An Apron for Kelsie

It has been a long time coming, but I finally finished Kelsie's apron. I took a long break from sewing after I made my skirt for several reasons, but I think the main one was due to the fact that I no longer had my own machine. This particular project wasn't too bad. I did learn that I am not a big fan of D-rings as they don't seem to stay tight all that well. Granted I am not sure if that is because the straps are so small or if it is just the way they work. If I decide to make another apron I will probably skip the D-rings and just make another strap for the neckline.

Kelsie seemed to like the apron until she realized that I wanted her to wear it. She then decided that it should be her Aunt Judy's apron, because "Aunt Judy loves ladybugs". I did finally bribe her into trying the apron on by promising her a Popsicle. Once she had it on she seemed to like it and promised to wear it next time she cooks with mommy, daddy, or grandma. We shall see if that comes to pass. Either way I consider the project a success and I am hoping that this will get me back into the swing of sewing again. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I started sewing again today!

My First Skirt

I finished my first skirt today!! I am very pleased with how it turned out. For one it fits and it is comfortable, and two it is a very cute skirt for summer. My mom worked on it with me and though we ran into a few snags along the way we were able to figure it all out.

Things I have learned on this project:

1. For some reason I seem to pick very complicated patterns (They all say "easy to sew" on the outside and they don't look complicated in the picture, but apparently they are)

2. The pattern doesn't always include all the steps you have to take to complete the project. For example on this one I had to gather the bottom of the skirt to attach the flounce, but the pattern did not say that anywhere in it

3. I learned how to sew by hand. Thanks mom for showing me how! I am actually getting pretty good at it since the pattern called for it in several areas.

4. It is often easier to hand baste than to machine baste unless your machine has a basting stitch built in. My mom's machine doesn't, so I had a few basting stitch problems, because the machine made it way too tight.

5. On this project I also installed my first zipper! I think it turned out really well. I was scared when we got to that point, but I got through it with very few problems.

This was a great project despite the fact that it got a little frustrating at certain points. I really enjoyed working with my mom on something. We really don't get to do that very often. We both learned a lot along the way. My mom hasn't sewn in over 16 yrs, but it seemed to be coming back to her fairly easily. I hope to work on another project together soon!

It was so cute when Kelsie saw me in the skirt for the first time she said "Mommy I want one too"! Later she was watching the Backyardigans and they started doing the Hokey Pokey and she said "Mommy come dance in your pretty dress". I thought that was so sweet! I guess I will have to find a skirt pattern for her ASAP!

Sewing Machine Disappointment

I finally decided to register my sewing machine online tonight, since I didn't do it when I first bought it like I had intended and I found out bad news. Apparently Janome will only honor their warranty if you buy the machine from an "authorized dealer", so I had to return my machine! :( I was really enjoying using it and was so disappointed when I found out. To top it all off I bought the machine at the Hancock Fabrics in Pasadena, so I called to find out if I could return it to the one closest to me and they said no. Well when I was discussing it with the lady at the one in Pasadena she said they should have taken it back at the closer one to me! She did say that she was going to say something to the district manager about 1. the warranty not being honored and 2. the closer store not allowing me to take the machine back to them, so I hope no one else has to deal with this mess. I guess I will have to check out the authorized dealers in the area to see if I can get a machine for a similar price or I will have to go sewing machine shopping again. The silver lining in all of this is that my mom is still letting me borrow hers for as long as I need it, so it won't stop me from sewing. I am so glad, because I just bought fabric for my next projects yesterday!

Napkins

We go through paper towels around here like Sherman through the South (as my dad likes to say), so we decided to get the material to make some cloth napkins. Tonight I decided to go ahead and give them a shot. They were pretty easy actually which wasn't too surprising as they are just squares (in the picture they look like rectangles, but that is because they are both folded). ;) I got a couple done today and I plan to make some more another time. I am pleased with the way they turned out and I actually like the material better on the finished product than I did when it was on the bolt!

Travis's Birthday Bag

I took a break from the shirt I am making to make a bag for our little cousin Travis's birthday today. I thought that the material that I made Mike's bag out of was appropriate for it because a. he is a boy and b. his daddy works for NASA too! :) I am definitely getting faster and better each time I make another one of these bags. I really enjoy them now and it makes me laugh that I thought it was so difficult the first time we made one in class. I think it is a perfect way to add a little personal touch to the birthday gifts we give now!

Finished Sewing Level II!

Tonight was the last class for the Level II Sewing class I took with my friends Heather and Judy. It was much better for me than the Level I class, because I felt much more confident since I had started sewing at home and I didn't completely feel like a fish out of water! :) We made pajama pants and the most difficult part was the elastic and the pockets. I learned more than I thought I would and it was a lot of fun too. To top it all off I am very happy with the end result!

Learning about Aglets

I recently learned a new term while searching for a way to make the ends of cording not fray. I learned that the little plastic ends they put on shoelaces are called aglets. I thought I could use an aglet on the end of the cording to prevent the fraying. I was sure you could just go buy them somewhere and be done with it. Unfortunately I was wrong. Through my research I learned that aglets are made using very expensive equipment these days and that they no longer sell anything in the stores that would be a good substitute. However I did find a wonderful website that explained several different ways that you can "repair" or in my case make an aglet at home or at least treat the ends of cording to make them not fray Ian's Shoelace Site. I decided to try the candlewax and the burning of the ends and both worked much better than I would have thought! Both methods made the ends very hard and it would take an awful lot of use to make them start fraying in the future! :) I also want to try the clear fingernail polish suggestion in the future, but I don't currently have any and I keep forgetting to buy some when I go to the store. I also found out that they have shoelaces in more lengths than I thought, so when getting the right length possible I will probably use that as my cording and save myself the trouble of treating the ends.

