52 Project Challege, 2012 - Page 21

[iowaorganic]

 I stalled.  My stinking sewing machine is apparently worn out.  So I am going to upgrade on Friday.  So before that happens I need to find all the goodies that came with my machine that are- you know somewhere- in the abyss of my sewing room.  While I am busy tearing that apart I should go through and purge out some undesirable stuff for the prison.  Like jean scraps and whatnot.  Heavy on the whatnot.  I don't really understand how I have worn out my machine in 5 years- but the trade in seems like a great deal to me and DH has been telling me to get a new one since he can apparently hear mine not running good.  Blahhhhh.  I think I am also going to trade in my old Singer too while I am at it.  might as well get rid of it while i am there.  

[JPiper]

Iowaorganic~  This sounds just like me!  I had so many holiday sewing projects planned (Quick!  Easy!) and then spent 10X more time dealing with tension issues than actually sewing.  My DH encouraged me to just get a new machine already, but I apparently had some bizarre attachment issues.  I finally bit the bullet at the end of March and purchased a wonderful new Janome!  

Looking for parts and manuals also pushed me to organize more than I would have just now in the sewing room (when the disarray out outside areas is what really needs immediate attention!).  I also found an insane number of jeans scraps, collars and cuffs from repurposed shirts...Now If I could only remember why I thought I needed to save these items?!?

Good luck with your machine decisions!

[OkiMom]

Yucks, sewing machine issues! I need to get mine running and see if they still work well. I know one of the sergers I have has broken internal pieces and no longer works. The rest of the machines SHOULD work. We hope.

I still have gotten zero done.. Im still working on unpacking. Im so tired

[iowaorganic]

Originally Posted by JPiper 

Iowaorganic~  This sounds just like me!  I had so many holiday sewing projects planned (Quick!  Easy!) and then spent 10X more time dealing with tension issues than actually sewing.  My DH encouraged me to just get a new machine already, but I apparently had some bizarre attachment issues.  I finally bit the bullet at the end of March and purchased a wonderful new Janome!  

Looking for parts and manuals also pushed me to organize more than I would have just now in the sewing room (when the disarray out outside areas is what really needs immediate attention!).  I also found an insane number of jeans scraps, collars and cuffs from repurposed shirts...Now If I could only remember why I thought I needed to save these items?!?

Good luck with your machine decisions!

What one did you get?  I am getting a new 6600 (very excited too!).  I have a 6500 that I have loved and used to quilt so many quilts I can't even count and have used for hours each week- I think I have gotten my moneys worth out of it...

[JPiper]

Quote:

What one did you get?  I am getting a new 6600 (very excited too!).  I have a 6500 that I have loved and used to quilt so many quilts I can't even count and have used for hours each week- I think I have gotten my moneys worth out of it...

So cool! I did not even come close to that high end.. I got a refurbished 115215, which meets my needs and fit my budget perfectly!  Have fun with your projects.  

[ms.shell]

That's the machine I have, JPiper; I LOVE it.  But I haven't sewn anything on it in weeks!  I am getting huge, though, (I think I am at 28 weeks) and have nothing to wear...so I just got dh to help me pull the knit bin out of my fabric chest and I am about to go in there and get on iowaorganic's maternity/ refashion challenge, and make some undies, too.

I am going to take 2 points, though.  1 for my spring cleaning- our house is big and I cleaned absolutely everything in it, including the tops of doorjambs and windows and I organized every single closet, cupboard, and drawer, etc....it took more than two weeks but it feels so nice in my house now!  And the other point is for finally finishing my treasure map, which almost didn't get done this year.  

I hope to come back tonight or tomorrow with some pics of (hopefully) cute maternity dresses to claim more points.  fingers crossed!

Congrats on becoming a chickenmama, btw, smokering, and good luck with the endeavor!  Your chicks sound so cute and interesting!  I thought I was going to start on that this year, but the Storey guide I bought made it sound a little more complicated than I thought (gathering eggs 3 times a day, for one), and I decided I have enough stuff to take care of for now!  We will be moving to more land sometime this year, and then I will build a coop and chicken yard for sure.

[iowaorganic]

As far as the machine goes- I buy them from a place that deals mostly with slightly scratched ones- They are about 40% less than everywhere else :)  The one I have now had a scratch on the front in the paint- viola- $800 off  :)  And he basically services them over the phone by telling me how to adjust everything- since I live 140 miles away from his shop.  He rocks.

I bought this dress at target and it is about the only thing that is fitting me (for dress up occasions- but I wear it a couple times a week) at ~30 weeks.  I don't know why nothing else does- other than the fact that I feel huge :)  http://www.target.com/p/Liz-Lange-for-Target-Maternity-Short-Sleeve-Maxi-Dress-w-Print-Belt-Black/-/A-13943426  I really want to try to recreate it- because it is just soooo comfy- and simple really.  I think I am going to try with a black print shirt bodice and some teal blue knit for the bottom- give it a little different feel I guess.  

