Xmas finish: stockings for my siblings

ONE of my 4 goals for December got checked off:

finished making three Christmas stockings, for me and both of my siblings.  

Made from my own pattern and technique, detailed with a tutorial here.  It had been so long since I sewed up the first of the 3 stockings that I actually referred back to my own tutorial.  Hooray for taking good notes!  (And posting them online where I can find them again.)

Interior: reproduction fabrics (left) vs. back of actual vintage quilt (right)

Raw materials?  One vintage 1930s quilt, well-loved and used by the whole family during our growing-up years; I was so surprised that Mom still had this among her possessions.  
 

Reverse sides

There was no salvaging this quilt.  There wasn't even enough "good" area to make a throw pillow.  So these Christmas stockings are the perfect choice:

• They will be taken out and admired once a year
• They will receive minimal handling
• They might never get washed (have you ever washed a Christmas stocking?)
• Many of my holiday decorations invite nostalgia and strong memories--these will fit right in 

 

Although I had set four December goals, these stockings were my must finish item.  So I'm linking up with One Monthly Goal.  Check out some other finishes there!

Elm Street Quilts - One Monthly Goal December finish link-up

I like that writing down my goals helps me to remain focused--even when I take a detour mid-month.  I should do this more often...

Mending in March...and May... and MO-vember?

Saw the hashtag #marchisformending on the Instagram playground, and determined that I wanted to play along.  The mending pile is really no fun, but not having things hemmed and such means that I can't wear them.  So there:  the push-pull between sewing the shiny, exciting things and fixing the forlorn and cast-aside got a bit of a shove this past spring.

I'm right proud of all that got done.  Did I make it to my goal of

mending ten items?

Read on...

Jumper hem: best selfie I've ever taken

1, 2, 3, 4.  Hemming
The most odious of tasks in the mending pile.  However, I managed to hem two pairs of track pants (one was determined to fight my sewing machine, but I vanquished it with walking foot and parchment paper for stabilizer), a jumper whose hem had actually been stapled up at one point, and the sleeves on an eyelet blouse (turning it from matronly to chic).


5, 6.  Elastic
Replaced sagging elastic in one pair of gym shorts and a silk broomstick-pleated skirt.  So happy that I have a stash of various elastics!


7.  Monofilament invisible topstitching
Attended an Earth Day-related sewing event with trained tailors and clothes alterations people on hand to help you #menditdontendit (I blame my children for any hashtags that enter my speech patterns).  One of them helped me use monofilament to invisibly topstitch an unruly facing in a vintage men's shirt.  Ooh, you should feel this polyester!  They just don't make them like this anymore.

8, 9, 10, 11.  Serger for the win
Bought myself a new serger for my birthday, but hadn't taken it out until May.  What was I waiting for?!?!
     Magical serging put new sleeves on a hoodie (original sleeves were too tight, so I carefully replaced them with ones from a long-sleeved T-shirt that I had cut up to use in a T-shirt quilt.    Have worn this several times already--so comfy.
     Technical serging put a lining into a wrap-front t-shirt (where the skimpy manufacturers had only used one layer of fabric), and added some clear elastic along the side seams for a ruched look.
     Rolled hem serging finally finished a summer party-dress.  Too much trouble to hem that bias-cut polyester crepe any other way (I had tried; and cried).
     And finally, serged rolled hems onto the remaining altar cloths for the campus chapel--just in time for the Class of 2018 to have their Baccalaureate service.

I did it!  Wish I could say that this completes all the mending, but alas.  The mending pile is still bursting and threatening to fall over. 

I will just pause here a moment to tell myself, "Well done!"

Sewing for Quilt Market

In the flurry leading up to Quilt Market in Portland this past May, I did a bit of sewing--trying to decorate the booth for the Japanese fabric lines that I peddle (just one of my many part-time gigs).

Here's what got done!

1.  Reversible apron
Both a brand thing--"Hi, we sell Japanese fabrics here!"--as well as a practical issue--pockets!  I made this apron from a panel (currently in stock: tell your local quilt shop to order a bolt :)
 

2.  Tissue box covers
What does the enterprising salesperson do with sample swatches that are no longer needed?  Why, make something cute and clever (and useful! if I do say so myself).  Whipped these two up in a trice: traditional Japanese motifs on one, and the ever-so-cute contemporary Japanese designs on the other.  The fabrics are backed with scraps of fusible fleece, to give them some body.
I think I will add interfacing/fleece to my next tissue box project; I have made several, but have not thought to make them more sturdy.

