Purple Clocks

I had to change my storage "box" system for my sewing machine feet.  I was carting them around with all the spare ones in a small box.  I started using more and more of them, and having to tip the whole box out to search was no longer working.

I ended up with a box as big as the larger one for my serger feet, so my "sewing class bag" is now too small.  I have dithered around thinking about whether to make a larger bag, or use my serger class bag, but it is so huge that I truly dislike using it (although when I go to serger class I fill it completely up because I have more boxes when I use my serger).

I was not going to make this month's sewing class project (yet again... I'm getting a reputation), so I needed something I could work on during class that would allow me to listen and observe what they were working on.  I like to go to class, and normally I pick up several tips (although I have to say I didn't learn anything new last night).  Finally I decided to make a new mesh bag; this time I wanted it to "match" my purple rolling machine luggage/bag.

I browsed my "stash" and one piece of fabric kept coming to my mind.  I had thought I would make my grandson a shirt from it, but as so often happens, when it was washed it was a bit too heavy for a shirt.  Then I thought of making my granddaughter capris but never could quite decided what to do.  I had a piece of green mesh and using the two together just materialized from my muse.

I cut out the mesh bag and (as usual) mulled things around in my head as I was working.  I have been frustrated with having to take a whole purse into class where space is so limited.  All I need is my wallet, cell phone, and keys, etc.  I had purchased a small cloth purse/bag in Hawaii for the purpose of copying it, or varying it at will.  It's not very well made, but could work for flights (ID, wallet, tickets, cell phone).  So I decided this was the time to try copying it.

This is the small purse I purchased.   Front                                                Back

    

In this case, I wanted my purse a bit bigger, so I enlarged it slightly.  Here you can see how much I enlarged it (keep in mind that I mitered the corners on mine, so it does not appear quite a much larger as it actually is).

     

(Yes, my rolling sewing machine carrier is purple, and although I don't ever wear purple, I wanted my bag and purse to look nice with the carrier, silly...  I chose the purple bag because it is both my daughter and my grandson's favorite color, so for once I didn't choose red.)

To begin, I had to decide what size purse I wanted, then how many pieces were used to create the original purse.  Next I calculated the size for each piece of the fabric and the liner so the final purse would come out the size I wanted.  (And guess what, I did a GOOD job figuring that out, because it seems about perfect and each piece was exactly the right size!)

The real trick was deciding the order in which to put it together.  I cannot tell you how I figured out where to start--it just seemed right, but the answer is:  Start with the TOP zipper and work your way down and around to the back opening, attaching the liner/pocket fabric at each step of the way.

It really isn't too tricky, because in the end after sewing the straps in place and attaching the key holder, you pin down the straps and the key-chain holder, leave the upper zipper partially open, sew around three sides, serge those sides, turn it right side out and it's done!   Pretty amazing.  

I had already cut the pieces and fused light weight Pellon to the back of all the exterior pieces.   I sewed the whole purse during my class (except I had to serge it when I got home), and I still had some time to work on the mesh bag.

Finished bag front  

(Next time I will use the longer zipper (12 inches) for both.  It's easier to install and you don't have that tricky seams at each end.  On this one I used a 7-inch zipper for the upper opening.  A 10-inch might work, but I think it would be a tad too short.)

Back side of the bag with the open pocket

Key-chain holder  

(With a shorter zipper, it is sort of buried, so it should be a tad more to the center of the purse, but with a 12-inch zipper it would have been fine.)

Now for the mesh bag

Filled with my boxes for class

Inner pocket for pen and tissues

perspective

All ready for class!

It started out as a skirt.... (and then it grew) -- and yet another truly poor pattern

I had an itch to divert from the projects I was supposed to be working on and trying to make the actual skirt I had based an earlier version on.  

I wanted to cut out what was required, but after studying the pattern pieces themselves and then the instruction sheet for quite some time, it was clear that they had NO idea what they were actually trying to describe.  This one brings lousy instructions to yet another low...  (I hate to be negative, but really....  I feel SO sorry for people who are just learning to sew.)

Finally I decided to begin with just one set of the instructions and see what was needed after that.  My idea worked fairly well, as it turned out.

I altered what they said to do and cut.  The photo on the pattern showed every tier of the skirt was gathered to the previous one.  The cutting instructions for tier 2 were ok (but the number of strips was totally wrong), and the cutting instructions of the bottom tier (or ruffle) were almost correct for what I actually did, but TOTALLY incorrect for the skirt pictured on the pattern AND for the instructions on how to make it on the inside.  The cutting instructions were closer, but still not correct.

The instructions for tier 3 were interesting.  They told you to cut the number required for how I made the skirt--which is no where near enough to gather it to tier 2.  (Now if you are feeling somewhat "lost", please get in line behind the whole long queue of which I am a member...)

Once I had cut tier 2 and 4, it became much clearer what to do about tier 3.  Tier 4 (ruffle), when cut as they directed, is not sufficient for gathering it to tier 3, but it is already over 4 yards around.  If you made it like the picture and the instructions (not the cutting directions), it would end up 10 YARDS around the bottom!   I do not know how many pounds it would weigh at that point, but I'm sure my granddaughter would find it awfully heavy.  

