Halloween

Making my friend a poodle skirt. Found some great pink shimmery cotton & an applique poodle.  It should be finished tomorrow.

Also, here is a pic of my friend in the brown lace dress. I think the hat just ties everything together.

Labor Day Weekend

Finished 2 projects!  Top dress is for a friend for her niece's wedding. It's not the wedding party or anything. It was just easier to making something than finding something made.

2nd is a cap for me that I've been wanting to do for awhile. 

Liquor Gift Bag

For my friend's birthday, I made this bag for a bottle.

I measured the base & added an inch to each side & the height.  After I cut the polka dot fabric, I realized the bottle is round & larger on top compared to the base.  So, I cut 2" strips of denim and sewed them into the sides. 

I sewed the bag inside out & closed up the bottom.  I sewed a gusset on the bottom. Last I undid 2 seams opposite of each other and put ribbon that they looped open on opposite sides.  I pinned the ribbon so it didn't interfere with the seam/alley(?) I could've fed the ribbon after but didn't have much time.

This is what I'm going to do from now on for wine bottle gifts (or other bottles).

Travel pillows

Found pattern on internet. Will add link later. Used scrap fleece from winter hats & scarves. Worked out great on plane & in hotel. I made covers and modified back a little to have a flap that makes cover removable. I also added ribbon that makes it easy to hook on bag out luggage.

Skirt I plan to wear with boots

This is McCall's 3341, C.  The finished length was longer than the picture on me.  The fabric was in remnant bin.  I love the tan with navy. Didn't take too long to finish but I added a lining which added a few hours. I'm a little concerned that the fabric was fraying. I tried to finish everything with the lining but there are a couple seams that I couldn't fold over on themselves. I hemmed the bottom by hand. I like how it turned out. I just hope it makes it through washing/wearing.

Latest dress

I did this last week by modifying the sleeveless New Look 6210/A. I had bought the fabric over the winter from the remnants bin. I changed the top of the pattern to be C but with a rounded neck. After I was finished I decided that I wanted sleeves. I used http://www.merricksart.com/2014/09/diy-friday-adding-sleeves-to-sleeveless.html?m=1 to create a sleeve pattern. I did have to take in under the arms & center back a little because the holes were a littr loose.  I think its good but we'll see how I feel when I get to wear it

Small Hand Bag and Thread Catcher

I saw a video about bags with double sided fabric.  I wanted another small bag that I can wear crossed over my body.  I made one this spring break.  The blue zipper is the front and the back (which will be against my body) is the other side.  That side has a zipped pocket.  The front has a pocked that doesn't zip.  I also put a pocked like this inside with a pen holder.  The strap is adjustable with D rings, but can be up to about 50".

This is what the other side looks like.  Its paisley and looks great for a lining.  I may make a passport holder out of the same fabric.  This pic is before I sewed it all together.  I do have to confess that this bag took me awhile, making sure the pockets were right and I didn't sew them shut.  Also, since the fabric is already quilted and finished, the inside shows the outside stitches but that's no biggie.  I couldn't hide stitches between the fabrics.

This is a thread catcher I made before starting my Spring Break projects.  The tomato comes off with velcro.  The basket part stays open because I cut a disposable plastic container top (like from sour cream or something).  The top part stays under the right 2 feet of my machine.  The tomato is very handy right by my machine and I like that it's removable when I do my pinning away from my machine.

My Class Pet

Recently one of my students asked if he could house his bearded dragon in my class.  I said sure as long and he takes him home during breaks.  He does well in the class but I don't like to hold him.  I found that they like hammocks and so I made him one for break.  I used old plastic straps that help keep sweaters on the hanger in the corners to hang it when we go back to school.  I named him Fireball...this is the reason for the fire print.

The finished size is about half an 8" square.  I didn't want to buy a lot of camo print so I had to sew 2 strips together but it is hard to tell and I'm sure Fireball doesn't mind.

Snow Day Robe

I finally am posting all the things I've sewn this winter. Here is a robe that I had intended to make over Christmas Break but did on a snow day in February.  The reason I didn't get to it for Christmas is that I made about 15 sets of scarves and hats out of fleece for everyone.  The scarves (~60X15) were just fleece with a little fringe cut on the ends and the hats were a pattern I found on the Crafty Gemini page.  

I made the men's robe over the snow day and did the one for me (blue) over Spring Break.  They are from Butterick B5724 pattern.   To the left of the men's robe is a blanket I made and use when I watch TV.

Baby Blankets

I made these during Thanksgiving break last year. I made 2 of the pink teddy bears for a friend who had twins.  She said she'd use them in the car, when they are in their car seats.  I donated the purple cat one to a shelter.  Each was about 1/2 a yard of fabric of each kind.  They are all fleece :)