My Sewing Space

When I began blogging, I posted my makes right after they were finished and the blog was a chronological record of what came off the sewing machine. That isn't the case anymore. Now I blog when I get around to taking pictures, which can be awhile. In the case of this vest, it's been at least 8 months. It normally doesn't take nearly that long, but I didn't have a shirt to wear under it when I finished it, and then the wrong season came along (summer). Finally I wore it a few days ago and got a picture. Excuse the funny shadows. And the funny hair. You'd think after waiting 8 months, I'd get it right... The problem with blogging long after creating is that it's hard to remember what I did or changed. I do know that I'm happy with the fit of the vest, particularly across the back. The construction seems sound, too. I think I used cotton batiste to underline the tweed fabric. It isn't a very high-quality fabric and the loose weave needed a little ...

The local fair has recently come and gone. As I have done in years past, I entered some sewn things for judging. There was a distinct lack of sewing time in the weeks before the fair, but I came up with six things that I could finish easily before the fair or things that I had made over the last year and were eligible. All of the six things placed in the top three in their category. A couple of things haven't made it on the blog yet. One of those is a necktie for The Preacher. Back in the spring, I bought some necktie silk in NY. I didn't have a clue about making ties, but I thought it might be a fun thing to try. Most of the big pattern companies have some sort of tie pattern, but I wasn't expecting that would be the best source for instructions and guidance. Some online research led me to David Page Coffin's Custom Making Neckties at Home . There is a lot of information included in the 17-page booklet and I found it really helpful. Coffin clearly is experienced a...

I picked up my fair entries today.  All of my things were gathered up and waiting on a pile for me.  A woman, (who was a member of the committee responsible for the homecraft exhibits but not a judge) brought me over to it and then said, "Oh, this is your stuff!  This is beautiful work!  Especially this (pointing to the jacket ).  I had several people complain to me that this did not win first prize.  Anything with bound buttonholes should win first prize.  I was not the judge, but I still would like to apologize.  I just don't understand that judging."  She was very dramatic about the whole thing.  I thanked her and said I wasn't really upset about it and I had won several other prizes (share the wealth, eh?).  But, I did appreciate knowing that it wasn't just me that was confused by the judging in that category.

Drumroll please.... I did pretty well at the fair!  I was there today and checked everything out. Seven items placed first in their category: dress blouse sport shirt girl's jumper girl's blouse girl's nightgown doll clothes Two items took second place: child's socks boy's pajamas One item came in third: vest Which leaves four items that didn't place: apron , jacket , socks , scarf So, that means I won about $90.00.  I really enjoyed looking at all the things entered.  The quilts were particularly amazing.  Overall, I am pleased with how I did and I didn't find the judging too perplexing.  Well, except for one category.  The jacket.  Of course, I'm being completely and totally objective here, but I was ROBBED!!  There were only four jackets entered.  The first place one looked terrible.  The second place one looked better than it and the third place one looked better than the second one!  Really, I don't ...

I brought this little guy with me to the fabric store (Fabricland) to pick out some fabric for pajamas.  We brought home this soccer print and an indy race car print.  Perhaps you remember what I think about auto racing .  So, I was a little conflicted about buying the indy cars.  But, it was either that or hockey and I really don't care for hockey either.  This soccer print was also available with a green background - you know, so it would look like a soccer field.  That seemed to make sense to me, but the client wanted the blue, so that's what came home. I've used this pattern many times already.  It's a good pattern.  This set of pj's is the largest size, T4.  They're a little big on him now, but that was intentional.  They'll be too small too soon.  This is probably the best pattern matching I've done yet.  It's not perfect, but I'm pretty happy with it.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it ...

Yesterday was the deadline to submit entry forms for the fair.  I dropped mine off a little after noon.  My form had 14 items listed. apron dress jacket blouse vest socks sport shirt scarf girl's jumper girl's blouse boy's pajamas (finished, but no post yet) girl's nightgown child's socks doll clothes Some of these things I made a few months ago, but they are eligible as long as they have been created since September 2008 and haven't been soiled or defaced by wear or use. The fair actually happens September 23-27.  Next Friday I have to pick up the tags for the items and then they need to be dropped off on Monday, September 21. I think I mentioned that I found the judging last year to be a little unpredictable, so I'm going to be happy as long as I just recover my entrance fee ($10 - per entrant, not item).  The prizes: 1st - $10; 2nd - $8; 3rd - $6.  We'll see what happens....

One of my goals for 2009 was to make a great white shirt.  I haven't tackled that yet, but I think I'm going to consider this shirt the first step in that process.  This pattern was in the running for "the" shirt and I think I like how it turned out. This fabric is from NY - Metro Textiles.  It seems to be high quality, but was pretty lightweight and it wrinkles really easily.  It also presses well and feels nice on. Some details: The collar: The sleeve placket and cuff: Bias-cut lower bodice: (resizing the pics makes the stripes all wonky) I added a seam at the center back to make the chevron pattern balanced: This shirt feels more like spring than fall to me, so I think I'll put it away and it will be a nice surprise after the long winter.  Besides, I don't really have anything to wear with it now. I'll be entering this in the fair in the "Ladies Blouse" category. Next up:  doll clothes (?)

