The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Throw Down the Gauntlet => Topic started by: 2ndTimer on January 12, 2015, 03:41:51 PM
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There are several of us over in Journal World who would like to add various sewing/craft activities to our lives. I have volunteered to maintain an Internet Sewing Circle thread here. My plan is to devote at least two hours/week to sewing tasks. I started today by sewing a button on one of the Hub's shirts that and getting my sewing machine set up and ready for the next task which is going to be mending a pair of underwear using fabric from a worn t-shirt.
I am amused to report that the cat has apparently been storing his toys inside the sewing machine cabinet. I found 8 of them tucked up inside on the little ledge. That explains why he has taken to sleeping on it. He is guarding his stash.
Please feel free to join in.
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I have no idea how to work a sewing machine, but I love working on crafts and would like to join in this thread if you don't mind. The hubby and I hare having a "no hobby spending" month, which is forcing me to finish the projects I have laying around the house instead of starting new ones.
I have a large cross-stitch Christmas tree skirt kit that I bought about 7 years ago (and haven't touched in more than 5) and got about 3/4 the way finished. The hubby inspired me to take it out over the holiday to work on it and it is now almost complete. I just have to finish the French knots and then cut/sew the edges to make the skirt.
My next project is to complete my guest bathroom shower curtain. I found a tablecloth on sale at Target last year that I loved. I added grommets and pinned it to shorten it (it's about 10" too long) but that's as far as I got. I'm going to have to hand stitch the new hem since (as I said above) I have no sewing machine. I'm hoping to finish that this weekend.
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I'll join in! Love sewing and other crafts.
Yesterday I finished up a gift for my husband. I embroidered him a silly banner for Christmas, but made the channel for the hanging rod too narrow. So yesterday I ripped out the old channel and put in a new wider one. Now it can be hung.
I have tons of other things on my list to do. First is a recliner cover that my mother wants. I have the fabric and the measurements, just need to get it done.
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Ooh, I'll join! My goal recently has been to finish of my backlog of projects of varying ages. I initially had a rule where if I finished one I could start another, but after some decluttering elsewhere realised that I need the total number to be lower! I made a little desk tub for my SO that looks like a Minecraft slime over the break, complete with plastic outer to help it stand up. Now the leftovers are free to stick back in the stash! I have several skirts to sew and mending items on my list, so support is good! I did the "use up craft supplies in 2014" last year but did not get far...
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I'll join! I have no problem spending multiple hours a day knitting, but I really need to do some sewing. I have the fabric for living room drapes but not the will...
I have a side gig, of sorts, knitting samples for a local yarn store. Thing is, I get paid in store credit, so that just enables me to start more projects!
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I will join. I have two pillows to sew covers for and they are hanging over my head.
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Great idea! Yesterday I took a pair of red wide leg jeans and turned them into skinny jeans, and also turned four of my long sleeve race t-shirts that fit funky and turned them into short sleeve shirts.
Next on the agenda is making master bedroom curtain sheers out of a piece of fabric I bought a few years back.
Also, I have a pair of very pricey leather-butted riding breeches that I bought off eBay. They are too skinny through the leg, so I need to summon the courage to cut them open and add a racing stripe up the side to give them another inch or two for my legs.
I kind of hate sewing because it's so time consuming. Used to love it when I was a teenager stranded out in the country with nothing better to do.
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So many things to do! Shortening a pair of jeans and a pair of yoga pants. Shortening the bedroom curtains (they're pinned right now - so ghetto). Taking in a handful of tops. Mending all the holes in DH's wool biking jerseys.
If anyone has any good tips for darning small holes in wool items, I'm happy to hear them. Fortunately they're bike clothes, so they don't have to look nice. And by the way, does anyone know what causes those holes? I sort of wondered if it was because they're exposed to so much sweat and maybe aren't washed timely, but I don't know if that theory is correct.
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Most important project: I taught my nieces to embroider pencil cases during their holidays - I need to sew them up and send them off.
Next most important project: french knickers.
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I'm in.
Most important project: finishing the queen sized quilt for my brother and his wife. Was meant to be a wedding gift, but plans got a bit derailed by unexpected (but welcome) pregnancy and associated house sale/purchase/move and exhaustion.
Now baby is due in about 4 weeks, and I know if I don't get this quilt DONE, it might be years before they get it.
Achieved over the weekend: basted layers together. Pondering of quilting design begun.
Next steps:
(1) Locate quilting needles for machine, quilting thread, and choose the simplest quilting plan rather than getting carried away with ideas that are just going to make the project take longer. (plus side: they both love quilts, but aren't connoisseurs, so a simple straight-line quilting will be just fine).
(2) screw up my courage and just sew it. If I'm honest, I've been procrastinating because it's only the second quilt this large that I've attempted, and the previous one was a scrap quilt for the spare bedroom - not a wedding gift made from new (and expensive!) fabrics. And I'm scared of messing it up. But I need to tell myself that unfinished is a *worse* thing than imperfect and just get on with it.
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I have a pair of very pricey leather-butted riding breeches that I bought off eBay. They are too skinny through the leg, so I need to summon the courage to cut them open and add a racing stripe up the side to give them another inch or two for my legs.
I have the same situation, but with my dad's old motorcycle jacket. He's a pretty small dude, so the shoulders fit perfectly, but my hips, as they say, don't lie. I have the liner seam ripped open and ready to go, and am waiting on the Jersey I rodered for the side panels to come in before I rip open the leather... I'm a bit worried my machine won't be able to take it, but even then I imagine a tailor would be able to sew 4 straight lines for me on the cheap with a proper high-octane machine if it comes to that.
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I am in!
On Sunday I turned plastic malt sacks from the homebrew store into tote bags with handles. Yesterday I started my sewing circle with a group of kids. First project is a pillow case to help them become acquainted with a sewing machine and sewing vocabulary.
When not sewing, I am knitting (as my handle on this board suggests).
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Perfect timing! I've been wanting to spend more time in my sewing room, but have been feeling uninspired. But I've got a lot of unfinished projects that have been hanging over my head, and that's probably the real reason I haven't been sewing. I'd feel too guilty starting a new project before finishing up the more mundane stuff.
So for this week, I've got some mending to do! And a quick fix to the work apron I made my spouse for Christmas.
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(2) screw up my courage and just sew it. If I'm honest, I've been procrastinating because it's only the second quilt this large that I've attempted, and the previous one was a scrap quilt for the spare bedroom - not a wedding gift made from new (and expensive!) fabrics. And I'm scared of messing it up. But I need to tell myself that unfinished is a *worse* thing than imperfect and just get on with it.
Imperfect shows that it was handmade!
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I'm a quilter, I usually spend about 10 hours a week working on quilting. This year I am going to try to do everything from scraps (collected from other quilters)- as the cost can get quite high!
I also really like fabric dyeing.
Last week I didn't do any quilting because I was knitting.
Additionally, I have 2 pairs of jeans I really need to hem, but I truly hate hemming, even though it is pretty easy once I measure and just do it.
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Do you have plan you worked off of for the grain sacks? I've been collecting them for awhile thinking they'd make great bags. To be honest, I actually kept them initially thinking I could make them into panniers but I think that's way too complicated for me to figure out...
I have so many unfinished sewing projects its ridiculous. I have yet to sew curtains for my camper for two years! I guess more than a few people have seen our business...
What I hate about sewing is the pickup/putaway or deal with the lingering setup making me guilty until I finish. I have no dedicated spot for my sewing machine so it has to sit on the dining room table. Maybe I'll commit to having it out 1-2 weeks and finish everything.
Grain Bags
Teardrop Trailer Curtains
Infinity Scarves
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I'm in (although I've had a terrible track record with sewing challenges). However, I'm finally going to get to the languishing projects or get rid of them!!
Horsepoor, I took in my pants last night, but lost the pockets. I used a tutorial where you wear the pants inside out, pin them on the outer seam and then sew. Do you use a different method? Do you take them in from the inseam?
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I'm in (although I've had a terrible track record with sewing challenges). However, I'm finally going to get to the languishing projects or get rid of them!!
Horsepoor, I took in my pants last night, but lost the pockets. I used a tutorial where you wear the pants inside out, pin them on the outer seam and then sew. Do you use a different method? Do you take them in from the inseam?
Yes, I did the same thing but with the inseam; they only needed to be taken in to just above the knee because they were already snug until the leg started to flare. They came out with a little bit of a pucker where the new seam meets the old seam, but pretty sure I'm the only one who will ever notice.
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Do you have plan you worked off of for the grain sacks? I've been collecting them for awhile thinking they'd make great bags. To be honest, I actually kept them initially thinking I could make them into panniers but I think that's way too complicated for me to figure out...
I have so many unfinished sewing projects its ridiculous. I have yet to sew curtains for my camper for two years! I guess more than a few people have seen our business...
What I hate about sewing is the pickup/putaway or deal with the lingering setup making me guilty until I finish. I have no dedicated spot for my sewing machine so it has to sit on the dining room table. Maybe I'll commit to having it out 1-2 weeks and finish everything.
Grain Bags
Teardrop Trailer Curtains
Infinity Scarves
I have created my own tote bag method but it is pretty similar to the Instructables tutorial. For handles I am cutting a 4 by 20 inch rectangle. Fold in half then fold each long side in again so make a strip that is about one inch by 20 inches, four layers thick. I attach the handles using the Morsbag method.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Feed-Bag-Tote-Bag/
http://www.morsbags.com/get-involved/pattern-download-links/
I have used feed sacks before too. When I get my hands on some more malt sacks I hope to figure out how to make a growler carrier.
