Fall Sewing

I apologize in advance for this post....  This will not be of any interest to people who don't sew, but it's what I have been doing a lot of lately so I thought I would share.  I have been busy sewing/smocking/appliqueing to get this boy a fall/winter wardrobe.  This is some of what I have done so far...

 Some applique shirts and turtle necks (Lawnmower, Chunky Letter, Circle Patch, Helicopter)

Pants!  The green, red, and navy are corduroy and the others are Fabric Finders navy gingham

I smocked this bubble which he has worn the past two months.  Pattern is Maja Heirlooms "Cory's Bubble." Everyone that sews should own this pattern.  It is so easy and works for a girl or a boy (only difference is the sleeves.)

 Patriotic jon jon for Election Day.  Fabric Finders plaid and pattern is Children's Corner Johnny.

We had our pictures made a few weeks ago and I made this outfit for the occasion.  Brown micro gingham..again Fabric Finders. and the pattern is Creations by Michie' "Knicker Yoke Overlay."

                                                                          

Wow can it really be time to start sewing for Christmas?   Here are some Christmas pajamas that I monogrammed.  Pajamas are from Blanks Boutique.

More Christmas projects coming soon!

2 Cute

I have FINALLY managed to squeeze in a little time to get some sewing projects completed for Graham's Fall/Winter wardrobe.  I will be posting more soon, but thought I would share this one now:

I found this on the sale rack at the Carter's Outlet for 50% off...I think I paid $10.00 for it.  I loved the colors and the stripes, but oh how I hate the patches that they put on their clothes.  

Here is a close up of the "2 Cute" applique that came on the romper.

This is what is looked like after I took my seam ripper to it...

and here is what is looks like with a cute monogram!  I did like the contrast of the orange against the blue and brown so I stuck with that combination, but I love it so much more with a monogram than the generic applique.

 

I think he likes it!

Monogram Transformation

Many people think that once an outfit is monogrammed that it can't be reused, but I am here to tell you that it can!  You can remove the monogram or you can applique over it.  I bought this outfit at a consignment sale for $9.00 (retail price is $54.00).  I wanted to add a new monogram rather than an applique so I cut out the three letter monogram with my 4" Gingher embroidery scissors.

This is somewhat of a tedious process as you have to be careful not to cut the fabric.  I was able to get all three letters removed while watching two episodes of Cake Boss!

Once the thread was removed I ironed the area really well ,washed the outfit, and ironed it again.  After it is washed and ironed the needle holes are almost all gone.

Once it was ironed I added a new monogram. 

Not bad for a $9.00 investment.  Next time you are at a consignment sale don't overlook the monogrammed items!

Sewing Projects

I have been sewing/smocking for almost 9 years now, and last year thanks to my parents and Nick I added embroidery to the mix.  I certainly have all of the necessary training and tools to be able to make Graham lots of cute things...now if I could only find the time to make them.  These are a random assortment of items I have done in the past few months.  There are more, but these happen to be the ones I took pictures of.

towels for Graham's bathroom

bib for Graham
(sorry I don't know how to rotate pictures in blogger...if anyone knows please tell me.)

puffy vest for Anna Kathryn
(Kiley's daughter)

burp cloths for Libby
(Natalie's daughter)

bib for Jackson
(Whitney's son...he was born TODAY!)

crab bubble for Graham
(Children's Corner - Taylor pattern)

monogram bubble for Graham

I have been working on some smocking as well but those take a good bit longer...hope to have them finished soon.

I did make Graham's Easter out fit this year, but I will include those pictures in my next post.

Skirted Table

Amongst all of the baby/nursery preparations we have been doing some other rearranging to make room.  Now that our guest room is the nursery we had to move our guest room downstairs into what used to be the office/sewing room. 

When it was the office we had a desk that we used for the computer, files, and any other junk we could come up with.  There is nothing special about the desk...it is just your typical computer desk, but recently I have noticed people making box pleat skirts for various tables and desks.  We were needing a TV stand in this room and rather than go buy another piece of furniture I decided to try and make a skirt for the desk.

