One of My "Busy" Projects

This is one of the projects that has helped keep me busy through last week.  My ironing board cover screamed "you're wrong" every time I tried to iron on it.  Really, there was no excuse for the shape it was in other than sheer laziness.  I dropped everything to make a new cover, which I'm very happy with.  I used a Kwik Sew pattern for the cover, sleeve roll, and tailor's ham.  The pattern called for the ham and roll to be filled with saw dust.  Not having any of that readily available and having no clue where to get it, I opted for rice.  This seemed a reasonable substitute to me.  Each piece was easy to put together and turned out well.  The board cover pattern was made for a board a bit larger than mine.  I just need to go it and tighten up the elastic to make it fit better (that's where the gathering is coming from).  I am keeping this pattern in my stash as a "go-to" pattern for future purposes.  Another board cover is in order so I can rotate the two out and save some wear and tear on them.

Alexis' First Project and Sewing Machine

The gods have decided to teach me patience.  I am teaching Alexis to sew.  I got her a machine from and estate sale a couple of months ago.  After about an hour of adjusting and playing with the machine it was ready to go.  I had her cut, lay, and pin the pattern out over the last three days.  She decided to make pajama pants.  It's a Simplicity "Learn to Sew" pattern, #3553.  It is a modern pattern.  She chose some striped flannel from my stash and we had just enough.  The machine is a 1975 Singer Fashion Mate Model 360.  It had several different feet and fashion discs for decorative stitching.  It's also mounted in a beautiful table.  Alexis is doing rather well on straight stitches and is working on curves.  She did an outstanding job pinning the pattern to the flannel, she did all of it by herself.   I've had her practicing on scraps before she starts each section.  I'm happy she has taken such an interest in sewing and wanting to learn.

Confessions of a Pattern Hoarder

I just keep buying more.  There are boxes full of patterns in my closet that I need to re-home and yet I keep buying more.  In search of those elusive "my size" patterns with just the right look to them.  When will it stop?  I guess i will be drowning in pattern paper before I stop.

My Apologies

I am attempting to make my blog more user friendly.  I have screwed up.  This will only be a temporary background until I find one that suits my needs.  There needs to be more room across for larger pictures to be inserted without making the posts a mile long.  If anyone has any suggestions as to where I might find something like I'm looking for, please leave me a comment.

Update, I like this template better but now I need to figure out how to change some colors, the pink has to go from the backgrounds.  I think purple would be great and wouldn't clash with the flowers.

Ann's Dress

Our neighbor's daughter is almost 2.  She's a very SMALL 2.  I used a size 2 pattern to cut this dress and just cut the seam allowance off to make it smaller.  She should have room to grow into the dress over the summer.  I used the rest of the cherry fabric that was left over from making Alexis' dress.  It took some creative cutting to get it to work but it did.  This is just one of the many projects I've been working on this week around cleaning and hosting a yard sale.  We will be making our big move to Pennsylvania next week and I wanted Ann's dress finished before we left.  The back has and elastic casing built into the inside of the waistline in the back.  I used some cheap silk to make the facing with and hem tape to finish the hem.  Ann is tall and thin and I didn't want to lose and length on the skirt while making this.  The pattern was a 1955 McCall's, #3346.  

Have a Good Memorial Day!

Glitter Graphics Maker & MySpace Layouts

Busy Busy Week

I do apologize for my "blogger/radio silence" on sewing this week.  As things go, I ended up with three more projects to work on, along with everyday stuff to take care of also.  I hope to be posting on this in more detail over this week as I begin to get things done and get a bit more organized.  I will be post pictures of a wonderful stack of "Work Basket" booklets I ended up with from the 40's, 50's, and 60's.  

Yard Sale!

My yard sale has been a hit, I'm really surprised since it's a Thursday.  I'm gonna set back up for a little bit tomorrow afternoon and on Saturday morning.  We are moving in two weeks and things really needed to be weeded out.  I had no idea I had so much stuff.  I don't even remember purchasing some of these things.  It's nice to know though that I have good taste and my things are selling so well.

Bead and Button Magazines

I have an extensive collection of Bead and Button magazines from all different years along with many other crafting and beading magazine back issues.  As we were spring cleaning today I ran across the collection.  I have decided to sell it.  I am asking $75 firm as there is a good collection of back issues here.  They have been kept individually in plastic sleeves and those sleeves kept in binders to help protect them.  This will be a local pick up item only.  I am in Clarksville, TN for interested parties.  I will post pictures later.  Thanks for looking!

Confessions of a Pattern Hoarder

I buy.......Ugly Patterns.  Yup, it happens.  I have three boxes full that I consider ugly.  I seriously need to get these out of my sewing area.  The boxes are currently the table for my sewing lamp to sit on so it doesn't take up an space on my sewing desk.  Most of these patterns are from the 80's.  I'm just not an 80's fan, even being a child of that decade.  Is it vintage pattern sacrilege to sell these at a yard sale?  

And We Have Fold-Over Elastic!

I am putting said elastic on as I'm typing this (in between using the sewing machine of course).  It's fairly easy to work with.  I tried taking pictures but my camera is not picking up the details or taking a clear shot of it.  A hook and eye on the ends and Alexis should have her slip before dinner.  I'll start work on the crinoline tomorrow probably.  I've been resizing a Butterick Pattern from the 50's this weekend while waiting on the elastic to come in.  I've never sized anything before.  I surprised myself.  I'm now on to the alteration phase of the project for the bodice.  I still have to size the skirt up which will be a massive undertaking since it is not cut in sections just one huge half circle that is supposed to be cut on a fold.  This dress will bring alot of firsts for me.  This will also be the first time I took on a project with so many buttonholes.  Usually one buttonhole is more than enough for me.  

The Slip for Alexis' Dress

I had to grade the slip up from a size 6 to a semi size 8 for the slip.  I added and 1 inch to the sides and two in length to fit the dress.  It is sized perfectly.  I am waiting on some fold over elastic to come in the mail to finish the slip.  I have all of the crinoline parts graded and cut out, just waiting on the foldover elastic for that too.  I'm making both the slip and the crinoline, you know how finicky ten year old girls can be.  This way she has the option to wear either or both underneath.  I added ruffles to the slip just for extra cuteness.