Perfect-Fit Sleep Shorts From One Yard Wonders

I'm breaking my vow to not post anyone's Christmas presents on my blog until after the holidays for two reasons: 1) so I can qualify for Finny Knits' sew along where this month's challenge is to make anything from One Yard Wonders, and 2) because I'm impatient and eager to bask in the praise that is sure to come as soon as I reveal what I made. Plus I'm not convinced that any of my real life friends read my blog so I think I'm safe.

I'd bought some cutesy unicorn fabric at Jo-Ann the first time I spotted it on the shelf because unicorn fabric is extremely difficult to come by. I have a friend who, despite the ravages of age and the obvious decline in the state of our nation, has managed to maintain her childlike innocence and adores things like unicorns, dragons, and fairies. Start singing any Disney song around her and she'll immediately chime in with the rest of the song. Heck, if you don't stop her she might continue to sing every song from the movie. I'd had my eye out for unicorn fabric for ages and was starting to wonder how difficult it would be to draw horns on some horse fabric when I spotted Jo-Ann's offering. Yes, the colors are bright, bordering on neon and yes, it's clearly designed for a child but it had unicorns on it and that was good enough for me. Hopefully good enough for her too. After that it was just a matter of figuring out what I'd make for my friend using the silly fabric. I settled on the sleep shorts from One Yard Wonders so she wouldn't necessarily have to wear/use the ridiculous fabric in public.

The good: The shorts sewed up pretty quickly; in less than one afternoon I had the completed item and that includes the dreaded process of cutting out the fabric. Aside from fabric the only other supply required was some 1/2 elastic. You do have to draft your own pattern but the directions walk you through it with a helpful diagram. Only two simple pattern pieces are needed.

The bad: The pattern is customizable based on your measurements, which is nice in theory but makes it difficult to sew as a gift. Fortunately my friend is about my size so I know that if it fits me it'll be OK on her but I would have appreciated a little guidance and perhaps some sample measurements for small, medium, and large shorts. I also had a hard time coming up with the measurements for the rise. I loosely based them off of some other lounge shorts I own but because those are a little on the short side I tried to add a few inches to those measurements to cut back on the hoochy factor. Not sure I got it perfectly right as there's some poofed out fabric below the waistline after I took it in with the elastic. I don't know if that's because the pattern doesn't take curves into account or if I did something wrong with my measurements, but I was afraid that if I made the hips any smaller they might not fit. I guess a little loose is always better than too tight. I also might try using wider elastic and adding a drawstring next time as a wide waistline seems to flatter me the best, but those are just personal preferences. Honestly, I'll probably forgo this pattern altogether the next time I want to make sleep shorts since I own a Simplicity pattern for the same thing. I was just too lazy to dig it out and cut out the pattern pieces but it might be worth going with a standard pattern next time to ensure proper fit.


Since it's being given as a gift I decided to go all out and pair it with a top to create a pajama set. I found a blue t-shirt at Target that perfectly matches the blue unicorn's mane and tail and appliqued a green unicorn onto it to complete the set. Despite my qualms about the fit I do think it makes a nice gift and if it's the only pattern you have on hand you can make it work. Plus it's probably easier to make for yourself so you can model them and adjust the seams and measurements accordingly.

Car Trash Bag From One Yard Wonders

This is my car:


It is my dream car, one I coveted for nearly ten years before I finally saved up enough money to buy one for myself. As you can see, it is the spiffiest car in the world and needs no improvement.

Well, except for that pesky issue of the interior. You know, the place where you'll find empty Tic Tac boxes, gas receipts, and three-week-old JoAnn Fabrics sale papers strewn about the place. Oh, and these guys:

(That was thrown in there to make you think I'm super cool.)

Evidence of my enduring love for Doctor Who aside, the interior of my car clearly needs some help. Enter One Yard Wonders' Not Ugly Car Trash Bag. Just what I need to help keep my mess in check while not sullying my beautiful car with some sort of unattractive trash receptacle. I've had this project in the works for months with the fabric all picked out and ready to go, but it wasn't until Finny Knits chose it as July/August's sew along project that I finally got my butt in gear. Even then you may notice that I waited until the very last week of the two months allotted. My trash bag and I are just arriving fashionably late.

