Blind Hem.

How many of you shy away from making a blind hem by machine?

Blind Hem ~ PFAFF


I've been altering some of my RTW dress pants and I wanted to keep the original look of the hem -  a blind hem.


I've used this technique before ~ a long time ago ~  and for some reason was never successful ~  so I would hand sew the blind hem.

Today I decided to try the machine technique again.

.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this technique by machine is  actually very easy to do, gets done quickly and it looks great.


A successful sewing day!


Ann

My Image Magazine

Coming Soon...."My Image Magazine"/Pattern Review!

My Image Website

I hope you are all having fun Sewing!

Ann



Silhouette Sweater Pattern # 195

I made this Silhouette Sweater, pattern # 195,  with a knit I bought from my local  Fabricville.

It is a very light knit but it did sew up nicely.

Silhouette Sweater pattern # 195

Changes I made to pattern:

**  added 2" length to front & back

** added 1" length to the sleeve.

The next sweater I make I will also need to do  a sway back adjustment. 

I wanted to be able to wear this test garment so I made pleats to take in the fullness in the back and I actually like the look of this detail..

Silhouette Sweater pattern # 195, 3 pleats added to take in fullness!

Overall I like how this sweater fits.

It is a quick and simple garment to make.

With minor adjustments to the pattern it will be a great TNT.

Ann

Had a really fun day :)

Sewing & Stitchery Expo

Who has been to the Sewing & Stitchery Expo

 in Puyallup?

What is it like?

Ann



Merry Christmas!

 

 

Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas!

 

 

Ann

Creative Sensation!

No Big deal......

Just playing with my new Pfaff  Creative Sensation..

First projects up are personalized towels for my Landyn and Ella....

 fun ~ fun ~ fun ~

Doubly Fun !!

Silhouette Yoga Pants # 3400 and Gucci Top # 241.

I made two sets of this outfit..... so it "was" Doubly Fun to make :))

The first top was really a muslin. I used a stretch fabric, that I love.

 It has texture and is like a bathing suit knit.

I made a Size 3 and it was too big so I made the next size down and it was perfect and I just love the fit. 

The changes I made were to lower the neckline and I didn't do the detail around the neckline.

I prefer the smaller size however I can wear the one that is on Annabelle.

The Yoga pants are made with a Ponte Knit I bought from Fabricville.

They are both size 6.

The change I made was to the waist. I lowered it by 2-1/4" and oh yes I also made the band slightly wider...finished width of the band is  3 1/4".

 I like the feel and the look of this combination better.

(More like lulu lemon style)

The fabric I used for the pants is "ok", but I would love to find some fabric that is really "great" and a really good quality!

Does anyone know where I can find some?

You know like the great fabric lulu lemon uses ;)

I can wish!

Over all I love these two patterns.

The pant style really does look like lulu lemon pants.

I will certainly make them again and my next pants I will  have fun changing  up the fabric on the waist bands.

Peggy does cover all this in her DVD ~ Yoga Pants - Worn Beyond the Exercise Class.

Ann

Sew many things to do...sew little time....

...however I did find some time to squeeze in a little sewing over the last few weeks...
but I  haven't had the time to blog  about it.

I made a couple of
Silhouette's yoga pants # 3400 and the Gucci top.
I made my top sleeveless for a work out top and it is a "perfect" work out top!
I didn't put the detail around the neckline, that will be in the next top.

I love both these patterns.
They were very easy to make and went together beautifully.
I made a very minor change to the pants ~ lowered the waist ( by 2-1/4") ~ and that is just because I like my waist to sit a little lower than the pattern style.
(I will post a picture as soon as I take one.)

...and  Tonight I did read a few blogs  and  I see there are so many more of you that are making up gorgeous garments and having fun in your
 sewing rooms.

 

I'm now going to pick another project!

I want ....I need ...to sew   :)

Have a great week end.

Ann

My Fabulous Finds!

Silhouette Patterns

Angela Wolf - Patterns coming soon!

Jennifer Stern

Gorgeous Fabrics - Denim

PFAFF- Creative Sensation

Sandra Betzina & Ron Collins


........just "some" of  my favorite places to go!

Did you notice my counter ~  top left margin  ~ "9" days left :)))))


More to follow........

Pumpkin Patch!

I made these cute Pumpkins for my family.

I normally don't make craft seasonal things but after making

just "one" of these pumpkins, I was hooked.
They are so cute and it was really fun to make them
and

it was a very quick project.

It felt good starting and finishing a project in one session.

 I just had to make more and share them!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving week end!

Fun Pumpkins to Make!

It sure looks pretty!

This one is mine but I bought more fabic today and I will be making four more

to give away to family :))

Hope you are all having a wonderful week end!

Ann

Sites I`ve enjoyed this week

Silhouette Patterns - has new patterns (Fall 2011 Pattern Pre-sale ends today :)

-in this  Fall Fashion Webcast Peggy also shows these new patterns made up.
I love the sweater!

 

Fashion Fabrics

- I thought this Sweater knit  would be great for the Silhouette Sweater pattern 311

Black/Red Boucle Sweater Knit 1186

Seamingly.com - has a facelift (I just noticed it this week)

- you can join and create an account

I`ve re-visited the Otis College -  

- a reminder- my favorite video Stitching Techniques for the Tailored Jacket

Embroidery Library

- I love these Little Miss Monkey designs

and A Peek-a-Boo Zoo  designs.
These are the designs I will use for the quilts I want to make
 for my grand children.
They will make cute and fun blocks!

DIY Fluffies
- I found this adorable stuffed elephant pattern on etsy..

