One Down!

I finally finished one of the projects that I started last week.  I made a pink shirt out of stretchy cotton.  The shirt fits but I am not sure how I feel about it yet.  To put it another way, I don't think I will be telling anyone I made it.  I used white thread because I wanted a contrast on the neck line.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to stitch a straight line.  So, now the white thread I thought would add a nice dimension to the shirt only makes it was made by a monkey trained to use a sewing machine.  

Like with the swimming suit, I made this shirt a size 18 (just a note for other novice sewers like myself: the sizes on the packages are not correct.  They say to measure yourself around the bust and waist, but according to those sizes I am a size nineteen.  I was only being optimistic when I made the size 18.  If I had only known to go by the size I would normally by in the store, a 10, I would have saved myself a lot of headache.  Instead, I had to size it down and it is still a little big.).  I also modified the bottom band because I was tired of sewing and didn't want to modify the bottom band that was several sizes to big.  The sleeves did not turn out how I thought they should have either.  I was expecting them to have a little more gather to them, which they should have since I made the body of the shirt so much smaller, but they didn't.  

This shirt taught me some valuable lessons even though I am not thrilled with the outcome.  First, don't go by the size diagram on the pattern package.  Second, I really suck at reading even the simplest patterns.  Third, I should use print jersey cotton for shirts because it will be easier to hide my mistakes.  Forth, don't use a contrast thread when I don't know what the crap I am doing.  All good lessons to learn before finishing my swimming suit.

Patterns and Fabric

The other day my mom came to try and help me interpret my swimming suit pattern.  While she was here she gave me a great tip that I thought I would pass on to you.  Because I am new to sewing and it will probably be a while before I am good at it, she suggested that I got to Desseret Industries (a thrift shop) to buy my patterns and to look for fabric.  I was a little skeptical at first. I didn't think that I would find any patterns that I would like, and if I did, they probably wouldn't be all there.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find about three patterns that I loved.  They were all shirt patterns from the seventies, but lucky for me, the seventies are coming back.  I also found some adorable hot pink corduroy (brand new) that will be perfect for a little girl's dress or pants.  I ended up paying 50¢ for the patterns and $2 for about three yards of corduroy.  I was very excited about my finds and plan on making more frequent trips to DI from now on.   

Sew Crazy

Never in my life have I wanted so badly to be good at something and have sucked so much.  

On Monday I went shopping and bought a bunch of fabric and everything I would need to make a swimming suit, about four shirts, and two nursing bibs.  It is now Friday and I have not finished a single project.  

I started with a nursing bib (which I have done several times before).  It was relatively easy, so I decided to stop working on it and move to the swimming suit.  I was so excited to get started. By the end of the night my back was killing me and I had only cut out the pattern and the fabric, but I was still hopeful that it would be done by the next day.  How hard could it be; there isn't that much to a swimming suit.  

The next day I started sewing things together and tried to figure out what the pattern was trying to tell me.  On Wed. I figured out that the sizes on the package were not accurate and I had been making a size eighteen suit (which I am not a size eighteen)!  On Thursday I decided to stop working on the swimming suit before I freaked out and cut it into tiny little pieces. I was tempted to do this several times.  

Today, I started making a shirt.  I had cut out all the pieces last night and was ready to sew, sew, sew all day.  I figured I could whip out at least four shirts by the end of the day.  Well, it is 2:00 in the afternoon and I don't have a single shirt made.  As a matter of fact, I don't have any of the pieces for the first shirt sewn together.  I got really mad at my (borrowed) sewing machine for stretching the fabric out of line every time I tried to sew something and decided I had better take a break before I called a random person to tell them off.  

I want to be good at sewing!!!!!! I would really enjoy taking a sewing class and owning my own sewing machine.  I want to be good at sewing sooooo bad.  However, I am starting to think that I will never be.  I made Jaycie a blessing dress and it turned out so cute (and I only swore once during the entire project), so I thought I could do anything after concurring that project but a stupid t-shirt has proven me wrong!  

If you see me walking around with fabric draped over my body with a half finished piece of size 18 spandex underneath, you will know that I have had a nervous breakdown and will never be sewing again!

