The Seasoned Homemaker

My New Look ~ Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Friends, do a I have a big surprise for you. Before it can be opened and unwrapped, there is a little more tweaking that must take place.

While I am wrapping things up, it will be pretty quiet around here for a few days.

Of course, you can always email me if you have a question or just want to say, "Hi!"

See ya' in a few,

Learning to Make Jeans–Part IV

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Well, it looks like Jeans Making Week is now becoming Jeans Making Month.

You would think at this point in the Jeans Making Process that all I need to do is sew up the leg seams and attach the waistband.

Well, yes and no.

When sewing up a pair of jeans, following a particular order is Absolute.

This is particularly important when connecting the front to back.

You must sew the inner leg seam first in order to topstitch.

I bet you’re wondering why there is a hammer in this picture. One of the best tricks I learned at my class was giving those thick seams a little pounding before topstitching.

It really helps flatten the seam and makes topstitching a breeze.

Before I could connect the side seams and check for fit, I had to topstitch the inner leg seam.

Having pounded the matching seam made this a breeze.

The next step was to sew the side seams and adjust (if necessary) for fit.

Fortunately, mine fit perfectly. I swear, it’s this pattern. Follow the fit chart and you will be in love.

Pound the bulky spots before topstitching.

And, topstitch the side seam down to the bottom of the inner pocket.

All that’s really left now is to put on the belt loops, waistband, and add a button.

Easy, peasy ~

Learning to Make Jeans–Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

The whole fly front ~ zipper thing really went off without a hitch.

I followed the directions on the pattern and took my time.

I only had to rip out stitching once or twice.

Notice how the zipper comes over the top of the jeans. I will be trimming this later.

Uh, on my first pair you could say, “I had a hitch.”

I had trimmed off the zipper stop and then zipped that zipper right off of my jeans.

Like toothpaste out of a tube, there’s no getting that zipper pull back on once it’s been zipped off. Boo Hoo, sad lil’ ol’ me.

Nevertheless, I am intrepid. So, I sucked it up and replaced said zipper before I added my waistband.

This time ~ I’m playing it safe.

One thing I’ve noticed about sewing jeans ~ there is a lot of changing that happens.

I change my feet ~ from the Walking Foot to the Zipper Foot to the Edge Stitch Foot.

I change my thread back and forth between the navy blue for things like the pockets, then back to the topstitching thread.

AND, whenever I am using the topstitching thread I must remember to change the tension as I toggle back and forth between threads.

Why must I always discover these things a little on the late side?

Setting up my second machine, today.

Learning to Make Jeans–Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Remember back here when I blathered on about the wonders of machine embroidery.

Well, where jeans are concerned, having a sewing machine that embroiders can really work in your favor.

Here are the outer pockets on my first pair of jeans {that I refuse to show from this angle with me in them}.

The design is an Anita Goodesign that I got last year. I used four different thread colors that were all in the grey/beige/taupe/ range.

I had to reduce the design in my embroidery software, but I really like the way it looks.

Then, I tossed out the denim inner pockets and went with this ~

The only time it actually shows is when ~ well, you figure it out.

But, I love having something fun and unique that only I {and a few friends} know about.

On to the second pair of jeans. I went with a denim that is lighter weight by 1 oz. and a little bluer in color.

Step One ~ Embroider the pockets ~ this might be my favorite part.

Le Pockets

I cannot tell you where I got this design. It is an OESD design that was under “Bernina Designs” on my computer. I might have gotten it free at an event.

One of the best supplies I found for jeans topstitching is that spool of topstitching thread above. It came from here. They require a minimum order of $50 or there is a a hefty handling charge. They only do phone orders.

I was fortunate enough to purchase my thread at Sew Much More where I took the class. They stock the thread and will ship to you. Again, phone orders only.

For the first pair of jeans I used a traditional gold topstitching thread. For my second pair, I used a more muted taupy/tan/goldish color. I like them equally.

To use the thread, I have to reset my machine's tension, but look at the results.

I found that raising the tension on my Bernina to 7 worked best. Of course, your machine could be different.

When I took my jeans class, the teacher showed us a pair of jeans that she had embroidered with this design.

She had the design both on and off the pocket. It was amazing.

Since I am not that talented with machine embroidery, I stuck with what I do best ~ simple designs.

I did go ahead and put a fun fabric for my inner pocket on this pair, too.

I’m not locked into black and white for inner pockets ~ the fabric scrap was the right size and sitting on top of a pile of scraps. No real thought on this one.

You may recognize it from this.

The next step will be to do the fly front and add the zipper.

