The best and the worst of 2009

As 2009 draws to an end, I feel that I should have a year end posting about my 2009 accomplishments.

Perhaps, if I was super organized - like Dawn - I'd have a handy, dandy chart to show you. *Sigh* But I'm not, and I don't.

Or perhaps, like Erica, I could look back at my sewing goals to see how many I met. *Sigh* Except that I didn't bother to set many.

But! I think I could come up with a list of everything I sewed this past year. *Sigh* I'm certain it wouldn't reveal a love affair with dresses the way Carolyn's review does.

Actually, I'm finding that I relate more to Angie, as I suspect I may also be afflicted with SADD - sewing ADD. Planning one project only to quickly move onto another seems to be my specialty.

While I'm not sure how many items I sewed, or even what my favorite was, I can tell you that one pattern produced both a treasure and a trash. Simplicity's 2701 cream jacket was one I wore quite often while the rose metallic linen one makes me cringe every time I put it on. For that reason alone it has never seen life outside of my closet - and it never will.

I'm sure you all have a favorite or two, but what I want to know is what's one thing you sewed this year that makes you cringe?

**********
Pin It

Happiness

Happiness is...

...seeing someone enjoy the gift you created for them.

... wrapping up squeaky toys for your pet just because it's funny to watch them with a new toy.

... having sisters to goof around with - and knowing the one who was out of town would have been the first to join in.

... getting kazoos from out of town sister so the family could perform Christmas carols - poorly.

... hanging out with hubby, grown kids and their significant other.

... knowing hubby willingly snow plows the heavy snow so you don't have to.

And that was my Christmas. How was yours?

********* Pin It

Christmas wishes

Aaaah, the memories of Christmas past when wishes came true with just a whisper in Santa's ear.

I wish you happiness and joy as you celebrate with your loved ones with holiday season. Pin It

Oh no you didn't. Oh yea. I did.

Sew a snuggie that is.

Well, technically, it's a comfy blanket. After all, I used a pattern - McCall's 5970.

Tomato - tomahto. They're the same thing. A big blankie with sleeves.


Now stop snickering. I sewed it for a good cause. Someone I know and love dearly wants one.

So of course, why would I spend $19.95 to purchase one when I can spend the same amount of money and make it myself.

Yea, that's right. You're likely not going to save money making one yourself, but you will get to choose your color and quality of fabric. In this case, the intended recipient loves the color purple so this comfy blanket was made using a plush deep purple fleece.

But wait! There's more. Unlike the snuggie, the comfy blanket includes two big pockets - one at the center front to keep your hands warm and one on the inside of the lower front to keep your tootsies warm.

I even have enough purple fleece left over to sew more Barbie snuggies :-)

By the way, if you decide to use this pattern to make your own snuggie, note that the center front lines do not match up when you tape the upper and lower pattern pieces together.


********** Pin It

Flashback Friday - Christmas 1979

Christmas morning posting for the traditional in front of the Christmas tree photo. Both sweeties are wearing new robes sewn from Simplicity 7730.



Pin It

Feedback from my frustration post

Just a quick note to say thank you for all of your comments and thoughtful responses to my "Frustration" post.

The post was picked up by reporter Carlie Kollath on her Biz Buzz blog (you can read it here). In her message to me she noted that she is "a reporter with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, the hometown paper for Hancock Fabrics" and that the company has talked about their new measuring system.

I also was contacted by someone at Hancock Fabrics' headquarters who invited me to share my thoughts with them (and to take care of the pricing discrepancy).

That conversation hasn't happened yet - due to my schedule, not theirs - but I will say that I'm very impressed that the company responded to my post. That certainly was not my intent when I wrote it - I was just frustrated and wanted to hear your thoughts.

Check back in a day or so as I'll keep you posted on the outcome of the conversation.

In the meantime, I better get busy sewing those flannel PJ's as time is quickly running out! Pin It

Frustration

See this? It's flannel purchased for my annual PJ flannel factory, which was scheduled to begin production this week.

See that silly little barcode? Apparently it's a new system Hancock Fabrics is using for cut yardage. The clerk cuts your fabric, scans the bolt information into a little handheld device, and out spits a bright yellow proof of purchase barcode.

Supposedly it will be more efficient. After all, the cashier now can scan the barcode and the computer system will recognize the price and yardage sold. I'm guessing it was implemented to help with inventory management.

Except there are a few problems with this system.

First of all, the clerk didn't bother to tell me the price of the fabric as it was being cut, explaining that it will be rung up correctly at the cashier. Ummm, I don't think so. In all my years of shopping at Hancock Fabrics, it has been a rare occasion that everything rang up at the posted sale price.

