Category Archives: Being Creative

Fostering creativity through sewing and other hobbies

Being Creative, Everything Else

Some more January Sewing

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Well, it’s mid-way through the month and I decided to check the progress in my sewing basket:

1 UFO
PJ pants featuring a certain mouse for John, just because
Bedroom curtains
A belated Christmas shirt (hey Sarah, did I tell you I found the pattern finally?)
Ahoy! A Spring Wardrobe (reds, whites and blues)
Not, too bad. Plus, I’ve finished 2 orders, Will’s quiet book, and 12 of those too-cute penny pockets.
As for that wardrobe: it’s about 12 pieces and I know it will take longer than a month. In fact my first 10-piece SWAP took 2 months and both the 4-piece mini-SWAPS (mine & his) took a month. Look for the actual “Plan” part of my “Sewing With A Plan” in the next few days.
Being Creative, Everything Else

Follow-up on Comments

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I don’t have much new to show you, but I wanted to take the time to reply to a few comments and say hi.

First the “Hi’s!”:

  • Hi Aunt Kat! Mom told me you’re watching. Now I’ll have to watch what I say about my kindergarten education.
  • Hi Aunt Jo! Did you get the cutest Christmas card ever glittered? We had a wonderful Christmas.

Now to the Comments:

From Kristine on January 4: That’s so sweet! Love the monogram! What pattern did you use?

Thanks Kristine. I use a pattern that is a Frankenstein of sorts. I started with the pattern in the Martha Pullen Applique book, then lengthened the legs. Then, I found that the size 2 in her book runs WAAAAY small, so I adjusted it to the measurements of a McCalls OOP pattern.

From Marci on January 6: Great little book!

I knew you’d love it my Arkansas friend!

From Michelle on January 6: One of my new year’s resolutions is to sew every day. Yesterday all I managed was washing the fabric I am planning on using. I have yet to sew a single stitch! Hoping today is the day…

Personally, I think washing is part of sewing, so you’ve already had a successful year!

From Sister #3 on January 6: What about that certain belated Christmas gift????

‘Nuff said!

Being Creative, Everything Else

Some January Sewing

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Happy New Year!
Just to recap 2008:
60+ complete sewing projects (aprons, bags, garments, doll clothes, etc.)
You can see pictures of the latest few at the end of this post.
30+ garments
1 huge SWAP
2 mini-SWAPs
32 reviews on PR (plus 2 to finish tonight)
Yardage used: who knows
Yardage bought: don’t want to know (but not as much as 2007)
So, for this year,
here’s what’s in my sewing basket for January:

1 UFO
PJ pants featuring a certain mouse for John, just because
Bedroom curtains
A belated Christmas shirt (hey Sarah, did I tell you I found the pattern finally?)
Ahoy! A Spring Wardrobe (reds, whites and blues)
New Year’s Eve Sewing:
Kit Kittridge came to live with us this Christmas. She came along with a second dress, but no PJs, so what’s a Mom to do? Well, whip something up, of course.

Robe: McCalls 5019, View B

Nightgown: McCalls 5775, View C (lengthened 2 inches)

I promise to get reviews up on PR soon, but until I do, both patterns were well worth the 99 cents I paid for them.

Being Creative, Everything Else

Adding a pocket in Elastic Waist Pants

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I have a favorite pants pattern. It is an elastic waist pull-on pant that makes up beautifully in linen. The only problem: they have not pocket. So, I added one!

I traced my hand so I would know about how wide I needed it to be.

I drew a slanted tear drop around my hand.

I added 5/8 inch seam allowances around it.

I taped the pocket to my pattern tissue, matching the side seam lines and cut out my pants. (You should note that this took about an extra 1/2 yard and had much wasted fabric.)

I stitched a piece of ribbon along the seam allowances on the front of each pocket for support. (At this point I referred to a handy sewing guide. Look for a review of the Reader’s Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing coming soon.)

I basted the pocket opening closed along the seam allowance.

I stitched the pants leg together from the hem up to the waist, following the curve of the pocket.

I clipped the corners at the pockets and finished the raw edges. I removed the basting and “bingo!” I’ve got pockets!

Being Creative, Everything Else

Unwrapped sewing

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Now that we’ve opened all the gifts, I can show you a few projects I made this year.

The first is one of several super-easy, super cute bags I did for some little friends. The bags are from Hobby Lobby. I just free-handed an initial, stitched it on, stitched on some ribbon and that’s it.
This next one was a special request-or rather a strongly worded hint. Here’s the email from Sister #3:

  • If anyone still needs a Christmas idea for me – I would like a little clock for my bathroom. Not a wall clock, but a pretty little stand up one that I can put on the towel shelves and maybe make it to work on time. (This was directed at Sister #2)

    Also, I would like a gym bag – not the athletic looking kind, but a small bag (fabric or canvas?) for my cycle shoes and seat (yeah I’m hard core!). And if someone had time and was so inclined it could be monogrammed with my initials. I just realized that I have nothing monogrammed with my new – ok, almost 4 year old – initials. (This was directed at Sister # 1 -ME!)

    Good luck 🙂

So, I set off with no pattern, no idea how large cycle shoes or a seat are(Apparently, personal seats are fairly common to those who enjoy spinning classes), and no real plan to create said bag. This is what I came up with:

I raided my stash to find a purple cord and coordinating purple and green flannel. I figured these fabrics would wash and wear nicely and keep their shape well, without giving her the “gym bag” look. I made a basic lined bag (the lining is the flannel) and then I folded down a casing. I put button holes in the front of the casing for the drawstring. The drawstring is from the flannel.

And, of course, it’s monogrammed. I actually monogrammed the cord before I put the bag together.

Rather than traditional shoulder straps, I attached the straps as if for a back pack. Here you can see the back.

I didn’t get the final measurements, but I’m guessing the bag is about 22 inches tall and 15 wides, because the rectangles I started with were about 1 inch larger than that.

I have one more delightful bag to show you, but it must wait. We aren’t opening those gifts until tonight.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas day!

–Edited on 12-29-08 to change the picture size.