My tanks turned little dresses are still working well with leggings though- I just look so huge in them I wear them mostly at home.  I am to the point that I have one pair of capris that fit and have been wearing DH's old bib overalls mostly though...  So sexy with the blue and white stripe Key look :/  

I will have to look around- but I free motion quilt and really kind of need the space that the 6500/6600 gives for doing queen quilts.  Probably how I wore out the one I have.  

I did buy some fabric this past weekend- 5 yd of flannel for diaper outers, and a cut of smocked print for a sundress for DD- which I should really just serge together quick to have done- but no sewing machine to attach the ribbon ties :(  And a cut of smocked print with ruffles for a post baby skirt for me- I think I want to get a couple more- because first of all- how easy- and comfy- and really pretty cheap- enough for a skirt was like $12 of the cute extra ruffly stuff :)  Hopefully next week I will have scads of finished projects.  

I did start knitting a diaper cover for the new kid- but only have the waist band done...

[JPiper]

LOVE this thread!  You guys are so inspiring with all the projects!  There's no way I could have even bellied up to a machine in my 3rd trimesters....  

[ms.shell]

I am taking one and a half points for making maternity shorts from pattern butterick4201 from a stashed yard of khaki stretch twill and repurposing a trashed tee for the panel.  I didn't want to give up length to hem them, so serged and added a wide lace trim.  Then I will take another half point for cutting off and hemming a pair of black maternity pants into shorts.  Then I get another point for finally doing something on my to do list and making the "lighter than air peasant top" tee refashion from an XL cream colored tee I had stashed.  I am going to do this again in white tomorrow; dh is ready for bed!  My total now stands at 14.

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

[ms.shell]

I made 3 points today:

1. lighter than air peasant top from an XL white tee

2. patchwork knit "petal" skirt from 3 stashed tees and a ribbing scrap for the waist panel.  I LOVE this!  I started with the long sleeves from an old fave too small money-green dyed tee, and I thought if I made panels with the armhole curve downwards it would make an interesting hem (and it did).  So I used those sleeves as templates to cut 4 more panels from 2 different tees, a cornflower/royal blue and an indigo.  I got the color scheme, well, from stashed shirts, but chose them to match a patchworked purse I made last year but haven't carried because it didn't match my clothes.  They look awesome together and the skirt is super comfy and will grow as large as I will get.  I think I might also be able to pull it up to wear as a top,too, maybe.

3. finished an ancient UFO AND got another huge enough, comfy wearable knit top, in navy, which matches both the skirt and the shorts I made.  It was stashed as UFO because it was turning out so huge and way too big, plus I wasn't liking the shape of the pattern when i started it sometime last year or the year before, lol.  So I altered and finished it today and now it's something comfy to wear. ;)

I want to keep going, but I have got to fold laundry for a long time starting now!  17/52

[iowaorganic]

MsShell- You should take double points for all your up cycling!  And I love the lighter than air peasant top.  I am going to have to look for a tshirt big enough to try that with- or maybe I should fake it with some knit I have that I lost ambition with....  I am huge though and it would have to be really really big- I can't hardly fit in any of my DH's stuff either- and still a good 2 months :/  Anyway- I got my new machine- and tried sewing without the foot feet- that is not easy- that is really hard!  And the reverse button is in a slightly different spot- so I keep hitting the start/stop button instead- which obviously didn't do what I wanted- but regardless- it is awesome and my Dh is an absolute sweetheart for this (and I have never been treated so nice by any shop- ever!  The owner gave my friend who bought a serger and I a gas gift card and a gift card for supper)!  I did finish a sundress for DD though- so I think I should get a point.  Of course I have no idea where I left off- so whatever...

[JPiper]

Yay--back in *sewing* business now that I am up and running with new machine!

Finished:

Monogrammed water bottle holder for gir'sl birthday party gift

Plugging right along on a knit sweater for moi!

Working away on quilted pillow, but frustrated by lack of dedicated craft space...I just get it all out and then I have to pick it all up for a meal.  Darn hungry family 

In Progress

• Continue wool rag rug project
• Continue yo-yo wall hanging
• baby gift

Planning

Quilted duvet cover

Rag rug pillow

Caddy for bathroom stuff

Jewelry organizer

Glasses case

Spring tote bag

Kindle Case

Computer Case

Cool picnic blanket inspired by Gardenbelle!

Goals

Use materials from stash as much as possible

Plan ahead carefully for big projects (like chair upholstery project) requiring purchase of supplies--spent less than $70 to redo recliner chair with enough fabric left over for another project!!

Turn upstairs spare room (currently unfinished and used for storage) and turn it into a dedicated & ORGANIZED studio/work space 

Have a mix of projects going so there is always something to grab and work on during spare moments of kids practices/classes/activities

Running total: 16/52 (including some big ones!)

[mamaofprincesses]

Originally Posted by JPiper 

 frustrated by lack of dedicated craft space...I just get it all out and then I have to pick it all up for a meal.  Darn hungry family 

Word.

[Smokering]

Quote:

Word.

