I'm a Princess DIY

Hi! This blog has been a bit quiet but it doesn't mean I am not sewing. "Au contraire" the French would say. I have been sewing up a storm! I have about 20 items sewn and photographed but I haven't had either the time or the will to blog about them. :)

Today I am part of the Make Believe blog tour! When Chelsea - who blogs over GYCT - asked a group pf bloggers who would like to join a sewing series about making cool props for kids to play pretend I had to say Yes! My kids *love* to play pretend so this series would be perfect for them to get some new props!


So I tried really hard (or not that much... :) ) to make something less... princess-y. Something that all my three kids could use when playing. But the odds where not in my favor. The girls won (again) and wanted demanded something... Frozen like. So I grabbed some blue tulle that was seating on my stash (since I made this tutorial here on how to make a tulle skirt) and made them this - a fabric crown with a tulle train and a tulle pom pom scepter. I would rather call it a wand, but my middle one said "No Mom, wands are for fairies and I am not a fairy, I'm a Princess." So here you go, she learned a new word - scepter. :) 

Let's get started!

Fabric Crown with Tulle Train Tutorial

Material you'll need: tulle, 1 fat quarter of quilters cotton, 3/8'' elastic, fusible fleece (or any heavy weight fabric). Optional: embellishments (trims, sequins, etc.)

How to make it:

1. Cut 2 crown pieces out of the fat quarter using this pattern I made. Seam allowance (SA) of 1/4''is NOT included, so make sure to cute around the pattern piece leaving roughly 1/4'' all around.
2. Cut 1 crown piece out of fusible fleece. This time you do not need to add seam allowance.
3. Press the fusible fleece piece to one of the crown pieces, leaving 1/4'' all around (see image above).
4. Put both crown fabric pieces right sides together (RST) and sew the upper (curvy) edge and the lower (straight) edge, leaving two openings on the sides.
5. Clip the curves and snip the tip of the crown. Turn tight side out (RSO) making sure to pock out the tips, and press making sure to fold to the inside about 1/4'' on the side edges. 

Optional: 
1) You can top stitch the upper and lower edges (make sure to leave the sides edges open!).
2) You can add embellishments to the crown! I have opted to leave this one super simple - I like simple... :) But I bet my girls would love some precious stones on it! I may be adding some sequins or rhinestones later.

6. Cut a 14'' x 2.5'' piece of the cotton fabric. Fold RST and stitch with a 1/4'' SA. Turn RSO. Press with the seam on the back center line - this will be a stitching guide later.
7. Cut a 34'' (width of fabric) x 24'' of tulle. Fold along the middle. Gather on the folded edge (check my tutorial on how to gather). 
8. Put the tulle (the gathered edge) on the fabric strip, matching the tulle edge with the center seam. Stitch at about 1/8'' of the lower edge of the strap.
9. Grab your elastic. Cut a piece according to this equation: Measure your child's head width. Subtract 14'' (which the the width of the crown). Take 1''. Example: My kid's head width is 20''. 20''-14'' = 6''. 6''-1'' = 5''. I have cut a piece of elastic with 5''.
10. Insert the elastic into the fabric strap. Sew the edges to hold the elastic (back stitch to hold it tight).

11. Tuck the edges of the strap (with the elastic on) into the folded open side edges of the crown. Stitch to secure. 

You're done! Your Princess have a beautiful fabric crown!

Now to the scepter!

Tulle Pom Pom Princess Scepter Tutorial 

Materials you'll need: wood rod (or a pencil or a barbecue wood stick, whatever you have at hand), tulle, one rubber band, ribbon, hot glue.

How to make it:
1. Cut about 20 squares of tulle with 6''x6''.
2. Wrap a rubber band around the middle of the bunched squares.
3. Pull out the individual tulle squares, one by one, arranging them to achieve a pom pom shape.
4. Wrap the wood rod around with the ribbon, securing it with glue (hot glue or craft glue).
5. Glue some ribbon strips to the upper edge.
6. Glue the tulle pom pom.

And you're done!

Make sure to check all the blog tour participants to find lots of great tutorials! I am sure your kids will love each and every one of these!




This Princess was so so happy!

Happy sewing!