Back At It

Well, I'm back from another Cuba trip.

I'm considering posting at least some pictures of that beautiful country, but that'll have to be another post on its own.

For now, I'll just post the sewing I've been up to since I got back home:

 

 

Before we left, I had an order of washcloths to fill after I got home.

 

I love packaging them up all pretty. Don't worry--it's not only a stack of boy washcloths--there's plenty of girl ones in there as well so I felt it'd be alright to use a bright pink ribbon. (Can you tell I really like pink?)

 

I left my PJs in Cuba. If you recall hurricane Sandy, before it ever reached the US, it had left a huge path of destruction in the Carribean? Well, we were able to help in a tiny way by leaving most of our clothes (other than what we were wearing and a pair of clothes to travel back home to the rather cold Albertan climate) with a Baptist Church in Cuba to bring to Santiago de Cuba.

So, I needed new PJs.

 

I found a Simplicity pattern online for free: #0501.

It's pretty simple. And, I didn't feel like making anything to complicated for a pair of PJs.

In fact, I deviated from the patterns instructions a bit. Instead of measuring myself before making it and shortening it with the line, I just made it and whacked 4.5 inches off the bottom later plus folded the hem up 2 inches to make it short enough. Also, the instructions said to turn the drawstring right side out after sewing it. I did not feel like turning over a metre of super skinny tubing right side out, so I just trimmed the fabric almost up to the seam and threaded it into the pants. I know, not super professional, but they're PJs.

 

The fabric is some Hello Kitty flannel that I bought for $3 a metre. That and some pink heart fabric is the only flannel I had enough of to make these and I didn't really feel like wearing all hearts to bed.

I think I need to go fabric shopping for some grown-up fabric.

The t-shirt is an old t-shirt of mine that was actually in my 'weeded-out-of-my-closet' pile. It'll do for PJs.

So, that is what I've been up to since our return last week.

What have you been sewing in the last week?

Know Thy Machine

Shruti at 13 Woodhouse Road is hosting a Know Thy Machine blog hop. And, I thought it'd be fun to answer the questions here!

 

 

1. What machine(s) do you have? Brand and Model.

I have a Shark and a Janome 4120QDC

2. When and where did you buy it? What were the reasons for selecting this(these) particular model(s). What was its approximate cost.

The Shark was the machine my husband bought for me for our anniversary 2 and a half years ago--he bought me a cheaper machine because this was my first 'step' into sewing and I wasn't sure how I'd like it. I think it cost around $100.

My Janome is the machine I bought after a year and a half of fighting with my Shark. I bought this one after researching certain features I wanted in a machine and then I had my eye set on a Pfaff Ambition I believe. But, when I gave them a test run in the sewing store, I fell in love with this one and was not too impressed with how the Pfaff sewed. (It had some quirks that caused me a lot of grief with my Shark that I wanted to avoid at all costs like major bunching of the thread in the back mid way through sewing.) Oh and the approximate cost was around $800 I believe.

3. What do you like about your machine? Have you named it? Have you made a cover for it?

I really like how my Janome sews knits--I don't need a serger. (This was a major selling point as well--that it did knits really well!) To do this, it has a foot presser pressure dial and some great stretch stitches.

Ha, and what do I like about my Shark? Well, not a whole lot anymore--it's a bit of a clunker and I'd not recommend it to anyone! Though it did me well for a year and a half and I sewed on it a lot!

Other than naming the Shark, 'the beast,' I have not named myJanome or sewn a cover for it! I got a hard cover with it when I bought it.  

4. Does your machine give you any problems? Could you tell us a few?

The only problems my Janome has given me was a tension problem after I had tried mending some thick neoprene dog vests on it--yes, not a good idea! Other than that, I have no problems with it yet and I'm quite pleased with it!

The Shark had all sorts of tension issues, it clumped thread in the back, it was loud, it ate fabric, etc.

5. What do you sew on it mainly? Quilts, Clothes, Bags etc. How much time do you spend sewing on it? What are the features of the machine that help you improve your work?

I sew a lot of clothes, some diaper bags, rag blankets and other small items! I don't spend hours a day sewing--I have 4 kids five years old and under. But, I do usually spend at least a couple of hours a week on it!

The features that help me are the two I mentioned above (foot presser pressure dial and stretch stitches) plus needle down, thread snipper, and some really neat stitches to add a special touch!

6. What advice would you give others when deciding about which machine to buy?

Ask around and try a bunch of machines. Make sure you have a list of features you want in a machine and think about what you may be doing with it in the future as well!

7. Will you share with us a special memory associated with your machine?

I'm not sure if I have a special memory other than it was supposed to be my birthday present but I was too impatient and got an early birthday present!

8. If you had unlimited resources in the world, which machine would you choose to buy and why?

I honestly have no idea--I really like this machine although I've heard some good stuff about the Juki machines!

 

 

What kind of machine do you have? What are its pros and cons?

PJ's Times Three

 

Remember the PJ pants I sewed for KCWC days 5 & 6? Well, I sewed up another pair plus finished off the required tops.

The pants are again the same pattern out of the Sewing for Boys book. But, I cut the length to size 4/5 for the Sweats pattern and again took in the width an inch or two. This one has less room to grow in length for some reason but it is unlikely I'll actually take the time to re-hem the pants. More likely they'll just get passed on down the line though it'll be a couple of years before my 9 month old will fit them! Oh, and the fabric is again some flannel that I bought a couple of years ago for, I believe, $3 per meter.

 

For two of the tops, I bought long sleeved tops from Walmart and appliqued the pictures from the accompanying pants onto them.