The pattern's one of those simple ones that makes you say, "why didn't I think of that myself?" To be honest, you probably don't even need the book for this one but if you like following instructions as much as I do you'll be happy to not have to wing it. I really don't have any special tips on this one as the pattern and instructions say it all. If you want to recreate the magic yourself, the cupcake fabric can be found at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

I only made three small and utterly unnecessary changes:

• Mine is a tad bit longer than the pattern called for because I didn't want to waste the 2" strip of fabric that would have been left after cutting and figured I could use the extra space for trash instead.


• I made the straps out of the same fabric as the binding both because I think it looks nice and because I didn't want to use up more of my pricey cupcake fabric.


• I substituted a cheaper type of clasp for the parachute buckle. The price difference wasn't astronomical but I'm a cheap German who will pinch pennies whenever possible. I'd made one of these in the past for my husband with the cheaper option and have had no problems. It's not as if we're weighing the darn thing down with dead bodies or some such. I think the cheaper clasp can handle a few magazines and receipts.

So it's another success story brought to you by One Yard Wonders. Now I have yet another reason to smile when I see my car in the mornings. Yes, I actually do that. My car makes me happy in ways you can't even imagine if you've never owned a Mini.

Jewelry Roll From One Yard Wonders

What to make for a stylish teenager who grew up in LA and is now living it up in Austin, Texas? One Yard Wonders to the rescue with another easy pattern! I'd already made her a purse last year so I wanted to try something different for her birthday this year. I figured, what teenage girl doesn't like to take some jewelry with her when she travels? Might as well do it in style. And since I've heard from her father that she's nothing short of a perfect angel I decided to use this funky "Urban Angel" fabric I bought a few months back. It's trendy, glittery, and best of all features pink, her favorite color.


The pattern's easy to follow with clear instructions, the size of the finished roll is perfect for travel, and it has two handy zippered compartments and a ribbon across the middle for tying up rings. It doesn't even come close to using up a full yard of fabric. As you can see, I'm still working on my zipper sewing skills, which would probably be improved if I either found where the cats hid my zipper foot or bought a new one. Still, this is a hard pattern to mess up and a quick one to work through. I plan to make more of these because I think they make perfect presents.

My only suggestions are cost saving ones:

• Use a plain fabric for the inside of the pockets and the one body piece that will only be seen when the zippers are open. I've seen someone else do this and I think the contrast actually looks nice in addition to saving you more of your main fabric.


• I didn't do this myself, but next time I'll skip interfacing the inner pocket pieces. It felt a little bulky with both pocket pieces and both body pieces interfaced and none of my jewelry is fragile enough to need that much padding.

Thanks for another winner, One Yard Wonders!

Folklore Bag From One Yard Wonders

Yet another discovery I can thank the blogging community for. After seeing enough glowing reviews of and wonderful results from One Yard Wonders I finally got it through to my tiny little brain that it must be a fantastic sewing resource. After a quick cost-benefit analysis I could tell I'd get my money's worth. It helps that they somehow kept the price so low while compiling 101 creative projects in an attractive and well-bound book.

While many of the projects caught my eye, I was most comfortable sewing bags so I skipped straight to that section of the book. The Folklore Bag is now one of my favorite bags to make. It looks more complicated than it actually is to sew and results in the perfect-sized bag for ferrying around the necessities with enough room left for a book (which I consider to be a necessity as well). I've made them as gifts, made them for myself, and plan to make many more.

Birthday present for my mom

A few tips on making the Folklore Bag:

• Be sure to check the publisher's website for errata before attempting any of the book's projects.


• Interfacing the straps makes the bag feel sturdier and more professional. For additional stability you might want to try interfacing the lining as well.


• The interior pocket's a little dinky. Try playing with the dimensions, make it longer for two pockets, or, if you're feeling extra brave, make it into a zippered pocket.


• I've had success making this bag with any type of fabric. Just remember that interfacing is your friend when using quilting and other lightweight fabric. I even made one (the bat bag pictured above) using a re-purposed t-shirt so I used a stiffer broadcloth as the lining to compensate.


• Get creative and use a contrasting/coordinating fabric for the lining and/or the upper band. Embellish yours with decorative trim, buttons, or flowers. The pattern's so clean and simple that anything goes!