Sewing machine cover

As usual I got side tracked.  I was going to start cutting out pieces for a jacket from Great Copy Pattern,  which I was doing.  After now knowing that I will not be moving I decided to put up my new sewing table, given to me by A-1 sewing.   It's really a nice sturdy table.  Then I decided to make a covering for my Janome sewing machine. These are pieces with no particular shape that I cut up to make this covering.   I already had made a cover for my Brother, but didn't want to use it for the Janome.  Everything has it's place.   I am going to continue to keep the old sewing table and put the brother sewing machine on it, then that way I switch to either table.   Of course I have to find out where a screw goes on the Brother before I use the machine.  Now that I have it cleaned I can start to embroider a few things.  

  I took the whole machine apart, and put a drop of oil in the designated places.   I should have taken the machine apart section by section, but I was trying to follow the photo shown on the sight that describes how to fix you machine.   Lesson well learned. Now that I am through with making the cover I will more than likely start on the jacket again.  Of course there is also one jacket that I need to finish for the fall.......it is fleece and I would like to put a flannel lining in it, as I think it would be warmer, and I can get away with wearing it during the month of October.  I will volunteer for the sewing expo this year, and take some photos.  Hopefully I will get a chance to meet Peggy Sagers face to face.

  I also noticed that on Craftsy.com that Sandra Betzina will be teaching a course on pants I believe.   So far my fall is going to be busy.  Still looking for another way to make some bags, that might bring in extra change, however I don't have a set style just yet.   Monday or Tues.  I will check out Ikea.......they do have some fabric for Pillows and I could possibly make bags as well, but would like to have a lining backing.  I am really going to come up with some type of design.  But first things first.  I am going to get Peggy's dress form as I watched her video on how to add more  padding to make the dress form almost to my shape.  She suggest that the forms that have the dials are not that reliable, and with taking a padding or adding padding is a more accurate and smoother way to a good dress form.  All i have to do is take my measurements.   The next step is another Iron.   I've really run my Rowenta in the ground.  The cord now gets hot, and that's not a good sign.  So I will look for another style.  More than likely I should have this around the second month of the year.  

done at last!

If  I ever see this fabric again, I will run as fast as I can out of it's path.  This upholstery fabric starts coming apart as soon as you cut it.  Towards the end of putting the straps on the machine stalled, because the fabric was too dense putting the straps under the machine.  So I took out my trusty Bernina, only because I knew that this was going to work better; however I still had the same problem with the density of this fabric.  So I partly used the machine, and in the corner of the lining I hand sewed.

This is the bag I'm almost finished with, all I have to do is sew in the lining and put the handle on.  This is upholstery fabric.  It frays really bad, and I had to double stitch each row at the top for the pockets.  The lining is regular cotton with batting.  I also decided to hand sew the pocket with a double stitch used in couture sewing.  It's a pretty sturdy stitch, and it really keeps the bag from being bulky.  The bag feels more sturdy, however even though this bag looks sturdy it just may well be that the threads will not tighten until it is washed.  That's a long way off though.  I also finished watching the Susan Kalji couture class, but the pattern hasn't arrived yet.  I will go step by step when it does arrive, and watch the class again.   Now that I think about it, fitting yourself is not all that easy, especially since Susan says it is really crucial that the measurements be exact.  Of course this will mean that I have to get some muslin, or maybe a sheet in my case, either way this is a project that you really have to work very closely with, or have assistance.  

 I really liked these pants and totally destroyed them.  I put the zipper in perfectly, without a flaw.  My problem after I put the pants on:  they was too much slack on the sides, and I wanted to take some of the slack out, and took the excess fabric out of the inseams.  That was the worst mistake I could have made.  I took what I thought was a shortcut, and messed up the pants. I should have referred to a book, but hindsight is 20/20.  The sides seams now were crooked, and the side seam almost was in the middle of my thigh lol! on the left pant leg.  I was so disappointed.  So I thought of a way to save the pants, and decided to make them into shorts.   It still was not working.  So now the pants are trashed.  I should have done this the right way, but you live and learn.  Other than that I finally got the hang of putting in the fly on a pair of pants, thanks to Kenneth D. King.  Had to watch the video again, freeze and then copy what he was doing.

