Let the Sewing Resume

I just finished up a sewing project for a friend (Hi Amy!) that ended up taking me waaaay longer than it should have due to the baby and the constant sickness.  The patterns are nothing new but the fabrics are super cute so I thought I would share.  12 "green" snack bags and 2 drawstring swim bags in adorable fabrics...so fun.  Ava and I both think the farm animals are our favorites.  

Ava is my little assistant now for all sewing projects.  By assistant I mean kid who spreads all the fabric that's been cut all over the table and counts the cows, piggies, bugs, etc. while making the appropriate mooing and oinking noises.  At least she's working on counting skills, right?

Up next for sewing is a doll for Ava.  I'll share as I start to make some progress.  

Sewing Success #2

I finally got out my new sewing machine and I am definitely in love...so far.  This machine was about $50 dollars more than the last one, and it has so many more features that I know I am going to love.  It is computerized and has speed control.  Yay!!  I have NOT touched the tension dial and I don't plan on any time soon! 

Before tackling Ava's quilt again, I wanted to do another small project.  I made Ava a tank top the other night from a pattern by Heidi and Finn.  It turned out pretty good.  It is lined so it feels like a nicer end product but I also realized I want a serger :o)  There is a ruffle attached to the front.  This was the first time I attempted a ruffle.  It lays a little wonky but I still think it's pretty cute.  Next time I will know a little better how to deal with the ruffle.

One thing is for certain, it's a darn good thing that my family doesn't have to rely on me making all our clothes because I am very sssllllooooooooowwwwwww. 

Sew Much for That

For Christmas, my dad bought me this little guy from Target.  It's a Brother XL-3750.  I didn't open it until February and a piece of the bobbin threader was broken so I exchanged it for the same machine.  I made Ava a pillow case dress, and I was loving my machine.  I then started Ava's quilt.  I pieced the quilt together, made my quilt sandwich and then attempted to free motion quilt it.

 

That's when I ran into trouble.   

The tension was messed up and I thought I fixed it.  I was getting into a real rhythm and was about 1/3 of the way finished with the quilting when I ran out of bobbin thread.  I put in a new one and the tension was HORRIBLE.  I read the manual thoroughly, several times and still kept getting loops of thread on the bottom of my fabric.   I put my bobbin in several times following the manual to a T.  I adjusted the tension all the way up and all the way down and I was getting the same results...huge loops of fabric on the bottom.  The tension wasn't changing at all.  UGH!!  I decided to exchange it for another machine.  The exact same machine.  Target didn't have any more and they were discounted to $35 bucks so I returned it then and there.  My dad had given me the original receipt, so they gave me the full price for it. 

After reading several reviews, I ordered this machine, a Brother CS6000I.  I'm patiently waiting for it and praying that it will work like a dream as all the reviews say.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Frustration

I have been so anxious to start quilting Ava's little throw.  The backing fabric arrived in the mail and I was waiting for the chance to get it all together.  While Ava was napping yesterday, I made my quilt sandwich using my cute little curved basting pins and had everything ready for the quilt-a-thon to begin.  I got my machine equipped with the proper thread, foot, and extended table.  I made my little trial sandwich and practiced my wavy pattern I want to use.  I got the thread tension issue worked out on my sample and was feeling really good about myself.  The key word being was...

I stink!  Working with a larger piece of fabric and manuvering that massive amount through the machine was a joke.  I have read countless tutorials on how to do this.  I would stitch about 10 inches and then check it.  It was horrid.  My little practice piece was so good.  What in the world am I doing wrong???  I tried about 4 different times but sitting and ripping out stitches was making my neck stiff.  Not to mention, I was super frustrated.  For now, I'm walking away for at least a full day. 

To make myself feel better, I made Ava a few yo-yo flower hair clips that are simple, fast, and instant gratification.  I feel better but every time I walk past the quilt I mumble at it.  Maybe I'll just wake up tomorrow and the quilt fairy will have gifted me with her knowledge and skills...I hope.

