Vintage Pillowcase Challenge

I made this apron from a vintage pillowcase for the contest put on by the Handmade Parade blog. It's a full apron with pockets around the bottom and one in the center front. The yellow rick-rack was the original trim on the pillowcase and now trims the pockets. The pink bias tape was added to finish the raw edges.
The above schematic is a not-to-scale very rough sketch of how I used the fabric. I made some adjustments after I started cutting to get proportions that looked appealing. The top of the apron and the patch pocket attached to it are both faced. I used up the scraps for the pocket. I used the selvedge edge of the fabric at the waistline and applied bias tape around the sides and bottom. One of the unplanned proportion adjustments I made was to apply the top of the apron on top of the skirt as seen in the sketch below.
I can't say how much I love aprons. I've taken to wearing them while cooking and cleaning, even if I'm not wearing clothes that require protection. I feel like with the apron on I can really get to work. The apron is a uniform. I'm not ready until I have it on.

I didn't always feel quite so strongly about aprons. I used to only wear them while baking or cooking for an extended period of time. Wearing one while cleaning started when I was living in my last apartment. The sink was kind of low and I found myself getting wet while washing dishes (I was the only dishwasher there, no fancy machines to do the dirty work). The habit has stuck and I sometimes find myself happily wearing an apron all day long. A bonus is that when you're done cooking and have commenced eating, the apron acts like a giant bib although hopefully more flattering and grown-up.

New Website Design

I redesigned my website today. I had been thinking about doing it for a couple weeks and when I switched on the computer today I got right to it. The only things I changed were the headers and background color. It's a softer more sophisticated design, using brown and grey colors and a square motif pattern (shown at right). On my website, you can see photos, a list of tutorials and patterns to download.

I had been planning to do more sewing today but by the time I finished the website I was so tired that I had to take a nap! Sundays are so great for doing just what needs to be done at the moment. Now I need to make some dinner and get ready for the work week. Cheers!

Tote Bags

I whipped up a couple of lined tote bags already this weekend. These are really simple, just made of two long rectangles with the corners squared off. The version above also has a pocket on one side and a t-shirt transfer on the other "lining" side. The t-shirt transfer image is a graphic I designed recently for a band. They're making stickers and t-shirts with it and I was so excited that I wanted to do something with it right away. The bag is a lot taller than it is wide. The polka dot fabric is an IKEA pillowcase that I basically tore in half, using one side for each bag.
On this bag I used a tight zig zag stitch as decoration. I think the bag would look more reversible if the straps were made of both fabrics but oh well. On the second one I made, I folded the straps with the raw edges inside and right side facing out and then top stitched. It's a thick fabric and turning the straps seemed to take nearly as long as sewing the rest of the bag.

Just tonight I saw a pattern on the BurdaStyle website for a tote bag that can be folded up in a little pouch. It's a cute design and looks easy to make. From the pictures it looks like a single layer of fabric with the edges serged. I don't have a serger so I may do something different there. I'm very tempted to make it though.

tagged

I was tagged by The Stitching Surgeon today. She said she likes my blog and I'm totally flattered so I'm going to play along even though I was tagged before. I'll pass on tagging others though.

Seven Random Things This Week

1. This weekend I made pancakes. Then stacked them up and photographed them. I love pancakes.

2. On Sunday night I went to the movie Atonement and missed the latest episode of Masterpiece (formerly known as Masterpiece Theater) on PBS. I'm very excited that Masterpiece is doing a series of Jane Austen movies. I love Jane Austen. Last Sunday was Northanger Abbey and it's not one of my favorites so I didn't mind missing it. Atonement was really good. On a side note, I think the re-branding of Masterpiece kind of weird. This page in particular is laughable. Also I love the Mystery series. Mysteries are really much better with a British accent. Miss Marple is my favorite. I make a point of knitting while watching her.

3. I finished an apron last night for the Vintage Pillowcase Contest at the Handmade Parade blog. (Post coming as soon as I'm home during sunny daylight to take photos.)

4. Made the apron while watching Project Runway on YouTube. The only reality show I would consider participating in.

5. Tonight, came home, put on aforementioned apron to do dishes and bake bread in bread machine I received for Christmas.

6. Today I wore this dress that I finally completed (this deserves a post too). For driving to work I wore flats and carried boots with me to put on when I arrived. I arrived at work, pulled in to the garage and the shuttle to the main building was waiting for me. Hurrying as best I could, I slipped off the flats and pulled on the boots, not bothering to change from my sunglasses to regular glasses. So, mostly blind and going quickly, I put my boots on the wrong feet! I have narrow feet so it was only mildly uncomfortable. I didn't bother to mention it to anyone and waited until I returned to my cubicle to fix it. Just a day in the life...