Secondly, unlike Joann's, you do not receive anything from the cutting table that verifies how much fabric you purchased or what the price is. So I had to trust that everything would ring up correctly. I liked having that slip of paper that showed how much fabric was cut, the regular price and the percent off price.

Thirdly, there is nothing on that barcode sticker that would help me determine which piece of fabric it belongs to if for some reason it would fall off of the fabric.

So why am I frustrated? When I made all of my purchases, there was only one person at the cashier and a huge line of customers behind me. She was doing her best to move fast to keep the line moving. My items were rung up so quickly that I had no time to watch to see if they were correct, so I assumed they were. (Yea, I know, my mistake...) Once home, as I pulled stickers off fabric so it could be prewashed, I went through all the items on my receipt. Sure enough this piece rang up at full price instead of the advertised 40% off.

So now I'm asking myself: Do I drive 25 miles back to the store for my $10? Is it worth my time and gas? If the sale prices have changed since this was purchased will I have the hassle of having to argue my case to the store manager?

I just don't know. I try and shop locally, and that includes Hancock Fabrics. I do so because I want them to stay in business. But I do get tired of having to be so diligent in ensuring the price advertised is the price charged.

In the meantime, they have a loyal but frustrated and irritated customer on their hands.

So tell me, has your local Hancock Fabrics store gone to this barcode system? If so, what has been your experience?

**********
Pin It

Stinky

"You smell" loudly blurted the four year old brunette as I knelt down to talk to her.

"I do?" I calmly replied.

"Yea" she said. "You smell like candy."

Sometimes I really, really love my job.

********** Pin It

Flashback Friday - 1982 company Christmas party

No photos of crazy co-workers adorned with festive attire dancing around the Christmas tree and ala Mad Men. Just my two little sweeties posting with mama who was on elf duty.

No sewing projects in this photo, however, this is the elf costume that I used as a base for the one I sewed for the company the following year. Pin It

Sew a set of mini Christmas stocking flatwear holders

These mini Christmas stockings are perfect for a last minute gift idea or a cute and economical way to decorate for the holidays. 


Use as a silverware or napkin holder on your table, string a group of stockings to decorate your mantel, use as a gift tag on your packages or add loops and hang on your tree.

They can be sewn in a short amount of time and are a great use for those beautiful fabric scraps.


Each mini stocking silverware holder measures approximately 3" wide by 6" tall. Use traditional Christmas fabrics or silks for a more elegant look.

Here are step-by-step sewing instructions on how to sew the mini stocking silverware holders.

Mini Christmas stocking with beaded trim

Download pattern here. (It is a PDF file. Please let me know if you have any difficulty as I'm trying Google docs.)

Cut 2 stockings for each silverware holder.

Cut 1 topper for each silverware holder.

With right sides together, sew a 2" seam on the center front using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Finger press open.

On right side of stocking, sew beaded trim. Use a zipper foot to sew as close as possible to the beading without breaking your needle. Tip: If your machine allows you to move your needle position, move it so it will sew as close as possible to the trim.

Safety tip: I wear safety glasses for this step. If you accidentally hit a bead with your needle, the needle will break and go flying and you want your eyes protected. Trust me on this one.

Place topper and stocking right sides together matching upper edge of stocking.

Sew together along the upper edge of the stocking with the wrong side of the stocking facing up so you can use the stitch line you created when sewing on the beads as a guideline. Again, you'll want to use a zipper foot.


Press seam allowance up. Press under 1/4" on the upper edge of the topper.


With wrong sides together finish sewing the entire seam using a 1/4" seam allowance.


Carefully clip curves.

Fold topper in half, wrong sides together, pinning pressed edge along seam.


Slipstitch in place.

Turn right side out. Place silverware inside the stocking and you're done.

**********
Mini Christmas stocking with ribbon trim and coordinating napkins:

Napkins
Cut four 18" x 18" squares.

Hem all four edges.

Stocking flatwear holder
Follow instructions as for the beaded stocking:

Cut 2 stockings for each flatwear holder.

Cut 1 topper for each stocking.

With right sides together, sew a 2" seam on the center front using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Finger press open.

Pin wrong side of stocking to right side of topper matching the upper edge of the stocking. Stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Press seam allowance of stocking up.

Press under 1/4" on the upper edge of the topper.


Fold topper in half, wrong sides together, with the pressed under edge covering the seam allowance.


Pin ribbon trim over pressed edge of topper. Topstitch in place, being careful not to catch the stocking in the stitches.


In other words, don't do this! *LOL*


Continue as for the beaded trim stocking:

With wrong sides together finish sewing the entire seam using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Carefully trim curves.

Turn stocking right side out.

