Monday, May 27, 2013

Five Petaled Flower necklace - IP

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Inspiration Point
May 2013 Inspiration Point

I (Major Moma) did  something different for this month's Inspiration Point.  I crocheted a necklace!  I have just started to learn how to crochet.  M taught me when she was visiting last fall.  I have been meaning to share some of my projects here on the blog.  But, I have just not gotten around to it.  Maybe I will post about them when I have nothing else to show, just to fill the space.

crochet Five Petaled Flower necklace

The pattern is 5-petaled flower necklace designed by Lia Govers.  I found it on Ravelry.  It is a sweet little pattern made with a heavy thread weight yarn.  It was pretty easy, even for a noob like me.  I had to learn a couple new skills to complete it, like the triple crochet.(yes, I am that new)

crochet Five Petaled Flower necklace

I used a graduated colored yarn that goes from pink to white to pink again.  At the end, I took my chain and slip stitched it to the chain to make a loop.  So, you can just thread the flower into the loop for the closure.  It seems to work fairly well.  I made it long enough to be wrapped around twice ... but only my daughter has worn it so far.  I am sure I will wear it later.

crochet Five Petaled Flower necklace

So, do you all crochet?  What do you like to make?




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Monday, May 20, 2013

Simplicity 4020 revisited

Pin It I (Major Moma) have already made one of the views of the Simplicity Pattern 4020 and it turned out pretty nice.  So I moved on to another view.  Often times in a pattern, the different views include only minor changes to the same item.  Not so with 4020.  Each of these shirts are quite different and have completely different pattern pieces. They do share a couple different pieces, but in different combinations and they really create separate looks.

Simplicity 4020 View E

This time I made view E.  I think it has a distinctly kimono inspired look.

source

Though there are several pieces involved, the shirt came together rather simply.

The instructions are very clear and the neckline looks complicated but really is not.  I really like the shape of this top as it makes a clear delineation between your bust and waist.  For us girls that are a bit fuller chested but short torsoed, often shirts make us look heavier than we are.  But the gathers in the top allow for a larger chest (without any adjustment) but cinches in the waist nicely.

Simplicity 4020 View E, back

I think the back even looks pretty with the flowing sleeves but cinched in shape.

Do you make all the views in a pattern envelope, if only to get your money's worth?  Or do you pick a favorite and stick with that view?

Monday, May 13, 2013

Making mending fun ... sorta

Pin It My husband thinks that because I (Major Moma) can sew, that means I can mend.  He will put clothing with all sorts of rips on my sewing table with the implied task that I figure out a way to extend the life of that poor worn out shirt/pant.

But what he doesn't understand is that not everything can be or should be mended.  If he has a big gaping hole in the sleeve of his shirt that is not on a single seam, maybe that shirt should be relegated to yard-work-only wear.

And, he completely cannot comprehend my loathing of mending.  "But you love to sew ..."  Sewing something new and creative is different than patching a hole.  At least in my mind. 

So, in order to get myself motivated, I used March's Inspiration Point image.  And I used Made by Rae's excellent ideas for making knee patches.

March 2013 IP

These are my son's jeans.  He normally perches in a squat position when playing, so he had not worn through too many pants.  But that has been changing lately so a few of his pants I made into shorts because they would be grown out of before long.  And this pair I added the patches.


Do you see where my idea came from in the IP image?

creative patches

Funny enough, Eli really likes them.

We have not really advertised it this month, but there is a May IP.  We invite you to create ... anything... based on the below image and upload it to our flickr group page.  It can be sewn, paper crafted, a story, poem ... We really mean anything.

May 2013 Inspiration Point

 So, will you join us?

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Pants with patches

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 A while back I (Major Moma) posted about a blue collared shirt and a brown vest that I had planned for my son's Easter outfit.  But, I did not yet complete pants to go with them. 
pants with built in patches
Eli with his best friend.
I did actually finish those pants and he wore them on Easter, and several times since.  I am just now having the chance to tell you all about them.
They are the Blank Slate pant from Blank Slate Patterns by Melly Sews.  I have made these guys several times and love them more each time.  This time I added a couple of twists.  For both the front and back I did patch pockets.  I used the textured side of the shantung that I used on his vest.  And then dressed the pockets up a bit with some cream satin piping and bright blue top stitching.
clean slate pants with built in patches, front

clean slate pants with built in patches, back

Then I did something really different.  I added patches to the knees.  I learned about this technique from Made by Rae.  Pure genius.  You build the patch into the pant so you don't have to add it later.  I made these patches out of the same fabric, following the tutorial, and top-stitched with that same bright blue thread.

Clean Slate pants with built in patches

The best part is that he loves the look of them too.  I think that built in patches will become a norm for us.

What about you?  Do you have any tricks to make your clothes more durable and user friendly?


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