My solution was to gather tier 2 to tier 1.  Sew tier 3 to tier 4, apply the baby rick rack and hem tier 4, THEN gather tier 3/4 to tier 2.  This photo shows how it turned out.

They showed rick rack on every tier of the skirt--including at the hem--on one view; none on another view.  I had already determined that too much rick rack was going to be all in-your-face rick rack with these fabrics, so I knew I was not going to do that much.  But I really needed to de-emphasize the seam where tier 3 joined tier 4 without gathering, so I chose to apply one row of tiny baby rick rack, and I like the way it turned out.

The skirt

Just to show you how truly full it is this way, here is a "spread-the-skirt" photo.  You can see that it is PLENTY full enough for her favorite twirling!

As I was finishing it up, I kept mulling over more things.  The pattern showed how to decorate a store-bought tee shirt and included a butterfly pattern.  Finally I pulled a new tee shirt (already washed and dried) from their "staying at Nana's" supplies, and decided to play around with it.

First I applied the decorative stitching around the sleeves, using wash-away stablizer.  That went pretty well, so I put it around the neck, too.  (I was afraid the neck stitching might be a tad itchy, but not nearly as much as the store-bought ones which have really scratching stuff all over the back of appliques.  She will not wear anything that scratches.)  

Back view

Then I used used Steam-A-Seam 2 and cut out the butterfly, then steamed it to the shirt.  Using wash-away stablizer, I appliqued the butterfly to the shirt, added the body stitching and antenna, and wha-lah! 

After using the Wash-Away stablizer, I ran water over the back and rubbed it with my fingers in a sink of water.  Very soon it was all gone, so I dried the shirt.

One outfit...

When I had finished the skirt, there was one partial strip of the four fabrics left over.  It just kept screaming "purse" at me, so finally I gave in to the impulse.  I made this one up and getting the turn-it-to-the-outside could have been tricky with the zipper, but I figure it out correctly!  

It is lined with the same fabric as the butterfly and tier 1 of the skirt.  I used light weight iron-on pellon on the outside purse fabric and iron-on fleece on the lining fabric.  I didn't do the best job on the strap attachment, but it's fine for the what it will be used for (mostly hauling around fuzzy animals, sharks, etc.)

Back of purse

(I should have taken a proper shot of the zipper at the top, but it went home with it's happy owner this afternoon...)

Purse front

And the completed ensemble...

Pretty cute, if I do say so myself!  

And she LOVES that she can twirl and loves the purse, so that's real success.

Posh Pooch

I wanted to try out a new pattern and use this fabric I got last year.  I think she's going to like it!  It is very light weight so will be nice for summer (if it ever arrives!)

As I began working with the fabric and pattern I decided to use some glass beads I recently got for $1.00/pack at Beverly's.  I don't know if that's a good price or not, but it seemed reasonable, so I got several packages--making sure I got some turquoise--her new "favorite color".  This fabric matches them perfectly and they help break up the pattern.

I had not applied beads to anything in nearly 40 years and never to anything that really mattered how it turned out.  (Back then I was putting clear/colored beads on Christmas stockings.  I must remember to take photos of those and post them some day.)  

Of course I checked the bead attaching techniques in my serger manual, but their method for attaching single beads was not what I needed for this project, so out came the needle and thread for several hours.  

At first I could not make the beads line up properly or stay near enough together, but after about 4-5 inches I began developing my own system for applying them.  (Of course, if I hadn't been so busy sewing on beads I could have searched the internet for suggestions.  Instead I worked out a stitching method that worked pretty well.  I'm not sure I can describe it properly, but I'll try.  It is called the "back stitching" method.  I have now done a little search and I am actually using a more secure way of attaching the beads than those I have seen on-line. 

• First I sew on one bead.  Then I put the needle through that bead and add another bead, then I sew backwards to the beginning of the second bead. 
• I repeat the process, but after the second bead is attached, I insert the needle and pull the thread up completely and BACK TOWARDS the previous bead.  THEN I add the second bead, sew backwards, and repeat.

Of course I used all the hide-your-knot and thread tricks as well.

Close-up of the beading - I am pretty happy with most of it now.

Front view

Back view with zipper--I added the last half-inch of beading after the zipper was sewn in.  I stopped the beading at the row of vertical stitches for the zipper.  

There as also a little bag pattern included.   Several little dress patterns have various patterns for bags, but this is the first time I decided to make one.  I thought she'd enjoy the fabric and I like this pattern.  

I used light weight iron-on pellon on all of the pieces (including the lining).  I then added iron-on fleece to the back the outside fabric to hold the bag upright.  You can see how well it stands on it's own.  The pattern did not have the little velcro tab, but I thought it might be useful.  (She likes to haul her fuzzy animals around sometimes.)

For fun, I added the row of beads to the bag as well. 

Bag front view

She may rarely use them together, but she can if she want's too!

Can't wait to give this to her.  Her mommie is going to love the beading.

[Next summer I will add a ruffle around the bottom for extra length.]

And, guess what?  I ordered some photography lights and full-spectrum bulbs as well as a 90-degree angle arm for my tripod to see if I can get better pictures of all my projects!  Can't wait to try it out.