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When I went to the local sewing store to buy a new power cord for my machine, I made an exciting discovery. They offer a free open sew on Mondays. I think I may take advantage of this when I get into more complex projects. Obviously they are looking to sell me stuff and I am perfectly comfortable buying stuff I would have bought anyway from them. It will be slightly overpriced but cheaper than additional classes. I have expressed interest in an expensive embroidery unit which I actually don't want at all but trying to sell me one will keep them busy for a while. Eventually there will be a new foot or something that I actually do want.
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I'm in too. I used to sew a lot, but then discovered knitting. Now it's a challenge to get motivated to sew up the things I bought supplies for and really need. Last night I put the fly in a pair of pants I'm making. Tonight, I'd like to put the welt pockets in the back.
If anyone has any good tips for darning small holes in wool items, I'm happy to hear them. Fortunately they're bike clothes, so they don't have to look nice. And by the way, does anyone know what causes those holes? I sort of wondered if it was because they're exposed to so much sweat and maybe aren't washed timely, but I don't know if that theory is correct.
Are they maybe due to moths? Is he catching them on something when he rides? In theory, sweat and dirt shouldn't hurt the fabric.
For small holes like that I mend them on the sewing machine by zig zagging back and forth over them a few times (and sometimes in a few different directions) using a short zig zag. If the holes are bigger, you'll need to patch.
When my kids put holes in their clothes I often patch with an applique so it looks like an intentional design feature, rather than a basic repair.
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I'm in. My winter project is supposed to be making a t-shirt quilt. I haven't started yet, I am still looking for a fabric that will work for me. Hopefully will get started next week. This week, I took the bedspread from our bed, where the top edge was stained and worn. I cut off a few inches and hemmed it. Looks just fine now.
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Wow, so many of us! Nice work 2ndTimer! I'm halfway through making a top, I plan to work on it tomorrow night. I'm lucky enough to have a spare room that I use as a sewing room, but this time of the year it's really cold in there, so I find it hard to get motivated.
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Crafting is ongoing, sewing is on my to do list.
Right now, I'm busy knitting a fair isle scarf and hat for my boyfriend. And I have a pair of gloves waiting to be finished. I also have the beginning of a jacket on the pins. And, well, more yarn stash than I can handle.
As for sewing: I have mostly handsewn stuff that needed repair (buttons, loops on coats, rips in fabric etc.) and have gotten pretty good at this. However, I have little experience in machine sewing. Some re-seaming of showercurtains, shortening jeans and other straight-seam stuff. I'd like to broaden my skills and, eventually, get professional looking results. Of course, that will take lots of practice. So this online sewing circle is great for keeping track and exchanging results and challenges along the way.
On the to do list are:
- Ultimate-ultimate goal (maybe at the end of 2015?): refitting dress shirts etc. for boyfriend, who has a long and slender built so is always in a struggle to find proper clothes. Taking in 'normal' fit shirts to fit his body will be a great way to save on clothing costs, as it makes shopping at second hand stores more feasible. In order to make stuff up to this standard, I'll have to be supergood at sewing. So, long term goal ;)
- Ultimate goal (for this winter/spring): making a fancy new cover for the seat of the vintage lounge chair. The old one contains some piping (stuffed seam, of sorts) and a sunken zipper. All new techniques to me, so I need to practice before I dare to use my "good" fabric for this.
- Shortening some jeans with the original hem transfered. I'm rather short, so there are always some pants that need shortening. Never done it this way before, but I really like to look and watched some tutorials on youtube, looks doable.
- refitting a skirt thats two sizes to wide at the waist. This is pretty strait forward, but nice to get these smaller projects done first.
- making some napkins/handkerchiefs out of a worn out bed sheet. Basic stuff, good practice for getting my seaming nice and straight. Nice one to begin with to get to know my new machine. Will start this when I get my machine at the end of the month.
- making pillow covers out of left over fabric from the lounge chair and curtains. Will make these with a zipper, which is new to me. Will try this in the coming 2-3 months.
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Wow, so many of us! Nice work 2ndTimer! I'm halfway through making a top, I plan to work on it tomorrow night. I'm lucky enough to have a spare room that I use as a sewing room, but this time of the year it's really cold in there, so I find it hard to get motivated.
Hi MarcherLady:
I keep a little space heater in my sewing room for that very reason.
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I'm in.
I have a ton of backlog repairs/projects that I have been avoiding. I love sewing but I have been avoiding it. I moved my supplies into the middle kids bedroom when he moved out but didnt get unpacked. The machine has to be set up. Meanwhile the kids have been rummaging through the supply boxes and the repairs have been piling up - it's officially a wreck.
It looks like I might inherit my MILs excellent supplies and stache - and if I don't get on this quick it will overwhelm the chaos with a new level of chaos.
I think I'm going to start with DH's feather pillow. He's quite attached to the darn old thing. The ticking has holes worn in it and sheds feathers. I sewed it into an old pillowcase "for now" months ago but the correct fix is to sew a new ticking case and clean the feathers.
I've got everything except motivation for this - ug. I'm pretty worried about screwing it up because it was made originally by his grandmother when he was a child. It's a bit odd sized and it looks like the feathers were hand - processed from the family's farm. Irreplaceable and must be addressed before the feathers are lost.
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I don't sew much. A couple years ago I drafted a pattern for a pair of dress slacks based on one of my current pairs, made a muslin, and made some modifications to the pattern. I never got around to making a second muslin. I have the fabric & notions for 2 pairs of pants just sitting around, waiting. I should work on that pattern some more.
I do knit and crochet. I finished a knit blanket for my father in law for Christmas, and I'm crocheting a blanket for myself, now. Just about half done, started right around Christmas. I'm working on this regularly, and expect to finish it mid-February.
I also have a pair of mittens that's on standby... I knit one, and felted it, and knit the other, but haven't yet felted it. I need to felt it, let it dry, and then knit ribbed cuffs for both.
Re: sewing, I'm kind of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl. All that measuring, checking the grain, measuring again, etc makes me antsy. I like knitting & crocheting where I can make it up as I go, and rip it out and do it over if I want to. Plus I hate ironing :P
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Thanks for getting us started 2ndTimer. I pulled out my sewing machine for the first time in 6 years and found that the power cord is missing. While I await the new cord, I have started cutting blocks for my first quilt.
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Thanks for getting us started 2ndTimer. I pulled out my sewing machine for the first time in 6 years and found that the power cord is missing. While I await the new cord, I have started cutting blocks for my first quilt.
Wow, mine was missing too. Maybe they eloped
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This is such a fun thread! It's great to read about your plans.
I have the material and some of the embroidery done and for an regency dress. I need to adjust my pattern and sew a mock up before I can get the embroidery done on the fitted pieces.
Smaller goals:
Repair one item from my repair box or finish one project per week. Most of them need something small like a button, I think it will be easier to do some darning once I've got the pile down.
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We should start posting pics, at least for the bigger projects.
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We should start posting pics, at least for the bigger projects.
Excellent idea! I'm posting a photo of the tree skirt. It's almost finished. I've completed all the cross stitching and back stitching and just have to add french knots in some of the bushes for berries. And then, of course, the fun part...cutting and sewing it into the shape of a tree skirt. The good news is this thread has inspired me to learn how to sew properly. Next month I plan to purchase a sewing machine and teaching myself how to sew. I'll start off on easy, straight seamed stuff and hopefully will be competent / comfortable enough to finish the tree skirt by next Christmas.
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Wow, IrishBea99. That's a lot of cross stitching. Was it pre-printed or did you work from a pattern?
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Indeed, that is beautiful work Irish!
I've never done cross stitch, but I have done a significant amount of free form embroidery. I like to use stamps sometimes for patterns, or I will draw something onto the fabric with a fabric pencil.
One time I did a background of several square inches all in french knot, never again!
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Thank you so much, 2nd Timer and Zaga!
Was it pre-printed or did you work from a pattern?
It was a pattern that came in a kit (Demensions Gold Collection pattern 8641 called "Skater's Villiage Tree Skirt/Table Cover", if anyone's intersted). So thankfully I didn't have to go hunt down the supplies.
I've never done cross stitch, but I have done a significant amount of free form embroidery. I like to use stamps sometimes for patterns, or I will draw something onto the fabric with a fabric pencil.
I'm in awe of those who can do free form anything. I can follow a pattern (or a recipe for that matter) like no one's business, but if I have to come up with something on my own I draw a blank.
One time I did a background of several square inches all in french knot, never again!
That sounds both absolutely beautiful and horribly tedious. LOL
Can't wait for more folks to post photos of their projects!
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I have no problem spending multiple hours a day knitting, but I really need to do some sewing.
+1! I've been knitting a lot recently, but I haven't sewn anything since I made last year's Halloween costumes. But I just went to an estate sale at a Fabric store... I got 3 rolls of silk fabric for $4 each! I'm excited to make some skirts & a dress, but I just didn't have the fabric. I'm a little scared though. This fabric is so nice and I've never actually tried to sew a "real" piece of clothing.
What I hate about sewing is the pickup/putaway or deal with the lingering setup making me guilty until I finish. I have no dedicated spot for my sewing machine so it has to sit on the dining room table.
...And this is my other reason for procrastinating. The only place big enough for me to work is on the living room floor and the dining room table. Both are obviously not ideal locations for long term projects.
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Excellent idea! I'm posting a photo of the tree skirt. It's almost finished. I've completed all the cross stitching and back stitching and just have to add french knots in some of the bushes for berries. And then, of course, the fun part...cutting and sewing it into the shape of a tree skirt. The good news is this thread has inspired me to learn how to sew properly. Next month I plan to purchase a sewing machine and teaching myself how to sew. I'll start off on easy, straight seamed stuff and hopefully will be competent / comfortable enough to finish the tree skirt by next Christmas.
That cross stitch looks awesome, and fun! I've never done any embroidery-type projects. Do they cost quite a lot, for the thread and such, or is it relatively inexpensive as hobbies go?
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That is a beautiful tree skirt! Well done.
