sewing project *2*

sticking to my goal of becoming a better sewer (is that a word?) i have marked a few patterns i want to try.

First on my list was a bucket bag. I love carrying just big enough purses that can fit all my junk along with a few diapers, wipes and some toys for mason. 

once i got the pattern i immediately knew what fabric i wanted, i just needed to find it. don't you hate when you picture something in your head then it is nonexistent? after searching all over town i finally resorted to the internet, i really didnt want to pay as much for shipping as for the fabric but decided $10 for a yard of corduroy shipped was worth it when it happened to be exactly what i was wanting.

next i thought i wanted a nice bright turquoises or a grey for the inside but when you are digging through a thrift store and find 2 yards of your favorite color green for a buck you can't pass it up!

here are a few photos of my new bag. I tried some early morning backlighting for fun...

the pattern was pretty simple and took about 2 hours to put together. It ended up being the perfect size. I doubled the length of the strap so i could wear messenger bag style. the only thing i would add to the pattern would be 2 little pockets on the inside.

all in all i think my sewing goal is looking like a success and its fun to make new cute things for myslef 

=)

Sewing project *1*

As I noted in my last post I am going to improve my sewing skills in 2012.

I started a bit early making a few Christmas gifts. One of them was for my photographically talented sister in law, Andrea. 

I made a lens case and camera strap. Many asked to see the final result and after meeting with her this afternoon for coffee, which was a great hour away with adult mommy/friend talk, I can share

I has a lot of fun making this gift. The pattern was suppose to make a case for her small lens, 50 mm, but it ended up being bigger than I thought. She will be able to use it for her zoom lens and I will alter the pattern for a smaller one. After making hers, I put together one for myself =)

my camera strap

I spent the morning looking through etsy for a padded camera strap.

I searched 100's of listings for just the right one.

i couldn't find it

I found a few i liked but I wasn't settling for one I just liked, I wanted to love it, especially if I was dishing out $20+ 

I ended up not buying one. Instead I went to Hobby Lobby to see if I could find that fabric I just loved.

I did't

BUT I did find some decent fabric on clearance  and fleece (for padding) 

I am not totally in love with it but for a total of $4 I am pretty pleased with the outcome until I find what I want.

This is the first time I made a camera strap and wasn't completely sure how to do it.

 I cut  two pieces of the cotton and one piece of fleece which I sewed sandwiched in between the outer fabric to add padding. 

I sewed a small pocket on the outside to put my lens cap in while I am shooting. 

When I was finished I noted a few things I wish to do differently next time.

I also found some owl patterned fabric I had left over from a previous project that I plan to make a strap for as a Christmas gift, I have the perfect person in mind for it =)

Homemade Crochet Case

Since I have been crocheting so much lately my little plastic bag that the hooks came in is starting to rip and show wear and tear. I looked up clutches and cases and decided to sew one myself.

I use this simple tutorial and made this adorable case.

It fits all my 7 hooks and I absolutely love it. Total cost to make was 4 bucks! Beats buying one for anywhere from $10-$25.

This for That

I have been looking at thrift stores for an old sewing table to put my sewing machine on. I knew exactly what I wanted but couldn't seem to find one anywhere. The other day as I was leaving my mom's I noticed she had her old one out on the front steps. I figured it was because they were in the middle of remodeling but decided to ask anyways. Come to find out she was going to throw it out with the trash!

I made Austin go get it a few days later. I cleaned it up and couldn't be more happy with it. It's the exact one I was hoping to find. I love the wood colors of the drawers and the convenience of having all my materials nicely where I need them.



I use to have my machine just sitting on the table and all my materials scattered out across the whole table. It looked messy and I never kept it organized. I traded my sewing materials for Austin's car. I guess now that we have more room on the table it was the perfect place to work on his little car =)

Gettin my sew on

Now that I have a new machine I have spent a few days working on some spring/summer dresses for a little girl due to arrive in April. They are far from perfect but being as I never tried a dress before I was pretty satisfied with the outcomes.

Can't wait for spring weather and more cute dresses!

feeling crafty

This weekend I was feeling extra crafty and just wanted to sew sew sew. I got all my materials ready and pined everything together so all I had to do was sit and sew. I started my first stitched and my 100 year old machine broke....again. I was lucky that Andrea lives less than 5 minutes away and was willing to let me borrow hers. 

I finished up some burp rags for me and made some for a friend whose shower I am attending later this month.

I also wanted to make something to decorate Mason's walls. I bought 3 canvases and $2 worth of felt. I made little moneys which I then sewed onto leftover fabric I had from the changing table pads. I stapled them to the canvases and hung them on the wall. I love when ever I make wall decorations and I ask Austin how they look, he always finds something wrong with them. Apparently the money's ears aren't exactly the same...because I am not an artist nor do I make displays for a living I am still super happy about how they turned out.

They aren't on the wall yet because I haven't taken them to be stapled.

 Finally I mad some crinkle toys. These are really easy and quick to make. Again I asked Austin what he thought of the toy and he asked me if I made it up. I told him I found a tutorial on it and that babies love the sound and pulling of the ribbons on the edges. He is still convinced I am making the whole crinkle toy up. He will see when Mason gets here.

I am happy to have the time and ability to make home crafts. They really are fun and I love being able to say I made that.

Hunter's Blanket

I really wanted to get Kelli something special for her baby shower so I decided to make Baby Hunter a blanket. I knew it would mean a lot being as I made it. Since I recently took back up sewing I decided this was the best way to go. Although the steps were simple I was hesitant because my last attempt at applique was a failure. I gathered my patience and went to work. I started by cutting out the letters of his name from fabric.

Next I sewed them onto the top layer of fleece. From there I combined the top and bottom layer of fleece together and added a blue silk binding around the edges.

Done.

Or so I thought; in my last stretch of binding I ruined a corner that I couldn't redeem. After much thinking of how to save the blanket ( not only had it taken me a few hours but this was the night before the shower) I saw my left over fabric from his name. I cut pieces out of the remains and placed them over each corner.

The blanket looked amazing and I was proud to give it to her.

Although the gift was for Matt, Kelli, and Baby Hunter I was as happy as they were to receive it. The feeling of giving a homemade gift not only touched their hearts but mine and the accomplishment of finishing the blanket when I had my doubts and concerns was rewarding to me.

Lessons Learned

If you are new to sewing I have discovered some helpful hints....

Knit Cotton is not beginner friendly

Taping along the edge is very cute BUT not quick

All in all my second sewing project was a success, just a rather long one :)