Posts tagged ‘sewing’

I’ve been changing color scheme of the accessories in my living room to a more goldenrod and blue theme, thus I needed new throw pillows. I had this really lovely upholstery fabric in sample sizes and it seemed like it wanted to be a pillow with a formal finish. I really wanted to dress is up without making it too frilly, so I decided to use self fabric covered buttons. It is really very simple to a make them and once you know how you’ll find yourself wanting to make covered buttons for all sorts of projects from housewares to dresses. Read more »

I’ve been working on what I’ve been calling my “Secret Project” for about 5 months now. And now is the time to come out of the craft-closet with what it is. I’m writing a learn to sew book, of 20 projects, which reuses clothing items as the materials for the projects. I’m not sure of how much info about the book is good to share, so I’m going to take the less-is-more approach.

To even be standing on the threshold of a project of this size is a dream of mine, considering before I was a “professional crafter” I was an English Major who intended to write creatively. And although the scope is huge, I have tackled all the pre-writing tasks and now it’s time to begin the manuscript and illustrations. It’s also time to find a publisher (and that’s the part that is the most daunting!).

So to get myself off on the right foot. I cut out the first project from one of my husband’s favorite shirts that had become too worn to wear. I’m hoping the good vibes from the memories in the shirt will carry over into my work. And thus starts my biggest creative adventure. Wish me luck!

I have this truly wonderful vintage fabric, gifted to me from my friend Martha, that has been sitting in the dark corner of my brain waiting to be turned into a shirt dress. Though I haven’t been able to muster up the time and gumption to follow through with my inspiration, and so it has remained un-cut in my fabric closet waiting for me to get my act together.

Well, thanks to the lovely

Craftzine, I was introduced to Casey’s Elegant Musings and her Swing Dress Sew-Along. Hello, Destiny! This is the perfect dress, and the perfect timeline for me. I am PUMPED!  I’ll be getting the rest of the supplies this week so that I can hop right in. I’m downloading the pattern right now!

I sewed my first tote bag!  I love how it turned out, and I’m really pleased with the fabric (It takes me a painful amount of time to make fabric choices).  I took the Intermediate Sewing Skills Tote Bag class from Martha at Craft Akron, and she was amazingly patient & encouraging.  This is my first time doing a zipper, button hole, and using interfacing.  Actually, this was my very first sewing class because I’ve been self-taught.  This class revealed a few things I thought I was doing right but wasn’t.

Thank you Martha!

inside of tote

This is one of the few handmade gifts I’ve made this year.  I’m still adjusting to life with two kids and taking life at a more relaxed pace.  I’ve opted to make less & give more books this year.

I did manage five of these hair flowers so far.  I researched how to melt the fabric edges from a tutorial at Simply Vintage Girl.  Her flowers have more of a petal look while mine are rounded.  For mine I cutout stackable circles from silky fabric, then melted the edges over a candle.  I sewed the layers together, sewed beads in the center, and glued on a piece of fabric to the back to hold the clip in place.

I washed a red crayon with my laundry over the weekend. I had to toss out about 6 items because they were all covered in red smudges. It was kind of sad. But I decided I would look at it as an opportunity to hit the local thrift store.

I found some great things for my whole family, even my husband, but was having a hard time finding something for myself. I scored an Ann Taylor Loft t-shirt in my size, but otherwise it was mostly granny stuff (and not the quirky-cute kind). I did find a nice gauzy turtleneck t-shirt in my size in a dark chocolate brown for a dollar so I brought it home even though I really really dislike turtlenecks.

I took out my scissors and I hacked the turtleneck off into a scoop neck. Then I had all this nice fabric to play with so I ruffled it up on my machine and made an asymmetrical ruffled collar to dress it up. Then I cut off the sleeves at 3/4 length and used the scraps to make a ruffle at the waistband. Let me just say, this is my new favorite shirt. Not bad for a dollar and an afternoon!

This is a big one. My daughter is a Daisy Scout. My mom was my Girl Scout leader for 5 years, and it is one of the best memories I have of childhood. We learned to build fires, camp in 3 feet of snow, ride horses, sew, and change the oil in a car. I would work on badges in my free time just to fill up my sash (did you keep that, mom?).

And now it’s Olivia’s turn. The craft for this week is one that might make me tear up. I get to sew the troop number and Girl Scout badges on my daughter’s first vest.

Last night at our meeting we worked on the Promise, and learned to finger knit using those fun little knitted loom loops. Some of the girls really got it quickly! Olivia made a bracelet/headband for her doll, Rachelle. If anyone out there in Crafty-Land has some Girl Scout activities experience, let me know, I want to make this experience fun for everyone.

Does anyone out there remember the Girl Scout Promise? Three fingers up!

Making, making, making. All of my evening craft time is consumed with making little flowers for Crafty Mart. The fabric for the flowers is scrap strips from these scarves I’ve been making. The idea came to me all of a sudden, as all the best ideas do, while I was driving to pick up Olivia from Kindergarten.  They are so simple, and classic. They’re also very fashion current, given the “deconstructed preppy” look (which I am in love with, by the way).

I love to leave little remnants of an item’s former life when I upcycle things, so these have the shirt tail hem left at the ends of the scarf. The contrast seams are both attractive and functional, in navy blue. There will hopefully be a gold trimmed version, if I can find a gold metallic thread that doesn’t hate my serger.

By the way, what do you think of my cashmere sweater? Someone gave it to me to felt it. But I love it, so I washed it and blocked it, and now I want to wear it every day!

More things being made. And these are my favorites to date. I can promise one of them will be mine to keep, and will be worn on Saturday.

These headbands are made with variations of suiting fabrics and broadcloth on the reverse. Some of them will be reversible. Some, like the one pictured here, will be more ornate. We can all thank the anthropologie catalogue for coming just in time to inspire me. There are so many muted, etherial colors in that catalogue, it makes me sew flowers for headbands.

There’s one more product reveal coming up. And one that I’m keeping a secret. Ok, ok, I’ll give you a hint: I’m calling them stir-staches.

I am simplifying my palette for my Templeton line and Crafty Mart this year. Trial and error has convinced me that I had overshot what I make and mostly left buyers confused as to what it is I offer at my booth. So this year I am making many of the same items, but only using men’s clothing fabrics that I have upcycled.

I have made flower pins many times in the past, and even made a tutorial on it. But this time I did box pleating and cinched it in the center, which I think makes a fabulous flower shape I hadn’t achieved before. I also have some other broach shapes I’m experimenting with. I haven’t decided if they are turning out or not, so no pictures at this time.

I have some other ideas brewing, this week is a big making week, so you’ll see how they’re turning out in a few more days.