Girlie Spa Wrap Tutorial

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Janice| Leave a comment

There have been a lot of questions and comments about the spa wraps I made for my granddaughter’s spa birthday party.   The most frequent question is how to get a proper fit, especially for children who are not available for measuring.

After a lot of trial and error, mistakes and re-do’s, I think I finally have the sequence and details worked out.  So here is a step-by-step spa wrap tutorial from sizing to finish that I hope will be helpful.

Materials you will need to make spa wrap. Note: my color ink cartridge ran out today. On the embroidery design template, the blue is supposed to be green.

REQUIREMENTS

  • 1 bath towel (not too thick)
  • black gingham 2″ x 60″
  • 30″ green grosgrain ribbon 3/4-1 1/2″ wide
  • 1 novelty button  (watermelon button is hidden by ribbon)
  • 4″ scrap for yo-yo
  • water soluble stabilizer~4″ square for yo-y0, 8×8″ to cover embroidery
  • embroidery design for monogram to match button
  • 10″ velcro
  • 10-18″ 3/4″ elastic
  • green thread for embroidery and top stitching
  • black  thread for embroidery
  • monofilament thread for stitching ribbon in place
  • 30-36″ scrap ribbon with large safety pin

SIZING–The standard/average chest measurements below are from a chart found on-line.    If you are unable to measure your spa wrap recipient, just guestimate by age.

The only component of the wrap that requires a child-specific measurement is the elastic.  The following formula worked perfectly 9 girls, ages 5-10, none of whom were measured.  Simply deduct 12″ from the chest measurement on the chart below. Of course, if the child is larger or smaller than average, take that into account.

  • Children’s sizes   1       2       3      4      5      6       6X
  •     Chest”          18.5      20   20.5    21.5    22.5      23
  • Girls’ sizes          7         8        10        12     14
  •     Chest “           23       24      25.5      27    28.5

This works because the wrap has a 10″ overlap, closed with velcro.  This allows for a wide range of adjustments when the wrap is worn.  The other 2″ is for stretch in the elastic.  So from the chest measurement, 10″ is subtracted for velcro, and 2″ for stretch.  For example, the size 7 standard measurement is 23″.  After subtracting 12″ , the suggested elastic length is 11″.  Easy peasy.

QUICK OVERVIEW

  • Fold short side hem to right side and stitch in place.
  • Make casing
  • Embroider monogram
  • Insert elastic
  • Attach velcro
  • Make gingham ruffle
  • Join ruffle to towel\
  • Stitch grosgrain ribbon over raw edge of ruffle
  • Create gingham rosette
  • Make and attach yo-yo
  • Sew on novelty button

DIRECTIONS

1.  Fold one short side over approximately 1″ to front, exposing hem.  Straight stitch in place with lengthened stitch, approx. L. 3.5 .  NOTE:  Decorative grosgrain ribbon will be sewn over hem so it will be held securely by that row of stitches.

Hem on short side is folded from wrong to right side of towel and stitched in place. Blue dashes indicate L. 3.5 straight stitching, which doesn't show up in photo.

 

2.  Reduce bulk at casing:  On right side, draw a horizontal line 2 1/2″ from top of towel.  Work zig zag stitch from top to line, about 1/4 to 1/2″ in from fold.

 

3.  Pick out straight stitches from top to drawn line, at the end of zig zag.  Cut away notch from above line and to zig zag stitches.  This removes bulk.

 

4.  Casing:  Fold top edge (long side of towel) down 1-1/2″ to right side. With green thread in needle and bobbin, work triple straight stitch very close to bottom of casing.  Repeat with edge stitch foot 1/8″ (or so) from folded edge.  NOTE:  Without triple straight stitch, the stitches bury themselves into the terry cloth and are not prominent enough to suit me.

 

Casing is triple straight stitched with green thread in both needle and bobbin.

 

5.  Embroider monogram to finish 1-1″ from folded over hem edge. Cover embroidery area with water soluble stabilizer.

 

Water soluble stabilizer covers embroidery area. This monogram design is from Five Star Fonts Lacy Girl Font collection.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Tutorials

Ladies Room

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Janice| 8 Comments

NOTE: I promised that my spa wrap tutorial would be posted today, but it will probably be later this evening.  I’m half way through it all, but had to halt. So sorry, but real life has a way of cutting into my sewing life time.

I think it is really important that basic facilities be clearly marked. At the end of this post is the story of an unfortunate incident that took place at the Asheville (NC) airport some years ago. Well placed signage would have prevented this embarassing occurence. But I digress……

After some remodeling at our church, the ladies bathroom was further removed from the Fellowship Hall.  In order to make it easier for visitors and newcomers to find their way, this note was posted inside the hall that led to the bathroom.