I'm going to mark out the quilting lines on my project this evening (like, in a couple of minutes) and will take a pic of it before I do...
Here 'tis (attached, hopefully):
I have more of the blue fabric to use as the binding, and will do a simple cross-hatching quilting pattern in a dark thread.
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Thank you so much, 2nd Timer and Zaga!
Was it pre-printed or did you work from a pattern?
It was a pattern that came in a kit (Demensions Gold Collection pattern 8641 called "Skater's Villiage Tree Skirt/Table Cover", if anyone's intersted). So thankfully I didn't have to go hunt down the supplies.
I've never done cross stitch, but I have done a significant amount of free form embroidery. I like to use stamps sometimes for patterns, or I will draw something onto the fabric with a fabric pencil.
I'm in awe of those who can do free form anything. I can follow a pattern (or a recipe for that matter) like no one's business, but if I have to come up with something on my own I draw a blank.
One time I did a background of several square inches all in french knot, never again!
That sounds both absolutely beautiful and horribly tedious. LOL
Can't wait for more folks to post photos of their projects!
Well it's not really free form if I use a stamp or draw out the design from a picture! It's more like coloring inside the lines.
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Here is a picture of the banner I embroidered for DH for Christmas. I did large stitches so that I didn't need as many of them. Also, the fabric was blinding white, I stained it in a strong tea so that it would look aged. This is based loosely on a section of the Bayeux Tapestry, but of course the words are modern. I saw something similar on the internet and copied it.
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Excellent idea! I'm posting a photo of the tree skirt. It's almost finished. I've completed all the cross stitching and back stitching and just have to add french knots in some of the bushes for berries. And then, of course, the fun part...cutting and sewing it into the shape of a tree skirt. The good news is this thread has inspired me to learn how to sew properly. Next month I plan to purchase a sewing machine and teaching myself how to sew. I'll start off on easy, straight seamed stuff and hopefully will be competent / comfortable enough to finish the tree skirt by next Christmas.
That cross stitch looks awesome, and fun! I've never done any embroidery-type projects. Do they cost quite a lot, for the thread and such, or is it relatively inexpensive as hobbies go?
Thank you, Cressida. The kits can get quite expensive (I think I paid $65 or so for that one when I bought it 7 years ago). However, it is relatively inexpensive if you skip the kits and buy the materials individually. And, the more you do the cheaper it can get, as you build up your collection of embroidery thread you start to find you already have many of the colors needed for new projects.
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I'll get in on this as well as I just dug my sewing machine out again. Here are a list of current projects:
-I have a box with about half a dozen articles of clothing where there is a hole in the seam or something is coming off. Need to get those repaired.
-I have a quilt I started about five years ago. I am not even sure I will be able to finish it since I may have lost some of the pieces I had cut out, but I want to give it a shot anyways.
-Doing a bit of decluttering I found an old pair of worn out jeans. I guess you could make shorts out of them, but they would be a bit high riding for a guy so I am thinking either doing a denim quilt or rag rug if I can find some other ones or get some for free from craigslist. Alternatively I might do this (http://aarnilintu.blogspot.ca/2012/03/lettuja-vai-lappuja.html and makes some pot holders out of it since I could use a few.)
-I wanted to make a couple cloth bags rather than buy them from the shop for groceries, but I don't want to buy new fabric so I need to see what I can scrounge up.
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I have no problem spending multiple hours a day knitting, but I really need to do some sewing.
+1! I've been knitting a lot recently, but I haven't sewn anything since I made last year's Halloween costumes. But I just went to an estate sale at a Fabric store... I got 3 rolls of silk fabric for $4 each! I'm excited to make some skirts & a dress, but I just didn't have the fabric. I'm a little scared though. This fabric is so nice and I've never actually tried to sew a "real" piece of clothing.
What I hate about sewing is the pickup/putaway or deal with the lingering setup making me guilty until I finish. I have no dedicated spot for my sewing machine so it has to sit on the dining room table.
...And this is my other reason for procrastinating. The only place big enough for me to work is on the living room floor and the dining room table. Both are obviously not ideal locations for long term projects.
I, too, have some fabric that I am fearful of cutting because it's so nice. Pretty silly when I write it down. What will it benefit the world if I die with it uncut and someone throws it out?
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I have no problem spending multiple hours a day knitting, but I really need to do some sewing.
+1! I've been knitting a lot recently, but I haven't sewn anything since I made last year's Halloween costumes. But I just went to an estate sale at a Fabric store... I got 3 rolls of silk fabric for $4 each! I'm excited to make some skirts & a dress, but I just didn't have the fabric. I'm a little scared though. This fabric is so nice and I've never actually tried to sew a "real" piece of clothing.
What I hate about sewing is the pickup/putaway or deal with the lingering setup making me guilty until I finish. I have no dedicated spot for my sewing machine so it has to sit on the dining room table.
...And this is my other reason for procrastinating. The only place big enough for me to work is on the living room floor and the dining room table. Both are obviously not ideal locations for long term projects.
I, too, have some fabric that I am fearful of cutting because it's so nice. Pretty silly when I write it down. What will it benefit the world if I die with it uncut and someone throws it out?
Bwahaha. I KNOW! I'm going to keep using these logical arguments to try and squash my fearful self. :)
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@Zaga[/] I love it :) I saw a similar one linked to on Captain Awkward and laughed for days.
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I'll join. A very kind friend of mine bought me a zig zag attachment for my old singer sewing machine. It was my grandmothers. I need to figure out how to use it and stop being such a chicken. I also have an arm hole that needs to be fixed, and I think zig zagging it would help.
So count me in. It's the only think I have in my mending pile, although now that I've typed that, I know I'll see all kinds of mending come up.
2ndTimer, how do you mend undergarments with an old t-shirt? You've got my attention. You can also pm if need be. Thanks.
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I finally sewed. My top is coming on, today I attached the neck band to the bodice. The bodice is a plain purple cotton, and the neck band is purple gingham. This is because I bought too short a piece of the solid colour. It seemed like a good idea when I bought the gingham, but now I've pieced it together I've realised that the solid bodice with a checked collar looks a bit like the overall I had to wear when I worked in a greengrocer as a teenager. Hmm.
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This challenge has the potential to kill several birds with one stone:
First it could get things done that have been hanging over me (sew those cushion covers!)
Second it could give me new clothes which might be handy since I am doing the no clothing purchases in 2015 challenge while simultaneously losing weight (Use that gorgeous navy fabric to make a skirt)
Third, as part of my effort in the de-cluttering challenge I can use up fabric that is sitting in bags haunting me. (fancy schmancy duvet cover coming up!)
Fourth, it will help our house to look pulled together without spending much (make those curtains! cover those chair seats!)
Fifth, homemade gifts to save money (sew those sarongs for the family with the fabric bought four years ago!)
Sixth, I can enjoy the decorative cushions that need mending (once they are out of the bag and on a chair).
Actually that is both inspiring and frightening. We shall see how it goes.
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I have a question for more accomplished sewers... I have 6 panels that need to be seamed to make two pleated drapes. I'm covering a triple ganged window, so they're pretty wide panels. They're cut so the pattern lines up vertically. Is there a better way to make sure the pattern matches than just pin and hope? I did that for the first set (two years ago). Now I want to finish the ones for the other side of the room. Yes, I've had two vastly different drapes on the opposite side of one room for over two years now.
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You could use iron on hem tape to get the seams to line up perfectly on the pattern. If you do that, I would still recommend sewing because the iron on stuff can be pulled apart much easier than sewn together seams.
On the other hand, when drapes are all foldy, the seams tend to not be terribly obvious IMO.
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I just patched the newest holes in our flannel sheets. It took all of five minutes (not including the time I thought about doing it over the past two weeks).
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The last thing I need is more fabric but I could not resist when I was in JoAnn's the other night buying interfacing. I found 60 inch USA made denim on the mark down rack. With an additional coupon, it came out to be about $5 a yard. I bought four yards--plenty for a couple of skirts with leftovers for other projects. Amazing deal.
I made a zippered pouch bag for a gift today. I plan on sewing some fleece mittens before the week is over.
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I have a question for more accomplished sewers... I have 6 panels that need to be seamed to make two pleated drapes. I'm covering a triple ganged window, so they're pretty wide panels. They're cut so the pattern lines up vertically. Is there a better way to make sure the pattern matches than just pin and hope?
I'd sew the seams on the inside of the pleats - you may need to trim the panels slightly to do this. That way the seams don't matter, you have removed the selvages (always a good thing) and also the slightly heavier place where the seam is doesn't show.
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I sewed buttons onto a cardigan and a skirt, while watching TED talks on my computer. Clearly I was keeping the mending in the wrong spot, it was much easier to settle in to do it when I had some videos to watch! They've been waiting for months.
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Nice anatidaev! You inspired me: I hemmed my work pants while watching a movie. Easypeasy! Then I patched two pairs of jeans(again).
Two Three projects down.
So I mentioned to some sewing friends that I repaired a hole in flannel sheets, and they looked at me like I was crazy. You would patch perfectly good flannel sheets, right?
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Nice anatidaev! You inspired me: I hemmed my work pants while watching a movie. Easypeasy! Two projects down.
So I mentioned to some sewing friends that I repaired a hole in flannel sheets, and they looked at me like I was crazy. You would patch perfectly good flannel sheets, right?
Yes, I do mend things, with the caveat that the surrounding fabric must still be in good shape. I've found that with kid's jeans, for example, a hole is just the symptom of more overall wear, and any repair will soon tear out again. If that's the case, I don't bother.
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I need to do this, so thanks for the inspiration.
One very long hem on a black knit dress for one of the DD's.
A worn hole from wallet on DH's fav khakis; I can do an iron on patch on the inside and then do a very close, small zigzag on the outside in matching thread, like a scar.
