Blanket Scarf

January is cold in Canada. (BIG understatement) One day last week I was cuddled up on the couch with Thing 3 on my lap. We were huddled in my blanket scarf.

It's the one on the right. I was assured by the salesclerk at Pseudio that it would "literally go with everything". In fact she repeated that to me several times. So now I'm on a mission to find something it doesn't go with. Anyway, Thing 3 thought it was a great idea to have a blanket scarf and she asked me to make her one. 

After some careful deliberation, she chose a "My Little Pony" printed flannelette that was left over from her onesie. I guess when you grow up with a mama who's a seamstress you gain an appreciation for being able to customize your clothing.

It was a very easy project, but also very time consuming. All I had to do was cut (or rather tear) the fabric into a square, sew about an inch in from the fabric edges and then fray them. The flannelette has different weight warp and weft threads, so the larger weft threads came out of two scarf ends very easily. But the smaller threads that had to be removed from the remaining two remaining edges were tough to get out of there. In total, it took me an entire day to make her scarf. Most of that time was spent tickling out those tiny warp threads.

A cozy reading chair for my six year old.

Year in Review

Happy New Year!

2016 has taught me so much. My resolution was to sew 52 projects in 52 weeks and I did it! What I didn't do was blog it. Once June ended, so did my blogging. So here is a quick recap.

My goal was to sew 52 items from start to finish, alterations didn't count and they didn't have to be garments. Sets of things, like placemats or curtains, only counted as one project. However, multiples of the same item, like gymnastics leotards or dresses, each counted as their own item. This is what I made:

window curtains for Thing 1's room
the "reindeer robe"
black cherry bra
Valentine's dress
Houndstooth pyjama pants
pink pyjama top
charcoal wool skirt
striped sweater
red "kash-mere" jacket
gingham skirt
Baby Alive diapers
Green nightshirt
Running Belts - counts as 2
Pink Sparkly Leotard
Pink sparkly leotard #2 and matching scrunchie - counts as 2
purple hearts bowtie
pincushions

At this point in the year, I decided to start my own sewing/alterations business. I was surprised by how many people don't sew. I didn't expect older people to sew because they might have a hard time seeing or have arthritis in their hands or whatever. And I didn't expect young people to sew because I know that they don't teach it in school any more. But I really did think that every middle aged woman out there could sew as well as I can. After all, we were all taught the same things in school. Boy was I wrong. I guess that was as silly as thinking that we would all be good at math because we were all taught in school.

Chair Cushion Covers - counts as two because they're for two different styles of chairs
Monks Habit

That's where my blogging died. After that, I tried to keep a list of things to blog, but it just got to be too much with the sewing, and all of the alterations that I was making with my little home sewing business. So, in the interest of not spending forever catching up. These are the remainder of my 2016 sewing projects:

Vintage Butterick 9304

matching little girl's dress - Simplicity5794

wedding shrug - McCall's 3033

fleece hoodie - McCall's 7275

four onesies - all McCall's 6224

grey plaid poncho - McCall's 6209

turquoise gymnastics leotard and matching scrunchie - Jalie 2792

Grommet Top living room & dining room curtains - no pattern

Grey ponteroma knit pants - McCall's 7263 (These pants belong to a client and I forgot to take a picture of them)
cherry blossom valances - no pattern (They belong to a client and I forgot to take a picture of them)
4 leotards & 5 scrunchies - Jalie 3138 (They belong to a client and I forgot to take a picture of them)
4 pyjama pants - McCalls 6251 (Made as Christmas gifts for my husband and Thing 2, no pictures were taken in an effort to keep them a secret)
Onesie - McCalls 6251 (Made as a Christmas gift for Thing 1, no pictures were taken in an effort to keep it a secret)
3 Star Wars aprons (Made as Christmas gifts for a client's family, no pictures were taken in an effort to keep them a secret)

grey pants - Simplicity 2860 and grey tunic - McCall's 7020

Yearly total: 55

Like I said, I learned so much this year. Between sewing all of these "from scratch" projects and the multitude of alterations that I've been making. I truly feel that I can sew. I know I could sew before, but I was always worried that this could be the project that I can't handle. Now, I start projects with the assumption that I can do it, and if I can't... well... I'll fudge it.

2017's resolution doesn't have anything to do with sewing. But I will try to maintain my sewing schedule and keep you up to date on what I've been doing.

