Sewing and Mending

I'm trying to stir my stumps to actually start something. I need to start work on a summer night dress and on some sleeveless scooped tank top type things.

These are at the following stages:

1) 'still in my mind' for nightdress styling, 2) have excavated the fabric for one project, and 3) need to find a number of fabrics for the other project

Having cleaned my sewing workspace, I have had to get stuck in with DH and we have cleared the marble workshop also. Something exciting is about to happen but for the moment my lips are sealed.

Now everything is clean I am making messes again. In a bid to get ahead of myself I have taken out the Spring / Summer dresses left from last year, pressed them and had a look at those that have been with me too long. I have recycled 4 of them into new but smaller sized dresses. Now I can see which sizes I need to top up and what the colour spectrum is. This spring is looking pink in my world.

I spent yesterday cutting out dresses but couldn't finish as I hadn't any denim ready to cut. 8 metres of denim off the roll and into the washing machine but of course not a hint of sunshine today so it's sitting damply outside in the fog! Grrr.

I want to make a new type of bib as I found some cheap baby forks and spoons and want to make a bib with pockets for cutlery. I am toying with the idea of using some of my stash of jeans for these bibs I might get somewhere before the weekend with those. I am off to sew up some reversible pinafore dresses now.

Now who do I see about that extra day in the week?

I'm trying to stir my stumps to actually start something. I need to start work on a summer night dress and on some sleeveless scooped tank top type things.

These are at the following stages:

1) 'still in my mind' for nightdress styling, 2) have excavated the fabric for one project, and 3) need to find a number of fabrics for the other project

Right after Christmas I went to Wal Mart for their clearance and got 2 pretty fleece throws, one red the other green that I am going to make some warm jackets for my dog and his dog girlfriend. We have some very cold, windy, wet days here in Florida too! Even when it is only in the low 60's & 50's a few of the dogs wear flannel pj's when they are walking in the evening. These little short haired dogs get cold too! There is one hairless dog here in the resort and he can't stay out in the sun very long and usually wears a light cotton t-shirt on the warm days. I plan to get started on all this today. Since my dog is a winnie dog I will need to make his jacket longer on back. He already has a jacket, 2 sweaters, a raincoat, and 3 warm blankets. I'll also make a couple of baby blankets for the local Hearts & Hands Food Bank. Good luck with you sewing! Barbara in FL

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: snipped-for-privacy@netfront.net ---

Should be sewing, but haven't. DH's birthday is this week, so will get back to the fabric and shears next week, it looks like. Need to make both of us some more pants and shirts, and at least one jacket for me, and a raincoat for him...

Kay

"Bobbie Sews More" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:m9gfsc$1epm$ snipped-for-privacy@adenine.netfront.net...

Oh, everybody is sewing! My new class will start on 28. Jan, so until then, I'm in some kind of hiatus.

I made a top with taped seams that I had intended to be something of a working garment, but it turned out rather posh, due to the pink linen I used for the facings and tapes. I had meant it to be a reversible garment but now... ;-) The neckline is a bit too low, and I'm still not sure how to mend that fault. I guess it's also for cold weather, with something underneath. On the picture here:

you can see me wearing it at our sewing class' Christmas dinner. Before Christmas, or rather during the autumn up to Christmas, I had made a pair of pants for me, from some poly suiting, light grey. The fit to a treat, and I'll try and upload some pics for you. Also, from the same fabric, I made a top, sort of like a waistcoat or what ever. You'll see on the pics. and Since DD was running out of fitting long-sleeved t-shirts, I bought a considerable amount of lycra-cotton blend fabric in various pleasing designs, adapted a pattern to DD's special physiognomy (wide shoulders, sturdy, rather short arms), and started - uh, I think it was 6, of which I only finished one. The other ones are waiting for a neckline design, and my access to the coverlock machine of Monika, the Teacher. Sleeves will be hand-finished, since I can let them out more easily that way.

Then I bought black fabric for two pairs of jogging pants (homewear for me) which I plan to cut after the pants pattern. I guess that can easily be modified from 'with zipper' to 'without'.

Also, I want to make new curtains and drapes for our bedroom. Fabric is here, only I don't get round to it. Again, I'll upload pics of the fabric. IKEA, but very nice.

And I'm sure (or not) I mentioned that we were about to rearrange things in our house so that I get a permanent workplace in the bedroom. I had planned to use the table I have up here in the attic but although it look feasible on paper, I can't bring myself to execute it in reality; it would clog up the entire bedroom since it is too deep. However, my DH gave his OK for a simple worktop and feet from IKEA, which will amount to less than 100.- EUR. I only hope the legs will withstand the vibrations of the SM. You know that (or perhaps not): you go at a certain pace with your machine, not too fast, so you have things in control, and all of a sudden the entire table starts swinging in time with the machine. Individual frequency, you know... I'm trying to get DH to take me to 'The Swede' to get things this week.

