Category: sewing

sewing

Thrift Store Experiments

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After reading a number of posts (none of which I can find right now) about taking adult sized clothes acquired at a thrift store and transforming them into kid-size clothes, I thought I’d give it a try. This is a big step for me since I have never been a thrift-store shopper. In my experience, thrift stores tend to be all jumbled, making the process of finding something kind of like a scavenger hunt, only without the list of Things To Find. I guess some people carry that around in their head; I don’t. Maybe it’s because finding off-the-rack things …

Caitlyn, sewing

And one more thing…

 

Once a week, Caitlyn goes to circus class. For the last several months, she’s worn knit pants and a t-shirt – easy to move in, safe around the equipment, and not too cold before warm ups. But it’s actually warming up and the pants are too hot. This has resulted in some rather unfortunate – to my eye – mid-class wardrobe adjustments. I do try to let Caitlyn make most of her own fashion choices, but this was looking ridiculous, not to mention uncomfortable. So, I took what was left from the knit I used for the t-shirt from KCWC …

sewing

Things I Think I Might Make Someday

 

A notebook, inspired by this but probably with a sewn binding instead of staples. Adventures in book making? A light weight bag that folds down super tiny, so I can keep it in my bag for accidental shopping events Experimental fabric dying, with the backs of old t-shirts, then perhaps making t-shirts for Caitlyn from the results Fabric gift bags. Maybe I can avoid ever buying wrapping paper again? A skirt for Caitlyn based on this Marbled paper. Just discovered today you can do this with water-soluble paints and shaving cream. Wristlet variation. Caitlyn’s going to be old enough to …

sewing

KCWC – Day Seven

 

I sewed something in a knit! And it’s not all wobbly! (Sorry about the lighting – the sun is totally AWOL here today.) It’s a no-frills version of Pattern’s by Figgy‘s Tee for Two (thanks, Erin!). A nice way to be introduced to the whole sewing-with-knits concept. Now I can let Caitlyn pick out all those iron-on sparkles and embellishments she finds at the fabric and craft stores and we can make her t-shirts. I’m even thinking about letting her experiment with tie-dye projects over the summer. She can dye the backs of old white t-shirts (fronts are going to …

sewing

KCWC – Days Five & Six

 

Oh, my. Even on the hanger, this looks big. No off-roading here, just excessive enlarging. It’s McCall’s 4817 and this is my fourth time around with it. Caitlyn’s been wearing a version of this dress since the spring of 2009, (I think). She’s wearing a yellow one in her school photo from her second year in preschool, she has a blue one, and a purple one (her favorite). The pattern pieces are cut at size 5 and I’ve dropped hems and repositioned shoulder straps on all the other versions. She’s two years bigger now, at least. But I don’t really …

sewing

KCWC – Days Three & Four

 

It’s not that I mind the laying out and cutting part of sewing, it’s just that sometimes it takes so darn long. Measure twice, cut once, so the saying goes; I’m more measure four or five times, obsess a bunch, then cut, and pray I’ve not forgotten to adjust consistently across all pieces. I tend to always add length (necessary in a family of tall people) and sometimes add a little width for Caitlyn (so that maybe the clothes I make for her this year will still fit next year) when cutting pattern pieces. Even though I don’t think I’ve …