Hot Handle Holders

I just made these for my mother-in-law (for her birthday) using this tutorial!  They were so fun, easy and I loved how they turned out!  The tutorial was great too - though I didn't use it for much more than just the downloadable pattern as these are so easy to make.

I made this one first as a test one. :) I already have used it a good bit!

 Here's another tutorial I'm hoping to make soon.  I'm always loosing and getting my headset for my phone tangled up in my diaper bag. : )

Don't forget to enter my Dragonfly Homemade Soaps Giveaway here!

Linking to:
Raising Homemakers
Deep Roots at Home
Tea Rose Home
Growing Home

Little Girls Ruffle Skirt Tutorial

I recently made this skirt for my little sister and I thought I'd share how to make it with you all. It was so simple and easy and took only about 20 minutes from start to finish! : )

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I took the hip measurement 20" and divided it by two to get 10 and added 2" making 12" for ease of sewing and wearing.

I wanted the finished skirt to be close to 20" long, so I did the skirt body 16 1/2" with a 5" wide ruffle. That also gave plenty of fabric for casing in the waist for elastic and for the hem.
The skirt body was 12"x16 1/2".

For the ruffle I did 1.5 x 12" = 18 - 5"x18"

You will need to cut 2 of each the skirt body pieces and the skirt ruffles.


Baste a loose gathering stitch on the tops of the skirt ruffles and then sew them right sides together onto the skirt bodies. Finish seams.

Note: I pressed the hem before sewing the ruffles to the skirt bodies so it would be easier to hem after wards.


Sew & finish (serge, zigzag etc.) both side seams.

Make the casing for the elastic (depending on what width elastic you use you will need to make your casing to fit. For 1" elastic fold over 1/4" and then 1 1/8".)

Leave a small opening to feed the elastic through.

I like to top-stitch the casing as it helps keep the elastic from rolling.

Insert elastic and you're done!


Hope you can do it from this and if you have any questions feel free to ask! This is my first tutorial, so any tips will be gladly excepted! : )
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**Sense & Sensibility ePattern Giveaway**

I'm so excited to be hosting my first blog giveaway! How fun!

I have sewed and loved it for the last 7-8+ years! My wonderful Mom taught me how to sew using simple patterns and making doll blankets. I owe all my sewing knowledge to her. She spent countless hours helping & teaching me to cut fabric the most frugal ways, sew, re-sew, re-sew, re-sew, & yes re-sew again, iron, adjust patterns, etc. It was a long rough road those first years but now I'll be forever grateful for her help. I still remember those first projects with her by my side helping me along, what wonderful memories!

Now, today I can sew and I can't wait for the day when I'm blessed to teach my future daughters (only have Mr. T - 7 months - right now...) how to, just like my Mom taught me. I pray that I'll be just as patient and hardworking as my Mom - juggling all her daily tasks and helping a little girl learn how to sew...

Now on to the giveaway!!! :-)

Romantic Era Dress Pattern
I like the detail of this dress and have always liked the way dresses with buttons down the skirt look. : )

Jennie is a wife and stay at home mom to 9 children. (Love that! I'm one of 10!!!) Here's a little piece from the About me page:

"As a stay-at-home wife and mother, I never planned to devote eight hours a day to my sewing or pattern designing. While I thoroughly loved sewing for others, I was also committed to my family and did not want to rob them of precious time that could not be recaptured when my children were grown. With the arrival of our third son in 2001, I took time to refocus my plans and efforts for Sense and Sensibility. Many customers had asked me to sell copies of my patterns.

Girls' 1780's Portrait Dress Pattern

At first I wasn’t sure about drafting patterns for a wide range of sizes, but I finally took the plunge in 1998, introducing my Regency Gown Pattern. The immediate success of that pattern convinced me that there was a market for wearable, historical patterns that evoke the grace and charm of times past. I developed subsequent patterns slowly over a period of five years, and today I have 20 patterns available. I am so delighted to have met ladies from all over the world who share a passion for lovely, feminine designs. Read more..."

I was given this {below} pattern to review. I haven't had a chance to make this doll dress but I hope to soon. I'm hoping to make it for one of my younger sister (there's 4 of them). I've done lots of sewing before and really look forward to making this. I've read the instructions and looked over the pieces and have been really impressed with the effort put into them.

Doll's Romantic Era Dress ePattern

Jennie from Sense & Sensibility Patterns was so kind and has offered a FREE ePattern of their choice to one of my readers!

Mandatory Entry:

• First follow A Restful Place via Google Friend Connect and then go over to Sense & Sensibility Patterns and tell me which of Jennie's patterns is your favorite (don't worry you can always change your mind if you win). Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. :)

Extra Entries:

• Leave a comment with your favorite sewing tip to share with A Restful Place readers. (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway (2 entries)

This giveaway will end March 25, 2011 at midnight. I'll plan to post the winner the following day, Lord willing!

♥ Happy Sewing Ladies! ♥

*** I was given this pattern for review purposes from Jennie at Sense & Sensibility Patterns. All opinions expressed here are my own.***