Piece of cake.

Learning to Make Jeans - Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

In October, I broke the code for making jeans. Why? I was tired of jeans never fitting.

(Notice I am in sleeveless and in flip flops on Dec. 2nd ~ ya’ gotta love Texas weather!)

Trust me when I say this ~ jeans are not hard to make. Who knew. This is my first pair. They still need a little tweaking, but overall I’m pleased.

Here’s what I did ~

For my pattern, I used Jalie 2908. It is designed for stretch denim and the pattern suggests you use a denim with 4% stretch. I used a denim with 2% stretch and my jeans don’t get overly stretched out when I wear them.

If you’re not familiar with Jalie patterns, they are out of Quebec. I purchased mine through Fabric.com. It cost me $12.99, however, it includes every size I’ve ever been and a few sizes I’ve yet to reach.

See the child on the pattern cover; her size is included in the pattern, too.

That means I had to sort through 27 different sizes in order to identify mine.

I used my hip measurements to choose my size and, by golly, after a few adjustments, it was spot-on.

Did I mention the pattern has 27 different sizes, from a child all the way up to my nothing-anywhere-close-to-the-model size.

The pattern is really crazy with all of the sizes printed on the two large sheets.

In order to decipher my size from a child’s, I took a colored pencil and traced over the lines in my size.

You could use a highlighter, but with a colored pencil, you can erase if you ‘miss.’

Instead of cutting out the pattern from the pattern sheet, I wanted to preserve all of the sizes for future jeans.

To do this, I had to trace my pattern onto a pattern paper. A while back I had purchased Swedish tracing paper here. Tissue paper works, too. So does medical exam paper.

The other thing I used was a heavy duty, waxy tracing paper that I got in massive quantities here.

To trace my pattern, I laid my Swedish tracing paper onto my cutting table, put the waxy tracing paper (from Richard the Thread) face down, and then put the pattern on top.

I have a piece of cork stuck onto my cutting table; this allows me to pin the pattern in place with push pins. Cans of soup or pattern weights will work well too.

I took a needle-point tracing wheel and traced over my colored pencil markings.

While all of these steps may seem tedious, they really paid off when I went to cut out my fabric.

And, it was a cinch to make a few minor adjustments for my second pair of jeans.

I'm dubbing this week {unofficially} Jeans Making Week.

During this week I will show more of the process I went through while making a second pair of jeans.

Until then ~

ePattern's

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:13:00 +0000

I'm over at Somewhat Simple with my monthly post.

The topic is ePatterns ~ see ya' there.

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS ~ 4

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Today’s collection is all about kids and fun, handmade things to make {or buy} for them.

Lovely #1 ~ Card Table Playhouse Pattern

Miss Pretty Pretty

Check out Miss Pretty Pretty. Lots of pre-made play houses, kits, or ePatterns for DIYers.

These sit on top of a card table ~ how clever is that.

Lovely #2 ~ Play Kitchen ePattern

Sweetie Pies Monkeys

I love this play kitchen. It’s compact and folds up when play is over. Pure genius.

Lovely #3 ~ Felt Food Shmorgasborg

Sweet Emma Jean

Doesn’t this play food almost look real? You could create quite a banquet with this collection.

Lovely #4 ~ TeePee Tutorial

Snikmis2

I know two little boys who would LOVE a teepee. Hmmmm.

Lovely #5 ~ Super Hero Capes

The Sweetest Patterns

Do you think I could get one in my size, too?

Lovely #6 ~ Softies

Mr. Sogs

You may recall that I fell in love with these guys last year at the Renegade Craft Fair.

I can never decide between the Oddvark or the Platypus.

Lovely #7 ~ Dollhouse Purse

Sugar Pie Chic

This is the last of my shameless self-promotion,I promise. But, this little house isn't for girls only. It can be made into anything you dream up.

Think barn, garage, fire station, princess palace, etc. It's ideal for keeping little one occupied in quiet situations {like church}.

Pillowcase Tutorial ~ Burrito Style

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

You know how it is with kids; all of the sudden they change overnight.

Well, a couple of weeks back my grandsons spent the night at our house.

The usual sleeping setup is D-Boy in the Queen-size bed and T-Bone in the Pack-n-Play. This has been working for most of T-Bone’s two-almost-three years.

Recently, Kitty and Mr. Wonderful set up T-Bone a big-boy bed with this quilt AND a Big-Boy Pillow.

Now, when the boys are here, T-Bone is still in the Pack-n-Play, but now he wants it Big-Boy style ~ complete with his very own Big-Boy Pillow.