This was a frustrating, but useful lesson. I have been to every craft store in the area looking for a solution to my problem only to discover that nothing they have works any better than what you can do at home. I think I will turn to the internet a little sooner next time! :)

This aglet was made using candle wax dripped over it (I used a birthday candle)


PS I tried the fray check that you can buy at the craft stores which was recommended to me both at JoAnne's and Hancock Fabrics and that may work on some cording, but it did not work at all on the cording I used for either my Mom's or my Dad's bag.

Another Bag Complete!

This is my mom with both the bags I made her! :)



Although you can't tell from the picture, the lining material has flecks of silver sparkle in it making it match the outside of the bag very well


My mom asked me to make a smaller version of the bag I made my dad for her camera. We picked out the material yesterday and I started working on it last night. The only problem was that I forgot that she wanted a smaller version and I had started making the medium instead of the small, so I had to start over today at nap time. I got all the way through it except for the stitching around the bag to make the casing for the cording when I realized that bag opening was too small for the free arm of both of the sewing machines I have here. With some tips from my mom and Heather (my sewing friend and neighbor) I took the plunge and finished the casing. Although it didn't turn out as perfect as I would like I think it is about the best I am going to be able to do without a lot more practice. I am pleased to say that with the cording through the casing you can't really see the imperfections without hyper analyzing the bag! :) Now if I could just figure out how to get the cording not to fray I would really be in business! I plan to try the clear fingernail polish on the ends once I go to the store and I am hoping it works.

Elena's Birthday Gift

Mike was nice enough to model the bag for me! :)


We were invited to Elena's 3rd birthday this weekend and although we weren't able to make it we wanted to get her a little something. I thought this would be the perfect time to make a bag for its original purpose of being a gift bag. LOL! We went out and found some pretty purple material with sparkly stars on it and used a purple lining. I decided to try it the way the pattern states without the fusible interfacing for the first time. I think it came out really cute, but I really do prefer the bag with the fusible interfacing. Without it there is very little structure to it and it won't stand up well at all especially once you have something in the bag. I am still overall happy with the way the bag turned out, but I will definitely be using the interfacing again if I a make another one!

I was very excited that I found some iron on tags at Hobby Lobby that said "Made with Love by...." and you write your name. I have been meaning to order some customized labels, but haven't done it yet since most of what I have made so far was for family. They work great and I was happy with the way they turned out. It was hard to get a good picture of them, because they are white and the flash made them a little too bright.

My Successful Experiment!

My Dad wanted me to make him a valuables bag similar to the one I made Mike. Since it was going to be used often and it was going to be stuffed into a golf bag when in use I wanted to make it a little stronger than the first one I made, so I decided to try to put a lining in the bag and to use a rope instead of a ribbon for the drawstring. The pattern didn't call for the lining or rope and I wasn't sure I could make it work, but I was very happy when it did. It turned well and my dad was very excited about the golf material I picked out!

I Bought a Machine!

My mom has been letting me use her Singer sewing machine and it works really well, but I am always nervous that I will mess something up and I was really wanting one with better seam allowance markings. I had resigned myself to waiting until Christmas to get a new machine until I found one of the ones I had decided to ask for on sale for a reasonable price that had many of the features I want. I couldn't resist, so I bought it and am loving it so far!

My First Solo Sewing Project!

These are the pictures that Mike took at work in the Flight Control Room


Mike wanted a bag for his headset that he uses at work, so I decided to make him one. We went and picked out the fabric and I gave him the choice of which size bag to make. Unfortunately it looks like it may not be big enough, but I think it turned out well. I messed up the first time I tried, but I wanted to make something out of the material so I made a extra small version too!

My First Project Outside of Class!

I finally finished my first sewing project at home! I decided to start with something familiar and made a smaller version of the bag we made in our Level I sewing class. It took me several weeks to get it done, because the sewing machine my mom is letting me borrow needed a cleaning and a new bobbin case about half way through the project it took me a while to get it fixed. I was so excited that I went ahead and finished it right after I got home from the shop! I made this one for Kelsie and she was pretty excited to see the finished product. Poor thing had been waiting for a long time!

I Can Sew!

This is the project we made in our Level I sewing class. We learned how to thread the machine and the bobbin, how to follow a pattern, and how to sew a straight stitch! I am pretty impressed with the finished product even if I do say so myself. :) I will taking level 2 in May. I have always wanted to learn at least the basics of sewing, so these classes are perfect. There are 4 two and a half hour classes in each level and you make a different project each time. Although I was very intimidated at first with the whole process I am learning to let that go. Now I can't wait for the next one!

My First Sewing Class

I started my first sewing class in March and I wasn't sure I was cut out for it to be perfectly honest. I found myself feeling very intimidated by the machine, the pattern directions, the cutting, the sewing, and everything in between. I let myself get completely overwhelmed with trying to be perfect and getting it right the first time. However about half way through the class I discovered that I actual did enjoy myaelf. Sure some of it was still intimidating, but at the same time I was excited to be learning a new skill that I could really put to use. That is the light bulb moment when I caught the "sewing bug"! I am so thankful that I stuck it out and saw the class and the project we were doing to the end!