Purple and Black Polka Dots, Oh Yes!

 

There wasn't much yardage to this charming Halloween cotton from one of my dearly departed Joann Hauls, but this purple and black polka dot print was crying out to become a skirt. I had to do it!

Not wanting to repeat the shortchanged mistakes of my original Black and Orange Polka Dot Apron, I used the center panel and two pleated side panels from my tried and true 5 Skirts 1 Pattern Butterick 6196. Purple is my winter color, so I wanted this shorter, about the same tea length as my Orange Tablecloth Skirt so to not drag on the ground. However, the anxiety was real as I willed myself into cutting the material seemingly too short. I wanted to add a pre-made black ruffle trim from my stash to the hemline with a black satin ribbon border – just to give the bottom some kick because this wasn't going to be a super full but more a-lined skirt. Going against sewing order, I worked on this hem while the skirt pieces were open and flat. Unfortunately, this black on black hand stitching took forever! What should have been a week's project to wear in January dragged out across the months as 2026 worn on and my health declined ultimately to an Intracranial Hypertension diagnosis. The excess fluid pooling in my brain created swelling and pressure on my optic nerve, making this my usual standard finite black stitching almost impossible for me to see. I returned to this skirt off and on, displeased with myself for making some stitches larger and unsightly noticeable on what should have been a simple hem. I guess from far away it still looks nice?

Of course at some point, I decided I did want more volume after all. Two leftover triangle side pieces had become the waistband, and after the first try on with several back pleats, the skirt just didn't seem swooshy enough. Despite my concerns about that first Black and Orange Polka Dot pattern mishap, I used the remaining strip of purple fabric as two more angled back panel pieces for the skirt. I basted then ironed as I went finishing these new seams, but adding new back panels also meant, yes you guessed it, more black hem trim! I still had plenty of the ribbon and ruffle but once again I created more time consuming, hand sewing pain for myself. I drove my husband crazy by replacing the regular table lamp bulbs with harsh 100 watt bright white daylight bulbs in a feeble attempt to see my black stitching better. Fortunately, there were no seam issues and pattern matching problems with the new back panels. The extra material did mean the waistband was short, so the last large purple scrap extended the waistband in the back. Thrift interfacing stiffened the interior waistband before running back stitches and securing top stitches with a “Heather Grape” thrift thread cone went much easier than the black on black sewing. I wasn't worried about any seams and pattern lines in the waistband or an ugly inside that no one would see, appreciating that the flat front showcased the polka dots while the back pleats hid the extra piecing seams with a bustle effect. I still have a few strips of the purple and black polka dot fabric that could be fun cuffs or a collar for a black blouse, but one sewing project at time.

A scarce purple button from my Thrift Button Jar and a surprisingly decent hand sewn button hole finished this overdue and arduous skirt at last – six months after I started and out of my intended winter wearing season. This is unlined and the lightweight cotton wrinkles very easily, but this is meant for layering over my oft worn black ruffle skirt with chunky boots for modern, snowy walking skirt vibes. Obviously there are things I might have done differently, using a backing fabric to add support and/or drape or striping the scarce purple polka dots with black material for more gathering flounce. A press with spray starch may also help nix those wrinkles in the future. I have other me made purple skirts and if I actually stuck to the skirt a week timetable, I could fill my whole wardrobe and clear my fabric stash! After the mixed reception of my DIY Holiday Projects, I had a new 2026 sewing outlook to stop creating for others and instead adventure for myself. Of course, the increasing health disruptions had other plans, and my usual one stitch at a time therapeutic was easier said than done for what should have been a very simple project. I expected to hate this skirt as a reminder of all the turmoil that came with it but now that it's finished, I still think it's really cute! It's not perfect but it is done – a wearable and whimsical positive in an otherwise turbulent year.

The Lemon Dress

I couldn't wait to dive-in making something for my yellow loving niece upon snagging three pre-cut yards of this fun fabric labeled “Mediterranean Lemons.” They were a whopping 25 cents each clearance at Walmart! However, since I was unsure of the cotton quality or the true cut material amount, I decided to keep it simple and use the same Purple Princess Tunic Butterick B4319 pattern to sew a pleasant spring dress.

