Halloween and a pocketknife holder dilemma

Well, Halloween is almost here! I was going to sew a hood for my boyfriend, but now we are broke, so we couldn't go get any material for a hood. We've decided to go buy shortening tomorrow and make some face paint for him instead. I made a mask - I didn't sew it.

Anyway, today my dad asked me about a pocketknife holder that he wanted me to sew - he had asked me a few days ago - I forgot and told him that I would make it tonight. Well, I went off of the one that he gave me which has fallen apart. I should've followed it to a T, but I didn't. It was quite hard the way I did it. I made it like a tube. I'll show you in another post. I am still not done with it, I'm trying to brainstorm so that this one doesn't mess up like his did. I got very frustrated today because my sewing machine is fudgin up with the jean thread in there. After two stitches (only 2!) I can't sew anymore. The needle gets stuck. I have no idea what's wrong. I took out the components of the bobbin holder and nothing... I'm wondering if the thread is just too heavy for my machine, but why it's messing up just now, I don't know..

More books.

Well, I had to part with two books at the store, I just couldn't fathom spending 48 bucks all at once at Half Price, so I only spent 34 instead. I only got the Hand Applique book and the Encyclopedia of Quilting. I also got two other fabulous books unrelated to sewing. Face Foward, and an old Cosmetology Text Book.

I'll write up a review on the forum about them soon - the quilting books. The other book was cute, but it was quite common sense when it comes to fixing and taking care of clothes, and making minor alterations. It'd be a nice edition to the library, but not today :D

Books, books, and drapes!

My books came in the mail! I got 2 knitting books and a quilting book. It's a very good book for beginners even though it's really all about Celtic Quilting. The pictures are phenomenal, and so are the quilts. I can't wait til the Holiday season is over and I get some more cash so I can make one.

I felt the bookstore 'calling to me' while I was reading the Celtic quilting book, and I just had a feeling that the book she references about hand appliquing would be there. Well, I browsed and I was like "They don't have it, but they must! I just KNOW they do!" And then, I looked again, more thoroughly and low and behold! They had it! Not only that, but I found a few other books that I have on my wishlist for cheap! Not just sewing books, but some makeup and cosmetology books as well. But I did find a book on fixing and caring for clothes as well as altering them to fit after they are made!

I also saw a book that I've seen there before on choosing fabrics for quilts, but I will get that another day - they have quite a few of them there. I put the books I liked on hold. I also looked at Donna Kohler's Quilt Encyclopedia and contemplated getting it, but I am unsure if I want to, so I didn't hold it. If it's still there when I get paid, I may get it.

I'm so excited with my book finds today :D

On to more exciting news... I learned to sew drapes! Unlined drapes, that is - with the help of The Encyclopedia of Sewing Techniques. There's a section in there for Curtains and Drapes, so I made sure to refer to it when hemming these up. I also learned how to use my blind hem stitch foot, and I learned how to utilize the blind hem stitch. I may write up a tutorial on this soon.

I made a slideshow of the first drape made - I did it for my mom so she can actually HANG them in the kitchen.(For years they've been shoved over a small valance as just cut material wanting to be drapes.)

Click to view slideshow

Maybe I'm too ambitious...

But, after seeing The Notorious Bettie Page today, I couldn't help but squeal over all of the outfits (aside from the corsetry and laces). It really pumped me up to want to sew my own clothes again. Well...after some thinking (very little, I might add), I was thinking maybe, just maybe, if I get good enough at sewing rockabilly shirts and pants, maybe I could sew them for kids, or bears (whichever is easiest) to sell them. The thought came to me as I was thinking of how to conserve money with sewing, but still being productive and learning the technique. The rockabilly kids thing does have an audience, and I'm sure I could get into it. It would be something fun to do once I got the hang of it. Just a thought.

If anyone is out there reading this, tell me what you think.

Making my own patterns - a new adventure.

