Meet Santiago

He entered the world last July 2nd at 11:55am. It was a quick and easy natural birth. Thanks to everyone who wished us luck & has been thinking of us. 

June Wrap Up

June started slow on posts around here. To fill the gap and keep it moving a little, I decided to bring back my self Monthly Pinterest Challenge here. I picked 5 items to recreate or get inspired by and was able to cross some from the list:

 

Pin 1 & 2 

Pin 3 & 4 

I've also started a new thing in the blog, and every Saturday I show you a little glimpse of our lattest week.

week 1 - week 2 - week 3

And, although some of this sewing was done in May, it has only hit the blog in June, so here's the sewing projects that were shared through the month... 

 

Children's Day presents for my niece (dress) and my nephew (boy's wallet). 

  

Sewing Mama RaeAnna hosted a Romper Week, and I was part of it with a new romper for my daughter. I didn't stop there though and also had a brown romper and a blue romper for my baby boy, and there was even a fourth for my birthday niece. 

To finalize... I have also shared the story of WHY I SEW, and you can read it all HERE.

Now, please keep enjoying REFASHION MONTH series all through the month!

My Weekly Refashion Share #1 |FREE pattern & tutorial|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

A couple of months ago I made these two onesies for my baby boy. You can read more about them by clicking each photo.

   

They were both refashions from t-shirts, and ever since I made them, I've been wanting to share a tutorial. But not only a tutorial, you can have a FREE pattern, the one I drafted for my own. If you are expecting a baby, or have someone close to you that is, this would make a great gift, so go ahead, grab the PATTERN, print it and let's start sewing. 

Note before you start: 

- Some pattern pieces need to be taped together. In order to do that, you have to match the number on the pattern and letters A to B. Example: piece 4A to piece 4B. Tape them matching the symbols on both pieces. 

- I didn't realise it, but I've added two star pattern pieces, but just one is enough, of course. It is an optional add. 

- All seams are 1/4" except for sleeves hem, which are 1" long. (they are included in the pattern)

- Just one more thing, I've added a pattern piece for the short sleeves and one for the long sleeves option, when cutting your fabric, remember you just need one of the lenghts. 

Supplies: 

I have used t-shirts for the entire pieces. Even for the knit bias tape (in black). If you choose to add the star appliqué, you will also need just a little bit of fusible interfacing too. You can mix different fabric colours, but try to keep them from soft knit, it is a piece you're making for the delicate skin of a new baby. You will also need snaps. 

Cutting:

Start by cutting your pieces (make sure to have the right sides facing up). Information on how many to cut on each piece is on pattern and on the picture above. Besides the pattern pieces, you will need to use two tiny bits of scraps, cut them about 1"x2", fold it lenght wise and use a zig zag stitch all around the edges. You'll have two little squares you'll want to save for later. 

Sewing:

- Start by hemming both sleeves. Finish hem edges, then fold 1" towards the inside, press and stitch. This step is not pictured because I used the original hems from the t-shirts. If you're doing the same, remember to cut 1" off of the pattern piece. 

- With right sides together (RST) pin shoulders. Finish your seams (with a zigzag stitch/overlock), and press towards the back piece. 

- Place onesie with right side facing up, put sleeve RST and pin the sleeve all around (in case you have any doubts, check the colour/fabric of right and left sleeve in my onesie to check if you're doing it right). 

- Sew it and finish your seams. Press towards the sleeve. Do not repeat for the other sleeve (left side) yet. 

 

- Use one of those little scrap squares to add to the side seam in the right side of the onesie (first red arrow). When you sew the sides together it should be attached to the front side piece, and will stay in the interior of the onesie when you're done (as seen on the fouth photo below). 

- The second arrow on the first photo shows were the other little square will be added, but we'll get there a little later. 

- Put RST of the side and pin it from sleeve to bottom. Sew and finish your seams. 

- Make sure you have enough bias tape (I used about 44", but I guess it might change a little according to the stretch in your fabrics so the best thing to do is to measure all around your piece to know how much you will need, or just go, with the same measurement I've used and add an extra inch or two to be sure it will be enough. 

- Start pinning the bias tape right side of bias, facing wrong side of onesie, at the bottom of the front left side seam and go all around until you reach the bottom of the back left side (I hope it is clear in the first photo below). 

- Press seams down, turn about 1/4" and then the same again. 