Guess what ~ I didn’t have a spare pillow or pillowcase for that boy. I actually fished a pillow out of a pillow sham and passed it off as special.

What kind of grandma am I! I should probably be put in the Granny Penalty Box for this one.

So, today I’m making both of the boys pillowcases.

I’m going to use the Burrito Method to assemble them.

Here’s what you need:

Main Fabric: 1 yard.
Cuff Fabric: 1/3 yard.
Trim Fabric: 1/4 yard. Note: This is totally optional.
Thread
Scissors
Size 90/14 or 100/16 Heavy Duty Needles

Step 1: Find the Grain

Visit my tutorial here on how to find the grain. It is important for your fabric to be squarely on the grain or you will have a twisted pillowcase. Ask me how I know this.

Step 2: Cut Out Fabric Pieces

From Main Fabric, cut 1 piece that is 27” x 40”

From Coordinating Fabric, cut 1 piece that is 9” X 40”

From Trim Fabric, cut 1 piece that is 2” X 40”

Step 3: Understanding the Process

It is important to understand what each piece is called.

The Main Fabric is the Pillowcase Body.

The Coordinating Fabric is the Cuff and will wrap around the Pillowcase Body. Kind of like a burrito.

The Trim will be in between the Pillowcase Body and the Cuff.

Step 4: Assembling the Pieces

Lay the Cuff out flat with the right side facing up.

Fun Idea: Embroider or applique a name on the cuff before assembling the pillowcase.

With wrong sides together, fold the trim piece in half lengthwise and press.

Match the raw edges of the Trim along the top edge of the Cuff and pin to hold.

Place the Pillowcase Body on top of the Cuff/Trim with right sides together and pin.

Step 5: Why It’s Called a Burrito

Starting at the bottom of the Pillowcase Body, begin rolling the fabric towards the top edge.

Continue to roll up the Pillowcase Body until it is a few inches from the top edge.

Take the bottom edge of the Cuff fabric and wrap it over the rolled up Pillowcase Fabric.

See how the Cuff wraps over the Pillowcase Body, like a burrito.

Pin through all layers of fabric.

Using a 3/8” seam allowance, sew along the raw edge.

Fold back the Cuff and carefully pull out the Pillowcase Body.

Press the Cuff and Trim on both sides.

Step 6: Side and Bottom Seams

The next step uses a French seam. If you’ve never sewn a French seam before, you can review the process here.

Fold Pillowcase in half wrong sides together, matching up the Cuff and Trim fabrics on the seam line.

Pin around the raw edges on the side and bottom of the Pillowcase.

Stitch together down the side and across the bottom using a 1/4” seam allowance.

Be sure that the Cuff/Trim seam is even. I actually sewed this first, then went back and did the rest.

Clip the corner where the side and bottom seam meet. This will help with the bulk when you turn the pillowcase.

Turn the Pillowcase wrong side out and press the seams down. Using something like a knitting needle or chopstick, push out the corners.

Now, the Pillowcase is facing right sides together. Pin the side and bottom seams.

Stitch the side and bottom seams using a 1/2” seam allowance.

Step 7: Finishing the Pillowcase

Turn the Pillowcase right side out and press the seams flat.

You now have enclosed French seams and the Pillowcase has no loose threads on the inside.

Best of all, each grandson will have his own pillow.

And, I am out of the Granny Penalty Box.

GRAIN-FREE Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Recently Celiac Disease has been in the news because of a well-known actress.

As a fellow Celiac, I can totally sympathize with her dilemma.

To cheer everyone up about this, I’ve created a new version of a favorite recipe:

Grain-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 C. Almond Flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 C. coconut crystals (can be substituted w/honey or maple syrup)
1/2 t. Cinnamon
1/4 t. Ground Ginger
1/8 t. Nutmeg
1/2 t. Vanilla
1 C. Pumpkin puree
3 large eggs
1/4 C. Coconut Oil
1/2 C. Mini Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease muffin tins with coconut oil or use muffin-tin liners.

In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Make sure to break up any lumps in the almond flour.

In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients.

Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and blend until batter is like a thick paste.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Fill each muffin tin about 3/4 way with batter.

Pop into a hot oven for 20-25 minutes.

These are delicious, nutritious, and have a very low glycemic index. They are also low in carbs. In other words They are good for you!

Consume with a cold glass of raw milk for best results.

Elements of Sewing

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

While at Quilt Market a few weeks back I met so many wonderful sewing-world people.

Some who are considered sewing rock stars and others who are equally talented sewists.