I finally decided to get some big paper and draw out a sloper fit to my measurements via Rene Bergh's book, Make Your Own Patterns. I believe that making my own patterns will be less frustrating, although I do still wish to learn how to alter patterns. It just scares me.

I messed up last night by starting to draw the pattern peice too low on the sheet, so I need to redraw it higher up on the page. I'll post pictures later :) I'll probably continue on this tomorrow, as I have some more knitting to do tonight and I am tired.

My Rotary Cutting Mat Died.

RIP, cutting mat.

I am so mad at myself for what I did last night. This mat cost me a good amount of money for the little that I get, and I screwed it up. I am an artist, and I use an opaque projector sometimes for art projects so that I don't go insane being a perfectionist, particularly for large things. I use it to roughly outline, and then I go to town drawing without it. I don't have any idea what I might use my mat for now. I am going to have to buy a new one. This is especially heartbreaking because I wanted to start quilting eventually. A warped mat is no good for that. With quilting, and anything really, you need to have precision.

You were good to me, mat.

Sewing Library

Sewing Library
Originally uploaded by mclittledrink.

I just noticed, after a bit of cleaning and organizing, that I am gaining quite a bit of books on sewing, making patterns and fitting. Makes me happy :)

The next step FITTING...anxiety ensues!

Well, the Holidays are coming up and that means presents for everyone on the list...

Well, one person in particular is going to get a sewn something from me! He already knows it, and that's all he wants. It SHOULD be simple, but I tell you, I am scared.

I tell myself it's that I don't have a substantial job which means I can't rebuy fabric everytime I mess up. However, I believe that even if I was a millionaire, I'd probably still be afraid of cutting up perfectly good fabric if I didn't know it would fit. It's a slightly irrational fear, because I could always turn the fabric into something else, especially since the peices would be big (it's a guys casual button down for a big guy!).

Eventually, I will have to take the plunge. This is why I am trying to build up my sewing arsenal so that I will have no more excuses. One of these days I will be determined enough to say no to the computer and yes to my sewing area!

I think what I REALLY need to do is to find something soothing to sew, that I KNOW I can make, that way if I get frustrated with the shirt, I can quickly turn out something else with ease. The whole point of my sewing is to sew clothes. Well, I better get crackin' soon! The peices for the shirt are already cut, now it's just a matter of fitting it to Ben. That's the part that really scares me.

But the best part about this is...as soon as I learn to fit, it will be easier everytime, and Ben may just have a few shirts he likes instead of one or two which don't even fit him right.

Quilter's News Network!

I just found out about this! It's awesome! I haven't ever quilted before, and I don't know how I got this mysterious e-mail from Tammie Bowser. She sent a general email saying she would be on QNNtv.com. I knew nothing about it. Well it's an online streaming NETWORK of shows! I am just boggled and excited!

Shopping

I did some MORE book shopping and heard some ladies talking about how you can't go to Half Price Books all the time to check their sewing collection because you'll spend too much money on all the books. I had a pile of them, myself. I am ALWAYS looking! Glad that I do too!

I just got paid for the week, so I am contemplating what to get with my hundred dollars (I know it isn't much, but I have no bills to pay other than magazines I subscribe to.) I was looking around for a tailor's board and found one at Nancy's Notions. I'm so excited, but I am probably going to hold off on buying that possibly until next payday. It's 40 dollars, and that's nearly half my pay.

I am seriously thinking of buying a seam roll, point press, and a tailor's ham to add to my collection of pressing items though. I've heard they do wonders!

Not to mention, I've been wanting to join the American Sewing Guild for some time now. That's 40 dollars as well.

Ah...decisions, decisions!

Quilting

I've been thinking about quilting for a while, just in the back of my mind, nothing big. But today I've REALLY been thinking about it and how cool it would be to know how to make them. Especially when I ran across this , and this - CELTIC Appliqued quilts! I had no idea they existed! Beautiful! They make me so inspired to make quilts, not to mention the carebears, mario and luigi quilts on craftster... Oh drool. Makes me think of a Link quilt.... One of these days! ... Someone beat me to it! But I will do it once I learn...

