Cricut + Simplicity = Happiness Creating with the Cricut Maker

Omigosh... I have been dying to share these behind the scenes projects I have been working on for Cricut and Simplicity.  The Cricut Maker is the hottest new sewing tool and it's because it literally does all the jobs I normally dread. LOL

Usually when I want to sew a pattern, I print out the pattern pieces, cut out the pattern pieces, lay them out on my fabric, weight them down, cut them out of the fabric, and so on and so forth.  It's tedious, y'all!  Enter the Cricut Maker who was smart to bring on Simplicity and its hefty arsenal of patterns (or at least the ones with pieces that fit on a 12"x24" mat -- 471 and growing).  Now, I literally click a pattern to make, put my fabric on my mat, and press a button.  Easy peasy!

 While I am at my sewing machine sewing something else, my Cricut Maker is now doing all the hard work and cutting out my pieces!  Oh, and did I mention it marks the seam allowance and any other important pattern markings?!  Literally a time saver! And accurate too 😉

Ever since I saw the Maker on social media, I knew I wanted to use it to cut doll clothes.  The pieces have tight curves and with a 1/4" seam allowance, there is no room for cutting errors.  First, I chose to sew up the Doll Button Up Dress by Simplicity.  I used Creative Rockstar by Riley Blake Designs from the Cricut Designer Sampler Packs and tried the new Brayer to smooth out my fabric.
(Enabler alert: they just added a Blue Carolina, Sweet Prairie and Yes, Please! Samplers!!)

So I hope you have been following me on IG because I posted my process pictures in my Stories over the weekend and being the "Stories newbie", I forgot that those pics and videos don't save unless you tell it to.... SO I will run through the process and you just kind of imagine you are looking at pictures.  (I promise, I have process pics of the pillow heads -- lesson learned)

Doll Button Up Dress

Materials Needed

• Doll Button Up Dress Pattern
• 1 Fat Quarter of Fabric A
• 1 Fat Quarter of Fabric B
• Cricut Maker
• Rotary Blade for Cricut Maker
• Fabric Pen for Cricut Maker
• 12"x24" Pink Fabric Grip Mat
• Sewing Machine
• Hook and Loop Tape
• 12" of 1/4" elastic
• Single Fold Bias Tape (or cut on your Cricut Maker with my Bias Tape file)
• 4 Small Buttons
• Hand Needle
• Optional, but recommended Cricut Brayer

Step 1: Cut Materials on Cricut Maker

This pattern has just two mats to cut.  Your skirt pieces will cut first so place the selected fabric on your pink Fabric Grip mat, right side down. Using your Brayer, smooth out the fabric on the mat. Make sure your rotary blade and fabric marker are installed on your Maker.  Choose the Cotton Setting, load and press Go.  Remove from mat.

Repeat the process with your second fabric selection for the bodice pieces.

Step 2: Sew the Bodice

Per the instructions PDF, create the faux button placket on the Main Bodice.  Top stitch in place.  Place Main and Lining right sides together.  Iron the shoulders of the Lining down 1/4".  Sew the top curves, leaving the shoulders open.  Clip notches into the corners (pinking shears not recommended here).  Carefully turn right side out, press the curves well.  Join the Main Bodice shoulders together on each side and sew the Main fabric (RST) together only, being careful the lining is not caught in the stitching.  Press open the seams and tuck ends under the lining.  Using a needle and thread, hand sew the Lining shoulders together with a slip stitch. Top stitch around neckline and armholes. bodice aside.

Step 3: Sew the Skirt

Finish the center straight edges of the Back Skirt pieces with a zig zag stitch.  Place pieces RST, matching the notch.  Starting from the bottom with a 1/2" seam allowance, sew up to the notch, turn and sew through the middle of the notch.  On the right fabric piece only, cut a notch to the stitching at the pivot.  Press the seam below the notch open.  Press the seam above the notch to the wearer's left.

Next, you will add bias tape to the hem.  The PDF will have you slip the hem into the folds of the bias tape and sew.  I prefer to sew one side of the bias onto the back side of your fabric and then refold the bias tape over to the front before top stitching in place.  The bias tape is visible, as shown below.

Place Skirt Front and Skirt Back RST and sew side seams.  Finish with zig zag or serger.  Press seams towards back.  Top stitch in place.  