One of them was Carla Crim who also answers to the name The Scientific Seamstress.

I’ve been a fan of her work for some time, but I became a ~~crazy stalker~~ devoted reader after she created this:

Carla has generously made the above chart available as a free download and printable here.

Hope this puts a little sewing smile on your face today.

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS ~ 3

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’m never camping out in front of Target so I can be the first in line on Black Friday.

Instead, I would rather be making something lovely.

The first two collections of lovely ideas are here and here.

Hope this collection gets you tickled pink about handmade gifts.

Lovely #1 ~ Peppermint Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

The Idea Room

Wouldn’t this make the sweetest gift for a friend or coworker.

Lovely #2 ~ Geek Chic iPad Case

How About Orange

I’ve seen a ton of tutorials for iPad covers, but this one is the cutest ever. Don’t you just love the little handle.

It' from Lisa Lam's A Bag for All Reasons. Sooo chic.

Lovely #3 ~ Embroidery Hoop Art

Merriweather Council

Last year I was able to meet Danielle here. I can personally say her work is exquisite.

Lovely #4 ~ Pink Postcards

The Paris Print Shop

If you know someone who loves Paris and pink, then this is the perfect gift. My fave is the scooter.

Lovely #5 ~ Teacup Lights

Martha Stewart

Something for the romantics in your life.

Lovely #6 ~ Chocolate Fudge Cookies with Candy Cane Buttercream

Sally’s Baking Addiction

How could you go wrong giving these yummy treats.

Lovely #7 ~ Tutu Tote Trio

Sugar Pie Chic

Ok, another bit of shameless self-promotion. But, you gotta admit that these are tutu cute.

A New Look is on the Horizon

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Starting today, this blog begins the process of a makeover. I will also be moving from Blogger to WordPress sometime during the next couple of weeks.

Jeni over at The Blog Maven is doing the heavy lifting and I expect everything to be seamless. Still, we are talking about computers here.

So, if you suddenly stop receiving The Seasoned Homemaker blog posts in Google Reader or email, this could be the reason.

Just pop back in and re-enter your information and you should be back in the loop again.

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Now for the good news: The Seasoned Homemaker will have a new look, a logo redesign, an online store for my patterns, and an improved comments section.

Over time expect to see some new things added to the blog.

And, please don’t expect miracles (digitally speaking). I’m sure there will be a learning curve for me as I transfer to a new platform.

In the meantime, I have another Handmade Holiday Collection tomorrow and a tutorial later this week.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Have you heard of Craftsy? They are an online teaching platform. And, currently, they carry two of my patterns in their workshop platform.

My favorite thing about Craftsy is their Online Workshops {I have collected 13 so far}. They are informative, usually come with patterns, AND they never expire. You can go back anytime and view the video again and again {which I have done frequently.}

Enough about me; the real news is this:

Today through Monday you can get any of their online workshops for $19.99 or less!

Do you want to learn how to sew with knits?
How about learning to fit pants. Browse through their entire course catalog. You will be so impressed.

How do you get the discount?  Click the link below on the right. Then look for the "Online Classes" button at the top of the page. Choose your class.

You should be able to purchase any online class for $19.99 or less until midnight Monday.

Chime in and let me know which classes you choose!

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Blessings to you and your family today.

National Tie One On Day

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow is National Tie One On Day. NTOOD is an opportunity for you to share a little and put a little giving into Thanksgiving.

As part of the celebration, Bernina is giving away a Bernette 46 sewing machine. Woo Hoo!

You have until 10pm MST on Wednesday to enter. Enter HERE.

I will be 'tying one on' come Thursday morning. What are your plans ~ will you be 'tying one on' this Thursday?

I'd love for you to share an apron story with all of us.

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS ~ 2

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Today, I am featuring a few more handmade lovelies that would make wonderful Christmas gifts.

Lovely #1 ~ Unpaper Towels

Made in the Red Barn

I love, love, love these practical towels that will save trees and money. And, these colors are to dye for.

Lovely #2 ~ Ice Cream Cozy

All Things Granny

This is so clever. If you know someone who will eat ice cream in a blizzard {that would be Mr. SH}, then an ice cream cozy is ideal!

Lovely #3 ~ Teapot Cozy {Tutorial}

A Spoonful of Sugar

A simple tutorial that makes a wonderful gift for tea drinkers. If you’re giving someone a tea set, add this easy-to-make tea cozy to the gift.

Lovely #4 ~ Dala Felt Horse Ornaments

Lova Handmade {there is also a tutorial}

Just precious. You can buy them or you can make them. I can picture these in all sorts of colors on a tabletop tree. How cute is that.

