butterflies

rounded pockets

It seems like it's been awhile since I've stretched myself in the skills department and I've been feeling like I could use a little bit of a challenge. Not wanting to actually bite off a whole big challenging project this time of year, I remembered there was this little trick that I've always wanted to be able to pull off but have never been able to do smoothly. It seems like such an inconsequential thing, really, a sideline to the main event, sewing-wise. Still, my own incompetence in this area has been a source of irritation and self-recrimination.

Rounded pockets, people. They are tougher than they should be.

My chance to finally nail down a smooth curve was a recon from this (rather frightful) pajama top,


to a smock for Smootch. I used the collar with the lace edging for the top portion of my pocket and sewed it to a semi-circle-ish shape. Viola, a rounded bottom pocket.


Now to tuck the edge in around smoothly. My rounded shapes usually end up looking a bit more like many pointed stars rather than nicely arced curves. Something in the way I've been pressing them.

I sort of half remembered seeing someone's technique of making a cardboard mold to press the fabric into shape around.

Enter Tony the Tiger and his packaging.

Tracing out my pocket on folded cardboard and then marking out the seam allowance from the traced edge in gave me this:


Cut out and unfolded, it fit over my pocket like so:


Clipping the curves,


and then carefully pressing around the cardboard shape,


Yielded this rather fine, curved pocket:


Not perfect, but, believe me, a hell of a lot better than my previous pockets. I can see how making a few more clips or cutting out actual triangles would of made it even smoother.

Over pinning for fun and because I felt so smug, I sewed on the pocket,


and finished Smootch's smock (say five times fast).


Ahhhh. Feels good to accomplish something that has previous eluded me.

(I know I muttered a little bit about a repurposing vinyl packaging tutorial this week, but a slight change of plans. It's still coming, though, promise.)

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finger knitting demonstration by Smootch

This is for Mem and for those who have been reading long enough to know how to a safety landing.

trouser saga finale. for now.

Well, it's finally happened. Except for a couple pairs of sleevy pants he uses as pajamas, Birdie owns no other style of pants other than those of the trouser saga. He has outgrown everything else and I have made no other type. It doesn't help that I can produce a pair in under 20 minutes now.


Okay, so Birdie doesn't have a wide selection of pants style-wise to choose from, but he certainly has a lot of them now. And they all look different, mostly because they are recons from unloved adult clothing and I'm allergic to any sort of efficient production line type sewing. Each pair, like every person, has a logic all of their own.


To help deal with the cold weather I've started lining pants with old t-shirts. They've got that extra layer for warmth and Birdie seems to enjoy having something extra soft up against his legs. He's a texture kid, for sure. Here is his favorite pair, made with navy baby cord and patchwork pockets:


When offered a choice, the navy cords are the first ones in his hands. He even claps when he sees them come out of the dryer after washing (these and a pair of socks that every man in my life hates but Birdie because they happen to be pink. Oh, and they sport a picture of a certain red, fuzzy monster, but loathing that giggling nut is just natural.)

So, I am declaring an end to the trouser making. For now. The boy will grow again soon, seems there is no pleasant way to stop him, and I will most likely have another round in the spring as his second birthday nears. I am feeling rather pleased, though, that I managed to wrap up this need to keep the boy's legs and bottom covered with the completion of the pdf pattern, now avaliable on etsy. I'm struggling not to turn this post into a sales pitch at this point, but I just want to point out that I made us all a bloody amazing pattern and if you've got a little bottom in the 6-24 month range in your life, it would best be covered by a pair of britches that are very quick and easy to make. Trousers that would, by the way, look and feel very festive, yet still comfortable, if made from crimson velveteen, maybe trimmed in faux-fur, for all the holiday events we drag our poor sugar-overdosed children to.

Ahem.


Alright, that may have been a bit over the top. I'm not sorry, though. Tooting your own horn is part of what blogging is about. I feel no shame :D

I shall be back on monday-ish with a new tutorial. Something to help reuse/recycle all that crazy vinyl packaging everything cloth seems to come wrapped in lately. Until then, have a lovely, relaxing weekend :)

just a bit of knit

Here I am being all negligent with the blogging this past few weeks. I'm not the only one, though. All around the blogosphere people are MIA. There is so much to do this time of year, events, parties, planning, cooking. It's particularly busy for those of us who make stuff. Some serious late night sewing and crafting sessions, just trying to have everything ready for the holiday deadline. Remember to stay safe when you are tired and operating machines with pointy bits or glueing under the influence of the holiday cheer (friends don't let friends drink and hot glue gun).