3.  Upcycled jeans skirt
I wanted to play with double gauze material, but didn't have a lot of time to stitch something up that would look "professional".  I had seen some versions of an upcycle--attaching basically a long ruffle onto a pair of jeans, and decided to give it a go.  When I cut the jeans off at bottom of the zipper in the front, it did hack off a bit of the back pocket (unlike the YouTube video I linked), but I think this was absolutely the correct place to cut.  And, if you haven't tried double gauze yet, you simply must.  (Umm, get the good stuff, not the Shannon brand--sorry, Embrace.)

This skirt is like wearing secret pajamas!

4.  Hawaiian tote bag
This finish deserves its own post, but if I don't get to that anytime soon, here is at least a picture.  Made from scraps of Hawaiian print fabrics (a souvenir from last year's vacation visit to a swap meet).  This is one of my favorite tote bag patterns, and the exterior pocket is perfect for showing off a sashiko stitchery.  Conveniently, the stitchery was Hawaiian-themed as well. 

So that's some quick-stitch I got done in May.  Next Quilt Market is in November, and I've already started sewing for the booth.  Fortunately, most of my makes come back to me and get used & loved.


Finally, no mention of Quilt Market would be complete without a gratuitous picture of Oakie.  He has been my faithful traveling penguin companion on many quilt-y adventures of late.  Here he is with Lucy, a traveling doggie companion who had come all the way from Japan to visit Market.  They are totally upstaging the blue-footed booby and puffin fabrics that were supposed to be the stars of this corner of the booth...

 #wheresOakie

Me-Made May: Strong Finish

Done with the month of May.  So how did it go?

With one day's exception, I wore something every single day during May that fit the spirit of Me-Made.  And I didn't resort to wearing my Me-Made pajamas extra-long into the daytime and calling it good, either.  I stretched.  I challenged.  I completed my pledge to wear at least one self-made or restyled item each day during the month.

And at the end of the month, on the very last day, I wore a restyle that had not been started until that week.

The Candidate

Brown linen flirty skirt with raw edge detailing.  Very hippie, down to the drawstring waist.  Only problem? That waist was not fitting me anytime ever again (if it ever really did fit me back in the day.)
What to do, what to do?  Zipper is the obvious solution.

Step One

Inserted a big zipper in the back--exposed, to keep the young, flirty vibe.  Stabilized with a little interfacing, since everything is on the bias in this skirt.

And... I wore it like that! 
Waistband is still sitting on the sewing table, waiting for a solution.  Need to reattach it, to mitigate the whole stretchy-bias issue.  But it's got a drawstring in it, which is obviously no longer needed.  And it is now too short, as there is a zipper opening to contend with.  So I'm back to the "what to do, what to do?" dilemma.  And here I sit.

But it was a win for the final day of Me-Made May; I was wearing that cute brown skirt.  Rescued from the mending pile.

Me-Made May

Checking the list of monthly sewing challenges, sew-alongs, and contests over at Modern Vintage Cupcakes, I found out that 'So, Zo... What do you know?' is again highlighting Me-Made May. I'm in!

What is it?
A personal challenge to wear items you have made (or refashioned) yourself during the month of May. Dig into those drawers and pull out the lovelies that get too often neglected--in my case, in favor of jeans and t-shirts.  Show those beauties the light of day!

My personal pledge: I will wear something Me-Made every day during the month of May.  Whew!
 

That sounds like a lot, and it will be a challenge, but here's my ace in the hole: I have 5 pajamas and 3 pair of lounge pants to fall back on when it all gets to be too much.  Yep, my Me-Made wardrobe tends toward the cozy at-home-wear.



But really, this is supposed to be a challenge.  So I will endeavor to wear things that I don't get around to pulling out regularly--and that includes accessories: scarves, bags, jewelry.  It's all fair game.


Also, since it seems I haven't really done much garment sewing in
the past <ahem> decade or so, I include in the Me-Made designation those ready-to-wear items I have refashioned.  So that allows me to wear sweatshirts I have embellished or turned into jackets, hems I have jazzed up with trims, and the like.