Monk's Habit

My second post for today...

Another client commissioned me to make his habit. This was a cool project to work on! I got to draft a pattern, source the fabric and sew the garment.

My client told me that his community wears dark blue. I checked out the local fabric stores and was able to purchase a navy poly-cotton knit at Atlantic Fabrics.

The garment itself went together quickly and easily. I did have to remove and redo the collar, but that was because I had purposely made it big (so as not to choke  a monk when he sat down), and then found out that it is a no-no to see the clothing that they wear under their habit.

Completed projects: 23

Remaining projects: 29

Chair Cushions

I've fallen behind on my project blogging. Sorry. I hope to catch up with two posts today. 

This first post will cover (pun intended) two projects that I did for a client. She had two large chair cushions that needed recovering. She brought me the cushions, the new fabric, two zippers and even the thread. The cushions belong to two, large, differently styled chairs. She unifies the look by keeping them covered in the same fabric. This is a lady who knows what she's doing!

Pincushions

Perhaps it's leftover from my days in the IT sector, but I always feel like if you're not learning, you're falling behind. So, I watch a lot of YouTube sewing videos. Usually, even on the most basic of videos, you can learn something, refresh your memory, or gain a new appreciation of something. Yesterday, I was watching Gertie make a gathered skirt and I noticed that she had a wrist pincushion. What an awesome idea! Who ever thought of wearing a pincushion is a genius! I wanted one.

My thoughts went like this... Gertie's wrist pincushion looks like it's got a metallic bracelet, which isn't good for me due to my metal allergy. But a fabric bracelet would work.  And Gertie's bracelet looks a little too big for her, she had it half way to her elbow. An elasticized fabric bracelet would probably be perfect. And, Gertie's pincushion isn't very pretty...

So I made this one...

Wrist Pincushion

Here it is, on my arm. It has a cardboard circle sewn into the bottom of the pincushion so that I won't stab myself with the pins. It's actually quite comfortable. I put it on to show my husband when he got home from work and I got sidetracked, forgetting that I was even wearing it. He says it looks like a wrist corsage. I think it looks a little like a water lily.

Wrist Pincushion

Once I remembered I was wearing my wrist pincushion, I went back to my sewing table to take it off and I remembered that Diana's pincushion has been missing for a number of years. So I decided to make a little one to replace the one that's missing from her neck.

Dressform Pincushion

Completed projects: 20

Remaining projects: 32

Going Into Business

About a year and a half ago, I bought Nina (my latest sewing machine). In the back of my mind was the idea that someday I would start my own business with her. At the time, I didn't tell anyone because I was afraid that I'd be held to it. It's funny how fear can affect you... Anyhow, after mulling it over for the last while, and making sure that my skills are up to snuff I have finally taken the plunge!

Purple Hearts Bow-Tie

"Thing 1" landed a job at the casino. On the shifts that she is serving food and drinks, she is to wear a "kitchen staff" type of uniform. They provided her with a white shirt and black vest. She gets to wear her own black pants and her own tie. She had been wearing a tie from dad's closet, but she said she wanted a bow-tie. So, I made her one.

Pink Sparkly Leotard: Take 2

Here it is! It's two sizes bigger than her measurements, but this one fits!

Jalie 2792, View A

I've decided to count this scrunchie as a separate project because by the rules that I set out last year, it is. It's a brand new make, albeit a small one. But, I'll take it.

Pink Sparkly Scrunchie

Completed Projects: 18

Remaining Projects: 34

Pink Sparkly Leotard

How cute is this?! "Thing 3" wanted a leotard to wear to gymnastics. Have you seen the prices of children's leotards? They are expensive, so I decided to try making one instead. It turned out pretty cute, and it came in at a much lower price than the store-bought ones. I think that's a win. 

Running Belts

Lucky me! I get to mark two projects off my to do list. I made two running belts; one for "Thing 1", who actually runs, and one for me, who just doesn't want to have her hands full while walking the dog.

I followed this tutorial at sewbon.com. It is well written and has lots of pictures to explain the steps. Both belts were made from a black, high performance fabric and edged with 1/2" fold over elastic.  In fact, they're identical, other than the size difference. I'm not thrilled with the way the zippers turned out. I think it's because I used chunky sports zippers. Had the zippers been finer, the fabric wouldn't have to pull as much at the zipper ends where it transitions to the seam in the fabric.  I tried to get a picture to show you, but it's all black on black so it doesn't show up. Sorry.

