Musing and Pondering

So yesterday I was doing some simple fixes to some clothing I bought at the thrift store. And as I was unpicking dead elastic from a skirt I got to thinking that with tough times like this more people need simple sewing skills. How to mend a hole, (in jeans or a knit) how to remove a zipper and replace it, how to patch a worn out section of fabric, how to hem a pair of pants or skirt, how to remove old elastic and replace it. etc.

And I got to thinking that perhaps some tutorials are in order for basic sewing and mending skills? So if I did make some tuts(I can even make video and text with pictures.) which ones would you want to see first?

1.) How to mend a hole, (in jeans or a knit)

2.) how to remove a zipper and replace it,

3.) how to patch a worn out section of fabric

4.) how to hem a pair of pants or skirt

5.) how to remove old elastic and replace it

6.) Other(comment to tell me what this is.)

Please comment and let me know! If you are all ready a skilled seamstress think about what was something that took you the longest to figure out how to do and pick that one.

Bethany of MrsMulticraft(Now Crafting Baby!)

Maternity Top Refashions

I made this top from a tutorial at DIY Maternity. It was a mens button down shirt. Now a cute and adorable tunic. I've worn it several times and gotten tons of compliments. I've directly linked to the tutorial I used so other pregnant mommies can make it! 

This was a skirt but the waist band was so tiny. I've turned it into a shirt and included a sort of tut on my blog!  It was given to me by a lady at my church and I thought I'd document the process and share back with all! I think with a cute belt at the empire waist it would be really cute over the baby belly.
here's the url for that:

http://mrsmulticraft.blogspot.com/2011/05/skirt-to-shirt-tutorial.html

enjoy! And I'd love to know what you think!  

Ideas please!

Hi all!
I am almost 24 weeks preggers and while I have bought most of my clothing thrifted or at discount stores. I want to make some things. I have bought these two cute t-shirts several sizes larger than I should ever need thinking I could make a ruffle shirt for a preggo woman. (please ignore the messy background. We are working on merging my craft room with hubby's office and everything is in boxes or piles.)

I need some help deciding what kind of ruffles will flatter the baby bump. I could do something like this:
http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/2010/01/tutorialruffle-shirt.html
or this:
http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/2010/05/tutorial-ruffle-shirt-2.html
Bib style:
http://madmim.com/the-puffy-shirt/
Or Tuxedo/vertical ruffles:
http://www.copycatcrafts.com/refashioned-j-crew-copycat-ruffled-t-shirt/

Please help me decide! I plan to gather the bottom 4-6 inches with elastic so it will grow with my bump. But help me with my ruffle dilema! Which option will look best with a baby belly?
Bethany of MrsMulticraft