KCWC Day 3-4

So we had a heat power outage and haven't had electricity since early Wednesday morning. Therefore, I got no sewing accomplished Wednesday through Thursday. I'm going to try to do two hours of sewing tonight and tomorrow night to make up for it, we'll see how well that works out. I'm hoping to finish the Go to Dress for B and make some matching leggings for her tonight. Maybe I'll finish the visor beanie for A to, but I haven't been to Joann Fabrics to pick up silver fabric paint yet so that probably won't happen. We'll see.

KCWC Day 2

Today was Day 2 of Kids Clothes Week Challenge at Elsie Marley. I finished the black guitars using freezer paper stencils on the visor beanie I started yesterday. I decided I want to outline them using silver fabric paint since they are on blue fleece and blend in a little, so I need to make another trip to Joann Fabrics tomorrow. I also need to shorten the height of the hat by about an inch, since it will be for A instead of D.

I started working on a Go To Dress today. She gave fair warning in the instructions to be careful on the assembling of the sleeve, but of course I messed it up. I got the second sleeve right, but just spent forever un-stitching the first sleeve. Goal for tomorrow: actually finish something properly, and try to make B some yellow leggings to match the Go To Dress.

The first sleeve. Yes, I did somehow make a layer of the sleeve become another ruffle.

The second sleeve, actually done right!

KCWC Day 1

So today was Kids Clothes Week Challenge Day 1 over at Elsie Marley. I wanted to sew early this morning but I fought with my machine for about an hour instead trying to figure out why it was jamming. The problems: first I threaded the machine wrong (wow I am ashamed to say that), I'm going to blame it on lack of sleep rather than too many years away from sewing, and second I was using the wrong kind of stitch for stretchy fabric. Genius, I know.

Anyways, I finally got my hour of sewing in tonight, with B sitting practically on top of me trying to figure out what I was doing. I took a stab at the Creative Maven's Child's Visor Beanie tutorial using some blue fleece fabric I found in the closet. First mistake: I sewed two whole triangles together, like I was making a mitten instead of a hat. After I un-stitched that, I accidentally basted the visor too high on the hat, I had the points touching the bottom, then tried to sew the two inch strip on, needless to say that didn't work so well. I finally got it fixed and applied the first layer of fabric paint. I'm putting a guitar on each side of the hat. It was meant for D but I might have to give it to A instead since I think I somehow lost some of the diameter and I have a feeling it is going to be too small. I'll get a picture tomorrow once both sides of the freezer paper stenciling have dried. After my disaster of a sewing adventure today I'm still deciding what to try tomorrow. I don't know how I used to sew figure skating dresses without any problems when I couldn't even make a simple hat today.

Trip to Joann Fabrics

I took B with me to Joann Fabrics. Probably a terrible idea, but since I'm on crutches it does make it easier for her to push the cart (even if she did manage to hit just about every wall). Our fabric selection came out very biased though, apparently she only wants me sewing for her.

Girl Prints Overload?

I guess it works though since I had no boys clothing ideas, hence why I didn't spend too much time worrying about not getting any boy fabrics. My sewing list of things to make:

-Go to Dress x 2
-Leggings (attempting to make my own pattern)
-Fleece button up jacket

I'm also thinking about possibly sewing some winter hats and maybe some long sleeve shirts with freezer paper stenciling, I've never done it and it looks fun!

I Love Freecycle and Sewing Challenges/Celebrations!

I first heard of freecycle a little over a year ago. It's this fantastic website that's specific to your area where people post ads for items they are looking to give away and for items they are looking for. Everything is free! It's fantastic. So, yesterday I got a sewing machine from freecycle and I am so excited, because that means I don't need to spend a bunch of money I really don't have.

I'm still trying to decide what I want to make next week for the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. I definitely want to make a Go To Dress, and I'm thinking possibly either a fleece jacket or some pajamas as well. I guess it will depend on what I find for fabric, but I'm very excited about starting to sew again! I also decided to participate in MADE's Celebrate Yellow and the Sew 5 Challenge at Creative Maven. New goals for this week: go through old clothes to find clothing to refurbish and go fabric shopping for yellow and kids materials. Oh, and buy some thread.

Trying to Get Back in the Groove of Sewing...

I first learned to sew when I was in elementary school. For several years I would sew clothes for my dolls, decorative pillows, shams, and other odd accessories. Then I started sewing figure skating dresses for myself when I was 14. After a four year hiatus from sewing altogether, I am trying to get back into the groove of it. My goal for this week: by a new sewing machine. I'm planning on participating in the Kids Clothes Week Challenge. Not sure what I want to make yet, leaning towards either a fall dress, pajamas, or fleece jackets or sweatshirts. We'll see what I decide when I go fabric hunting.