Slapshod I-pod carrier

You know those things runners use to carry their i-pods? Well I'm trying to turn myself into a running-capable person, and music definitely helps. This one is a 15-minute fast one, but the basic idea is there: I just happened to not have anymore black thread due to that Halloween thingy that took up three spools and then some, so I threw this together to try it out.

1) Make a pouch that fits your i-pod

2) Slide a covered elastic band through two slits. (it would be better with a wider elastic, maybe 2-inch. This is just what I happened to have on hand)

3) Close up the loop and you're ready to go!

Current favorite running song: World Town by M.I.A.

Guess what...

I'm done!

pre-binding/quilting and all that:

My favorite parts:

The wavy stitching on the patchwork section that matches the trimming

The ghost and its curly billowy stitching

 
The whole witch ...

but especially her ruffled skirt!

(I hate using the flash...)

And here's a look at the back--my first try at freehand stitching! (this is the background section- it doesn't show too much in the front because the purple fabric is already quite squiggly)

It's trickier than it seems, but once I got the hang of it it was much better. If you don't know what freehand sewing is (that would be me before I asked the lady at the store), essentially you change the foot to a freehand foot 

Freehand foot -- or something that looks similar

and lower the feed dogs (the little shark-fin looking things that help pull the fabric through at a steady speed-- there's a switch on the back typically to lower them)

feed dogs

so that you can stitch wherever you want: you move the fabric around yourself. It's pretty fun.

I wish I could take all the credit for this project, but I followed pretty faithfully the original pattern-- I saw it all done in the cotton shop and just loved it. They sell the pattern and instructions, and you can also buy a fabric kit with all the pieces that has just enough fabric to make it (minus the padding and fusible). This is the company and they have so many adorable ideas! I'm thinking I want to make up my own next time, maybe something for Christmas... but we shall see!

Anyway, I can't wait to hang these guys up for Halloween, but I really should wait till October... is that really a whole month away? No, it's pretty much two months. Oh well. They can go up October 15th :)

I'll be honest

I really want a silhouette. It's pretty much the coolest thing since the invention of the sewing machine.

I also think it is overpriced, there I would not buy it or ever wish for it unless the price went WAY down. (Currently it costs $300)

HOWEVER: I would love to win one! So I'm entering every giveaway there is out there, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, I could get one free. So bear with me if I post a lot of obnoxious comments about it, but it's totally worth it. You never know! :)

So here goes. You can check out this giveaways too by the way, just click on the button.

Creation

It's a wonderful thing :) All you crafting bloggers know that you love to do it. Why do we do it?
Here's a wonderful thought on creation. What I make has value.

Making progress

You like?

This project is so much fun to do!

Memories

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present to you my sister in law's new company:
My Memories & More. 

She is a very creative individual and that's why I'm sure you'll love her designs. She and her husband create announcements for weddings, graduations, baby showers... as well as putting together event slideshows or even wedding dvds! They have plenty of templates but you can also have them custom design pretty much anything!

Go check it out, and they're also doing a giveaway here.

:)

Halloween

I realize it's a bit early.. but hey, school starts soon and then I'll never have any time, so why not get started right now? I am so excited about this project.

Andrew showing off my ghost

And so far I'm pretty proud of what I've done; this is a learning project, lots of stuff I've never done--but so much fun! I can't wait to display this awesome Halloween cheer :)

Appliqué, quilting, freehand stitching... woohoo! It took me a ridiculous amount of time to cut out all of the pieces, but now comes the fun part. And this company makes so many adorable patterns! I think once I've finished this one I'll try and invent one of my own. We shall see!

Check out their other stuff too -- I'm feeling very inspired :)

Remember this?

Well... I didn't find the exact same fabric, but I found something

that'll look lovely, and I'm going to copy the dress... I can't wait to get started! :)

Old white T-shirt ?

This one is nice because all it cost was looking for some of my husband's old t-shirts :) You really need two t-shirts, I tried to make it work with one, but sadly it wasn't enough.

