A Sewing Journal

Bright Dresses

MelanieO — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:06:05 +0000

I am checking out for the next week or so as we are going out of town and I won't be able to update the blog. I'm leaving you with this photo of my girls in their handmade dresses (save the one on the left which is store-bought) in front of the Wisconsin capitol building. Have a great weekend!

Flickr Pretties

MelanieO — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:46:41 +0000

1. Pip studio bag, 2. Untitled, 3. Quilt_in_tree, 4. Summer String Quilt

Round Up: 9 Gifts to Sew for Men

MelanieO — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:10:47 +0000

A little inspiration for Father's Day sewing.

Clockwise from top left:

Adjustable Unisex Apron (tutorial) by The Purl Bee
Classic Bowtie (tutorial) by BurdaStyle
Rolled Hem Hankie (tutorial) by The Purl Bee
Manly Travel Power Cord Roll-Up (tutorial) by Whipstitch
Golf Towel Sewing Tutorial by Junie Moon
Boxy Dopp Kit Tutorial by The Cottage Home
Plaid and Applique Pillows (tutorial) by Sew4Home
Father's Day Tie (tutorial) by The Purl Bee
Oven Mitt by 28 Peppermint Grove

Summer Seersucker

MelanieO — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:07:12 +0000

A stack of seersucker ready to be cut and sewed. I'll show you the project in a few weeks!

Pajama Elastic

MelanieO — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:48:57 +0000

Have you heard of pajama elastic? (Also known as underwear elastic.) This is new to me, but I have confidence that at least a few of my knowledgeable readers know what this is.

It is elastic that is sewn directly to the inside of the pants or shorts - no casing needed. It is usually used for pajamas or other garments where having exposed elastic is not a problem. It is soft enough to be comfortable against the skin.

I'm beyond excited about this as I'm in the process of making three pairs of pajama shorts for my eleven-year-old. This should make the process so much faster (no elastic to thread through casing!) As with all new techniques, my first attempt is a bit shaky, but it's very easy. You make a casing like usual, but you do not need an opening. Make sure your finished casing is a quarter- to half-inch wider than your elastic. Then you stitch along the channels on the elastic. I used this You Tube video from VanillaJoy for guidance.

Have you used pajama elastic for PJs?

A Project For You

MelanieO — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:09:46 +0000

Future Publishing, the publisher of Mollie Makes in the UK, contacted me to see if my blog audience (you!) would be interested in a little market research project. See below for more information - it sounds kind of fun!

Do you love to sew? Would like to earn some money and receive a lovely sewing gift in return for chatting about your favourite sewing projects? Future Publishing, publishers of Mollie Makes magazine want to interview crafters about what most inspires them. You will receive $50 and a thread selection tin worth $50 to thank you for your time. Places are very limited and will be offered on a ‘first come - first served’ basis . If you would like to join in, email andrea.alway@futurenet.com for further details.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I have been compensated to provide this information to you. Rest assured, that I only accept compensation for projects and products that I think you, my audience, would be interested in.)

Round Up: 10 Picnic Items to Sew

MelanieO — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:31:06 +0000

With the Memorial Day Weekend and summer vacation fast approaching here in the US, I've had picnics on my mind! Here are ten picnic item tutorials or projects from around the web that I've found inspiring. (By the way, you can find a round-up of picnic totes here and a round-up of picnic blankets here. And my tutorial for a really easy-peasy picnic blanket is here.)

Clockwise from top left:

Napkin Flatware Rolls (tutorial) by Make It Do
Alfresco Bowl Covers Tutorial by Sew, Mama, Sew!
Picnic Placemat Tote Tutorial by Sew Much Ado
Perfect Picnic Placemats (tutorial) by Sew Can Do
Double Wedding Ring Picnic Basket Cover by CraftStylish

Clockwise from top left:

Spice Market Tote as picnic basket by Home Made
Picnic Blanket Tutorial (uses vinyl tablecloth as backing) by The Ribbon Retreat Blog
Easy-to-sew picnic mat (tutorial) by Lotta Jansdotter for Canadian Living
Outdoor Padded Roll-up Cushion (tutorial) by Sew4Home
Liberty Picnic Set (tutorial) by The Purl Bee

Nani Iro Bias Tapes

MelanieO — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:49:03 +0000

Love these. Nani Iro bias tapes found at Miss Matatabi.

Pretty Scraps

MelanieO — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:07:49 +0000

I cut into some of that stack of fabric and ended up with a pretty pile of scraps. The non-scrap parts are ready to be sewn up into pj shorts for my 11-year-old. Hope to show you more soon!

Big Stack of Fabric

MelanieO — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:22:43 +0000

A big stack of fabric and big sewing goals for the rest of the month. I hope to show you some finished projects soon!