Crocheting for Myself

One of my friends (Thanks Jenn!) shared a link to a crocheted sweater pattern that is basically two hexagon granny "squares"  with a little alteration.  This time of year I wear heavy sweaters day and night, and this pattern looks like it should be warm.  I decided to start one for myself.  I'm using a red acrylic yarn -- in deference to my husband's wool allergies and because it is machine washable and dryable.  Red because it is a color that makes me happy.

The original pattern is here:

https://makeanddocrew.com/day-date-easy-crochet-sweater-pattern/

Knitted Shawlette

A to me from me Christmas gift.

I use two skeins of light worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles to knit this shawl.

The pattern is free online.

Pincha

Thanks to sales prices I spent $7.03 on this shawlette including tax.

The feather pattern curves around the neckline creating a bit of an asymetrical feel when I pin it together.

I love that the short rows create an interesting patterning.

A New to Me Project

I have had the first two Alabama Chanin books for years.  I would always pull them out and look, but I never tried any of the projects.  After a few days down with a summer cold, I was feeling a bit better and wanted a quiet project.  I really kind of wanted to hang in my recliner, but I felt too good to "do nothing."  A quick perusal of my crafting bookshelf found me thumbing through my books with new interest.  I decided I could pick a hand sewing project, but the rules were I could only use supplies on hand.  Nothing like a good craft room challenge!

9 hours later I finished a fun skirt that I will get a lot of wear from.

We are supposed to attend an art exhibit reception this weekend and I'm going to wear this.

In a way, it was frugal because everything I needed came from supplies, but when I compare it to prices of ordering kits or buying finished pieces from Alabama Chanin -- wowzer!  

Even with 9 hours of labor and materials, I am estimating my skirt would cost about $120.

I opted to not reverse applique my entire skirt because I wanted the red to be an accent, but even if I had, I would estimate I would come in at around $180.

All savings aside, I had the pleasure of making it.  

It is totally a one of a kind piece made especially for me.

That is kind of hard to put a price tag on.

Frugalities of Last Week

 

  In no particular order:

 -- I cooked a large batch of blueberry waffles and whole package of bacon.  These were to serve as breakfasts for several days.  I baked brownies for my family rather than do a doughnut run.  We did a "clean out refrigerator" meal for supper.

 --  I cleaned out my closet and took stock of what I have for fall.  I'll need winter skirts and perhaps some tights, but nothing too major. I've made my thrifting list and I started looking.  (I found one velvet maxi skirt, a floral midi skirt, 2 blouses, and a jacket for $20.28.  I'm hoping to find a few more skirts and a heavy,neutral cardigan.

-- I hung a load of dress clothes to dry.

--Our supper came from the freezer and pantry.  If I am careful I think we can make it all week without grocery shopping for even dairy.

 -- I checked all the winter blankets and found one that needed mending.  I canned 4 quarts of lentil soup, which used up lentils I had on  hand and some celery/carrots/onions that needed using.  I also canned Mayacoba beans (7 quarts) and black beans (6 quarts).  I canned 12 quarts of salsa as well.

 --  My daughter had a gastroentology appointment so we combined errands while we were out.  I picked up library books and we picked up her student ID.  It was so hot walking around campus that afterwards we picked up 2 iced teas from McDonalds.  Last year the school had almost 30,000 students and we could not find parking within miles of campus.  Even worse, the school had coned off many of the streets in an attempt to control traffic flow.  Needless to say it was a crazy morning.

 --  In preparation for school, we made a Sam's Club run to pick up bottled lemonade....my daughter's go to drink.  The cost is far less and the bottles fit well in her backpack.  While there I stocked up on a few bathroom supplies and bought an extra bottle of laundry detergent.  In my recent "use up" things I have opened my last bottle.  While we were there we found her a t-shirt and some socks for this fall.

 --  We found ourselves back on campus for an 8:00 AM meeting and we packed coffees to go. 

 -- We took advantage of J.C. Penney's back to school sales and bought bras.  Our preferred brand was buy 1 and get the second for 1 penny.  I bought 4 for myself and 2 for my daughter.

 --  We went to Sears and found the rest of my daughter's fall school clothes.  Our best finds were winter peacoats for $21, a blue cardigan for $5, and several other tops in the $10 range.  We even found jeans to fit her -- they prove to be quite elusive at times.  We also bought one nice dress and a nice pair of flats (dress shoes) because I am big believer that everyone needs a go to outfit if the needs arises.  While that outfit was not frugal, I considered it to be an investment kind of like a suit is for a guy.

 -- I took advantage of Sears' sales and found 4 neutral skirts marked 40% off.  Since we have mild fall/winter/spring seasons I will be able to wear these through each.  In fall and spring I will either go bare legged or wear lighter hose and in winter I will simply use fleece lined tights.  These skirts are in a style that will allow the blouse/jacket/cardigan to determine how dressy the outfit feels so I am confident I will get a lot of wear from them.

