Briefcase #2

Briefcase #2

After posting my husband's birthday briefcase, I had requests for the pattern.  I've been working on making a pattern (something totally new for me) and this is my second shot at the briefcase.

The truly amazing thing about this briefcase is my daughter wove the fabric on a loom (Not the cotton print but the background fabric). She owns a loom the size of a bedroom and she wove the fabric on that loom. 

Every time I work on this I find something else I should have done differently.  The outside pocket when unzipped is unfinished.  No big deal now but when making the pattern I want that to be finished.  I also haven't figured out a good way to put that lining into the bag. 

Here's the finished product....

It's July? Simplicity 8014 Shirt dress

It's July? Simplicity 8014 Shirt dress

Not sure how I did not post between April and July but life flows by and blogging fell by the wayside.  I'm still sewing.  Here is my latest creation...

I've been wanting to recreate a shirt dress I had in my 20's.  It was made of Lavender Linen and was my favorite go to summer dress.  I wore it to work, church, special occasions and finally it had to be retired. 

I saw a picture online of a plaid summer shirt dress and that inspired me to make mine out of plaid.  It still needs the buttons, buttonholes and a hem but I'm heading out for a week of camping and I really wanted to share this first. 

I made a size 12 and it was a bit snug in the arm holes so I think I will grade up to a 14 there.  It also was a bit snug at the waist and I trimmed my seam allowances down to get another inch but next one I cut out I'll add some more ease in it.  I'd rather snug something up than have to try to take it out. 

Matching the really big plaids was more of a trick than I anticipated but I think it will do.  Definitely needs a belt to break up the waist going from straight plaid to on the bias plaid. 

I'm always looking for comfortable dresses to wear to church so I think my next one will be out of an autumnal solid color, with long sleeves,  that I can dress up with scarves and accessories. 

Birthday Briefcase

Birthday Briefcase

I've been married for 36 years.  In that time I've made my hubby ties, vest and even dress shirts for work.  Two days before his 59th birthday, I had the inspiration that his old briefcase was shabby looking and he needed a new one.  I would MAKE him one!  I searched for a couple of hours for a pattern but no luck.  I looked at the old briefcase and thought about my decades of sewing and thought...I can do this!  And so I did.  I made the briefcase without a pattern.  It was not as easy as I thought it would be...I had 1.5 days to do it...and trust me, there was fabric flying everywhere!

Here's the finished product:

His briefcase was always stuffed to the brim so I increased the gusset from 2 inches to 5 inches.  I planned on doing a drop in lining but I really didn't like the sloppy look so I stitched in the ditch on the seams to anchor the lining. 

I posted the bag on a sew website asking a couple of questions and a number of people were interested in my pattern...I've never made a pattern before but the idea is exciting....I think that will be my next adventure. 

Whew! Just in time...Bunny & Carrot.

Whew!  Just in time...Bunny & Carrot.

I offered to serve as a pattern tester for Liel.  This is an inde pattern maker who makes children's toys.  I wasn't chosen but did get this pattern half off for applying! 

The bunny was tricky but only because it's so small.  I think the next one I do will be 50% bigger.  He turned out very cute though.. I used minky fabric so he's incredibly soft.  I also used plastic eyes and nose and skipped the mouth.  These were inherited from my MIL and I always enjoy when I find a way to use her supplies. 

The pattern also came with a carrot suit.  This was a bear to make!  It looks easy enough and it really wasn't difficult but there was a lot of felt, inside and out.  I think it I EVER make it again, I'll use cotton fabric for the inside.  It would make the whole process much easier and since you really can't see the inside, I think it would be just fine.  

This is for my 10 year old granddaughter.  Here's hoping she loves it!  

Lane Raglan, times 3

Lane Raglan, times 3

I'm still working on perfecting that Lane Raglan by Hey, June patterns and I think I've finally done it. 

I added an inch to the neckline following this tutorial.  Then I downsized the hips to an XL and took in the waist one inch.  I shortened the neckband 1.5 inches.  The end result is an almost perfect fit and a super cute and comfy shirt.  I think I'm going to be living in these shirts. 

The fabric is brushed poly from Cali fabrics.  It has great stretch and recovery and it is unbelievably soft!  The price was very reasonable as was the shipping. 

Here's the final product:

Lane raglan, part 2

Lane raglan, part 2

I joined the Hey June! facebook group and asked for some help.  Fabulous people, sewers!  Another sewer had the same issue and had contacted the pattern designer who gave her some tips for making that neckline smaller and she, of course, shared them with me. 

I added an inch to the neck line and the tops of the sleeves.  I also thought I'd try the size small.  The neckline is MUCH better but the smaller size is a bit tight in the shoulders. 

