Indulgences

A few years ago I lost a lot of weight and I passed on most of my sewing patterns to someone who could use them.

I was perusing Ebay -- a dangerous pastime to be sure -- when I found a huge lot of various patterns.

Careful inspection of the photos showed them to be in my size and in similar styles to what I will wear.

There was also a variety of children's patterns mixed in, which I appreciate very much because I like to sew for my nieces and nephews.

How I managed to open the box upside down is beside me, but I did it.

Even more amazing is that she had packed all these patterns in this box.

I couldn't get them all back in.

I pulled through all the patterns and separated them according to gender/age.

I found three that I am passing on to my mama.

The rest all went into my sewing room.

There were a few crafting patterns, some girls and boys patterns, a couple of men's patterns, and a slew of women's patterns.

My biggest dilemma is deciding what to make first.

I've actually ran a test on a pair of knit summer capris.

I used fabric and thread I had on hand.

My daughter is calling these my 70's pants and says she isn't sure she'll be seen with me.

I've reminded her it is a parent's job to embarrass their teenage daughter.  :-)

Upcycling and Repurposing Curtains

I had some plain navy blue valances that we had used where we previously lived.  I'd stuck them up at our current living room windows, but hated them there.  They were too short for this length window.

I spent some time pricing curtains online and looking at fabric in Hobby Lobby.

I just didn't want to make that kind of investment (cost wise) for something I wasn't in love with, and I just couldn't find anything I was in love with.  I did check the local thrift stores and didn't find anything there either -- not even a compromise pair of curtains.

I came back home and looked at these valances again. 

I decided to take one down and take it up to my sewing room.

I added a strip of the fabric I used to repair the sofa and then a narrow strip of navy with polka dots.

I like the contrasting patterns, but the colors mesh well together.

So I upcycled/repurposed valances used in a former home.

I did these before I cut out my throw pillows to make sure I had adequate fabric.

I had more than enough and throw pillows are next on my list.

Cost to me -- I used leftover thread (borrowing a tip from Carol and using a slightly different shade of blue in the bobbin).

The valances had more than served me well in the last home...so I consider them a wash.

The blue polka dot fabric was a gift from Mama some time ago.

I think it took me longer to pin baste and to iron than it did to sew them.

So basically I consider this a more or less freebie.

Bonus is they tie in well with the existing fabrics I'm using.

What do recylcing, knitting, and thrifting have in common?

A while back I picked up a yellow cotton sweater from a yard sale.  I didn't pay much for it, but it was in pristine shape.  I wore it once or twice, but to be honest, yellow just isn't my color.

I had put it aside with other items to take to the thrift store and when I was gathering them I took a second look at it.  The sweater was a nice name brand and because it was a more expensive sweater it the pieces had been finished and joined together.  Some sweaters do not lend themselves to unraveling because they have been cut and sewn....the end result is just a bunch of single strings and nobody wants to knit or crochet with that many knots in their thread.  At least, I sure don't.

I decided to invest a little time into unraveling the sweater.  I wanted a project, but didn't seem to have the concentration to work on any detailed.  This seemed to fit the bill.

I had a little waste, but I still ended up with this much yarn.

I've knit two dishcloths that are going in Mama's Mother's Day basket.  She loves bright colors and her kitchen is yellow.  I think she will love them.  (Two dishcloths only used up one ball, so I still have yarn left to use up.). My plan is to fill a small basket with dish detergent, scrubbies, etc.

Sewing for Toddlers -- Upcycling or Recycling?

My grandson has hit the same stage of growth my son did -- that one where the legs are long and the body is lean.  It was horrible finding pants for my son and of course, at that time I didn't even have a sewing machine.  However, now I have a sewing machine and loads of time. 

These are our test pair.  I'll be mailing them to my daughter in law to try on him.  However, I think I need to go up one size.  The pattern book is one I have had for years and I love.  The clothing looks dated, but new fabrics and lets face it -- children's styles just don't change that much.  To keep costs low on our sample I went to the thrift store and found two large pair of men's pants.  I used the fabric from the legs of a tan pair to make these.  (I'm saving the denim for the next size up.)  Total cost per pair of pants will be a whopping $3.59.  I didn't even buy the thread I used....it was a gift from my husband's great aunt.