The trouble with this kind of cheaper material from a place like Walmart is that they are single yards folded on small card displays. No matter how much I steamed, pressed, and ironed; the fold lines were still apparent. I also laid out the yards end to end as one piece when considering my pattern cut 2 back and on the fold front. This is a busy pattern so I wasn't concerned with matching at the seams. However, if you do need to perfectly match materials on a larger project, this kind of cheap pre-cut material probably won't work. This is the difference between non-fabric stores such as Walmart and now the overwhelmed crafter Michael's playing wannabe Joann. They attempt to sell fabric when neither has the proper sales storage, yard cutting, or quality materials for the experienced sewer expecting more or the would-be sewing turned discouraged consumer. For kids play clothes this fabric works – but I don't know that I would have paid full price for this material knowing the Wal-Mart shortchanges. Anyway, fin rant and R.I.P Joann.

Like one of the previous purple tunics, I cut this pattern with an open back seam for an elastic waist gathering. I compared the original tunic which was too big at the time against the pattern and my own paper pattern creation of my niece's current measurements. With these three pre-cut yards, there wasn't enough material width to do an all-in-one sleeve as the original pattern calls for, and I think I initially left too much excess in the shoulder line because of this. Fortunately I could correct that once I saw where my new puffy sleeve additions had to be set. These six inch poofs were the leftover cuts from the bottom of my lemon yards, gathered with an elastic channel at the bicep and then pleated into the armscye. A delicious light teal lace from a thrift grab bag added more length and flutter to the sleeve as well as the collar, waist, and hem. I've been working thru this goofy bag of pastel laces on all my niece's creations! While the hem and collar were just the lace ruffle as is, the lace was straight stitched at the elastic waist channel before I did the gather through – giving the skirt portion an extra flouncy oomph once it was all cinched.

Inspired, I decided to use the roundish shoulder cut-out scraps for a little reticule drawstring purse as last seen in my Christmas Princess Upgrade. Although I didn't expect to use all three yards, I also want to maximize every piece of material. Unfortunately, I thought I could use the neckhole scraps to make the crown of a subsequent matching bonnet but they were too small. Instead I took a round and folded over strip from the third untouched yard for the hat top and its double sided gathered floppy brim. The teal lace again set off the little hat as well as the drawstring channel of the purse. Deep in my craft drawers I found an old teal satin ribbon roll that came in handy for the reticule tie and a bonnet strap. C'est adorable!

Strangely I went out of order on this project, doing the small hand sewn accessories before finishing the dress seams and straight machine stitching. Plans to do this earlier in December were of course delayed and it came down to the holiday wire buckling down for two days to get it all done. Somewhere I think I may have doubled the waist measurement when I didn't need to do so, as the dress looks a little too big. Fortunately – or unfortunately – there's room to grow and time to like it. For upon seeing these Mediterranean Lemons on Christmas Day, my niece promptly said, “I hate it.” 

Visit Kbatz Krafts on Facebook for more photos or follow us on Blue Sky for the latest craft adventures! Peruse the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more projects including: 

Cheap Elsa Costume

Minecraft Ottoman

Cardboard Castle

2025 with Search Magazine

Amid all my stresses of 2025 there were some good things on the writing front indeed thanks to Search Magazine!

It was a honor to have my previous Pamper Yourself at Home article chosen for the special Tenth Anniversary Issue! This reprint was expect along with a fun anniversary t-shirt. However the hefty package on my doorstep from Search was not. Inside was a beautiful plaque thanking me for my work at the magazine. It's not often art, DIY, and writing receive much recognition these days so it was a tremendous surprise to be noticed and appreciated for the little things I do. In fact, I should have written my thanks to the Search Magazine staff much sooner, but it's easy to let the pretty things fall to the wayside when so many dark things are currently happening.

Fortunately, my DIY pieces for Search keep my creative spirit afloat, and my Celestial Banner featured in the Fall #SunMoonStars Issue! There isn't always print space to include all my in progress photos, but more step-by-step albums are available on my Kbatz Krafts Facebook Page. Meta is not ideal, but I enjoy being able to share the process on Blue Sky, too. It's such a privilege to be able to maybe inspire others with affordable creations that anyone can do. This Winter #FamilyTime Issue, it was great fun to discuss the Legacy of Sewing and encourage others to focus on the important things together, one stitch at a time.

