Finding Peace In Our Day/Eye Pillow Tutorial

In times like these...a statement that I have heard my entire life. But, in light of the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas, I think we are all wondering what our world is coming to. There are so many questions of why, a question that will never really be answered. It is simply senseless. 

When I was growing up, at any given moment, I knew where a gun was. My grandfather kept a gun in his dresser drawer. I knew better than to even open the drawer, much less take it out and look at it. There were hunting rifles on the wall in every house of every friend and neighbor. No one ever took a gun to school, no one ever shot another. It was unheard of. The worst that ever happened was when a young man in our community shot a hole in his foot while deer hunting. Thankfully, his foot was saved. 

So what has changed? I don't know. I think we all wish the answer were easy. If we only knew, we could stop the senseless violence and the loss of so many innocent lives. 

A few weeks ago, I posted my covered journal and the eye pillows that I made out of silk scraps and said that if you would like a tutorial, just let me know. While I was more than happy to do the tutorials, I thought for sure no one would respond. Well...to my surprise, many of you wanted tutorials for both! So, I took a little time and put together a quick video on making the eye pillow. The journal will follow soon.

The little eye pillows are so easy to make and are wonderful gifts. The holidays ARE coming!!! They would make a great stocking stuffer, or just a sweet little "I was thinking of you" unexpected gift for a friend or co-worker. 

All of my eye pillows have been made out of left over silk that was used to make ties, so they feel quite luxurious on the face. But they can also be made out of left over quilting cotton. Make a tiny little quilt out of your scraps and the eye pillow will be all the more special.

Below is my video tutorial. After I listened to the video, I could hear how tired my voice sounds. I'm not a big talker, and after 3 days of talking all day at the sewing expo last week, my voice almost gave out. So I apologize for the weak voice. The video is just a little over 5 minutes long, so it won't take much time :)

You can find the Mountain Rose Herbs website HERE. I love the quality of their herbs! If by chance you don't care for lavender, there are lots and lots of other herbs you can choose from. Or if you wish, just fill the bags with rice. They will still be wonderfully relaxing.

I hope that you can find a little time to relax, maybe take a walk, or go take that yoga class that you been intending to try. 

May you find peace in your day.
Rhonda

The Papercut Patterns Soma Swimsuit Sew Along/Adding Bra Cups

This week's sew along post for the Papercut Patterns Soma Swimsuit primarily covers adding bra cups. In my opinion, a suit just looks better with bra cups, but then, that is my opinion :) 

We also go over the super simple method of lining the bottom of the suit. You are going to love this step as the bottoms are sewn together and lined all at the same time! 

As you'll see in the post, the first trick to setting in the bra cup is to make sure that the cup does not flatten out while pinning it in to the lining.

After the cup is pinned in, it's just a matter of a simple zigzag stitch around the edge of the cup. You can see the entire post HERE.

Adding cups to the suit is one of those steps that gives your garment a polished look. Again, in my opinion :)

The final post will be all about elastic. There's quite a bit of elastic in the Soma Swimsuit! We'll go over setting in the elastic around the leg opening and how to get that smooth look in the front and the cupping that is needed in the back.

Happy Swimming!

Rhonda

Monday Morning Inspiration/Making The Bucket Hat

Whew, my posting has been kind of a nonexistent thing the past few days. But the break was good :)

I had promised last week to do a quick tutorial on how I put together the bucket hat from Lost In Paris. Super cute hat, great for throwing in your bag to have on hand for when you find yourself out in the sun and needing a little extra protection. As I said last week, I liked the pattern so much that I made up 2 hats. I especially like the reversible aspect of the hat.

Below is my basic denim hat.

Another denim hat, but this time in white with a fun travel print on the flip side. You can also play with the brim and give it a fedora look.

This is a one size hat pattern, so my recommendation is to cut out the side of the hat and slip it on. If it seems comfortable, you're good to go! 

To prepare the pattern, fold the crown in half and mark notches. Fold it in half again and mark notches. You will have notches for center front, center back and the sides.

Be sure to mark notches on the side of the hat as well as the brim.

Sew the crown to the side of the hat. All seam allowances are 1/2". Once the seam has been sewn, press open.

By pressing the seam open, the crown will lay much nicer.

Now sew the lining of the brim to the outside fabric, but only the bottom edge.

