musings / updates

I always have the problem of not really doing anything related to sewing for a while, but I see things I want to copy. literally. everywhere. all the time. So I sketch them out and let them stew around in my brain for a while; then it finally gets to the proverbial boiling point when I decide 'oh hey! these ideas are all great! let's start on all of them RIGHT NOW.' So then I'm all ambitious and full of excitement about all these great things I'm going to sew and get right to work, making patterns and cutting out fabric to my little heart's content. I might even actually start sewing a few pieces together, just a regular busy little bee for several hours straight. But then it happens: my energy dissipates, and I'm right back where I started. I just need to get in the habit of doing a little bit at a time consistently instead of trying to cram 329083907520394 things into the span of a day and a half.

With that said, I'm currently working on a dress which I am quite excited about, because a) it's a Burda pattern [7798 if you're interested]; I've bought several of their patterns but have yet to try them... seems pretty straightforward thus far! and b) I'm breaking into my stash of Goodwill sheets again :] Didn't realize that the one I chose is a lot more worn out in the middle... guess it was well loved and that's probably why it was given away? I'm hoping there's enough fabric around the edges to get away with not having to use that part, though. So we shall see how that goes.

Other things in the works.... in a temporary fit of insanity I bought a dress marked way down at Gap that had a strap broken [read: not returnable] and didn't quite fit correctly, broken strap notwithstanding. Buuut I think I can rework it a bit and it'll be all right. Gonna need to find some fabric that will coordinate though, which I'm a little concerned about.... I might end up using the skirt liner, since the dress seems to be made out of fabric that's heavy enough so that I can probably get away with it, and I know that will match! I'm intrigued to see if it works, never done an intervention on a piece of clothing this in-depth. But if it doesn't work out I can definitely rework it into a skirt, so either way it won't be a total loss. And IT HAS POCKETS. That may or may not have been the deciding factor in my purchase, what can I say :]

scrap busters pt. 1: fabric covered button earrings

One of my favorite ways to use up fabric scraps: cover buttons and make earrings out of them!

felt clutch

I finally decided to cut into my stash of felt from the textiles lab which I’ve been hoarding since, oh I don’t know, maybe last February? I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out, although I think the colors and material both make it a little more suited to colder weather. I’ve still been using it though. No self control :D

Made up the pattern; it’s essentially a long rectangle folded into thirds which I then cut angles out of. Cut an exterior piece and a lining piece and sewed together, then turned inside out and added some topstitching and a magnetic snap, et voila! Designing the patterns yourself is always fun… it’s exciting to see how things turn out, and whether or not the final product matches what it looks like in your head. 

materials -

• 8" x 18" exterior fabric -  either something that's a heavier weight, or a lighter weight fabric with interfacing
• 8" x 18" liner fabric
• magnetic snap
• 1.5x1.5" squares of iron on interfacing [x2]
• pattern - click here to download

process -

Cut out pieces.

Iron interfacing onto the liner as shown on the pattern. Install snap.

Fold up the bottom third so it matches with the dotted line and sew edges. Repeat for the exterior.

Place the exterior inside the liner [right sides together] and line up raw edges. Sew, leaving the bottom of the outside flap open.

Turn right side out and press. Pin open edge closed and sew about 1/4" from the edge of the flap. Here's where you can get creative with the topstitching like I did, or just leave it plain and call it a day :)