Category: Sewing

Guess what? Both of my June Taylor Shape Cut Rulers have arrived! I ordered the Shape Cut Pro and the Shape Cut Ruler 16 X 16.5″!

A few hours after they arrived, I took them for a test drive. What better way to put them to use but to make something?  For my first project, with these awesome rulers, I’m making a patchwork pillow. I’ve already cut doublewide ( 5″) squares and jelly rolls (2.5″). I’m not following a pattern. I don’t need to for this project.

The rulers make cutting squares and strips so easy. Because of the slotted lines, I just need to insert my rotary cutter into the the slot, and start cutting!

 

 

Here’s a look at the patchwork pillow. This hasn’t been sewn at all, I just laid the strips down to see how I like them together. My daughter has given her blessing (on the above placement) and so later, I will sew the blocks together, after making a few minor tweaks.

Yes… I know the colors are subdued, but this is for my mother,  she’s the reigning queen of muted colors. She doesn’t like bright colors or anything flashy. That’s so unlike like my daughter and I. My mom doesn’t even know I’m making this for her. I will say that the colors work perfectly with my parents living room. To make it extra special, my daughter will help sew this pillow.

From my recent blog post, you already know that I have a few projects going on this weekend. The knit maxi dress and now this patchwork pillow. There might be another project in the near future, but that’s purely dependent on what I find if I venture out to the fabric store this weekend.

Initially I had planned on scheduling a different advanced post for today, but I changed that post to a later date, so I could publish this advanced post. I love scheduling posts in advance and WordPress makes it so easy!

The past few days, I’ve been perusing sites to get ideas for a maxi skirt or dress that I’d love to make for myself. I still have some of the fabric left that I used to make that simple embroidered shirt that designed/sewed a few months ago.

 

 

I did not make the above dress, it’s something I stumbled upon when looking for neckline inspiration.  I really like the keyhole detail in this dress, but something seems off with all the bunching? I find it distracting. I don’t think it’s the way it’s draping on the mannequin, but I could be wrong.

Well… I have time to play with a keyhole neckline on a muslin since I have a three day weekend. My 11 yo daughter will be close beside me writing or drawing. Of course, there will be plenty of breaks to do other things. 😉

My daughter has a Middle School dance coming up in February. She saw this lovely dress featured on one of the sewing forums I frequent and asked me if I could design/sew one for her.

I did some searching and found a few close-up shots and told her, Sure! I also told her this would be a great chance for her to flex her sewing muscles and I asked her to join me for some sewing. She eagerly told me yes. I’ll keep the simple sewing for her but when it comes to the petticoat and the yards of tulle, I’ll tackle that myself.

She does want her dress in a bright color and I don’t blame her. I love bright colors too. But before I work on this dress, I’ll be making something for myself!

I was so looking forward to the holiday.

I had planned on starting and completing the knit dress that I’d mentioned and at least starting on something else, but none of that happened. Thursday, I was in bed most of the day, that evening I did get up and make pajamas for my daughter. She loved those a lot, but I was still feeling out of it and listless. I just felt like I had to make something. Have you ever been like that?  I felt awful since I’d planned on spending a ton of time with my daughter, but there I was in bed sleeping. Friday was a bit better, Saturday still felt woozy and slept a lot and Sunday I was around a bit more and today I went back to work.

 

I did get some sewing accomplished on Sunday, but it was a quick project and it definitely wasn’t an outfit! I made a rice bag, that I could toss into the microwave. But even though it wasn’t an outfit, it felt nice creating something with one of my machines. Along with the rice, I added herbs and several drops of essential oils. I do believe I’ll have to make another one since my daughter seems to have claimed the one I created.

A few hours ago, I sewed these flannel pajama pants for my daughter. I rarely use patterns.

With these pajamas, I just measured a pair of her old pajamas against fabric and started cutting. I guess I should have paid more attention, in my hurried state, I shortened the pants by about 2″ near the crotch area. Sighs… So, to compensate for my foolish mistake, about 2″ from the waistband I cut and added 3″ of additional fabric. Because of this, I was able to add enough material in the crotch area so it now fits her correctly.

To be fair, I’m not my normal self. I’ve been achy all day, but have been regularly consuming fermented honey garlic and hibiscus tea. The aches are gone, and now I’m just waiting for the coughing to disappear also. I rarely get sick.

 

See how wrinkly the fabric is? My daughter was so excited about putting them on that she didn’t want me to iron them.

Anyway back to the pajamas…

 

 

My daughter also wanted an appliqued heart. Online, I found a heart coloring page. My daughter showed me where she wanted the heart placed. The heart fabric is stretch velour. Using the ‘heart pattern,’ I cut out the heart.  I temporarily secured to the pant leg with a glue stick and sewed the heart to the pant leg. You see the shirt? I embroidered that design during the summer. My daughter loves books and so I thought this was a perfect way to dress up a plain shirt.

Tomorrow, after the pajamas have been washed, I’ll iron (if needed) and retake the picture.