Hole in fav pair of wool sox-- darning needed ( I like to darn)
Two flat pillows for metal chairs--I have the fabric (cut froman old white matelasse bedspread)
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Woot, my parents brought over my new sewing machine! Now I only have to make time to sit down and check what basic supplies might be missing, get them on my way to work this week and than: start sewing!
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Got some free pants (4 sizes too big) from a friend. Took them in, and they look fantastic! Free pants are the best.
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I just made several pairs of fingerless mittens from fleece. They only take a few minutes and a bit of fabric to make, I was able to make 6 pairs from 1/2 yard of fabric that cost $2.50.
I love these things for working on my computer, cause my hands stay warm but I can still use my fingers to type and work the mouse.
2 pairs went to my dad's wife, so I still have 4 pairs to find a home for.
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Nancy, how did you patch your flannel sheets? My parents were going to toss/use for rags a flannel sheet. Well I grabbed that right up and have to tackle it. I'm looking for ideas. I was going to cut a small piece of flannel and sew it over the hole, but I'm all excited to hear what you did.
Separately, I did sew the arm hole of my flannel pajamas. I've had to sew it before so this time I decided to zig zag it and whip stitch it. Hopefully it will hold. If not, it may be time to toss or use for a rag. Thinking about how I had posted this was something I was going to tackle this weekend, made me feel more responsible to make good on my post. So thanks for keeping me honest. I even was able to wear my nice and newly fixed arm hole pjs to bed.
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Traditionally, if flannel sheets are worn out it is usually in the middle, so you cut them in half, and sew them together again with the outside in the middle. That's how all the sheets used to be in my house. If there is a hole (as against wear) you patch the hole.
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I just made several pairs of fingerless mittens from fleece. They only take a few minutes and a bit of fabric to make, I was able to make 6 pairs from 1/2 yard of fabric that cost $2.50.
Cute gloves! I love the fabric colors and patterns.
I did no sewing over the weekend; however, I did complete two projects that have been on my to-do list for EVER. I made a rope bowl to corral the dog's stuff (harness/leash/poop bags/etc) on the entry-way shelf and a mail caddy out of a cardboard box and scrapbook paper. I managed to only spend $7.95 for a can of spray paint, as I had all the other materials on hand.
I'm still researching sewing machines. If anyone has any suggestions for make/model, I would much appreciate it. In the meantime, I still plan to tackle hemming my new shower curtain. I think this weekend I'll go ahead and use iron-on hem tape to just get-er done, and then when I get my sewing machine I can go back over it with a proper hem.
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I'm not committing to a specific time per week, but I'm excited to do a bit more sewing this year.
Worked on a quilt this weekend (wedding present). Its been a beast because I let the bride choose the fabric at her request and she didn't go with cotton (my strong suggestion) but rather shiny silk/polyester? that has vastly different stretchiness levels, which really shows up when the boxes don't line up neatly. So I've been ripping out my work frequently.
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Sounds good! I've been wanting to make a small, basic quilt with some fabric scraps I have lying around.
Like some others here I'm a big knitter but would like to do more seeing as well.
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I've got a couple projects I've been putting off forever. Maybe this thread will give me some accountability!
Project #1 is reworking the sleeves on an awkwardly fitting jacket. I've been wearing it for years now with the sleeves safety pinned but now that I know how to use a sewing machine I think it's time to just fix it.
Project #2 is learning how to fix holes in socks. I'm sick to death of buying socks and then walking holes in the heels and needing to replace them. The rest of the sock is fine, just the heels disintegrate. If anyone's got any tips for this sort of repair, I'm all ears.
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cut a small piece of flannel and sew it over the hole
Precisely this! It has held up and is not noticeable. I don't care how my sheets look, so it works for me. Good luck!
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Well, I finished my latest knitting project and I was all set to start a sewing project and... my husband lost his hat. The hat I just knit him 4 months ago. Sigh. He's got a spare, but I like to make sure he always has 2 hats because he goes through hats like I go through kleenex. So I may have another knitting project before I can start sewing. At least it's only a hat, it shouldn't take too long. It's a good thing I love that man. :)
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I just made several pairs of fingerless mittens from fleece. They only take a few minutes and a bit of fabric to make, I was able to make 6 pairs from 1/2 yard of fabric that cost $2.50.
I love these things for working on my computer, cause my hands stay warm but I can still use my fingers to type and work the mouse.
2 pairs went to my dad's wife, so I still have 4 pairs to find a home for.
I took a pair of each color to a doctor's appointment, and my doctor bought one on the spot, plus she ordered a pair for her brother and paid for them as well! She wanted more masculine colors for her brother, and a dog theme so he could use these at the dog park. I guess he trains his dog there and regular gloves don't work because he can't get the treats out of his pocket with gloves or mittens on.
Sewed up a pair of brown ones with tan paw prints and mailed them off this morning.
If nothing else this supports my sewing habit a bit :-)
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Nancy,
I'm so glad you didn't say, darn the sheet. Or do people only darn socks? Cutting a small piece of flannel and sewing it over the hole -- that I can do, no problem.
You are all keeping me honest with my mending projects. Thanks. Now I'll have another set of flannel sheets to put into the rotation when needed. I've already had to sew the current one back into service. I love these projects where I can extend the life of my stuff. It reminds me of my grandmother who would unravel a sweater she had made for A because she didn't like it, then she would use the same yarn and knit a different style sweater for B. And I won't even mention her clothes customization. That had it's own MMM flare before MMM was even born.
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I've got a couple projects I've been putting off forever. Maybe this thread will give me some accountability!
Project #1 is reworking the sleeves on an awkwardly fitting jacket. I've been wearing it for years now with the sleeves safety pinned but now that I know how to use a sewing machine I think it's time to just fix it.
Project #2 is learning how to fix holes in socks. I'm sick to death of buying socks and then walking holes in the heels and needing to replace them. The rest of the sock is fine, just the heels disintegrate. If anyone's got any tips for this sort of repair, I'm all ears.
I have used Amy D's sock repair technique for larger holes. Basically you cut a circular patch out similar fabric and sew it on going around several times to make sure it's secure.
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Inspired by Happypup's post about darning socks, I dug out one and tried to darn it the way my mother taught me. However, the hole was too big to be manageable that way so I used the Amy D method which is actually a patch rather than a darn
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I finished a faux sewing project today...got the iron-on hem done to (finally) complete the shower curtain for the downstairs bathroom. Once I purchase a sewing machine I plan to go back over it with a proper hem, but for now it's done and hanging up instead of folded in my project bin (where it's been for nearly a year).
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I'm a latecomer, but I'd like to join in. Everyone's projects are so awesome! At the beginning of the year I hauled out some fabric that I had begged for for my birthday two years ago, but been too afraid to cut into (I'm a very novice quilter). As I looked at it again, I realized it really reminded me of my fiance's grandma. I had planned to make a giant hexie quilt out of it, because I really enjoy handwork, and now I am tentatively planning on giving it to Grandma Sandy for Christmas 2015. We'll see if it gets done and if I can part with it when it's finished :)
Other sewing projects I'm hoping to finish this year:
More new skirts! I already have fabric cut for one, and with a coupon at Joanns I could afford to make several for the price of one store bought skirt.
Finish First Quilt - a quilt I've been working on on-and-off for four years (the first I ever started)
Sew curtains for our bedroom, cuz the ones that came with the house are FUGLY!
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Went to the Goodwill bin store in the next town where the leftover are $1.49/lb. Picked up a big batch of quilting remnants from expensive fabrics, the kind you see in the $9.00/yd. quilting stores. They are currently in the washer. Nothing from a thrift store comes into the house without being washed or otherwise treat to make sure I don't bring home bedbugs.
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I did some repair work last night - sewed a few buttons onto coats and a hook onto a jacket.
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DH requested that I hem the curtains in the guest bathroom. Right now they hang down too far and cover up the toilet paper, so I can see his point...
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Tell him that some people like to hide the toilet paper.
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This weekend I finished all the mending I had to do. I also used up some of the old jeans and made some pot holders. In addition, I was thinking of how to use the waistband and came up with this idea: I cut it off just below the belt loops so they were intact and then hung it up in my kitchen length wise so I can hang spatulas and the like in the loops.
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This weekend I finished all the mending I had to do. I also used up some of the old jeans and made some pot holders. In addition, I was thinking of how to use the waistband and came up with this idea: I cut it off just below the belt loops so they were intact and then hung it up in my kitchen length wise so I can hang spatulas and the like in the loops.
Those are really cute pot holders! Are they jeans on both sides? Do you ever stick your hand in the pocket when you use them (like a mitten)?
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This weekend I finished all the mending I had to do. I also used up some of the old jeans and made some pot holders. In addition, I was thinking of how to use the waistband and came up with this idea: I cut it off just below the belt loops so they were intact and then hung it up in my kitchen length wise so I can hang spatulas and the like in the loops.
Those are really cute pot holders! Are they jeans on both sides? Do you ever stick your hand in the pocket when you use them (like a mitten)?
Yeah, they are jeans on both sides with some of that heat resistant padding you can get from a fabric shop in between. And I definitely use the pockets as a glove type of deal.
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Yeah, they are jeans on both sides with some of that heat resistant padding you can get from a fabric shop in between. And I definitely use the pockets as a glove type of deal.
OMG that's brilliant!!
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I'm late, but I'd like to join! I want to make some clothes and pajamas for the kids, and I have all the fabric already...just need to find time to sew! I'm mostly a knitter, and I belong to a group elsewhere to "knit from the stash/finish WIPs", but part of that challenge for me is finishing sewing these clothes! I have material to make a couple pairs of knit pants/knit tops for my daughter (age 2) and 4 sets of pajamas, 2 each for my daughter and son (age 4). I would love to get to the point where I can pattern my own pants, but that may be a goal for the end of the year. :)
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I've finally wrapped up some mending tasks that have been hanging over me for literally YEARS. I reattached the epaulet on my trench coat, fixed the fraying strap of a handbag, and patched the hole in my husband's really nice flannel PJs so he can wear them this winter. Better late than never! I also put together the collage from an overseas trip that I meant to do over a year ago. Not sewing related, but all the supplies were sitting on my cutting table. It came out great! Don't know why I put it off for so long.
