Backlog: Actually Useful Potholders

Fabric: L-R: Fat Quarter (New Zealand), Valentine's Day Remants (Jo-Ann), Licensed Dr. Who and Star Wars Fabrics (Jo-Ann), Klingon print (Spoonflower). Lining: InsulBrite (Jo-Ann)
Pattern: None
Other Materials: bias tape
Modifications: NA
Changes for Next Time: NA

Backlog: Nostalgia and Fear, Part III

 If you thought I was over my fear, I was not. 

Fabric: I think the polka dots are Keepsake Calico and the white is Kona.
Pattern: Simplicity 1086, headband was my own addition
Other Materials: velcro. after the pictures were taken, i also added buttons on the front
Modifications: except the addition of the headband, none
Changes for Next Time: none that i can remember?

Backlog: Nostalgia and Fear, Part II

Yep, I still couldn't bring myself to sew clothes for myself, instead pulling out some remnants for a slightly more modern looking dress.

Fabric: Remnants
Pattern: Simplicity 0172
Other Materials: velcro closures
Modifications: I don't remember? I think I did something different with the bow than it called for, but I can't remember what.
Changes for Next Time: i think i'd use more fabric for the skirt, give it more shape?

Backlog: Nostalgia and Fear, Part 1

Like many others my age, I was a big fan of American Girl dolls as a child, especially the historical dolls and outfits. Somewhere along the way, I parted ways with some-but not all-of my collection. That's where the nostalgia comes in.

At this point, emboldened by my recent successes with bags, I thought it time to sew clothes. But my confidence did not extend to fitting clothes. I am not any of the measurements on the pattern envelope. Yet, there were clothes I could sew without having to worry about fit-doll clothes.

And so I turned to my favorite historical fashion era for that.

Fabric: One of the premium quilt fabrics from Jo-Ann. White plain cotton, Kona, I think?
Pattern: McCall's 3627
Other Materials: velcro for closures.
Modifications: I don't remember making any changes to the pattern, actually.

Changes for Next Time: I don't like the construction of this one (skirt has a white bodice and then the top goes over that?) so I don't think I'll be repeating it. Further attempts at 18th century doll outfits will involve drafting things from scratch.

Also noteworthy is my first attempt at the sleeve gathers, which was a bit terrifying:

Backlog: Tote Van Gogh

Sometime in my early college days, I found a remnant I fell in love with and sewed a tote bag. Though I still have it to this day, it is a bit embarrassing, because I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I wanted it lined, but didn't know how to actually line something, so the seams are all exposed.

But, now armed with the knowledge of how to line a bag (and sew in a straight line) I found another remnant of beauty, matched some solids, and created a replacement.

Fabric: Starry Night is a Keepsake Calico (Jo-Ann) 80% sure the blue is Kona and the yellow is Country Classic (Jo-Ann as well)
Pattern: Drafted by hand
Other Materials: Interfacing
Modifications: NA
Changes for Next Time: The straps are a bit long? That's about it, actually.

For the record, I used the scraps to make my mother one of these.

Backlog: Theoretically Useful

My next project was an attempt to get myself under control and more organized in my approaches to sewing. With a pincushion, elastic, and a lot of pockets, I would surely have everything at my fingertips with a sewing apron.

The update a few months on is that it lives on the back of the chair in the sewing room and has become a repository for pens, pencils, and safety pins.

Fabric: Remnants from Jo-Ann
Pattern: Drafted from scratch
Other Materials: Batting for pincushion. Can't remember if I interfaced this or not. I probably did. I was really into interfacing at this point, because I'd finally found one that I liked (Pellon SF-101 for the record, I think I'd already bought an entire bolt)
Modifications: NA
Changes for Next Time: If you can't tell from the pictures, the pincushion causes some bunching. Possibly one of the reasons it ended up on the back of the chair is because the straps are a bit short and I can't easily tie them in the back. Also, you can't have two rows of flat pockets and put pens in both layers. And the elastic straps for the scissors won't hold the biggest scissors or the smallest ones-the ones on the left in the picture fall out if you lean over.

Backlog: My Knitting Kit

After making a couple (dozen) knitting bags, this one quickly became my favorite, and I decided to make a few accessories to match. First, a notions pouch.

Fabric: Dots and Blue were both fat quarter from Jo-Ann. Black is either Country Classics or Kona, probably found in the remnants bin.

Pattern: I now had a bit of a grip on bag construction, so I did not use a pattern.
Other Materials: Zipper. Can't remember if I interfaced this or not.
Modifications: NA

Changes for Next Time: NA

Next up, a sleeve for my DPNs.

Fabric: See Above
Pattern: I used a tutorial, but it has since been lost.
Other Materials: none
Modifications: NA

Changes for Next Time: The flap was too long for the width of the case and length of the needles-it doesn't flip over the needles!

A few weeks later, I finally bought myself a set of interchangeable needles and set to work immediately making myself a case for them. Each side has a sleeve for needles (black) and a sleeve for cables (blue), with a zippered pouch for other necessities in the middle.


Fabric: See Above
Pattern: Drafted myself
Other Materials: zipper, velcro
Modifications: NA
Changes for Next Time: Get iron in velcro or sew it on before construction-I meant to get iron on at the end and instead bought sew-in, which I glued on. Not that I'm going to sew another one of these-that zipper was a nightmare!