 On the surface, I don't feel like the week was horribly frugal.  However, we were careful to not do anything that wasn't alloted for. Sadly on the utility bill I cleared my $200 mark.  The amount was $209, which still isn't bad for summer in the South.  I've also had the added usage that canning entails.  I'm hoping August will be in the same range, but I am not sure.  It has been extremely muggy and hot.                

Chatter and Summer Nights

This is just a general chatter of what's going on and what's flowing through my mind.

•  This week is my daughter's graduation.  I can't believe how quickly her first two years of college have flown by.  
• I went to Aldi this week and stocked up for the next few weeks.  I spent $192. This included potting soil and all the supplies for a graduation get together.  I'm thinking other than milk and a few oddities that I won't have to shop for a month.  That's the plan anyway.
• I finally planted the patio garden.  We have basil, oregano, Roma tomatoes, green onions, radishes, and bell pepper potted.  I also planted a "hummingbird" mix of flowers in a pot to go by the front door.
• I'm ready for the heart monitor to be off!  Tomorrow is the day...thank goodness.  It isn't painful, but it is kind of irritating.
• The last few days have been kind of cool temperature wise....the house has stayed in the 60s.
• Daughter sold back a college text book. 

In the midst of general errands and life, I'm still working on my sewing projects.  Even though the temps have been cool, I know summer is coming.  I decided to go with a lightweight gown for my sleepwear portion of the challenge.

The lace, thread, and fold over elastic all came from my stash.

The floral print (reminds me of watercolor flowers) came from the remnant bin at JoAnn's.

The pattern is from an older Kwik Sew lingerie book that I am not sure is even in print anymore.

Total cost for the gown is approximately $5.

My personal challenges for this project were:

1.  Using this lace.  I had never sewn with it.  I opted to keep seams less bulky by using the fold over elastic for finishing it off.

2.  I'm still working on more professional finishing.  I overlocked all the seams and used a lovely lilac thread for stopstitching.  The inside looks like a purchased gown.

I'm not sure which piece I will work on next.  I'm torn between a skirt and the cardigan.

Somber Wear

Somber wear seems like such an odd category to me.

I rarely ever wear all black or all of one color period.

I love florals and almost all other prints.

For my somber wear, I pulled from my stash some dark navy fabric with a simple floral pattern.

I've had this fabric for a good 13 years or so.

I bought it when I was learning to sew some simple things.

Of course, it is slippery fabric and I never could bring myself to try sewing it up.

This challenge offered me the perfect excuse.

The fabric, pattern, zipper, and thread all came from my stash.

(An old pattern from before the giant box I purchased....in fact, I don't remember buying it at all so I am thinking it may have been one that was given to me.)

The detailing doesn't show up well, but the waist line has an inverted v and there are slight gathers under the bust.

In keeping with my personal challenges:

1.  The fabric is indeed slippery and a bit fiddly.  This dress took a lot of pin basting.

Then the fabric wanted to fray and I spent a lot of extra time carefully finishing each seam.

2.  I put in an invisible zipper.  It took two tries, but I finally got it.

3.  I cut two sizes larger for the top and graded down for the waist and hips.  My basic shape is an inverted triangle.

I'm broad shouldered and larger through the bust.  It took a couple of tries of fitting the waist, but I'm pleased with the results.

However, this dress does remind me of why I very rarely wear dark colors.

They just don't make me happy overall....so somehow this seems perfect for my somber wear.

Summer Days aka Shorts Weather

Summer days are fast approaching and in the South that means hot weather is on the horizon.

In the sewing challenge one of the items we could make was a pair of dress pants or slacks.

I asked for, and received, permission to substitute dress shorts and everyone was fine with that.

In my area, a pair of longer shorts made of a dressier fabric and a nice top can be worn almost anywhere.

In keeping with my personal challenge to myself I used this as an opportunity to expand my skills.

These shorts are made with a bottom weight cotton with a bit of stretch.

I cut out one size and graded down the hips to the next size.

I still kept them loose enough because my personal preference is slightly looser dress pants.

These have my first ever attempt at a mock fly and zipper.

The cost wasn't horrible on these.  I actually found the fabric on clearance at JoAnn's.

It was the end of the bolt and there wasn't any more to be found.

However, there was a perfect amount for shorts for me.

The thread, zipper, and pattern all came from my stash.

Total I have less than $7.00 in a custom fit pair of shorts, so not too bad.

Sewing for my Husband

I've never made a man's button up/down shirt before -- or hadn't until now.

Even though this isn't on my sewing challenge, it is in keeping with my desire to learn new skills. In addition to being the first try at this, I also practiced some other new skills.