2026 looks to be another trying year already, but I'm tremendously grateful to have a full slate of Search deadlines to keep me on the writing ball.

Visit the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more projects featured in Search Magazine including: 

Autumn Chandelier

DIY Family Gallery

Vintage Trunk Makeover

Sewing on a Budget

DIY Holiday Adventures

Still catching up post-Covid, I didn't get to all the DIY December ideas on my list this year. No scrap ornaments nor holiday banners like my Celestial Banner for Search Magazine! What I did do came down to the wire, and the reactions to this trio of festive projects were...mixed?

The Jewelry Treasure Chest

I saved this top opening gift basket several years ago but forgot what I had wanted to do with it – until I saw it again this year, that is! I thought the flip top made it the perfect treasure chest for my niece. She's been sorting through some of my jewelry making supplies for the beads she likes, so I made as many bracelets and necklaces as I could with her favorites, the pink bead discards I don't like, and all the odd, low quantity, fun beads that don't match anything else. Many of the bug and butterfly charms and unique bobbles came from three cases of beads I found at Goodwill earlier in the summer for $8 each. Unlike some of my seemingly elaborate Black and White Bobbles, these were all done with simple elastic cording that can grow with her or can be taken apart later if she wants to do her own creations. More plastic Mardi Gras necklaces and fake pearls removed from other cheap costumes supplemented the chest along with her play masks, tiaras, and folding fans. I also put some of the jewelry sets I made in smaller boxes or little velvet bags within the chest to make them seem even more fancy. This was seemingly the biggest hit of the holiday when my niece didn't want to open anything else on Christmas morning because she had to go through the entire chest claiming she wanted to wear twenty pieces at once. Unfortunately, she only wanted the pink and later red jewelry – refusing to consider any other color even when playing with the mask and fan. So... I guess it was worth it?

Potter Scrap Pumpkins!

I got a pair of Gryffindor pajama pants for my husband that turned out to be quite long. Upon hemming them, I saved the excess inches intending to make something, but what? Once I knew making personalized scrap ornaments for each of my family wasn't feasible this holiday season, I realized I could still at least make Stuffed Pumpkins for my older niece with these pant ends. Once upon a time she was a big Potter lover, but this print is mature and subtle enough to just be regular autumn décor without screaming boy wizard. One end is gathered closed before the stuffing with fabric scraps and plastic bags. Rustic twine for the pumpkin sections, dollar store leaves, curly pipe cleaner vines, and a cinnamon stick stem topped off this gourdy pair. Upon seeing them on Christmas Eve, my niece first asked where I got the fabric and if they had been worn before they were pumpkins? Which I guess I could see as humorous because they hadn't been, and likewise, they weren't stuffed with dryer lint – although that is a perfectly viable stuffing option in a pinch. All gathered were very bemused and said that I was a very resourceful person. I'm not sure, however, if that resourceful was meant as a positive or just being polite, for I was also teased for saving all the holiday package shipping paper. Hey, man, it's good for painting drop cloths and scrap sewing patterns!

It's a Christmas Vacation Pillow

I get my husband a lot of character shirts at the thrift shop that he may like until they wear thin but sometimes the sizes aren't right. Usually I give away the too bigs and too smalls immediately or make pillows for the bean bag. This National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation shirt, however, I found again wrapped around loose ornaments when I opened my ornaments tote bin this year – meaning I must have intended to make it a pillow last year. Fortunately, unlike my Wonky Halloween Pillows, this was in good condition and easy to cut out the design square before running it through the machine. Again scraps and plastic bags were my stuffing – this is only a decorative pillow rather than needing to be soft and cozy. Its hockey playing Santa pillow companion was an earlier upcycled thrift find – I only have two Santas in my house and both are left shooting hockey players! There are more ready to retire shirts that I would like do as a quilt like my Memento Mori piece, but only my husband would probably get all the pop culture shirt references, for no one seemed to get, care, or notice the Christmas Vacation quote on the pillow. Oh well. Thankfully, everyone did eat all the pizzelles of course.

Visit Kbatz Krafts on Facebook for more photos or follow us on Blue Sky for the latest craft adventures! Peruse the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more projects including: 

Carving and Baking with Real Pumpkin

Mini Pumpkin Garland

Going Green Jewelry