I'm going to try this again with the added inch to the size medium and I think I will have found the PERFECT fit! 

Stay tuned....

Lane Raglan by Hey June patterns

Lane Raglan by Hey June patterns

I've been working on so many things lately that I never had time to finish this shirt and blog about it.  I had seen a ton of good reviews online about it and it looked easy enough so I thought I'd give it a go. 

I made it in a size medium with XL adjustment at the hip to accommodate the pear shape.  It sewed up easy but the fit was not great.  The top was just to big, and was showing my bra strap.   (hate that...)  I cut 3 inches off the neckband and reapplied and that helped.  It's still a bit big so next time I will ignore the sizing chart and just cut a size small.  The hips were also to big and I ended up adjusting 1 1/2 inches on both sides to make it smaller.  Definitely need to go down a size there too.

I love the look of it on the dress form but not sure how much I'll wear it because of the neckline issue.  I also wonder if the stretch of the body might have a lot to do with size.  The next fabric I bought to go with it is has a lot less stretch....Hmm...might cut larger and size down just in case.

Here's the final garment....

Sharing your passion...

Sharing your passion...

It's midwinter break time here in Michigan so the kids are off of school for a couple of days.  My 10 year old granddaughter and I had been talking about sewing at Christmas and she seemed interested.  So I snagged her after school friday night and we had ourselves a sewing retreat!

She started with a pillowcase for her bed.  Super easy straight sewing.  I showed her how to line up the raw edges with a mark on the machine but even I sometimes find that annoying because I'll find I've drifted over to a different mark if I don't pay close attention.  I put a piece of red masking tape on the 1/2 inch line and she lined up her fabric against that.  It made it much easier for her.  Then I just talked her through it.  

She learned how to use the iron (carefully!) and that the machine IS a machine and needs to be respected.  

She did fabulous.   Here's her third project....a funny pillow for her bed!

She was so proud of herself!  I was so proud of her, too!  I actually had to force her to stop because Grandma was getting tired.  

She told me that someday she'd like to have her own sewing room and make her living sewing..........

Sharing your passion....what could be better than that?

Still playing with Minikins...

Still playing with Minikins...

I'm still trying out the minikins by Sarah Lawson from Sew Sweetness.  Here's my latest try using Tula Pink fabric.  LOVE Tula Pink with this bag because it highlights the animals in her fabrics.

They are also great scrap busters.  On the blue octopus I also used scraps of Linen I had left over from a picture frame project.  The elephant I used raspberry that came from who knows!  I've had it so long.  I had to do some hunting to find the raspberry thread, I can tell you!

When top stitching, I've been changing the top thread to make sure it matches the fabric so I sewed white on the octopus and then blue on the linen.  It's a much nicer look I think.

I just finished making 6 emmaline retreat bags for a client too but neglected to take a final picture.  :-(

Sewing on...

Back from Texas...

Back from Texas...

After the Christmas holidays my husband and I packed clothes, threw the suitcase in the backseat of our car, hooked up the 21 foot camper and left Michigan in search of warmer weather.  We landed in Texas where it was the coldest winter they've seen in about 5 years BUT it was warmer than here.  We only had one very cold day (an ice storm, in fact) but the rest of the time it was lovely.

Of course we checked out all the fabric and small quilt shops in Texas and I came back with fabric and ideas!

The three on the left are slated for shirts for me using some new Itch to Stitch patterns I picked up online while we were gone.  The two black and white are meant to be chickens in a table runner I'm planning.  Sew much fun!

I love little quilt stores.  I meant some of the nicest people.  One of my favs was in Dripping Springs, Texas, Vallia and Kim.  Modern fabrics, lots of quilts on the walls with ideas and super nice people to give you ideas on what to use.  If you are in the area, check it out!

Onto sewing....

Sew Sweetness Minikin Desktop Cube~smallest

Sew Sweetness Minikin  Desktop Cube~smallest

I'm not sure why I consistently do this.  I find patterns that have multiple sizes and then I make the smallest first.  Why?  The smallest is the hardest to make!  You have tiny seams and have to make tiny turns with this big machine that has a sharp needle right next to your fingers.  It's insanity, I tell you!  And yet....I do it. 

Anyway, I made the smallest desktop cube.  I will work perfectly to sit on the windowsill in my tiny laundry room to hold the change that inevitably falls out of everyone's pockets. 

I think it would look neater if the lining was a bit smaller.  I should have made a 1/4 inch difference in the lining and the outer edge.  It would have been a crisper final product.  Note to self......

It's hard to tell from the photos but the back of the cube is slightly taller than the front so you get a nice look at the lining inside.  I like that look.  This is definitely a scrap buster particularly with the foam interfacing.  I have a box of smaller pieces left over from making totes so I will definitely have another project to use those up. 