Have a great week-end.


 

Frogs & Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

....that's what little boys are made of.

I made my little grandson

this quilt.

 It is an adorable flannel print ~ I bought from Sewing World.

It was such a fun and very easy way to make a quilt.

I had no small pieces to cut or endless sewing.

click to see details

All I did was ~

* sew the borders to the panel

* a local lady  (Penny- Beaverdam Quiltery Hand Guided Machine Quilting)
machine quilted the design of the buzzing bees.

She did an awesome job.

click to enlarge

* I attached the binding to the front of the quilt by machine and then folded it to the back and hand stitched it in place.

* I embroidered his name on the back of the quilt. 

Click to enlarge

He loved it! 

I haven't made many quilts ~  but I  enjoyed making this one so much that I have

 "four" more quilts being planned out :)

(Not panel quilts for these)

* one for my husband (African theme)

* one for Ella (monkey theme)

* one for Serena

* one for Duncan

* one for  Megan....

I see how this works, that's five...You can easily get carried away  :)

A new Serger for "Me"

Today I picked up a new toy!
My husbands idea ~  of course I  approved ;))

~ A Pfaff coverlock 4.0 ~

coverlock™ 4.0 - Sew like a pro!

"5 threads, LCD Graphic Touch Screen and a large variety of stitches.
Are you looking for the overlock machine that has everything?

The PFAFF® coverlock™ 4.0 overlock machine is for you! Its ultra-modern design fulfills all promises. The most modern convenience and a huge repertoire of stitches mean even more perfection and reativity. The PFAFF® coverlock™ 4.0 overlock machine offers all the features of the preceding models plus even more sophisticated extras"

(photo's and description taken from the Pfaff site)

Extension table included


I love everything about this machine, but what I really like is this feauture:

"Easy to change from overlock stitches to coverstitches - No needle plate/presser foot change needed at conversion for different stitches"

My husband is truly the greatest!

I wonder "Why" did 'Dial Textile'.....

.... get rid of  all their Fashion Fabrics?????????

I have been looking forward to shopping at Dial Textile -  for months.

The last time I was at their store was a few years ago ~  and they had the most amazing Fashion fabrics!
They had so many choices of lovely and just gorgeous  fabrics...It was a fabric dream store....and  I did buy some fabric at that time ;)

So when I was in Quebec City this past weekend for a very short stay ~ I had very limited time but I went out of my way to make time 
to stop in ~ and then ~ I was disappointed.

They are mostly a Home Dec fabric store now!?!

There was some fashion fabrics in their lower level..lower level!!.... they had  nother this time that really stood out - nothing like they had before!

I left empty handed!!!   I bought nothing!!!  :(

If you are looking for Home Dec fabrics ~  you are in luck - they have a wide variety of beautiful home dec fabrics! and this would certainly be "the" place to go.

Next up ~ Silhouette Patterns # 241 & 3400

Gucci`s Knotted Top - # 241

Picture from Sihouette site

&

Three Piece Yoga Pants - # 3400

Picture from Silhouette site

~ I've  been very anxious to try some of my Silhouette patterns ~

so these two patterns have been bumped up the list and are now on my cutting table.

I also wanted to pass on that the service at Sihouette Patterns is excellent.

Peggy is extremely pleasant to deal with.

I ordered the French curve along with patterns and they went above and beyond to package

the French Curve so it would & could not get broken.

Their effort is well noted and appreciated  :)))


Silhouette Patterns (Peggy) also has great videos and you can view her webcasts from her website or here!

Have a great Day!

Work + Baby = No Sewing

There is not much sewing happening  around here lately. 

There is just way too much baby watching going on....which is truly fine.

Landyn is adorable and such a good baby. ..whether he is sleeping...

or awake.... someone is always checking him out :)

It's very hard not to...he is pretty amazing!

** I have been buying  patterns ~  Silhouette patterns ~ and  I'm pretty anxious to make some of these up **

Baby has arrived!

Congratulations to Serena and Kyle!

"Landyn" was born on Friday ~ 21 Jan 2011 ~ 7:45 pm.

He weighed 9 lbs 12 oz!

Both Mommy and baby are home today and everyone is doing well.
 

He is adorable!

Landyn sound asleep ~ on his way home today!

 
We are all so very happy and proud  : )

Get a Grip...

........ of your rulers.

I wanted to post about a notion I recently bought and  now I believe it  is a must  have if you cut fabric with a Rotary cutter and ruler technique. (Perfect for Quilters)

It is called The Gypsy Gripper.

I frequently use my Rotary cutter and a ruler to straighten fabric edges, cut strips and most recently to make blankies and "little" baby & doll accessories.

If you have used this technique you know that even though you are very very careful ~ every  now and then the ruler moves/slides and the rotary cutter  slips...that blade is some sharp....I've never cut myself  .....but

 I'm always afraid I  might ~  Not a good thing to happen.

So when I saw this Gypsy Gripper at  Sewing World there was no hesitation on my part, I definitely had to buy it.

This notion easily attaches to a ruler.

You press the suction cups down on to the ruler, flip the levers to lock it in place ~ voila ~ done!

You hold the handle, so now your  hand that is holding the ruler is away from the Rotary cutter/blade and you simply apply a little pressure on the Gripper and safely cut away.

 Very Safe.

It's not heavy so it feels very comfortable to move around.

If you want to use another ruler just flip the levers to release the suction cups and move the Gypsy Gripper to another ruler.

Very simple.

This product probably has been out forever but I just found it :))) and as you can tell I'm pretty impressed with it.
I do think it's pretty awesome.


I hope you are all having a great week!