As part of one of the declutter challenges here, I've been pawing through all of my sewing stuff and pulling some out to donate. Things that I bought years ago and really have no intention of using. My sister in law has also expressed interest in learning to sew so I'm putting together a beginner box of notions for her. I've also got a vintage sewing machine that I've had for about two years that needs a new belt and cord replacement, and I just ordered the parts for it. Once we fix it up, we'll give it to her (it belonged to her grandmother, so I'm glad the motor still worked!) It will feel really good to pass that along too. It was destined for the dumpster until I was able to grab it.
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This is such a fun thread! I have two or three drawers of mending that needs to be finished up.
On the top of the pile are two sweaters I'm altering for my mom. One needs the sleeves hemmed about ten inches. The other needs more room in the sleeves. I'm going to try to finish up the second project by next Tuesday which is the next time I see her.
As far as darning socks goes, you may want to check out this article: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/FEATsum08TT.html which talks about darning as well as reinforcing new or slightly worn socks so that you may not need to darn them.
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I finally took the time to get acquainted with my new old sewing machine. A lot of grumbling and ripping of seams later, and I now have two beautiful pillowcases fitting my gifted pillows. With recessed zipper for extra fancy factor, and to practice for the lounge chair cover. This fabric was a leftover from our bedroom curtains, the yarn was leftover as well, so these pillows have cost us exactly zero euros. I had a lot of fun constructing the zipper portion, looking forward to more machine sewing in the future!
I fixed the bottom of the ripped dogs basket/pillow by hand. Next on the list are refitting a skirt, darning holes in sweaters and other small clothing repairs. Sometimes it is like the Items to fix keep piling up no matter what, so I get a bit discouraged. But if I just sit down and take a few minutes to get it over with, it's done in a matter of minutes.
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When I buy sheets, they come in a pack with the fitted sheet and pillow cases that I use, and a flat sheet that we don't use, because we prefer duvet covers. Some time last year, I used two flat sheets to make into a duvet cover, but I still want to put buttons and buttonholes at the end, and sets of ribbons on the inside corners to tie the duvet to, so it doesn't shift. That is my repair project I want to get to this week. I have plenty of ribbon and the buttons already in my notions box.
I also have one more flat sheet left, in a nice smooth damask ivory cotton that I want to cut up into squares and miter hem into napkins. I'm not buying paper napkins any more, and I have a couple of fabric napkins that I bought, but they aren't cotton and they are not very absorbent. I think they are polyester.
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I'm 3/4 of the way through quilting the quilt!
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I am to report that I tackled my darning pile at last. Cheers to a fresh start.
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Quilting finished!
Binding machine-sewn to front, and 1/4 hand-sewn to back.
This thing may actually be done before the baby arrives and puts an end to my sewing productivity :)
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You guys are killing me. I haven't done a bit of my sewing. No sheet done or even mending. I will make an effort to get it done within the next few nights. Writing this down with all of you to see will hopefully be a good motivator.
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I'm happy to report, I finished my mending. Being responsible to (as they say in the US South) all y'all, kept me honest, and I did my mending.
A couple of questions. When do you decide something is past mending and just needs to be given a decent burial? I have a nightgown that has underarm holes, and I've patched them up several times. For the most part the rest is in good shape, but I keep having to patch the underarms. If I do have to give it decent burial, i'm planning on cutting off the top part (from the underarm up) and using a small piece to patch my sheet, but does anyone have any ideas for the bottom part? That's still in good shape.
One last question, when I patch my flannel sheet, should I patch on both sides, or is 1 enough? And do I patch on the side I'm sleeping under or on the top? (Yes, I'm a little obsessed and probably over thinking this.) Thanks in advance for your help.
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I need in on the circle. Here's what I did this week, got a twin sized quilt top pieced for my daughter. I'd like to get a back put together this week and possibly even get it basted.
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Carrie I love your quilt design!
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Very nice design - how did you get the idea?
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Thanks! I have all kinds of quilt designs and ideas rattling around in my head & in my sketchbook. This one I received blocks from my Bee after I gave some guidelines.
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I think I need a deadline for my project or I may be on here recommitting to the same thing over and over all year.
I commit to sewing the two pillow covers before February 15th. Just writing that I can feel the joy of doing it and feeling accomplishment at getting it off my list!
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I'm happy to report, I finished my mending. Being responsible to (as they say in the US South) all y'all, kept me honest, and I did my mending.
A couple of questions. When do you decide something is past mending and just needs to be given a decent burial? I have a nightgown that has underarm holes, and I've patched them up several times. For the most part the rest is in good shape, but I keep having to patch the underarms. If I do have to give it decent burial, i'm planning on cutting off the top part (from the underarm up) and using a small piece to patch my sheet, but does anyone have any ideas for the bottom part? That's still in good shape.
I give up on the mending when it looks like the mending is no longer working. So, for armholes, when there isn't any decent fabric to hold the stitches anymore, or when sewing what is there would distort the fabric too wildly. (although, tbh, I'd probably just wear the nightgown with holes and not bother to mend them at all).
Uses for the bottom half? Well, it depends on what fabric it is made from - flannel? I'd tend to bundle it up and put it in my stash for use as a small quilt liner, or for further mending. Or cut it into cleaning rags.
One last question, when I patch my flannel sheet, should I patch on both sides, or is 1 enough? And do I patch on the side I'm sleeping under or on the top? (Yes, I'm a little obsessed and probably over thinking this.) Thanks in advance for your help.
I'd do both, as it would be a) stronger and b) smoother, but again, it would depend on how big the hole was. The last time I mended a sheet it was just a little L-shaped tear and all it needed was repeated zig-zagging with the machine.
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And I'm here to report that the quilt is FINISHED!!!!!
I need to take some photos of it this morning, and my brother and his wife are coming over for coffee this afternoon, and I'll give it to them then!
YAY!!
I was sooooo close to throwing money at this unfinished project and paying to get it quilted, just so it would get DONE. But thanks to this thread I actually knuckled down and completed it myself. Thanks everyone :)
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Congratulations HomeHandyMum. You are the Sewing Thread Poster Child!!
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HomeHandyMum,
Thanks so much for your sheet mending advice. And may I say I LOVE how you would wear pjs that have hole in the under arm. You make me feel so much better. I really do appreciate it. Thanks.
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I skipped a few steps of the practice plan and went right ahead with the lounge chair cover. Pretty ambitious, I know. Flat seams and all, it was going really well although a bit of a pain to work with all the excess fabric that was constantly getting in the way. It was looking sharp and pretty professional when...I discovered I 'd forgotten to make the zippers on the back first. Whoops!
So I had to undo part of the fancy seams to tackle the recessed zipper. Luckily I had plenty of fabric left to make up for the extra lenght needed for fitting in the zipper properly. Zipper number two is on my list for tomorrow and than the seams need to be redone in some areas. But if that's finished it is really ready. Than just stuffing the cover with new foam and dacron, and it's ready for use. Woot!
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I finally fixed my courderouy (sp?) Beanbag cover. It is a mushroom with white spots, and some of the white circles had frayed and come undone. I put iron-on interfacing behind them to hold the fabric a bit better and sewed lines across them so there's less pull on the fabric. Now just have to tidy the seams!
I also tacked my quilt by hand last week. Now it's an easy mobile project! It feels AMAZING to get this stuff done, and all I needed was to slow down the social events :)
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I fixed my duvet cover that I had made a while back to put buttons and buttonholes on the end to keep the cover closed, and I also put ribbons on the inside corners of the duvet cover, and diagonal twill tapes on the corners of the duvet itself, about two inches in from each corner, so I can fasten the corners to the cover, and it stays neat and in place when I make the bed.
I found two flat sheets that we never use, so I made my son a duvet/comforter cover also, and put the same kinds of tapes on the corners of his comforter to keep it in place also, and I had more of the same buttons I had used on my cover, so I put the buttons and buttonholes on the end of his cover. His bed looks so much nicer now. He had a cheap polyester cotton covered comforter that looks a lot better in the Costco Egyptian cotton 400 thread count sheets I used.
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I had a (very small) victory yesterday. I managed to repair a dog toy. It was made of some sort of loosely woven nylon. The fabric itself is pretty strong, but of course my dog attacked the seems and started ripping the stuffing brains out of the toy. I had to carefully melt the edges of the fabric to make it stop fraying (while avoiding melting the stuffing) and THEN sew it back up. It worked great. There are some scorch marks, but the dog loves it, so I'll take the victory!
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Nice Allie! I've had to use heat to get nylon weave to sew together before, it's tricky but very helpful!
Today I sewed the seams together of the armpits of my husband's t-shirt, there was a tiny hole in each armpit. Easy to fix now while the holes were small.
Also, last week I made a pair of harem pants that I'm selling to a friend. Now I have the pieces for the top, and will be making that in the next few days.
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Seems like my new mending "system" is working. Whenever I find an item that needs mending, I throw it inside a designated basket under the couch. The basket also contains a few standard yarn colors, needles and scissors. This way, whenever the mood to mend strikes me, I don't have to pain my memory trying to remember which items had some wholes and where. If I want to use an item that's still in the basket I "have" to mend it right away. No more piling up of punctured clothing :P
My lounge chair pillow case turned out just a bit to narrow (arghhhh), so I have to make a new one. It's coming along a lot quicker this time, now that I know where the tough bits are and what to do about them.
