Sewing with fleece questions

I'd suggest a KwikSew pattern then -- take a look at

and the toddler section. Look at 3150 for instance. I'll have good instructions for fleece.

It's mainly sort of a "shut up and sew" fabric... it is very easy to work with, and very forgiving of small mistakes. Don't fret this stuff... it looks difficult, but it's not.

Beth, send me your unmunged email address... I've got an old working with polarfleece thing I wrote you might find useful -- my address is in the headers, or use my first name at fern followed by com.

Kay

Dear Beth, Sewing for toddlers is an excellent book. Tons of patterns and idea. I've used it many times. You can get it used at Amazon

about $12.00 plus 3$3.99 postage. I always look on Amazon first for used books.You get about 25 patterns with the book. You just need to have paper too copy the patterns onto. Everyone has there own choice as to what to use. I usually buy regular pattern tracing paper. (I'm looking for a place to get exam table paper without buying 12 rolls.)I think you'll find it a very easy book to follow.Juno

Computers are EASY. Sewing machines- well, i'm learning.

I've been looking at sewing for toddlers and thinking it would be a good investment. I would like to sew simple clothes to applique (thats what I like to do best, but I generally to it on premade clothes at this time).

You can never have too many books.

I loved doing applique for my DGKs, too! Tee shirts, sweat shirts, overalls, etc. are so easy to make from the patterns in Sewing for Toddlers, and it is *bushels* easier to applique something onto the front piece of a garment before it's assembled, as opposed to wrestling with small size, ready-made things. For instance, although you can't tell it from this snapshot taken with the point-and-shoot I had at the time, this parrot(?) made of ultrasuede scraps had individual feathers. I cut up an adult sweatshirt from the factory outlet store and appliqued the bird before stitching up the top for DGD. Even with a free arm SM, trying to put that kind of detail on a T3 bought sweatshirt would have driven me bonkers.

think you'll be very glad if you get that book. Doreen in Alabama

Beverly

Thank you. I also found a snapshot of DGD in the outfit:

I love the idea of buying an oversize> T or sweat shirt as the base for making kids clothing. > Neat!

A good way to get matching ribbing. I was lucky to be able to do that all the time, when the garment industry was active here and outlet stores sold tee shirt seconds for $1.25 and sweatshirt seconds for $1.50. It's probably not economically feasible at normal retail prices, though, for everyday outfits.

Doreen in Alabama

And I'd been told that it gets downright warm when the sun stays up all night.

Nowadays, I wear wet linen, from the skin out. (Except underpants; I haven't found any linen jersey, and Dharma's hemp jersey is too thick.)

But only the sleeves of my jersey get wet on purpose. (I undressed into the washing machine when I got home Monday. It really hadn't felt all that hot.)

A woven-linen jersey can't fit close against the neck and still be pulled over the head, but I dislike polyester tape near sweaty skin, so I used hook-and-eye tape.

Joy Beeson

Doreen that it soooo sweet. I love the way it came out. Juno

It may be worth checking the thrift stores, then. I've found all sorts of things that I have cut off parts of if I didn't need the whole garment. Amazingly, some things show up with the tags still on them, bought new, put away, then donated.

Flee markets are also a good place to look. There is a flee market at the drive in movie in the next town for us on Cape Cod. They frequently sell sweatshirts for 3/$10.00 and Tee's @ 5/$10.00.

Juno

I get t's and swetchirts at the flea market, also. They are a good buy at

3/ $10. Barbara in SC

Check into "embroidery blanks" especially shoppersrule.com.

have great sales, and you can "make an offer". I've done that twice now, and had relatively low-ball offers accepted. Also, TSWLTH has blanks, and with a 40% off coupon might be reasonably priced.NAYY,

Beverly

Love the shirt and such a great idea of using adult shirts to make children's. The parrot looks so real. Emily

The Walgreen's near by our home regularly has sweatshirts on sale; # for $10 and sometimes, even 2 for $5. I have never bought any, but they look good. Houston is not really a place to wear them often. Emily

Also, the ShoppersRule Club regularly has extremely good buys on t-shirts and sweatshirts. I think I got a notice about hoodies today. The club is free, but they do send you email of new offerings, which all have short-term availability - or until sold out of the shipment they got. There's also a "garage sale."

Thank you, Juno! Ultrasuede is great for appliques...no raw edges to turn under, easy to attach with just a straight stitch around the edges, and holds up very well in repeated trips through the washer and dryer. One of our fabric stores used to have a bin of ultrasuede scraps...cuttings of all shapes and sizes from somewhere, and it was easy to collect a good assortment of colors.

Doreen in Alabama

Thanks! No, different DGD. As of now, both are healthy. :)

Would you believe we don't have a TSWLTH? (I feel so left out!) But I'll check out sources for "blanks", and thank you for the tip.

Doreen in Alabama

Thanks, Emily! The parrot is from a children's book, "My First Wild Animals," by Bettina Paterson (still available through eBay and other online sources, BTW). The designs are torn-paper collage and just perfect for appliques. Brown bear, orangutan, camel, alligator, polar bear, penguins, giraffe, rhino, zebra, leopard, gorilla, buffalo, whale, koalas, elephant, walrus, hippo, parrot, tiger, pandas, kangaroo, seal, and llama.

Doreen in Alabama

More great info. Thank you, Joanne.

Doreen in Alabama