Just A Blog

blog post for understanding patterns

This is an excellent blog post for explaining patterns. She has a lot of good sewing tips and tutorials and is more skilled than me so check it out...but come back later!

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=478

Some of my best sewing tips

When you first start sewing everything can look really messy even if you do exactly what you think you're supposed to do. It took me a long time to figure out why my mom kept nagging at me to use pins and iron things. I was thinking that's dumb,you take the fabric and sew it,what's so hard about that?! I guess it doesn't work that way! Sewing takes a lot of patience.If you don't have it then you will get it. One of the most important things is to measure everything exact.This is what I dislike the most about sewing. This is what I use,I have a big one and a smaller rectangle one.

I lay the fabric on the big piece and if the corners of the fabric don't line up exactly with the corners of the mat then I take the smaller piece,put it on top,and cut it straight.Then I measure out what I need and cut that too. I highly suggest a rotary cutter but you HAVE to have a great pair of scissors for sewing. JUST for sewing,don't let the kids use it to cut paper!If you're making more than one of the same thing then what I do is make a tempelate out of cardboard. Then I just put it on top of the fabric,use a fabric pencil to draw around it,then cut with scissors. I save my tempelates and write on there what I used them for for future reference.

My next sewing tip,wash your fabric before you use it. That way it won't shrink when you're done making something for someone and they pop it in the washer. Next,IRON BEFORE YOU CUT*you may as well put an ironing board in your sewing area*. When you fold over a piece of fabric that you plan on sewing,iron that down as well. This is called pressing your seam.But don't iron like you would a shirt.Just put the iron down,lift it,and keep repeating that until you've done the whole thing.This is a very important step and if you don't do it it can ruin your whole project. Before you sew put LOTS of pins along the seam to hold it down. If you're sewing more than one piece of fabric at the same time then put them ALL around the edges of whatever you're sewing. This helps keep things straight. The next thing I suggest buying is a pin cushion. They're actually super easy to make and this could be one of your first projects. Do a google search for "pincushion tutorials",you will find lots. My fave are the ones that you put in cute little cups. You don't even have to sew,just use hot glue. I don't suggest the ones you put on your wrist. Too easy to stab yourself!! When buying pins I'd stick with the ones with the large balls at the end so you don't miss them when you sew and damage your machine. NEXT TIP,go slow. Don't get in a rush. There's a small ruler type thing(I can't for the life of me remember what it's called) by your sewing needle. Just try to keep your seam lined up with it. Something it took me awhile to figure out...follow the seam allowances on the tutorial you're doing. If you're doing something you made up,just make sure you stick with the same one all the way around your project. Your seam allowance is the amount you fold down your fabric that you iron and sew. And make sure the distance between the thread and the edge of your fabric is the same. That's what the ruler thingy is for.

NEXT TIP,when you're done sewing cut as much fabric off the edge as you can without getting too close to the thread, then you turn your material right side out,get a butter knife and push on your seams. That will keep your seams from looking like a butt! Atleast that's how I see it.Don't rip the seams,once you do it you will understand what I'm talking about. THEN IRON AGAIN to make it look more professional and clean. Don't get discouraged,if you mess up your seam then just get a seam ripper and rip out the thread. Don't turn into the Hulk and try and rip with your hands b/c you will probably rip the fabric! You're stronger than you think! These are just my beginner tips,I don't think I left anything out. Here's a small rundown.....

1.Wash/dry your fabric and iron it before you cut.
2. Measure measure measure measure....then cut!

3.Obey the seam allowance all the way around.

4.Press your seams with your iron,but don't actually iron,just press and lift.

5.Use lots of pins and take your time,make sure to keep the same distance between the thread and fabric edge.

6.cut off excess material from your seam before you turn it right side out.

7.Push out your seam with a butter knife or something similar.

8.IRON IRON IRON.

9.Pat yourself on the back when you're done,even if it's not perfect,you did your best and next time you will do better!

Things to get:

1.great pair of scissors and a rotary cutter.

2.2 quilter mats,small and large.

3.lots of pins.

4. Lots of thread,lots and lots and lots!

Make It and Love It: Sewing Tips: What is Selvage, Bias and Grain?

This is a good tutorial,she has so many awesome things on her site.I totally suggest checking it out.

Make It and Love It: Sewing Tips: What is Selvage, Bias and Grain?: ". Sometimes fancy words are used in an online sewing tutorial or in store bought patterns. And unless you've heard them used before......the..."

Memo board tutorial

In the spirit of the new year I'm trying to get more organized. It's amazing everything there is to do with just one kid,I can't imagine having more and not being super organized! This is a little memo board I made to put in the hallway.That way I have to walk past it a million times a day. Here's a simple tutorial for anyone wanting to make one. I definitely didn't come up with this,I've seen them all over the blog world.

