Children

Kids Shorts with Free Sewing Pattern

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A comfy pair of shorts are a must have for every kid! You can use this free sewing pattern to make shorts in woven or knit fabrics for your little boy or girl. This simple and quick sewing project is great for beginner sewists and busy moms!

I used this free kid pants pattern and cropped it to my desired length. So far I’ve made these shorts in denim, linen, flannel, and knit. For this interlock fabric, I used my serger and twin stretch needles but don’t worry if you have neither. You can use a regular zig zag stitch on your sewing machine. 

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Adult

DIY T-shirt Transformation into a Halter Top

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I’m so excited to share with you a fun and easy t-shirt transformation project! As I am a huge lover of versatile garments, this tutorial can also be used to make a bikini, bralette, or a triangle cup crop top, like I did here. 

Before we begin, be sure to tag me on Instagram @sew_zune or share your pictures on the Zune’s Sewing Therapy Facebook. I’d love to see your finished project!

Let’s get started…

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Children

DIY Kids Paperbag Shorts with Free Pattern & Tutorial

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Paperbag shorts are a cute and stylish way to beat the heat! Summers in Oklahoma can be around 105 degrees so I love that these shorts are comfy and not clinging to the body from sweat. If you’re making these paperbag shorts for your little one, be sure to use breathable fabrics like cotton, chambray or linen that will allow airflow and help them stay cool. 

These easy pull-on shorts have an elasticized waistband and patch pockets on the front. You can also make these in a boys/unisex version by adjusting the width of the waistband. 

If you do make these paperbag shorts, be sure to tag me on Instagram @sew_zune or post the picture on the Zune’s Sewing Therapy Facebook. I’d love to see your finished project! 

Ok, let’s get sewing!

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Adult

Scoop Neck T-Shirt – Free Pattern & Tutorial

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I love simple sewing projects that need little to no deciphering, especially during summer vacation when I am helping Logan with his summer studies and also trying to sew at the same time. 

I made this scoop neck t-shirt pattern for my mother who has keloid on her neck and chest from multiple thyroid surgeries. Keloids are raised scars that continue to grow even after the original injured skin has healed. They’re not harmful or contagious, but can cause pain, itchiness, or discomfort. Since one of my mother’s keloids is right on her chest, she prefers clothing with necklines that do not rub against and irritate the tender scar. So this is her favorite summer pattern – comfy to wear and easy to pair with a variety of bottoms!

If you do make this t-shirt, be sure to tag me on Instagram @sew_zune or post on the Zune’s Sewing Therapy Facebook. I’d love to see your finished project! 

Ok, let’s begin…

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Adult

Cap Sleeve Top – Free Pattern & Tutorial

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I got this Cape May Sea Life Delight fabric from Joann’s 2 years ago and it’s still one of my favorites. It’s lightweight and cool, plus the cute sea creature prints just shout summer vacation and beach!

I’ve already made a cinched waist dress out of this fabric, tutorial here and video here, so I knew I wanted to make a loose top that could be worn casually with jeans or styled with a skirt for a meeting. 
Let’s make it!

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Adult

Quarter Circle Skirt (Woven Version) – FREE PATTERN & TUTORIAL

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I’m so excited to be sharing one of my favorite skirt styles with you, the quarter circle skirt. It’s feminine and flattering on any body type so join me and make yourself one (or a few) today!

I’m doing 3 tutorials on different ways to make the quarter circle skirt. This is the 2nd of the series which uses a woven fabric and an invisible zipper. The FREE printable template is included below. If you haven’t tried the 1st woven pull up skirt version, check it out here!

I love this zippered version so much that I’ve made 2 already, both in linen. And since they’re both midi-length, I’ve been able to wear them to meetings and school events. 

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Sewing Tips & Tricks

DIY RUCHING Part 2: Sewing a Ruched Garment

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The Sewing Retreat has a great selection of elastic lace trims. So gorgeous!

I don’t get many opportunities to go shopping for clothes for myself so I love adding little timeless fashion trends to my wardrobe whenever I can, which means I can wear the same garment each year and still look stylish! The ruching sewing  technique has been around for hundreds of years and is still so dominant today, from wedding dresses to t-shirts and leggings. Another thing I love is the elastic lace trim ribbon which has a feminine and vintage-y feel to it. Combine the two and you have a classic and stylish wardrobe staple to enjoy for many many years!

In this 2nd part of the tutorial, we will sew a ruched garment from the ruching pattern that we drafted in Part 1. If you haven’t seen the first part of the tutorial, check it out here. 

For this project, I’m using an organic bamboo jersey fabric in natural and an organic cotton elastic lace trim, both from The Sewing Retreat. If you’ve been following my blog, you probably already know that I’m really keen on organic materials because of my eczema and aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis – anything to help me feel as comfortable as possible during bad flareups.

If you want to make some ecofriendly fashion too, visit The Sewing Retreat and check out their gorgeous selection of organic fabrics and trims. Use code HAPPYSEWING to get a 5% off!

Now, let’s get sewing!

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Patternmaking

DIY RUCHING Part 1: How To Ruche Your Pattern

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If you’re an avid sewist like me you probably have a ton of patterns, and some you love so much that you’ve made many variations of it. Well, here’s another fun style to try – ruching!

I’ve divided this tutorial into 2 parts to keep it short and sweet. Part 1 is about adding ruching to any sewing pattern you already have – blouses, t-shirts, pants, dresses, and skirts. Part 2 covers the ruching sewing process using an elastic – I used an elastic lace trim ribbon. If you haven’t tried elastic lace yet, go treat yourself to some. It’s absolutely gorgeous! See Part 2 of Ruching here. 

Now, let’s talk about patterns. First, make a copy of whichever pattern piece you will be adding the ruching to – front, back, side, etc. I’m using a pattern that I copied from one of my tank tops. If you’d like to see how to make a pattern out of your existing garments too, check out this simple tutorial – you already know how your favorite garment fits so you know you will love it!

Let’s make a pattern!

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Adult

Quarter Circle Skirt (Easy Pull Up Version) – FREE TEMPLATE & TUTORIAL

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My Outfit:
DIY Quarter Circle Skirt
DIY Ruched Tank Top
Do you want to make yourself a ruched top too? I’ll include a how-to link here later!

Every summer I find myself alternating between shorts and cropped jeans, so at the beginning of this year I promised myself that I would break my own boring tradition by adding more fun, flirty skirts to my wardrobe! I decided to go for the quarter circle style which is very much like the A-line skirt – it has a fitted top and a flared bottom. It’s truly a timeless wardrobe staple that flatters women of any age, size, or body shape. Trust me, you just can’t wrong with this style!

I’ll be posting a few tutorials on different variations of the quarter circle skirt made in knits and woven. Let’s start off the series with an elastic waist pull up version made in woven. This skirt was really easy on my swollen fingers and I was able to dress myself quickly with no issues before running out to do errands. Another thing I love about the quarter circle skirt is that it doesn’t use as much fabric as the full or half circle skirts. Winning! 

Also, you can share pictures of your finished quarter circle skirt on the Zune’s Sewing Therapy Facebook or tag @sew_zune on Instagram. I’d love to see how you style it!

Here’s how to make it…

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