 

 

For my oldest son, I had enough fabric to make a shirt from the same fabric I had used for the pants. Plus, I added some red fabric--a bamboo rayon/cotton baby rib knit from Fabric.com. The pattern is McCalls # 4283 view D. I used size 3 (even though my son is 5) and just lengthened it. He is quite skinny and I had made this pattern before (before I had a blog) and I knew it ran wide and short. I am quite pleased how it turned out except the arms are a teensy bit short. He was slouchy when I tried it on him to gauge where to cut the arms!

 

I went out in  -5 degree weather to hang them up outisde and try take some decent pictures. A bit of a fail as I was shivering and trying real hard to hurry on such a blustery cold day! Do you see that snow there on the ground? It looks rather wintery out here except there is no foot of snow yet--just a dusting.  

 



 

A neatly folded stack of warm, cozy PJs all ready to be worn tonight!

KCWC Days 5 and 6

So, I sewed up some PJ pants for my oldest boy and for my girl for days 5 and 6. I know, 2 days to sew up two pairs of PJ pants is pretty sad. But, the first day was spent mostly cutting out and adjusting the pattern used and then cutting out the fabric.

 

I'm so glad I adjusted the pattern--the pants would have been enormous!

The pattern is from the book Sewing for Boys--the Kickin' Back Sweats pattern which if lengthened is the Sweetheart PJs and if shortened the Bobby's Bathers.

For my oldest son, I used the size 6/7 sweats length and size 2/3 width. He's almost 5 and this worked great--it has a nice wider hem so I'll be able to lengthen it if I don't just make him a new pair by that time.

 

For my 2 year old daughter I used the same pattern but I used the size 2/3 length and took in the 2/3 width by about 2 inches. Again, I'll be able to lengthen the pants if I want.

 

I had to add a tag to each so they (and I) could tell what is the back and what is the front.

 

The fabric used for both is flannel that I got for around $3 a metre. Pretty good deal I'd say! Unfortunately, almost two years ago, I was not wise enough in the sewing area to realize how much I'd need to make a full set of PJs. I'll probably have to buy some shirts from Walmart for cheap and applique to make them match. Or, I can try piecing things together--we'll see what I do.

But, that is a project for another day!

 

That's it for my KCWC. It was a challenge for myself to get an hour in every day, but I think I managed and got some stuff done that otherwise takes a back burner. A success I'd say.



A Winner...

So, I plugged the 2 comments into Random.org and the winner of the London Pants giveaway is:

 

#2-

 

Elisabetta said...

thank you so much for this nice giveaway! I am your new GFC follower and my favorite patterns are Olivia Skirt and Anya Dress

 

 

Congratulations!

 And, welcome to my blog where I post mostly about my sewing projects but once in a while about life in general.

 

I sent an email to Wong from Petite Kids Boutique and she should be sending you your PDF copy of the London Pants pattern shortly! 

Enjoy!  

 



KCWC Days 1 thru 4

And, here is my first KCWC update...

 

 

Heh I know, I know...I wasn't going to post until the end. But, I'm excited to share my busyness the last 4 days. Only 2 more days for me to go and I need to think of some other project!

First, I sewed up my daughter a top to match her London Pants. 

So, I now present...

The peasant top:

 

 

I know, it's kinda summery--made out of a linen from Fabric.com and again that same quilting cotton I received from a friend. And yep, the stars make a comeback as well. It's a very simple peasant top but I cut it a bit shorter and added a ruffle to it.

 

She's pretty thrilled.

 

Speaking of thrilled, my oldest son had once requested that I save a John Deere section of my husband's old t-shirt. And, I did. And, it sat in a box for a bunch of years. He asked every now and then, 'Mom, when are you going to make my John Deere shirt?'

I thought this would be a great time for that.

 

 

It's made out of an interlock knit from Fabric.com as well. I have had it in my stash for years. A good John Deere green. Well, actually a kelly green but it works. So this is the Raw-edged Raglan Tee again from the book Sewing for Boys. I know--I finally sewed up one for my own boys. I did do some things a bit different than the pattern called for. I only did the top the raw-edged way and the side seams I did normal--not inside out. I also hemmed the bottom and sleeves. This is a size 4/5. Next time, I think I'll sew up a 6/7 for this little man!

 

He wore it yesterday and made super sure that it stayed clean so he could wear it again today--he wiped his hands on his pants instead of his shirt. And, he also wore his John Deere hat out today so I had a John Deere boy in my company today:

 

I just couldn't resist adding this picture--he was having a grand time 'posing!'

 

But, I didn't leave my second son out. He requested that I reuse the balls on his old shirt from Children's Place.

 

 

This one the sleeves and neck band are made from that same kelly green interlock knit. The grey is a baby rib knit in heather grey. That one is also from Fabric.com. I used the same pattern again--the Raw-edged Raglan but in size 2/3. I made the same changes as I did to the John Deere one. So that is two Raw-eged Raglans for my own boys!

 

He's pretty happy about having his own mommy-made shirt as well.

Now I have to start thinking for today and tomorrow!



KCWC--I'm Sewing Along!

Alright! I am sewing along with KCWC over at Elsie Marley's.

 

I started on Monday the 8th, didn't get quite an hour in on the 9th but made up for it last night.

I'm not going to post any pictures until I'm done the week but I'm quite excited to be sewing along and getting a number of items done in a week!

I won't be sewing on the 14th as it's Sunday and tomorrow I will be teaching sewing to some girls but I hope to still get some sewing in tomorrow evening as well as tonight and hopefully Saturday during the day.

Stay tuned!