 I used a decorative stitch for the pockets, so I will keep this in mind, however I don't think I will use the stabilizer I used on these pants.  I really need something that is going to tear away without ruining the stitch.  This was a good idea, and I also made the stitch on the pockets at 3.0 which really looked nice, instead of the 2.5.   I did the same thing on the sides of the pants and the inseam.  It really looked nice.   I could have done better on the waist band, but again this is all a learning process.  So I will do much better next time.

 I really liked the way the pockets came out on this as well.  I really don't have the patience to take out the zipper, so I'm a little side tracked at the moment.  Found some fabric at a auction for a church in the neighborhood, and brought some fabric for 2 dollars.  Each roll was two dollars, and there was more than 2yrds. to each roll.  So I decided since I screwed up the pants to make some night gowns, and I really needed those.  I wear stuff until it screams: "I'm tired, can you do something else?   This is jersey light knit, and this drapes and came out very well.  Of course I didn't use a pattern.   This came out perfect.  No flaws.  I just zipped right through it................Why?  because this is not what I wanted to turn out perfect, but it did, I wished it could have been the pants.    I also got some upholstery fabric, and will make a bag out of that, it's really good and sturdy, will use the rest of my batting, and then find some straps to go with the bag.

 Don't know if I will use snaps or a zipper.   I don't have a pattern for the bags that I make, I just cut them out on a whim.  I'll just go with the flow on this one, but I thought I would take a picture of before and after.  Now I'm through with the gowns.  I might make a tee shirt to go along with my jeans.  Next week I am going to get some pant material, and try again for my structured pants.  I will also remember to cut out more than one pair of pants, that will save me a lot of time.  The process will still be fresh in my mind from the first pair I make, and then I can zip right through the second pair.  The thing I really forgot to do, was make a mock pair of pants from the first two pairs of jeans which came out fine.  I forgot to do that, and of course suffered the consequences.   So I will remember to get either a some muslin, or I just might stop at value village, and get some old sheets, which just might be better.  

 If I can find some pieces of pleather or some remnants of leather, that might go with this bag.  I'm looking at the colors in the fabric.  Of course black is always the best choice. There is also a dark kelly green in this fabric, and some tan.  There are handles to buy, but I've always made my own.  I may more than likely used the fabric it's self for the handles.   Using upholstery before, I know that I am going to have to serge some of it, because it ravels very quickly.  I will opt for using the invisible thread so that the stitches don't show on the outside of the hand bang.  The lining should be free motion quilted, giving the bag a little more stability, and durability.  We'll see how this works out.  In the mean time I am going to keep on going.

The blouse at the top is silk, and it is the kind that wrinkles.  It's rather stiff.   However I like the way the blouse turned out, should have made it longer.  The buttons are shell, although you can't see them in detail. I brought plenty of this fabric, while in Chicago and that was almost six years ago.   I will probably wear this with some slacks. I like my shirts to have more give to them. Even though this fabric is light, I had it on for a good 5 minutes fitting, and was sweating my behind off.   It was a tad to small around the waste area, could have been squared for the bottom instead of rounded, and using Peggy Sagers style for the lapel facing and front part of the shirt takes up some fabric, so I didn't really allow for that amount.   However I can see why she uses this style, as you don't need stabilizer for the front of the shirt, because the fabric becomes the stabilizer.   The second blouse turned out well to, just a little snug around the waist.   I will have to get some new buttons for this shirt.  It was also my first time working with this type of fabric.  It should not be used to make a shirt.   It is deceptive in weight and in texture. 

