Sew-Alongs

Travel Bag Part 2

2012-02-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

I am sure you all know this is a Simplicity Sew Along featuring a pattern designed by Suede, a new designer for Simplicity and discovered through the Project Runway series on Lifetime. You can read more about Suede on his Facebook page and follow along with the Sew For A Cause: Suede Says Red Bag Sew Along by clicking on the links.

On my last post I was very disappointed with the front zippers, and I had ordered regular 7 inch zippers. Funny what a few days away from a project can do for mental anguish! I was able to make those zippers work without using the ones I had ordered. (Well, I like having extras on hand anyway! lol)

Front Zippers

I have the handles on the bag front and have the inside front mesh pocket in place.

Bag Front and Handles

Mesh Inside Front Pocket

I also have the pocket on the back of the bag and the inside back pocket in place. I still need to put in the 28 inch zipper and add the sides. It is coming along quite nicely! I am really getting excited about the bag and ready for my summer trip to the beach!

Back and Outside Back Pocket

Inside Back Pocket

I love that the inside back pocket is actually two pockets. One smaller then the other and perfect for a curling iron or shampoo....etc.

I hope to be able to do more sewing on my bag today, but I have a ton of laundry to do, so I may not be able to get very much done. Hopefully I will be able to sew some on it this week, but I am often to tired after work to sew. I learned years ago never to sew if I am tired, makes for too many mistakes!

Have a great week!

Happy sewing!

Follow Me On Linky

2012-02-12T00:57:00.000-05:00

Google Friend Connect will be ending in March for all blogs except those on Blogger. It has been a wonderful tool for many bloggers and will leave a huge void. Linky has stepped up to try and fill this void that GFC will be leaving and it seems to be doing quite well. You can join if you are not already a member, it is free and seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. Please follow me and I will return the favor. We need to start building our followers now, before the void has a chance to grow!

Have a great weekend!

Making a Travel Bag Part 1

2012-01-29T19:58:00.002-05:00

Well this was the first week of the Sew For a Cause: Suede Says Red Bag Sew Along. I had a lot to do this week, but I did get started on the bag.

I made 6 yards of piping and 6 yards of white 1/2 inch double fold bias tape. I sewed the white webbing on top of the blue webbing for the handles of the bag. I did get all the pattern pieces cut out, and I stitched the zippers into the front double pleated pocket(three times I might add!).

I have to admit that I had to take the zippers out twice. I made the mistake of using expandable zippers. It is a product that has 3 yards of zipper tape and you just cut off what you need and add the zipper pull ( the pulls come with the product and attaching them is a story in itself!) . I believe this type of zipper will do fine for the zipper around the bag because the ends will be well hidden, but not so good for the front. Even though it means taking them out for the third time, I may just do that, and use regular 9 inch zippers. They are made where you can turn the ends under and these zippers by the yard are made solid.

I am not at all happy with the way they look. It means I will fall a little behind, but I think it will be worth it and I will be able to catch up pretty quick. I just don't like the unfinished edges showing like they do.

You really can't see the problem very well in these pictures, but take my word for it, this type of zipper does not create a polished look for this kind of an application.

I will just have to keep playing with it and see if I can find a way to create a zipper finish that I can accept, but I will go ahead and order my zippers!

Any ideas or suggestions, if so please comment and let me know!

See ya soon!

Happy Sewing!

Ready to Rock It with Suede!

2012-01-22T16:08:00.000-05:00

Well the "Suede, Sew For A Cause" Sew Along will begin on Tuesday, and I have been busy getting my supplies organized. This pattern calls for both bias tape and piping and I will be making both of them. For the Piping I will be using Wrap and Fuse Piping made by Clover and designed by Nancy Zieman of Nancy's Notions and Sewing With Nancy .

It is really very easy and makes beautiful piping. You cut a bias strip of fabric 1 and 3/8 inches wide and simply wrap the fabric around the Wrap and Press. The directions are on the back of the package and are very simple to follow.

The product is simply cording wrapped with fusible web, but the process is much easier then wrapping and sewing the fabric around normal piping cording.

After wrapping the fabric around the Wrap and Fuse, simply press with your iron along the seam allowance using a low to medium setting and No steam.

As you can see from the photos, it turns out great!