I am doing this so I get maximum mileage out of my paltry choices in Me-Made items.  I really need to get more garment sewing done this year.  This is my year!  (Otherwise, part of my pledge to rid myself of 100 yards of fabric will include donating all those languishing tweeds and knits and silkies to someone who will love
them and sew with them.)


Anyhow, May is just starting, so you, too, can take a pledge to get into your dresser and pull out something you have made.  C'mon, wear that item proudly!

What Me-Made item are you gonna show off this month?

[Blog posts about some of the items pictured: flamingo top, embellished sweatshirt, infinity scarf/bobble cowl/knit cowl, lace-sleeved-blouse, twill skirt, misc. jewelry]

Xmas in July...August...September...

Drat, the calendar moved past August before I could complete this posting...

Ok, I am all set to go: Christmas sewing project.  Won't post too much about it, as some of my blog readers are family members who will be getting said home-sewn gifts.  But they all know already that I am sewing aprons.

Have had this plan for sewing gift aprons for many years.  Have a unique twist, and a reason these aprons will be loved and cherished.  But, why now?

Thrift sale find

Well, I found a slew of identical aprons on sale in a thrift shop.  $1 each.  Done!  I knew this was a sign that this is the year I need to make this project a reality.

The aprons were an advertising item for a company, so they have a large logo on the front.  No problem, I have a solution for that issue.  Also, the neck strap and waist ties are a little skimpy.  I have a fix for that, too.

Taking apart the aprons to add personal touches

Removing the existing pocket and bias-binding straps will allow me to personalize each apron to match the taste and decor of the family member who will be receiving it.

Apron neck strap plan

So excited to get going on this!  I must finish in a reasonable amount of time, however, because I refuse to be sewing on December 24th.  I learned my lesson last year:

no last-minute holiday sewing = less stress and happier me!

Sewing? Mending.

Been hanging out over on The Sew Weekly website, getting inspired to do some garment sewing in 2013.  I have many boxes of many fabrics that are not appropriate for quilting--figured I should get some of it sewn into garments (and such), or start preparing to part with it for good.

Had a look around the sewing room, and realized I have piles of mending that have been neglected while I pursue quilt-related projects.

So, here's the rundown:

Gray trousers - purchased on mega-clearance just this fall, these haven't been worn because they are too big in the butt.  I think I can reduce the side seams a little.  How hard is that?

Black trousers - (ooh, dark photo!) these have been in the mending pile for quite some time, but I have pulled them out and worn them several times, flaws and all (the joys of safety pins and duct tape in unseen places).  The flaws here include a hole in the zipper area seam, a pocket that just won't lie flat (without a safety pin helper), and elastic in the waist area that has come loose on one side.

Brown trousers - I think the hem is the only thing that needs fixing on these.  But it's been so long since I've looked at them, there might be something else, too.

Green polo shirt - wow, can't even remember what I was supposed to be doing to this.  Maybe shorten the sleeves?  Maybe hem the overall length shorter?

Gold shirt-into-vest transformation - this is a restyle from awhile ago.  Hem is basted into place and armhole bias binding is partially complete.

 

Off-white skirt - this just has too tender of a color.  Bought Rit dye to jazz it up a bit.  Have to wait until I'm feeling comfortable with having technicolor hands for a couple days.

 Olive green skirt - making it longer (always the hemming); bought some ribbon trim to cover up the previous hem fold-line.

Rayon coulottes - yes, I know this style is no longer in fashion, but I just like them.  They are too long, however, and I'm through with wearing clothing the wrong length for my figure (I have skinny chicken-leg calves).

Black bobble t-shirt - the large bead-bobbles on this shirt have many that are coming loose.  Nothing worse than droopy bobbles...

Not pictured, but still in the mending area:
Columbia outerwear jacket - velcro closures have shredded in two locations, and you just can't buy velcro in custom colors, and this will require tedious hand sewing.
Red dress restyle - I was adding waist darts and hemming a sheath dress, when I decided to complicate matters and change the neckline and sleeves as well.

Well, gee.  Some of these seem like an easy fix.  Do-able, even.

Eeyore Sweatshirt finished!