 I thought that this would make a good shirt; however it would make a nice jacket, as it is pleather mix fabric.  Not easy to sew, and wasn't easy for turning the collar in either, I had hope to make a more crisp point.  For the time being I am going to wait until I can find the right buttons for this, also I could have tapered the sleeves a little more toward the end.   I can tell that this fabric would make me sweat my behind off.  I was sweating just trying it on.   It is a nice color.  Now I am off to cut the next pair of pants out and a blouse.   My stash is really being used at this point.  I think after watching Peggys tapes I will have a little more confidence.  However if it doesn't look perfect I'm not a happy camper, and especially if I see a flaw in the outcome.  I want things to look more smoother.   Of course only I can detect this, but so could any person that sews.  So this was a constructive Saturday morning.

I am happy with the outcome of this, and I really had to use some creative juices.   The collar has some batting in it for stability, and using the 3.0 stitching down the center really made this pop.  I had to applique the front, because the sweatshirt read: Prince on the left and Peace on the right, since the center covered the "of " it was not going to look right.  So I figured that maybe I could get away with applique, and it worked just fine.  It looks really nice on, and I will wear this with a pair of jeans.  I thought about pockets but I feel it will look too busy.  I really need a solid color.    I was determined to finish this today.  I ran out of frey check so I am hoping that with washing the ends of the applique will turn out just fine.  I love the color of perriwinkle.  

This is the blouse I was working on.  I detoured and did the sweatshirt first only, because things kept popping in my head on how it was going to look.  The shirt is a really big mess up, but the only person that knows that is me.  It drapes fine, and I will have to fix the center of the shirt, but I will do that later.  Now it's on to Peggy Sagers shirt, but I have to get some brown thread first.   I will take my time with this shirt and won't rush it, and I think I am going to do what she (Peggy) suggested and cut out more than one pattern.  Well this was a productive day.   I really hate cutting out patterns, but I once I get my own draft things will be just fine.  It always makes me feel good when I've accomplished something.  Even though the sweat may look a little raw on the applique it's still stylish.  This was my first attempt doing applique.   I couldn't figure out how to use the use the button foot for applying buttons.  I know how to use the attachment for the button hole foot that measures the button hole, but not the button hole foot.  I am going to have to go to Apple Valley to get a demonstration, and hope they don't ask me to pay.

This is a sweatshirt that I decided to take apart and make into a jacket, I have opened the sweatshirt down the center and will put a border on it.  Something tells me though this will not be too flattering on me but I might be able to get away with it wearing a pair of jeans.  This is the bottom of the sweatshirt.  I just like the colors I guess.  One has no way of knowing how something is going to look until it's done.

This is the collar, and I will put a border around the neck and overlap the front with a double stitch.  I am using 3.0 stitch length to make it look more stylish.  2.5 is a bit too tight a stitch on this fabric.

This is how the front and the bottom overlap in the 3.0 stitch.  I am also going to border the sleeves, and then make button holes.  I don't know what made me think of this, but it was something to do on a sticky hot sunday.  I finished one of the other blouses, and it wasn't the Peggy Sager blouse, however it is wearable and you can't see any of my mistakes.  I had to take a part the collar on both blouses as these were not done with a pattern and I under copied the lapel.   Making it look too small for the collar once it is turned under.  It wouldn't be noticable I just made it look like somewhat of a style.  I will probably finish the sweartshirt tomorrow, as I will be in the house with this hot weather.  

This is the CD set buy Peggy Sagers and I will admit that there's whole lot on there I didn't know, and I am really glad that I got this set, I think I have been Peggyised.   Well I like the approach and some of the pattern making was a little over my head, but again this is something I can go back to, and watch segments of it again.  I understood and finally could get some of the process of creating a pattern.  So this makes me not afraid to attempt to do something with the principals that she's given in the black book.  This will make me a better sewer, and now I have a better grasp on the patterns themselves.  

This is a very thorough set and you can recognize some of the garments through some of the webcasts she has, but the blouses are made simple, and I will admit the collar gives me the blues, and for the longest I've really shied away from doing a blouse.  Looking at one of the DVD Peggy makes it look so easy.  I'm quite sure that once I get the hang of it it will be a no brainer.   I know I am suppose to be finishing my blouses, but I was over anxious to watch the videos, and watch every one of them.  

