We have been sick for over one week. Yuck.
I'm trying to get my Christmas sewing done. The girls would be heartbroken if I don't get their dresses done. I have patterns picked from Sis Boom for their dresses. They are just simple peasant dresses that shouldn't be too difficult to put together. I'm in a time crunch, though. I started late, and we've been sick. I'm sick and the littlest one is sick. The littlest one who is ultra clingy when sick.
Even with the time crunch I am making a muslin. We call them practice dresses here. Cute, adorable little girl clothes usually fit straight out of the envelope with no adjusting. Older girls and adults, not so much. As my girls get older, their bodies change. I sew because I can make clothes that fit. I start by cutting out the basic envelope pieces and using up fabric from my stash. No hemming, no pretty seams, just sew it up quick. Then test the fit and make any changes. THEN, I cut my good fabric.
Much better than cutting out the fabric and realizing it won't fit. Sometimes I can salvage by just getting more fabric, unless it's vintage or seasonal.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
My sewing tip
I am sewing a Pilgrim costume for our church's drama group. The pattern must be out of print, but it looks like Simplicity 3723, view B. So many reasons for me to hate this project. Cheap, nasty fabric will not yield great results. I bought what I could afford knowing it was not my budget. That's the biggest problem that would be easy to fix if I were ever to sew this up again on my own. The instructions are clear as mud. I'm glad that I'm a reasonably good sewer. This would not be a good project for a new sewer.
Anyway, my tip is to make note of the various seam allowances and other marks directly on the pattern instructions. The pattern may tell you to fold up the hem allowance on a piece. Well, I certainly don't write the hem allowance on my fabric when I am marking it, do you? That means you get to dig out the correct piece after you already folded it back up neatly, and find the hem allowance.
These steps for cutting out a pattern should eliminate some headaches.
1. Read the pattern and make sure you know which pieces you need. When using more than one fabric, I like to mark on the instruction sheet which pieces need to be cut out of which fabric. This pilgrim costume required some to be cut from black fabric, and some from white. I put the pieces in separate piles.
2. Cut apart the pieces and check them off on the list printed on the instruction sheet. If tracing the pattern, be sure to indicate on the original pattern piece which size was traced. I didn't need to trace this pattern because I'm never sewing it again, but I usually do trace my patterns. That allows me to adjust the fit without destroying the original, and it allows me to make the pattern in more than one size.
3. Look at the pieces you need. Most of the information you need to assemble the pattern is indicated by notches and dots. Some things like hems and seam allowances are not marked. Those are the things I write down on the instruction sheet. Where it tells me to fold up the hem, I note that the hem is 2 inches. Most seam allowances are 5/8", but if I notice that a particular seam is 3/8" it gets written down.
4. Make notes while you are sewing if anything was changed. Re-write the directions in your own words if it helps you to understand the steps. Some steps I could not visualize until actually sewing. Make notes to help the next time.
I hope this helps. I need to remember this sometimes. I really don't like having to dig out the pattern pieces while I am sewing. I'm afraid they will get left out and damaged or misplaced. It also disrupts the flow for me to have to dig out a pattern piece in the middle of a project.
Anyway, my tip is to make note of the various seam allowances and other marks directly on the pattern instructions. The pattern may tell you to fold up the hem allowance on a piece. Well, I certainly don't write the hem allowance on my fabric when I am marking it, do you? That means you get to dig out the correct piece after you already folded it back up neatly, and find the hem allowance.
These steps for cutting out a pattern should eliminate some headaches.
1. Read the pattern and make sure you know which pieces you need. When using more than one fabric, I like to mark on the instruction sheet which pieces need to be cut out of which fabric. This pilgrim costume required some to be cut from black fabric, and some from white. I put the pieces in separate piles.
2. Cut apart the pieces and check them off on the list printed on the instruction sheet. If tracing the pattern, be sure to indicate on the original pattern piece which size was traced. I didn't need to trace this pattern because I'm never sewing it again, but I usually do trace my patterns. That allows me to adjust the fit without destroying the original, and it allows me to make the pattern in more than one size.
3. Look at the pieces you need. Most of the information you need to assemble the pattern is indicated by notches and dots. Some things like hems and seam allowances are not marked. Those are the things I write down on the instruction sheet. Where it tells me to fold up the hem, I note that the hem is 2 inches. Most seam allowances are 5/8", but if I notice that a particular seam is 3/8" it gets written down.
4. Make notes while you are sewing if anything was changed. Re-write the directions in your own words if it helps you to understand the steps. Some steps I could not visualize until actually sewing. Make notes to help the next time.
I hope this helps. I need to remember this sometimes. I really don't like having to dig out the pattern pieces while I am sewing. I'm afraid they will get left out and damaged or misplaced. It also disrupts the flow for me to have to dig out a pattern piece in the middle of a project.
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Exercise week 2
I did the very short exercise this evening. I did most of one round: 30 swings with my 10 lb kettle bell, 20 ground to overhead raises, and 10 almost-burpees. I wish I could do a whole set. I'd like to be able to do a burpee, but push-ups are way more than I can do.
I am waiting to see an improvement in my measurements or my strength.
I also walked 2.5 miles on Sunday
I am waiting to see an improvement in my measurements or my strength.
I also walked 2.5 miles on Sunday