Woop, zoop, sloop: that's about how long it took me to finish the Eeyore sweatshirt that had been hanging around UFO land for several years.  Pulled this project out in September, thinking I could finish it by the end of that month.

(And I could have finished it, if only I had sat down to work on it.)

 Commercial sweatshirt with embroidered Eeyore logo and the words, "Think Cheery".  I removed the lower ribbing band and replaced it with patches of assorted orange prints, including several featuring Winnie the Pooh.

 The sleeves, which were originally a little short for me, had their length extended with a faux chenille.  Then I took pieces of the original waistband ribbing to finish off the cuffs.

Chenille detail - after a washing

I think it's cute.  Adorable, even.  And it is just as lovely of an embellished sweatshirt as my purple Winnie the Pooh one is.

But the reaction I got when I wore it?  Meh. 

And that's not the reaction I wanted.  What incentive do I have to finish a long-dormant project, only to find that it's no longer my style?  (And isn't that a reason to re-think some of my UFO items?  And perhaps get rid of them?  I feel the gods are leading me toward a closet purge.)

2nd item finished in 2013!

Something borrowed, something new

Finally finished a pre-2012 project that had been hanging out for years.  Had fabrics, pattern, and article-to-repurpose.  Just never got around to working on it.  Part of the issue was with poor directions in the pattern: not quite sure what got cut out, or how exactly it was all to go together.  Plus, I knew I was making a knee-length dress, not some ankle-skimming lounge gown, and would need to alter things to make the colored skirt panels turn out right.

I knew it would get done eventually, because I *love* mixing fabrics.  My favorite jacket pattern calls for 6-8 different fabrics, and I have made it 3 times.  Also I'm a sucker for bags that use a variety of fabrics.  This project promised to use 4 coordinating fabrics, along with "a shirt" for the bodice.

Name of pattern: Something Borrowed, Something New (Indygo Junction)

Raw materials:

Denim jumper from my younger days.  Was too short for my aging body, and too tight in the thighs.

An assortment of rayon scraps: from a hippie wedding dress, from a flapper Halloween costume, from a dress I made one of my girls (size 6-8? way long ago), from a summer frock of similar little-girl vintage.

The result:

A denim jumper for summer, for me.  Yay.

Being Good. at Goodwill

After a reasonably productive week of writing, I treated myself to a trip to Goodwill.  I was looking for 2 things: a pair of light-colored flats to wear with summer-y skirts (thank you, sun!  Last weekend was *amazing*), and some cargo capri pants to wear on an upcoming trip.  (Okay, so the trip isn't upcoming until July, but I started looking at the cute travelers in the brochure, and they were all wearing cargo pants/shorts/capris.  I have to be a prepared traveler.)

Bought 3 pairs of shoes, and 2 cargo capris.

In with the new (new-to-me!)

As I was shopping for these items, I was mentally figuring out what I could "trade" them for in my current wardrobe.  I don't know about you, but my closet and dresser are full.  I can't afford to acquire without getting rid of something at the same time.

Out with the old: two skirts that I don't ever wear, a pair of heels that hurt my feet, my beloved comic-strip-covered Converse that are more-than-a-little split along the sides, and comfortable clogs that are too ugly to leave the house in.  Yay: an even trade!

As I was trying on clothing, however, I ran into a recurring Goodwill theme of mine: I can fix that!  I can restyle that!  Wouldn't this look cute if only... this sleeve were changed!  So often I buy clothing that becomes "project" as it awaits my restyling efforts.  Indeed, both pairs of capris that I bought are now sitting in my mending pile: the khaki pair needs a new drawstring, and the black ones need hemming (I am very particular about my capri pants length--almost always have to hem them.)  But I don't consider those sewing tasks to be "project", just mending.

On the other hand, after being around so much clothing, I decided to take a quick look in the "project" area to see if there are any Goodwill-clothing-restyle items hanging around that I am no longer in love with.  Fresh in my mind was the powerful knowledge that cute, wearable clothing exists on the racks right now at Goodwill--I don't need to chain myself to outdated ideas that I had when I impulsively bought "I can fix that!"

Gone!  Adorable kid-print vest that really didn't fit me at all.  (I'm sure there are more adorable prints in the world; and if I ever get back into wearing vests, I can find one that actually fits.)  Rayon tribal-print pants that I wanted to make into capris, but that had huge fit issues.  This one counts as a discarded project because I had disassembled and cut and pinned already: GONE.  And some gauzy rayon-y striped something that had been totally disassembled, and which I have no desire to sew into something new.

