Semi- Homemade Play Costume

This month we have the Bugs play at school and of course we needed to find a costume. The instructions said no wire wings so I started to look for butterfly fabric. At one point I shopped online at Spoonflower. Then one day as we were shopping in the toy section and looking around I saw it, a Kite!! The fabric was perfect and the width was long enough. I took it home cut the wings off and sewed the wings to the arms and sides of her black shirt. Now we have an easy costume that only cost about $10.

Happy Sewing!

Learning to Knit!

If you have been following the winter weather system you know that the south east has been hit by snow storm, after snow storm. Which in my little bubble means snow days. During these snow days we make soup and enjoy cocoa and cookies but I decided I wanted to learn something new. Try to make these snow days useful. So I started to learn how to knit. 

First, I did not have knitting needles, I use chop sticks and yarn I had on hand. I had to learn how to cast on, the knit stitch and purl stitch. I didn't know that the patterns of these two stitches creates different designs and beautiful texture to your knitted fabric. It makes sense to learn how to knit if you sew because we deal with fabrics all of the time. 

Then I saw this on Ravelry. Ravelry is a free site for knitters and crocheters. This is also a great place to get inspiration, patterns and meet people. This sweater is called the Antrorse Sweater by Shannon Cook. It is available as a PDF pattern or in her new book called Journey.
So I bought a size 10, 32" long circular knitting needle and yarn from Quince and Co., Osprey. 

I decided this would be my first project. I know I am a little crazy!! I have heard this from everyone around me. "Start with dishcloths, a scarf or hat, NOT a sweater. You are Crazy!" But this is what I wanted to do, I am making it. When I started to sew it was the same way. I didn't start with a pillow, I started with bags!! I love bags! Make what you love! 
Anyway, here are some pictures of my sweater project.

This is the funnel neck with buttonholes. In this part of the project I had to learn how to long tail cast on, make one left, make one right, and all in one buttonhole round. 

Knitting is a craft that takes time and patience.

This is the funnel neck, yoke and the arm holes created. I love the chevron design in the center. I hope I will be able to complete it before the winter weather lets up. One great thing about knitting is if you make a mistake you can take it apart and try again. Unlike sewing when you cut the wrong size out of your expensive fabric. 

Do you knit? How did you learn? What other knitting websites are helpful?

Thanks,

Chevron Scarf Tutorial

I made this scarf after making a chevron dress. I love to try to make as much as possible from one piece of fabric and see how far you can stretch your money. Here is how you can make your own Chevron Scarf.

Materials:

2 Yards of Chevron Fabric 

I bought mine at Girl Charlee. When you sign up as a new customer you receive a coupon! Love that!

Matching thread

Step 1: Cut out 72" by 20". You will need 2 yards of chevron to make this scarf, so that the horizontal lines will go horizontal. (Since most knit fabrics are 58" wide you could make 2 possibly 3 scarves. The third one being 18" wide, 2" smaller.)

Step 2: Embroider the scarf with initials. I placed it around my neck to see where I should embroider, then I marked it with chalk.

Step 3: Fold the 20"X 72" so that it measures 10"X 72". Sew right sides together, making sure to line up the chevron lines.

Step 4: Flip the tube right side out.

Step 5: Fold one end .5" and place the other side of the tube inside the .5" side fold. Pin and topstitch the scarf opening closed.

You are Done!

Sewing with Horizontal Lines

 Lately, I have been on a Plantain Shirt Pattern kick. This wonderful pattern was written by Deer and Doe pattern co. and I love the fit. My favorite outfit is a t-shirt and jeans and know I have the perfect t-shirt pattern, I am half way there, right! So I found three knit prints at Fabric.com they are all from Riley and Blake's collection. Shopping for knit fabric online can be scary. I look for key words like medium or lightweight, 95% cotton and 5% lycra, 4-way stretch and project suggestions, hopefully t-shirts is one.  

 Once I received my knit fabrics, I realize that most of them were horizontal lines! Aaahh! To match up the lines on your t-shirt, cut out the back panel then place it on top of the fabric again and match the stripes under the arm. Once everything is lined up place the front template on top (make sure the underarm lines line up the same way as the back panel) and cut.