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I was going to sew new covers for the couch, but when I looked at it, the brocade is two layers, and the warp of one layer was worn in a ot of places, so I found a thread that matched and darned it on my sewing machine. Took a while, but it looks a lot better!
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I finished up a Princess Jasmine costume for a friend. She does birthday parties. I covered up her face in the pic, but it's about the outfit!
There is also a knee length cape out of the same fabric, so she doesn't turn up at a birthday party wearing a modern coat.
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OK, I finally just tried sewing something with my abundant silk fabric. The dress cut isn't particularly flattering for my body type, which I knew going in. But I chose that pattern because it seemed like it would be the easiest to make (not particularly fitted). I also learned a lot. This was my first time sewing a lining. I also learned about the fabric. It's pretty stringy. I think if I want to make a really nice dress I'll need to do French seams.
On a completely un-related note - I have a zipper that lost the little metal band at the bottom that stops the zipper. I can buy a kit for $10 to fix it, but does anyone know a cheaper fix? It's a pretty heavy zipper, it's essentially for a sleeping bag.
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For a broken zipper I usually just replace the entire zipper. Of course, I have a pretty good selection of zippers that I got really cheap from an estate sale, so that is the frugal choice for me.
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As I read it, you have a zipper which when closed has no metal stopper at the bottom. It is not actually broken.
I usually get rid of the stopper. When I buy a zip, I usually buy one that is a bit longer than I need. This makes it so much easier to insert because you can put the actual up-and-down thing out of the way(in the extra length), and just sew without having to go around that bit. Once you have inserted the zip, just zigzag over the place where you want the stopper to be (the zig and zag are on either side of the zip) a few times.
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I'm an avid sewer and just found this!
Current projects are:
- quilt as a wedding gift for a friend, need to get moving here, the wedding is in two months!
- chanel style French jacket, most challenging project of mine yet
- shirt dress, also turned out to be complicate! Fitted blouse/shirt techniques are complicated.
I was going to say the same! You can make a new stopper by sewing many times over the end. If it's too wide to zig zag on your machine, you can do it by hand. If you do it on machine, you want to set the length to 0 so your not moving down just going back and forth.
As I read it, you have a zipper which when closed has no metal stopper at the bottom. It is not actually broken.
I usually get rid of the stopper. When I buy a zip, I usually buy one that is a bit longer than I need. This makes it so much easier to insert because you can put the actual up-and-down thing out of the way(in the extra length), and just sew without having to go around that bit. Once you have inserted the zip, just zigzag over the place where you want the stopper to be (the zig and zag are on either side of the zip) a few times.
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I was going to say the same! You can make a new stopper by sewing many times over the end. If it's too wide to zig zag on your machine, you can do it by hand. If you do it on machine, you want to set the length to 0 so your not moving down just going back and forth.
As I read it, you have a zipper which when closed has no metal stopper at the bottom. It is not actually broken.
I usually get rid of the stopper. When I buy a zip, I usually buy one that is a bit longer than I need. This makes it so much easier to insert because you can put the actual up-and-down thing out of the way(in the extra length), and just sew without having to go around that bit. Once you have inserted the zip, just zigzag over the place where you want the stopper to be (the zig and zag are on either side of the zip) a few times.
Exactly what I needed! Thanks! I was so focused on finding a small metal band to clamp on there, I didn't even think of sewing it! Even as I posted to the sewing circle. :D It worked like a charm!
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This thread is very motivating. I went to my mother's yesterday with my bag of mending, and we sewed together while chatting. So nice, and now I get to put three shirts back into circulation. I was able to finish most of a little pillow case skirt for my daughter, which I'll finish up once I get the length and waist measured.
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Glad it worked!
I was going to say the same! You can make a new stopper by sewing many times over the end. If it's too wide to zig zag on your machine, you can do it by hand. If you do it on machine, you want to set the length to 0 so your not moving down just going back and forth.
As I read it, you have a zipper which when closed has no metal stopper at the bottom. It is not actually broken.
I usually get rid of the stopper. When I buy a zip, I usually buy one that is a bit longer than I need. This makes it so much easier to insert because you can put the actual up-and-down thing out of the way(in the extra length), and just sew without having to go around that bit. Once you have inserted the zip, just zigzag over the place where you want the stopper to be (the zig and zag are on either side of the zip) a few times.
Exactly what I needed! Thanks! I was so focused on finding a small metal band to clamp on there, I didn't even think of sewing it! Even as I posted to the sewing circle. :D It worked like a charm!
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I've done zero of the sewing projects I said I'd do, but instead I made a pillow this weekend :) Got a chair for free for the living room and wanted to spiff it up a little bit. I'm pleased that I finally have a good enough handle on how to use the sewing machine that I can bang out quick projects like this!
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Late to the game, but loving the inspiration in this thread. I've been an obsessed knitter for five years now, and have dabbled in sewing. I made some blackout curtains for the bedroom, a floor cushion and some other odds and ends, but I want to start making clothes for myself. I have learned with knitting that making your own clothes is not always the cheapest option, but I think there is a lot of value in having something custom fitted and something of quality that will last. I am wearing an alpaca knitted sweater I made for the first time today and it's fantastic! I feel even better about it because I bought the yarn with a Christmas gift card, so it only cost me about $10 out of pocket.
I finally bought myself a proper sewing pattern and some fabric to make a dress. Weather report calls for rain on Sunday, so I'm hoping to spend the morning tackling it. Any advice for a newbie sewist starting her first big project? It's a basic two piece dress (front and back), but it is cut on the bias. eep!
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Biggest advice for a dress (or anything that is long and the fabric will hang on you) is to hang the fabric overnight before you cut and sew it. Then once it is all made, hang it on a hanger another night before you do the hem up.
Oh, and wash and dry the fabric, if it's washable, before any of the above!
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Late to the game, but loving the inspiration in this thread. I've been an obsessed knitter for five years now, and have dabbled in sewing. I made some blackout curtains for the bedroom, a floor cushion and some other odds and ends, but I want to start making clothes for myself. I have learned with knitting that making your own clothes is not always the cheapest option, but I think there is a lot of value in having something custom fitted and something of quality that will last. I am wearing an alpaca knitted sweater I made for the first time today and it's fantastic! I feel even better about it because I bought the yarn with a Christmas gift card, so it only cost me about $10 out of pocket.
I finally bought myself a proper sewing pattern and some fabric to make a dress. Weather report calls for rain on Sunday, so I'm hoping to spend the morning tackling it. Any advice for a newbie sewist starting her first big project? It's a basic two piece dress (front and back), but it is cut on the bias. eep!
In addition to pre-washing/hanging as suggested by Zaga, make sure you proof your pattern. Do not trust that it will fit you because the envelope measurements say it will. Measure the paper pattern (deducting the seam allowance, usually 5/8") against what your body measures. Also, measure the vertical distance, ie is the bust line the same distance from the should as your bust line is from your shoulder? If not you will need to use the lengthen/shorten line on the pattern to adjust. Same goes for the waist line. I for example, though being above average height for a woman, always have to shorten the torso of the pattern (apparently all my height is in my legs!).
This is a little complicated to explain, so you might want research how to do this online before you choose a size/cut it out, or you can end up with ill-fitting garmets, much easier to alter before you cut! Let us know how it goes :-)
As you said, while making clothes yourself isn't cheaper it will fit you better and you can have whatever you want, it's amazing :-)
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As you said, while making clothes yourself isn't cheaper it will fit you better and you can have whatever you want, it's amazing :-)
And less clothing is shipped here from India/China/The Phillipines/Bangladesh etc. , which is a big hidden cost environmentally.
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As you said, while making clothes yourself isn't cheaper it will fit you better and you can have whatever you want, it's amazing :-)
And less clothing is shipped here from India/China/The Phillipines/Bangladesh etc. , which is a big hidden cost environmentally.
Also a good point! There is a huge environmental and social cost to cheap clothing imports, in addition to it also being of poor quality/fit (usually). There's a really good book about it called "Overdressed: the shockingly high cost of cheap fashion."
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I got a wrap skirt cheap from a consignment shop, it's a simple black and white plaid and the outer shell is about 1/3 wool and 2/3 man made. Since it was almost completely flat I was able to remove the waist, cut that in half, and reattach it with gathering. Then I added a simple clasp and now have a knee length plaid wool cape.
No need to change up any of the lining either, so it looks quite fancy and finished on the inside without any work on my part. I even saved the relevant part of the tag, the material and the washing instructions. I figured the size was no longer relevant.
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Ok, I'm late but I'm in! I have several projects hanging around that I'd like to finish before they get packed for the move.
1. Sew button on DD pant leg before putting them in the donate bin. I have the button still and hate to wast things...)
2. Finish the matching PJs from Xmas for DD and her cousin. Only need to hem the sleeves and the pants. Rest is done.
3. tackle mending pile. donate or fix!
I also have a quilt all cut out ( I just found it after 5+ years of it being packed away. Good thing I still like it). But that will have to wait until after the move.
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Again, this isn't a traditional sewing project, but since it involves a needle and thread (well, embroidery floss), I'm going to count it! I decided last Christmas that I wanted a Christmas village for decoration; however, I didn't want to spend the $$$ on those ceramic villiages, and all of my decorations are handmade anyway so a ceramic one probably wouldn't "fit" the decor. So, I decided to design and make my own using 10 ct plastic canvas and embroidery floss. I just started the first house and have the front half done. I've cut and begun stitching on the sides of the house. I think it should only take another couple of weekends to finish it. I'll post progress photos soon.
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I've still not finished up the welt pockets on the pants I'm sewing, however I have rediscovered my sewing mojo. Since I last posted I've made a t-shirt for myself, a quilt that's been cut out for ages, 2 summer tops, a t-shirt and a pair of shorts for my oldest plus I've cut out a couple more tops and a pair of shorts for my youngest. I also ruthlessly went through my fabric collection and either used up what I had to make the above items or tossed bits I'll never use.