Ava's Quilt

Yesterday I finished piecing together the top of Ava's quilt.  I was very disappointed with my results.  All my corners were not meeting up with each other.  I realized my error was in my sewing and not my cutting but I was not about to rip apart the entire quilt to restitch all the squares.  I laid the quilt out on the floor to take a look at it when Ava came rushing over and laid down on it saying, "Ahhhhhh," while rubbing her hands across the fabric.  She laid there for a good 10 minutes pointing to all the different squares and saying something important but what I'm not sure! 

That's when I realized it's ok that it's not perfect.

Ava is going to love it even if the corners of each square don't match up perfectly.  She's going to know that her mom loved her so much she *attempted* to make her something special. 

Now on to the quilt sandwich and the binding.  Both of which I have never done before and I'm sure won't be perfect either...and that's ok.

Bunny Bowling!

Serious cuteness above, right? Ellen, over at The Long Thread, wrote up a great how-to article for Etsy last year for these colorful little guys. I'm running out of time to get these done for Easter this year but bunny's are in season all year. At least at our house they are! I love how their little ears stand up, too. This is also a great gross motor skill game for the wee one.

Yet another fun project to add to my ever growing "need to make" list.

Photos from Etsy and The Long Thread

Feelings for Fabric

It's quite possible that I love the fabric that arrived in the mail for me yesterday.  I bid on this Moda Eden Layer Cake by Lila Tueller on Ebay not expecting to win and I did!  I was actually the only bidder.  There is quite a rush to winning something you really want on Ebay. I got the fabric for under what I was willing to pay and less that all other sites I had checked so that made the buy even better. 

I decided to make a throw for Ava as my first large project.  I thought a Layer Cake by Moda would be good because they are already cut into 42 10x10 squares with all the coordinating fabrics selected for you.  I fell in love with the Eden set and knew those would be great fabrics for her.  I am going to start cutting the pieces over the weekend using these instructions from the Moda Bake Shop for the Snuggly Layer Cake Throw.  It looks like an easy and cute quilt to start with.  I adore the Moda Bake Shop website.  If you are a fabric junkie and haven't checked it out, you should head over there...now!!  There are loads of free "recipes" for all types of projects.  I'll keep you updated on my throw progress.  It should be interesting to say the least.

Success!!

My first sewing project is complete and a success.  There was a moment of wanting to chuck my machine out the window but after a little guidance and practice I have my first finished piece.  Ava will even be able to wear it.  I thought my first project would have to be something that I wouldn't use but it turned out pretty good.  I have to say that it was easier than I thought.  The dress took about 2 1/2 hours to complete from start to finish.  This is coming from a girl who hasn't touched a sewing machine since high school 10 years ago.   Now that I know what I'm doing or at least on the right track, I know I could make one in less time.  I think I'm going to make another one using the same pattern just to practice my sewing skills a little more but then on to more patterns.  I already have a few picked out that I'm itching to try.  Oh and one of the best parts of sewing is the fabric shopping.  Even Ava was getting into it!  She was not into the whole modeling thing though.  The puzzles were much more interesting at that time.

And Sew It Begins...

I know...goofy play on words but what can I say, I'm a little goofy.  My dad gave me a sewing machine for Christmas (thanks Dad!) that has been sitting in the box until 2 nights ago.  I finally got it out to figure out how to use it.  Things started to come back to me from the small amount of sewing I did in a high school class but not much.  Colleen, who is a great seamstress, was having a sewing night at her house with a couple girls and I needed to at least know how to thread my machine.  I learn so much better from watching rather than reading the instruction book.  Therefore, the sewing night was a must for me!  I had my pretty fabric all washed and pressed, my machine threaded correctly (thank goodness) and my pattern from Frog Legs and Ponytails (the Caroline dress) ready for action.  I loaded up the car and headed over to Colleen's. 

I learned so much!!  I am so grateful to Colleen for all the guidance with my first project.  The dress isn't done but I've got a good start and hope to finish it this evening.  I just need to practice.  The unfortunate thing about my personality is I want it to be perfect the first time.  I don't want to waste my time if it's not going to be good.  This first dress is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it's a start and a decent one.  I think I'm going to make a few of this same dress for Ava so I can get more practice before I venture on to other patterns.  It felt good to spend a few hours cutting, measuring, and sewing fabric and then have a pretty dress at the end.  It was a rewarding night for me and a good start on a new hobby. I think Ava is into this hobby as well.