First ever baby dress

 Look at Baby Cuteness in the dress I sewed for her!

Including the most perfect vintage buttons found in my stash from the People Give Me Stuff bounty!  Check out the personalized stitched initial inside.

Baby pants!

Watched "The Baby Show" on Martha Stewart's television show and Heather Ross demonstrated how to sew baby bloomers from her Weekend Sewing book which I just happened to own. Woo Hoo!



Will totally make more but next time, I'll sew French seams instead of the prescribed pinked seams. The elastic thread in the bobbin trick was super easy. And of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone so I added a tattoo inspired bird on the back. It's almost like baby's very first tramp stamp!

Trippin' on ribbon

Being a ribbon whore/hoarder, I have plenty of grosgrain stash to make the (say it in a high-pitched tone) fabulous cosmetic bags!

Sew some ribbons together then add a zipper. With right sides together, sew one narrow side and long side. Make sure the zipper is open. Fold other narrow side and sew.


(Wish like heck I could give credit for the concept but I cannot remember the ribbon craft book title.)

Craft supply suggestion: buy in bulk from eBay.

Book cover

Kristie the commenter asked where I've been.
Down a rabbit hole, I think.
Last year, I had an easy job where I blogged from work and worked on volunteer group obligations to pass the day. Now that I have a "real" job, volunteer work is done in the evenings thus, cutting into my craft and blogging time.
Very little crafting lately and I gotta tell ya, it's been wearing me down. However COMMA I am working on a new and improved craft room. More soon. I promise!
Here's a cute book cover sewed for a volunteer group friend. One handle made longer; the other, shorter. The longer handle pushed through the shorter handle holds the book closed. If you make one, note the ends of the longer handle could be placed closer to center. Fray Check applied to webbing. (It's not yet dry in the photo.)

Upholstery fabric, cotton webbing handles.

Super fast + super easy = just like your ma.

Y'know you have a craft problem

when you spy a Welsh Corgi dog image on 2 HUGE dog food bags in a stranger's cart while at the grocery store and wonder if there is any possible scenario where you can ask them for their empty bags because although you don't own dogs, you would love to make a tote with their cast off bags . . . .and the scenario did not include
1. them calling the manager and accusing you off harassment
2. making tote bags for them in exchange
3. being thought of as the crazy lady hoarder

You'll be proud relieved. I didn't approach them.

Have way too much stuff to make as it is,
I am,
Skitzo Leezra

Flower power

Following so many sewing and craft blogs on Google Reader, it's easy to forget on whose blog I spied a neat pattern. Anywho, someone mentioned a vintage McCall's pattern with millinery fabric flowers (that means hats, I tell ya). . . only to learn that the pattern was re-issued as M6047.

This week I found myself in one of the last existing WalMart stores with a fabric department and remembered the pattern. The number in my head was transposed but quickly found in the McCall's pattern book. Two remaining patterns in the drawer, yay. As I took two steps away from the pattern cabinet, I flipped the pattern over to see the price. "Dang!", I must've said aloud because the fabric clerk looked up and asked if I needed help.

"I didn't realize the pattern was $17.95," and wondering if I really needed it.

"Let me scan it for you. Our pattern prices are usual lower than marked. Yes, it is $6.50."

Score!

Fashion Friday

First of all, I didn't make this jacket.

(oops, I didn't straighten it on the dress form, it really does hang straight.)

I notice more detail about finishing and construction of clothing now that I've sewn a few things.
Check out the finer points of the summer weight 3/4 sleeve jacket.

Lapel detail

Inside lapel

Welt pocket

REAL working buttonholes!

Back vent

Lining

This jacket kinda intimidates me because if I couldn't sew a jacket at least as well as this, why bother?

From where did I purchase it?
You're gonna be surprised.

Kmart!

You heard me.
Looking for quality linen tea towels once in their Martha Stewart line and nope, no more.

On the way out, the jacket caught my eye.

Paid for it and was pleasantly surprised with a 20% discount = $24!

(Not on sale now, but here's the link.)

Whatchathink?

Vintage sewing patterns

spotted (but not purchased) on eBay.

I don't have two legged children but

aren't these dresses darlin'?

Practice run of cotton blouse

New Look 6803

My mom says ignorance sometimes serves as a good thing because you don't know enough to be intimidated. You don't know what you don't know. Apparel sewing is still new to me. Sure, I can make a drawstring skirt but things that fit? Not in my skill set.

Because I read so many sewing blogs, the idea of a "practice muslin" finally sunk into my stubborn brain. If it is a good idea for sewing veterans, maybe it's a good idea for a newbie.
Quilting fabric* pulled from my mom's stash. Fabric pre-washed. Fabric ironed. Fabric cut from pattern view "A" (sleeveless blue dress) at blouse length.

Easy tucks at neckline but once I began to construct the blouse, the desire to use those neat finishing techniques from Michelle's Cheap and Picky blog interrupted my progress. I sent her a late night e-mail and she was kind enough to share her expertise on her blog.

Here are my attempts to play with the big girls:

• missed my opportunity to do complete French seams at shoulder so folded under the seam allowances and topstitched. This is when I realized I needed Michelle's instructions.




• Shoulder seam interior - tacked bias tape edge to inside to stabilize interfacing piece. (I skipped the iron-on interfacing step because I didn't want it to be too stiff. Shame on me. It was too wimpy so had to hand tack at shoulders, front and back.




• For front neckline, made small tack stitches to back of pleats to hide threads.



• Same thing for back of neck - hand tacked down to center back seam allowance.






• Fashioned my own split seams.



• Serged raw edges.

