Christine Sews

At our house Spring cleaning is actually seasonal cleaning.  We rotate all the out of season clothing into Rubbermaid containers and then get them out as the weather changes.  This Fall, instead of just the usual Oh, I’m so glad I kept this, and Why did I keep this and toss to the thrift store pile, I have a new thought.  Oh, this could be a pajama.  And this can be cropped.  And this one can be a little girls dress.

I’m really pleased with what I’ve learned from the Wardrobe Refashion project.  Everything that has shrunk or become worn around the edges now seems to have possibilities beyond the thrift store pile.

So far, I’ve cropped a pair of my pants that had shrunk up into high-waters to a more fashionable length.  And I’ve converted a shirt of mine into a long sleeve pajama for DD.  I did basically the same thing to make the pajama as I did to make the girls pajama with The Tick.  Except I reattached three-quarter sleeves.  I just winged it drawing the armscye and sleeve cap.

I cut out a dress for DD from one of DH’s dress shirts, sort of according Dana’s shirt dress pattern at Made.  I say sort of, because I just looked at her pattern and then went for it.  I’ll update how it turns out.

I’m also seeing new possibilities for my work clothes that are just laying around.  A lot of them have become frayed at the edges and can be made into fancy clothes for DD for the holiday season.  I’m usually disgusted with the offerings for little girls clothes.  Why must they be tacky or over-priced.  I think I see a solution.

A blind hem is a basic sewing machine stitch that attempts to emulate the fine work of hand sewing.  It is more elegant than a straight stitch used in place of a hem.  And it is faster than sewing by hand. This is how you do it.

How to Sew a Blind Hem:

1. Choose a thread color as close as possible to your garment fabric color.
2. Press your garment hem into place.  Turn up once, press.  Then fold in and press.
3. Set sewing machine settings to blind hem.
4. Position the fabric, folded so that the majority of the blind hem stitch is sewn on the facing side, and only a tiny bit of fabric is stitched that can show through to the front.
5. Stitch slowly, making sure that the straight stitches and bottom of the zig-zag are on the turned up part of the hem.
6. From the right side of the garment, the stitch should barely show as vertical lines.  Press flat.

Sewing Tips and Notes:

• When sewing the blind hem, fabric fold will be pointing to the right.  Main body of the fabric will be pointing to the left.  Most of the stitching will end up inside the fold once it is pressed open.
• Don’t skip pressing the hem before stitching.  It’s very difficult to keep a straight line while folding fabric multiple times that is not pressed in place.
• This is the classic hem for men’s slacks.  But I never use it for my husband’s pants because he kicks the stitching right out. For menswear or children’s clothing, a cut-on hem , or a straight stitch may be preferable.
• Some machines have a blind hem foot.  I have one, but don’t like the way it lines up the fabric.  Try the technique on a scrap piece of fabric with and without the special presser foot.

See also, How to Scale a Child’s Apron and Gimp Trim How To .

I spent today cutting out and sewing drapes.  The cutting out took ages.  I laid everything out on the floor and crawled around, using a builders tape measure and a laser level to keep everything straight.

I will update with pics .  It was a crazy amount of fabric.

I bought pleather for straps at Joann’s Sunday, having to return because I discovered I had run out of buckram .  And I did not have any plastic canvas.  So that is what you have to look forward to this week:  pleather and plastic canvas. Sounds strange, no?

I would have purchased the pre-made straps if I had seen any that weren’t extremely tacky.  But I didn’t.  So now I can at least attempt to make some that are not tacky. There’s no telling if I’ll be able to pull that off.  But that’s a joy of sewing.  If I hate it; I can take the seam ripper to it and try again.

I did not purchase this interesting green. I got one yard of black, and half of a golden tan color.

I also oogled the Viking Husqvarna sewing machines.   My very basic machine is really taking a beating.  So I should really pass it along to someone who will be more kindly to it.  And get myself a machine with needle down, and a teflon foot.  And will leap tall buildings with a single bound.

Measurements - there are oh, so many ways to screw them up.  And just in case you were feeling encouraged for a moment, read below.

[City Pants]

Sewing Patterns, Projects, Skills, Tutorials – For People Who Sew | BurdaStyle.com

Dear BurdaStyle User,Before you use your pattern and cut anything, please measure!

These size charts for women and men are meant to give you an idea how Burda sizes are in relation to US sizes. Please be aware that sizes differ in the garment industry and often they are flattering! So, before you use your pattern and cut anything, please MEASURE!

Right. I am notoriously bad at measuring myself. Generally speaking, everything I make comes out too big. DH says it is a lack of self confidence, or my delusion that I am tall. (At 5′4, I am the tallest woman on my dad’s side.)

I’m going to a wedding in October.  In another city.  And I must have cute pants.  I must suffer the indignity of fitting myself for pants.  Persevere with pants fitting.