Skirting Adventure

Last week I attempted to sew a garment.  For myself.  With guidance from some tutorial on the internet that I can no longer locate, I attempted a skirt.  My first attempt was, shall we say, less than flattering…

Basically you take one yard, fold it with selvedges together, add some elastic at the top, hem the bottom, and voila! skirt.  While this skirt shape is flattering on many body types, mine is not one of them.  My darling hubby politely offered some very tactful suggestions for making it fit better.  His suggestions proved to be very helpful and the resulting modifications made the skirt much more attractive.

One yard of cotton fabric (purchased on clearance, no less), French seams, and a bit of elastic equal one simple and fairly cute skirt.

Modifications from the first version: Took off 7″ of width and tapered the side seams in a bit at the knee.

Read Full Post »

Stitches – Part 2

So, the rest of the story on Stitches… I already told you about all the yarn I bought.  Well, there was more than just yarn!  We also went to opening day and heard Jane Slicer-Smith and one of the ladies from Twisted Sisters.  It was an interesting keynote address with lots of discussion on miters and color.  Plus, we got some nice knitting time in!

Sonja, Connie, and I knitting at Opening Day.

After Opening Day, we had some time to kill.  We decided it would be fun to hit some fabric stores!  Among the stores we went to were The Granary and Eddie’s Quilting Bee.  The Granary is a nice little store with tons of quilts hanging all over.  They had a class going on while we were there and the ladies who run the shop were very friendly.  I picked up an adorable piece of flannel for Connie’s baby (she’s due in August).

Cow flannel for Connie.

I also picked up this beautiful fat quarter (the camera doesn’t do it justice).

Fat quarter.

At Eddie’s, I had to get a cut of this adorable hermit crab fabric.  I just couldn’t resist it.  I mean, could you?

Hermit crab fabric.

I ended up with a pattern from each store.  From The Granary, the Chubby Chicks quilt pattern, from Eddie’s the Happy Feet slippers pattern.

Patterns

We also went to the fashion show, but I didn’t get any pictures.  And that’s about the gist of the trip.  I can’t wait to dive into the projects I brought home with me! (I may have already finished one… Come back later this week to see!)

Read Full Post »

A Smocking Revelation

My darling nephew Tyler (whom you see quite often on the blog) loves to play in the sink with his toys.  He has been wearing the apron he received for Christmas.  Unfortunately, cotton tends to absorb water, rather than repel it.  So a water smock was requested!

Water smock, front.

Sonja gave me a piece of water resistant nylon she had leftover from a coat.  It’s hard to tell from the picture, but it’s a purple-ish blue color.  I use this tutorial, but left off the ruffles and pocket.

Water smock, back.

The binding and ribbon I already had in the stash boxes.  So this little smock didn’t cost me a penny.  I’m hoping it is as water resistant as advertised.  Otherwise, I’ll be adding a layer of clear vinyl to the front.

Water smock, tie detail.

This smock works up quickly and only took about an hour or so on Sunday morning.  Overall, I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.  It fits Tyler perfectly.  Now how about some action shots?

Poop Pickup Patrol

Scoopin’ Poop

(Yes, they could be better action shots.  But he wanted to scoop the poop.  So why stop him?)

Read Full Post »

Tutorial: Folding Grocery Tote

I hope you haven’t been holding your breath waiting for me to get this tutorial up.  I have written this with the beginner sewer in mind, so be forewarned there are lots of pictures.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if something is unclear.

Read on to make your very own foldable, portable, washable, reusable grocery bag!

_______________________________________________________________________________

Folding Grocery Tote Tutorial

Please note: Supplies listed will make two grocery bags.

Supplies

• 1 yard main fabric* (more if your fabric is directional)
• 1 fat quarter in contrast fabric (or at least 18″ x 22″)
• 2, 3/4″ buttons (preferably with shanks)
• Thread
• Quilt ruler (6″ x 24″ recommended)
• 3″ quilt square (optional, but helpful)
• Rotary cutter or scissors
• Chalk or fabric marking pen
• Hand sewing needle

*I used 100% cotton quilting weight fabric.  I tend to get a lot of my fabric for grocery bags from the remnant bin (because you only need a half yard per bag!), but use whatever you have on hand that is sturdy and washable with not much stretch.  These bags may seem thin, but they hold up well under pressure.

Prepare Your Fabric

Wash and iron your fabric.  I like to use a print for the main fabric and a solid for the contrast fabric.

Cut Your Fabric

Main Fabric

Fold your fabric with selvedges together.  Lay your fabric out with the folded side away from you.  Trim the edge if it is rough (as shown below) and then cut your piece so it is 16″ wide.

