Lessons in Dressmaking

So, I here is what I have learned from my most recent fashion sewing project:

1. DO NOT CUT THE PATTERN TO THE SIZE YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE!
2. EXPERIMENT ON SCRAP FABRIC WHEN MAKING BUTTON HOLES!
3. DO NOT CUT THE PATTERN TO THE SIZE YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE!
4. SEW THE GARMENT USING CHEAP FABRIC; IF IT TURNS OUT, USE YOUR FASHION FABRIC!
5. DO NOT CUT THE PATTERN TO THE SIZE YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE!

Did I mention NOT TO CUT THE PATTERN?  I made this mistake when I began cutting out the pattern pieces for See and Sew B5634.  I decided cutting the pattern to the size I thought would fit my oldest daughter would be easier than trying to fold the pieces along the appropriate lines.  Well, it was easier, but in the end, the dress did not fit her!  Too small!  Fortunately, it fit my friend and she modeled it for the photos.

 

You can see in the photo where I violated lesson #2.  The second button is clearly misaligned.  Oops.  What's also obvious is that I paid no heed to lesson #4.  I should have made the dress using cheap fabric first! 

   

I actually learned a lot from this project that helped me make the next dress.  I had never made a collar before!  It was much easier than I expected!  Setting in the sleeves was a bit tricky, but I managed, and I carried this experience into the next dress project.

My daughter's favorite kinds of dresses are shirt dresses and wrap dresses.  I messed up the shirt dress, but I scored with this blue wrap dress.  Actually, I did not intend to use this blue fabric for the actual dress.  This is cheap fabric I used to "practice" the pattern.  My daughter saw the dress, tried it on, and decided she liked the fabric!  Hit!  She wore the dress to work!  If you are interested, this wrap dress pattern is from Sew Simple.  I picked it up at Walmart.  Easy!

So, with all these lessons learned, I'm now ready to attempt the shirt dress again.  This time, I'm going to use McCall's M4769.  I think the fuller skirt will fit my daughter better than the See and Sew pattern.    

I'm using this retro looking fabric for this dress.  I bought this at Quilts and Quilts, my favorite quilt shop  in  Branson, MO.

  

I also bought some "self-ruffling" yarn called, Flounce.  I had never knitted with this sort of yarn before so it was a little weird to get used to, but I managed to follow the directions and make this adorable little scarf!

I'm thinking these little scarves would make great teacher gifts this year!  They are very fast and the stitches are very forgiving!  If anyone is interested in a quick knitting lesson, let me know!  I'll post an easy tutorial!

I also bought a few Jelly Rolls at the quilt shop!  I've already begun work on a quilt using one of them!  I can't wait to show you!  Stay tuned!

Tootles!

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Experimenting: Homemade Bubble Jet Set Recipe

Newsflash:  I'm not a scientist!  I flunked chemistry and never even considered taking physics at school.  However, I'm cheap.  I mean, I don't like to spend a lot of money if I can avoid it.  Considering Bubble Jet Set costs anywhere from $15 to $22 a bottle, I decided to try to make my own.   I do not want the disaster that occurred after I washed my Bunny Quilt to happen again!

I searched the internet for a homemade Bubble Jet Set recipe.  Here is the most simple version I could find:

2 tablespoons of Alum (the stuff used when canning pickles)

2 1/2 teaspoons washing soda (not baking soda) (I found this in the grocery store)

1/2 teaspoon liquid fabric softner

1 cup of hot water

Mix the first 3 ingredients and then add the hot water.  Stir.  It will be foamy.

When the foam eases, soak your fabric for 15 minutes.  Wring out and dry completely.  I poured the leftover mix into a baby food jar to save for future use.

When my fabric was dry (I cheated and put it in the dryer), I ironed freezer paper to it and ran it through my printer.  I used the same bunny image I used for my quilt.

Image pre-wash

Image post-wash

Yay!  It worked!  Before I use a printed image on a quilt or table topper again, however, I think I will do more testing, ahem, experimenting.  It faded a bit, but nothing like before!  For the most part:  SUCCESS!

One more thing:  School's out!  That means sewing summer clothes for my littlest daughter!  Yep, every summer, I try to make a few dresses and skirts for her.  Here is Charlotte's first skirt for Summer 2012:

Butterick 4722 View E

  

I used a Hawaiian looking blue batik.  

I know, last year I said I would NOT sew ruffles again, but I couldn't resist.  I thought this skirt was just too cute!

Tootles!

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The Sweet Smells of Spring

You know how some scents remind you of something, someone, somewhere, or even some time in your life?  Smelling cheap Stetson cologne reminds me of the teenage boys from my youth.  The odorous combination of fried food and diesel fuel makes me think of when I lived in England.  And the sweet, old-fashioned smell of lilacs reminds me of playing outside with my friends when I was kid growing up in Iowa.  I could smell these lilacs from my kitchen this morning.  My husband planted three bushes a few years ago in the far corner of our back garden.  I clipped this little bunch and smiled thinking of those playful times so many years ago.  