Step 4: Attach Skirt to Bodice

Begin pinning the bodice to the skirt, matching the unfinished Center Back of the Bodice to the Middle of the Skirt Back.  Match the side seams with the circles marked on the bodice.  Sew with a 5/8" seam.  Trim Skirt and Main Bodice seam allowance, leaving just the Bodice Lining.   Press lining under 1/4" and press seam down towards skirt.  Top stitch in place.  Add elastic, securing it on both ends.  

Step 5: Adding the Hook and Loop

Zig zag Bodice Back Center edges.  Separate the Hook and Loop.  Attach the rough side to the Right side, top stitching along the long edges.  The soft side will be sewn to Left Side.  Sew along the inner edge only.  Flip the Left edge under, creating a placket.  Top stitch along the remaining edge of the hook and loop.  Close the Hook and Loop and sew along the bottom edge (horizontally).

Step 6: Add Decorative Buttons 

Hand sew 4 small decorative buttons on the front bodice where indicated.  

Step 7: Remove Fabric Pen lines

Soak or run under cold water to remove the Cricut Maker Fabric Pen markings. Dry.

Congrats!! You're done!

______________________________________________________________

Next, I sewed the two most adorable pillows ever!

Sleeping Girl  Pillow & Girl Pillow

Materials Needed

• Sleeping Girl Pillow (pictured Blond above)
• Girl Pillow (pictured Brunette above)
• Cricut Maker
• Rotary Blade for Cricut Maker
• Fabric Pen for Cricut Maker
• 12"x24" Pink Fabric Grip Mat
• Sewing Machine
• Felt for hair and flowers
• Fabric, hair color
• Fabric, flesh tone
• Fabric, cheeks (Sleeping Girl only)
• Embroidery Thread and Needle
• Polyester Fiberfill 8oz/pillow
• Optional: Embroidery Hoop and Blind Hem Foot and Cricut Brayer

Step 1: Cut the Materials

Depending on which file you choose, you will have a different number of mats to cut.  Place material, right side down on Pink Fabric Grip Mat. Load your Fabric Pen and Rotary Blade.  For cotton fabrics, choose (or switch to) Cotton under Materials.  For Felt, choose (or switch to) Felt.  When you choose Felt, it will default to the Fine Point Blade.  You will want to switch to the Rotary Blade (trust me on this one...lol) by selecting Edit Tool on right side and then selecting Rotary Blade. 

To switch Materials between Mats, click the drop down arrow on the right side of the screen and then select the correct material for that mat.

Step 2: Hand Embroider the Face

You will embroider you eyelashes and mouth using your embroidery thread and needle.  I prefer to secure my fabric in an embroidery hoop first so the fabric is taut. Remember the Fabric Marker will be on the back side.

Step 3: Sewing on the Front Hair (and cheeks if applicable)

Grab your Felt Hair and line it up on the Face. Pin in place and top stitch along the hair line.  Baste along the outer edge.  

To sew perfectly in a straight line, switch to your blind hem foot and use the guide to run along the edge of the hair.

If your pillow has cheeks, attach in place using a satin stitch.

Step 4: Sew the Pigtails

Place two of the Pigtail pieces WRONG sides together and sew along the marked Seam Allowance, leaving the straight edge open.  Lightly stuff with polyester fiberfill.  Baste the straight edge shut.  Pin in place, matching the markings on the hair.  Baste.

If you'd like to get creative with Pigtail placement, go for it!! My girls REALLY wanted their pigtails to be up higher on the head (like they normally wear), but for the purpose of this post, I kept it original to the pattern.

Step 5: Attach the Back Hair

Place the Front Face and Back Hair RST, matching up the notches and markings. Pin to secure.  Sew to attach, leaving the bottom space open between markings.  Clip rounded edges.  Turn right side out.

Step 6: Remove Fabric Pen Markings

Soak or run under cold water to remove the Cricut Maker Fabric Pen markings. Dry.*

 *I air dried the pillow overnight.  I was afraid the dryer would melt the felt.

Step 7: Stuff Pillow and Ladder Stitch Closed

Stuff your pillow with LOTS of polyester fiberfill.  I put 8oz in each pillow, a little at a time. Using the ladder stitch, close the opening on the bottom.

Step 8: Add Felt Flowers and Leaves (if applicable)

Using your embroidery needle and thread, attach the flowers in place.  If you are sewing leaves as well, attach the smaller leaf to the larger leaf using the sewing machine.

Congrats!! You're done!

I hope you take some time to browse the Simplicity Library because there are SO many awesome patterns (prices seem to range from $2.99 to $5.99).  I absolutely loved creating these and I know I will be sewing more!  I am hoping the pillows are a good beginner's project for my girls to try to sew this summer.  

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.