2015 Sewing Year In Review

2015 was an incredible year!!  Here is what I accomplished, sewing-wise:

Accomplishments	Completed Patterns
I made 5 adult pairs and 1 child's pairs of Lazy Pants.  I took a class a JoAnn's for Lazy Pants.  I mixed different patterns, and drafted my own pattern using Tilly's book - Love at First Stitch.	Simplicity 2290 Love at First Stitch: Margot Pajamas
Learned how to add side-seam pockets (referenced Tilly's book)	Love at First Stitch: Clemence' skirt side seam pocket pattern
Made a dog coat for a friend. This was very complicated for me!	Simplicity It's So Easy A1227
Learned how to insert a sleeve	(via the dog coat)
Made a child's jumper for my niece (complete with Frozen character print corduroy and a cotton border).  I learned to how use the automatic button maker on my sewing machine - love it!!	Simplicity 1568
Made 3 skirts as presents	Kwik Sew K3794 Elastic waistband skirt
Made 1 child's skirt as present for my niece	Simplicity 2083
Made 1 half apron as a present for a friend	See & Sew B5411

Note: my phone broke, so no photos OR videos to share with you :-(

It's So Easy - Sleepwear

I have archived my pajama bottoms project for myself.  I abandoned this project lieu of taking the Lazy Pants class at JoAnn's.

Simplicity It's So Easy: 2116
It's So Easy Men's/Misses' Sleepwear
Purpose: I thought I would make pajama bottoms for me and Jay.

Timeline:  
Jan 18, 2015 - I cut the pattern pieces and washed the fabric.
Jan 31, 2015 - I placed the pattern pieces on the fabric.  To my dismay, I didn't enough fabric. Rats!
Feb 1, 2015 - I made a trip to JoAnn's. Lucky for me, snuggle flannel was on sale for $2.79/yd!!  I bought enough to finish my current project and fabric to make 2 more adult pajama pants!  I also bought some fabric to make a skirt.
Feb 3, 2015 - I pinned the pattern pieces to my fabric, and cut the fabric.  I screwed up cutting the crotch.  I will pick up this project in a few days, because I want to make a skirt for my niece for Valentine's Day.

I'm the FIRST Inductee to the Fly Hall of Change!!

Introducing the FLY Hall of Change

FLY HALL OF CHANGE We’re inducting our most inspirational members into the FLY Hall of Change – and you could be next!  Every quarter we’ll honor one rider or pulser who has pushed beyond the burn and positively impacted his or her own life as well as the entire Flywheel community.  We’re thrilled to announce our first inductee, Texas' own, Nia Kelley from Plano.  Watch Nia’s incredible story HERE and see how she’s inspiring us to #NeverCoast.  And, click HERE to learn more about the program and to submit your own story.  You could win a one-year membership among other amazing prizes.

The Happs

I have had a exciting month, hence the lack of blog posts.  However, I haven't stopped sewing!!

Highlights

• I wrote a "how to" paper for therapy about sewing an elastic waistband skirt
• I made a accompanying video to go with my paper.  I am re-recording again to show marked improvements in my speech.
• I completed my outpatient program at Pate!  It was incredibly bittersweet. I really miss going there every day.  I made goodie bags and hand-written cards for the staff there.
• I made a skirt for a patient at Pate!  I just learned that she received and enjoyed her gift box!!
• I made a muslin for another patient at Pate. She wanted the same skirt that I finished for another patient.  She wanted it in the same fabric.  Luckily, I had some leftover and only needed 1.25 yard.  We took the muslin for her to try on, and it fits perfectly!  Now, I need to make the skirt in the same fabric for her.
• I made a video blog for Flywheel Sports.  I will post when they are going to share it!!!

McCall's M2818 - Misses' Tops, View D

I'm working on my first tank top.

McCall's M2818 Misses' Tops, View D (upper left)
Purpose: I wanted to make a top to accompany the skirt that I am making for my gift skirt.
Timeline:  I have spent 4 hours, split across several weekends.  I am making a muslin. The pattern instructions are quite simple.  But, the multi-size pattern is difficult to cut.  There is no timeline for this project.