This is a picture of the collar being sewn together. I serge after the step and use a double needle to topstitch. 

You can use this same technique to line up chevron lines too. 

Happy Sewing!

Hamilton Beach Durathon Iron

I recently received the Durathon Hamilton Beach Iron. It has a new non-stick scratch resistant plate, an extra long cord good for quilting, and a 3 way shut off system.

Honestly, I like the steel plate irons. Steel plates are easy to clean the sticky residue off with a magic eraser. The Durathon has a new non-stick surface and it had a terrible smell when I first used it. I had to turn on a fan and open a window the first few uses. 

However, when I started to use the Durathon iron it had one feature that will make me shop for irons differently. The light system is amazing!! I can not believe they don't even mention it in the features product list. I don't know about you but I don't aways read the manuals. I know I should but who has time for that. Most iron manuals tell you to allow the iron to get hot 2-3 minutes and then use it for your project. The Durathon is the first iron that told me when it was ready to be use. A light flashes until it is ready to use, when the light shines it can iron your fabric.  I imagine this cuts down on the leaking problem that most of my irons have.  (Ok, I have. I don't wait for the iron to get hot, the water has to heat up to steam, so when I go to press my fabric water leaks everywhere.) Now I wait for the light to shine and I know it will do a great job. The light system is also great for remembering to shut off the iron. I just press it to the blue light and it cools off to be put away. The Durathon also has a three way shut off. If the iron is motionless for 30 sec. on the soleplate, 30 sec. on either side or 15 minutes resting on it's heel then it will shut off.

Iron Tips:

1. Set your iron board to the height where your elbows bend at a 90 degree angle.
2. Don't iron in circular motions, iron lengthwise.
3. Always check the soleplate to see if it needs cleaning before ironing fabric.
4. Cotton and linen fabric should be slightly damp to iron. Either spray it with water or steam it for faster, easier ironing.
5. Ironing and pressing are two separate terms. When ironing, you move the iron around slowly. When pressing you rest the iron over the fabric for a few seconds, lift up and repeat. Ironing Tips found from the Durathon Iron Manual.

Don't forget to make your own iron cover with the Sew Spoiled Slip Cover Tutorial.

Happy Sewing!

You can receive 20% off of your next Sew Spoiled Etsy purchase just by using this coupon code, BEMINE, at check out. The coupon expires Feb. 16, 2014, so make sure you visit us. That means all the sewing patterns in my shop are only $8.00!!! 

Plus, the Tailgate Teammate Backpack is now available in the Sew Spoiled Etsy Shop!!! This backpack design was created after Simplicity asked for the Tailgate Teammate Tote series and wanted more! The Simplicity Pattern packet will be available in June.

This pattern doesn't use a lot of fabric and is fun to make for anyone! These also look amazing with the Tailgate Teammate Totes!

Happy Sewing!

Washi Expansion Pack

So is the expansion pack worth the extra $14? 

Yes!

I made this grey dress in about 3 hours. The expansion pack has 3 new looks for your Washi Dresses; the Peter Pan collar, long sleeves and new 2 different tie styles. This is one of my favorite dress patterns to make. It is super easy, feels comfortable to wear and has a variety of different looks in one pattern.

When I say it is super easy, I mean there are just a few pattern pieces to sew together and the instructions are easy to follow. Also if you are a little scared of the shirring part, in the expansion pack, Rae will show you how to make a casing for elastic along the back of the dress. Once you have cut out the pieces it should take you about 3 hours to sew.

This dress is so comfortable to wear. I am a K-5 music teacher and typically I do not wear dresses or even skirts because in an eight hour school day; I dance, play instruments and have to sit on the floor from time to time. In this dress I can look professional and feel comfortable enough to play with the kids. I love the pockets. Not all dresses have pockets.

The variety of looks from the Washi dress/ top pattern are endless. I have made 9 washi dresses/ tops and they all look totally different. I don't feel like a character of a sitcom wearing the same outfit over and over. When you make dress from the same pattern over and over the process gets faster and you start to make it your own by making changes. Of course I love that Rae, the designer of the Washi dress, not only did this but also shared her changes with us.

In short, I love this pattern. I am sure that I will be making many more Washi dresses!