Over the next few weeks I'd like to finally finish up those pants, sew up two more summer tops I've cut out, make some leggings for my youngest since she's just had a growth spurt and sew up some swim bottoms for myself.
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I've lost my quilting mojo, but I've been sewing clothes like mad. In the past month I've made six dresses and a top for the baby, and two simple skirts and a tank top for myself. I've got a tunic top on my cutting board, which I plan to make today.
I have used exclusively from my stash. Fabrics that I wasn't crazy about (any more) for quilts make charming baby dresses.
Best part, baby is completely outfitted for summer. My goal is to make myself enough tops for summer as well. My other two kids are set just from hand me downs.
After I get myself 3-4 more shirts made, maybe I will be ready to get back to the unfinished quilts. I also want to make a wrap dress, but I'd have to buy fabric for that.
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I'm late to the party but I've been lurking a while. This past weekend my fiance and I replaced the fraying barrel cuffs on a few of his dress shirt with notched french cuffs. Cuffs look neat and non-fraying AND now they're the fancy type he likes to wear to work! In the process I learned how to sew a button hole, which was shockingly easy.
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Everyone is doing so much, more pictures please!
I will start! I have sewn my first collar ever! It took around 8 hours (with professional instruction). Please ignore the non-straight stitches on the back of the collar band, those are basting stitches I still need to remove.
The dress is a shirt dress I started in December, thinking it would be an easy over Christmas project. I heard shirt dress and thought "dress - easy peasy" - wrong! I should have thought "dress shirt - hours of tailoring, plackets and collars." Oh well it's looking super cute, almost done and now the season to wear it is here! And so much nicer than anything I could buy in a store.
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Everyone is doing so much, more pictures please!
I will start! I have sewn my first collar ever! It took around 8 hours (with professional instruction). Please ignore the non-straight stitches on the back of the collar band, those are basting stitches I still need to remove.
Nice shirt!
Here are the tops and a pair of shorts I've made for my kids to wear this summer. All were sewn from scraps leftover from clothes I'd made for myself.
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Everyone is doing so much, more pictures please!
I will start! I have sewn my first collar ever! It took around 8 hours (with professional instruction). Please ignore the non-straight stitches on the back of the collar band, those are basting stitches I still need to remove.
The dress is a shirt dress I started in December, thinking it would be an easy over Christmas project. I heard shirt dress and thought "dress - easy peasy" - wrong! I should have thought "dress shirt - hours of tailoring, plackets and collars." Oh well it's looking super cute, almost done and now the season to wear it is here! And so much nicer than anything I could buy in a store.
Beautiful shirt dress, and so well made. A very fussy type of sewing, but its coming together so nicely.
And those cute little fast dresses and those nice pants! Love it. fabric choice is nice!
I haven't sewn anything yet...
My housecleaner must have thrown away the button I was saving to sew back on. But maybe this is a blessing as those pants are too small for DD now anyway, and I was putting them up. I just wanted to put them up mended...
Maybe this weekend?
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I need to sew things! I need to do coffee sleeves for a few friends, and the pic TrMama posted made me want to sew some summer tops & dresses for my almost-5-month-old daughter. The hard part is finding time to sew with the baby wanting to be held all the time. She's gotten better at letting me put her down, but that's when I try to do housework...
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Everyone is doing so much, more pictures please!
I will start! I have sewn my first collar ever! It took around 8 hours (with professional instruction). Please ignore the non-straight stitches on the back of the collar band, those are basting stitches I still need to remove.
Nice shirt!
Here are the tops and a pair of shorts I've made for my kids to wear this summer. All were sewn from scraps leftover from clothes I'd made for myself.
Such cute little tops! And very impressed you made them with scraps! I'm a horrible scrap hoarder 😄
Thanks for the nice words about my dress...I just need sleeves, hemming and some finishing/cleaning up here And there and I can wear it! Super excited!
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I have 2 prom dresses in my house now for alteration. This is just getting my little sewing business going, and if these 2 girls are happy hopefully my reputation will spread in a positive way!
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Zaga, you must be a saint! You could not pay me enough to alterations for other people! I hope you are charging enough for your time :-)
Meanwhile, big sewing week for me continues (bf was out of town all weekend=productivity). I finished the quilt top I am making for a wedding gift in May - less than a month left! Just the backing, quilting and binding to go.
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I love altering clothes! And I also hope I am charging enough, it's a learning curve. Right now I've got a sort of formula based on the number of layers and what needs to be done to them. The first dress just went home, it started out with 9 layers, I removed 1, trimmed 6, trimmed and hemmed 2, then did about 5 minutes of needle work adding a hook and reinforcing a few beads. Took about an hour and a half, charged $50.
Remember, this is a very small town, average income around here is $30K a year for an entire household. So I really don't want to overcharge either!
The next dress I'll do tomorrow. It's much simpler, taking in at the sides and hemming 3 non-poofy layers. Charging $30.
I hope they tell all their friends!
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Oh yes, I have so much to do!
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I love altering clothes! And I also hope I am charging enough, it's a learning curve. Right now I've got a sort of formula based on the number of layers and what needs to be done to them. The first dress just went home, it started out with 9 layers, I removed 1, trimmed 6, trimmed and hemmed 2, then did about 5 minutes of needle work adding a hook and reinforcing a few beads. Took about an hour and a half, charged $50.
Remember, this is a very small town, average income around here is $30K a year for an entire household. So I really don't want to overcharge either!
The next dress I'll do tomorrow. It's much simpler, taking in at the sides and hemming 3 non-poofy layers. Charging $30.
I hope they tell all their friends!
I'm impressed! I'd rather construct something from scratch any day, let alone for someone else who has no idea the work involved. Kudos to you!
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I've been sewing for about two years and have made quite a few items. My goals are to currently use up most of my fabric stash, which was bought before I cut back on spending. I probably have enough supplies to sew for a year, including a lap quilt, skirts, shirts, and a couple of dresses for my daughter.
We just moved so I have been able to sew much recently, but I'll have more time as we settle in.
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I'm going on a trip to South America soon and I was considering how to stash some cash under my clothes. I could buy something for $15, but I didn't really want to. I had some clothes I was going to get rid of, so I just used that to make some. I made a passport holder that will snap on to my underwear and sit on my hip and a credit card holder that I can snap around a bra strap and it will sit under my arm.
I had a bit of trouble with the stretchiness of the fabric, so they're not super square, but they should work for me. And they were free. Once I decided to just make them, it took me less than an hour to set up my sewing machine and make both of them.
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DH is a fidgeter. He can't go to sleep without fidgeting with his feet. The end result of this is holes in the bedsheets far more often than I'd like, sigh.
So this week when we got a hole in the sheet I took all the good fabric and made myself an underdress for my medieval costumes and my best friend a gypsy shirt with the scraps. I think the smaller scraps will make several nice soft handkerchiefs as well.
This was a nice tight woven 100% cotton black sheet, it would have been such a pity to throw away so much nice fabric!
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If it's restless legs, especially if he ever gets leg cramps, try a bar of Ivory soap under the bottom sheet near his feet. Sounds crazy, but it helps some people (including me). I eventually resorted to taking meds because I could no get to sleep, my legs were jumping and keeping me awake.
I went through a lot of bottom sheets...
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DH is a fidgeter. He can't go to sleep without fidgeting with his feet. The end result of this is holes in the bedsheets far more often than I'd like, sigh.
So this week when we got a hole in the sheet I took all the good fabric and made myself an underdress for my medieval costumes and my best friend a gypsy shirt with the scraps. I think the smaller scraps will make several nice soft handkerchiefs as well.
This was a nice tight woven 100% cotton black sheet, it would have been such a pity to throw away so much nice fabric!
Has he tried magnesium supplements?
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It's not a symptom, he's just a fidgeter. He doesn't have muscle cramps or anything like that, it's a habit from childhood. Some people bite their nails, he shakes his feet back and forth.
It doesn't bother me any to be honest. He used to apologize all the time for "keeping me awake", but I sleep right through it.
I just was making the best of having perfectly good fabric that was no longer useful for it's previous purpose. And I pulled our old sheet out of the closet, problem solved.
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So this week when we got a hole in the sheet I took all the good fabric and made myself an underdress for my medieval costumes and my best friend a gypsy shirt with the scraps. I think the smaller scraps will make several nice soft handkerchiefs as well.
SCAdian, Rennie, or other? I used to play in the SCA, so I have about a million pounds of fabric and half-finished costumes floating around.
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I saw this on Facebook the other day and thought of this thread. :)
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So this week when we got a hole in the sheet I took all the good fabric and made myself an underdress for my medieval costumes and my best friend a gypsy shirt with the scraps. I think the smaller scraps will make several nice soft handkerchiefs as well.
SCAdian, Rennie, or other? I used to play in the SCA, so I have about a million pounds of fabric and half-finished costumes floating around.
Mostly SCAdian, sometimes rennie. I live 20 minutes from Pennsic, super convenient!
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So this week when we got a hole in the sheet I took all the good fabric and made myself an underdress for my medieval costumes and my best friend a gypsy shirt with the scraps. I think the smaller scraps will make several nice soft handkerchiefs as well.
SCAdian, Rennie, or other? I used to play in the SCA, so I have about a million pounds of fabric and half-finished costumes floating around.
Mostly SCAdian, sometimes rennie. I live 20 minutes from Pennsic, super convenient!
Sweet! I haven't made it to Pennsic since my kiddos were born, and being on the opposite coast I'm unlikely to soon. However, one of the reasons I jumped into this thread is because we're planning on our first event in a long time in June, and I have some clothes that need to be reworked, plus need to make garb for the tinies.
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So this week when we got a hole in the sheet I took all the good fabric and made myself an underdress for my medieval costumes and my best friend a gypsy shirt with the scraps. I think the smaller scraps will make several nice soft handkerchiefs as well.
