Patio Furniture Makeover DONE

I finally finished the patio chair cushion project that was started a little while ago. I got disgusted with the whole project after the first cushion was made and my velcro didn't stick. I used the non-sew velcro and I didn't follow their directions like I should have. A full minute is quite a bit longer than one would think it is! So, I put the velcro on the remaining 3 cushions as the directions stated and guess what? My fabric shrunk a full inch, so then the closure pieces didn't fit the rest of the cushion pieces. That is when I decided to toss it in the corner. Now after Tommy repainted the 4 chairs and table, I promised to finish the cushions. So back to the drawing board.

I ended up cutting pieces to add to the closure pieces so that they would be the correct length and it worked out very nicely. Here are the pictures:

The last 2 cushions may not make it through the summer - only was able to sew them with a 1 needle serger finish. While putting the new covers on the back cushions, the seam on the bottom that forms the box came unsewn. The seam didn't hold....oh, well. I'm done and next summer I'll just buy new ones because I will not be making them again! The fabric is a Waverly Outdoor fabric from http://www.housefabric.com/defaultproduct.asp and this is the pattern name http://www.housefabric.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=28498.

I used Coats and Clark outdoor thread http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=6f724c89-ff6c-49a0-af50-2ec09889a5c6 with a topstitch needle in the sewing machine and size 14 in the serger. The weave of this fabric is very loose and I think that is also why the 1 needle stitching doesn't hold up to stress.
Oh, and to get those new cushions into the new covers.....my Mother gave me the idea to put them into a garbage bag so it would slide right in, but someone on PR website went a little further with that idea. You put the cushion into a very large garbage bag then take your vacuum hose and suck the air out, then slide it into the cover, turn the vacuum off then cut the plastic bag off and pull it out of the cover. Worked like a charm!

Sewing update!

I finished the blouse last night and I really like this one, the fabric is so much better.

I made a fantastic purchase this morning on my way back from Weight Watchers (another 2.4# BTW!!) at this garage sale. I bought 4 boxes of patterns and 3 rulers for $30....I had $100 worth of fun just going through the patterns. Even Mama looked through them, I think she had that much fun looking through them too, and she doesn't sew! Here are pics of what 2 of the boxes look like after I went through them. And here is a picture of the fabrics I bought last weekend in New Orleans.

The one on the left is a paisley knit, then a pique polka dot, navy linen and then the paisley cotton/stretch. I need to get them washed. The polka dot needs to sit in vinegar and water to set the colors so they won't bleed. This was suggested by the owner. And I did a little online purchasing during the week and all of it arrived in the mail today.

I bought more Palmer Pletesch interfacing, waist band interfacing, pattern tracing paper and then from Pamela's Patterns, The perfect Tee Shirt, The Perfect Tank Top and the T-shirt makeover pattern along with some Heat'n'Bond for the hems of the T's.

Also, I broke down and purchased Pattern Master Boutique 4 from Nancy's Notions and it has shipped so I should get it next week sometime. Plus I registered for the making pants better online sewing class at PR which begins in June.....whew...I'm going to be very busy!

I'm back in the sewing room!!!

Since I've been losing weight (31.4#!!), I was able to use one of those patterns that I was trying to sell over on PR.

I made 3 muslin's before the fit was right.
I used size 22 and made a FBA of 2" and I had to shorten the shoulder width by 1/2".

Here is the finished blouse.
I dislike this fabric very much, it is a rayon blend and it was very difficult to cut, sew and hem. After I finished it I threw it into the washer and dryer and all these little frayed edges stuck out from the hem. It was just too difficult to turn under without a wavy hem. I'm wearing the blouse today to see how it wears, but I'm thinking it will not be a favorite! I'm working on another one with sleeves that I will post just as soon as I'm finished.

This weekend my new PR friend (Jill) and I traveled to New Orleans to Promenade Fabrics on St. Charles Avenue. What a wonderful shop! The gentleman (that I'm guessing was the owner) was a character and he knew his fabric. The best selection of linen and silk that I think I have ever seen. All of his fabric is from Europe. I didn't know there were so many varieties of linen! I bought 4 pieces of fabric! A navy linen, a piece of cotton pique that is white with navy polka dots a really nice brown paisley knit and a wonderful stretch cotton with orange/green paisley on white. Jill bought a few pieces as well, but she almost bought this fabulous lime green silk, but she decided she just couldn't pay that much for fabric and then she would be afraid to cut it!!! I totally understand that because I have a $25 yard Italian cotton that I haven't cut either! The gentleman even suggested that we go across the street for lunch at Hoshun Restaurant http://www.hoshunrestaurant.com/accolades.html, and he was right. The food and atmosphere was wonderful! Then we headed back to Metarie to Joann's and Jill bought a few peices of this wonderful silky feeling fabric for some blouses. Then we headed home. It was a wonderful day and I was so glad to finally meet JillRN1995, we will be going on another fabric shopping expedition in the near future.