Lovely #5 ~ Birds in Hats Calendar

Birds in Hats

I love birdy things. I think hats are fun. Birds in hats ~ priceless.

Lovely #6 ~ Hand Painted Mugs

Curious and Catcat

Aren't these adorable. A simple tutorial on how to turn inexpensive mugs into something really special. Endless possibilities.

Note: Kathie uses a porcelain pen available in Germany; here in the US, try these pens.

Lovely #7 ~ Aprons Make Great Gifts

The Seasoned Homemaker

Sugar Pie Chic

I apologize for the shameless self-promotion, but aprons really do make great handmade gifts. Check out my free tutorial on this blog or visit my Etsy shop for fun and unique patterns.

Now, more than ever, no need to shop ‘til you drop.

Isn’t handmade wonderful!

HOW TO MAKE FELTED WOOL DRYER BALLS

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Want to save money, time, AND the planet?

There is an easy way to do this. Make a set of Felted Wool Dryer Balls.

Once you do, you will never have to buy over-scented dryer sheets or bulky bottles of fabric softener again.

Dryer balls will also reduce static cling and cut your clothes drying time significantly {25-50%}.

These nifty little felted wool dryer balls will do all of these things while happily bouncing around in your dryer.

Things You Will Need:

100% Wool Yarn (mine had 223 yds.)
Panty Hose
Dental Floss
Crochet Needle with blunt tip
Lavender Oil (optional)

Begin by wrapped several strands of yarn around your fingers 10-20 times.

Pull the yarn off your fingers and pinch together in the center.

Tightly wrap yarn around the middle.

Start wrapping until the yarn takes on the shape of a ball.

Continue wrapping the yarn around the small wool ball.

Optional: When it reaches about half the size of a tennis ball, sprinkle a 2-4 drops of lavender oil on the wool.

Keep wrapping until your wool ball is about the size of a tennis ball.

Cut a short yarn tail and thread it through a crochet needle.

Push the blunt end of the needle into the center of the wool ball and pull through. Clip the yarn tail.

Repeat the above steps until you have 4-6 yarn balls.

My skein of yarn was 223 yards and it made 4 dryer balls.

Now, you are ready to begin the felting process.

Push the first wool ball down into the toe of the panty hose leg. Tie a square knot using a piece of dental floss.

Note: Do not use any of your left over wool yarn or it will felt during the washing process.

To felt your wool balls, wash on your machine’s hottest setting. If you have a front loader, add in some towels to help muffle the noise of the balls flinging around.

Once the wash cycle is complete, dry on the hottest dryer setting.

Notice the difference in size before and after. The felting process took place in the washer. The dryer balls did not continue to shrink after drying.

This set should last at least a year. Simple and economical ~ always a winner with me.

TRAVEL: A Visit to Round Top

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

If you love buildings filled with junk, miles of tents, booths, and barns then I have a place for you.

It’s Round Top, Texas, a little town with a population of about 100. And, every October {and April} there is a huge-nor-mous antiques show.

We went looking for a table for the entry hall ~ but came home empty-handed.

However, all was not lost. There was plenty to see.

Lots and lots of antique sewing items like the buttons above and the linens below.

I loved these thimbles. I wondered how many hand sewn things were made using them.

When you are there, you are actually walking around tents that are on a pasture. Notice the grass in this picture.

Some booths were elaborate and used plywood to cover up the pasture. This is one of my faves.

Mr. SH loves things like these antique roulette wheels, I might have bought one if they weren't $300-600 each.

I'm totally in love with the small one on the tabletop.

Of course, there were old signs `n stuff…

Check out this antique fire alarm. Can you imagine how loud it would’ve been when it went off.

If you regularly attend antique shows, then you know there are original things, too.

I wish I had a use for moose antlers; alas, I don’t. I will entertain your suggestions.

Bottle cap art??? Notice the bottle cap tables in the background. What would I do with this and where would I put it?

This longhorn was pretty cool. It’s made from cut paper ~ from magazines. Great repurposing idea.

I don’t even know who this is or what it he used for. I thought it was leaning towards the creepy side. PS ~ he was a part of a matching set.

I saved the best for last. I need your help with this one. Magnolia Pearl had a huge space in one of the tents. And, I think they were pretty popular.

These garments were for sale and they weren’t cheap {$250 for the bloomers}.

I have been completely baffled by this line of clothing. Am I missing something or is this a chic new look?

If you understand this style, please let me know. Personally, I’ve been working hard my whole life to avoid looking like this.

