Mending

This is something of a joke at my house. Because I will absolutely fix things, and hem things.

The belt loops on my partners pats had worn through. I sliced up a some denim from another pair of pants and pulled out the belt loop attachments for my Baby Lock. After about thirty minutes of looking for the directions and setting up the machine (it doesn't take long unless you don't use all the features very often. I ended up using the 3/4" attachment.  

This attachment makes quick work of making the belt loop pieces.

In a few minutes I made about four yards of belt loop. 

Then I ripped off the old belt loops, cut the new belt loops, and marked the fold with my Frixion pen, and got sewing.

There you have it. A brand new belt loop. Maybe next time I will use matching thread. Although, then how will you know there was mending?

My favorite tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades

Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Dritz Deluxe Seam Ripper

Pilot Frixion Colors Erasable Marker - 12 Colors

Fleece Sewing

A friend of mine has one of those really big skeletons from Halloween. He wants to dress the big one up as a skeletal Santa and the little ones up as elves. He asked if I could make them some hats. I said sure. This is the stack of fabrics I pulled that met the red, green, black, and white requirements. 

Step two was to measure the skull circumference of one of the small skeletons. We have one sitting around so that was an easy step. Then I found a free pattern, and tutorial for a Santa hat at Fleece Fun. 

I made one to test my sizing. Just a little loose. Time to make the hat for the big guy. 

I supersized the pattern from Fleece Fun based on the measurements my friend sent me. 

I made the ball for the end of the pointy hat. 

And sewed it up into a huge hat. 

This is how big it is. Big enough to cover the shoulders of my dress form. 

Then I cut and sewed six elf hats. 

Aren't these delightful!

This was a great project. I can't wait to see the pictures of the skeletons and their hats.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Sunday Sew Day!

I want to tell you that I spent all day sewing on Sunday.  This is not the case.  I did manage to finish one thing.

This fleece sweater was made using the great video tutorial from the Crafty Gemini.  If you  don't follow Vanessa on Instagam, Facebook and YouTube you are missing out on a bunch of fun stuff.

I picked this great paw-print in Celtic Knotwork Pawprint from Urban Threads to embroider on the back.  I pulled the thread colors from the collar piece and I think it came out rather nicely.  The cuffs on the leg-holes are my own addition.  I think I will just use a cover-stitch to hem the bottom of the sweater next time.

My model Reesey was very nice to let me dress her and take her picture.  She always gets her serious face on when I try to take her picture.  Reesey is a 8-year-old pound puppy that we adopted in Rhode Island about seven years ago.  I have no idea what kind of dog she is other than she has a soft coat, weighs about 50 pounds, is totally cuddly and loves to run as fast as possible in our back yard.  She is also very patient with me when I'm a little crazy and put sweaters or booties on her.

Serger Camp 2014

Last week I attended Serger Camp.  Three days of serger class put together by Ellicott City Sew-Vac.

I purchased the Enlighten, a great serger, last year during the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Baltimore.  During the class, I had an opportunity to work with the Evolution.  The Evolution is an over-lock and a cover-stitch machine.  It does the job of two machines.

That means that I had to box up this pretty little thing to make room for my new machine.

This is the Evolution.  It does everything. It has over-lock stitches, cover-stitches and is just plain awesome. 

I reviewed the packing list to make sure I had everything.  After some simple assembly, I was ready to get her situated in the perfect spot.

The package deal included the rolling tote and the 22-foot attachment kit.  Considering how much some of these feet cost, this is definitely the way to pick up these feet if you think you will use them.

What have I done with this amazing toy?  I pieced a fleece blanket out of some 8" squares I had in a bin and did a cover-stitch on my t-shirt scarf.  I think I'm ready to make some more great things with this machine.  I wonder where I put that knit fabric....

She's Back Scarf

My husband supported the Veronica Mars movie through Kickstarter and part of that meant he got a t-shirt.  He didn't want it, so he handed it over to me.

This will be a quick overview of how I made this t-shirt into a scarf.

I thought the fabric was very thin and just not a very good quality t-shirt.  I looked at the design and figured it would make a simple scarf. 

First I trimmed off the top of the shirt as close to the sleeve seams as possible.  I smoothed the shirt as best I could with the bottom hem lined up.  I lost a little of the screen print, but I don't mind.

I did a quick press on the cut edge and stitched it with a wide cover-stitch to match the existing hem.

Wear it as a single loop.

Wear it doubled up for a tighter scarf.

One cut and a pass through the serger and I've got a simple scarf with some interesting graphic details.