Cut a piece of ribbon 4" long.


Fold ribbon in half and sew in place along the center back seam of the stocking.


Place the napkins and silverware inside the stockings and your done.

**********
Mini silk Christmas stocking with beaded ribbon trim

The gold stocking shown is sewn using a home dec silk dupoini. Follow the same steps as the stocking with ribbon trim, except eliminate the ribbon loop and use fabric glue to secure the beaded ribbon trim.

If your silk is lightweight use a fusible interfacing to add body. With silk you may want to finish the inside seam allowance to prevent fraying.

********** Pin It

One Yard Wonders Picnic-Tastic Lunch Mats

This set of picnic placemats deserve more than your ordinary ham and cheese sandwich with chips and a pickle. These cuties cry out for a Lemon Basil Shrimp Salad followed by a rich three-layer turtle cake - all from Cafe Latte of course.

Mmmm, I love Cafe Latte. Do they have a restaurant like this where you live? It's filled with mouth-watering to die for desserts (Which you have to order them first. And they know it. That's why they're are prominently placed at the beginning of the food line.) followed by an array of wondrously delicious sandwiches, or salads or soups. Mmmmm, I'm getting hungry just writing this.

But enough about food. I want you to know about another great project I just completed from the One Yard Wonders book.

On page 60 you'll find the instructions for this set of black and white placemats aka the "Picnic-Tastic Lunch Mats". They have a small pocket to place your eating utensils as well as a loop to keep your napkin in place.

While these are intended as placemats for a picnic, I think a set of these would be great for someone who carries their lunch to work everyday. Like me! But sadly, it's not from Cafe Latte. It's just a big ole boring salad from my own kitchen. And there's no three-layer turtle cake, or melt-in-your mouth cheesecake, or sinfully delicious flourless chocolate cake in my lunch either.

Don't you think these placemats, along with some of your favorite recipes (handwritten on cute cards naturally) would make a great gift? Heck, you might as well throw in a set of silver wear since you only need one yard of fabric to make four placemats. Cute and easy on the budget! And I saved the best part for last. You can measure, cut and sew them in less than one hour.

This project was designed by one of the authors, Rebecca Yaker. You can see more of her work at www.hazelandmelvin.com.

********** Pin It

Sew a snuggie type blanket for Barbie and other fashion dolls

You've seen the snuggie (tm).

You've seen the snuggie (tm) for dogs.

But what about a snuggie type blanket for fashion dolls, like Barbie? She's always been up on the current fashion trends, so she certainly wouldn't want to miss out on this one.

Wait no more! Now you can sew your very own snuggie type blanket for an 11-1/2" fashion doll, such as Barbie, using only a small piece of fleece, thread, Velcro and about 30 minutes of your time.

It's easy. Let me show you how with this sewing tutorial.

1) Download the PDF pattern here. (Let me know if you have problems as this is the first time I've tried Google Docs. )

2) Print pattern. Pattern is set to print on four sheets of 8-1/2 x 11 paper.

3) Trim sheets where marked and tape together to form one pattern sheet.


4) Cut out one blanket from fleece. Cut out two sleeves from fleece.

5) Transfer markings to wrong side of fleece. Cut along solid lines and circles as shown.

6) Hem bottom edge of sleeve. NOTE: you can eliminate these hems if you want as fleece will not ravel.


7) Sew sleeve onto the blanket placing the dot at the top of the sleeve at the center of the circle. Don't worry if this doesn't match exactly. Fleece has enough stretch that you'll be able to make it fit.

8) Sew underarm sleeve seam continuing to the bottom of the blanket.


9) Hem all edges of blanket. NOTE: You can eliminate this hem if you want as fleece does not ravel.

10) Cut a 1" piece of Velcro. If desired, cut that strip in half lengthwise creating a narrower strip.

11) Sew the Velcro strips on the wrong side of the blanket along the top center back edges.
Done! She's now ready to cozy up on the couch for some late night tv viewing.


If you're really feeling ambitious, you can eliminate that side and underarm seam. Just cut the circles out of the blanket without cutting along the solid lines. Sew the underarm seams of the sleeves. Pin the sleeves in the circle and sew the sleeves to the blanket. Add Velcro as described above. This takes more time, but the end result will be more "authentic."


********** Pin It

The Burda 02-2008 103 "Tippi Hedren" dress

Burda Feb 2008 103 dress
Originally uploaded by Sharon Sews

As promised, here's the modeled version of the Burda 02-2008 102 "Tippi Hedren" knit dress.

This particular one is too tight to wear to the office, but I am working on another version in a solid color. And this time I remembered to add seam allowances before cutting my fabric :-)

My review of the dress is in this post. Pin It