Home made bias tape:

You can purchase a Bias Tape Maker from Simplicity. It is really pretty neat, it presses and folds the fabric for you. I actually do own one of these little gems, but I find it is almost as easy to just do it myself. This pattern calls for 1/2 inch double folded bias tape. To make your own start with a bias strip of fabric 1 and 3/4 inches wide. Press that in half.

In this case, press with a setting as warm as the fabric can handle, and use lots of steam. After pressing the entire strip in half, fold each side in and meet them in the middle (actually, I leave a very small space and do not let them touch in the middle). Press well and fold each side in again, this time I fold and press one side slightly larger then the other. This assures that a little bit of a lip will be formed and when you place the slightly larger side on the under side or wrong side of your fabric, it is sure to be caught in the stitching while stitching it down from the right side of the fabric.

See, easy as pie! I am now ready to start sewing! Let the fun begin! There is still time to join if you would like to make this great travel bag! You can request to join here. Hope to see you there!

Happy Sewing!

Getting Ready For The Suede Says Red Sew Along

2012-01-14T20:41:00.002-05:00

Sew For a Cause

Well I have my pattern. I think the customer service at Simplicity is excellent, I ordered my pattern on Sunday and it was in my mailbox on Tuesday. Now that is service with a smile!

I ordered my fabric from Nancy's Notions on Thursday and hope it will be here soon. I really love the fabric I ordered. The pattern calls for prequilted double- faced fabric and although my choice is a little on the pricey side, I used a discount I received through ASG and that helped a lot!

I also bought the the mesh fabric from Nancy's Notions, I bought white and think I will do the handles and zippers in white also.

I still have to shop for the hardware, but I am raring to go! There is still plenty of time to join up and participate in the sew along. If you are interested click here.

Don't miss out on all the fun! Hope to see you there!

Nancy's Notions

ASG ( American Sewing Guild)

Simplicity

Happy Sewing!

New Sew-A-Long Coming Up!~

2012-01-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

I will be participating in another Simplicity Sew A Long on Facebook. It will begin on January 24th. I know I have complained about some of the patterns that are offered by Simplicity, but this is a travel bag designed by Suede so I have high hopes that this will be a great pattern and a great sew a long. Also some of the proceeds from the sale of the pattern will be going to charity. I think that is very cool!

Simplicity will be doing things a little different this time, they will be offering video tutorials. I think this will be a huge improvement! This bag offers some techniques that I have never had the opportunity to do and videos will be a nice way to learn. I always do better with a visual tutorial. The written word just don't cut it sometimes!

Here is a link to the Simplicity page featuring the bag that will be made and a picture is shown below.

The next photo really shows the size better, as you can see it is a very roomy bag and I think it will be a lot of fun to create a travel bag!(Look out beach, here we come!)

As I said before a percentage of the proceeds from the cost of the pattern will be going to charity. Keep A Child Alive is a charity that provides treatment, love and support for families affected with AIDS in Africa. You can go to Keep A Child Alive to read more about this great charity!

If you would be interesting in joining the Sew A Long, you can click here and request to join (upper right hand side of the page). Remember it will begin on January 24th and you will need time to order your pattern, so join us today! Hope to see you there!

If you are not interested in joining, I hope you will follow along as I learn a few new tricks and hopefully create a great travel bag!

See you soon!

Happy Sewing,
Glo

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long (6) All Done

2011-09-15T14:09:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder that this is the pattern and the fabric I chose for this Sew-A-Long. I used the top right view on the pattern. As I said before, I love the fabric, not so much love for the pattern!

I have finished the dress and vest just in time. Today is the last day of the sew a long and all pictures are to be posted today.

I embroidered hearts on the vest and dress in colors to tie in the sleeve fabric and the dress fabric.

I hope my grand-daughter loves it and wears it proudly!
Hope you have enjoyed following along and I will be back soon participating in another sew-a-long. Until then, Happy Sewing!

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long (5) Sewing the Dress

2011-09-10T22:01:00.001-04:00

Well, I have to say I don't care for this pattern very much and most likely will not ever use it again! I think simplicity has some very cute patterns, but I have found that the directions and construction on some of them lack something to be desired! I am not talking bad about the company, I have used some of their patterns that I loved to pieces, but sometimes they are absolutely harder then they have to be!

