by Claire on January 17, 2010
…To quote a friend of mine.
I’ve been burning up the sewing machine trying to get rid of the stacks of projects (aka fabric) in my sewing loft. It’s been driving me nuts. In addition, baby Laila will be here in about 7 weeks and she needs receiving blankets. Lots of them. And burp cloths, and crib sheets. I also have projects pending for my other three grandkids from so long ago, it’s embarrassing. Not to mention a bunch of stuff I want to sew up for myself for this spring and summer. So, I have been focused and seem to have regained my sewing mojo.
Way back when… ok, well only about 10 days ago or so… I showed you the fabric my daughter picked out for her baby crib bedding. I wasn’t so sure about using the high loft batting, but as I mulled it over, I decided to go for it, even though I’d already purchased some other quilt batting. It took me 10 days of mulling this over to figure out how to actually quilt this stuff.
Totally flying by the seat of my pants (read: didn’t have a clue what I was doing, really) I sandwiched the batting between the top and the bottom of the quilt, pinned it in place, and then managed to get it into my sewing machine and I stitched along some of the design lines of the quilt. 
That was a total pain in the patootie as I just don’t have the kind of machine that supports stuffing large quantities of fabric and batting in between the needle and the main part of the machine. It was quite an adventure, but the effect is one my daughter doesn’t just like, she loves! (To quote her.)
Finally, after all that, I stitched on the ribbon blanket binding, and called it good. My perfectionist personality sees so much of this that could be improved, but my baby granddaughter won’t know the difference.
Next, after that, I stitched up two more crib sheets, and five receiving blankets, plus a fleece blanket for my littlest grandson that I meant to make him for Christmas.
Guess which receiving blanket is my favorite?
Finally, I ended my day by cutting out the panels and bias strips to make the coordinating crib bumpers for Laila’s crib. Once this is done, I can move on to finishing the doggie beds for my brother (sorry, Chris!), which I think I’ve totally hosed up and have no idea how to stuff, but that’s another post. I also have to make some curtains for Cayden before he outgrows Lightening McQueen – if he hasn’t already.
At least I feel like I’m making progress and accomplishing things. Oh, and I did get a 2.5 mile run in yesterday, got my hair done, and went shopping for some pretty unmentionables.
Phew.
Tagged as:
baby,
baby items,
creativity,
sewing,
sewing for baby
by Claire on October 11, 2009
Saturday morning, I went for a walk with my regular walking buddy and we walked for a good hour and a half. It was cold out when we started, but with her border collie/sheltie mix doggie, Buddy, leading the way (and pace) we quickly worked up a sweat. I always enjoy walking her doggies because they are larger and faster than my little Lily, and it also gives her a break from the pull on her shoulder. However, I sort of hurt my back though when Buddy lunged at another dog and I had to reign him in quickly. So when I got home, I iced my back, and then took a nap. Luxury. *nap, that is*
After that, I had some time to myself today so I decided I’d finally hit the sewing room. Yes, I could have done housecleaning, yard work, whatever, but…blah, blah, blah. I need some clothes! The weather’s getting colder and I need long sleeves. The tough part is that not only do I have no clothes hanging in the closet that are for cooler weather, all my patterns are also the wrong sizes. I have been encouraged for the longest time by my bloggy friend, Mermaids, that I should try Ottobre patterns.
So, I took the plunge with an Ottobre top (issue 2/2007). I’m making the pattern on the cover, but with long sleeves. I’ve seen lots of other people make this top as a wardrobe staple and that’s what I intend to do.
First thing I had to do was trace out the patterns onto tracing paper (don’t have any, so I used parchment paper). Those lines look harder to decipher than they really are.
I took this…
and made this…
Pattern has 3/4 sleeves, and I want full length – even a bit longer – so I slashed the pattern to add five inches.
Then….*drum roll please*… I began cutting fabric!
I used a thinner weight poly knit that I got from Hancock’s fabric some time ago in a deep magenta pink. It looks more coral or red in these pictures, but it really is pink. It’s not my expensive knit fabric so if I need to toss this one and alter the pattern, that’s fine too.
My sewing supervisor, Marie, was on hand waiting to pull a pin out of somewhere as soon as she could find one. I had her outwitted. I used weights instead. HA!
Got the serger threaded.
And everything’s ready for me to start sewing this morning (Sunday). Well, except for cutting out the neck binding, but that’s easy and quick.
Oh, and I found this pretty lace in my stash that happens to match the colors of this knit exactly. I’m going to try to find a way to incorporate it, if not with this top, then with the next one. I have another top where it has lace on the hem around the hip, and that might look really cute here. It’s about 6-8 inches wide and I don’t recall if it has stretch in it or not. I’m thinking not, though. I’ll be experimenting, pretending I’m something like a designer.
I think it would look really cute with a pair of jeans – if I had any jeans, that is.
Tagged as:
creativity,
fashion,
knit fabrics,
Ottobre,
Ottobre patterns,
sewing,
tops
That was a total pain in the patootie as I just don’t have the kind of machine that supports stuffing large quantities of fabric and batting in between the needle and the main part of the machine. It was quite an adventure, but the effect is one my daughter doesn’t just like, she loves! (To quote her.)
