Teaching

I am blessed with a daughter in law that wants to learn to sew.  She came to me awhile back and asked me to help her buy a sewing machine, which we did, but since has had to put it in storage, because they are moving.

Then my son and her came visiting for a few weeks, and while they were here, I needed to go to the fabric store for a pattern, as they were having a big sale.  I asked if she wanted to go, and she did, so off we went.  Unfortunately they did not have my pattern in stock, so I began to look for another pattern close to what I was looking for, and she began perusing through the pattern books as well.

She came across a pattern, that she wanted to get and make a pair of outfits for her twin nieces.  So she got the pattern, picked out some really cute fabric, and all the notions.  She discovered that part of sewing is half the fun!

We then spent the next two days learning how to lay out a pattern, cutting out the pattern including the notches, learning the difference between stitch lengths (basting, topstitching, and regular seam stitches), learning about interfacing, stitch widths, using elastic, making gathers, turning sashing ties, making button holes, and sewing on shank buttons.

This is the first outfit, and I am so pleased with how it turned out for her!  She was a good listener, paid close attention, and never got to frustrated, or wanted to give up at any time.  I am really proud of her and her tenaciousness of sticking it out to the finished product.

Now, isn't that the cutest outfit!  She also made two pairs of short, one solid, and one in the print.  Good job to my daughter in law!

Warmest...

Polo Top

Once again, I am using a Stretch and Sew pattern to make myself another top.  Remember yesterday I wanted to make a polo shirt.  Well there is a pattern for such a thing in the pattern line-up.  This one is older, but still works just like new.

This is the easy installment of the front placket, which is what is needed to make it into a polo shirt.  This fabric is a soft "tee shirt" knit print of red ship anchors, and turquoise ship steering wheels, and is from an older Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic line. 

Here is the finished shirt.

And here is a peek of me modeling the shirt.  Nailed it, Love it!

Warmest...

Change of Venue

Today, I worked on a totally different sewing venue.  Clothes making.  Before I was a quilter, I was a seamstress, making all kinds of clothing, from down coats, rodeo queen outfits, bridesmaids dresses, and all kinds of alterations and tailoring.  That was then when I needed some extra income to stay at home with my boys before they started grade school.

I decided to try my hand at making me a blouse because I have lost about 40 pounds and things in my closet are not fitting too well.  I have altered some of my clothes, but some of them can't be altered down anymore, without completely taking them apart and resizing the pieces.  If I am going to do that I might as well start from scratch and make something new.  Right?  And another reason, I wanted to do this, is I still indeed to lose another 23-30 pounds, so all I need are a couple of items to hold me over, then I can get new clothes.   I know, everyone says they are going to lose more weight and never do, but I give myself 6 months to lose more and then I will be happy where I end up at, and will work on getting a new wardrobe at that time.  Maybe around Christmas?

Any way, I used to make the majority of my clothes from the pattern line, Stretch and Sew, because they came as a master pattern that was traced off on the pattern material "Do-Sew" (I have posted about this earlier) in sizes that fit different areas of one's body.  Not everyone, if anyone, is a perfect size 12, 14 or whatever, that the pattern companies try to make us fit into.

So, for my first test subject, I chose fabric called Tutti Frutti, which is like a seersucker type material, and the pattern I chose is a peasant blouse.  The pattern is for a dress or tunic, but I shortened the pattern to make a blouse, and I chose it to be short sleeved.

This is the fabric, a pink swirl, very summery.

This is the pattern on the fabric after I had traced it onto the "Do-Sew" material.

This is the front placket, and opening where the neck ties will come together when the blouse is completed.

This is a "raglan" type sleeve, as the top of the sleeve is part of the neckline in the blouse.

And here is the final finished product.  I am so happy with it, and it actually fits very comfortably.  

From start to finish, I made it in about three hours, including tracing the pattern.  Now that I have it traced, I should be able to make one in about two hours.  I am planning an out of state trip next week, so I am hoping I can get another one of these made, and a polo shirt.

Warmest...