Now, I’m not a gal with time on her hands, not someone looking to fill up the lonely hours of my day with whatever sewing project I can wheedle into the sewing room.  But it seemed to me that we needed a more substantial sign than this paper note.

So I embroidered the sign above.  I thought the thread colors should be somewhat subdued and conservative. Actually, I embroidered two because there is a turn in the hall with a second directional paper note.

The floral corner design is from Martha Pullen’s Zundt 1 collection.  Monogram Wizard Plus provided the Curly Q font that spelled out Ladies and also provided the basic shapes for the arrow.

My Ladies signs aren’t rocket science and they won’t make the world a better place or delight a child.  But I think they are more pleasing to the eye and much more durable than those posted now.

I am also reminded that my fancy workhorse Brother Quattro can be put to use for practical purposes in addition to making elegant children’s clothing and home dec items.

Now, why do I think signage is so important?  Well, let me tell you.  I was teaching in Maggie Valley, NC, at one of Mildred Turner’s fabulous, always-sold-out Sewing in the Mountains schools.  The day before classes began, I was assigned to pick up another teacher at the Asheville airport, about an hour away.   I left late, got lost and was worried that I would arrive after the flight landed.  So I did some unconscionable speeding.

As I rushed, breathless, into the completely empty lobby, I saw that I had 6 minutes to spare!  Yippee! Time for a bathroom break!  At every ticket station was an agent who looked up as I rushed in.  I stood tall (as tall as a 5′-1/2″ lady can), took a deep breath and calmly walked into the bathroom  directly across from the first bank of ticket counters.

As I walked in, I gasped at a man, standing up, putting his equipment back in his pants.  I was outraged and announced, “You are in the wrong bathroom!”

He calmly finished his business and smiled, saying, “I don’t think so.”  Then I noticed the urinal.

As I rushed out, every agent was staring at me, grinning from ear to ear.  I ducked into the POORLY MARKED!!!  ladies room a little further down the lobby and stayed there until I heard the rush of arriving passengers.  Only then did I sneak out of the bathroom, unnoticed by the agents.

As it turned out, I was late picking up the other teacher.  But I didn’t care.

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Posted in machine embroidery, White Wednesday

Spa Wraps for American Girl Dolls

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Janice| 2 Comments

The spa wraps for American Girl dolls are finished, waiting at the home of the birthday girl for the guests to arrive.

Laurel's wrap

 

spa wrap for Laurel's doll

The big Spa-tacular birthday party is today so I quickly snapped a few pictures while the wraps were still in my possession.  Each guest is bringing her doll to the pampering party where they will dress in matching outfits. Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, machine embroidery, party accessories

9 Spa Wraps Done!

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Janice| 18 Comments

Cherries decorate Five Star Font's Lacey Girl Font "K."

I’ve just finished 9 spa wraps for my granddaughter’s Spa-tacular 8th birthday party.  These have been so much fun to make!  All the materials were on hand, except for the towels themselves and the velcro.   It was fun to match up the trims, buttons, embroidery designs and embellishments.  Using from my stash gave me a false sense of being frugal!

Two different fonts were used, both from Five Star Fonts.  Because each wrap is sized to the child, and because there were some duplicate initials, it was necessary to easily match up a child to the appropriate wrap. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls

Using Vintage Hankies

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Janice| 10 Comments

UPDATE: Take a look at the fabulous quilt Lynn made for her mother. She left this comment:
I also love vintage hankies. My mother had several that had been gifts from friends and penpals when she was young. She gave then to me and I “regifted” some of them back to her in a quilt. I used some designs from Embroidery Library and sent them a few photos of the completed project. They put them up on the website and here’s the link.

I love pretty handkerchiefs.  I love the exquisite needlework, the elaborate designs, and the options they offer for re-purposing.  They can be used in so many ways–vintage handkerchiefs are like money in the bank.  But you don’t have to break the bank to get them.  Each of  these cost $1!

Of course, there is the original purpose for these beauties.  Aside from the one set aside for my own personal use, I find it is handy to always have a clean one in my purse for others. Continue reading →

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Posted in antique textiles, antique/vintage textiles

Decisions: To the Garden or the Sewing Room?

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Janice| 11 Comments

Each day I struggle with this decision.  Gloriosa lilies or Swiss batiste?  Weeding or smocking? Roses or lace?  Lately, more often than not, I have chosen the garden over the sewing room. Very soon here in Florida it will be too hot to do anything but suffer  outside. Now is the time to garden. But still, my sewing room calls.

Okay, so I have done a little sewing on the spa wraps for Laurel’s spa-tacular 8th birthday party next week.  But mostly, I have sewn at night. I finished the first wrap in the wee hours this morning.

