Wordless Wednesday 9.28.11

Hi! So I decided I want to start posting Wordless Wednesdays, like a lot of other bloggers do.  I have so many pictures I'd like to share!  K?  K. 

 Onset, MA.  September, 2011  Love to alllll!

Simplicity 2593

 Finished the foldy bits!  :D

Styled here with my pj pants.  Hot.

 I'm going to borrow the Pattern Review format to talk about this top. 

Pattern Description: Simplicity 2593, a Cynthia Rowley pattern.  Looks thusly:

 

 

 

Pattern Sizing: I have the 14-22 because I bought this pattern way back when I thought I was like a 40 in sewing pattern sizes.  I am not a 40, as it turns out.  I cut the 14. :)

 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Yes, except for the foldy bits.  Discussed below.

 

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Totally.  Easy as pie, this pattern.

 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I love the simplicity (ha) of it.  It's a great basic which lends itself to showing off great fabrics. 

 

Fabric Used:  Friggin' delicious stretch rayon from Fabric.com.  They still have the pink colorway of this on clearance for $3.49 people.  I am telling you - this fabric is a dream.  Sooo soft and drapey and just stretchy enough.  Love.  And it's machine washable, aaaand dryable! 

 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  So I folded the neckline piece 6 times instead of the 4 times the pattern instructed.  I couldn't tell you why though... what fool dare mess with Cynthia Rowley's genius?!  I wish I hadn't because now it has more of a 'twisted' effect than an origami effect, like the original.  But the hand sewing I did to attach this part to the shirt is laughable, so it would take like one swipe of the seam ripper to undo my sins.

 

 

Also, I used store-bought bias tape for the arms and neck.  This fabric is way too slinky to be messing around with self bias binding.  No way, Jose.

 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  I will definitely sew this top again.  It's so easy and fast and you could use really almost any fabric.  Score.  Recommended highly.  :)

 

Conclusion:  Great pattern!  Go sew it! 

 

 

Cheers!

 



Copy That

Good Monday all!  :) So, yall are on Pinterest, right?  What an epic black hole of time sucking wonderment, eh?  I love it.  So. Much. Inspiration!  But with all the drooling that goes on there, I have to remind myself, often, that Pinterest is full of other peoples ideas.  If I want let my creative ideas out of my head, I need to close the damn laptop, ya know?  Seriously, how many times have you said out loud while on Pinterest, "why didn't IIIIIIII think of that?!?".  Right??!  Oye.   Anyway, that said, there are still massive amounts of clever ideas that I want to recreate.  I saw these onesies a few weeks ago and I fell in LURVE!  My step-bro and his beautiful wife are expecting twin boys (!!!) so these were so perfect.  Behold!

Ha! :D


Aren't they great?  Here is the original inspiration, along with very handsome models: 

Source: humor-in-photos-and-pictures.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

   Those cheeks!  :D To make these, I used the same freezer paper stenciling method as my Lucky in Love Onesie tutorial found HERE, or up there under the Tutorials tab.  Super duper easy. 

  Well played, Pinterest.  Well played. Hey!  If anyone needs an invite to join Pinterest, leave your email in the comments, and I'll send you one.  We can waste several hours together! :D  Have a good day!  

Pillowcase Hamper - Tutorial

 Yall want to make a hamper?!  For like less than 10 bucks, with one of those vintage pillowcases you've been collecting fo-evah?! Yay!  Let's, then!

 I made this one when I was expecting Emmy, and it has withstood almost 18 months of use!  I love it so much... and it was a cinch to make.  The room she is in now is super tiny, so I needed a hamper that didn't take up a lot of space.  So out of necessity, I made this contraption and hung it on the wall!  Woot! We're in the process of moving her into a different room (if you can call Pinning ideas and daydreaming "the process of moving"), and the decor is going to be different from her current digs, so I am making a new hamper to match.  Thought I'd take you guys along for the ride!  I hope you'll give it a try!  It's crazy easy - except for the picking which pillowcase to use part.  ;)  

You will need: *  a delightful pillowcase*  an embroidery hoop*  grommets/grommet setting tool*  scissors*  a hammer*  a hook to hang your hamper on  



-NOTE- When I made the first one, I actually took my pillowcase to the craft store with me (crazypregnantlady) to ensure the hoop I got wasn't too big or too small.  For reference, my new pillowcase measures 19 inches wide across the top when laying flat, and my hoop is 12 inches in diameter.   I got my grommets at Joanns - they are 3/8ths inch and antique brass.  MAKE SURE you also purchase the grommet setting tool that corresponds with the size grommets you are using.  The tool item number you need will be on the back of the grommet box.  Easy peasy.
Also, the size of the grommet only really matters as it pertains to the hook you will be using to hang your hamper.  You want to make sure the grommet hole is large enough to get over and onto your hook.  Also, a scrawny grommet may not hold up as long as a bigger one.  Go for bigger.  

o1.  Lay out your pillowcase, nice and square and flat, with the side you want as the front facing up.  Iron it if you need to.

o2.  Measure along the top opening and find the center.  Mark where I have here... On the side of the pillowcase that's furthest from you.  Err... the inside.  ;)

o3.  Measure down two inches or so from your center point & mark.

o4.  Place one of your two grommet pieces over your marked point, and trace the inside circle:

o5.  Cut out the circle you just traced.  No need to be fancy here... just err on the side of a smaller hole.  You want the grommet to fit nice and snugly.

o6.  Insert the male piece of the grommet into the hole you cut.  This is the piece that's not flat.

Above is how it'll look from the right/front side.

Above is how the back looks.  We'll work from the back now.

o7.  Lay the female/flat grommet piece onto the male piece as pictured above.  You want the concave side facing up.

o8.  *Not pictured because I LOST MY GROMMET SETTING TOOL*, ugh.  Don't loose your grommet setting tool.  I literally went out to the deck and hammered the whatfor out of this poor grommet, after like an hour of searching for my setting tool.  Fail.  Anyhow, set the grommet gracefully by following the tools instructions, and....

o9.  Now, grab your hoop.  We're going to work with the part of the hoop without the screw.

10. Pull your pillowcase up through the middle of your hoop.

11.  Even out the pillowcase around the hoop.  For this one, I folded the pillowcase over until I hit the edge of the... what do you call it?  That 4-5 inch band at the top of a pillowcase?  I went to the end of that. :)

12.  Place the other embroidery hoop (with the screw) over top of it all and tighten her up!

13.  Hang on a wall and enjoy your saved floor space!

  Let me know if yall make one!  Or two - I was thinking this would be SO cute for kiddos who share a room - you could personalize them so easily!
Also, if anything was unclear or you have any questions, holler!

See ya sooon!!! :D