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about these are a few examples of skirts I was looking to mimic.

Great idea right???  I read on one blog that recommended lining the skirt with blackout lining to give it some weight and to help it hang properly.  So I took all the measurements, cut out the fabric (just a plain linen from Joann's), cut out my lining and started putting all 22 pieces together.  I know 22 pieces!  It was somewhat difficult to get on the sewing machine due to the size and weight but in the end it was well worth the effort.

This is how it turned out.

Before

After

I was so excited when my sister-in-law (she is an interior designer) came over and said that she really liked it!  I am always unsure of my decorating ability so when I have her approval I feel like I have done something right!!!

Brother PE 770

On May 15th I celebrated by 29th birthday (can I really be 29).  My family was in town that weekend for a wedding so we all got to celebrate together which was fun.  Unbenounced to me Nick and my parents had been plotting behind my back to surprise me with a new embroidery machine!!!!  The Brother PE 770 to be exact.

I have put this on my Christmas and birthday list for about 3 years now but never really thinking that I would get it, but they were very sneaky and gave me a big surprise.  Now I can monogram and applique til my hearts content!  These are a few examples of what this machine can do:

Thanks Nick, Mom and Dad!  This is going to be one well dressed baby!!!!

Fabric Organization

I did get somewhat distracted from my organization mission, but this weekend I got back on track!  We have a small closet in our office that houses our downstairs furnace and the hot water heater.  Thankfully the closet does have some selves in it and provides much needed storage, but lately the closet has gotten out of control (my fault).  I do all of my sewing and calligraphy in this room and this closet has become a catch all for my junk.

The main issue was all of my fabric.  I didn't even take a before picture of the closet because it was so bad....just trust me.

But this is what my fabric looked like.  Lovely...right!

To start with I took  some plastic boxes (they are about the size of a shoe box) that I bought at Old Time Pottery for .99 each.

Then I separated my fabrics into categories.  These are the categories I ended up with: solids, patterns, gingham, polka dot, seersucker, corduroy, and white. 

Oh this is soooo much better!  Makes me want to sew something...  Maybe that will be next weekends project.

Organization - Patterns

One of my new years resolutions (that I am determined to KEEP) is getting my house (and my life) organized.  I do a good job (usually) of keeping everything tidy and neat, but when it comes down to nitty gritty organization...I could use some work!

I figure if I blog about it that #1 all of you will hold me accountable and #2 maybe you will suggest some of your own organizational ideas!  I am always open to suggestions.

So last week I organized my pantry....which by the way I am LOVING!  I breathe so much easier every time I open that door!!!

This week I tackled my sewing patterns.  Now I know everyone doesn't have this problem, but a lot of you do sew because I follow your blogs and see all of your wonderful creations...so who knows maybe your patterns are a mess like mine. 

Ok So I started out with my green basket and I was trying to refold the tissue and stuff it back into the original sleeve.  Took me about three times to realize there are not enough hours in the day to ever figure out how to refold those stupid things.  Then it was onto the hanger method.  This worked for a while, but occasionally pattern pieces would fall off and I would loose them not to mention that it was a pain having them hang in my ohhh so tiny sewing closet (it is actually our hot water heater closet).

So after some research I opted to go with the file folder method.  This is how it works...

I purchased a LEGAL size plastic file box.  I really think it is important to use legal rather than letter.  Letter size just wont be large enough for some of the larger pattern pieces.  This box was around $14 at Office Max, but they sent me a $10 off of $20 coupon this week so I got this and some tabs for $10!

I added some file folders which I already had.

Then I started placing my patterns in ziploc bags (I used quart size).  For each pattern I placed one size in the each bag.

So my Lettie (that is the pattern name) folder has the original sleeve with instructions, a bag with Size 1, a bag with Size 2, and a bag with Size 3.

Then I put them in alphabetical order by pattern name and made labels.

All Done!  Nice, neat and organized!!!!  One of the benefits to this method is that if/when someone needs to borrow a pattern I can give them the size they need without having to give them the whole pattern (and chance something getting misplaced or lost).

What to organize next??????