Close but no cigar

Well, here's the apron project I've been fooling with. It's close to fitting correctly and close to looking like the picture on the pattern envelope...but it still needs work.


The biggest problem area right now is the princess seam down the front of the apron. It kind of lost the shapeliness, probably because I cut the pattern down so much. I also need to re-draft the scallops in the front detail (I just cut them out for this tester apron).


I'm going to show the pattern pieces to my friend who is an expert dressmaker to get some help, because I think it has potential to be a really cute apron! So until then, I am ready to take stock of my sewing "to-make" list to see what I want to concentrate on next! Which might take awhile, 'cause it's really a long list...

Monday.

I'm having a hard time focusing my thoughts this morning; I'm still recovering from a really busy weekend and I have a lot on my mind today. This gloomy gray weather sure doesn't help my mood either.


My husband ended up having to work Saturday, so I juggled getting the house ready for hosting my craft group with taking care of baby Kate. I also worked a bit on that apron project, and it turns out I not only own a pattern grading book but have used it successfully in the past - I just didn't remember! There goes my memory. Anyway, after grading the pattern down two sizes to find that it was still waaaay too big and cut kinda funky, I just did the best I could. I'm still finishing up the binding and pockets, and will post pictures when it's finished.


On Sunday the apocolyptic warnings of yet another snow storm kept most of my craft group from coming to our meeting, but the few of us that did show up crafted on. I finished 6 pillowcases, two for my Nana and the rest for the charity project. It was fun to visit and sew, but I was completely exhausted after saying goodbye and cleaning things up.

So, today my mother is in the hospital for some non-life threatening surgery, and although she is a strong and healthy woman, I am nervous for her because she is nervous. Can't wait until she is back home and we can visit. Fingers crossed!

And something else has been on my mind lately, too. My age...or should I say, my position in life...ah, or really, my mid-life crisis. Sigh...

Time to give a little

I've been working with Bernina on the We All Sew project since it went live at the end of last year. This new website is dedicated to connecting visitors to the growing sewing community on the web, posting tons of links to follow for projects, tutorials, and even others that sew on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It's all about sharing knowledge, which is exactly why I wanted to be involved!


My favorite part of the website is the Sew to Serve page, an ever-growing list of organizations and charities that need help from sewers like us. I love the idea of volunteering my sewing time and talents in this way, and have been looking at all the different places on the list that could use my help.

I finally decided to start with sewing up some pillowcases as part of the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge over at American Patchwork & Quilting. Go check out the details, there are even free pillowcase pattern downloads to help you get started!

Following along with my resolution to re-use and recycle as much as possible this year, I thrifted this bright and cheery yellow flowered print to use for my first batch of pillowcases. The white will be the pillowcase band and the pink or green will be a little bit of ruffled trim (I'm using the Pillowcase with Ruffle Trim pattern from the APQ site).


My crafting group is meeting this weekend and I plan to start stitching up the pillowcases then. The first two are going to my grandmother who is in an Altzhiemer's Care Unit, and I'm going to use the APQ site's suggestions for finding someplace local to donate the rest. There is a great link on the site for finding a shop near you taking donations, too!

I am also challenging everyone in my craft group to make one pillowcase for charity at our next meeting, as this is a great project that ANYONE can sew up in no time!

So how 'bout you? Have you found a way to give back through your sewing time and talent and do you have a favorite sewing charity? Do tell!

Thrifting SCORE!

Okay! Okay! Look what I found today! Yeeehaw!


What? Whaddaya mean what is it? Oh...well friends, this is the EXACT electric cord/foot control pedal that I needed to get my Singer "Rocketeer" 500A Slant-o-matic running!


I found this machine 7 years ago at a junk shop in a beat-up old cabinet. There was no cord, case, or manual with the machine, just a few bobbins and odd parts. I never saw a machine like it before and knew that I had to have it! Although there are online sellers offering spare parts, I didn't want to pay the extraordinary high prices. So I waited. And waited. And my patience paid off - did you see how much I paid for the cord? One dollar and fifty cents. SWEET!

The Slant-O-Matics 500A's were manufactured in the late 50's and early 60's and were the top of the line, considered the "Cadillac" of sewing machines back in the day. Built with all the features of a modern machine (zig-zag and decorative stitches with the ability to add other stitches with extra pattern discs) but still manufactured before companies employed planned obsolescence. This machine features a direct drive gear (no belts to break or replace) and ALL METAL PARTS both inside and out. No wonder it's such a hot item with collectors, it has great functionality and was built to last.

I just cleaned up the cord, which is in perfect condition, and am getting ready to start sewing with the Rocketeer.

It's a well-loved machine, and folks can't help but rave about it. Here's just a few posts I found and some great resources for owners:
Singer Slant-o-matic 500A The Rocketeer from Brian Sews
Singer 500 Slant-o-matic from Laurie A.E. O'Meara
Singer Rocketeer from Lucelu of Sew Retro
500A Slant-O-Matic from Peacock Chic
Slant-O-Matics free schematics and repair tips from TNT Repair
Singer 500A basic information on threading, bobbin winding, and stitch patterns

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

I finished up a sewing project Saturday afternoon with the sunshine streaming in through the sewing room windows. It was so nice to see the sun!

But holy cow - it showed all the dust and dirt in the room AND all over my machines! Yuck! I spent all afternoon on Sunday cleaning off (and out) the machines and giving the whole room a good dusting.