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS ~ 1

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Remember the good ol’ days when everyone started Christmas shopping after Thanksgiving.

Well, last week I heard that the day after Halloween now signals the Christmas season.
Oops, I better get right on that.

To help you with your holiday gift giving, every week I am going to try to give you some ideas for handmade gifts.

I may even toss in a tutorial or two.

Everything will be simple and lovely, I promise.

FYI: When I posted this, a lot of you asked about my bird pin cushion. So, I’m starting off with ~

Lovely #1 ~ The Bird Pin Cushion
From: Joel Dewberry and the DIY Dish

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Lovely #2 ~ Chevron Hobo Bag
From: You Can Do That Dot Me

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Lovely #3 ~ Etched Wine Glasses
From: One Project Closer

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Lovely #4 ~ Homemade Vanilla
From: Tidy Mom

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No time for handmade, check out these Etsy lovelies:

Lovely #5 ~ Wool Felt Coasters

From: Felt Planet

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Lovely #6 ~ Coastal Cottage Tea Towel

From: Jessica Hogarth

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Lovely #7 ~ Decorative Soaps

From: Soap Rhapsody

More inspiration to come ~

Bernina Speaks ~ Really

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

I’ve said it before, but sewists in Austin are fortunate to have a really awesome sewing store, Sew Much More.

And, because of this, I get invited to a lot of events ~ like the one I attended last Saturday where I met Mr. Hanspeter Ueltschi {that’s H.P. to his friends} who is the 4th generation owner of Bernina.

Never one to shy away from a really awesome opportunity, I loaded up my Bernina 640 {me and about 100 other crazy Bernina owners} and lugged it to the store.

And why would I do this? To have Mr. Ueltschi sign my sewing machine.

I was not alone in my insanity. Almost everyone there had their Bernina’s ~ some even brought in the enormous, 50 lb., super-fancy 830 machines.

Bernina fanatics were wheeling around their machines while waiting their turn. I didn’t have a trolley and my back still hurts from toting my machine.

If I wanted to look at thread ~ you guessed it ~ I carried my machine with me.

The best part was seeing all of the older Bernina’s that still work great. One couple, clearly in their mid to late 80’s, brought in a 50+ year old machine that is still in use. They had purchased it new years ago and still had the original case.

And, I didn’t go away empty handed. Check out this cool tote bag.

Filled with these cool items ~ Including 20 spools of Madiera Rayon Thread ~ Awesome!

I learned some pretty interesting facts about Bernina.

1. 95% of all machines made are still operating today. That’s pretty impressive in my book.

2. Bernina is a family-owned business. Because they don’t answer to shareholders they have the freedom to listen to their customers.

I’ve always suspected that Bernina made quality a priority; but it really sinks in when the owner of the company tells you this is one of their highest priorities.

While I know that new Bernina’s are priced out range for many of you; keep in mind that used Bernina’s can be a great bargain.

So, here it is ~ straight from Bernina to you.

When you watch the video, you will notice Vanessa Christenson from V and Co. She was teaching a class in the background and makes an appearance at the end.

{Also, please forgive my non-existent video skills. I’ll try to do better next time.}

And, now you know where the name Bernina comes from.

Fall Garden Update: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Somewhere along the way Autumn missed Austin and I am sitting here in shorts, a sleeveless top, and flip flops.

No mums here, only lantana.

I know I shouldn’t complain, but it would be nice to feel some fall-ish weather in November.

However, the mild days and occasional rains of October have left my garden in a good way.

Like this rock rose which always blooms after a little rain. Thank you Ms. Rock Rose!

Or this Mexican Bush Sage which makes me smile when I pass by it taking the trash out.

My satsuma somehow managed to produce one orange this year after getting blasted with a late season frost.

I’ll own up to the fact that I have been a lazy gardener.

That is why my veggie garden definitely falls into the ugly category.

Even with a month of neglect (see my 31 Days of Machine Embroidery Series), it is producing lots of lettuce, the garlic is sprouting ~

I have loads of swiss chard ~

And even a few tomatoes. With more 80-degree days forecast, it’s likely these tomatoes will ripen on the vine.

If not, I will just stick them in a paper sack with an apple. In about a week, they will be red and juicy.

Alas, my garden is never perfect. Just before leaving for Quilt Market, I found a several of these devils munching on my tomatoes. Bad, bad, bad.

Their proper name is Tomato Horn Worm, but I prefer Satan.

Ewwww. I quickly dispatched the entire herd. If I hadn’t, they would’ve eaten the tomatoes AND the plant completely.