This is a very cute dress. I love the fabrics I have chosen and I think they go together well, but the pattern has way too much unnecessary gathering. Considering it does not have ruffles or a full skirt, the pattern could have been constructed without all the dang gathers! I had to gather around the front of the yoke, the back yoke did have tucks instead of gathers and I wish I had done that on the front, gathers around the sleeve caps and the sleeve bottoms. If I had time I would change a lot about this pattern, but the last day of this sew a long is September 15th and with my work schedule, I just don't have the time.

I had to do double rows of stitching for gathers in a lot of places that would have been fine with just some easing. The sleeves are way too full along the length and a little less gathers would have made this area a little slimmer which would have created a nicer looking sleeve, in my opinion. I don't care for the way the sleeve looks on this dress at all. I don't know quite what it is, but I am not a happy camper!

The front yoke is fine, but with the zipper, it would have been nice if the back had been a full back piece instead of the yoke. The yoke, yoke facing, and interfacing make it very bulky in the seam line across the back where the zipper is placed. One piece for the entire length of the back would have made this a much smoother application.

Any way, I am glad that it is finished except for the hem and I will start on the vest tomorrow. I had considered not even doing the vest since the dress itself has taken so much time, but because of the type of sleeves, I think I will make the vest.

I did do an embroiderd heart in the middle of the front yoke with green and yellow to tie the colors of the sleeve fabric into the dress. It looks nice and I do like it. I will also incorporate this look onto the vest also, possible on the front corners of the collar.

I will have to wait until September the 15th to post pictures of the complete outfit, this is a Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long stipulation.

Happy Sewing!
Click on the link below to read more about this sew-a-long.
http://sew-a-longs.blogspot.com/2011/08/simplicity-project-runway-sew-long.html

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long (4) Ready to Sew

2011-08-27T22:42:00.010-04:00

Good grief! I cannot believe it has taken me so long to get to this point! In my younger years I could have started this project in the morning and had it hanging in the closet by bed time! Of course I did not work outside my home then, I was a stay at home Mom and when the kids left for school, I sewed! Now I work hard and am usually too tired to come home and work on a project. I learned years ago... never, never sew if you are too tired, it will just end in disaster!

I did get a lot done today tho, I traced all my pattern pieces and copied all the markings and info onto each piece. I do this if I have a multisize pattern. I can't bear to pay for one and then only use it once because it has been cut out on one size and I need a different size. This way I can reuse that pattern as many times and in as many sizes as I need to.

I used waxed paper to trace this pattern, I also use freezer paper, especially for an adult pattern because it is wider and better able to accommodate a larger piece of pattern.

When using wax paper, I lay it on top of the original pattern and use a tracing wheel to transfer all the info I need, cutting lines, dots, pleat lines, darts, etc, any info you even think you will need. I start by tracing the strait of grain line and proceed from there.I also mark each piece with the name of the pattern company, the number of the pattern, the name of the pattern piece, the number of the piece and how many to cut of fabric, lining, or interfacing. I repeat this process until all of the pieces I need have been traced, sometimes if I know I will need other pieces in a project at a later date, I will go ahead and trace those also. After I have traced, marked, and cut each piece, I fold and press all the original pieces and place them back in the pattern envelope.

When it comes to the interfacing, I usually use fusible and when I am tracing my pattern pieces, I trace a piece for the interfacing, measuring all along the cutting line to 5/8 of an inch inside the cutting line so my interfacing will fit in between the seam allowance.

I am now ready to start laying my pieces out on the fabric. I usually start with larger pieces first. You can follow the directions on the instruction sheet that came with the pattern, but I rarely use it. The most important thing to me is making sure that that grain line marking is for sure on the strait of grain, and if you are using a fabric with a nap, keep it all going in the same direction! I always measure from the selvedge to and all along the length of the strait of grain marked line to make sure it is strait. Sometimes if it is a short line I can eyeball it, but if it is long, I always measure it!

(I have no idea why there seems to be wet spots in these pictures, all I can figure is it must be a glare from the flash off the wax paper. Believe me it is not wet. very strange! LOL )

After pining all the pieces to the fabric, I transfer all the marking to the fabric. I cut a small slit in each traingle, and mark each dot, pleat line, etc and make a small memo about the center front, center back and any other info I might need..