Here's how it looks....

Sew Sweetness Cotton Candy Pouch~Minikins

Sew Sweetness Cotton Candy Pouch~Minikins

In my never ending quest to finally finish my Christmas sewing, I've made 2 of the Cotton Candy Pouches by Sew Sweetness.  They are part of her Minikins series.

The pouch has foam interfacing so it is very structured and easily stands up once it's done.  I made the medium and they are a nice size when finished.  The zipper is a a bit tricky but once I really studied the directions, I was able to figure it out. 

These are fabulous scrap busters as the medium only takes a 6.5 X 8 (2) pieces of fabric for the body.  The inside could be scrapped as well. 

I like the way they turned out. 

On the bee fabric I top-stitched all the way around with black thread but I'm not sure I loved the way that looked so for the musical notes, I top-stitched in black on the sides and white in the middle.  I was happier with that outcome. 

Simplicity D0713 and Emmaline Small Retreat Bag

Simplicity D0713 and Emmaline Small Retreat Bag

I've finished the legging pants for my granddaughter.  I found this interesting pattern that had Misses sizes, children's sizes and doll sizes.  It has a tunic, a shirt and leggings in all three sizes.  Since my granddaughter is growing OUT of child sizes but is not quite into adult sizes, I thought I'd give this a try.  I actually cut out an adult medium for her, basted the pants together and then tried them on.  I had to cut about an inch off the sides and 5.5 inches off the length but the rest seems to fit.  Final fitting this evening. 

I enlisted her help for my husbands family Christmas party on Friday.  She baked all the cookies for dessert and made the salad.  She also made chocolate dipped pretzels which were a huge hit.  I wanted to do something special for her to thank her for her help so I made her an Emmaline Small Retreat bag out of Michigan State University/Emoji fabric.  She LOVES MSU....(frankly, I'm not sure why that is but it's her fav!) and emoji's are her thing now too.  Fabric with BOTH of these on it...I couldn't pass it up so I bought 1/2 a yard a while ago.  I wasn't sure what I'd do with it but this small bag is just the thing.  She has asthma so she totes an inhaler and now she has lip gloss and hand lotion, etc...  All of which will fit nicely in this bag and hopefully, her 2 year old brother will not be able to get into it. 

 The bag has a small frame in it which holds the bag wide open when it is unzipped so it is easy to see inside. 

I have just a couple things left on my Christmas sewing list.  Back to work....

Simplicity 1574A Children's PJ's & food poisoning

Simplicity 1574A 
Children's PJ's & food poisoning

I started these PJ's for my grandson last week but had the misfortune of contracting food poisoning so intense that I spent 3 days in the hospital.  Hoping to NEVER do that again.  Laying in that hospital bed you appreciate the time that you have to do what you enjoy so as soon as I could, I was back to sewing.

So this pattern...Simpler because it has less steps?  If I were a newbie, I'd be lost.  In fact, I had some issues on that collar because it's been a while since I did one and I followed the directions.  I really think that newbie patterns should have fewer pattern pieces and MORE instructions. 

I got to use the buttonhole setting on my Bernina B740.  This setting is one of the reasons I purchased this machine.  Buttonholes have always been really had to make uniformly and this machine saves the settings and automatically does it for me!  LOVE that! 

I do like the way it turned out and it's PJ's so I'm not going to sweat the collar to much.  Here's hoping the little guy who loves trucks & dinosaurs will love these PJ's too.

#bloglikecrazy For 30 days....

#bloglikecrazy
For 30 days....

Thirty days done!  This is my last post in the #bloglikecrazy challenge. 

I started this blog because I wanted to have a digital record of sewing patterns that I attempted.  You know, what worked and what did not...It is still good for that.

I've always been a blog reader.  I find it a great way to connect with people all over the world that were school librarians (like me before I retired), that knit, or sew.  Blogs make the world smaller.  Here's the tough thing about being a school librarian: You are the ONLY one in your building and possibly the entire district.  NO one understands what you are talking about.  People are polite and will listen but SO often their eyes glaze over or they are just out of their element.  Other school librarians understand that but if there NONE in your district, how to connect?  BLOGS!  Librarians are technology leaders but how to find other similarly minded teachers?  BLOGS!  You like to sew and are not sure how to put a zipper in a new pair of blue jeans you are making?  BLOGS!  There is someone else out there trying the same thing.  Blogs are moderated so you don't have to worry about a thread blowing up like on Facebook. 

Has technology changed since I started using blogs?  Heck yes!  But blogs still have a place in social media and they still have a niche. 