Another Kwik Sew K3794 Skirt

Well, this is a popular skirt!  Another patient from Pate saw me making the last skirt and wanted one.  I only had a little of material left, so I decided to make a muslin.  I also wanted to measure the amount of elastic to fit her.  The skirt came together quickly. Even though it's a muslin, I was very pleased with the workmanship. I will post a finished version when I find the time to work on it.  I am also working on a top to go with the skirt.  I made a muslin of that one as well.

Muslin - Front

Muslin - Back

Project: Kwik Sew K3794

Kwik Sew K3794 Misses' & Girls Skirt
Purpose: A patient at therapy really captured my heart!  I decided to make a skirt for her. She likes the color blue.  She discharged early, but I made the skirt with some other gifts to send to her.
Alterations: None.  However, I ripped the skirt (where the waist band and the skirt met) and had to patch it back!
Comments: I really like the instructions for Kwik Sew!! They were easy to follow.

Finished Skirt

Project: Simplicity 2083 Child's Skirt

Simplicity 2083 - Child's Skirt
Purpose: I am working on a skirt for Valentine's Day for my niece.
Alterations: I didn't like the flower or the rick rack.  So I didn't include them. The instructions were so confusing, true to form. 
Timeline:
Thursday, Feb 5, 2015 -  
a. I prepped the pattern. I cut all the pieces, ironed them, and divided up the pieces according to view.  I chose to make view A; I preserved the view B pieces in a sandwich bag.  I cut the pattern out. In retrospect, I bought too much fabric (almost double).  I was pretty proud about cutting the notches. My technique is to cut a rectangle around the notches.
b. I stay-stitched the waist around the pattern pieces.  Luckily, I watched a video showing how to stay-stitch. I was about to sew the front and back pieces, but I realized that you were supposed to stay-stitch them individually.  I back-stitched for permanency.
Friday, Feb 6, 2015 -
a. I decided to make the skirt smaller.  Originally, I cut it at size 6, so she could wear it longer.  At Christmas, her measurements were at a size 5, but I measured the waist around her belly button.  So, I cut the fabric according to the size 5 pattern.
b. I sewed the front and back side seams.
Saturday, Feb 7, 2015 -
a. I sewed the elastic casing.
b. I sewed the elastic casing to the skirt. I trimmed the seam allowance for the casing.
c. I sewed a 1" hem around the bottom of the skirt.
d. I threaded the elastic through the casing. 
e. I hand-sewed the hole shut. 
I forgot to pre-shrink the fabric, so I washed it and checked for any shrinking. 

I am pretty proud of my work!

Finished Skirt

Cute Model!!

I found this video immensely helpful for this project.  I referenced it to make the casing, attach the casing, and the helpful hints about trimming and iron the seams.

 

Project: See & Sew B5411 Half Apron

See & Sew: B5411 - Half Apron

Purpose: I want to make this for a very good friend.  She called 911 for me when I had the stroke.  She lives in Minneapolis, and she called 911 from there.  She likes to bake, even for business trips. I thought that she can take it with her when she is away from home.  She is coming for a visit on Thursday, Jan 29, 2015. I will finish by then.
Timeline: 
Dec 22, 2014 - I began this project around Christmas.  I prepped the pattern, pinned the pattern pieces, cut out the pattern, made a pocket, and sewed the edge of the apron.  It took 2 hours to accomplish this.  Then, I realized that I sewed the edges of the apron incorrectly; the raw scalloped edges were showing.


Gathering the waistband

Jan 25, 2015 - I resumed the project this past Sunday.  I removed the erroneous portion and re-sewed the correct way.  I was very pleased with the outcome!  I also gathered the waist. I was confused about how to attach the waistband to the apron.  I will continue to research this task.
Jan 27, 2015 -  I worked on sewing the waistband to the apron, hiding the raw edges of the gathering.  I tried 3 times, but I couldn't get it right.  I will continue tomorrow!
Jan 28, 2015 - I sewed the waistband and started the ties.  I put in 3 hours of work.  I skipped the pleats because I couldn't figure out the instructions.


Sewing the waistband

Jan 29, 2015 -  I completed the apron (2 hours). I took pictures, and I am very pleased the quality.  I noticed that the ends of the apron were 2 different lengths.  I compared against the pattern. I realized the problem.  Skipping the pleats caused the length discrepancy.  No matter!  My friend loved it!

The Finished Product