Today I made some jammies!  Woohoo!

I was experimenting with a pattern and using some cheap fabric.  Dollar fabric to be exact,  from Walmart!  But if there is one thing I have learned (really I have learned more than one thing), it is that you can't always picture correctly what a garment will look like once it is made up especially if the pattern only features a drawing of the garment so you make up a cheap version first.  Sewing snobs refer to this as a "Toile".

So here's the pattern, Simplicity S0418 or 1112, also purchased for $1.  Rule #1, never, ever buy patterns full-price.
 

Below, you will see two versions I made of the top.  The top on the right is as the pattern suggests.  It is cut on the straight grain and to me looks and feels like a box.  The top on the left is on the bias.  You could probably do it either way and get the nice drapey effect you see in the picture with the right fabric.  But my fabric, while lightweight, was a bit stiff.  The bias gave it more stretch, a better fit, and more flow.

Check out these seams!  I've been practicing.  Its amazing once you start using these tailoring/couture techniques how cheap some clothes are made, like the ones we buy off the rack, also known as mass-produced.  A bound seam or armhole takes more time and working a garment on the bias...also more time but also more fabric.  So if you want that quality and fit, you either buy ready made and go see a tailor or you buy custom made.  Either way you pay more but I think its worth it.

I totally love this bias stuff.  It makes even my crappy stuff look good.


Well that's all for now.  If you are interested in learning the techniques I used (French seam and bound armhold), do a Google search.  I'd love to do tutorials but they've all already been done so what's the point.  I'm just here to prove that we normal people can do it!  Really, sewing is not sew intimidating!  hahahah, like how I did that?

Pocket Wall Hanging Tutorial

 Hi! Wow, I haven't blogged in over a week. That would be the week before school starts so I got very little done much less any sewing. But here I am with a tutorial for pocket wall hangings. This is not complicated stuff. It's also not completely original either. There are other tutorials and patterns out there for similar things but I want to show you how easy it is to make these things and to customize them to your needs. This is where you say, "Who needs Pottery Barn?"

It all started with baby slings I was making for my two expectant cousins. Click here  for that great tutorial from My Karma Baby.com. I had leftover fabric and decided to make a few more things to go along. This is my knock-off Taggies bitty-blanky.

So simple. Two pieces of fabric with ribbon loops sandwiched in between. Stitch, turn right side out and top stitch. Done.








The Pocket Wall Hanging is just as simple, it just takes a little more work. I designed mine as a quilt because my left-over fabric was in smaller pieces. Cut fabric squares to equal size and lay them out in a pattern that you like. Stitch the squares of each row together and press seams open. You could opt for larger pieces or strips instead of squares or even one large piece.

Now we are ready to make pockets. Decide how many you want and how big. My pockets are simple slip pockets but you can provide more space by cutting the pocket larger, pleating the bottom and adding elastic in a casing to the top. I like my pockets lined so I stitched two layers right-side together, turned and pressed. If I had been thinking at the time I would have laid the raw edges of the pocket along the raw bottom edges of the square and stitched them into the seam. But you can also fold the raw edge to the inside 1/2" and once more to make a smooth hem and then top-stitch the pocket to the square. You can add as many pockets as you like. I choose to just make four.

Next stitch your rows together and press seams open. Now you need to decide how this wall hanging will hang. I made loops out of the remaining fabric. You could use grommets or ribbon or make a rod pocket like for a curtain. Baste your hanging apparatus to the right side of the front piece. Lay your backing piece (cut to the same size as your assembled front piece) right sides together and stitch across the top.

Turn and press.

Finally, baste the raw edges together and bind. Make your own matching or coordinating binding if you have enough fabric or use store bought. 



Let me know if you have any questions.

This project has so much potential. I'd love to see pics of your finished projects.

Easiest Pillow Slipcover, Pillow Sham Tutorial Ever!

I found this great fabric that my girls just love. It's fuzzy and stretchy. Why do little girls love fuzzy so much? It makes me sneeze. But this is what we do for those we love.


 Anyway, most home dec fabrics come 54" wide which is plenty to wrap around a standard or queen size bed pillow. For a standard pillow, using this stretchy fabric, 1/2 yard of the fabric works perfect. For woven fabrics maybe get 3/4 to 1 yard and trim it back to fit.

Since we didn't cut off the selvage edges, we don't have to sew them but feel free if you want a more finished edge.

 With pillow laying on fabric, overlap long ends creating the envelope you need for a slipcover. Pin one side along the edges and pull out your model pillow from the other side. Now finish pinning the remaining side.















 

Simply stitch down the long raw edges. If you are using a fabric that frays easily or is fuzzy as in this case, you can finish the edges with a serger or zig-zag stitch.








Turn the cover inside out and stuff with pillow. You're done! Easy peasy.

And two very happy daughters!

Sewing Patterns

Let's start with patterns. They are one of the most intimidating aspects of sewing. Some brands are clear and concise while others are too concise. My favorite is Amy Butler. Her patterns are written for new sewers. By that I mean she completely describes the task. It's hard to misinterpret her directions. Also, in my opinion, her methods are easier than traditional ones. Beware though. This comes at a small price. When you open that pattern you will find paragraph after paragraph of directions. Don't let this stop you. The lack of white space means you are getting thorough information. Even experienced sewers can learn something from an Amy Butler pattern. Simplicity patterns are nice and even offer a line of "Sewing for Dummies", "Learn to sew" and "It's So Easy".

I always pull out the instructions and review them before buying a pattern. The envelope will tell you what level of experience is required but I like to see what tasks are going to be required of me. What kinds of zippers, how many pattern pieces, are there a million steps? One thing to remember as you grow in experience is that pattern instructions are not infallible. You can always change the way you sew a pattern. In fact, that can be fun. I often use a hidden zipper instead of the regular kind called for in many patterns. Also, there are a few different ways to sew in a zipper fly or set in sleeves. One time I mixed the top of one dress with the bottom of another. Use your judgment and get creative.

Post your comments on experiences you have had with different sewing pattern brands. I've actually sewn from a pattern that was missing steps. What about you? What are your favorites?