My next sewing projects

See & Sew Misses’ Dress Butterick B5632

Sew & Sew Misses’ Tunic Butterick B5594

Connie Crawford Misses’ Top and Pants Butterick B5301

 

 

***I purchased these patterns from Butterick last night for $2.99 each.  This morning the price of the uniform pattern is back up to $10.17.

Dressing up my board

My cute ironing board modeled by Pip, my 12-year-old lovebird who just happens to match my fabric.

Making a cover for my ironing board was easier than I expected.  I added extra padding and ended up overcompensating for that by making the cover a bit too big.  That’s ok, because the project also called for ironing board clips.  These are underneath the board, stretching across to keep the fabric nice and tight.

*I learned to use the zig-zag stitch on the edge, acting like a serger.

*I learned how to sew elastic.

Split personality

This is my latest Home Ec sewing project: a  two-sided tote bag.  If that fabric looks familiar, it’s because I used the leftovers from my cloth napkins.  I mailed it today to my sister-in-law, a fellow crafter.

Next: new cover for my ironing board and baby bibs!

Thrifting and a sewing machine

One chick is blogging a year of thrifty alterations at New Dress A Day.  Pretty cool.  I’m hoping to be able to do this after finishing Home Ec.

Straight lines are hard…

my pretty new friend

I can’t cut them or sew them – yet.

My first project through Home Ec was to sew a cloth napkin.  I decided I needed six.

Originally intended to be 18″x18″, my first attempts with a rotary blade led me to decide they’d be better as 17″x17″.  Even with the uneven seams, I’m happy with the results.  I made double-sided napkins with the three fabrics I chose.

my favorite combo

I learned three things:

1.  How to use a rotary blade.

2.  How to use my new sewing machine.

3.  Until I can sew straight seams, I need to stick to busy, dark prints.  And dark thread.

Still,  they’re pretty cute.

diamond pouch (you can see my reflection in the spoon!)

Sew it begins….

My first project through the Frecked Nest’s on-line Home Ec course is making cloth napkins.  These are the coordinating fabrics I chose to make six napkins.  I ignored the Ric-rac edging as I’m not a Ric-rac kind of girl.

I bought my first sewing machine today: the Brother CE-5500PRW.  The reviews were great, and it is a top pic of consumer reports. The  course website starts posting projects Tuesday.  The machine  should arrive Wednesday, which is perfect for me since I work the next two days.

I can’t wait to get started!