Trim the seam allowance to 1/4". Turn and press the edge.

Now sew the brim to the main body of the hat. Note that the lining is not included yet.

Now sew the crown to the side panels of the lining. Be sure to press the crown seam just as the did for the outer fabric. Slip the main body of the hat inside the lining of the top of the hat. Stitch around the hat leaving at least a 4" opening for turning.

Turn the hat right side out and slip stitch the opening closed. 

The hat will be secure when turned from one side to the other. 

This is a great project for anyone who is learning to sew. It makes up quickly and it's a project that insures success. And we all know, a first project really does need to be successful.

Just one last note before I go, I added a link to the Martha Stewart hat in last week's post. PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!!! I once again downloaded the pattern hoping that they had corrected the mistakes. They have not. It's an awful pattern. Here's the link just so you'll know what I'm talking about.

Hope you have a chance to get "Lost In Paris" and have a little fun with a bucket hat. I think you'll love having one....or two or three :) to throw on.

Have a wonderful week!
Rhonda 

Creative Swimsuit Cover-ups/Soma Swimsuit Sew Along Begins

My first sew along post for the Soma Swimsuit from Papercut Patterns is up on the Sew News blog and you can find it HERE. I took a few liberties with the pattern, but it all worked out great in the end. So if you are thinking that you might like to make a suit this summer, be sure to check out the posts.

Have you ever found yourself at a hotel wanting to go to the pool and yet you have nothing to throw over your suit? I have! Even as a child, I was uncomfortable walking to the pool in nothing but my suit. I've borrowed a t-shirt from my husband, wrapped a towel around me, used the bathrobe provided by the hotel. They all do the job, but none provide the lovely, well put together look that I strive for. So since we are talking swimsuits over the next few weeks with the Soma Swimsuit sew along, I thought we would also talk about some fun cover-ups. 

I've done a number of Fabulous Free Pattern Friday pieces that are perfect for cover-ups.

The Magic Jacket
This piece is nothing but a big rectangle, and the pattern works well with border prints. You can find the instructions HERE.

The Flutter Top

This is made with 2 simple rectangles. The tie adds a little interest around the waistline and gives it a little more shape. Make it a little longer and it will take you from the pool to drinks at the bar, or a casual dinner. You can find the instructions HERE. 

The Easy Breezy Top

If you have a fun border print that would coordinate with your suit, this piece would be fun. The open sleeves help keep you cool and add interest. You can find the instructions HERE. 

Caught In A Wave

Wear it with or without a belt, either way you'll look super cute. You can find the tutorial HERE.

The Magic Rectangle Dress

Whether you take it a step further and do the ruching on the shoulders, or just leave it plain, the Magic Rectangle Dress is easy to slip on and will always look cute over any suit. See the tutorial HERE.

Hope that helps to get your creative ideas flowing!

Rhonda

The Winner Of The Bias Cut Blueprints Book From Fashion In Harmony

My sincere apology for not getting this posted yesterday as I had promised. I had the last procedure done on my back yesterday morning and it threw me for more of a loop than I thought it would. After sleeping most of the afternoon and over 9 hours last night, I am back to myself and feeling no pain today, so I am a very happy girl!

So without further delay.....

The winner of the Bias Cut Blueprints book from Fashion In Harmony is...

Zippi Kit!!!!!

Congratulations! 

Please email me at sewbussted@yahoo.com with your mailing address. I will need to hear form you by Saturday, May 21, 2016. If I do not hear from you, I will draw a new name.  

Thanks again to all of you who made the sew along so successful. And a big thank you to Julianne Bramson for a great pattern and for hosting the book giveaway.

If by chance you are making a Magic Bias Dress, I would love to see your creation. The link-up has been extended to June 1, 2016. I would love to see what you've made and I would also enjoy showing off your creation in a follow up post, so stop by THIS post and show us your magic!

If by chance you missed the sew along posts on the Sew News blog, you can find them HERE.

Happy Sewing!

Finishing The Magic Bias Dress

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's shaping up to be a very busy week. I had to laugh a little yesterday as I was out at the airport, covered in grease. You may remember that I had a tire blow out on me while landing two weeks ago. The best part of the incident is that everyone is amazed by how well I handled it all and the decisions I made. Makes me feel rather good :) The mechanic could not believe that there was no damage to the airplane, the wheel is fine, the cover that goes over the wheel is fine. Great news. Now we are in the process of taking the airplane apart and doing the yearly maintenance check that has to be done. So here I was, covered in grease, by no means a fashion plate! But it keeps life interesting :) I should have taken a few pictures. I'll be back out there in a few days after the parts arrive, so I will share a little of the experience and get pictures.

