Plaid Skirt Becomes a stylish Structured Scarf with a Tuck and Fold Stich

When I was about 12 years old my father went on a trip to England and Scotland visiting extended family. When he returned he brought me a traditional skirt from Scotland. On my young body I wore it with sweaters and turtlenecks in the cold Chicago Winter. 

As the years passed somehow I had kept the skirt. So many of my own treasures from many travels were lost in moves (or I wasn't encouraged to keep them). So this skirt "surviving" was a fun find for me. All these years I didn't know what to do with it. One day I was going thru my keepsake bin and came across the skirt. As I monitor fashion ideas on Pinterest, clearly  "tartan blanket scarves" are all the rage this season. And so came my "PINSpiration for a scarf." 

I came across some sewing techniques on pinterest as well. There are several pins on 4-point sewing techniques to make shapes and add structure to materials. Then I saw blouses with a tuck and fold stich. I realized the existing fold over on the traditional plaid skirt will convert nicely using this stitch method.

Tuck and fold stitchs (top) and the skirt front flap is left flat (bottom of picture). This
is intentional since when I played with the various folds, I get alot of variety for wearing
the scarf with some of the skirt left not stiched /detailed.

Early in the fall - post the suessical the musical sewing - I kept my sewing machine out and accessible. I put the skirt on and just started playing with it, folding it different ways.

I had to decide:

•  where to move the two buckles
• to keep the large skirt flap folded or flat (I made a hole so the belt hook can hold it up)
• I had to decide the distance between the tuck and fold stiches

This project ultimately took 3 -4 days. Not 8 hour days spent sewing. 3-4 days because of those previous in between interruptions from the kids needing a snack, help with a toy, a reminder to behave and play together, etc. etc. etc.

I am very very pleased with the results. It is so use-able to "dress up" or "down" and outfit. It's unique and stylish. I love LOVE love the structure on the scarf - it holds shape amazingly. Converts outfits easily into something stylish with jeans, basic black or blues. 

Plaid skirk scarf conversion, worn loose showing the buckle details.
Tuck and Fold Stitch approx 3/4 inch spacing.

Plaid skirt becomes a scarf conversion, worn snug for warmth to
shield the windy Chicago weather.

My favorite part of this project was my baby girl. She wanted a matching scarf! "Mommy , I LUV your new scarf, can you make me one?"  Me - (Gulp? From Scratch? I just got done making over 100 costumes! ) "Of course honey!"

I remembered seeing some plaid skirts in her storage bin of "older" girl clothes I had in the attic. Digging I went. And sure enough she had a red paid scarf.... perfection.

The back of baby girls scarf. Has lots of structure, to keep its shape.
The benefit of the skirt waist reinforcement and the tuck and fold stitch
throughout the balance of the material.

Her scarf, when we sized it up, didn't have enough material to wrap all the way around her head. I used left over scarps of felt from Dad's cat in the hat costume (yes, made that too, Suessical is in my blood I guess) as a "tie" on her skirt to scarf conversion.... 

Mommy and Baby Girls matching scarf. I can't imagine us
wearing "matching" clothes when she is older, so I am soaking
up her love of mommy's style now. . . while it lasts. 

The skirt had a nice trinket detail on the front, we use that as a fold over point to secure the tie. She looks adorable. And her tuck and fold stitch went smoother than mine.... practice makes perfect better.

Make Mistakes, breathe, - make her the matching scarf - reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud.

All Those Family Gifts: When A House Guest Returns Home Souveniers from Chicago

Our cousin is returning to Guatemala and with him we will send lots of fun gifts for the family. Now, our family over there is large, break the bank large, so we are only sending to the family that we socialized with and who hosted us when we visited years ago.

On his arrival here, our cousins Father and Mom splurged on our kids and all the cousins with traditional Guatemalan gifts for the American Cousins:

- 2 Large Dolls for Baby girl in traditional dress with braided hair.

- Hackie Sacks, crochet in traditional colors.

- elongated minions also in traditional colors and crochet

- keychains with a Quetzal Coin attached

- keychains made to look like traditional shirts. One will be used as an xmas tree ornament to remind us of his visit during Christmas time

- Sweet candies to share at the Christmas table

- traditional wood toys like spinning tops and a ball on a string caught in an attached cup

- traditional shirts for the boys

(As an aside for our wedding gift these cousins gave us a heavy bedcover and pillow case in Guatemalan patterns / colors.)

The Booty - his luggage going home....he brought 4 different coats and ski pants here, however heading home to Guate he won't need that stuff - luckily one whole suitcase is just gifts!

