reverse applique - take 2

I do think my model is especially handsome!

So I learned a thing or two making the "D" onesie.

First, straight lines are a whole lot easier than curvy ones.

So I decided to try something with only straight lines. That was after I tried a car and it turned out looking more like a weapon. Oh dear.

I was super excited when I had to go back over a line and they lined up exactly!

I think even the outline looks pretty fun.

But once the knit has been cut away, it's even cuter.

I wonder if it will still fit him by the fourth of July?

Kelly

another sewing sneak peak

sewing update - reverse applique

I hope you didn't think that I gave up on sewing.

I have not ended up sewing every day and I probably need to give Jacquie's machine back but I have enjoyed experimenting with several different things and I feel like I can sew now and hopefully I'll keep on learning and trying.

If I could only get my hands on a Bernina machine without paying a small fortune . . .

So for my first fabric on fabric project (vs. sewing on paper) I followed this tutorial for reverse applique.

I cleaned out David's onesie bin and weeded out the stained ones and ones that had seen better days and figured that I could practice on those with minimal risk. Jacquie was also nice enough to send me home with some fabric scraps.

I paired fabrics with onesies and got busy.

The part where you cut through the knit but not through the fabric underneath was a tiny bit unnerving . . .

Whew! I did it!

While it's by no means the most perfect "D" ever, I was plenty pleased with it for a first attempt!

And here's my little guy modeling his new duds made by his mama! Such fun! I dreamed of sewing for my kids one day and now I have.

Have you done anything creative or crafty lately or followed a dream?

Kelly

paper vs. fabric

You guys are truly the greatest, greatest, greatest!

Thank you for all of the great comments, encouragement and advice on sewing yesterday.

Keep 'em coming!

Your comments, e-mailing with my grandma and a phone call with my mom have me set to try to adjust the tension. I had e-mailed Erica back after her comment asking her how to adjust the tension but after talking it through with my mom on the phone I do believe I at least have a starting point having identified that other knob on the front of the machine. (I was so proud of myself for figuring out the first knob could take me from straight stitch to zig zag stitch!)

I did not actually sew anything on Wednesday. Just blogged about sewing.

This little bag was one of my projects on Tuesday though.

We will be taking dinner to some friends soon who recently had the sweetest new baby.

When they brought dinner to us when David was born there were cute baby napkins and baby blue tulle wrapped utensils in addition to the amazing quiche. I decided that a cute bag to bring the food in would be a fun project for my sewing experiments. Plus I know my friend will not be judgmental of my less than expert attempts.

I used a straight stitch on the lavender card stock to sew it onto the purple origami paper. As you can see I have a section where I have holes and no thread . . . um? . . . and a piece where I got carried away and didn't think ahead about the width I wanted my border to be. Oh well.

I think the top zigzag sewing the origami paper onto the red card stock (to cover up the store logo on the paper grocery sack) turned out cute but the bottom one (which also turned out blurry in the photo unfortunately) leaves some to be desired.

I then just glued the red card stock to the grocery sack because at least I did think ahead on that one and realized that it would sew the grocery bag shut.

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You may be wondering why I am sewing on paper rather than on fabric.

You see, paper and I are friends. We have been friends for a long time. I am used to paper. I know how it works. And it doesn't slip slide around and you don't have to pin it.

I must admit I dread pinning. Do you pin when you sew? I'm sure it is the best thing to do but it just seems so time consuming and I'd rather just try to hold the fabrics together to be honest but I'm sure that would probably cause a big giant mess-up.

So tell me, do you pin?

Kelly

p.s. is sewing on paper going to dull my friend's machine's needle all up? Can I buy a new needle for her? How does that work?

sewing

Thank you for your sweet and encouraging comments and e-mails about sewing.

Once I had the heart garland under my belt I was game to try more.

Jacquie suggested I borrow her sewing machine for a week or so and see what I could do. Isn't that so nice? I was afraid I might mortally damage it or something but she said she didn't see what I could do to it to hurt it really so I said okay.

I remember reading a suggestion that if you want to sew you should set your sewing machine up where you can leave it out and then sew everyday.

The photo above is my little temporary sewing station where I can sew even when my little guy is sleeping. I made the heart garlands on Sunday, didn't manage to sew anything on Monday being busy with some Valentine's celebrating and all (more on that later, looks like that post that I hinted at yesterday with the rice chex in the hearts isn't going to happen quite yet), sewed several things yesterday and need to figure out something to do today.

Here is the first thing I made yesterday.

I know it is far from perfect but I am just happily experimenting right now. I loved Ashley Campbell's post about crafting and sewing more like McGyver than Martha Stewart. I feel like that is me exactly. I like things to look nice but at the same time I don't have a huge amount of patience for figuring out "the right way" to do something. I just like to strike out and see what comes out of my effort.

All that said, I really would like to figure out this sewing thing a bit better. I don't envision myself taking a class right now or sitting down to read a book but perhaps a painless way for me to learn a thing or two would be to get some advice from you.

See all of those knots and things above? Is that machine error or my error? What can I do to help that not happen?

So, I'd like to know, do you sew?

Kelly