First get any size frame you like,WITH glass.Paint it..if it's finished wood then sand it first.Saves you a coat of paint..

I didn't take pics for all the steps b/c it's easy to explain. Pull out the back of the picture frame,cut your desired material a little bigger than the actual size,then fold it over and hot glue it. You will probably have to cut your corners but as long as it looks good in the front don't worry about what the back looks like. Then just pop the back back in. Clean the glass first if you need to.

I went ahead and made something to put my dry erase marker in. Just take a piece of ribbon,measure it around your marker and hot glue it. Then hot glue it onto your frame.

You don't have to make a bow but I did b/c I think it looks cute.I glued a thumbtack into the bow but I didn't use it as support. I went ahead and used the hanger for the frame.The bow is for decoration.

I just glued it to the back and.....

Voila,a beautiful memo board!!! Santa didn't bring me my silhouette I wanted(if you don't know what that is,google it,you will be itching for it!),so I made letters the old-fashioned way,glued it to zebra paper,then taped it onto the glass.If you can't see it due to my spastic flash,it says "to do" at the top,then there's a section for "today" and "this week".

I know lots of people read my blog *although I only have one awesome follower!*,but be patient,it will be super awesome soon! If you make one I'd love to see it.

infinity dress tutorial

I was looking for a dress tutorial that will go with my beautiful new boots (eee,still excited!!!),and I stumbled on this. I think these are so awesome and didn't realize they had been around for forever. So here's the link,it only takes one seam and is shockingly easy for something that looks so complicated. It would make an awesome gift too.
Infinity dress tutorial

sorry

For not posting the art board tutorial yet.I'm doing a handmade christmas and it's way more consuming than I thought and to be honest I'm not as good as I thought! My sewing machine is pulling everything to the left and I need to fix it,UGH.Today is my bday and to celebrate I went to Helping Hands(it's like goodwill except a little more expensive).I found some awesome things to revamp after the holidays. I will post some pics and maybe someone can give me a suggestion. Thanks and merry christmas!!!

one more for today

I have made a few art boards here and there for different people and decided to post one. This is the one in my sons room. Some of the clips fell off on the bottom during transport from my room to his. I'm totally and completely clumsy. I trip over myself all the time!! *am I the only one who does??* One day I will glue them back on. I'm going to post a tutorial in a couple of days. They are great b/c you can make so many different ones to go with virtually any decor.

I don't understand why the flash on my camera stopped working. I will have to add it to my list of things to say I will fix but never actually do.

candy cane candle holders

I totally love these.I wish I could keep them up year round.Each one cost $2. I got 2 candle holders at walmart and just hot glued them on. Then I put a cute little ribbon on(also from walmart,I live in walmart country!) and made a cute little centerpiece for less than $5! I found the cone for the ribbon tree at a thrift store for .55,used ribbon I already had, and I made the runner from scraps. I made my own little star for the tree but I found this candy cane one at hobby lobby and had to have it(50% off too).

my first scoodie!

I was poking around etsy and found this dino scoodie. A scoodie is a scarf with a hood,totally great idea. I just had to make one!I'm going to make one for myself after I'm doing with the million christmas presents I sucked myself into making.I'm 90% happy with it.I didn't have a pattern or tutorial so I had to wing it. Don't be afraid to wing it,just go slow and think ahead. If I would've thought ahead maybe I wouldn't have sewed the wrong side of the hood on the scarf! But I like the spikes better in the back anyway.I just don't like the hem I did on the front. BUT my 3yr old son loves it(his teachers did too but he told me his friends said it was too scary).Next time I know what to do different and learning is how we get better and become awesome!

Tonight I'm going to sew a slit in one side of the scarf so that my son can just pull it through and not tie it.

Mod Podge Rocks!: Christmas

This is by far one of my favorite blogs. I have to say I'm addicted to mod podge. I'm always looking for something that I can slap some scrapbook paper.Plus it's way cheaper to mess up than sewing projects! Go poke around her site,you will find so much cute stuff to make and everytime you finish something you will have the confidence to try something a little harder.

Mod Podge Rocks!: Christmas

First project for my blog

I did one of those ribbon trees I see everywhere and I think it turned out pretty well. Not a fan of the thing on top but I ran out of ribbon an inch from the top. That's usually how it goes with me...

I also made a christmas countdown calendar,but only for 10 days. I remember when I was a kid the countdown was unbearable! So I made it that way for the sake of my impatient 3yr old. It has some cute little things to do to get ready for the big day!

I'm totally dreaming of a cricut or silhouette for christmas.... I'm still working on some centerpiece ideas and maybe something for the ceiling fan.

~Crystal