Too many projects!!

I'm not getting much sewing done, only buying more stuff to sew! How crazy is that? I have just bought 14 yards of outdoor fabric to recover my cushions for the patio furniture and then I had to buy more needles for the serger so that I could sew this fabric plus several presser feet for the serger and now I need to buy the sewing thread that is outdoor friendly so that when I do get them cut out and sewed they won't fall apart in a year or two!! Plus it is too windy each day I want to get outside and spray paint the furniture! I need to get this done so when it warms up I can use it.

And I bought a new pattern for knits that I want to try plus I bought 6 different pieces of all types of knit fabric at Wal-Mart last Saturday and it is still sitting in the bag on the floor of the sewing room. As I'm typing this I realize I like to buy stuff for sewing as much as I like to sew. Then Thursday I went to Barnes and Noble and bought 2 sewing magazines and a big new sewing book published by Singer that is full of beautiful pictures of all sewing techniques.

And of course last Saturday, the really big purchase....my new car!! I bought one of those new Toyota crossover SUV's the VENZA. The color is Sunset Bronze Mica and it is beautiful. I have ALL the bells and whistles. Back up camera, DVD player in the back with 2 wireless headphones, Navigation package that has voice command, bluetooth telephone connection that is voice activated, Satelitte radio, auto dimming high beam headlights that is the coolest thing ever! Also, the automatic back hatch door that you just press a button and the no key startup and door opening and locking. It is the coolest vehicle ever!!!

Simplicity 3744 Threads finished!

I've finished another project. This one for my sister and if I can get her to let me post a picture, I will post later in the week! Edited 3-18: She let me post!! Originally started this dress last spring, but it is now finished and I hope she likes the finished product! It is made with a cotton shirting that is white with a light blue stripe. It looks like a very nice dress to wear on a hot day. The picture doesn't show the fabric very well because of the small light blue stripe. Oh well, it fits her very well, the only thing she will have to do is move the buttons on the back belt so that it doesn't hang down.

I then cleaned up the sewing room and serged the ends of more fabric and it is in the washing machine now. That is how I can tell if the fabric has been pre-washed once it is put away.

I think my next project is going to be........a pants muslin!! Yikes that is scary, but I have this really nice chocolate brown linen that I want a nice pair of pants out of and I bought this beautiful Italian cotton that is white with a choco brown stipe running through it and I want to make a nice blouse out of it and this will be a very nice outfit! That is my long term goal right now and in between that I have lots of knit that I want to make a Jalie sweetheart top and a vee nick tee out of. Sew much to do and sew little time!!!

On the weight loss front....21.2 pounds down!!! Yeah me.

Kwik Sew 3369

Here is my latest creation!

This was part of the Plus-sized sew along from PR that I participated in. I purchased this fabric at Hancock's awhile back to make this jacket. It was on the clearance table of the home dec dept. I think I paid about $5 yard.

I had originally thought I would line it with the green stripe but then
decided it would be too difficult to put on over a top with a sleeve since it is a cotton fabric, so I took the easy route and just made it unlined. I did use it as the under collar and the lining of the pocket flaps.


I found these really nice buttons at Wal-Mart, imagine that!










I wear a lot of the lime green tops, so I thought it would come in handy. It really fits nicely after I made some adjustments: 1)shortened the shoulder width of the yoke (front and back) by a good 1 1/2" 2) I didn't want the pocket flaps to go across the fullest part of my bust so I took about an inch in on the length of the yoke front 3)I took in 1 1/2" on the sleeve width at the top to about the elbow, the sleeve was just too full. 4) I orginally cut the 1X and increased the size to a 2X at the waist because of the pattern measurements, but after the 2nd muslin decided I didn't need the extra at the waist and ended up cutting the 1X all over and making the adjustments to the shoulder area. I made 3 muslins for this project before cutting the fashion fabric. The pattern is well drafted so it went together quite easy.

Back in the sewing room!

Finally, I was able to get back into the sewing room. I finished....yes, that is correct, finished the last 2 remaining items that I had cut out and not finished. Of course one, the aqua blue stretch poplin sleeveless top is too tight for me, but I finished it!! The other item was the Jalie sweetheart neckline top (previously posted picture in earlier blog) and it fit perfectly, except I ended up cutting off too much on the bottom before I hemmed it and now it is too short for me. I'll use it for a knock around the house top. It was very easy to sew and I am pleased with how well it fit without any modifications to the pattern. I will make it again and not cut too much off the bottom.

I also had finished before the Holiday's a Talbot's knock off top that I used a well worn short sleeve top as the pattern and it turned out extremely well. I'll post a picture the next time I post.