7. I want to say how much I appreciate all the lovely comments I've been getting lately. Thank you so much for reading my little blog! It means a lot to me and never fails to make me smile.

Side-Way Ribs Sweater

I've been knitting a lot lately. It's a nice winter time activity. I finished this sweater a couple weeks ago. It is from a pattern in the Fall/Winter 2005 issue of Knitscene magazine. The pattern is called Side-Way Ribs and is designed by Norah Gaughan. I used yarn I recycled from a thrift store sweater. The yarn has a lot of variation in thickness and I knit it fairly loosely on size 13 needles. I didn't make any adjustments to the pattern except to correct for my gauge.

It's an unusual way to knit a sweater but really easy once you get going. The large needles also make it a fast project. I would have liked a schematic for the pieces of the sweater before it's sewn together. The sweater is made of two pieces, the left and right sides. It is knit from the sleeve cuff to the center back with increases made for the front and back. There are three seams in the sweater, at the center back and on the sides from the sleeve cuff to the sweater hem.

By design, the sweater does not close in the front. I was concerned that it would be uncomfortable or cold. But, I've worn it a number of times and it hasn't been a problem. For a variation, the fronts can be pulled to the center, overlapped and held in place with a pin. I'd recommend the pattern, without reservation.

Burda World of Re-Fashion 124A Shirt

I made this shirt yesterday using the Burda World of Fashion pattern 124A from the April 2007 issue. I really should have finished other projects I already started but after I started I felt compelled to finish. Besides my resolution doesn't say anything about starting projects, just finishing them. Some justifications for doing the project are that I had traced the pattern a long time ago and the floral print fabric is from an old skirt.

This was my first BWOF pattern and it was more than a little frustrating. The magazine is really cool because it comes with a bunch of fashion current patterns and it only cost $8 (US). The patterns have to be traced and then the seam allowances must be added. I got confused about whether I needed to add seam allowance at the fold (I think no). Also there were a few rectangle shaped pieces that are not traced but the measurements are given in the instructions. I didn't pay attention to the finished sizes of the pieces and forgot to add a seam allowance. Of course I was midway through the project when I realized this. It all worked out and I used the beige linen to make those pieces and I really like the result of the second fabric for the overall look of the piece.

As I mentioned, I used an old skirt for the main body of the shirt. The skirt was long and flared with buttons down the front. To save time, I cut front pieces, which button up, from the button up section of the skirt, saving myself the time of sewing buttonholes and buttons. This can also be done when refashioning a shirt. Speaking of refashioning, I discovered the Threadbanger website today via the craftzine blog about sewing and refashioning. The posted video said each person throws away an average of something like 68 pounds of clothing a year! I couldn't believe that. I never throw clothing away. If I'm not going to use it I'll give it to Goodwill.

Anyway, I like the final result but it was challenging to use the instructions. There weren't any illustrations and a lot of the wording was hard to understand. I believe the magazine is produced in Germany so that would explain the language problem. In the end I ignored the instructions and was able to figure out what to do. I bought a navy polka dot fabric for this pattern a long time ago and I'll probably use it. The front of the shirt is quite low cut though and I may alter that.

Fabric Rosettes

I whipped up a few fabric rosettes the other day. I just used strips of scrap fabric. The strips do not need to be straight on all edges. Tip: Bias strips will be less prone to fray.


With a needle and thread knotted at one end, make large basting stitches on one long edge of the strip. Pull the thread to gather the strip into a rosette. Arrange the fabric into your desired shape, make one last stitch and securely tie off the thread. To make a flower, wrap your thread around the width of the strip, pulling it down to the center and creating petals.

The rosettes take mere minutes to make. Use the rosettes for decoration on clothing, bags or anywhere that could use a little color.

Reversible Shoulder Bag Tutorial

This week I updated the instructions for my Reversible Shoulder Bag pattern I first posted in August and I created a photo tutorial (below). I love how this bag is both casual and streamlined at the same time. It's put together with only four pieces of fabric and should be easy enough for an advanced beginner to complete. The finished size is 27 inches tall and 35 inches around.

Downloads:
UPDATE: PLEASE GO TO MY NEW SITE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF PATTERN AND INSTRUCTIONS.