I was taught when you buy something on vacation, get what is unique to the area, maybe food or crafts. I often see people send tshirts, and I know they have tshirts in stores there, and might think that's all we Americans love. Here's what We the American Cousins sent home as gifts for our Guatemalan family: 

- since I am of Polish Heritage, and it is unlikely that any of the family has been / or will go to Poland I sent a 4 pack of beer in cans for an Uncle we like and his son. They come shrink wrapped in plastic - $5 

*(I confirmed in advance who drank alcohol and who didn't.)*

- a bottle of Sweet Polish wine for the Aunt who let us stay with her during our visit, made traditionally soaking fruits in sugar. "Nalewka Babuni" - $10

- English tea biscuits, bag of Italian biscotti, and butter cookies in tins. (Cookie tins add weight to luggage, know your airlines weight requirements and check the scale for overages on the luggage.) Many purchased at TJ Maxx and Marshalls -$2-$5 each

- Polish chocolate bars and Toblerone Chocolates. Including a few extra bars for anyones gift I might have forgotten. $1-2 each.

- Crocs for his Mom. Shes not a frilly girl, doesn't wear a purse or jewelry. So comfy walking shoes that last forever! $60

- apparently his mom Loves Marshmallows and eats them by the bag full! So we hunted for a large variety. The dollar store had valentines sales and we bought 6 kind there, our fruit store had Halal kind. Wowser $1-2 each

- his dad LOVES star wars. And after the holidays we found lots! Keychains at the lego store of C3PO and R2D2. $6 each

- Star wars t-shirt at the Disney Store was $19.85 (ouch). Target had a $12 shirt while Ross had a $8 shirt. And 4 glass Star Wars decal cups for home the family could share.

- A young teenage cousin in the family received and handmade necklace my cleaning lady / neighbor makes. Tiger eye and lovely. $5

- 2 teachers (pre-K and 6th grade) received Chocolate bars for themselves and books in English for their classes, both new and gently used from our library - we own 526 books, so we can spare a few classics. Dollar store and TJ Maxx. $2-5 and free

- a model airplane collecting adult cousin got a flat metal sheet, die cut pieces to assemble a small plane. $6 at the Science Store - which we visited by coincidence. Baby girl bought marbles there, large ones!! 

As for our Cousin, he took home a goldmine of gifts! Including the 6 different Chicago theme / team hoodies he received. 

And from his Christmas and time with us, our Teenage Cousins got:

- a birthday dinner at Rainforest Cafe (gift of an experience)

- a Joker lego keychain

- winter gloves with texting fingers. He claims he wanted gloves for the cold morning in Guatemala! Ha!

- Hats that said Chicago. Apparently I thought of this gift before because he had 3!!

- a goosebump book from my attic (great series of safe fear / scary books for preteen 11-14 year olds)

- a musical snow globe with santa - they don't have that in Guatemala.

- a Christmas stocking with his name on it

- a homemade Rafael TMNT ornament (1 of 4 made for my 3 kids + him)

- New Years Day at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament + souvenir plastic cup (gift of an experience)

- countless Museum Visits (illinois residents have free days) (gift of an experience)

- Chicago Bears tshirts and pajama set. (PJ's make a great gift as many families share a home with many family members and do use PJs for bed!)

- I printed out the photos I took throughout his stay - 146!! I had been uploading them in the new Snapfish app! Super easy to use. The app allows you to upload photos from your phone and then I go online - to use discount coupon codes - and order for delivery or a pick up at Walgreens. Super Convenient.

- his homemade journal, see in a House Guest Post, here. We wrote in my spaghetti recipie he loved and glue in his Chicago Vacation Bucket List.

(- I haven't made any insects set in epoxy resin, but I will this spring / 2015 collecting season! It'll make a great and legal to export gift.)

- his own crocs, with the added layer for warmth. Easy removal at home and last longer since it'll be slightly larger without the insert.

- Slippers from his gift basket. In my fantasy head he would've read the books on American National parks and canyons, ha! So those stayed here. If he showed an interest I would've given those to him.

- a remote control car and an XBox model figure from a game. He played with each one once but claimed to really like them?

- his playstation 4 from dad was really all he felt he needed, so any cash, went to his PS4 for an all access game pass

- candy for his friends, Jelly belly flavors, sour patch candy, jolly ranchers... You can't get these strong delicious candy flavors in Guatemala. 

- one gift stayed here and that was his shovel with his name painted on it.

I am certain the family is loving their treats and gifts. And I know our cousin loves his crocs, hoodies and PJ's back at home.

Make Mistakes. Breathe, reflect (realize 2 months is way too long for a moody teenager to visit) and Laugh.Out.Loud