- Pin and sew (on the right side) with a double needle or a zigzag stich. Don't pull your fabric while stitching, allow your machine to feed it and just guide it carefully. 

- This is how it will look when you're done with this step:

- You can add the other sleeve now, following the same steps you did to attach the first one, and can be seen on the photos below. 

- Close the left side seam. Put RST, and remember to add the second square to the seam. Pin, sew and finish seams. 

- Your onesie is almost finished. The last step consists in adding snaps. Check on pattern the places you should add them, they are marked with a circle, but you also have this photo here to help you:

And just a little more help, here's how snaps should be added:

Optional:

- I had just one extra step in my onesie. A problem that turned into garment design, I'd say. When I finished the whole thing, I realised it had two holes in the buttom of the back piece, as arrows below point to. To cover the mess, I've cut a piece from the black t-shirt scraps, used fusible interfacing to make it stiffer, used the star shapped pattern to cut an applique, pinned and stitched it on top of the holes. You can also do it to add style to your onesie, or not. Also you can apllique it in any other place of the onesie if you'd like. 

Now put it on your new baby and enjoy your newest creation. 

Refashion Month |Friends Stitched Together|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 


Hi! I'm Amy and I blog with my bestie over at FriendsStitchedTogether! We started blogging last year as a way to stay connected while staying home with our kids. We recently started our own sewing series called CraftingCon, based on all the things we love to love! This month's theme is Star Wars and Magda is hanging out with us in September for Princess month so be sure to check it out! I sew mainly for my two adorable boys, but decided to do something a little different this time and sew for my oldest niece. Come see how I turned a boring old curtain into a pretty dress for her!

Read all about Amy's refashion HERE. 

Refashion Month |Nest full of eggs|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

I'm Rachel and I blog at nest full of eggs. I live in Minnesota, USA with my husband and three children. I work at home as a contributor to the Oliver + S blog. These past few years I've enjoyed contributing to sewing books and magazines. I love to repurpose and have been doing it for years. I hope you like my refashion.

Please visit Rachel's blog to see her refashion. 

Refashion Month |Giggles & Beans|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

Hi everyone! I'm Shelly and I blog over at Giggles & Beans where I share my sewing adventure mostly
 involving my two lovely ladies, Ava and McKenna! I'm thrilled at the opportunity to take part in Magda's series and excited to be kicking off Refashion Month. Here is a peak at my Men's Shirt Vintage Refashion which you can see here.

  

 

Refashion Month Series - 2014 July Edition

I am so happy to announce that tomorrow kicks off another Refashion Month Series: July Edition. 

Not familiar with it? Let me tell you this will be an entire month of bloggers refashioning around here. 

You can check HERE for previous editions. 

This time, there have been some changes though. Instead of inviting my favourite bloggers, I have opened a sign up form for any blogger that would like to participate. This way, I am not only giving you "new" blogs to find out as I have discovered great bloggers myself too, as they signed up. 

Also, instead of having their posts published here at House of Estrela, I will have them introducing themselves here, with a peak at their refashion project, and direct you to their own blogs. 

Check out what a great line up we have this time:

Gigggles & Beans - Nest full of Eggs - Friends Stitched Together - The Lachman Collection - Sew Straight & Gather - FABulous Home Sewn - Skirt Fixation - Swoodson Says - Gracious Threads - Sews n Bows - Carissa Knits - Sew Shelly Sew - Hamilton Chicklets - Climbing the Willow - Serger Pepper - xoxo Grandma - Threading My Way - Sara Made - The Land of K.A. 

An amazing group of bloggers, right?! I am very thankful to all of them for their help on keeping July a busy month over here. It's the month my baby is due and I wasn't sure about hosting this season, but I was encouraged to do so by some of them (and other bloggy friends that aren't here). 

A new thing about the series, is that, for the very first time we will have a giveaway going on. Over 10 pattern designers are sponsoring this season's and there's a bundle of over 20 free patterns for a lucky winner. And it's so easy to try for it. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THAT'S NOT ALL... 

If you are sewing along, you have an extra opportunity to get +10 patterns from some of the designers from above. How to? Share a photo (only one please) with a link to a blog post of a refashion you've done (if possible in July) in our flickr group. All entries made until the 31st of July will enter the giveaway. Our guests and I, will vote for our favourite and a lucky winner will get this extra pattern bundle. Exciting?! | Refashion away everyone |