Here are a couple of the patterns that I also purchased:

I really can't wait to do the blue jean patterns.  Also the way her patterns are designed you can interchange the skirt to possibly make a pair of pants, not to mention what you can do with the blouses and sleeves.  So in a way this has given me some creative juices, and also cements some of things I've learned and seen in the books.  I am also going to purchase the embroidery designs, and a few more pattern, and then from this point on I will get some cardboard and cut out my own pattern to be reused.............I really hate the tissue.  It looks like I am going to have to get some more muslin.  I now see why this is so important, especially making a jacket.   She also has some nice fabric selections.  So I know that I will be her best customer.  I look forward to meeting her again at sewing show, with something that I've made from her patterns, only with a twist of my own.  Everyone is a designer in there own right.  If I can make stuff and it looks half way good with no pattern, think what I can do with a pattern.

Well this week I've really been on a roll sewing.  I've just finished making my second bag.   I decided now to use some form of batting to make the bag stand up more.  For some reason this in addition to the lining make the bag look more durable there by lasting longer.  Of course when ever I sew I make sure stuff is not coming apart. It can be sewn wrong, but at least I know those stitches are locked in, isn't that terrible?  I have a phobia about tearing.

The bottom of the bag is made out of heavy canvas, and for some reason this stuff really freyed bad, but maybe it's because it is old.  The lining is just thin fabric, and the straps were grey and I decided to do a contrast with some type of colored ribbon.  I was going to quilt the entire bag, but found out the hard ways that I should have done the quilting before I sewed the sides together.  I wanted to see what it would look like with some stippling on it, and as you can see the white thread is not showing up.  So I decided against it, but was just in a creative move and went with the flow.   Now that I know what a bag will look like with some type of batting I think that I will use this process from now on.  Now I have to think of another project. to come up with............did I say how much I love this machine!  It's fab! I will use this bag if I wear my blue jeans.  I also noticed that the handles are too close to the rim of the beg, and the handles could have been a little more closer together, thereby giving the handles length.  I should have known better.  But who cares, I'm the only one that's going to use this bag.  I might stop in at Ikea and look at some of their fabric.

sew productive

Today I went to the place I purchase my sewing machine.  I had a few questions of some of the things that didn't seem clear.  Basically I am surprised at how much i am familiar with the machine.  Much to do about nothing.  I was so tense in doodling on that fabric for the purse, that my neck and shoulders were sore today, and I couldn't figure out why until I watched a quilting video.  The lady did say learn to relax.
Even though my sewing people are far, they are really nice to work with, which really makes it easier mentally to go out there, but it's still a pill. But I'll do anything for a sewing machine. Guess I'm just a sick broad and I get worse with age. What is about these machines?  Thank goodness I am not the only person with this illness lol!  I didn't get home until six.

Last night I psyched myself out just to get up and go, and of course I left the house at 10:30 and got home around 6:00............traffic was bad. Now I can get on the machine with a little more confidence.  Even though I may have missed out on another hour of stuff. Time flies by so fast, and then you really can't think of the questions to ask, but of course my brain must have been frozen, because I should have written the stuff down last night.  None the less I got the two most important questions asked, so now I will really have to start practicing more.  I'm looking forward to the next thing I think up.  FMQ is like drawing, so that's the way my brain perceives this, so the sky is the limit , and no telling what might come into my mind, since I have the tendency to go off the path. Now I understand why women like the quilting, for me it's the sound of the machine and the speed I can go, for some reason I am more concentrated, and just zone out, and I notice I am more focused.  I will start tinkering around with the machine at 11:00 and the next thing you know it's 3:00 and I've not even come up for air.

  Today I wore my those flowered blue jeans I made and got a compliment. I was really shocked, I wasn't fishing at all mind you.  I figure that since I made they would look like they are made.  However that's the trick to try and make things look store brought.Making stuff with no patterns is really challenging.  I am just going to have learn to have more patience with patterns. Who knows I could be making that harder than what it really is, but then again .........maybe not.    My next challenge is going to be working on making blouses. Lord knows I need some shirts.  I think it's time for me to get out of tee shirts.  I stain them so bad, and then put embroidery designs to cover the stains isn't that ridiculous?   