Project report for March

Having spent the past week on Spring Break, I figured I would finish at least two projects.  But no, just one got done.  I have been plugging away at various WIPs, but things I was working on most of the month were longer-term projects.

So done!  I took a purple jumper that I bought for my birthday and hemmed it to the length that looks best on me (just below the knee--I've heard it looks best on most women, actually).  Then discovered that the newly-shortened version was too boxy and didn't have enough of a waistline.  So I monkeyed around with side seams, front and back darts, making it too tight and then loosening it again.  Too much time on a simple project, but it's something I will wear in the next week.

Cute teacher-dress/jumper

Monthly project count...
Completed projects this Month:  1
Completed projects Year to Date:  4
New projects this Month:  none
New projects Year to Date: 6
Discarded/donated projects (farewell!): 1
Net Project Count for 2012: 1

 

Re-inspired: 1930's reproduction blocks

Last year at "Quilt Camp" (annual January quilting retreat sponsored by my favorite quilt shop, Something to Crow About), I participated in the block challenge:  12" finished block made from 1930's reproduction fabrics.  I have a love of the 1930's reproduction look, and a few scraps of appropriate fabric in my stash, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I entered 3 blocks in the challenge:

A basic pinwheel, with border supplemented from a neighbor's stash.  I love the green cat/alphabet print.

I had always wanted to try making a Snail's Trail block.  Again, with the cat/alphabet fabric, and leftover ladybug-embellished yellow gingham.  I discovered that a single Snail's Trail is not so fun to make, because you can't chain piece any part of it.  Good information to note for the next time I make this block.

I guess I don't know my block history, since I thought Card Trick was a rather modern-looking block.  I was told that it is actually very appropriate to the time period of the 1930's.  I think this block is the cutest of the 3 that I made.

So... I entered my blocks into the challenge pool.  The rules for quilt camp are that you get one entry for each completed block, and all the blocks are awarded to a single winner, drawn at random on the final day.  Although I have participated in making blocks for several years (often playing with patterns and techniques I have long wanted to try--isn't that the point?), I must admit that I haven't wanted to actually win the blocks until this year.  I just love 1930's prints--the more the merrier.

I won twenty-one 12" blocks!  With the responsibility to make them into a finished quilt top by next year's Quilt Camp date (coming up in January, in case you forgot like I did).  I did some dreaming and playing with the blocks last spring, then put them away.  Having remembered my January deadline, I got the blocks out again to assess where I am, and give them some more of my time and energy.

Blocks, in no particular order...

My favorite 1930's setting is to have clean white backgrounds.

Busy fabrics compete with each other here

A matching pinwheel to the one I entered.  I confess, though, that this wasn't a block that was entered.  I cut apart a completed block, made with only the blue and red fabrics, because the colors seemed so out of place among all the blocks I received.  I hope the original seamstress doesn't mind.

The rest of the blue and red block.  I'm hoping to add some other colors and make another Card Trick block with these fabrics.  That will give me two blocks from an original one!

I ended up cutting down the black-peach pinwheel to insert this border.  There was a bit too much of the black--it stood out against the other blocks.  But I now have similar pinwheel blocks.

I'm thinking of cutting apart and restyling this block.  It has so much white area (and it's a white-on-white print) that it doesn't fit as much with the other blocks.  I have ideas...

This block wants to be set on-point.  Which presents a challenge: does the entire quilt get set on-point as a result?  How do I mix straight-set and on-point blocks?  If I put only this block on-point, can I "fill in" the corners in order to make it fit?  What about that lavender block above--can I make that work with this idea?

A block I already chopped apart.  I don't remember what the original block looked like--maybe I took its pieced borders and used them with the black-peach pinwheel.  Sorry I don't remember what I did, only that I kept the miniature blocks to reuse somehow.

Applique butterflies!  What a treat.

This Rail Fence is too small, so I need to add another rail.

Again, I think there were size issues with the border of the block. I'm re-sewing

Another butterfly.  So cute!

Well, 21 blocks are a lot.  Many thanks to the wonderful women who sewed them last year.  How will I put them together?  Stay tuned...