Why did it take so long to post? Well, at some point, I realized the bust was entirely too large so tailored to friend's size. There is no way I am gonna "waste" all my time on a throw away practice muslin; someone is gonna wear the quilting cotton blouse, dammit all. Believe it or not, it looks cute on my friend. Gave it to her but forgot to take photos. Visited the shirt this week and took the snaps. Not sure I'll revisit the pattern again but I learned alot.
Thanks for your help, Michelle!

*The Selfish Seamstress says nothing screams "homemade" like clothing made of quilting cotton and I must admit the wrinkled shirt on hanger photo isn't fantastic. Visualize it under a cute brown jacket, styled with leather cord necklace. It kinda has that Ralph Lauren or Hilfiger vibe.

Sewing helper

Sometimes, while sewing, I need a little assistance but not so much that I need a real live person there talking and distracting and breathing . . . so here's my little trick for a third hand holding fabric.

Rocks can be your friend.

First thing I made when I started sewing

About 10 years ago, my mom gave me a new sewing machine for Christmas after I put it on my "wish list". At the time, I was only interested in easy home decor projects and had no idea that I would have so much fun sewing.

With one spool of thread and a bag of upholstery samples, I played around and made some plastic bag dispensers for myself and everyone I knew. That is the way I show love (or seek approval?), I make stuff.
The dispenser idea was a bastardized version of a Martha Stewart project I remembered from her magazine's "Good Things" column.

Kept two for myself, one for plastic bags, the other for cleaning rags.

Wright rant, part 2

Hey, looka, I bought a couple packs of vintage hem facing at a recent estate sale and dang-it-all if it doesn't include how to instructions on the back!

You may remember my rant letter to Wright's in April. NOW I gotta send this photograph to them, suggesting that they revise their packaging, the idiots.

An angry letter to Wright's

Practically every time I purchase bias tape, I ask a clerk to explain the difference between the choices and most of the time I get home to unwrap the sealed package to find that the clerk was wrong. So I had HAD IT and fired off this missive to customer service representative at http://www.wrights.com/

Dear marketing or packaging dept.:
You must hate your customers.
Otherwise, why would you package your items with no explanation or graphic demonstrating the difference between double fold and single fold bias tape?
Why would your packaging feature an aging female wearing an unattractive blouse with no correlation to the enclosed product?
Does the blouse feature bias tape? No.
Does the old lady blouse have piping? Not that I can see.
Does the withering woman's top show lace? Nope.
Does the doddering dowager have hem facing on that tired rag?
What the heck, people?
Your inserts provide no further information.
Do you assume that your customers KNOW how to sew? Assume they don't.
How would a new sewing enthusiast know what hem facing is? Your package imparts nothing for explanation. There is an impressive underground growth of women out there that are teaching themselves to sew and your product is not an asset to learning.



And if you can believe it, the nice folks at Wright's responded.



Thank you for your comments and concerns. I will pass your suggestions along to the correct department where I am sure they will take it under advisement. If we can be of further assistance please feel free to contact us any time.



It was a generic response but and I almost felt bad that unloaded on them. Almost.
Their packaging is still retarded.

Spring time skirt

Couldn't help myself, I made a skirt of the people give me stuff fabric bounty with pink vintage floral print accent band at the hem. Band was folded in half lengthwise, sewn onto bottom of skirt and then raw edge was serged.

Craft room hangover

My friend Chrysanthemum visited me last week and brought her sewing machine with her. She wanted to sew skirts so I was all up for it. I introduced her to the wonderful world of serger finishing and she cut out the skirts. When we finished there were 10 skirts for her, 2 skirts for little girl neighbors and 4 for me. That is not a mistake, 16 skirts in all.

Chrysanthemum complimented me by saying that the SkitzoLeezraStudio is like working in a factory; everything is there at your fingertips.

It was the first time that I had a little buddy sewing with me in the Studio and it was different - and fun. Makes me wish that she were back next week.

About the fabrics:

Chrysanthemum likes upholstery and drapery fabrics for skirts so you might recognize a few prints. My buddy Ernest gave me the most fabulous wool fabric samples several years ago. The wool is usually used for very high end men's sports coats and it drapes incredibly well. The Ernest wools are 3rd from the top and 2nd from the bottom.

About the pattern:

A bastardized version of easy sew a-line skirt. Some finished with drawstrings, some with elastic waists.

Easy organizer made from placemat

So easy and so cute!
Found a pack of 4 black and white paisley placemats for $4 - WooHoo! Copied the organizer idea from my friend Elizabeth's seminar gift and presented my new committee with their choice of ribbon - blue, pink, green and violet.

To make one for your very ownself, find some cool reversible placemats. Place the mat with long sides on top and bottom. Fold bottom up to form long pocket. Press fold with hot iron. With a water soluble marker, make lines for paper pad and pen holder. Sew on lines. Stitch left edge with 12" ribbon inserted at top of pocket. Stitch right edge. Stitch right hand of pen channel with 12" ribbon below (on reverse side). The right hand ribbon will be on the right hand fold. Fold right hand side to center. Press fold with hot iron. Fold left hand side to center. Press fold with hot iron. Tie up with that precious ribbon!


Other ideas:
Sew a clear vinyl pocket to insert business card.
Monogram outside cover.
Sew ribbon stripe on outside cover.
Oh! Almost forgot, I covered the top edge of the paper pad with black and white paper to cover the unattractive manufacturer's logo. You could print out the recipient's name on paper and glue it there.

Cool craft books

Here are a couple books to check out from your local library. I say check them out so you can decide if you like them before purchasing your very own copy.

My local library has a great website with search and reserve options and handy e-mail notification for pick up availability PLUS they offer interlibrary loans. That means little ol' me receives borrowed books, free of charge, from every state in the union! Yay, no more stoopid bad book buys!

Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Celine Dupuy. Pretty fabrics, cute ideas, good project directions.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano. LOTS of ideas in here! Make stuff just like the photos or use for inspiration.