Everybody’s Talking Sewing

So I found these great glow-in-the-dark buttons and had to stock them. Way cool, in two sizes, and completely safe for kids clothing.

All I could think was: HALLOWEEN!

First let me share a picture of a ‘witch’ we helped create using these buttons…. she is just too cute (and one really patient kid too).

Just put the buttons in the sun - or under a lamp - for even as short as 10-minutes and they’ll glow for you. If you keep them in the light for an hour or more, you can expect 5 or 6 hours of glow time. Perfect for trick-or-treating or that Halloween party.

Yes, all us adults are going to use them too!

Glow-in-the-Dark Button Bracelet

I used two packages of the buttons - you can use less or more, completely personal preference - and some round, black elastic.

I cut a piece of the round, black elastic a little more then double my wrist measurement and opened up the two packages of buttons.

Taking one of the buttons in hand, I threaded it on the piece of elastic. It made more sense to me to move it to the middle and work from side-to-side, then starting on one end.

Because I did want this to be the middle point, I stacked two button - the 5/8″ and then the 3/8″ on top of it. Thread the elastic from the bottom of the 5/8″, then through the 3/8″ - back down the other hole in the 3/8″, and the 5/8″.

I scooted them until they’re were pretty much centered. The elastic stretched (well duh, Ann), but the buttons aren’t going to be moving unless you manually drag them along it.

Since this was my starting point - and the middle - I tied a double slip-knot underneath the larger button. Trust me, that knot is not coming out!

With two sizes to play with, I alternated singles, doubles, and both sizes; don’t like the way it looks - just slide the button off the elastic and try again. Child’s play!

Okay, I was pretty happy with the amount of buttons on the elastic here…. and it was a good mix of highs-and-lows for variety too.

It was time for one more double slip-knot. I tied it firmly behind the last large button. This is the only other time I knotted anything. The round elastic is very durable and the buttons weren’t moving once threaded into place.

Clip the ends close to the knot. I daubed on a little Fray-Check: the just because factor. You can use a dot of glue on the knot if you like too.

And here it is being worn - and glowing great!  This is a super fast and easy project that would be perfect for a group of kids to do. No mess, no fuss, inexpensive and fun to do. I think we have a winner….

Glow-in-the-Dark buttons can be found right here.

And in anticipation of Halloween - how about a little Cat Bowling game? No cats were harmed, they were all ‘Spared’!

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I did something really dumb yesterday. I walked into one of those fancy (read expensive) bath shoppes. The container holding ’special bath salts’ costs more then probably 90% of all the items in my bathroom combined. I was so out of my league.

Then I saw it - a special body scrubbing loofah. It was made out of some nylon material, long, with handles on each end so you could use it single-handed. I was in love!

Okay, I was in love until I saw the $35 price tag.

When my heart started beating again, I decided that the next stop was the fabric store. Here my “sisters-in-saving-money” is my $2.50 version of a really terrific body loofah: step-by-step.

Your Loofah

I bought two different colors of illusion netting; 72″ wide, 1-1/2 yards each. My completed body bath loofah is 33″ long - plus handles, and 9″ wide. You can make this as long-and-wide as you like of course; I decided to make mine a bit wider then standard.

This would give me enough for 2 complete body loofahs. I used illusion netting because it’s soft and gentle on the skin. Regular netting - unless you’re someone with scales instead of skin - is just too harsh.

Gently press the netting if it’s too crinkled, you’ll have better results and less chasing the ends if they’re nice and smooth.

Cut a piece 4 layers thick by 1 yard (36″) long. Trim the ends so that they’re even; I pinned one side after trimming so that I could safely move it to trim the other size.

Fold under about 1″ on each end - again, I pinned this as I did it, to hold everything together.

Fold your netting in half - along the long edge. As you line the short ends up, you can remove those pins holding under that 1″, and re-pin holding it all together.

Go to your sewing machine and sew - using a 2.5 length straight stitch - 1/8″ from the edge on each long side. Do not sew across the short ends at this time.

Now, sew a single ‘let’s hold everything together’ line down the middle - just eyeball it, you don’t have to measure.

Remove all the pins and put this piece aside for right now, time to work on the handles.

Cut two strips from your illusion netting - 4″ wide and 4 layers thick.

 

My Helper

I’m pausing to show you my assistant.

This is Molly… Molly the Monster, Molly the Menace, Molly - Mommy’s little darling.

This is the little girl that terrorizes her 13 and 14 pound big-brothers… and who loves to sleep under the covers - purring herself silly - with Mom.

I absolutely adore this little ball of fur.

Fold your handle netting about 1″ in on each long side - and then in half.  In other words, you’re going to end up with a 1″ piece.  Start at the middle and work your way to either end; much simpler to do that way.

Back to the sewing machine, and again sew 1/8″ along each long side.  When you’re done, trim the handle to a length of 12″.

Slip the ends of the handle into the short sides of your loofah base. Put them in about 1″ - and as far to each long side as you can!  Pin the short end closed now.

Sew an 1/8″ from the edge, down the sides about 1″ - across the base, back up the side. Go back and reinforce the handle area and across the top. No rules, just make sure it’s all secure.

I added two diagonal rows of stitching down the length of the body loofah - again just to make sure all the layer’s behave themselves.

That’s all it takes: $2.50 and about 1-hour of your time! It’s strong, customizable (length, width, color), washable, dries fast, and you can make a bunch as gifts too.

And people actually wonder why we sew….

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