My boyfriend is already asking me to make him a quilt, and I haven't even sewn a stitch!

Retro Purse Fabric

sewing 0502
Originally uploaded by mclittledrink.

Not-true-to-color fabric for said purse :)

Today is a good day

I just tried out my pipin foot today and I LOVE it! It's so simple to use. It has two grooves on the bottom of it for the piping cord to be guided through so that you can sew really close to the cording as you sew. It came out perfect on my first try, I can't wait to start a project with piping!

Yesterday I got some nice retro fabric and some light blue cordoroy! I'm going to make a purse much like the one I made my best friend last year. I am in desparate need of one. I'm always telling my boyfriend to hold all my stuff and he gets very annoyed. But you see, all of the bags I have are either too small or too large for the things I want to carry.

I also spent a great deal of time with my best friend yesterday. I got to give her my gift to her for her birthday, which was about a month overdue! Yikes! But she loves it, so that makes me happy. I learned a better way of handsewing an invisible seam with the help of my mom's friend.

And the Forum is growing - 5 members :D Time to celebrate!

EXCITING NEWS! A Forum!

I had this brainchild after realizing that it was needed. I read a post at knittinghelp.com, and decided to have a go at it. Join up and ask questions - let's make a community of crafty, heirloom, and home sewing love! I know there won't be a lot of people to start out with, but I believe it will bloom :)

DIY Sew Right Forum

Presser feet - again

Presser feet
Originally uploaded by mclittledrink.

I took a picture of my pressure feet so that you can see what they look like. The majority of you may not know what each foot does or is, so I'll share that with you. First of all, nevermind the sharpie. I used it as a prop up for one of the shank feet.

The thing in the package is a cloth guide, not a presser foot. It is just an easier way to guide the fabric, I'ts a metal peice and you just line
your fabric up to it to get a straight hem or seam.

From left to right, starting with the very left and then going to the top row.

Walking Foot, Ruffler

Top Row: Applique Foot, Beading Foot 1 & 2, Binding Foot, Concealed Zipper Foot, Cording Foot, Gathering Foot, Hemmer Foot 1, 2 & 3

Bottom Row: Overcast Foot, Pintuck foot 1 & 2, Piping Foot, Ribbon/Sequin Foot, Roller Foot, and Gliding (teflon) foot.

Here will be a slideshow of individual pictures of all the presser feet, but for now there's a bigger version of the photo at the top of this blog entry. http://www.flickr.com/photos/diysewright/sets/72157594315469384/show/

Maintain your machine!

sewing 007
Originally uploaded by mclittledrink.

Whether you have a sewing machine, or a serger, you should regularly maintain them. This is especially important for sergers as they go through a lot of thread, causing a load of lint to build up. However, for today, I will be focusing on the sewing machine. This issue was brought to my attention out of curiousity. I had skimmed through my sewing machine manual the other day, saw the maintenance section, so I got curious as to how linty my machine was after a year (it's come up on it's birthday). Well, I looked and it was a pigpen of lint, foam, and grease!

I strongly urge you to maintain your machine regularly. If you can't spare the time right after you work on a project, then if you sew regularly, do it once a week or once a month. Make time to do it or it could end up back firing a few years down the line and your machine will need major maintenance. If you keep up with it now, your machine will thank you. ESPECIALLY if you sew crafts, quilts, or anything with batting, tissue paper, and/or foam.

So, because I am here to educate you all while I learn, I have started a photo album on flikr.com because that's just the easiest way to share photos with the public. I usually use photobucket.com, but I'm not into their new slideshow feature.

Enough with the banter, here's the link to my tutorial slideshow of de-linting my horizontal drop-in machine! (And you get to see how dirty mine was!) Slideshow of cleaning my machine.

Presser Feet!

I am overjoyed at the moment because I just got a package from UPS of a set of 20 presser feet, a supply bag, and an instructional booklet! I just need to learn how to use them all now :) More on the details later...