 1. French seams -- not as hard and as mysterious as the name implies, but the extra edge stitching and seaming adds a lot of extra time to the garment.  However, the finished result is nice.

 2.  I also had to add length to the shirt because of my husband's height.   I am thinking about naming my seam ripper, because she and I are now on friendly terms.  I've apologized for what I said when I had to take the collar off.  It took me two tries with it, and I think it still isn't perfect.  I really didn't want to ruin the fabric by taking it on and off repeatedly.  It is more than fine to wear...just a flaw I see. It is in need of a good pressing, but all in all I am pleased with the results.

 (The lighting isn't great, but it is actually a peach color more so than a pink.)

 Oh, this one was pretty frugal, too.  The fabric, thread, and buttons were all from my stash.  (Well, frugal if we don't try to figure up a cost per hour kind of thing.  It took me a long time, but since it was my learning experience I'm okay with that.)

The Final Countdown

We're entering the final countdown of craziness to get the last few tax returns out.  This has been a weird season for me because I have only been working weekends.  That is changing this week and I'll be working pretty much daily right on up to the deadline.  However, we are cutting off on April 15th.

 I spent my last day of freedom (only answering phone lines) today.  I took advantage of it and worked on one more summer dress.

 This one is a crinkly cotton.  (I'm woefully ignorant of whether it has a proper name or not...sigh).  This was the first time I worked with it.  In all honesty, I like the pattern and the way the directions are written.  However, I would do some things differently the second time around if I were to use this fabric again. I'd double my facings, rather than try to use interfacing.  I'd also use French seams.

The fabric tends to want to fray a little.  I think those things would have made for a better finished product.

Ironically, I don't think I'll use this fabric again.  I wasn't thrilled with how it sewed and I dont like not being able to truly press things when I sew. Having said all of that.  I do like the color(s), and it does fit well.  

Take Two

This is take two of my summer dress.

I altered the neckline to a soft v and added facings.  

The original pattern has you just fold over and hem.

Again, this fabric was from my stash and we have deemed it my "Parisian Print"...lol.

There are actualy cats on it, too.

Not sure why I didn't photograph one.

Spring Dress

I actually finished sewing this just as March was ending.  The plan was for this to be my working muslin and see how it went.  I traced out the pattern, because the sizing on the envelope seemed off to my usual experiences.  I was glad I did.  The pattern I went with was 2 sizes smaller than the envelope hinted at.  Fortunately I was able to seek some advice from some others who sew.

I finally settled on making the size my "intuition" was telling me to make.  It fits perfectly!  

 With me being home, hating to be hot, loving to wear dresses, and wanting comfort combined with presentableness, this is the perfect summer dress for me. I imagine this dress, with its soft knit fabric, great length, and happy colors, will get a lot of wear.  I did have to buy the pattern, but the fabric was from my stash.  I also have fabric for several more of these and will be altering the pattern slightly to create the illusion of variety.  I'm expecting by the time I am finished that I will have the cost of the pattern down to less than $2 per dress.  A price I am more than willing to live with.

Summer Blouse

This is my working muslin for this shirt, view C.

I think the neckline is al title more scooped than I was expecting.

It isn't too deep to wear, but when I make another I will go with View E and use the sleeves from C.

The yellow tint is from the light, but the fabric has a pretty navy base.

Hiding Out

Some kind of virus/cold has hit our house, and I've been miserable.  Not sick enough to be asleep most of the day, but sick enough to be miserable and kind of grouchy.  I've sequestered myself in my craft room....I think it is safest for everyone at this point.  

Today I worked on a wearable muslin of this skirt pattern.

Looking at it on the hanger, it looks so short to me.

Ironically, it comes to my knees when it is on.

I like the straightforwardness of the pattern.

I like that it has pockets.

This particular fabric was left over from a shirt I made for my daughter.

I wasn't sure I would wear it, but it doesn't look bad with a solid top.

I've made note of what few adjustments I would make and have plans to make another skirt soon.

Half Price!

The doctor recently adjusted my daughter's medication for Crohn's Disease and the inflamtion in her body has gone down so much that she has dropped a pants size or two.  She loves to wear jeans and is slightly taller at 5'9" , and we have the best luck finding her jeans at Old Navy.  We had no choice but to get something for her to wear -- her pants were literally sliding off of her more than I could easily take up.  So waiting for a sale wasn't an option for us.

 We had to run errands and Old Navy was on our list of stopping places.  We spent a while trying on different styles and sizes until we finally stumbled upon the "perfect" jeans.  I'm trying to remember being a teenager and how the "perfect" jeans were so important.  She was upset and frustrated because they only had them in one shade of blue.  Being older, I said we could just buy several pairs of the same color.....what was I thinking?  I'm pretty sure based on the look she gave me that I must have been speaking in tongues or have grown a second head....either way that was not a winning suggestion.