It wasn't easy going back to work after getting back from my Gulf Coast vacation.  Besides working at my day (I actually work nights) job, I have managed to finish my Blueberry Hill Bali Pops quilt top!  It actually came together rather quickly.  I chose the strips for each block randomly, however I was sure not to place like pieces next to each other.  

Blueberry Hill Pattern      Bali Pops in Watermelon Fabric

I hung it horizontally so I could take a better photo.  It measures 56" X 68."  I'm going to use the same fabric for the backing as used for the borders, which, I think, ties all the colors together a bit better.  I've got the batting and am ready to start quilting!  I know I said I wouldn't quilt my next quilt myself, but I think I can handle this size.  I am thinking about "stippling."  What do you think? 

I've got another project in the works as well.  I'm still in the planning stages of a wall hanging.  I want to do a  nautical themed art quilt to hang above a small antique dresser at the top of the stairs in my house.  I bought two "jellyfish" art glass pieces down on the coast and I've placed these, as well as a few other reminders of the trip on this dresser.

Boring wall above dresser

Aren't they cool?

Keeping the tentacles of the jelly fish in mind, I plan to transfer an octopus image onto fabric for the center.   I found this awesome octopus at The Graphics Fairy.

I'm still working on design, but I will most likely go with half square triangles.  I've chosen blue and cream for the main colors and have purchased my fabric, including this ticking remnant I found at JoAnn's for $5.00.

I'm also planning on getting some bags done for my nearly bare Etsy shop and also make myself a case for my new iPad!  Busy busy!

Tootles!
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Quilt Thrills On Blueberry Hill

Blueberries and watermelon.  Am I thinking Spring?  Well, yes.  It's 80 degrees in the big city today.  It seems the grass has turned green overnight and the trees are beginning to flower!  Kids are out riding their bikes.  And I am sitting here writing this wearing shorts!  Gentlemen:  Start your BBQ grills!  

I'm also thinking about the quilt I began sewing this week.  Originally I planned to do a log cabin quilt, but I changed my mind when I came across this pattern called, Blueberry Hill.  It's by Villa Rosa Designs.   

  

I decided this pattern would work well with the yummy Bali Pops I  found at the same shop.  This packet of 2 1/2" strips is called, Watermelon.

The purple fabric under the Pops is what I'm going to use for the border.  The quilt should (fingers crossed) end up to be 56" x 72."  I began the other night by pressing the strips and then cutting them into 3) 8 1/2" x 2 1/2" and 2) 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips.

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Now the hard part.  Selecting the strips for each block.  Honestly, I thought this would be much easier as these strips came from a coordinating set right?  This was frustrating, but, in the end, I just decided to be completely random and not put too much thought into it.  Each block is made by sewing three longer strips together lengthwise and then adding a shorter strip on each end.  There are 40 blocks in the finished quilt.  I've made 21 so far.  To get a sense of what the colors look like together, I've laid my blocks out according to the pattern.

Not exactly how I thought they'd look, but after the blocks are all there and the border is added, I think it'll look pretty cool!

I've learned a few things from this project.  First, I love batiks!  How cool is it that you can use either side?  Very cool!  Second, chain sewing is awesome!  Also, using that little piece of fabric at the start of the chain makes sewing so much smoother!

My family and I are going away for Spring Break!  We'll be heading for the beautiful (and warm-I hope) Gulf Coast this coming weekend!  I hope to finish sewing my blocks before the trip, but if not, they will be here when I get back!

Tootles!  

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Still Wild: Fusing Plastic!

In my last post, I managed to "build stitched layers" successfully!  So, next up to try out of the Sew Wild book is Fusing Plastic! Author Alisa Burke writes that "plastic bags are easy to transform with heat."  "When fused together, they create a versatile and strong surface that you can paint, alter, and use in mixed-media and sewing projects."  Burke goes on to say that she likes to use Target bags for her plastic fusing projects.  Unfortunately for me, I could only find one of these bags in my house.  What can I say?  I'm more a Walmart shopper.  I have a million Walmart bags, but these bags are mostly all white (and boring), so I decided to use a few plastic sacks from my daughter's favorite store, Justice.

  

   

The instructions for this technique begin on page 68.  There are basically 6 steps in this process.  First, collect your plastic sacks and cut the bottoms and the handles off.  Next, stack the bags on top of a scrap piece of fabric.  Smooth out any wrinkles and then place another piece of scrap fabric on top.  With your iron on low, "press slowly back and forth across the surface."  Once the pieces are fused together, remove the scrap fabric pieces and your fused plastic is "ready to stitch or paint."

So, was it really this easy?  Yes, for the most part.  However, I think because the Justice bag plastic is heavier or thicker than that of Target or Walmart bags, the low setting on my iron didn't cut it.  I had to crank it up a bit and press relatively hard to achieve fusion.  Using a zigzag stitch and hot pink thread, I made a quick wallet using my fused plastic.