Nursing Bib

Materials: One yard print cotton, one yard flannel, two packages jumbo rick-rack, 1 1/2" D-rings, 1/2 yard boning (the kind covered in the dark fabric)

My sisters had both made nursing bibs before but they just weren't big enough.  No matter how much I tried not to, I would always get a flash of my sister's nipple every time she went to nurse.  I decided to make mine the size of a baby blanket (which is what I had always used before). 

Take your two pieces of fabric and lay them together.  Mark about six inches down from the top on both sides.  (I put the selvedge where the sides of the bib are going to go.)  Fold the fabric in half matching up the sides.  Mark the top center.  Lay a string a cross the top of the bib from the sides marking six inches. Take your piece of boning and match the center of the boning to the top center of the string.  Use the boning as a guide to draw a curve about two inches high at the center and coming down to meet the straight line of the string.  (Look at the picture if you are completely confused.  It should look like a straight line with a slight curved bump in the middle.) You do this so the bib will bow out when you use it.  That way you can see the baby. Cut along the lines that you have just drawn and use the leftover fabric for the pocket and straps.  

I had never used rick-rack before so I was a little nervous.  However, the lady at the fabric store assured me it was simple.  You start by sewing the rick-rack to the right side of cotton fabric.  I tried to just sew it right down the middle.  Don't bother pinning the rick-rack to the cloth because it stretches and will be all off by the time you get to the first pin.  On the corners, form the rick-rack in a curved pattern with your fingers first, then slowly run it through the machine. When you curve the rick rack first, it guides the needle around the curve.  

Once the rick-rack is on, put the right sides of the flannel and cotton together.  Sew them together using the same path you used with the rick-rack, it shouldn't take you long since you already have a guide.   Leave about a four inch gap at the base of the curve for the boning (this way, you will already be sewing a strap there and the seam won't stick out as much).  

After you have turned it right sides out, iron it flat around the edges.  It might not meet up exactly because the flannel stretches, but you can iron to look like it is.  Now you are ready to add the boning.  You start by laying the boning on the outside of the curved piece so you can get an idea for how wide you need to make the hem to hold it.  Then, you start sewing where the boning will meet at the bottom of the curve.  To make the turn to start sewing along the curve, just leave the needle in and pick up the foot to rotate it.  You will want to make the stitch about a half of an inch away from the edge or the width of the boning.  When you get the of the curve, slide the boning into the curve (through the hole you used to turn the fabric right sides out). Once the boning is in, stitch along the end to hold it in place.  

Now, it is time to sew on the neck bands.  I cut these just using the extra fabric that I had.  I make both about a half a yard.  I sew the two different types of fabric together and turn them right sides out.  I tuck the un-sewn end under and sew it to the bib at the base of the curve.  The second strip i fold in hale, slip the D-rings on and sew to the other end of the curve.  Once it is sewn to the bib, hold both D-rings together and make a stitch right underneath them. (I forgot to do this when I made mine at first.  If you don't sew underneath them, they slide around and the strap comes off from around your neck.  

  

At this point you are almost done and feeling pretty pleased with yourself.  All that is left is to sew on the pocket.  I got a little over zealous and added rick-rack to mine in the same manner I put it on the bib.  Find the center, or where ever you would like the pocket to be on the bib) and iron it flat.  Now, just sew it on using a thread that will match the front fabric.  

Yea, you are done.  This project takes about three hours start to finish.  Don't be hard on yourself if it takes you longer.

The Beginning!

I have decided to start this blog to chronicle my adventures in sewing.  I have never taken a sewing class (unless you count home ec. in 7th grade which, let's face it, shouldn't even count.  Why would seventh graders really care to learn to do the things their moms already do for them?) and I have decided that sewing is a talent I would really like to have.  I told my neighbor about my ambitions and she let me borrow one (of her many) sewing machines.  

I wanted to start small.  With the help of my mother-in-law, I made a crib bumper and a matching quilt.  It was easy enough and gave me the courage to move on to bigger and better things.  When I was pregnant with my second daughter I decided to make a nursing bib.  I made up my own pattern and it turned out really cute.  I gave the first one away as a gift, made a second for my sister, and finally kept the third for myself.  

My next project was a blessing dress.  My neighbor had made my first daughter, Emma's dress and I wanted to make our second daughter, Jaycie, her own--just like her big sisters.  I didn't really use a patter other than looking at Emma's and to cut out the bodess.  It turned out beautiful, so I decided that I must be good and would try my hand at making my own clothes. This is where the road gets bumpy, and where this blog begins...