PJ's and Another Fleece Idea

I have been doing good today. M took the kids to the pool this afternoon. I had 4 hours just to myself! Yes, I had to do some house cleaning but I was also able to trace a PJ pattern (Simplicity 3935) and a hooded sweater (Farbenmix Yorik), cut out two PJ bottoms, a PJ top, and a hooded sweater. I didn't read the general instruction pamphlet which turned out to be a huge (quite literally!) mistake. I didn't realize that the seam allowance was already included. So I added another 5/8". The pattern also has a ton of ease. So add that on top of my "extra" seam allowance and the PJ top is 2 sizes too large. I am too lazy too fix it and it's wearable. Why fuss with something that I only wear to bed. It will be better with my next PJ top though since I will cut it out correctly :-) I adjusted the seam allowance for the PJ bottoms and they turned out almost perfect. I will try to make a photo of them and post it on here.

I also came up with another idea for my small fleece remnants. I love scarves and the feeling of warmth they give me. However they aren't always practical because the ends flop this and that way. So I thought that it would be nice to have something smaller  that kind a hugs the neck without the ends. I love it so much that I can see myself making tons of it.

Essentially it is just a long rectangle of fleece. Both long sides were turned to the left side and sewn down. Then I sewed the two short sides together and I had a tube. Place it around your neck and you'll be warm all day long...

Happy Crafting

Me

Random Thoughts

2009 - It was a year of may changes and disillusions for us. My nephew and nieces brought great tumult into our lives, my best friend moved and we moved across town unexpectedly. I am ready for calm and comfort! I am glad that it’s over and 2010 has started. I so hope that 2010 brings us the much needed calm and quiet.

We are planning some great things for 2010: a visit to Georgia and Arizona, a trip to Italy and England, more sewing and crafting which hopefully will turn into more blogging. I would like to take up running again. But I will start with a modest goal of walking three times a week. It will be challenging to carve out this time just for me away from the family. But if I never try , I fail before I even start….

Have you ever hear from the “Chor ohne Grenzen”? I came across this commercial from the Telekom which was created Nov 09. A few hundred people coming together spontaneously (as much as can be) in the Leipzig Bahnhof singing Beethoven’s “Ode and die Freude” with Paul Pott. I love it… Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZH__HAa1I4

I have been doing lots of sewing and crafting. I just didn’t blog about it. I bought a ton of thin solid colored fleece. The local store had a special going on and I bought about 15 yards. I made already 4 hooded sweaters (2 kids and 2 adult ones). I have enough left over to make myself 2 sets of pj’s.

Now I have a ton of small pieces left over from the sweaters and no clue what to use it for. I have a book somewhere on sewing with fleece – but a lot of my books are still in boxes downstairs in the basement. I don’t feel like looking through boxes when I want to sew instead. So if I am too lazy to do that I will have to look on the internet for inspiration! I got inspired by this scarf - http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2009/12/sytc-win-scarf-tutorial.html. I can’t seem to justify paying for something that I can easily create myself. So yesterday afternoon, I made myself something similar.

I am so in love with this scarf. It was just as easy as I had thought and it only took about an hour to make J

Happy New Year from Me to You! May this year bring calm and quiet yet be also exciting and sweet!

Me

No tutorial today!

I didn't work on any tutorials today. I was really productive though. I made three tops today. One for P, one for J, and one for my sister S. I know that P's and J's fit but I forgot to make a photo of it.  S didn't have a chance to see hers yet because she is still at work. I really like her top and I hope she will too. I will get pictures later on when they actually wear their tops. 

I also wrote detailed instructions down for a friend of mine. She wants to make a little tote for her son. She also needed help cutting the fabric. 

I also had to cram in a bit of work at the office otherwise my boss would have complained :-) 

Tomorrow we are driving to Nuernberg to visit our family. There will also be a huge fabric market. Some people might think that I planned our family visit around the date of the fabric market :-) I wouldn't deny it...  I'll post some pictures of it if I remember to make photos.

So have a good weekend and I'll see you next week.

Rice Heating Therapy Bag Tutorial

The Rice Heat Therapy Bag Tutorial is another tutorial that I have tried out for my tutorial month. I found it on the Sew , Mama, Sew! Blog. The instructions are very clear with photos accompanying every step of the tutorial.

I made the heating pad size as well as the Boo Boo bag. The Rice Heating Pad has been used already several times with great success. Also the Velcro didn’t seem to be damaged by the heat of the microwave nor did it stink like plastic afterwards. So it’s all good! 

I think those would make a great stocking stuffers for Christmas. So my dear friends don’t be surprised if you get one :-) 

The T-Shirt Dress Tutorial

M and I had a conversation when I first got a sewing machine about 5 years ago; M said that I should sew clothing. And I remember telling him that I would never, ever in a million years sew any clothing. Nope, I would never do that!

Well, I guess I am eating my own words now. I have started sewing clothes around Christmas time. I got inspired by the T-Shirt Dress Tutorial

on thelongthread.com blog.

The tutorial has step-by-step instructions. But there aren’t any photos showing any of the steps except for when you place the skirt part inside the T-shirt. No worries though – the construction of the dress is very, very easy. You basically take a t-shirt and cut off the bottom hem. Than you’ll take about half a yard of fabric (cut to your specific length) and sew the two short sides together. You hem one side, and on the other side you’ll sew a basting stitch to gathering the fabric to the same size of your t-shirt. The last step is sewing the skirt piece to the t-shirt.

The tutorial mentions that a 10” length would fir a 3 year old and a 12” will fit a 5 year old. I cut my length just a tad different. I made dresses for a 6, 8, 9 and 10 year old. I used a 13” length for the tall 9 and 10 year old girls, and a 11” for the rather small 6 and 8 year. They are wearing the dress with leggings and I figured that the dress shouldn’t be that long than.

It doesn’t take long to make this dress. It takes me about 30 minutes from start to finish. I would be a great present with accompanying accessories for any stylish girl.

The Gratitude Wrap

One of the tutorials that I have been using over and over again is the Gratitude Wrap from SouleMama. It can be found here: Gratitude Wrap (Did you notice? I am now able to embed links – yeah!)

Anyway, I used this tutorial to create the Christmas presents for the teachers and a few friends.

This tutorial doesn’t have any pictures accompanying each step. It might take a few readings of the instructions if you are a visual learner like me. But I promise that once you wrapped your head around it, it’s easy going!

I did make some modifications to the inside pockets and to the straps. On some of them I used buttons instead. One of the pockets is also larger to accommodate a pen.

The wraps were a great hit. I just made one for myself and I made a few extra to have on hand for when an unexpected birthday sneaks up on me. So now I am all set :-)

"Best Hairband Ever" Tutorial

I used to wear headbands as a kid all the time. They were all different colors and widths. They would compliment any outfit I put on and to my mother's pleasure kept my long bangs out of my face. Aren't all mothers concerned with that?! I used to be so annoyed when my mom told me to put my hair out of my face, and now I am doing it with my girls! :-)  

P doesn't keep the hard plastic headbands on her head for too long because they start hurting her behind her ears after a while. So I found the "Best Hairband Ever" tutorial from foofanagle - http://foofanagle.wordpress.com/2007/06/12/best-band-ever/

It is an easy and quick tutorial. It takes you step-by-step (with great pictures) through the construction of a headband. The tutorial gives you two template types - narrow and wide - something for everyone! I have created many to give away to many happy girls and women and even some for myself to keep. This tutorial has definitely come in handy over the last few months!

Enjoy!