Well, I haven't done really any sewing lately. My life as a full time employed, wife and mother of 2 has taken up my sewing time. Along with the never ending pile of laundry next to my sewing machine. I did manage today between loads of laundry to get some mending done. I fixed a pocket on a pair of shorts of mine and re-attached some lace on one of my night gowns. So I guess I did sew a little. I also put two hand sewing mending projects in my little sewing basket to get to when I have time.
A friend of mine gave me a little dress for Sissy. It is really cute. I noticed that one of the buttons was missing so I dove in my buttons and found a suitable replacement. While ironing the dress one of the other buttons fell off. So now I have two to sew on. So I folded it up and stuck it in my basket. Something is gratifying to me when I am able to fix a garment. It is like bringing new life into it. Even if it is just replacing a button. I know people that would just throw it away. I just don't understand that.
I did at one time think of starting a little business of refurbishing and selling clothing. But there is not a big demand in that and I doubt I would make any money at it either. But I think it would be fun.
I did tell myself that I was not going to buy anymore fabric until I got my stash down. I have so much that I don't think that I will ever get to sewing it all. I told myself that I would just recycle old clothing and use what I already had. So we will see how that goes. LOL
I caught myself on EBay tonight looking at all the pretty fabric and wishing that JoAnn's had not closed in Monroe. That was a sad day for me. I loved that store. We still have Hancock's and Hobby Lobby and of course Wal-Mart. But there was something about JoAnn's. I loved that place. I used to go there in between classes and just look at the pattern books and drool over some of the fabric. On occasion I would buy some and then run home and hide it from my husband. He used to get mad at me when I went there because I spent too much money and had so much fabric already. Men just don't understand do they?
Well, I think I have almost wore out the pages in my Ottobre books. I have not had the courage to trace and cut a pattern yet. Maybe soon.
I thought about it this weekend but we are going out of town to play in a softball tournament. So no sewing for me. LOL
Anyway, I guess that is enough rambling for tonight. I need to get in the bed because I have to work in the morning. YUK!! I so badly want to be a SAHM. Then I think I would be able to sew a little more.

Until next time..
Sarah

Simplicity 5552

OK I promised the other day when I was blogging about all my little PIGS that I would post the finished shirt. Well I forgot. So here it is.....








This is when I was trying to put the neck facing on.
It did not look like I was going to do very good.






Oh yeah!! They make it look so easy!!!






Well I guess I did OK. I was surprised that it worked out.






The inside of the shirt with the facing all flattened and pinned down.
I was so proud that I didnt screw it up. LOL






The finished shirt. Not too bad. I remember now when I first started making this shirt I was making a wearable muslin. I used some $1.00 a yard fabric that I bought at Wal-Mart and told myself if it turns out OK then I can at least wear it and all that work will not go wasted. So now I know why I was making this shirt.

Again remember when I took these pics the date was wrong on the camera.
;0)



Back of the shirt.




Side of the shirt. For some reason I did not cut out the armhole facings for this shirt so I had to use bias tape. Go figure. I dont know why I did that.
And of course I could not find anymore of the fabric.




Up close of the front. I like the gathering detail.
That is why I chose this pattern.
I lack in the booby area and need all the help I can get.
LOL
:o)







Another upclose view. I am just proud of this.






Well that is it for the shirt. This is also the first time that I have shown my dressform too. Her name is Matilda. Just thought I would give her a proper introduction.
I am so jealous of her.
She can loose weight with just a crank of a dial and all my clothes
look better on her than they do on me.




Another thing was after finishing this shirt I got to smelling something. I was hoping my house was not on fire. Everything got dimmer in the house and when I looked out the window I couldn't see anything except smoke. The neighbor was burning all the wheat fields that surround my house! In front, sides and back!! I was a little house in the middle of a blaze. Of course my house was not damaged. The farmer is very good at what he does. Thank God. But I thought I would share pics of what I seen. Actually the smoke had died down a little by the time I got the camera and enough nerve to open the front door.





Back door


Back door






Side view from my sewing room




Front

Keeping in mind...this is a bright sunny day.




Well that is it for now... Until next time,
Sarah

OTTOBRE

OMG!!!
I received my first 3 issues of Ottobre today!
I am so excited. I must have already looked at these books a hundred times.
You could hear the gears turning in my head as I was looking at them.
There are so many things that I want to make!!


These are the issues that I received:

If you have never heard of this magazine, it is from Finland and has the most adorable clothes in it. They have 4 issues a year for kids and 2 a year for women. It comes with all the patterns to make everything in the book.
I love it!!!
The only downfall is everything is in Centimeters and I am used to inches.
So I have to convert everything.
But I think I have enough sense to do that....
I think. ;op


Anyway, I hope it will not be long until I will be posting something on here that I made from the magazine. Now to go and figure out all these little lines so I can trace to patterns.
Gotta go read the books again!!



Until next time,
Sarah

PIGS

Please note:
I took these pics today. I just did not realize that my camera needed the date reset until after I loaded them on the PC. So these pics are not 6 years old. LOL

Well today I decided today that I was going to try to get rid of some of the
PIGS in my sewing room.
PIGS stand for Projects In Grocery Sacks in case you did not know. :o)



Here are some examples. Even though some may not be in sacks.






A child's criss cross top with matching panties. The top lacks buttons and buttonholes and the panties are in the sack cut out and still attached to the patten pieces.
This has been this way for about 2 years.










A child dress. I think it has been in this state since 2004.







I think there is 2 scrub tops in this basket.
LOL
One I started about 2004 and the other in 2006.








This little basket contains some quilt blocks and material for the quilt that I was going to make my husband. I think I started this venture about 2003.





