The Train To Crazy

DIY Leather Wallet Tutorial

Ever wanted to sew a wallet? Need a gift for a guy in your life? Sewing this leather wallet is easy! Check out my easy tutorial!

This simple leather wallet is great for the back pocket. Slim so it doesn't wear out pockets and easy to access money. You may omit the "money clip" elastic and store the money in the middle pocket if that suits your style.

Gather Supplies:

• leather (I bought an old leather purse at a thrift shop)
• clear vinyl
• leather sewing machine needles
• upholstry thread
• 1/2" wide elastic to match your leather

 Sewing with leather can be scary but you may find it isn't as you thought! A few tips:

1. Use the correct needle and thread
2. Go slow
3. Do not start right on the edge of your leather
4. Use a scrap piece of leather to check your tension

Cut leather:

• 3" x 4.5" (cut 2)
• 3" x 3.75" (cut 2)
• 3" x 3" (cut 1)

Cut vinyl:

• 3" x 3" (cut 1)

Cut a "window" out of one piece of 3' x 3.75" piece of leather. I use an exacto knife for precision.

Line the vinyl up behind the window and sew the top together. You may also use an appropriate glue if you'd rather to attach the vinyl to the leather.

Cut slits for the elastic. Line the elastic up near the top of the 3" x 3" piece of leather. Cut a slit about 1/4" inside the leather on each side. The slit should be just as wide as the leather.
Tuck the elastic into the leather as above.

Stack your wallet together. The window piece should be on top of one of the largest pieces. This will make one side of your wallet.

The elastic piece should go on top of the mid sized piece and then on top of the other largest piece. This will be the opposite side of the wallet.

Line your pieces up so the edges are straight. You can't use pins so I used binder clips. Sew the sides and bottom of the wallet. Do not sew the top! 

You're done! Now fill that wallet or give it as a gift! 

Have you worked with leather before? It's not as scary as you might think!

Handmade Dress Up: DIY Potato Head Costume Tutorial

Welcome to the Handmade Dress Up Series! Like what you see? Support the guests by pinning their project or stumbling it!

 

Welcome Alison! Thank you for the Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head Costume Tutorial!

Hello friends!

 

 My name is Alison.  My blogging home is Oopsey Daisy.

I am thrilled to be here!  You see, I've been riding on the Train to Crazy for quite a while... Because I am the queen of oopsey daisies!  :) I like to sew, modpodge, craft,

decorate, photograph, hammer, paint, teach, and create.  Most of all, I love to

create things for the people I love. 

Fall is my favorite time of year, and I've been itching for Halloween for months!  In our house, we only watch one movie:  Toy Story.  So naturally, this year we are all dressing up as Toy Story characters!

 

And guess what?  

We're actually re-using the costumes we wore in February!  When my Little Man turned two, I threw him a Toy Story birthday party.  He dressed like Buzz Lightyear, and we asked all of our guests to dress like Toy Story characters, too!  

Mr. Oopsey Daisy and I dressed up like Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head!

 

 I sewed our costumes in 1 afternoon, and they were a piece of cake.  Are you ready to learn how to make your own?

Let's get started!

I did a few measurements on my husband including:

*Distance from shoulder to shoulder

* Waist circumference

*Distance from neck to knee

 

I purchased 2 1/3 yards of tan felt--that's 84 inches!  

Once I folded it in half lengthwise, I had my Mr. Potato Head!  He just needed a little trimming!  So I followed the measurements above to cut out an A-line shape. 

At the top of the fold, I found the center, and I cut out a 6-inch semi-circle to create the hole for the head. 

 

Next, I cut out Mr. Potato Head's eyes, nose, mustache, mouth, and ears from felt.  (I studied pictures of Mr. Potato Head while I did this.)  I pinned these on to the front of Mr. Potato Head.

 

Next, I sewed the facial features right on to the front. (Be sure to unfold the felt at this point.)

 

Then I pinned the right sides together.  But before sewing the sides together, I folded up the bottom edge by 1/2 inch.

 

I pressed the fold to create the casing for the elastic.  Here is a quick run-down...  

Once I had the elastic sewed in, I sewed up the sides.

