Finish it Up Friday - The Curtain Dress

Pinterest strikes again!  I found a pin linking to this tutorial and decided to give it a whirl.  Turns out the dimensions for the dress they made was for a much older girl than my little 2 year old, so I had to do some finagling to size it down.  Aside from an attempt to make a Biblical times costume for VBS when I was in high school (very sad fail...), this was my first attempt at garment sewing.  Yay!

It walks like a dress, it talks like a dress, it must be a dress!

It's all straight line sewing, so it was super easy.  It really is a curtain with a ruffle at the top , sewn into a tube and hemmed.  You put some elastic in the casing where the curtain rod would go and add some straps. The tutorial had the width of the body of the dress at 36", I tried it on her at 30", and took off 6 more inches before being happy with it.  There was just too much bunching under her arms and I think it was bothering her.

It falls at her knee, and I wish I had made it a little longer so she can grow with it, and there's not much hem to let out, either.  But Andrea can always wear it ; )

 I made this dress in a few sittings while she was a the sitter or napping, so I did a lot of guessing, measuring dresses that fit her, and two quick fittings to get the straps right.  She cried and tried to take it off during both fittings, so I was a little nervous that she wouldn't wear the dress, so I decided to make a matching dress for her baby from some of the scraps as an incentive to wear it.  It worked ; )

It's a lot easier to get the doll to model, than an active 2 year old! 

The doll's dress was a quick 20 minute project and I'm so glad I did it!

I made this dress for her to wear at her birthday party, but I'm really wanting her to wear it to church ASAP...we'll see if I can hold off!  I think there's one in Andrea's future!

A Baby Blanket

Some sweet friends from dental school are having Baby Vera next month and I got to go to the shower last weekend.  I whipped up this quick little blanket and wrapped it up with a gift card so they can get some of the things left on their registry after all is said and done.

It's a small little blanket, meant for the stroller or car seat, since it will (presumably) be getting cold in a few months.  Hard to believe with 104 degree temps day after day...

I used some white dot minky and this pretty paisley from my stash and bound it with a satin binding.  I hand quilted around the big paisleys just to hold it together in the middle better.

 

Hope it sees lots of love!

Brother CE-4000 - a review for Sew, Mama, Sew!

Sew, Mama, Sew! is creating a list of sewing machine reviews at their site, which is an AWESOME idea and a resource I would have loved to use as I decided on a new machine a while back. Luckily, I got a great one, so I'll let you know a little about it and contribute to the cause : )

What brand and model do you have?

A Brother CE-4000. I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same as the CE-5000 Project Runway Edition that is now seen in stores (minus a few stitches).

How long have you had it?

Since November. Let me count...about 6 1/2 months.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

I think I paid around $80 buying a refurbished machine from an appliance dealer. High end on Google shopping is $179 and a refurb from the same store I bought mine (Ken's Sewing and Vacuum) is $99 right now.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

I mainly piece my quilts on it, but also do some general sewing, hemming curtains, purses...I'm ramping up for full-on machine quilting...tomorrow? Exciting!

How much do you sew?

At least every weekend. When I'm out of school, just about every day for around 4 hours.

How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I'd say it's pretty sturdy for quilting. I haven't machine quilted a large quilt on it yet, but I'm going to tomorrow!

Do you like/love/hate your machine?

Like: I really like that I can drop my feed dogs to machine quilt, and the LCD display and numbered stitches is very clear and easy to use.

Love: I LOVE my needle threader and am now genuinely spoiled. I complained when I first got it that it periodically stopped working...um, needless to say, I'm and idiot, and you have to have the needle raised all the way for it to work. Ahem. I also LOVE my drop in bobbin...again, now spoiled. I used to mess with and curse that silly bobbin on my old machine ALL the time!

Hate: Um, let's see...the automatic backstitch? No, the 40 different stitches? No, I'm at a loss, here.

Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

No. Fairly. Surprisingly, no.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

It's easy to thread, I can drop my feed dogs to machine quilt, it came with every foot I could ever want (ok, maybe I want a ruffler...) and tells me what foot to use for each stitch (each foot has a letter on it) so I don't get confused or do something stupid.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

At one time, I had complained about my walking foot and a needle breaking. 1) I learned that they are called "quilting needles" for a reason and I should switch out and use one when I'm "quilting". 2) Walking feet are for walking and again, quilting needles should be used while quilting. 3) Tension adjusters are our friends. Let's just say that every woe I've had has been due to operator error.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!

From my blog post when I first got her in the mail:

"My 3/4 size sewing machine is getting a little small for me. I started looking for a darning foot for it so I could machine quilt a bit, and by the time I finished shopping, I had a genius plan. Genius. My birthday was in September, and Erik got me tickets to the opera (Le Nozze di Figaro!) and said I could buy a new dress (yes, this is going somewhere). I had already gone shopping and wasn't too thrilled with the results - do they not sell dresses these days? So - my genius plan. How 'bout I take the dress back that we're not thrilled with, and considering the cost of a darning foot for my small/old sewing machine, I could buy this refurbished, amazing machine for the same price!"