We also got a new carpet for our living room, quite colourful, and from - yes, you know.

;-) When I find the time and the light is right (and the shelves behind the sofa sorted and cleaned, I'll take a picture of that, too. I feel like changing a lot of things. My GP found out that I'm slightly diabetic, and now I'm in treatment for that, and I have a very good feeling about the specialist. Nobody blaming me for being overweight but acknowledging that I might have an eating disorder. I have been feeling so depressed lately, and I fear it must be put down to my BP meds, so I skip the betablocker from the cocktail and wait what happens. Ah well, DD is quite a handfull these days, defiant and angry very often, but we'll try to cope with that, too. I'm sure that I'll do much better once the effects of the betablocker has worn off.

That's me, and what I' up to these days. And I have more plans and fabric than time and energy to sew, just as usual. ;-)

U.

Hi U, About your SM vibrating ---- I put 2 mouse pads under my SM, side by side, and they take care of most of the movement and noise! Maybe it will work for you, too. I use them under the SM and over lock machine. I've looked at ready to wear low necklines and notice that a lot use a lace insert, or knit, for modesty reasons, so you might think of doing something like that. Just hem the top of the insert and place it under the low neck and stitch along the current sewing line to hold it in place. I have a couple tops I need to do that to also. Glad to hear your pink top turned out nice! We have had illness so I haven't had much time to sew. Barbara in Central Florida

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: snipped-for-privacy@netfront.net ---

I forgot to upload the pic of the drape fabric:

And I did some embroidery over the summer, but haven't finished it yet: and It's going to be a needle book for me. I embroidered one for DD, too, which isn't ready either, since I planned to mount them together. I had spent so much time looking at my needle book thing that I got a bit tired of it, especially, since I made the design as I went, if you know what I mean. I had so much embroidery thread and wanted to make something 'really creative' Now that I looked at it again, I might pick it up again tonight. ;-) U.

"Bobbie Sews More" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:m9oc3l$1hld$ snipped-for-privacy@adenine.netfront.net...

Ah, it's nothing that can be cured by mouse pads, 'm afraid. It's not so much a rattle but more like the movements a bridge would make if a company of soldiers would march over it in lock-step. Just as I said - individual frequency. :-(

Sorry for you illnesses; yes, I read... As for the top: I have a feeling that lace wouldn't be the right thing with the whole garment. I had thought about chiffon, but now that I sorted through my pics, I might use the pink jersey I had in mind for the very light, provocative nightgown. Only, I'd like to place whatever it will be between the outer fabric and the facing. You see - nothing that can be done in a jiffy. We'll see...

U.

You have been a busy lady. The top you had on at the dinner is beautiful,I hope you get a lot of use from it.Love the drape fabric. Bright and cheerful. My sewing has been at a standstill, lots of starts not much finished. The winter had been busy and not always the best. I'm on the second bout of bronchitis in 6 weeks. DH said I'm trying to do to many things at once. Between Thanksgiving ad the past weekend I've given 3 parties, been away for 7 days over Christmas, and the bronchitis. I'm trying to get more rest but find it difficult to stop sometimes. We just took our Christmas tree down today. i started reorganizing my sewing room this week. I bought the storage unit I wanted last Friday and I'm working on it a little at a time. I have my projects in order and hope to start sewing next week. I still have infinity scarves to finish, 5 are cut and I need to cut 4 more.They go fast though. My youngest grandson asked me to make him a new fleece scarf. I'll order the fabric this weekend and also make a couple of throw pillows for his room out of the same fleece. He asked for the LA clippers design. Anything for my grands. I'm looking forward to making some tunic tops that will get me through most of the year. Some will have long sleeves and some short. I also have a couple of skirts planned. Juno

I just pin a handkerchief around my neck. Sometimes with a brooch, sometimes with a pin that doesn't show much, always through the garment underneath so that it doesn't shift around.

To help stop that, try to put the machine over the legs as much as possible, rather than in the middle of the table. That way the tabletop doesn't act like a drum and amplify the problem. Sandbags or other weights can also help dampen the effect, as can an anti- vibration pad.

Kay

>

The neckline is a bit too low, and I'm still not sure how to

Make a thingo that I use for necks that are too low. To mak eit, find a small piece of fabric. Cut out a shape that looks like it would be aobut the size of half an entree plate or half the size of a bread and butter plate.

The rounded side (which isn't seen because it's inside the top and below the neckline) is just finished with a rolled hem or just an overlocker run around the curve. The straight top side which is seen because it's above the too low neckline is finished with lace or some pin tucks or whatever takes your fancy. at the extreme edges where the curve side meets the straight side. put a piece of elastic and press studs. The elastic goes round your bra strap on each side and is held in place by the press studs.

Low neck problem solved without any excess fabric and you can colour co-ordinate the thingo to the item you are wearing.

Clever solution , I shall note that one .thank you.

Glad you got the problem solved! Barbara in FL

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: snipped-for-privacy@netfront.net ---