When I installed the fold over elastic, I sewed it all in one step. I've seen many places where people sew it on the back first, then fold it over and sew it on the front. I didn't find the extra step was necessary, however that could be because my sewing machine can crawl along at a slow pace. I't never occurred to me to try using my bias binder foot, though. Darn. Maybe next time.

Running Belt

Oh well! Even if it's not perfect, it'll hold my phone, tissues, id and maybe even my keys. I think I'll try mine out at the park tomorrow.

Running Belt

Completed projects: 15

Remaining projects: 37

Green Nightshirt

I wasn't sure if this would count as a sewing project or not, so I went back to my original post and re-read the rules. I didn't say anything about refashioning existing articles of clothing. So, I'm making a call. Refashions count as a project. Repairs and fitting alterations don't.

This is one of my favourite refashions. It's not the first time I've done it. It's so quick and easy and SO CUTE! Every once in a while we get a cute tee (from a friend or cereal box or wherever) that nobody wants. I turn them into nightshirts for "Thing 3". 

Fabulous Fit Dressform Padding Kit

My grandmother was the best seamstress in her village. She could make anything. Every once in a while she would take my mother window shopping to see what styles she liked. Then, while Mom was in school, Nanny would make up the garment from scratch, no patterns involved. And they would be perfectly fitted.

As I grew up, my mother would occasionally sew me something. Although she wasn't as talented as my grandmother, she could only sew from patterns, she knew how to fit. She would say things like "Mom would pinch here," and then she'd add a dart. 

My skill level falls somewhere in between. And like my grandmother, I love to sew. I'm even good at fitting others. But I have a hard time fitting myself.

So, in 1999, while I was pregnant with "Thing 2", adjustable dressforms went on sale at the local fabric store and I bought one. I figured she, Diana, would help me with fitting my creations. But guess what? Diana is tiny. And although I was tiny before pregnancy, I have a more mature looking body shape now. Maybe if Diana had been a larger size she wouldn't be as disappointing to me, but she's tiny.

Baby Alive Diapers

Do you know about Baby Alive? It's a brand of dolls that are more life-like than regular dolls. Some Baby-Alives talk, some eat, drink and soil their diapers, some get a "fever" and their mommies nurse them back to health... You can also buy accessories for them, like food, diapers and clothing. 

"Thing 3" loves her Baby Alives. She plays with them every day. She has received three of the dolls over the past three Christmases. Two of them soil their diapers. In the past, she has had to buy new diapers for them, but those diapers cost more than a dollar a piece! This time when she asked to go buy new diapers, I suggested we make some instead. So this is what I did...

Gingham Skirt

Have you ever had a project that seemed to take forever? I've probably got you beat! Meet my version of McCall's 4783, view C. It was May, 2009, when I started this skirt. I bought the pattern, which I loved, with the intention of making two summer skirts from it. I also bought two fabrics and coordinating ribbons to complete the skirts. I cut this fabric, looked at the instructions and froze. The zipper instructions were not clear to me. I put the skirt aside... for seven years! Hmm, I became pregnant that summer, so that should buy back nine months. And it probably took me another nine months to lose all the baby weight, so I should get a free pass for 18 months, right? That means it only took five and a half years to make my skirt. (Cue embarrassed laughter.)

Red "Kash-mere" Jacket

After 35 days of coxsackie virus turned bronchitis, I'm back! I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the amount of sewing I haven't done. I challenged myself to 52 projects in 52 weeks, and I'm WAY behind my intended schedule of one project per week. Had I been able to maintain my schedule, I'd be showing you project #14. However, here is project #9...

Last fall "Thing 3" started school. Usually I'm the parent who puts her on and gets her off the bus. At the beginning of the school year the weather is warm and I don't mind being outside with just a hoodie, and in the winter it gets cold and I have a down coat, snow pants, all the winter gear. But in the fall and spring, I don't really have the appropriate clothing to be comfortable while waiting outside, just standing in the cold-ish temperatures. I bet you can see where this is going...

Striped Sweater

I finally did it! I made the sweater that I've been imagining for two months now. The fabric is a sweater knit from my stash. I originally bought it from a second hand store because it was so soft and drapey, and, of course, it was a good price. I thought it would make a great cowl neck sweater with the stripe on the bias, but I wasn't sure how to accomplish that. Then, for Christmas, I got Butterick 5760 with it's cardigan pattern. I had to marry them.