So I have this shirt I like, and I've been wanting the same one in white, but considering I got it on super-sale in the leftover items bin... I doubt they have them anymore. Enter old t-shirt..

Cut out the body, allowing for seams (Be careful, the back shape is usually slightly different in the arms).You can use the sleeves to make your new sleeves too.

And just to make your life simple, keep the bottom and sleeve hems--if they're already there why bother! Attach sleeves (shirt inside-out, sleeves right-side out. It's ridiculous how many times I continue to make this sort of mistake...)

OK now for the tricky part. Turn the shirt RIGHT-SIDE OUT and take a strip about 2 inches wide, fold it over and pin it along the neckline. The seam will be at the center of the "V", but don't stitch all the way to the bottom yet.

And now stitch the two strips together with a DEEP V. It took me a couple tries to get the angle right.

Finish sewing the strips to the shirt...

Almost done-- add the pocket (you can use the edge of a sleeve from the second shirt to reuse that hem).

Sew very close to the edges.
And after some ironing (iron the neckline nice and flat)...

There it is!

Edit: Apparently in stores this is called the "boyfriend" tee... and isn't it just perfect, since this one is literally made from the hubby's t-shirt? :)

Definitely want to make this

Eh? I think it could transition quite nicely into winter too.. We shall see!

If you want to print out some pictures...

Now is definitely the time.

http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=Special+Offer+Prints?stop_mobi=yes&ec=hn9010_30for3&ep_mid=73072865&ep_rid=3023743036

:)

Sneak peek

Because you're impatiently waiting to see what I post next right?
Yes, I am slightly delusional.

But here is a quick look at what I'm working on--I though it had gone horribly awry but I found a way to save it... and I like how it's coming!

And the best part: it's based on an old sweater of my husband's that was too small for him.

Project cost = $0

hmmmm

I just discovered this little gem: Overstock.com
You probably already knew about it, but hey. Is this not terribly handsome? I'm thinking a certain husband could have use of it some time...

Lacy remake

Here we go-- this is a fun and easy project that shouldn't take more than a an hour and a half.
I had a pile of clothes that were old/too small etc. I was planning on taking to D.I. but we haven't gotten out there in a while and tonight I decided to go through it and see what I could do... :)
This was an downeast crew neck tee, a little small and not a very flattering fit. Sleeves that are too short are decidedly unflattering. And I apologize for the quality of the photos; both my camera batteries were charging so I used the little web cam on our computer. Anyway,  here goes:


Cut out a V on the neckline (it helps to fold the front in half down the center to make sure you cut it symmetrically) and make sure it's not as deep as you want it-- it'll get lower as you sew so don't start too deep.

Go ahead and cut off the seam edge around the rest of the neckline--keep it though, you'll need it later. Keep your triangle you cut out too.

The only thing you'll need aside from the shirt itself is some wide lace, about a foot and a half. sew two strips together in the center to make a V that matches your neckline.

Turn your shirt inside-out and pin the lace V to the neckline

Sew along the neckline, about a half-inch away (with the shirt still inside-out). Once you've sewn along the edge, turn the shirt back right-side-out and pin down the lace on the other side.

Sew down the lace about a half-inch from the edge, and then sew the edges of the lace strip down at the very edge

Alright! I left the back of the neckline raw, and unpicked the hem on the sleeves to give it a little bit of a rough edge, and also because those darn cap-sleeves are so short they make my arms look fat (let's blame it on the shirt eh?)

Now for the pocket! Remember those strips you took from the neckline? Take it from the V too and lay them out flat (it's ok that it has all the edge folds, that's the point)

Now the V comes in-- it's going to be a pocket. Most likely your V piece isn't tall enough to be a pocket, which is were the two strips come in; sew them together and then to the top of the V (and some lace too for more whimsy :)

And now cut it a little bigger than your pocket will be:

(The V-cut at the bottom will help fold under the seams so there isn't too much fabric.)
Now pin it onto your shirt with the edges pinned under:

Sew very close to the edges...

And voilà!

Have a fun Sunday evening :)