So from one extreme to another....

The final post for the Magic Bias Dress is up and I am LOVING my new dress!!! I have a meeting to attend today and I would like to wear it, but it's 50 degrees here in Chicago. Better days are coming :) You can find the post HERE on the Sew News blog.

If you do decide to make the dress, by all means consider a border print tie-dye pattern. I think the effect is so pretty.

In the post, we go over the finishing details of the dress, the sleeve, creating the French Piping, and hemming. 

The French Piping method for finishing a seam is so lovely and I can see doing this a lot in the future on necklines and armholes. 

The Sew News post does not include the color clocked dress, or the tunic. I will be doing a follow up post when I announce the winner of the Bias Cut Blueprints book next Tuesday and I will include both of those pieces.

I've really enjoyed creating the dresses and doing the sew along posts. I hope I've been able to take a little of the fear out of creating a bias cut garment. Be sure to check out the Fashion In Harmony website for other patterns and inspiration. 

Remember too that I have a link up going on THIS post, so if you do make the Magic Bias Dress, be sure to share your pictures. The link up will be extended until the end of May, so get your dresses made, I would love to see them!   

The Magic Bias Dress From Fashion In Harmony/Construction Tips

Just a quick note to let you all know that the new post is up for the Magic Bias Dress on the Sew News blog, and you can find it HERE. In the header it says that this week is about color blocking. We actually talked about color blocking in last week's post. This weeks' post is about assembling the body of the dress. And, I give you a few of my tips for working with bias. Hope it helps.

I have now made 3 dresses, so I thought that I would do a blouse. I've shared before that I can have the attention span of a gnat, so I'm always thinking of something new to try. I decided to try something a little different and see how it turned out.
As you can see below, I folded up the extended end of the pattern and basically squared off the bottom of the pattern.

What I ended up with is some what of a tunic. The back is of course quite short where the "v" comes up, but I have another idea that I think will add a little interest and make this a super cute top to wear with tights. So stayed tuned. 

I had hoped to get a few pictures of me in this skirt today, but my day is getting away from me. I'm planning a little fashion show Friday post, so I'll get a picture of me in the skirt then.

The skirt is the Chinese Lantern Skirt also from Fashion In Harmony. After making the Magic Bias Dress, I was really intrigued with the skirt, and I was not disappointed. It is SO easy to make and it is such a cute skirt. I slipped it on the first time and I now want more! This is a a skirt that you could literally live in all summer. I didn't have the right drawstring, so what you see will not stay. I just had to stick something in so I could get the true effect of the skirt. The skirt is basically 2 circles, but there's a little trick that makes it drape the way it does.

The hem is simply finished with a piece of bias tape. The fabric is a very light weight double faced gauze. When I walk in the skirt, you get just the slightest glimpse of the orange. 

The back of the skirt. Take note of the hem. The asymmetrical aspect of the hem is what cases the skirt to drape so beautifully. 

You can find the skirt HERE on the Fashion In Harmony website.

For those of you who are making the Magic Bias Dress, I hope you are having fun with your creations. If you do make the dress, remember, I have a link up running on THIS POST, so be sure to post your pictures as I would love to see what you've done!

Happy Sewing!

Rhonda

The Fashion In Harmony Magic Bias Dress/Color Blocking

As I started to prepare for the Fashion In Harmony Magic Bias Dress sew along, I just couldn't make up my mind about what fabric I wanted to use. I have changed my mind more times than a girl should have a right to!
Sew News wanted me to do a post on color blocking for this week's post and you can find it HERE. What I discovered is that you can make this pattern a multitude of ways and basically never have the same dress twice. Once again, a magic dress!!
The first piece that I did as a color blocked version is the tie-dye version below. This piece of fabric is a border print. I placed the main pattern piece for the dress along the edge of the selvedge so that the bright orange would be the most prevalent and sweep around the dress. 

The long triangular piece was placed where the orange bleeds into the yellow.