Instructions

Step 1: Create your pattern. Use the diagram in the pdf instructions, to draw the pattern on large paper. Or, print the pattern from the tiled pdf. Assemble the pattern (read how to do it here).

Step 2: Arrange the pattern on your fabric.

Tip: If you are short on fabric, make a seam at the top of the handle instead of placing it on the fold. Before continuing, cut the handle 1/2 inch longer and stitch together.
Cut one each of bag body and bottom from fabric A and fabric B. You now have four total pieces.
Step 3: Pin body of fabric A to body of fabric B, right sides together, along curved edges and handle. Stitch using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving sides open.
Step 4: Clip the curved edge.
Turn right side out through the handle.
Step 5: You can now see the bag starting to take shape. This is a good time to press the handle of the bag.
Open the bag so the wrong side is facing and the handle is in the middle. Press the seams open a few inches. Next, stitch the side seams. With right sides together, match seams and fabrics and stitch using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Step 6: Press seams open.
Topstitch on each side of the side seams, stitching only through the body of the bag and the seam allowance.
Step 7: Place pins or clip at center of each side of bag and at each end of bottom piece. (To find the centers of the bottom piece, fold in half lengthwise and widthwise.) Baste around bottoms of bag body. With right sides together, align center of long edge of Fabric A bottom piece with the side seam of Fabric A bag and pin. Match pins at short end of bottom piece with pins bag centers.
Step 8: Pull basting stitches on bag body to gather along short ends of bag bottom. Pin in place. Stitch using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Repeat for the fabric B side of bag, leaving an opening next to a side seam about four inches long.
Step 9: Pull the bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of fabric B bag.
Stitch the opening closed by hand.
Step 10: Press where necessary and topstitch around curved edges and handle.

I'd love to hear questions or comments about the pattern. And if you make one I'd love to see pictures. If you don't feel like making one yourself, I'm thinking about making some to sell on etsy. I'll post about it when the time comes.

Resolution

I finally thought of a decent resolution. It's something that I've tried to work on before but... Anyway, I'd like to finish projects that I start. This will be a challenge because I believe some projects just need resting time before they can be completely properly. But it feels so good to get it done. For instance finishing the Two Button Sweater after many months was pretty satisfying. Plus, I suspect it might be bad feng shui to have unfinished things lying about.
Here's a dress I've been working on and I can't decide if it's done yet. I thought maybe I was done but there's something about the front of the dress that is a little off. I'm thinking about making the half-belt thing at the waist a little longer so that it comes around the front farther. The belt has red buttons at the ends and I think if they are more visible from the front it may look more slimming. The back waist is so nice but the front is a tad frumpy. Any thoughts?

Well, it's on hold and I'm working on a tutorial that I started a while back. Hopefully it will be done later today if not tomorrow.

Two Button Sweater

Although I began making this sweater in August I just finished it up last night. I designed this wrap sweater myself. The raglan style, knit from the top down, made for an easy project. The loose-fitting design requires no shaping. The fronts overlap and are held in place with two buttons and crocheted chain loops. Garter stitch edging provides a touch of texture and prevents rolling.

For the yarn, I unraveled a 100% wool Old Navy men's sweater. I made a gauge swatch and estimated the size of the neck opening and overlap I wanted. I then cast on the required number of stitches for the neckline and knit from the top down, increasing at the sleeves, back and front until I reached the desired bust measurement. The buttons are vintage and made from shell.

Shadow Box Decorating

I'm continuing my little decorating projects. I used this shadow box at my BFA show and have been intending to do something with it ever since. When I took it out of the box I discovered that the glass had broken. :( Oh well, it's kind of a shelf now.

I put the fabric background in for the BFA show. The little bird is a christmas ornament I received when I did the ornament swap last year. I made the tree painting as a freshman in college on a scrap of cardboard. I'm also working on some sweaters (one of which only needs a button to be finished, tonight probably) and some tiny collages (which are alternately thrilling and frustrating).

Happy 2008! - Inspiration Wall

Happy New Year everyone! I've been debating whether to make any resolutions. I really never keep them so why bother? I would like to post more often and basically do more of everything. More art, more exercise, just more. I don't have anything to quit thankfully. Well, nothing I'm aware of. I'm very excited for the new year. I just scheduled a trip to London for next month to visit my parents and travel around!

Today I put up an inspiration wall in my den/craft room.


I hung ribbons from thumb tacks and used paper clips to hang up magazine clippings and postcards.

It's exciting to see a group of the things that appeal to me. For instance, little ruffles on shirts and shift dresses are appealing to me now. Perhaps it can narrow my focus a little.