SCAdian, Rennie, or other? I used to play in the SCA, so I have about a million pounds of fabric and half-finished costumes floating around.
Mostly SCAdian, sometimes rennie. I live 20 minutes from Pennsic, super convenient!
Sweet! I haven't made it to Pennsic since my kiddos were born, and being on the opposite coast I'm unlikely to soon. However, one of the reasons I jumped into this thread is because we're planning on our first event in a long time in June, and I have some clothes that need to be reworked, plus need to make garb for the tinies.
Aww, I love the tiny garb! You should ask around though, I bet a lot of people have leftover tiny garb that they can't use any longer cause kids grow so fast!
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Making costumes sounds like fun!
I opted not to drive 40 minutes each way to my sewing group last night and used the extra time to get through:
4 pairs of boxers that had holes, all fixed
A dress where the plastic strap adjuster had snapped. It was so slippery anyway, and now I've just sewed the straps down so I don't have to check them every 10 second while wearing them!
A button up work shirt with ultra- long sleeves is now short sleeved and extremely comfortable!
They've been sitting in my craft room for over a month.
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I made a baby bib the other night! Well, it's not 100% done; I still need to add Velcro. But it's basically done. I used one of my daughter's bibs as a template, and made it reversible. When it's completely done, I'll post a pic of her wearing it.
Then I'll make more.
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I have a nice black knit skirt that I adapted last year from a halter neck dress that was too tight and unwearable, that I trimmed the top off, shortened the zip and added a line of elastic to the inside of the waist, between the skirt and lining. I like it, with the exception of the zipper head being bulky and uncomfortable at the back of my waist when I'm sitting. This morning before work I unpicked the zip and detached the waist elastic. Tonight, I'll sew up where the zip was at the back, and relocate it to the left hip, then put the elastic back in inside.
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Sewed a sunshine softie for part of a baby shower present. With that practice in, I need to sew one more for my nephew now.
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I made each of my boys an adorable little costume for a medieval event we're attending. I used up odds and ends of fabric, and made them each a light muslin undertunic, and an outer tunic (blue for one, green for the other). They are super stinkin' cute, and it used up a chunk of muslin, and a chunk of blue cotton twill, plus some cream and gray seam binding. I also pulled my old costumes, and did a little work on my favorite to make it look better (recut the neckline, and stitched on brown linen binding).
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I've done a few little mending and improvement jobs on wardrobe pieces in the last couple of weeks.
I made a pair of linen shorts from a Burda pattern a couple of summers ago, and the twin needle top stitching I'd done on the patch pockets was starting to come loose on one pocket, so I hand stitched that back in place.
I made a top from Silhouette Patterns 195 T shirt top in a bright circles print last year, and the neckline was popping a few stitches. Instead of just resewing it, I unpicked and trimmed the seam allowance back, and refinished the neckline with dark fold over elastic that picks out the darkest color in the print. The top looks much nicer now, with a bit of contrast to balance the bold print.
I had made a pair of flannel sleep shorts a while ago that I did a threaded through elastic casing for the waistband, but the elastic would always twist out of shape. I unpicked the channel, resewed the elastic directly to the top inside edge of the shorts with the overcast stitch on my sewing machine, then folded the elastic to the inside and topstitched with a honeycomb stitch. That made them much more comfortable. The top of the shorts had originally been serged anyway, so there was no chance of loose threads.
I also finally finished making another Silhouettes pattern that I was half way through last year before we moved house, which is Silhouettes 4014, Shelly's dress, which I made in a dusty rose pink viscose knit from Elliot Berman fabrics. Last year, I had assembled the bodice and most of the skirt and just had to finish putting it together and hemming. I wore it this week to work with a black cotton cardigan.
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Finished up a pair of flannel sleep shorts for ODD last night. They match a freebie t-shirt she was given but never wears. So now she's got a new pair of spring PJs.
The night before I traced and cut out a pair of overalls and capris for YDD. She's been wanting overalls so she can dress as a minion for years. I can't easily find rtw overalls, so hopefully I'll finish these before she outgrows them. Did you know overall have eleventy-million pieces?
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On the docket for today and tomorrow is hemming 2 pairs of black dress pants for a customer and making 2 suit vests for my husband. He likes wearing fancy vests occasionally but so far he only has 1 that I made him a year ago.
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I need to get in on this thread! I don't devote nearly enough time to my crafting and the WIPs (mostly knitting) and mending are piling up. I have a pair of yoga pants that I am nearly finished hemming--I should finish that this weekend, and then get started mending the sleeve on a cardigan. Hopefully I can get back into the habit of crafting and get to the point where I can actually make some of my own clothes. My poor sewing machine has been collecting a lot of cat fur...
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I've finished a puzzel quilt and started the top of my next quilt. So good to get through them! I have some fabric I was thinking of turning into an a-line skirt for work by copying one I currently have, but I don't want to fill my closet with new clothes after emptying it yet.
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A friend had given me a cream cotton jersey camisole that basically fit, but was much too long. I unpicked the stretch lace at the hem, cut 4 inches of the jersey off and resewed the lace trim back on with a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine. I also put a couple of little darts at the side of the neckline lace so it doesn't gape.
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Im in.. love sewing by hand. But I keep myself so busy doing other things and haven't been sewing . I'm ready to get back into it.
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I did some boro/sashiko (japanese art of mending/embroidery technique) to cover a few holes on my favorite pair of jeans (the ones I keep patching). I used some crochet cotton thread because it's what I had and an embroidery needle. I can't believe how well it worked. It was also a lot of fun! I'm going to try it on my other cycling jeans.
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On the docket for today and tomorrow is hemming 2 pairs of black dress pants for a customer and making 2 suit vests for my husband. He likes wearing fancy vests occasionally but so far he only has 1 that I made him a year ago.
These are all done.
The vests for DH turned out great! My new sewing machine has a much better button hole feature than my old (now broken) machine had.
I also fixed DH's nice suit jacket and altered a dress for a paying customer yesterday.
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I threw down the gauntlet on my self in January. I have tons of fabric and supplies so I'm working to see how long I can last without buying anything. So far, I've only broken down once and bought a yard of fabric while on vacation.
The best part is, almost all of this sewing is for my etsy shop and I've made enough this year for 2 mortgage payments. I still have enough fabric to sew for years more without buying anything but I'll eventually run out of interfacing and zippers.
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I threw down the gauntlet on my self in January. I have tons of fabric and supplies so I'm working to see how long I can last without buying anything. So far, I've only broken down once and bought a yard of fabric while on vacation.
The best part is, almost all of this sewing is for my etsy shop and I've made enough this year for 2 mortgage payments. I still have enough fabric to sew for years more without buying anything but I'lle eventually run out of interfacing and zippers.
I don't buy supplies either ( except I might need zippers or I'll pull off other clothes). I've been recycling fabrics, blankets,clothing,lace, threads,needles passed down since I was s kid. Ppl hav always passed their sewing stuff down to me. I haven't acquired anything new in several yrs now, also did a big purge, but still hav enough for several projects. Also hav some items to alter :) . looking forward to this .
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So many things to do! Shortening a pair of jeans and a pair of yoga pants. Shortening the bedroom curtains (they're pinned right now - so ghetto). Taking in a handful of tops. Mending all the holes in DH's wool biking jerseys.
I finally did this this week! Only five months after posting about it :P
Much of the rest of it hasn't been done either, except for most of the hole mending. I am bad at gauntlets.
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The night before I traced and cut out a pair of overalls and capris for YDD. She's been wanting overalls so she can dress as a minion for years. I can't easily find rtw overalls, so hopefully I'll finish these before she outgrows them. Did you know overall have eleventy-million pieces?
Finally finished up the overalls last night. They're adorable. Also finished some even cuter denim capris for the same daughter. Too bad I can't convince her to wear them.
Next up is a pair of swim bottoms for me, some t-shirts for the kids and knocking out the remaining 3 items in my "not quite finished" pile.
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My sewing machine is in time out (or maybe I am). I'm copying an old favorite pair of shorts, so no directions (and little experience). I painstakingly sewed a complicated slash pocket...to the wrong side of the fabric. Took as long to pick out as it did to sew it to begin with.
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Freaked out about my wedding last night, so today I made new cushion covers? Productive procrastination.
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Finished my poorly fitting jeans into riffled skirt yesterday and wore it out in public today. I'm sewwwwwing and it's fun!
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I do mixed media art. Today I was sewing into a painting with illustrations on it .
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That's really cute, mc6!
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That's really cute, mc6!
YES! That skirt is adorable! AND it has POCKETS! I may have to steal your (brilliant) idea.
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I'm sewing faux fur wraps for my bridal party this week. I haven't sewn with faux fur before so I hope it works out OK. YouTube has shown me how to cut it, which is a good start...
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I found another queen size, high thread count flat sheet that we weren't using, and we were short on pillow cases, so I cut off a strip all along the top and made it into two pillowcases with one side seam and a bottom seam each. The edging even matched the other pillow cases, as they were from the same set. I have more of the sheet left to make two more pillow cases, and the rest of the sheet will become dinner napkins, once I miter the corners and top stitch the edges.
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I got some clothes for free (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/$50-in-free-clothes!/ (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/$50-in-free-clothes!/)), but they were purchased over the internet, so I couldn't try them on first. Luckily (partially by design) the clothes were too big.
Today I tailored two button up shirts to take out the excess fabric. I also had to hem a pair of jeans. They were three inches too long! (I've never had THAT problem before). :)
Note: Unfortunately, I think that link won't give you free clothes any more, but I think it might give you $25 off of $50.
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Just completed ten dresses and ten handbags . sewn and quilted by hand .
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Riverffashion--10?!? Wow, can you post any photos to inspire the rest of us?