And that's what I did. Swapped my dress for a sewing machine.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

Yes. It's a great machine for a great price. I'm a fan of Brother now, and can't believe how much more I love sewing now that I have a machine that doesn't make me angry.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

I was looking for features that I needed as a quilter (dropping feed dogs, darning foot, walking foot, useful stitches). Make sure it will do what you need it to do for your hobby, but don't buy something that will lock you in if your interests expand. Sturdy, reliable, and something you can get serviced easily should the need arise.

Do you have a dream machine?

I'm pretty happy right now, and fairly oblivious to the glorious-ness that I hear Bernina is. Contentment is good : )

A Little Finish Line Reward

This has been on my wish list for a while now, and seeing as I need a little motivation to make it through this last week of finals and practicals, this seemed to fit the bill.

It should arrive in the mail around the time I finish!

And hopefully I'll finish one in time for summer!

Mother's Day Sewing, Etc.

My "sewing room", Saturday, as I furiously whipped up some Mother's Day gifts, listened to my cousin do the play-by-play for the Rockwall Yellowjackets softball team in the playoffs, and watched a really great movie (84 Charing Cross Road):

The postman brought my new stash of batting, so I'm ready to go!

I decided to make pot-holders and kitchen towels out of this awesome kitchen fabric my great-grandma Nanny Burks left behind in her stash. The one on the right was a first attempt (now belongs to me...), the rest of them were made like the one on the left - much easier and looks better (at least close up...). Totally forgot to take a picture of the towels, but as I'm making many more for other relatives not present at lunch today who are sure to be jealous (!), I'm sure to have a picture in the near future : )

I was a great chance to practice some machine quilting! I feel a lot better about it and will probably machine quilt most of the quilts I have coming up since it should be faster. I did stippling on 1/2 and wavy lines on 1/2 - a total of 7 practice runs!

I've made a mess of nine-patch blocks which will soon "disappear" to make 2 baby quilts for my cousin's twins, Emory Elizabeth and Mary Catherine, who were born this week - premature and tiny, but doing awesome without oxygen! Their mom is still in the hospital fighting staph, so definitely prayers for her on this Mother's Day.

I'll be posting early this week on the progress of the t-shirt quilt! I'll show you how I add borders and start putting it all together!

Baby Shower Strikes Again

No, these pictures are not in black and white. But the burp rags are. I'm loving the Michael Miller dot! You can't really tell here, but I topstitched everything in red. Because those are Chanel's colors for "The Peach" as she and Brian call the baby of unknown sex they are having, oh, like any day now: black, white, and a hint of "Red" (which might end up being the baby's name (or Ruby)...we'll find out soon!)

This helps a little with the restlessness, but it only makes me want to cut up the rest of the fabric and make a quilt.

Maybe I'll cut during pre-game hoopla and then work on hand quilting Monika's quilt during the game so I won't miss any commercials. Now THAT'S the way to "watch" the Super Bowl. : )

Adventures with Spray Adhesive

I had several awaiting projects that needed spray adhesive. I finally bought some, ventured outside and made these:


1) tri-fold science fair board + white flannel from the clearance bin = design board




I also have some grommets I plan to put through it on one of the short ends so I can hang it flat (temporarily) on the wall for better viewing. Then it's easy to tuck away behind a desk or bookshelf or under a bed or...you get the idea. These are usually 48" x x36" which isn't a far cry from a baby quilt...





2) Very late Christmas presents in the form of make-your-own thermal mugs quilter style:


Also my first improvisational "blocks" - LOVED it! You might recognize the scraps from some previous quilts...

After piecing, I thought some stabilizer would be enough to stiffen them up and shove them in the mugs, but you definitely need cardstock and spray adhesive.

For my fun friends Elizabeth and Rudy Garza, because you can't have enough of these in dental school.

30-Minute Baby Shower Gift

You've probably seen them a million times.

You've probably made them a million times.

But they always get a great reception, the diapers were on clearance at Target, and the flannels were scraps after making 2 rag quilts (I didn't even have to measure and cut OR iron...seriously). Triple score!

Savannah's Dress

I finally finished and delivered Savannah's tutu dress this weekend. She was the cutest thing ever running around as a little ballerina! I also mailed the Forde package with the star quilt and Monika got the tutu I made for her little girl on the way. Lots of parting with projects! It's nice to clean house a little bit.

I go back to school tomorrow, but I'm in the middle of 2 quilts for Monika, which need to be finished in a few weeks. At least before baby comes in February!

She's Here!

