Ribbon Butterfly Sleeve Tutorial

 As promised, here is the tutorial for putting a ribbon sleeve on a plain onsesie.  It is relatively easy and doesn't take too long. 
You will need:

• Onesie
• Ribbon, 5/8 " width
• Ribbon, 1 1/2" width
• Seam ripper
• matching thread, scissors, etc...

Step 1:  Unpick the sleeves.  Don't worry, it's not that scary.  Most onesies are cheaply made, so it won't take that long.  Make sure to pin down those flappythings on the shoulders:

 Step 2: This next step you will sew the ribbon on to seal the open edge of the armhole.  Start at the underarm seam (this particular area you may have struggled with during the unpicking stage because there are 3 pieces that joined at that part).  Take your 5/8" ribbon and fold it in half.  This part is probably the trickiest: you will need to place the armhole edge flush against the fold of the ribbon, while keeping the back of the ribbon ever so slightly longer than the front, so when you are sewing (front side up) you will be sure to catch the back with it.  Leave a bit of ribbon hanging over the underarm seam for good measure at the start and finish:

 Pin the heck out of it, and then sew close to the ribbon's finished edge:

 Make sure to back stitch at the beginning and end.  This is how the end should look:

 Step 3: This step you will be sewing the ribbon to make the butterfly sleeve itself.  Cut your ribbon, about 7 inches or so.  Sew a long/basting stitch and gather.  The most important part of this step is making sure that both ribbons/sleeves are EVEN.  So measure both sleeves/ribbon and make sure they are the same length and that the gathers are even:

 Place and pin them UNDER the ribbon edge, taking care that the sleeves are even with each other.  For the beginning and end of the sleeves, you'll want a nice curved edge.  This is easy to do.  At the start and finish (the cut ends) of the ribbon/sleeve's finished edge, move the finished edge of the 1 1/2" ribbon so that it meets with the 5/8" and makes a nice curved shape.  I hope that made sense!  You should have a little triangle of ribbon/sleeve hanging over in the inside, cut it off after you sew the sleeve on:

Sew close to the edge, and there you go!  Super cute!

Helpful hints:  I found that when I sewed the 5/8" ribbon on, the armholes jutted out too much for my liking.  Just tuck them inside the onesie and sew them up in the side seams.
Also, since you cut that little triangle shaped piece off from when you made the sleeve curved, it left a raw edge on the ribbon.  Raw edges on ribbon fray like crazy.  Take a lighter and seal the raw edges of the ribbon; it's a good idea to do that on the ribbon in the underarm as well.  Just don't set the onesie on fire, or yourself, or your house :).  Sometimes it can get scratchy if you melt too much of the ribbon, so another alternative is using Fray Check. 

There you have it! Now decorate the onesie till your heart is content.  I added ruffles on mine:

Corkscrew Hairbow Tutorial

  Here is my version of how to make a corkscrew hairbow.  They are so easy and so fun to make.

You'll need:

• An oven.  The microwave WILL NOT work for this project!!!  Preheat it to 250 degrees.   
• Whatever ribbon colors and widths you want.  These were my colors, in various widths:

 

•  Skewers
• Baking sheet

• Clips (or clothes pins--NOT plastic!)
• Glue gun
• Gem, bead, or anything you want for that extra bling
• Alligator clip

Use a clip to secure the wrapped end of your ribbon.  Wrap ribbon around skewer.  Try not to leave gaps, but don't opverlap.  You want them nice and snug: 

Do the same for all your ribbon colors; use a clip to secure the end:

Now put them in your pre-heated oven.  Hard I know, try not to burn your arms off when you put them in.  I like to run my ribbon skewers under water before putting them in the oven, it gives me peace of mind knowing that it is highly unlikely that they'll burst into flames and burn my house down if I take that extra step.  Leave them in the oven for 15 min.  Give or take.

Take them out, let them cool, and unwrap.  Take care not to pull too hard--let the ribbon keep it's shape.

You should have nice, tight curly ribbons like these:

Arrange anyway your little heart desires. Gluing helps.  A lot.

So cute!

Burned Flower Tutorial

 First, cut your circles.  I traced around some cups and made 3 different sizes, 5 of each, but you can make however much you want:

 Now the fun part.  With RIGHT sides of fabric together,  use tweezers to hold the piece just over the flame.   NOT in the flame.  You just need the heat to melt the edges to they look polished and most importantly, don't fray.

Now you have  a bunch of petals.  Arrange them so they look like a flower.  There is no right way, just do whatever you think looks best.  I like to glue gun mine, but regular craft glue or a needle and thread will do fine.  Whatever works. 

Add your bling.  I sewed mine in first and then glued it for security:

 If you're doing the nylon head band, cut off the ends and stich them together with your needle and thread.  Then cut out 2 circles (no bigger then your flower) of your felt and sandwich the seam between the felt circles. If your making it a clip, just hold open the clip and sandwich one side between the felt (you'll want the flat side to be by her head). Glue.  This makes it look neater but mostly keeps it comfortable for the baby to wear:

And here it is on our beautiful little model:

 Oh, and here is a similar version on Etsy.  $16 plus $4 for shipping.

I used leftover fabric, I had that button sitting around for litteraly ten years, and I paid 33 cents for the nylon.  I would have paid 8 times as much buying it from someone else.  Also it only took me what, a half hour to make?  It sure pays to make it yourself!