Yeppers. Although, if I did have my own craft room, that'd be problematic too. It'd be full of things DS couldn't touch, so I'd either have to lock myself in there, thus only sewing while he was asleep, or sew with him in there, getting up every few seconds to haul him away from the bobbins/scissors/rotary cutter/wool/sharp ruler/folded fabric. At least the kitchen/living room is open plan, so he can crawl about and play with DD while I sew... theoretically. But then, I mostly sew when he's asleep anyway. Yeah, a sewing room would be good...

[OkiMom]

Id love even a case to keep my yarn and fabric out so I could see it.. Right now we have NO open cupboards or closets.. So everything is in large plastic containers in the attic, except a couple skeins on yarn and fabric I'm suppose to be sewing on and my machines (that I refuse to have carried up there!).. I'm asking DH to drag it down this weekend so I can photograph and measure the fabric/yarn and make a spreadsheet of what I have. I did this before we moved from Japan but a lot of the fabric and some of the yarn got ruined in shipping/storage so I need to redo it.

I'm seriously going to work on curtains this week for the front room and kitchen! Id love to be able to run and rotate the laundry in the middle of the night without having to get dressed first Ok, clothing is really uncomfortable for me right now.. For some reason its making me feel claustrophobic.

[iowaorganic]

Originally Posted by OkiMom 

Id love even a case to keep my yarn and fabric out so I could see it.. Right now we have NO open cupboards or closets.. So everything is in large plastic containers in the attic, except a couple skeins on yarn and fabric I'm suppose to be sewing on and my machines (that I refuse to have carried up there!).. I'm asking DH to drag it down this weekend so I can photograph and measure the fabric/yarn and make a spreadsheet of what I have. I did this before we moved from Japan but a lot of the fabric and some of the yarn got ruined in shipping/storage so I need to redo it.

I'm seriously going to work on curtains this week for the front room and kitchen! Id love to be able to run and rotate the laundry in the middle of the night without having to get dressed first Ok, clothing is really uncomfortable for me right now.. For some reason its making me feel claustrophobic.

Wow on the organization!  That is amazing!  

For the curtains- serge around the panel and hem the top and bottom.  But that is my lazy solution.  

I want to try making some little kimono tops for the new kid- but the one I want to use as a pattern is buried in my store room...  I need to get DH to dig out that tub for me. If you were me and using a knit- what would you bind the edges with?  Bias tape or serge a contrasting edge- maybe a rolled hem (not that I know how to do that)?  I tried to find a roll of precut knit rib at JoAnns but they had no idea what I was talking about and told me it didn't exist...  I am planning on closing it with snaps if that makes any difference.  

 And I am out of pins.  I need to sew some new kid diapers just to get back my pins.  OK- I will only come back here when I have pins again.  Pins from my projects being done- not from HobLob.
 

[OkiMom]

Im a bit OCD on lists/organizational things like that.. I can't stand when I have to empty out every container to find something I think I have just to find out that its not nearly enough.. Or that it was used for something without me knowing (DH sometimes uses my fabric for work and doesn't tell me).

The curtains in the bedrooms will be pretty easy.. The living room is going to be hardest to do. I purchased this fabric back in Japan for the living room. Its a bit on the heavy side (its upolstry fabric, it blocks son wonderfully) and needs to be lined.. Hopefully it works and isn't to heavy.

[iowaorganic]

I have pins again!  I sewed in the elastic for 20 new kids diapers last night.  I also sewed the quick dry soakers into 7 more.  This kid should have about the most amazing diapers in the world!  Anyway- now I actually have some pins so I can work on my sundress if I have time today.  Fortunately my DH has been working tons lately and unfortunately that means I have to at least try to make fence today for my cows.  That should work great.  yeah right.

eta- wow is my new machine amazing!  The presser foot lifts up double high which is amazing for sewing thick diapers- and it has a built in walking foot that I am using to sew in the blind elastic- I don't know how I lived without that thing this long!  I am really not sure if I will take off the walking foot- it is sooo slick!

[OkiMom]

Iowa- what pattern/materials do you use for your diapers? I need to sew some diapers or buy some for this baby, my old ones are falling apart.

[iowaorganic]

I use the diaperkit.com pattern.  I do 4 layers of either flannel or cotton jersey or velour or whatever I have for the body and then I do a quick dry soaker (sewn in the back only) of 4 layers of flannel or 2 of cotton/bamboo fleece- that actually is double length and folds in the back where it is sewn in.  They work awesome!  My babies are big- so I am skipping the newborn size and going with the second smallest size.  I made these with the outer layer a cute flannel and the inners are flannel sheets I have been finding at thrift stores.  I found that the small boughten receiving blankets will make 2 soaker pads and I found a bunch at the thrift store for $.25 each!  I am also going to do snaps this time- so that adds to the cost- but really they are pretty darn cheap.  When I get them done I will take a picture- cause they are cute!  Oh- I also do blind elastic and the serge the edges- I think you said you have a serger- it is way better than turning and topstitching....