My 3/4 size sewing machine is getting a little small for me. I started looking for a darning foot for it so I could machine quilt a bit, and by the time I finished shopping, I had a genius plan. Genius. My birthday was in September, and Erik got me tickets to the opera (Le Nozze di Figaro!) and said I could buy a new dress (yes, this is going somewhere). I had already gone shopping and wasn't too thrilled with the results - do they not sell dresses these days? So - my genius plan. How 'bout I take the dress back that we're not thrilled with, and considering the cost of a darning foot for my small/old sewing machine, I could buy this refurbished, amazing machine for the same price!

Now I know you're going - refurbished? A sewing machine? They can be a pain even when they're brand new - why would you risk the headache of a refurbished machine? Because it was a good deal, that's why. I may be proved wrong, but right now, I'm caught up in the freshness of something new and the amazement of all the stitches this computerized work of art can do. Good thing I have basically already started my Thanksgiving break! ; ) And just in time to make Christmas goodies!

Back to Sewing...

Saturdays seem to be set aside for sewing lately. In the morning I made this cute little number from Puking Pastilles' superhero cape tutorial. Super easy! I'm trying to practice a new sewing skill with each project. This one included machine applique, turning, top stitching and sewing on a velcro closure. I've kinda done some of those things before, but not for anything that needed to look good. Like a gift. ; ) I hope Super Asher likes it!

Mr. Bear came back to model a bit:

I spent the afternoon measuring, cutting, and sewing fusible interfacing to some appliques for my next quilt. I kinda hope to get all the appliques ready and sewn on next Saturday, and since I'm going whole-cloth with this one, I'll be ready to start hand quilting on the next Saturday. I just can't bear to do an entire quilt on my dinky machine. I just can't! Hopefully, I'll be finished around Thanksgiving and I can get started on the next two - I'm insane, I know it. The kicker is that my cousin, Marci, just found out she's having TWINS so the baby quilting insanity has only begun.

We had October/November birthdays at Nanna's house and she had the table set with her new table runner and napkins. Love it! (but I'm biased....)

Reagan can always find a comfy place to sleep around here! He found my quilt bag in my makeshift sewing room in my parents' study. Seems to be his new favorite spot.

Successful Practice Run

This is probably the easiest thing I've ever made. I made 2 tutus in the span of probably 30 mins or so. Once I got the assembly line down, it was easy to do in front of the television and didn't make a mess of any significance at all.

I did buy by the bolt (cheaper) and it wasn't that difficult to cut. Later, I found some spools on sale at Hobby Lobby, so I bought maroon and white for a lucky little Aggie. These are pink and white with sparkles. I added the pink ribbon, which I think, really makes it.

Tomorrow I'm going to do Savannah's and fancy it up a little bit more.

Wanna make one? Check out this tutorial: http://plumtickled.typepad.com/plumtickled/2007/08/tutu-tutorial-t.html

Since the recipients of these tutus were not at hand, Mr. Bear obliged and modeled for us:

I think he likes them!

Can't wait to get these to their new owners!

Update

After a bad day at school, what makes it all better? An evening of Gilmore Girls reruns and quilting. I've done 4 stars (almost) and have 4 left before binding. Tomorrow night will be a bit of a bake-off for our Texas Association of Women Dentists meeting on Thursday, but I might be able to get a star or two in...



In the mean time, Mom found these in the attic as she dug out all our old toys for Molly. The first things I ever sewed. I'm loving the replacement strings provided lovingly in our Nanna Christmas stockings every year: I heart Jesus shoestrings. Priceless.

ok, fine....

So I didn't finish the quilt. I got super bummed out when I realized how behind I was in school, and then blogger completely failed me and I spent way too much time trying to fix this blog only to have to resort to some crazy HTML fixin' which I'm finally happy with. I did finish the structural quilting to every corner and did about 3 stars. If I do a star here and there this week and hit it hard next weekend, I should be good.

In the mean time, I hit up Walmart for some awesome tulle and ribbon for some tutus for a few little girls I know who need one. I also managed some clearance bargains and discovered the $2-3 patterns and went a little crazy. Ok, a lot. I found some great apron patterns, a bag pattern, scrub patterns (hey, I can give it a go...), a really, really cute baby dress pattern with a bonnet (!), and some others I'm forgetting. They all said "easy" on them, so I'm hoping for the best : )

Random Project

My sister-in-law, Lisa, has a nephew on the way and wanted to make a gift for her sister. She asked my mom to help her jazz up some burp cloths with some fabric she bought in the currently fashionable baby boutique style. I happened to be at the house that Sunday so we all had a fun project. Here is the result! We cranked out about 2 dozen in a couple of hours. If you try this, you definitely need to wash the cloths first because they shrink like CRAZY!

Organization

One thing that every quilter has to figure out for herself is how to best keep all her stuff together so that she can carry it around and find it easily. This is my recent solution that I LOVE way better than the original Ziploc bag that my cats like to chew on. This is made by Snaplock...I bought one to put some of my dental stuff in and was so glad I got an extra when I made my new sewing box. Recently, I went to buy one for my little sib in school and discovered a third "mini" level and even custom trays to hold my notions that like to roll around. Love it!