I didn't plan it, but I like how the words, "be positive" and "share your light" ended up on the inside of the wallet.  Pretty cool huh?

Okay, another Sew Wild project completed!  What's next?  How about glue resist?!  Sounds fun!

Tootles!

Fabric Inspiration

Have I mentioned how hot it has been in my neck of the woods?  Yes, I know I have.  It is so hot and humid here in the Mid West that I'm having flash backs to a few summers ago when my family and I flew to Puerto Vallarta.  I am not over-dramatizing here... I actually thought I would die on that vacation.  I dreamed of diving into snow banks instead of the pool, which was more like warm bath water than anything remotely refreshing!  It was beyond hot there!  Here is the lesson I learned:  DO NOT book a vacation to P.V. in July!  Better yet, never book a vacation to Puerto Vallarta!  Okay, that may be a little harsh.  Maybe P.V. is nice in December??

Rant over.  I want to show you a few fabrics I picked up during my recent vacation to Branson, Missouri.  I shopped two fabulous fabric stores to find these yummy goodies:

"Kids at Play" by Chanteclaire Fabrics & "Space Cadets" by Michael Miller

"ERA-C" by Timeless Treasures Fabrics

I don't know the names of the fabrics pictured in the last two photos.  They both look "vintage-y" and I love them!  If you are ever in Branson, Missouri, be sure to shop at Quilts and Quilts and The Fabric and Decor Shop!

Besides the gorgeous fabric, I also bought a Get Hooked: Rugs From Scraps "kit."  The kit includes pattern instructions and a large crochet hook.  I haven't started a rug yet because I'm a bit concerned as I didn't really think the included crochet hook was actually going to be used for crocheting!  I thought it was probably going to be used as a kind of latch hook type tool.  Yet, after skimming the first pattern direction, it is clear there is actual crochet involved here.  The label reads, "No Experience Necessary-Very Easy."  Hmmm.  We'll see.  I can't crochet.  I've tried.  I even took an online crochet course a few months ago.  I managed to crochet (loosely said) a few amoeba-shaped flower-like "things," but that's it.  That all said, I'm going to give it a go because I thought it would be a fabulous way to use up fabric scraps.  I'm a hoarder; I can't bear to throw out my scraps.  I was also inspired to try this because of my visit to the College of the Ozarks, specifically, Edwards Mill and Weaving Studio, located on the Branson, Missouri campus.  There, I saw students weaving placemats and blankets on large looms.  Their work was so intricate.  I didn't take any pictures as they were working in the studio, but I found a few photos on other sites showing the looms.

Photo from Life at Rora Blog

Photo from the Golden Gang Blog

 Besides the Mill and Weaving Studio, there is also a fruitcake and jelly kitchen, an orchid greenhouse, and a museum on the campus.  As a matter of fact, inside the  Ralph Foster Museum, you can see the Beverly Hillbillies car as well as numerous dolls, including those made by Rose O'Neill, the creator of the Kewpie Doll!  Fun fact:  O'Neill's Missouri home, Bonniebrook, is located about 10 minutes outside Branson.  

I sound like a tourism ad for Branson, huh?  I actually learned a lot about that area of the country during my trip.  For example, I had no idea so many great artists called that part of Missouri home!  Some of these artists include Jesse Barnes, Thomas Hart Benton, Thomas P. Bennett, among others!

Stay cool everybody!  Tootles!

What Makes Sewing Your Own Stuff Great?

Is it hot enough for you?  Honestly, if one more person asks me that, I might scream!  Yes, as a matter of fact, it is hot enough for me!  It is day 3 or 4 (I've lost track) of  being under an "excessive heat warning."  While earlier this summer I proved my theory that tan fat is definitely more attractive than ultra white fat, excessive sweating is not attractive in either hue!  Enough whining.  I am thankful it is summer and not winter!  

Since my last post, I've made a zippy bag using the Owl and Pussycat embroidery I completed.  I used an owl fabric for the back of the bag and a multicolored polka dot fabric for the lining.  I attached a super cute owl charm to use as a zipper pull.  I think the bag turned out pretty cute!  

Amid the cool conditioned air inside my studio, I also made up a quick bag using the fabrics I bought on vacation a few weeks ago.  I really like how the fabrics go together.  Overall I like the pattern, too.  However, I think I made the strap too long.  I do like to carry my purse across my body, like a messenger bag, but I don't think that a longer strap is suited for this particular style of bag.  So, I am going to shorten the strap and carry it just on my shoulder.  That's what so great about sewing your own bags, clothes, etc.  If you don't like it, you can alter it any which way you want!

I'm still working on my embroidery skills.  I really enjoy that actual sewing part of the projects, but I am NOT a fan of separating floss!  I guess that's part of the process!

Tootles!