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Friday, January 29, 2016

Planning my vintage projects


Bought a few vintage reproduction patterns during the last pattern sale and I'll be sewing them up for the #VintagePledge 2016.


Simplicity 1692, 1278, and 1012

I'll be sewing in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s with these three. I have some others that I intend to pull out of the stash if I'm able to get these three completed.

I love the neckline & arm details on 1692 and the neckline and hem details of 1278. I'm going to color block 1012 with some linen look I have on hand.

Excited to get started!


Sunday, January 24, 2016

Going to use flannel for my placemats

I was thinking about the almost finished placemats I bought at the Goodwill Outlet and what to use for batting. I don't really like fluffy placemats because then things are prone to tipping.

Searched on google and found a good post on Missouri Star Quilting Co.'s forum and some folks suggested flannel - eureka! I have two cotton flannel receiving blankets that I used with Duffy when he was sick and dying. So I can keep him close by re-using them in the placemats as batting.

Anyway, now I'm excited to get sewing and finish this project!

Well-washed so no further shrinkage!

Saturday, January 23, 2016

More from the fabric store

I found this knitting bag & accessories 
Dog costumes!

To develop for swim suits

No judgement if you love to dress up your canine friends. I don't - it's just not my thing. But then I was looking in the costume section of the McCall's book and saw an Olaf costume! I was squealing right there in the pattern department.

Joe's going to be dressed as Olaf for Halloween! And the costume shouldn't bother him much since he wears his sweater without complaining in cool weather. 

I'm going to make swimsuits for myself since they don't really fit and cost $$$. I like to wear shorts & a top since I love to do water aerobics and walking in the pool. I'll adapt the shorts to add a liner panty and use the top pattern on the right. I'll just order a good swim bra and not worry about support in the top. Of course, I'll line the swim top for modesty - some swim fabrics can get really see-through!

New projects

Since patterns were on sale at Hancock's, we went there (twice!) and picked out some winners.

My choices



One of the patterns, Simplicity 2289, was purchased so I could make some warm & snuggly tunics to throw on over my house clothes when walking Joe.

I bought the pattern on our first visit to Hancock's and then thought I ought to go get the fabric. Found a lot of nice fleece at $2.97 per yard or less!

Animal print with grey, brown, and black

Pretty blue, almost aqua.

A Minky-type fabric and so cute & colorful

More thrift store goodies

More from the Goodwill Outlet in Salem OR - pieced placemats. Only found 3 tops and 4 cut backs in the bins. Cute!  I don't need more than 2 placemats at a time anyway.

Backing pieces

One of the pieced tops


Friday, January 22, 2016

Such a long break!

Well, I'm sad to say that creating things took a back seat to work on my health. Glad to be feeling better but sorry I haven't made anything lately!

I visited my parents this last week and found a few things at the local Goodwill Outlet.

Singer 237
Missing a few things but I wanted to find a machine to try working on it.  My super nice 301 A has been refurbished and I won't be doing anything to it but oiling / cleaning, so I wanted a project machine. Hence the 237.

Back of 237

Case
The case smells of mold even though it's plastic so first I'll be cleaning and trying some odor removal products.

It has the plate, one foot, lots of bobbins, the spool pin, and the cord & presser foot

It's pretty clean

And the wheel turns freely
Here's a pic of my 301

Front