Please forgive me, I have yet to press the seams. But below you can see how the orange bleeds into the lower portion of the triangular piece and matches up with the dress. In the front, the light orange under the front yoke looks like a separate piece and gives the illusion of color blocking.

As I said, there are so many possibilities for customizing this dress. If by chance you have a couple of fabrics that are of the same weight and drape, but not long enough for the pattern, you can sew them together as you see below. This could make for some very interesting combinations.

After I sent the post in to Sew News, I realized that I left something out. PLEASE be sure to get a straight edge prior to sewing fabrics together. 

To do this simply snip the edge of your fabric and then rip it across. Be careful though. Some fabrics will run, so test the edge first to be sure that the fabric can be safely ripped.

In case you missed it, you can find this week's post HERE on the Sew News blog. 

If you are working on the Magic Bias Dress and have some pictures that you would like to share, I have created a link up on this post. I just ask that you limit this to Magic Bias Dress pictures only. If you have a picture that you would like to share, but can't figure out how to link  it up, you are always welcome to send your pictures to me directly at sewbussted@yahoo.com 

Hope you are having fun with your dresses!

Rhonda                      

An InLinkz Link-up

The Magic Bias Dress Sew Along Begins!

Just wanted to do a quick check in this morning and let you all know that the sew along for the Fashion In Harmony Magic Bias Dress has begun. We decided to postpone it by a couple of weeks since we did an extra post on the pockets for the Pepernoot coat, and to give me just a bit of breathing room between the 2 sew alongs. Whew!!!

So, the first post is up and you can find it HERE on the Sew News blog.  

I always enjoy adding a little something extra to the sew alongs. For the Magic Bias Dress, I thought I would play around with some pattern blocking, as well as a little color blocking. For the pattern blocking, I've decided to use the coordinating prints that you see below. I purchased them quite some time ago from Britex in San Francisco. Love that store by the way :) Beautiful fabrics. Thank goodness I don't live in San Francisco!!! As you can see, depending on how the prints are assembled, they take on a very different look. I think I'm going to have fun playing around with them. For the color blocking, you'll have to wait until next week to see what I've chosen ;)

If you've stayed with me to this point, I have a nice little surprise for you. Sew News has a 20% off sale going on. The sale is store wide, so if you have not purchased your own Magic Bias Dress pattern, now's your chance to save a little. The Promo Code is 20SERGER Be sure to hurry though as the sale only runs through tomorrow, April 20th! You can find the Magic Bias Dress pattern HERE. The pattern is on back order so it won't ship until May 5, 2016, but at least you can take advantage of the sale. 

A Few Notes On Wednesday/The Final Pepernoot Coat Sew Along Post

At about 3 o'clock this morning, both of my dogs were snuggled in close to me when a HUGE KA-BOOM!!! shook the house. It was just a big clap of thunder, but I laughed to myself as both dogs immediately left the bed and headed underneath. I always say that if we ever have a war, they'll be standing behind me saying, "shoot her first!"

Thank you so much to all who left a note on yesterday's blog post. Thank you for the lovely notes on my coat, and a very special thanks for your wishes of quick recovery. I am very positive that all will be well :) The only problem is that wearing a bra is not the best for a few days. I told a friend of mine last night that I felt as though I lost my protection against the world. I did go to my art class yesterday, but I wore a knit camisole, a thick t-shirt and a turtleneck top! Funny the things we'll do :)

For those of you who are following the Waffle Patterns Pepernoot Coat Sew Along that I've been doing for Sew News, the final post is up and you can find it HERE. I tried to take you step by step through the process of inserting the zipper. Success with your zipper will happen by paying close attention to the notches on the front band pattern piece. There is a notch that aligns with the neckline, and a notch that aligns with the waistline seam. I'm pointing to both of the notches in the picture below. Not only do you need to mark the notches on the front band, the notches should also be marked on each side of your zipper.

   

I also talk about the length of the zipper. I used a 30" zipper and you can see below that there is plenty of room for a longer than specified zipper.

Note too that I used a zipper that will unzip from the bottom as well as the top. This is a great feature that makes sitting in the coat a little more comfortable. Not that the coat is uncomfortable, it just gives the wearer the ability to have a little more room when sitting.

If you have any questions on finishing your coat, or inserting the zipper, please be sure to ask.

Since we added an extra post to the Pepernoot sew along, we're a bit delayed in starting the Magic Bias Dress sew along. As soon as that's up, I'll let you know.

