Sunday, November 28, 2010

A project a day?

December starts is just a couple of days and I am full of enthusiasm! I hope to make lots of cool things before the 25th of December. Some things for gifts and some just because I want to. So I plan to sort of give myself a challenge: Can I make at least one thing a day? Since this is my challenge I get to make the rules and for this situation the definition of 'thing' is pretty broad. It may or may not be holiday/Christmas themed. It may or may not be a gift. It may or may not be a something I am proud of but I will try to make and post something different every day.

I'll be completely honest, I have already sandbagged a little. I have a few thing that I made this weekend that I may try to pass off as having been made on some future day in December when I have been crazy busy and unable to get to my machine. but really, who cares? I will hopefully just be entertaining myself and chronicling some of my sewing experiences.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Under Wear?


I had looked at the undies pattern on YCMT several times and had my finger poised to buy. Somehow I could never pull the trigger. Then I saw the undies made by http://www.colescornerandcreations.blogspot.com/ and I was convinced I should buy it. I’m glad I did!

The first pair I made was the white one with the black trim. They are the girl’s style. I made them because I didn’t want to make the fly (read: lazy). They turned out well but fit a little brief (no pun intended) in the seat.

I decided to try the boy’s style. They are the camo ones. The fly was a little more work but not too much. The pattern overall fit his little bottom better.

The next one I made was the paisley one. I made these without the fly but the boy’s style. I cut the front piece a little differently so that it has no fly, just two layers of material in the front. Kind of like the classic training underwear.

Next was the green tie dye made the correct way with the fly.

The last pair was the red tie dye. I think this is my favorite because it is a “cheater” style. I made the outside piece with the fly but the under layer is cut with out the fly. So it is sort of a “faux fly”. My son is at the stage where the whole underwear comes down for him to do his thing so the fly is not necessary. (To be honest I am not sure if boys/men use the fly thing. I asked my 12 year old and he said he does, and my husband does not. Sorry I am sure that is way TMI but those are my only two points of information.)

Last thing - I had fun with the fabric choices. I went to the flea market and bought a few old t-shirts for a dollar a piece. Each adult size t-shirt provides enough material to make several pair each. The binding is from those cotton /spandex women’s tank style camisoles.




Thursday, February 5, 2009

Crazy Quilt

And I don't mean crazy like zany, kooky, fun, unique. I mean crazy. Like nuts. Cuckoo. You get it.

I came across this quilt project at the 3rd or so step. Aha! I said, what a perfect way to address several of my issues at once:


  • I have wanted to make a quilt for some time but have been unsure how to begin.

  • I get overwhelmed with a huge task and do so much better by taking anything in baby steps.

  • I had just gone trough my closet and was having separation anxiety over getting rid of some of my clothes. (One shirt in particular. I LOVE the fabric, but the shirt never really fit me well and the colors were not flattering.)

  • I try to be thrifty and green at the same time. (Except when I want to buy something!)
Alright, so I went out to the garage to remove the clothes from the goodwill bag, (Evidence of Crazy #1)ready to bring them in the house, cut them up and begin my quilt.

But then I saw them all there on the floor and thought, "Those are too nice to cut up to make a first/test/learning quilt." (Evidence of Crazy #2)

So obviously the next thing to do is look for some scraps. Just grab anything I tell myself. After all this is for practice to learn how to do it. It will look fine no matter what fabric you use. The girl running this thing said so. So did I just grab anything? Oh no. I had to vacillate and look around forever to try to find something that would look nice. (EoC #3)

Finally I settled on these fabrics: (EoC #4-7)

Now I gotta say, this is a bold choice right out of the chute. Could it be any louder? I don't think so. But really, who among us didn't have some of this rainbow-y cat/dog/frog print fabric in the late 80's?

Since the last one was sort of loud, let's bring it down a bit. With lobsters? Um, yeah.


I couldn't find any neon fabric so I guess I figured this would be the next best thing. I bought this alpahabet fabric back when my now 12 year old son was 2. Should have mentioned the cat fabric above was from a dress I made for my now 16 year old step daughter when she was about 3.

And last but not least, why not use fabric you really don't like. Fabric you never liked. Fabric you are not really sure where it came from. Fabric with watermelons on it.

Alright, craziness aside, I am really enjoying this project. I have sewn the top together and am waiting for the next step.

Even thought the colors and fabrics are not great, I do like the way it is coming together. The very fact that it is coming together and not sitting in a corner unfinished and ignored is a major accomplishment. I am learning a lot.

My 3 year old is in love with it so I have promised it to him when I am done. Then I can start one for real. Maybe even cut up some of those shirts.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

So now I have created a blog. Let's see if I actually post on a regular (or semi regular) basis.