OK, I am now ready to take all the pins out of the fabric pieces, place all the pieces in a baggie and begin the fun part,Finally

Tomorrow I actually get to start sewing! Yippee!
Happy Sewing!

SIMPLICITY PROJECT RUNWAY SEW-A-LONG...3 PREPARING THE PATTERN

2011-08-21T15:11:00.001-04:00

Well I have cut out around all the pattern pieces and pressed them. Pressing them insures that they will lie flat on the fabric and make cutting out more precise and easier.

I am thinking I will cut along the size 6 lines. I am waiting for confirmation of the measurements from Hanne's Mom. Just as soon as they come in, I will begin cutting out the fabric.

I am anxious to get started stitching this darling dress together, but as I go along I find I may be changing my mind and doing more of a jumper, I am just a wee pit nervous about the dark and light fabrics being on the same garment. I would hate for the dark cranberry cord to fade onto the paisley. May end up making a blouse to go under it so they can be washed separately!

Well this is as far as I can go today. Will be back when the actual cutting of the fabric begins!

Happy Sewing!

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long...2( fabric preparation)

2011-08-09T12:22:00.003-04:00

I have chosen my fashion fabric. A cranberry babycord and a multicolored paisley. I plan on making the dress and vest out of the cord and the yoke and sleeves out of the paisley.

I prepared my fabrics for sewing by straitening the grain using the technique I was taught years ago during a class I was participating in. I am not sure anyone uses this technique any more, but I have done it for so long I cannot sew without first following these steps.

On the cut edges I clip one end about 1/2 to 1 inch from the edge. This is usually enough to get a strait edge all the way across, but if it is not just repeat the process. I then careful tear the fabric and it will tear easily and strait along that cut edge. (some fabrics will not tear, with these you must pull a thread, very carefully, and then cut along that line the missing thread leaves, if the thread breaks, cut as far as you can then pull some more of the thread).

As you can see from the photos on the left, this is pretty easy to do and it gives you a very strait edge and makes lining up both ends of the fabric for the next step a lot easier.

After straitening both ends of the fabric, you will fold the fabric along the lengthwise grain, strait of grain, selvedge, what ever the term is you use. This will put a cut edge on each end of the strait of grain. Take this to the sewing machine and stitch each end, edges together with a wide zigzag stitch( or strait stitch, either will do). This will hold your fabric, keep it from fraying and straiten any off grain fabric while it is in the washer. ( according to the lady that taught this technique, the agitation of the washer will help straiten the grain if it is off grain.) After washing and drying ( I wash exactly by the fabric directions or how the completed project will be washed) I give the fabric a quick pressing and then hang lengthwise across a pant hanger.

This may seem like a lot of trouble and that it will take way too much time, but you will be surprised at how quickly it can be done and I think you will be very pleased with the outcome.

These are steps I always do, usually I do these as soon as I get home from my fabric shopping. It makes it nice to have everything done and know you can just go into your sewing room and start on a project. Also when you get in the habit of doing this, it becomes faster and easier.

Well that is it, I have prepared my fabric and I am ready to start on my sewing project, and that is the fun part and makes everything else worthwhile!

Happy Sewing!

http://sew-a-longs.blogspot.com/2011/08/simplicity-project-runway-sew-long.html

Simplicity Project Runway Sew-A-Long

2011-08-07T00:47:00.004-04:00

I am participating in the Simplicity Project Runway Facebook Sew-A-Long. The rules are that you must use a Project Runway or New Look Workroom pattern. You must use a Technique that you have never done before (fabric you have never worked with, application you have never done, etc) and no pictures of your project can be posted until the last day which is September 15Th.

I have chosen my pattern which is Simplicity Project Runway 2157, you can check it out here, and I will be making it for my 6 year old grand-daughter. I have not chosen the fabric yet but will post the info as soon I have. I plan to post every step of the way from preparing the fabric to the last stitch of the hem. I am excited and hope you follow along.

This will be the third sew-a-long I have participated in. The first was a zippered skirt sew-a-long. It had been so long since I had sewn and I really needed the practice of putting in a zipper. I wish I had chosen a heavier fabric, but I just wasn't sure how well it was going to turn out and did not want to spend a lot of money. It actually turned out pretty well and my oldest grand-daughter loved it! The second sew-a-long was making a patch work quilted tote and you can read the post I wrote about it here.