Well I finally finished my bag this morning.  It came out very well, although I really am going to have to change how I put the lining in, never the less this is a sturdy little bag, and I will be using it this week. Developing a more pronounced pattern of FMQ would have been more satisfactory, but rome wasn't built in a day, and I am going to have to be patient with myself with this learning curve. I am enjoying it though.  I almost thought about reinforcing the straps with a cover stitch but dicided against it.  I had to change thread three times, looking for a way for the straps to be not so noticable with stitching.  I am going get some snap magnets for bags in the future.   I have another bag now in progress, and you can see it in the back of this bag.  I really am loving my machine.  It sewed through these thick pices like butter.  The Janome 7700 is really a strong machine.

 I know that Bernina is heavy duty, but I think the Janome really is better.  You can actually feel the power of this machine as you sew.   Also Leah Day who has youtube videos, has a valid point about the feeddogs being down.  I really was afraid to put the feed dogs down, because I don't want to have to adjuct tension, or anything else for that matter.  That's where the sliding pad comes in.  Also she has a valid point about changing the speed control.  I think she is right in letting the machine  stay in the fast mode.  I noticed that with just a control of the foot peddle I had to slow down a bit when trying to manipulate the fabric under the foot.  Tues. or Weds I am going to take another class for the machine.  I really want to feel comfortable about using the quilting foot. 

As you can seee I squiggled on my first attempt, and of course the picture is not clear, you get the idea.  This is going to take some practice and now I can see why ladies like FMQ, because it's almost like driving once you get the feel and know the direction you are going in. There is a slide that I must get, this will make it easier for me to control the fabric.  I'm not willing to pay 65.00 for the slider supreme. Found one on Amazon for 20.00 but it should work just as well.  The one that cost more money is for the larger quilts.  I had no sense of direction as you can see...........

This is the design, and I did try cutting the fabric up in squaares but couldn't wrap my head around it, first I was going to sew four squares together, and then put in a diamond shape and alternate the colors.  Placement is really crucial here.  Yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble to see what new sewing books they have, and also look for the quilting bible of books.  I went through about two or three and this will be my next purchase; well really I am going to have to put a dress form on lay-a-way and i think I will go with AllBrands since they have more choices. I am making a bag by the way, and it looks like it's going to turn out alright. This will be my first quilted bag. I just have the straps to put on, and sew the lining.

I should have sewn it so that the front doesn't match the back just for contrast........in other words the bottom of this piece should be another pattern of color.  Just my opinion.  I will finish the bag more than likely tomorrow.  I was working on this from 11:00 and looked up at the clock and saw it was 3:30 ......that's just how absorbing this can be.  I kept cutting the sides down because I didn't quite measure the batting.  Next time I will cut all three at the same time.......lining, batting, and then the fabric.  I have some electric scissors that I've not used.  They are so noisy, but I think I will use them because of the thickness of layers.  Don't want to dull my sharpened scissors.

Well yesterday I finally finished up two sleeveless tee shirts.  Just something to knock about, and again I used no pattern. These fit very well.  The grey one should have been made a little more loosley but that's alright.  Chances are I will probably wear it on the balcony or something.  Maybe with my jeans. 

