Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts

Monday, September 8, 2014

Simple Jumpsuit

Hi Everybody!

I just finished my Simple Jumpsuit Challenge project, and I'm really excited about how it turned out! It all started with a couple of circle skirts (on sale!) from Jockeywear, my favorite place to buy clothes.
...one of them in this knockout print:

Isn't it gorgeous?

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Tunic To T-Shirt Tutorial - Easy!

Refashion: How to Make a Dressy T-Shirt in 20 Minutes



I whipped up a little t-shirt to wear to a golf dinner last weekend.
I started it forty-five minutes before my friend arrived to pick me up,
and it only took twenty minutes to make! It's amazing what a person can do when they put themselves under a little pressure.  

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Best Tailoring Trick I Ever Learned

Well ladies, I am about to show you a fix for one of 
the most annoying fitting problems ever. You ready?

Pants that feel like they're crotching you to death. 
You know what I'm talking about. 


You make a new pair of pants, excitedly try them on, 
and find that they pull in the front, or you can't sit in them. 
Grrr!!

It's the one thing that can really keep you from getting 
any fashion mileage out of your newly-sewn creation. 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Tips For Sewing With Knits

Helpful Tips For Sewing Stretch Fabric

Today I want to talk about sewing with knits. My favorite fabric. Knits are so varied and versatile. Endless possibilities. From swimwear to activewear to t-shirts to dresses. There are so many things you can do with knits it's mind-boggling. 


I fell in love with knits the day my pattern drafting instructor took my classmates and I on a field trip to the DuPont factory near Kingston, Ontario. I watched in fascination as a pair of pantyhose was created in hmmm...about five minutes. 

Sunday, June 15, 2014

How To Make a Cap Sleeve T-Shirt Pattern

How To Easily Alter A Pattern To Make A Cap Sleeve T-Shirt

Morning Everyone!

I thought I would share a simple 
pattern tutorial with all of you today.

As I was making my Simple Dress Design
it occurred to me that I could show you the easy pattern for it.  
I will start off with the cap sleeve pattern for the bodice. It's pretty 
straightforward, but if my instructions don't make sense 
for you, please ask in the comments or send me an email.
And if you are a newbie sewist, give it a try!


The Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
 One of my abslolute favorites. 
Goes together quickly. 
No set-in sleeves. 
No zippers.  
No hand-hemming (love that part!). 
All by machine.


Want to make a cap sleeve t-shirt pattern for yourself? 
Here's how...

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Simple Dress Challenge

Hi everybody!

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last post.

But I have a special one today that I'm excited and happy about.

I joined Diane Vin's Stitch Once Rip Twice sewing group on Facebook. It's great to share ideas and interact with other sewists.

Her latest challenge was to make a simple dress.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Shoulder Adjustment On A Pattern

 The Shoulders Are Too Wide On My Pattern.
How do I fix that?

If you are just new to the wonderful world of sewing, 
Congratulations!

It's lots of fun, full of challenges, and yes, frustration too!
Learning how to make fitting changes on the flat pattern can save
time, dollars, and disappointment in the final fitting of your project.

My quick tutorial will show you how to overcome a common
fitting problem with a simple fix. 

Is the shoulder measurement
on a pattern wider than yours?

Friday, April 25, 2014

Refashioned Top

Drapey Tunic to Summery T-Shirt

Ha! I'm finally getting around to writing up my first refashion post! Things have been a little chaotic around here, but in a good way. I just found out a couple of weeks ago that I got into my first art festival, and I am beyond excited! It takes place on historic Whyte Avenue (also known as Old Strathcona) in Edmonton, Alberta, and I will be painting with over three hundred artists for three days! So...this means I will be extra busy making art for the next couple months.

Anyway, on to the post!

I was visiting Serger Pepper not too long ago and saw some of Irene's beautiful refashions. Next thing I knew I was sifting through my closet to find some clothes to make over. It didn't take long either, because many of them need a serious overhaul. Here is the first one. 

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Drop Cloth Decorative Cushion


Hi Everybody!

Mr. M. and I were taking what we like to call a Bumming Around Day a couple of weeks ago. That's where we head into Edmonton with no purpose except to spontaneously stop wherever we get the notion, maybe have a Tim's, you get the idea. 
We don't necessarily buy anything. We just hang out. 
Once in awhile we all need a day with no goals in mind, yes?


This time the car took us to Chapters...

Saturday, March 8, 2014

My Eight Dollar Ottoman

Hi Everyone, 

Mr. M. and I love to sit down and watch a little TV in the evening with our pets, 
a cup of coffee, and some Dad's cookies (our favorites, next to home-made). 
The only thing missing was an ottoman; one of the handiest pieces of furniture 
a person can own, wouldn't you agree? I put one together before I started blogging
and thought since I'm making another one, I would share how I did it.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Undo a Chain Stitch Quickly

Hi Everybody!