Corduroy is one of my favorite fall/winter fabrics.  I like it's weight and texture and the rich, lovely colors that it comes in.  And I like jumpers on little girls.  So, I think a corduroy jumper for fall is a good thing. This is Butterick 4842 in size 4.  Kind of.  I took in the CF 1.5", the side seams 3/4", added 1.5" in length to the bodice and 1" to each flounce.  So, I started with size 4, but didn't stay there for long.  This pattern is really short.  You can see that from the pattern model. I thought the jumper might turn out too plain, so I added two bands of ribbon at the bottom of the bodice.  It's sheer ribbon with satin edges.  Nice how Fabricland had ribbon to match this color almost exactly, but no narrow white grosgrain ribbon.  Okay, I'm over it.... Tutorial for the flower here .   I'm not thrilled with the button in the middle.  I've been doing a great job of using up my button stash rathe...

This shirt is a shameless copy of a shirt I picked up at a garage sale for my younger daughter.  It was too small during the right season, so she never wore it.  Now I passed it on to my neice.  I really liked it, though and the design stuck in my head.  So, here's my version for my older daughter. I cut the sleeves off right above the elbow and drafted a new cuff.  The cuff is slightly flared and then I added a velvet ribbon at the cuff seam. The collar also has the velvet ribbon around the edge.  In hindsight, I realize that I probably should have cut and mitered the corners, but I just folded and overlapped them.  It was pretty bulky and took a bit of manipulating to look satisfactory.  The original shirt had grosgrain ribbon rather than velvet.  I would have preferred this for my copy, but Fabricland didn't have any.  Seriously.  Lots of other ribbon, but no narrow white grosgrain ribbon.  Very disappointing...

The fabric for this most recent project is a little strange.  It's poly fleece and I've had it for a long time - too long to remember what I was thinking when I bought it.  I was probably pregnant.  I had a really difficult time determining which was the right or wrong side.  One side is green and black and looks almost like tweed. The other side is grass green. It is usually pretty easy to determine the right and wrong side of printed fleece. The right side has a more crisp appearance. On the fleece below, the left side is the wrong side and the right side is the, well, right side. That was no help with this green fleece, so I consulted Adventures with Polar Fleece by Nancy Cornwell . She suggests some “tests” you can use to determine the right/wrong side of fleece if it isn’t obvious. 1. When you pull along the selvage edge (lengthwise grain), the fleece will curl to the right side . Mine curled to the solid green side. 2. When you pull on the cro...

Daughter (5 years old): What is that for, mom? Me: It's a new dress for me.  Do you like it? Daughter:  Well, I guess.  But, it would be better if it wasn't brown. Me:  Hmmm.  I kind of like brown. Daughter: Okay.  Why does it have all those wrinkles on your belly? Me: That's called ruching.  That's how the dress is supposed to look. Daughter: Oh.  I think that is a little silly. This fabric has been in my stash for at least three years.  I had enough of it to make a dress out of it and liked this pattern , but thought that it might turn out too boring.  Then I saw a picture of a celebrity in a magazine in a dress that was remarkably similar - chocolate brown, wrap style, A-line skirt.  And I liked it.  So, I gave the fabric and pattern marriage my blessing. In this picture I saw, the celebrity was wearing some killer shoes.  I think that helped the dress not be boring on her. ...

The Preacher's shirt is finished. I don't sew a lot for him, but this pattern could change that. I really liked working on this shirt. I did most of the sewing while he wasn't around, so I used an inexpensive fabric with the intention that this one would mostly be a test of the pattern. I really didn't do any fitting work. I made a size large with a 16 1/2" neck. If it were to be a dress shirt, I think I would go down a size. The sleeve pattern piece looked really short, and after measuring some shirt sleeves in the closet, I added 2" in length. This was too much, as you can see in the pictures. The sleeve plackets turned out well. I cut the placket piece on the bias for interest. I stitch the inside of the collar band down by hand before topstitching it. I find that I don't have enough control by machine and really don't like it when the front edge looks sloppy. It's right by the face and seems really noticable to me. I'll be entering th...

I have a friend that likes NASCAR. A lot. I don't like NASCAR. I would say I am principally opposed to NASCAR. I think it is a horrible misuse of natural resources. But, we can still be friends. I had lunch with this friend while we were on vacation and just a couple of hours after lunch, I saw this NASCAR fabric on the clearance table at Field's Fabrics . I nearly laughed out loud. There were two bolts of it. Two full bolts. Perhaps not many other sewists like NASCAR? Since it was dirt cheap, I bought some of it. I've mentioned here before that I like to make apple pie . This friend likes to make apple crisp and awhile back I may have told him that apple crisp is just apple pie for slackers. It's the same idea as apple pie, but with less work. He was a bit indignant about this and brings it up every chance he has. I thought the NASCAR fabric would work well as an apron - and might encourage him to step up to apple pie. ;) This is a very basic apron pattern. There a...

"A dress? To wear to bed ?! For ME?!?!" Okay, so the concept of a nightgown is a bit new to my daughter. I don't wear one and she's never had one, but she's getting used to the idea. The Preacher's grandma gave me this flannel and I just barely squeaked this out of it, but it is perfect for a nightgown. I made a size 4 and lengthened the skirt and sleeves by 1.5". The pattern suggests sewing flat lace to the top of the collar, but I didn't find any lace that I liked, so I put white ric-rac around the collar edge instead. It's inserted like piping. I seem to be on a bit of a New Look streak lately. I think this was a good pattern. There isn't really a lot of fitting work to fuss with on a nightgown like this, but it did seem to be drafted well. I'll be entering this for judging in the fair in the "girl's nightgown" category. My daughter doesn't quite understand why she can't wear it until after the fair, but she kn...