A clean sewing machine is a happy sewing machine. No, really! The best resource for cleaning, oiling, and adjusting tension on your machine is your trusty sewing machine manual. And, I have some tips to share with you, too, along with some wonderful information I found on the web.
Take a look at some of these:

Sewing Machine Maintenance an informative how-to by Susan Wright and Jewell M. Limacher
Tension Settings from SewUsa.com
Machine Cleaning Tips from John Gass
Preventive Maintenance from Threads Magazine

And for those of you that have antique machines:
The Care of Machines from ISMACS
Cleaning Antique Machines from treadleon.net

There's so much good information on cleaning, oiling, and adjusting your tension in the above links (and in your manual), but I've got some great tips on cleaning the outside of your machine!

First, NEVER use cleaners that contain abrasives (cleansers), ammonia (Windex and 409), or petrolium products to clean the outside of your machine. These products may harm the plastic or painted finish and can damage or totally remove any decals.

Make sure you know what materials the case of your sewing machine is made from before attempting to clean them, and always test a cleaner first on a small area. Always use a soft, non abrasive cloth when cleaning, like 100% cotton diapers or soft cotton cloth for polishing cars.

Plastics - use an ammonia free cleaner like Purple Sparkle, or an abrasive free cleaner made for plastics or plexiglas. For polishing plastics, I've used some of the Meguiar's products with GREAT results (but keep this stuff away from stickers or decals on plastic!).

Painted Metal - Purple Sparkle works great or try some mild detergent mixed with water. For polishing, I've used a quick detailing spray from Meguiar's that worked excellent! (Can you tell I also have an antique car?)

Antique Finish/Japanned Metal - Jappanning is the process that was used to coat antique machines with that beautuful and shiny black enamel finish. Be VERY CAREFUL if you are cleaning an antique machine with this kind of finish! Read the recommendations in the ISMACS article, The Care of Machines .

Chromed Metal - use a product specific to cleaning and polishing chrome. I've used Never-Dull on rusty chrome with great results, and Mother's is equally good. My husband swears by a two-step chrome polish, but I can't remember the name and he's out cold on the couch. I'll post a comment with the name when I find it!

As you can tell, I love not only a cleaned and oiled machine but a SHINY machine! Ohhh, shiny shiny! Okay, so what great tips do you have for keeping your sewing machine spit shined and ready to sew?

Time for a New Apron!

It's time for a NEW apron! I love aprons, and have collected vintage styles for many years. I used to make and wear aprons all the time, but stopped when I was pregnant and could no longer wrap them around my growing belly. I realized a few weeks ago that I really missed wearing them.

I picked out an apron from my collection to get inspired. This vintage apron is handmade from feedsack fabric, probably from about 1960. I love this style, the little darts in front make it flattering to wear, almost like a little dress. This particular model is a little small on me, plus yellow isn't really my color - so I'll copy this apron to create a new one.


Check out the back of this apron, it is so cute! I love the yoke that goes across the back shoulders.


And look at the finishing detail. The maker used what looks like a 1/2" single-fold bias tape sewn to the back and then folded all the way to the front to create a border. Cool!


Here is my first draft of the apron. I found this stripey-dotty fabric in my stash and used some small complimentary colored scraps for the bias trim and the pockets.


The trim looks great and I loved using this technique to finish the edges.

Here's a close up of the bias trimming. I made the bias strip wider so that it would really show up, and boy does it ever!

I wore this apron around the house all day yesterday, and it's a success! I want to make one more like this before moving on to another apron pattern. But, before I sew another project for myself, I've got some Pack 'n Play sheets to whip up, plus a small work-related project to finish.

On the homefront, I am finding a little more time to fit sewing into my days. I have also come to terms with sewing a little at a time on a project and not expecting to finish anything too quickly. And now I'm leaving you all to don my new apron and do some homemaking! Happy sewing!

Superbowl Sunday Sewing

I had lots of time to sew Sunday afternoon before the game! So I finally got to make some of these green re-usable Swiffer Covers. I found this project posted at CraftGossip.com from Amber at Berlin's Whimsy a few weeks ago, and have been waiting for some free sewing time to whip some of them up.

I followed Amber's tutorial for my first sweeper cover, she uses two layers of toweling to make the cover reversible and a button closure to keep it on the sweeper. It looked great - this is an easy tutorial and the pattern was perfect! Oh, but then I got some ideas of my own!


I decided to use one layer of toweling backed with a cotton print instead of two layers. And since I was using bright prints, I sewed a little bit to show on the top of the cover. I also rounded off the edges a bit (I used a salad plate and traced the curve on the end of the pattern). I used hook and loop tape to secure the cover, and for the final touch added the buttons on last for decoration.

Now I have 5 new brightly colored sweeper covers!


Oh, and I also put the finishing touches on a super-cute apron gift for my girlfriend who just moved into a new home. This is Butterick 6567, one of my favorite patterns because they are all reproductions of vintage styles. This apron looks like a pretty little reversible scalloped skirt.

My freind absolutely loved it!

I have my next project picked out, it is something to wear, and I am wildly enthusiastic about it! Which says a lot, because the last two things I sewed to wear looked, well, simply awful. And that was about a year ago. Now I just have to find time during my busy week to start on my new project...I can't wait!

Bright Baby Bibs Article!

An advanced copy of the spring Through The Needle issue #33 arrived in my mailbox today and includes my Bright Baby Bibs project! I almost forgot about the article since I sent it in months ago, so it was a VERY pleasant suprise (at a time when I really needed a little good news).

I made a whole batch of these bibs when my little one was born, and I'm still using them over a year later. I got so tired of dull pastel bibs that didn't really absorb well - so I paired bright toweling with cotton prints to make absorbent AND cute bibs! The pattern is included right in the article with all the instructions.

You can find Through The Needle magazine at most Bernina stores, and maybe at some Hancock fabrics stores, too.


I'm right in the middle of a week filled with work, playdates, and family activities, so no sewing time for me until the weekend. I've got a gift to sew up and I'm planning on sewing some green re-usable swiffer-covers, too. Can't wait to get sewing!