Have a wonderful day. Enjoy your bras!!!
Rhonda

I Love My Waffle Patterns Pepernoot Coat!

We're in the 3rd week of the Waffle Patterns Pepernoot Coat Sew Along and I am in love with my coat. Talk about flower power!!!

The fabric I'm using for the lining is from Tessuti Fabrics in Australia. when I purchased the fabric, I had a skirt in mind. Maybe serendipity, maybe just dumb luck, but when I began working on the coat, I immediately realized that the fabric was perfect for a lining. The only problem is that I only purchased a meter of fabric, so not enough to line the entire coat. But, I had a beautiful piece of black silk that blended perfectly with the fabric, so rather than ditch the idea, the sleeves are lined in black. 

The lining prior to the sleeves being added.

If you would like to check out the 3rd week of the sew along, you can find it HERE on the Sew News blog. 

I can't wait to finish my coat. I'm hoping to wear it on Easter Sunday. In our final post, we'll work on the pockets, attach the 

hood, insert the center front zipper and hem the skirt and sleeves.

If by chance you are working on a Pepernoot Coat, I hope you are loving yours as much as I am loving mine!

Yuki, the designer of Waffle Patterns has 3 new patterns available,

1. The Tosti Utility Jacket

2. The Dropje Hooded Vest

3. The Yuzu Raglan Coat

I think that one of my next projects will be the vest. Love the dart detail around the neckline.

Happy Sewing.

Rhonda

The Perfect Travel Dress Now Available On Video

So many of you enjoy tutorial videos. They can really be an added bonus to a written tutorial.
I received an email from Sew News announcing that the episode I did on the Perfect Travel Dress is now available as a download for only $1.99. The Perfect Travel Dress is the second most downloaded tutorial of all the Fabulous Free Pattern Friday pieces that I have done. Amazing! So with that in mind, I thought you might like the info on the video download. Just click HERE for all the info. From 3/17/2016 to 3/19/2016, use promo code 15GREEN and receive 15% off your purchase!

If you are one of the few who has not seen the tutorial for the Perfect Travel Dress, just click HERE.

Happy Traveling!

Rhonda

The Waffle Patterns Pepernoot Coat Sew Along Fabric Reveal

I can finally reveal the fabric that I have chosen to use for the Pepernoot Coat sew along that I am doing for Sew News. One thing for sure, I will not be lost in a crowd! The body of the coat will be the fabric with the black ground and the cobalt blue flowers. The camera really didn't capture the true intensity of the color. The fabric is a heavy twill. The flowers are chenille with a velvet center. The more abstract print I plan to use for the lining. 

I shared the abstract piece with you last week. It's a piece that I purchased from Tessuti Fabrics in Australia. I will need to line the sleeves in a black flannel-back lining as I'm just a little short on the fabric needed to line the entire coat. The picture below is a better representation  of the true colors. I'm really excited as I think it will make for such a fun coat!

My post for this week's edition of the sew along is up on the Sew News blog and you can find it HERE. I really went into depth about the pattern as I know that there are a number of you who have never made a coat and are feeling a little nervous. As I say in the post, I think that you'll find that a coat is no more difficult than a blouse or a dress. So read through the post and take note of the different aspects of the pattern. Of course the first step to success is correctly cutting out the pattern. If by chance you decide that you would like to lengthen the pattern, please be sure to lengthen the;
1.front skirt
2.back skirt
3.front facing
4.front band
If you miss a piece, the pattern will not go together correctly and you'll be frustrated until you figure out what you've done. I know, I've made that mistake :) It might also be that you won't have enough fabric to correct your mistake, and then you'll not only be frustrated, but aggravated as well. Again...I've made that mistake as well. 
One last comment on the pattern. The pocket is marked on the front skirt. I suggest waiting to determine the pocket placement. When I made my coat, I did not place the pocket where it is indicated on the pattern. My suggestion is to get the pocket made and then determine the placement. Rather than make the pocket first as it shows in the instructions, we will be sewing the body of the coat together first and then making the pocket. Once the body of the coat is made, you can then try it on and decide where you would like to place the pocket. 

Good luck as you begin your coat sewing journey. 
If you have any questions, please let me know. You may leave a comment here on this post, or on the Sew News blog post. Either way, I'll get the message and be able to respond.
Happy Sewing!
Rhonda