I left the top 13 inches unsewn for the arm holes.  Just underneath the arm holes, I sewed in ears on each side.

In the back, I cut a 4-inch slit and sewed on Velcro to close it up.  This gives a little breathing room for slipping it on and off.

 

I think this Mr. Potato Head is pretty handsome!  :)

 

And here is my Mrs. Potato Head version!

So our family is all set for Halloween, and I can't wait!

 Andrea, this has been so much fun.  Thank you for having me!  I hope you'll come stop by Oopsey Daisy and say hello!

Check out the other Handmade Dress Up tutorials!

DY(S)B: Sewing Patterns for Teen Boys (& Men too)

If sewing for grade school aged boys is tough then sewing for teen boys is nearly impossible. For the brave, here are some patterns that are appropriate.

From top right:

New Look 6321, Mccalls 5538, Kwik Sew 3506

Burda 7381, Burda 7734, Jalie 2918

Kwik Sew 3815, Burda 8187

Have you sewn for a teen boy? What did you sew?? Any pattern recommendations? Talk to us!

Previous Dress Your (School) Boy posts:

A lunch bag

Three weeks without a computer but now I can finally upload pictures to my NEW computer!! It is very exciting. 

Last year I made my husband a lunch bag. It looked like mine, only black. It lasted about a week before he busted the zipper by over stuffing the bag. I had thought about taking the bag apart and and putting in a new zipper but I knew the same thing would happen. 

It has taken me quite a while to finish another one. I started one at Christmas that was to be his present but it turned out too small for a big lunch. I am happy to say that I finally completed this one for him about a month ago. It fits the bill perfectly.

No zippers, just a roll down top that can accommodate a large lunch. It is lined with canvas as well and there is a layer of heavy stabilizer in between layers. The inside pocket has a special purpose. 

It says "from our hands to your heart." This is where the girls put their artwork to send with daddy to work. His office wall is covered with it. 

I didn't post about how to make this bag but if there is enough interest I will. Just let me know!

There are going to be some changes around here as I rework the look of the blog. So if you stop by regularly you might notice things changing until I figure out what I like. 

Make It Wear It will be back on Thursday! Stop by and link up the things you've been making to wear!

Linked to: Talented Tuesday, DIY Day, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Show & Tell, Make it Yours Day

A neck warmer and a new link up PARTY!

UPDATE: Don't forget that the Clothing Sew Along starts today!!

It is no surprise that it is cold here in Boston. Really cold. Colder than I like. Thankfully we have modern gear and can be toasty warm without the bulk of the 1990's puffer jacket. You know what I'm talking about. You had one. Perhaps you still have one... At any rate, this new technology is lovely. 

I like scarves too. But for kids, scarves are annoyances. They fall off, they drag on the ground, they drive them crazy. The problem is, scarves serve a very good purpose. Neck warmth. 

Enter the neck warmer! It keeps you warm without adding bulk and it won't fall off!  Now, you could go out and spend $15 on one of these or you could take a square piece of fleece (this one is about 13 X 13 inches), sew right sides together along one edge and then turn the open ends under and sew. Voila! A neck warmer in 5 minutes for way less than $15. You could use an even smaller piece of fleece if you wanted. This one is rather "tall" so it can be pulled up over the chin and mouth when it is really cold and windy.

For a child size, use a piece of fleece that is about 10.5 square. 

And did someone mention a party? Why, yes, I did! Starting next Thursday I'm taking the plunge and hosting Make it, Wear it. I'm creating a link-up for exclusively things made to wear. This can include clothing, accessories, shoes, anything that you can wear. I suppose you can even wear a handbag. So, drop on by next Thursday and link up!

And feel free to grab this button to display on your blog to spread the word!

<a href="http://www.thetraintocrazy.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab308/thetraintocrazy/makeitwearitbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="make it wear it" /></a>

See you Monday for the Clothing Sew Along! I'm so excited!

In completely unrelated news, I just bought the OK to Wake! Children's Alarm Clock and Nightlight and I'm hoping it is going to change my life. I'll keep you posted.

This post is linked to Sew & Tell, Just Something I Whipped Up,