Rotate your piece (still folded) and cut to 18″ long from the folded edge.

Your piece now measures 16″ x 36″ unfolded.  Set aside.  If you cut the other bag body at this point, you can repeat each ironing step for both bags and end up with two completed at the end.

Contrast Fabric

Lay your contrast fabric out so the short (18″) side is closest to you.  Cut your fabric every 4″ for four strips.  (You will have a 2″ strip leftover.)  Each strip should measure 4″ x 22″.  Set two of the 4″ strips aside for the second bag.

Cut a 4″ piece from the 2″ wide strip.  Trim it to 1.5″ wide.  You should now have a main piece 16″ x 36″, two contrast strips 4″ x 22″, and a small contrast piece 1.5″ x 4″ wide.  These are the pieces to make one bag.

Iron It All

Tip: For greater efficiency, iron the pieces for both bags all at once.

On the short (16″) side of your main fabric piece, fold over and iron about 1/2″.

Fold over again, approximately 3/4″ to 1″ and iron.  Repeat on the other end.

Fold piece in half, right sides together, matching short ends.  Iron, creasing the fold.

Iron the strips, in 4 easy steps (click to embiggen).

1. Iron 1/2″ in on each short end.

2. Iron in half, lengthwise, then open back up.

3. Iron one side in half towards the center.  Repeat with the other side.

4. Fold in half lengthwise and iron again.  You should have nice finished edges all the way around.  Repeat for other large strip as well as the small strip.

Your pieces should now look like the image shown below.

Sew Your Bag

Please note: For best results, sew back and forth at the beginning and end of each seam to lock threads in place.

Beginning at the folded side of the strip, sew around the entire perimeter with a 1/4″ seam.  Repeat for other large strip.  For the small strip, simply sew down the center of it lengthwise.

For the main part of the bag, sew across the folded seam with the edge of the presser foot against the side of the fold towards the bottom of the bag.  Repeat on other side.  If you want to spice up your bag a little, use a zigzag or other decorative stitch here.

Sew the side seams.  Use the edge of your presser foot as a guide.

If you have a serger, finish the side seams now.  Otherwise, use pinking shears to keep the inside edges from fraying.

Box the Bottom

Using your quilting ruler and chalk, mark a 2″ x 2″ square at each bottom corner of your bag, using the seam line as a guide.

Cut out the squares.

Pull the bag’s sides apart and match up the edges of the opening you just cut.  You will match your seamed edge to the fold at the bottom.

Sew across the cut opening on each side of the bag.  Finish by serging or using pinking shears.

Add the Handles

Using the seam as your guide, use chalk to mark 3″ from each edge of your bag.  Turn over and repeat on the other side.

Place your handle to the outside of the chalk line, with the edge about 1/4″ below the fold of the top of the bag.  Shown below is the left side of the bag.  The handle is to the left of the chalk line, closer to the outside edge of the bag.  You can pin it in place or just go for it.  (I find pins tend to get in the way at this step.)

Secure your handle by sewing all the way around (box) and then across the center (X).  Being careful not to twist, repeat for other end of handle.  Turn over and repeat on other side of bag.  (Click images to embiggen)

Place the button loop by measuring 7.5″ from the side seam.  Mark it with chalk and sew across the loop several times to secure.  Trim off any excess.

Press the sides and bottom of your bag, making sure the button loop is on the side facing down.

Attach the button securely** to the side with the button loop attached.  Place it 3.5″ from the bottom and 7.5″ from the side seam.

**Make sure to sew your button on within an inch of it’s life.  It will be taking a lot of abuse and needs to be very securely fastened.

Check out your finished bag!

It holds quite a bit.  Don’t be afraid to really fill it up!

How to Fold Your Bag

1. Place the straps inside the bag and lay flat with the button side facing down.  (The straps may give you some trouble the first couple times you fold it, but they will settle down.)

2.  Fold the sides into the center in thirds.

3. Fold the bottom up (you should see the button).

4. Fold the top down and button.

Your bag is done!  Now fold it up and take it shopping.

_______________________________________________________________________________

© Chelsea Powers, 2009.
I am providing this pattern free for personal use.  Please don’t use it to mass produce.  Limited use to help pay for your fabric habit (i.e. holiday bazaars) is ok as long as credit is given.

Read Full Post »

New Fabric

These three fabrics are destined to be something soon. Can you guess what?

(Fabric is by Moda and was purchased on sale at Fabric of Vision in Ashland.  It’s a nice little shop on the main drag.  Friendly staff and great fabric.)

Read Full Post »

Low ‘N Slow

My Saturday has been anything but that.  So I’m just zoomin’ by to show you the latest sewing project.  A mini-sized pillowcase for Tyler’s mini-sized pillow for his big-boy-sized bed.