Today I have for you a super quick and easy tutorial on how to undo a chain stitch. 
You can see this stitch everywhere, from blue jeans to exercise wear, t-shirt necklines, 
you name it. It is a popular stitch in the garment industry, and can it ever be annoying 
when it decides to unravel on you. I have a technique that shows you how to take advantage of this when you want to undo a seam. 

I bought myself a drop cloth so that I could make some drapes and throw cushions.
I just love the oatmeal color and the texture of a drop cloth.
 This thing has a seam from top to bottom that I need to pick out. 
That's a twelve foot long seam. Whew!


So here is my technique to get around undoing this seam the slow way... 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Yoga Pants Fix



Hey Everybody!

Do you love your yoga pants as much as I do mine? I have several pairs that I bought from Costco. I wear them around the house a lot. They are just so comfortable. But once in awhile when I buy a pair the fit at the waist isn't quite right, or maybe it's just that the fabric is a bit too stretchy. But they slip. Not a lot. 

Just enough to drive me nuts be slightly annoying.
But I have a fix for that.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Split Zipper Fix

What To Do When A Zipper Opens Up From The Bottom

Twelve days after I published the post on how to fix a broken zipper slider 
this happened:

To my favorite work coat. I did the zipper up in kind of a hurry, because my tiny dog with the heart of a lion who thinks she can withstand twenty degrees below zero decides to chase the squirrel halfway across the acreage. And only then remembers that she must travel the same distance to get back again. So I rushed out to pick her up before her feet froze, did the zipper up wrong, and it split open from the bottom.

She warmed up on Mr. M.'s lap. 
Smile for everyone, Penny.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Quick Fix For Adjustable Bra Straps

Quick Fix For Adjustable Straps That Won't Stay Put

Hi Everyone,

I have another quick fix for you today! It takes about ten minutes max, 
and will keep those pesky bra straps from re-adjusting themselves.



Monday, February 3, 2014

Beef Up Your Bra Straps


Fix For Weak or Worn Bra Straps

I love pretty lingerie! Who doesn't? But if you've ever gone 
bra shopping and come home with one that doesn't fit right, 
it can be very frustrating. 


This is exactly what happened with my latest purchase. After wearing my pretty new bra for awhile, it became apparent that the straps needed some beefing up. We live an hour from the city, and I really didn't feel like running back to make an exchange, so I came up with a solution. 

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Quick Fix For A Broken Zipper Slider

Fix A Broken Zipper Slider in Minutes

Hi Everyone,

I have a super-handy quick fix for you today. First I have to show you my pretty work coat. Jack loves to make a bed out of it, so it's usually littered with gray hairs, 
but that's OK because they match mine. 


I bought this coat at a work warehouse sale; 75% off (gotta love that!) the first winter we moved to our acreage, and it is my faithful friend in the extreme weather. I chop and carry firewood in it, shovel snow in it, and do all kinds of fun winter activities in it. 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Cookie Cutter Christmas Tree Ornaments

Blingy Tree Ornaments From Cookie Cutters

Hi everybody! 

Got a weather report for you! Winter has hit Alberta with a vengeance. We made it to the 

top of the list for the Coldest Place in the World this Thursday, registering in at minus 40 degrees! Brrrrr! Here's a photo of our deck three days ago. 

Why yes, I certainly did shovel all that lovely snow!

Crazy! I'm soooo glad I put the outdoor lights up at the end of October!
But enough of that! Now on to the post!


Friday, November 1, 2013

Blue Jeans Apron

Make Your Old Jeans Into A Handy Apron


I saw the best use for an old pair of jeans the other day while visiting This Old House. They cut the seat out of the jeans but left the waistband on and used them for a shop apron.  It just buttons in the back. Pretty easy!


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sew Some Bathroom Accessories

 
 
I'm slowly building small storage projects for our home, like this wall storage unit.
We really like the tiles we chose for our bathrooms.  


Friday, August 23, 2013

Sew-in Pockets For Basket Liners

Basket Liner Pockets:
Getting Organized a Little at a Time
We will be doing a few renovations on our bedroom closet in the near future.
But right now there's a little job I have to do in there before it drives me crazy.
My get-ready-for-the-day basket is a mess . Grrrr
For some reason today is the day I decided enough was enough. 
I'm going to sew some little pockets around the inside so it's easier to sort through.
Time to get organized!
Here's how the basket looked before the pockets:

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