Here is another one of my little PIGS.
It was about 2004-2005 when I done this.
It is cut out but still attached to the pattern paper.










I got a little farther on this one. I took it out of the bag and hung it up for the pics. The bottom is hemmed but the arm holes and neck facings need to be completed.
I think when I started this top I dreaded the neck facings and decided I would do it later. Well here it is 2008. About 4 years later. I think it is about time I do something with it. Don't you?



Up close of the front.





This is the pattern from which the shirt is from. I was doing view A.
It is this drawing on the bottom left.


Well I did finish the top today. I was worried I have to say. But I will put the finished top in the next post. This one is already a little graphic heavy.

I told myself today that I needed to get some of these things out of the way that are in my sewing room collecting dust and taking up room. Another thing is I need to sew more for myself. Sissy and Trey have so many clothes now that they don't need anymore at the moment. Sissy's closet is busting at the seams. There is no way she will ever be able to wear some of the things in there. A friend of my husband brought him a sack full of clothes for Sissy yesterday. As I was going through them I was happy that we got all this stuff for free and most of them were winter items too. So Sissy will not need a coat for this winter because I think there where about three or four in that bag. Most of the things that were sent she will be able to wear this winter so that is great! Some maybe not this coming up winter but maybe the next. Anyway...Mommy doesn't need to make her anything anytime soon.
So back to me.
I need things.
I want things.
I don't like sewing for me though.
I am still trying to learn about alterations and tailoring. Those are my weaknesses. I also like stretch knit material but I do not have a serger. I really need one of those to make the type of things that I want and I think would flatter my body.
Oh what to do? What to do?

I need. I want. I cant have.
:o(
But I am going to give it my best. Once I get some of these PIGS out of the way. I think I am going to look at making me a dress.
I do not have a dress.
I really want and need one too.
So we will see.

Until next time
Sarah


PS. I don't know if anyone is reading this blog but if you are..... Thanks!

Recycled Dress for Sissy!

BEFORE:
A old dress I bought at the Thrift Shop for $1.00.
Had a lot of buttons and good material on it.





AFTER:
A new outfit for Sissy Mae!!!!




A little flower corsage.
Of course with a button. ;0)







Up close of the Flower.
This will fray more when washed and dried.



Sissy modeling her dress and panties.
She had been crying because I put her down to take a picture.
She is so rotten.






Got the remote!! All is well!!




I made this dress from McCalls 5606






This is pattern is cute but I thought the directions were a little bit odd. I don't know. I think if I make this again I will assemble it differently and I didn't really like the panty pattern. Nothing really wrong with it. I just have sewed others I like better.



Anyway...overall I was pleased with it all and all. Not bad for $1.00!!!

Sissy's new outfits.

OK!

I made this outfit for my Sissy Mae after seeing similar ones on the internet. I told myself - That is so easy and I can do that! So I did. This is a great way to use up some scraps too! This was the first set. I call it
The Cowgirl Outfit.

Whole Outfit.

I made the pants from the pattern New Look 6796.


They were supposed to be capris but I guess I didnt shorten them enough. OH WELL....she will grow.

Upclose of the Front. I love the vintage button.
I love buttons. ;o)

My Sissy Mae.
I tried to get a good shot of her modeling it but she would not stay still. LOL
Of course she is always putting something in her mouth too.
The nose sucker is clean. I promise.

Ties behind the neck.
I later regretted this design choice. I wish I would have went with two shoulder ties. It tends to want to ride down especially when she is wollering all over the floor. Ms. Sissy Mae has not grasp the idea of lady like behavior yet at 1 yr. old.

I included this pic because I think it is just too damn cute. Especially with the drool.
LOL
:p

The second set I made.
(The Flowery Set)
I made this one with some shorts instead of pants.
I think I like this one better too. The material is so light and just hangs better or something.

Up close of the front of the shorts. I put a matching button on the front to help Daddy know which is the front and the back.

Up close of the stitching of the bottom of the shorts.
I could not get that to focus for nothing.
:o(



Well, that is it for this post. More to come soon.


Until next time -
Sarah

My First Blog

OK so here we go. I decided to get on board and start an independent blog about sewing. I have been blogging on myspace (kind of) about sewing but I wanted something exclusively to do with sewing. This also helps me keep up with what I have done. I have so many things that I have made that I did not take pictures of or tell about that I now regret. I have been going through some pictures from years ago and I want to show off what I have done and so forth.
I have recently sent in my subscription to Ottobre magazine. OMG I can not wait till it gets here! OMG I can not believe I just spent that much on a damn magazine! Especially one that no one I know knows anything about. My husband just shook his head. Oh well. Usually I don't have the money to spend on something like that but I took part of the stimulus check we got from the gov. and spent it on that. I should not have to buy another pattern for the kids again. There are so many cute things in that magazine! The only thing is I do not have a serger. So I am kind of nervous about that. Most of the things I want to make should be done on a serger. Well, I told my husband to tell everyone for my Birthday to go in together and get me one. LOL There is a Singer at Wally World for $200.00 that I think would do the job.
I have been afraid of one over the years and talked myself out of one but since I am getting the magazine and want to get more serious in my sewing efforts, I need to get one. That is all it is to it. And learn how to use it!!!
I have taught myself a lot over the years about sewing. Thank god for the Internet!! I really learn a lot off of here.
Well I guess I need to stop for now. I will start working on putting somethings up that I have made so my blog will have pics. I have also been working on my "sewing space". Actually it is the utility room. Since I have had 2 kids- I have lost my sewing room! I really need a space with all the goodies I have. Well that is enough rambling for now. I know my grammar is not correct but I don't care. You get the point and let me remind you that you are reading a country gal's blog. LOL
Until next time,
Sarah