Like I said ~ Satan.

Choosing Fabrics

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:43:00 +0000

Just a quick update. I'm over at Somewhat Simple with my monthly post.

If you missed my post on choosing apron fabrics, you may want to check it out.

Mason Jar Pin Cushion Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Because I have this serious obsession with pin cushions, I put together an {almost} no-sew pin cushion project.

This project would make great gifts for sewing friends, teachers, table decorations, or sewing club gifts.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 Canning Jar (any size works)
6” X 6” Fabric Scrap
Batting
Needle and Thread
Hot Glue Gun
Piece of cardboard or felt
Scissors

Step 1: Round out the edges of the 6 x 6 piece of fabric. It doesn’t have to be perfect, either.

Take the needle and thread and make a loose running stitch around the inside edge of the fabric.

Or, set a sewing machine on the longest stitch length and stitch around the outer edge.

Gather the thread by pulling it up.

Step 2: Stuff some batting into the fabric circle until it is nice and pouffy.

Hint: If you have any wool batting, this makes the best pin cushion stuffing because the lanolin from the wool helps your pins go into fabric better.

Put the lid into the bottom of the pouffy circle and then pull the gathering threads tighter.

Add more batting if it isn’t pouffy enough.

Step 4. Hot glue the fabric to the bottom of the lid. This helps hold it all in place. Be sure to trim the thread tails.

Cut a circle of fabric from either the cardboard or felt. I traced the inner circle of the jar ring.

Hot glue the felt or cardboard to the bottom side of the lid to cover the raw edges.

Step 5: Push the pin cushion into the jar ring.

Fill the jars with buttons, sewing notions, pins, or even candy.

Top with some really cute pins.

This will be the last time where I use the word pouffy in this post.
;

International Quilt Market 2012 ~ Houston

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Now that my October Series has wrapped, I’m ready to get back to sewing, gardening, and all the rest.

I have a couple of new tutorials in the works, another road trip to share, my fall garden, and lots of sewing.

Before I get to all of the above, I want to share the latest from the International Quilt Market in Houston. Which I attended this past weekend.

This year I decided to attend the Friday Schoolhouse Series. This is where many of the vendors do a 15-20 minute review of what they are offering this year.

There were 2300 vendors at Quilt Market, so obviously, I didn’t go to 2300 classes. But, I did attend a few and now have the inside scoop on what’s new in the world of sewing.

One thing I noticed this year that had been absent in previous years is the embracing of digital patterns.

Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom is now offering ePatterns through stores. This is a huge step in a new direction for sewing world.

Why does this matter? Well, think of a local sewing and quilting store.

Inventory decisions are made at Quilt Market. Now, these stores only have to carry a poster of Sis Boom patterns rather than shelves of patterns customers may or may not want to buy. Good for the designer ~ good for the retailer.

That is how your local store will be able to stay financially afloat and still provide you with tons of pattern choices. Everyone wins.

The other change I noticed was the embracing of garment fabrics.

Keep in mind that this is a Quilt Market, but this year many of the designers were also showing rayon’s, velveteen’s, and voile’s in their fabric collections.

This is HUGE. I think it signals the resurgence in garment sewing.

Look for garment fabrics from designers like Amy Butler, Valori Wells, and Anna Maria Horner.

At previous Markets, the only type of garment sewing was aimed at quilters and looked like this.

I don’t know about you, but I’m NEVER wearing a jacket that could double as a quilt in my guest room.

This is more my style:

These garments are unique AND gorgeous. Did you happen to notice the silk dupioni in the hoodie on the far right? That’s what I’m talking about. Cute, original, elegant, chic.

One of the best things about QM is getting to see the different designer’s booths. Like the one above from Amy Butler or Anna Maria Horner’s below.

Lots and lots of colorful booths.

David Butler {Parson’s Gray} had a little something for the guys:

And one booth wasn’t a booth at all, it was a campsite!

But, hands down, the best part about QM is getting to be with your tribe. Everyone speaks sewing. Everyone loves sewing.

I made new friends like Sarah and Caroline. Visit them and show some love. These were the nicest girls and I am happy to call them new friends.

I also got to meet and visit with Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated. Meg couldn’t be nicer. We connected through both sewing and homeschooling.

Meg is just starting to homeschool; I am a homeschooling pioneer. Hang in there Meg, it only gets better!

And, she has some awesome new patterns. Watch for this great dress pattern and her new Skinny Jeans Pattern. No zipper jeans!

And then, at the very end of the day, I ran into Dana, who is one of my readers and pattern customers.