Because there are 9 party guests,  I still have 8 to make.  These are not difficult, but the sequence of steps is important.  Now that I have that figured out, the  rest should go together fairly quickly. Then  10 matching doll wraps must be made.

That makes 20 white towel projects, more than enough to qualify for White Wednesday at Faded Charm.  Check out this beautiful site.

Except for the velcro and the 10 white bath towels, all the materials were on hand.  Each wrap will have a gingham ruffle, but the ribbon may be lime green or aqua or red.  This should make a dent in my ribbon stash.

Spring in Florida is always a glorious time, but with the drought and cool weather, it has come later this year.

For those readers who are gardeners, the remainder of this post is a tour of my yard and a peek at this Florida spring.

It took several years to train this jasmine to climb up the tree. Now, it climbs a few feet each year. We need to edge the driveway.

The sweet, heavy scent of the Confederate jasmine covers the wrought iron porch rail and climbs up several palm trees.  Its perfume is a constant distraction when I try to get anything accomplished in the house.

The perfume from the jasmine is just heavenly.

Bob and I often sit on the porch after dinner and enjoy the scent and the mild spring weather.  I just planted purple torenia in the little pots on the tables but they aren’t blooming yet. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery, uncategorized

Cousins’ Matching Birthday Dresses

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Janice| 7 Comments

I’m busy making spa wraps for Laurel’s 10 birthday party guests and their AG dolls. Then I’ll start embroidering button covers for my Hope Yoder button-up machine. They will be attached to ponytail holders but the girls will do that at the party. Lots of fun, but nothing to show or report now. So once again, I am posting one of Judy Day’s projects.

Her 8 year-old granddaughters are just 3 months apart in age.  Making gorgeous, matching birthday dresses, along with gorgeous matching doll dresses and hairbows is an annual challenge for their long-distance grandmother. Of course, there are also matching Christmas and Easter dresses.  If you haven’t seen Judy’s lovely creations, click on Judy Day’s Creations  in the menu on the right.

As happens so often, Creative Needle  magazine provided the inspiration for the birthday dresses.  Judy told me that the Sept./Oct. 2001 issue had been waiting its turn on her cutting table since before the girls were born.  That’s where she stacks “I definitely want to make that!” ideas. Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, hairbows, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, Judy Day's creations

Fun Day with Kids

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Janice| 6 Comments

If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one.  There is no fun for old people like it!  ~Hannah Whithall Smith

After spending the morning at the nearby wildlife refuge, grandchildren Robert and Laurel ( two uppermost tree climbers, striped shirt girl and tow head boy), stopped by with their friends and mothers.  I’m telling you, grandchildren are SO MUCH FUN!!!

After a quick lunch which their mothers had packed,  the first activity was decorating cupcakes I had baked for their dessert.  It was just like Cupcake Wars on tv!

With bags of buttercream frosting, tubs of sprinkles, cans of whipped cream and bowls of chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, they had all the fixin’s for prize winning cupcakes.  Laurel’s design philosophy is “too much is seldom enough.”

Brett was of the same persuasion.  How can more not be better? Continue reading →

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Posted in Nana fun, uncategorized

Heirloom Cutwork Tablecloth Dress

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Janice| 2 Comments

This is an amazing dress, an example of what I would call heirloom recycling.  Whoever made this dress embraced the “green” philosophy–or simply needed a white dress and had a pretty tablecloth.  Whatever.

On a yard sale/church bazaar Saturday outing,  a mother/daughter duo came across this dress.  Well aware of my penchant for antique textiles,  the shopping duo decided then and there to gift it to me.   What wonderful friends!  And, of course, I was delighted. Continue reading →

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Posted in antique textiles, antique/vintage textiles, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, ladies, White Wednesday

Pin Stitch~~ Part II

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Janice| 2 Comments

In the previous post, Pin Stitch…What’s it all about? basic information was given about fabric, needle, thread, foot and fabric preparation.  There was more, because pin stitch is one of my favorite techniques.  And my writing style can be summarized as why-say-in-a-sentence-what-could-be-said-in-a-paragraph?  But I bet you already knew that.

This is part II with how-to details and applications for this classic stitch.  I hope it is more useful than boring.

NITTY GRITTY HOW TO–After reading all this background  and materials preparation info, you are probably wondering  HOW DO YOU DO IT????  Finally, we get down to it.

 

Lace edging is pin stitched to the sleeve of a shadow smocked dress, as detailed a few posts ago.

 

Pin stitch is almost always connecting one thing to another, like lace to fabric on the sleeve to this shadow smocked dress or the angel blanket above. Continue reading →

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Posted in techniques, Tutorials