I was explaining the #bloglikecrazy challenge to my friend on the sewing retreat and she said, "Is anyone actually reading your blog?"  I don't know.  It might still be a digital sewing record for me and that's it BUT if I reach ONE person who finds my adventure helpful, well then, my friends, it was worth the journey!

Blog on.....

And just to end with a visual, my grandson's pj's cut out and ready to go.....cause that little boy LOVES trucks!

#bloglikecrazy Finished the tote...

#bloglikecrazy 
Finished the tote...

Noodlehead to the rescue!  Another item off my Christmas list...

And then I was in the fabric store with a friend and found this....the perfect fabric for leggings for my 10 year granddaughter.  Cross one off...add one on! 

#bloglikecrazy Noodlehead again

#bloglikecrazy 
Noodlehead again

I'm making a large tote for my daughter to carry her supplies back and forth to work (she cuts hair for a living).  The best totes around are made by Noodlehead so I'm making her the smaller of the Explorer Totes 

I've made this one 5 or 6 times and I always get rave reviews.  It's big (but not so big that it's cumberson).  It has lots of inner & outer pockets for storage and a zip top so everything stays secure.  I like to add swivel hook on the inside so there is a place to attach your keys.  I simply hang it on a piece of ribbon and sew that into the side of the lining, letting it hang 1.5-2 inches.  Just hook the keys on, zip the tote and when it's time to leave, you'll know exactly where they are.  No digging!

My daughter is an animal print fan so I'm making it out of a leopard print for the main body with a cool metallic looking vinyl for the bottom.  (I always put vinyl on the bottom so the bag can be placed on the ground without worrying about the contents of the bag getting damp).  The handles will be black cotton and the inside is a white and gray neutral.  The print is a bit directional and I've cut it in two different directions for contrast.  Experiment!  I'll let you know how that goes!

Here we go....

#bloglikecrazy Noodlehead's Maker Tote

#bloglikecrazy 
Noodlehead's Maker Tote

I've had this pattern for a while and have been trying to find the time to make this one.  I'm a huge fan of Noodleheads patterns because they are well written and have a classic simple design.  This is one of the toughest ones I made but after fighting with it a bit, it is done!

It's a maker tote so there is plenty of room to store supplies in it for when the carrier goes to a crafting event.  On the inside there are slip pockets and pleated pockets and a huge space in the middle.  On the outside, there is a snap pocket and a zipper pocket.  Everything is kept secure by a zipper across the top.

It's really very big.  Much bigger than I anticipated actually measuring 16 by 12 with a 10 inch span when opened all the way up. 

#bloglikecrazy. Queen at the DSO

#bloglikecrazy.
The day I sang Queen at the DSO

My husband and I went to see the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with a band that plays Queen. Queen is one of my favorite rock bands from my younger years so I was very excited about this concert.

The place was packed with an  excited crowd.  As the band came out the lead singer told us he'd woken up with a sore throat and would do his best.  After 3 songs, he sent the piano player out to play one of the songs. Then he came back on stage and said he just couldn't do it. Here's the best part...a woman in the audience said she could!  So she began to sing bohemian rhapsody into his microphone.  The leader singer decided that we, the audience, could sing and the band and the DSO would play. It was awesome!!  I've always wanted to hear that song played with a live symphony orchestra but I never thought that I (and several hundreds of my best Queen friends) would get to sing with the DSO!

The concert was stopped soon after but what an unexpected treat. Hope the singer feels better soon!

#bloglikecrazy best job ever

#bloglikecrazy
best job ever

I used to think that I had the best job ever!  I was mom to three great kids and I was a teacher/librarian that worked with kids to give them life skills that they would use forever. 

At 47 I became a very reluctant grandma.  My youngest was graduating high school and my oldest was having her first child.  I had not even ONE year of no responsibility so I was not really on board.  Then that little girl was born and I was there when it happened.  I held her little newborn finger and sang her the lullaby my grandma sang to me and my heart doubled in size (kind of like the grinch!) I was reborn that day as Gramma.

When Lexie is in trouble, she tells her parents to call my Gramma cause she wouldn't yell at me like that!  And if there is a movie she wants to see, she calls me...Gramma we have to see the new Minion movie and we do.  And do I let her eat ice cream for breakfast, well of course!  It has dairy just like milk!  What's the problem???  My daughter frequently stares at me in horror and says, "You are NOT the same person that raised me!!"  Well, true enough!  Just an old person, working her way into heaven!  ;-)

Two and a half years ago, the second little one came along.  He's all boy and worships the ground that Papa walks on but if I put him on my lap and read him "Pete The Cat" repeatedly, he leans over and kisses my arm.  Sigh.....

So here's to the best job EVER!  May you be blessed in your lifetime to have the honor to be a grandparent.  I hope you enjoy every moment.