Ruffle Love

   So...I finally got a chance to bust out that ruffle fabric I'd bought and I made 2 projects already!  Today I thought I'd show you one of them with a link to the tutorial I used to make it.  I've got one color left to work with as I showed real restraint in only ordering 3 yards as a trial!  Go check out their site and you'll see what I mean.  The choices are amazing!

  I have to say that quilting cottons have spoiled me.   The ruffle fabric as slippery knits have a tendency to be was a little more contrary than my normal fabric choice.  That said, neither of the projects I made was at all difficult and if I used knits more often wouldn't take longer than 30 minutes at the very most.  In fact, the skirt I made was labeled the 5-minute skirt over at Mandy's when she made one.  I'll show that one in a day or so.

  But today, I want to show off this little pretty.

Ruffle Fabric has a list of links for free tutorials available in blog land using their fabrics and I really liked Christine's tutorial for a Ruffle Tunic.  I showed it to Em who quickly agreed and I made it this morning.  I considered making it dress length, but I thought it would be so cute with little capri leggings and give her more versatility.  She could also wear it with jeans and if it still fits, next fall and winter with a long sleeved shirt underneath.

  The only change I made to Christine's tutorial was when it came time to attach the gathered ruffle fabric to the knit band.  As I've mentioned that Emma has sensitive skin, I wanted to enclose the ruffle fabric edges, so after sewing the band pieces together to attach the straps, I left the band open wrong side out.  That way I could attach the gathered ruffle fabric to what would become the "inside" of the band.  Then I just folded the "outside" or right side (what shows when she's wearing it) down and topstitched around the whole thing to cover the seam and give it a finished look.  Does that make any sense at all?  If I hadn't been making it up as I went along I would have taken pictures.  ;)

  And to make this project even better...remember that pile of clothing from my closet to be refashioned?  I used a pair of black yoga pants that had shrunk in the wash and were too short.  One leg was more than enough to make the band and straps!  I've even got enough for a headband if I'm so inclined.  And I've got another leg and the waistband left to use!  Another tunic maybe?  In my size?  Well, we'll see about that...