Pillowcase measure approx. 13″x18″ and fits a 12″x16″ pillow.

Grandma, Papa, and I are driving over tomorrow to deliver his very first big-boy bed.  His momma bought a Lightning McQueen bedding set for it and I wanted him to have a little pillow just right for him.

In other news, I bought a new-to-me table today and a brand new iron!  Details to come.

Read Full Post »

Successful Sewing

I have a successful sewing project to share with you!  It’s a little case for my cell phone.  I wanted to try something a little challenging, but still small-scale.  Keyka Lou to the rescue!

Front – Closed

Front – Open

Back – Pocket

The entire project took a very small amount of fabric and probably two hours to complete, and that’s with being interrupted and having to hand-sew a little mistake spot.  The pattern came from her Etsy store (Psst!  She’s having a sale!!!)  This was definitely a learning piece.  There are several things I want to improve* on when I do the next one (and yes, there will be another one).

If you ask me, it’s really a very clever little design.  The entire case is fully lined and has a pocket with darts and a flap to hold your phone.  On the back is another fully lined pocket that is the perfect size for some cash and/or cards.  It’d be the perfect thing to carry when a purse is too much.  I can also see it fitting other odds and ends (like a tape measure, stitch markers, and a Chibi with tapestry needles).  Oh, and the fabric is from JoAnn’s Debbie Mumm collection (they’re also having a sale…).

All in all, I’m pleased with it.  I have lots of fabric left over because I over bought.  (The direction of the pattern of my fabric made me worry that the 1/4 yard specified wouldn’t be wide enough to accommodate.)  I’m thinking a neat little matching box bag using this tutorial might be in order.  I just may have to get some Independence Day sewing in tomorrow morning…

*The improvement is all in the “my sewing” department, not in the “her pattern” department.

Read Full Post »

Creative Fabric Usage

Coolest idea for using up fabric.  I may have to do this for those cuts that I just can’t bear to part with or use in a project.  I’ve got several fat quarters that would coordinate nicely into a multi-square wall art thingy.  Hmmm…

Read Full Post »

A Brief Interlude of Fabric

Look, I made that thing I wanted to make.  Yeah, I’m not feeling very eloquent.  So instead, I give you elephants.

It’s a swaddling blanket, changing pad, and burp cloth using this tutorial from Chickpea Sewing studio.  It was quick and easy and my seams are halfway straight.

Isn’t the fabric great?  It’s soft flannel and terry cloth.  I’m not sure who gets this one, but I’m definitely going to have to make another set (or two).

Read Full Post »

Resistance

I’m a bad blogger, yes, I admit it.  But I’ve been rather busy lately.  The execs decided on a last minute sale and then didn’t tell anyone who actually needed to make it happen until it was almost time for it to go live.  Le sigh… when will they ever learn?

Pictures of the Nebraska trip are here.  It was a fun trip where I got to hang out with Miss Violet of the (in)famous Lime & Violet podcast.  I got snuggled by all the puppy dogs, came home with lots of yummy yarns and fiber (Miss V. was destahing… WOOO!!!), and even got to put my PhotoShop skills to use.  Adminnie took me to Personal Threads and let’s just say, it’s a good thing that store is 2,000 miles away!  The rest of the trip… well.. It made me appreciate my extended family more.  I had a great time seeing Paula and Matt again, but I’m definitely not cut out for the midwest.  It was just too freakin’ cold!

Now that I’m home, the holiday yarniness continues.  I finished a pair of crocheted felted slippers for Tyler.

Unfortunately, I started them before measuring his feet and made a size that was 2″ too big.  So, they’ll be on display at the Shop until he grows into them.

With the holidays looming and stress levels heading towards breakdown point, I’m feeling major project ADD.  This is also the time of year where my sewing urges come out.  I’m thinking I really want to make this set.  I’m fighting the urge to go to Jo-Anns and buy more fabric.  I have 3 giant boxes already and most of it is either flannel or fleece.  But the little voice in my head whispers, “You don’t have any terry cloth… you must go to the fabric store…”  What am I to do?  Sigh… I suppose I’ll just print the coupons and give in.  But I can’t go until after the Kitties’ vet appointment.

Speaking of kitties, Max is doing ok these days.  Despite having an agressive form of cancer under his tongue, he’s still very out-spoken.  Sam accidently let him out while I was out of town and now Max is obsessed with wanting to be outside.  We’re having to watch him carefully because he’s getting more daring in his escape attempts.  That reminds me, we’re out of cat food and kitty litter.  I’d better hit the pet store while I’m out shopping for fabric.

Wait… what was that about not needing more fabric…?

Read Full Post »