(If you can't imagine what could really go wrong combining craft supplies and sleep deprivation, or if you just need a good laugh, try reading the infamous crafty but stupid thread on craftster.)

Here I've been plugging away on a bit of sewing and a bit of writing (tutorials that is... coming soon). We've also been making solstice decorations and the obligatory paper snowflakes. Smootch has developed a bit of intensity about finger knitting.


To my great shame, I am a knitting failure. I've tried on several occasions and haven't managed to learn more than the basic knit stitch (no purls for me) nor the stamina to finish a scarf. I like the fast, efficient work of the serger and lack patience to sit and knit. I had gotten rid of all my lovely yarn and knitting needles when we left Alberta. Yet yarn, like fabric, just sort of arrives and multiplies, and now, this woman who does not knit, still has a basket of yarn hanging around.


Perfect for Smootch, I guess. What to do with 2000 meters of finger knitted strands produced by an obsessing child? I know some of you have had to deal with this issue before. We are doing our best. The decorating is helping.


And having a loosey goosey sense of fashion is good too.


I'm starting to wonder if I can machine zigzag stitch together rows of finger knit to make skirts and what nots. Hmmmm...

An unexpected side effect of this is The Man taking up finger knitting too. He is now, as I type, sitting on the couch taunting a kitty with the 15 foot long chain of he just knit. Oh, wait, he's starting to double knit... maybe he's got a good idea or two of what to do with all this stuff? At the very least, he needs to take responsibility for his own chains, yes? I think I'd best just get him some knitting needles and get him going on some socks or something useful. We could really use some and he's definitely showing some interest.

(After reading that last paragraph out loud to The Man, he just confessed that his grandpa used to knit socks and helped his mom learn too. I think we're onto something here. Yay! I love knitted socks! Must go find more yarn!)

Okay, sorry about the bit of live theatre. I hope you all have a good weekend. I can't promise a lot of action this month, blog-wise, and you guys probably aren't reading it anyway, having to do holiday partying and all, but January is always a great month for crafting. I, for one, am looking forward to the cardboard box play that always comes after the holidays :)

What's in a name? giveaway

Alright all you clever people, I need your help.

I am just finishing up the many pocketed and knee patched pants pattern (yes, those of the trouser saga). I am hoping to have them out as an extremely reasonably priced ePattern pdf very soon in sizes 6 months to 24 months. Here's a little preview from the instruction illustrations:


Here is my problem. I've once again hit up upon one of my true failings: my inability to name my patterns and projects. Naming is just not my forte. My names are lame.

Can you help? Please, please suggest clever or sweet or cheeky names for the pants pattern. Tomorrow I am to do my final edit on the instructions and such. Leave a comment on this post and tomorrow morning I will pick my favorite and giveaway any pattern for free, you choice, from my shop.

Thanks for your suggestions and thanks for playing along!

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Tuesday, December 8

You guys are fantastic! So many great ideas. I am going to come back to mine the comments on this post for my next pants pattern (I've got a few in mind - as I said, I actually really like to make them), and, of course, reimburse any ideas used with a free pattern.

For this pattern, however, I decided to go with vikingmom, who reminded me what these trousers are about really. I'm also thankful to Myrnie, who first said, 'britches' (she also has recently met Amy Karol, jsyk). Thanks ladies! I hope you like your patterns.

Which leave me going with Birdie Britches for this pattern. I like it.

(I know fig fighter actually said it, but he doesn't count, being The Man and all :D)

Again, thank you everyone! Reading through the comments again brings up some ideas for more pants designs. Vik, I think I'm going to have to specially create something just to go along with Prints Charming Pants.

One last note: these trousers are definitely not just for boys (though, y'all knew that). When I was testing the pattern, I actually made up a pair of pink patchwork pants because I happen to have a lot of scrap quilting fabric from a woman who used a lot of pink. I should take a picture of them. Little 6 month size patchwork trousers - I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but they are really cute :)