I wanted to make a slight contrast with some material to go around the neck line.  I could have used basting tape, but the material is a light knit.  Needless to say I tried flaring this out toward the bottom of the shirt, and it looks alright, I can get by with it, more than likely I will wear this with my jeans.   Will have to go to mill end fabrics in July, and I will make two more pairs of jeans.  This time I will try another color other than blue.  By the fall I should have this down to a science.  I will more than likely join another craftsy class.  My Janome is smoothe like butter.  Now I am working with some pieces of fabric to make a kinda of quilt purse.  This is more than a notion, and I don't know where to begin, so I'm going to play around with the color scheme of the bag.  So I will take pictures of stuff in progress.  Maybe that will help me to decide in how I am going to do this, because I picked up the little sqaures of material for 2.99 a bag.   Going to have to use my imagination.  More than likely I will take a course on piecing.  Doesn't make since to have this fine machine and not take it through it's paces.  This will be my first time doing FMQ and I am looking forward to it.  The videos say it takes a while to get the feel of the direction you are going in. The speed in which you move has a lot to do with the pattern of your stitch designs.  Over 1,000 stitches per minute.   Also I will have to get a pair of gloves.  That's must, it helps with holding the fabric, and also from keeping the oils from your hands not transfering over to the fabric, and of course keeping it clean.   It's always something.  A little here, a little there. But I enjoy it all.  So far it seems I'm on a roll.

This is the beginning of the dresss, and that is a sheet that I cut out, so there is not pattern.  I just wanted to see how this was going to go. Was really surprised of the outcome.  I like the material, although I don't think it was a good choice for me.

This looks much better on than off, but you can get the picture.  I really like the color.  I was surprised on how this was going to look on me.  I believe I will make the neck line just a little lower, and more open.  I haven't a clue when I am going to wear this, I just wanted to make something other than pants. I tried to take a picture of me without the flash, but the picture didn't turn out too well.  I didn't want my face to show.  I think I am going to invest in getting a camera that i would be able to use a tripod. 

I wanted to show some contrast on the bottom of this dress, so I cut the dress shorter, and then turned the material around to give a contrast appearance.  I learned the hard way that working on knits or shears it's best to use the dual feed foot must be used on fine fabrics and knits.

This is my first time using the dual feed foot and also with sewing knit fabric on the Janome 7700.  Because I was lazy I didn't use the foot the first time in test run while sewing the fabric.  The machine devoured the fabric.  Which is the reason for the single whole device.  This way the fabric isn't eaten up.  I had to carefully cut out the fabric, remove the plate.  Once I put the dual feed foot on everything was smooth sailing.  Although I am going to have to figure out the stitch length. 

I thought I had taken the flash off.  There's got to be an easier way of taking photos with my finished work.  Needless to say I am surprised how this turned out, just happen to be on a roll.  There are so many reruns on television until you have no other alternative but to sew, or read.  This week it's going to be hot........in the 80's well I don't do well in the heat. So I'll be sitting at the sewing machine.  I am really glad I got this machine, and now I am going to do another sleeveless top, no pattern but just something to knock around in, and then I will try doing a quilt bag.  I've not begun to touch the surface with this machine.

Well May was really a hell of a month with all the hacking and everything going on.  I am still trying to find a way to transport my blog.  However it looks like I am stuck with the old address for the time being.  I am going to have to get an external hardrive.  In the mean time I've been doing some sewing and made two pair of really nice jeans.  They are not perfect, but they will do, now that I have a picture in my head of how they should go.

These pants turned out really well, and I copied them from another pair that I took apart.   In Kenneth Kings course he shows how to do this with the organza, and he made it look so simple.  Somehow my taking a pair of jeans that I got at a second hand store for a buck, and taking them apart seemed easier.  The tracing looked easier with him doing it on line than actually doing it; I even brought some type of clothe crayons and that helped a bit with tracing, but the pencil didn't glide across the cloth like Kenneth displayed in the video.  I may have been better off just using a #2 penical on the organza.  With these pants,  made a simple quilt stitch at the bottom, so that the pants would frey.  It worked perfectly.

Dadburn that flash but you can just seen how the pants fit my boxy frame.  I thought I had taken the flash off.
This is the first pair of jeans that came out really nice.  I was really surprised at the out come.  I will try and do better.   They are very comfortable.  Right now I am working on a blouse for some.  Just something to wear with some black shorts I made.   I am truly a work in progress.  Since there is nothing on the boob tube and there are all reruns I probably will do some more sewing.  I am really spoiled with the Janome and now it seems like something is wrong with the Brother because it sounds funny.  I'm really long over due for a check on this machine.