making two sets of arms. The arms on wee Ann are actually the first set, which I had to scavenge from the garbage. GROSS, I know, but the tee shirt wasn’t that big and I was running out of fabric. I didn’t have much better luck with her body.

Ann’s a rather pretty girl, unfortunately she’s built like a MAC truck. Look at her torso … why, oh why did I make her so wide?

She’s got lovely red hair (I love red hair). It was the only yarn in the house and for that I am happy. I used this doll hair tutorial to create it.

Clothing design, by Mommyknows. Hmmm … let’s just say that I don’t think that I’ll be on Project Runway anytime soon.

Ann was definitely good practice, I hope Georgia likes her, but I won’t hold my breath. I am going to make another, neater, less robust doll, with much more fashionable clothing, just not today.

We’re off to Canmore today to pick up the girls and spend a few days in the Canadian Rockies (one of my favourite places on earth). I am looking forward to taking some long walks and some scenic photos. I hope I have internet while I am gone. If not, I’ll be tweeting my twip trip, so follow me on twitter.

MK xo
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I am totally losing it! ME! The one who said, “crafts schmafts“.

I made these panties for Georgia out of Sam’s old t-hirt.

For some reason this made Sam, scream and blush. The boy is just too easy to embarrass. I guess the thought of his old t-shirt wrapped around his sister’s hiney was just too much to take. MEN!

I’d show you how I made them (next time), but Martha is on in 5 minutes. Gotta run! (oh the shame … I need flogged!)

I hope my old drinking buddies don’t read this!

MK xo
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Check out Georgia’s new cashmere pants.

Pretty cute eh? Even better, they cost me less than $5 and they are 100% cashmere! The best part –> I made them myself out of a thrift store sweater.

I am going to show you how. I want to apologize in advance, if I make errors in terminology etc.. This is only the 3rd or 4th time that I’ve used a sewing machine. I probably shouldn’t be showing anyone how to make anything with a sewing machine. The good news is, if I can do it, so can you!

Note: the sweater was washed and dried at least twice (hot wash, cold rinse, hot dry). This felts the wool.

I loosely used instructions found in this book. I am not so great at following instructions, even when I know nothing (like today), I tend to do my own thing.

Lay a pair of pants that you know fit your child on top of the adult sweater. This is your pattern for the new pants.

I used a pair of pants of Georgia’s that were actually getting too small (just in length), so I left about 1″ at the bottom for extra length. I am going to used the band of the sweater as the bottom of the pants, so I can avoid hemming. I pinned the pants to the sweater in about 1/2 dozen spots to keep it from shifting around.

Cut the pants out, adding about 1/2″ on the sides for seam allowance. Leave about 2″ on the top for the waistband. You probably won’t need this much (I didn’t), but it will leave you some leeway.

Cut out the second half of the pants, on the other side of the sweater. This time use the first set of legs you cut out and make the second set exactly the same size.

You should now have two identical sets.

Sew each set from the waist to the crotch. (see red line on photo)

Note: I was a bit worried about using a patterned fabric. In the end the stripes helped me keep the pants lined up. Unfortunately, it wreaked havoc on my camera. My apologies for the nasty photos.

Now unfold the two pieces. You should have front and back sides. Put them together with the ‘right-sides’ facing each other and pin the inside seam together. Sew them up –> from hem to crotch to hem. (see red line on photo).

Now pin and sew each outside seam.

At this point I put the pants on Georgia to determine exactly where I wanted the top of the waist to be. Leaving the pants inside out, I folded and pinned the waistband. I left enough depth for my 3/4″ elastic. I then sewed the pocket for the elastic, creating the waistband at the same time.

I had quite a bit of left over fabric around the waistband. As this fabric won’t fray, I trimmed the excess. It looks so much neater and will most likely be more comfy to wear.

I meant to leave a gap, so I could put the elastic in. I even marked the start and stop points, and then sewed right over them. It’s a good thing I used felted cashmere, it doesn’t fray. I cut a small hole and using a safety pin I threaded the elastic through.

Once through I overlapped the elastic by about one inch and sewed it together. I was going to sew a nice neat rectangle, but the sewing machine got away on me. You can see above that my sewing skills are HUGELY lacking.

They turned out pretty darn good anyway. My diligent pinning paid off and all the stripes line up nicely.

Georgia really likes them. She wore them all day.

Do you have any good ideas, for upcycling clothing? If so I want to know.

MK xo
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After all my whining and complaining about sewing, I thought I’d share with you the results.

Ta-da!

Ignore the model, in her world camera = scowl! I made the skirt from a thrift-shop lambswool sweater that I felted. I used the same felted wool to applique the puppy on to an inexpensive white tee from Old Navy.

I didn’t use a pattern, but I did loosely follow the instructions for this skirt here: Oliver + S lazy daze skirt. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. As long as you don’t take a close look at the seams, it is quite presentable.

Here is one where she is actually smiling. Surprisingly enough, she actually quite liked the outfit. She was a wee bit miffed that I sewed the dog onto her shirt. I think she thought she was getting a stuffy. OOPS!

Any other ideas for the recycled wool? I’d love any links, tips and/or ideas.

MK xo
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