Butterick 5760

Charcoal Wool Skirt

I'm a conservative dresser at heart. I love the look of a well tailored suit, on a man or a woman. Wool and silk are completely irresistible to me. And I dislike the extreme casualness of today's fashions. So it should come as no surprise that I bought Butterick 5760. I originally bought it for the cardigan pattern, but after a closer look I realized that there are other pieces in the envelope that shouldn't be ignored. The more I looked at it, the more I liked the skirt. I like the contoured yoke and the simpleness of the skirt.

Topstitching along the yoke

What to Make Next

"Thing 3" brought the coxsackie virus home from school. Let me tell you, this is a virus to avoid. So, do that. Avoid it. We're sick, that's all there is to it. Too sick to sew... or do anything else, like breathe. We're on day 6 of this bug. Yesterday I took a shower and got dressed. Then I was so tired I needed a nap but I was dressed. I had the nap anyway. Today, I was wiser. Today I skipped the shower. I changed from my pyjamas into clothes. It wiped me out. Then before we went to see the doctor, I realized my leggings were covered in fluff from my flannelette sheets. They were the same leggings I was wearing while I napped yesterday. I had to change into a fresh pair. Whew! I need another nap. See... it's a nasty virus.

What do you do when you're that sick? I can't sew. Even if I have a couple of hours of awake time, I can't sew... my sewing machine is downstairs. I'd never make it back up the stairs again. And sewing with a fever is probably as stupid as sewing after that second glass of shiraz. I spent a whole day (which may only have been an hour of awake time, who knows?) deciding what to make next.

Pink Pyjama Top

Do you ever sew with knits? Or do you avoid them because you think they're too tricky to sew with? For years I have avoided sewing knits. Why? My past sewing machines, I guess. I had a hard time keeping the seams from puckering, my stitches never seemed to be formed properly, I felt incompetent. Then Pinterest came along. That didn't help things. I kept reading people's pins on how to sew knits. Even they made it seem like a losing battle. But they were WRONG!

I love knits. I mean I love wearing knits. I have more than one piece of fabric in my stash that has been bought with a beautiful knit wrap dress or a floral tee in mind. But once I got the fabric home, my fear stopped me from following through with my plan. That's part of the reason that I decided to take on the challenge of sewing 52 projects in 52 weeks. I hope to learn new skills, become more confident in my skills, and use up some of my fabric stash.

So after the last project's pyjama pants, I thought I'd ease into sewing knits with a pyjama top. I chose McCall's 6658, and I chose View C. It's a very easy pattern, it only has four pieces... bodice front, bodice back, sleeve, and neckband. I chose View C because the envelope artwork shows a crew neck. I was disappointed to find that in reality it's a scoop neck. But I digress. Back to the sewing...

Houndstooth Pyjama Pants

It's winter in Canada and our heat pump isn't working properly (Lennox is working on it). We're not in danger of freezing. We have a wood stove and tons of wood, and our heat pump has a backup electric coil that does work. But the reason we had the heat pump installed was to save money.  Electricity is expensive here, so we don't want to use the electricity unless it is absolutely necessary. Our wood stove is great at heating the basement, but the heat that it generates doesn't get circulated around the rest of the house very well. What does all of this have to do with anything, you ask. Well, it means that the main floor of our bungalow is cold. And most of the time, I'm on the main floor. So I need to dress warm, especially in the evenings.  I like to sit down and watch Downton Abbey or Agent Carter in the evenings. And if I get chilled, I find it extremely hard to warm up and I can't sleep. So, I decided to use that houndstooth flannelette that I used in the Valentine's Day Dress and make myself a pair of pyjama pants.

Once again, I called on Simplicity 3696, the same pattern envelope that I used for the Reindeer Robe a couple of weeks ago. Through trial and error, I've learned that even though my waist and hip measurements fall into Simplicity's XL category, I prefer to wear a smaller size. This time I made up the pants in a size L, but I extended the rise to the height of the size XL, because I don't want to hear my kids singing, "I see London. I see France. I see Momma's underpants!" and it's easy to take away extra fabric if need be.

So anyway, I made up my pyjama pants in a size L, praying the whole time that they would be large enough to go around me. I sewed the inseams, I sewed the crotch seam and I sewed the outer seams. The  moment of truth had arrived... were they big enough to go around me?