Could it get any better?

How to Make Your Own Low-Cost Pickl-It

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:00:00 +0000

If you are a faithful reader of this blog then you are probably wondering what I am talking about. This is truly random, however, I will be here tomorrow with a tour of Quilt Market.

Here’s a quick recap. During September and October, I’ve been studying how to anaerobically ferment to store fruits and veggies. This is the way our ancestors did it ~ using salt, not vinegar. Think vats of sauerkraut to hold you through the long Russian winter.

Fermenting foods this way insures I achieve a high concentration of lactic acid which will inhibit bacterial growth. Eating lacto-fermented foods can improve your health dramatically.

I ferment in Pickl-It jars to keep out the bad bacteria (salmonella, e-coli, botulism, etc.). These jars cost $$$$, so I figured out a way to make my own.

If you want to know more about anaerobic fermentation, visit Divine Health or Lisa’s Counter Culture. They are the experts, I am a remedial student.

However, I do have something to contribute to the conversation. I have hacked the system and figured out how to make a something that will work just as well as a Pickl-It and at a fraction of the cost.

SUPPLY LIST:

1. The Jars

You need to purchase Fido brand jars because they are lead-free and have a vulcanized rubber seal. They are available at Crate and Barrel or Amazon. I found mine at TJ Maxx. I have a friend who rounded up a bunch at Marshall’s. I’ve even seen them at Home Goods.

The most important thing to remember is that they are Fido brand jars.

My stash didn’t even cost me $50 (less than the cost of 2 Pickl It’s).

2. Hitachi 5/8” Diamond Coated Drill Bit

We purchased our bit at Lowes for $26.20. I will give more details about how the bit works below. Just stay with me.

3. Airlock Grommets

I purchased these through a company called Grainger. The part number is 3MRR8 and they come 5/package for $9.26. If you have a Grainger's in your city, they will ship for free and you can pick them up. FYI ~ They don’t usually keep them in stock.

4. 3-Piece Airlocks and Stoppers

Both of these items were purchased through Austin Homebrew Supply. The part number for the 3-piece airlock is #01302 and it costs $1.29/each. The part number for the stopper is # 01305 and it costs $.40/each.

The stoppers aren't a perfect fit, but they should work. You can always get them from Pickl-It if you prefer a perfect fit.

Most brewing supply stores will carry these exact same items.

THE PROCESS:

1. Remove the Fido jar lid from the jar.

2. Remove the baling wire from the Fido lid.

3. Using a fine point Sharpie, mark the center point on the lid.

Draw a 5/8” circle around the dot. We used an inexpensive template for this. You can get these at hardware stores for under $5.

4. Set up the drill by putting in the bit. Mr. SH has a drill press and this made the task very simple.

If you don’t have a drill press, you may want to see if a friend or neighbor has one.

It should still work with a hand-held drill. You will need make some adjustments, however.

UPDATE: I have just learned that Dremel makes a couple of tools that sell for plus/minus $50. These tools will convert your Dremel into a drill press. See them here and here.

5. Whatever drill type you use, you will need a way for the bit to pass through. A drill press has this; if using a hand-held drill, be sure to allow for this.

6. Line up the circle that you drew in #3 above with the drill bit. Place lid on the drill press surface (or whatever you have) with the lid flat side down.

8. You will need to clamp the lid in place. In order to not crack the lid, place small pieces of cloth over two the to-be-clamped spots.

9. Clap the lid in place over the cloth with the top of lid flat side down.

10. Pour some water into the lid. Mr. SH did not completely fill the lid, but there was plenty of water. The drill bit will not work without the water. This helps make a clean cut.

11. I made a short video of the drilling. Notice how the water drops through at the end as the drill finishes.

Reassembling the Jars

1. Before you reassemble the jars, you will need to carefully wash the lid. The residue is ground glass and you do not want this in any of your ferments.

I soaked mine first, then ran the lids through the dishwasher. I wasn’t taking any chances.

2. Notice how polished and smooth the hole is. Put the red rubber grommet into the opening.

3. Reattach the baling wire to the Fido lid.

4. Attach the vulcanized rubber seal to the lid.

5. Attach the oval ring to the wire around the jar.

6. Reattach the lid to the jar.

7. Add the 3-piece airlock and you are ready to ferment.

If you are interested in learning more about traditional fermentation methods, I highly recommend the book Lisa’s Counter Culture and Other Well Bred Foods. The fermentation recipes are designed for the type of jars I shown above.

Tomorrow, I will catch you up with what I've been up to lately.