 While she put back a couple of pairs, I wandered through the clearance section.  I hadn't been going to go through it because I honestly don't need anything.  I am so glad I did!

 Guess what I found?  4 pairs of jeans in varying shades of blue....in her size...in the preferred fit...and 50% off!  They were new with tags, but because they had been bought online and returned they couldn't sell them at full price.  They were an online only kind of thing.  Three pairs were tall sizes, yet too long, and I will be hemming them.  The fourth oddly enough fits in length.  So I paid (with tax) $65 for 4 brand new pair of jeans for her!  I'll gladly hem three pair of pants for a $65 savings....in fact, if I can find a job hemming them at that rate I may take it.  It will take longer to thread the machine.

Clothes Shopping

For Christmas I received a gift card of $50 for Forever 21.  We do not have one of their stores near us, but since I knew I would be traveling to a town that does I saved the card.  

 I really didn't have anything special in mind, but I decided to look anyway.  I always hear about gift cards sitting and never being used, so I make an effort to use them up.

Most of the colors in the store seemed to be "not me."  I found one top for myself, but I found three tops that I thought would be perfect for my daughter. In order to make sure I do not leave any money on a gift card, I always go armed with a little extra cash and deliberately spend just over the amount on the card.  I spent a total of $57.22 with $3.62 of that being tax.

I bought this blue gray top for me:

  For my daughter I bought a long sleeved button up shirt and two short sleeved print t-shirts.  I know short sleeves seem kind of odd for February, but she can layer them under things or she can put them aside for spring, which isn't far away.

 

Winter Wardrobe

While I cannot justify tossing the items that I have that are not animal cruelty free I can make sure anything that comes in is.  I had several pairs of boots that had reached their wear limit at the end of last season.  While we were traveling my husband found these. I fell in love with them immediately and they are all man made materials.    I was actually able to get them on sale, which helped cushion the clothing budget some.  However, no matter what new boots are rarely inexpensive.  They come to the right height on my leg and are neutral enough I am certain I will get a lot of wear out of them.  I've tried them with pants, skirts, and dresses with good results.

Christmas Box Beginnings

I've finally finished the first of the handmade Christmas gifts.  The pattern is one I purchased two years ago for 99 cents and it has for different apron patterns included.  My daughter in law is really petite so I decided on a tie around the waist style for her.  She's asked for cast iron cookware, but I want to add something homemade in, too.  The fabric came from my stash and so did the thread.  The small piece of interfacing in the waist band was a leftover strip from another project.

Refashioning a Man's Shirt into a Blouse

I started with a long sleeved dress shirt that was my husband's.  The collar and the cuffs had begun to fray and it was beyond repair.  However, the rest of the shirt was in excellent condition.  He's quite taller than I am with me being far closer to 5 feet than his 6 feet plus.....so the shirt was perfect tunic length for me, but swallowed me whole so to speak.

I cut off the collar (being careful to save all the extra buttons for my button jar) and rounded the neckline.  A quick turn under and seaming finished it off.  I chopped the sleeves to sit just below my elbows...this length gives me the most year round wearing out of a top.  A quick hem and some tucking to shape them worked wonders there.  Now for the body I did two things.  I cut the shirt just below my natural waist to allow for seaming.  I did some slight shaping to the top.  I then gathered the piece I had cut off and reattached it.  The portion of the sleeves I removed was used to help make a tie belt for the back.  Then I pulled some clearance lace from my stash.  I had a partial spool left from a long ago project.  I added a lace that has a crocheted feel to the neckline and the sleeves.

This is really cute with a pair of skinny jeans and ankle boots.  It looks a lot more feminine than a t-shirt and given how low pants are designed to sit now I much prefer a tunic length.  The fabric is already soft from repeated wearing. 

The cost was $0 and a little bit of my time.  Not bad for a fall wardrobe addition.

Final Tunic for the Queen

Today was a day of sewing.  Yesterday I spent the day doing housework, working in the kitchen and getting things ready for a new school year.  Today I only did my basic touchups and spent a couple of hours in the craft room. 

The finished piece is just what she wanted.  I'm glad I did the practice piece because my notes made this one easier.  I also knew which spots were tricky and what to watch out for.  She has two fall tops from stash fabric and a pattern we had lingering. 

Pastel Dress for my Niece

It is so rainy and dark this afternoon that I cannot get a clear photo to show the color.  This is a pretty pastel blue solid fabric on top and then a matching colored print on bottom.  My niece is an animal lover and the ribbon has puppies and kittens on it.

All the fabric, interfacing, thread and pattern came from my stash -- the pattern being one I bought multiples of when my daughter was younger.  This literally cost me my time.