Archive for the ‘Sewing’ Category
July 20, 2008
NOTE: Since there have been so many hits on this post, I put this on another page titled Making a Digital Camera Case. I am currently making two more and will be adding more pictures and commentary.
It was pretty hot this afternoon, so I decided to sew. I suddenly remembered that I hadn’t put my daughter’s camera case together. It only took a couple of hours. I traced around the camera and measured the width at the widest point. In making a pattern, you have to add in seam allowances on each piece and some more for the thickest of the actual pieces. So you need to decide what you are going to make it out of before you draw the pattern.
Before sewing the pieces together, I put a 2mm satin stitch around each part to hold them together. It consists of the orange sparkly stuff, two pieces of heavy interfacing and a fuzzy knit for the lining. I changed the satin stitch width to 4mm to sew the pieces together. Sewing in the gusset was not easy. Instead of starting at one end and sewing around, I started along the bottom. I matched the mid point of the gusset with the center back. I sewed the bottom, around the curve and up the side past the gusset to secure it. Then I started about one half inch over the previous stitching and repeated. The gusset needs to be on the top side in order to get around the curve so half the time the camera case will be at the right of the needle instead of the left. Sewing the front to the gusset was hard. I used the same method and started at the bottom again. When I had it all together, I ran another satin stitch around the whole thing. The buttonhole is off center, but, at this point, I don’t care. And I am sure my daughter won’t either.
Tags:camera case
Posted in Sewing | 2 Comments »
July 18, 2008
I finished the cover for Win’s PSP. It turned out well. 
Everything fits inside snugly and it slips easily in a pocket. I will have progress pictures another time. Right now, I need to get cleaned to go out to dinner. i was weeding this afternoon and I still need to do some housework.
Tags:PSP cover
Posted in Sewing | 1 Comment »
July 15, 2008
A got a nice comment today from someone who wants my socks and wants to trade a chihuahua sweater or a hat for my socks. It sounds good to me. Of course, I expect to see a picture of said items and a mention on her blog. Then, I thought I should give you all more time to see if anything better comes along. I am such a greedy bastard. Ask my crazy ex-girlfriend. But, I’m telling you, that chihuahua sweater is very tempting. Maude wants to know what color it is.
Yester evening, we turned off the air and haven’t had to turn if back on yet. It’s a little humid, but only in the 70’s so we are comfortable. We are enjoying it while it lasts. It rained off and on all morning so our walk was cut short. I did get some work done on the quilt back. I cut strips and sewed them together. If I have some time tomorrow, I’ll cut the strips.
- quilt back
My son is coming on Wednesday and I promised to make a raisin walnut spice cake. So, I may do that and make the frosting the next morning. I usually only make it around Christmas.
Tags:Christmas cake, free socks, quilt back
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing | 1 Comment »
July 14, 2008
It’s a good thing that I have thick hair. This afternoon, I got out the scissors and cut a bunch of it. I have a lot of dry split ends in the back. The last two times I went to get a haircut I said I wanted all the dryness cut. What is so hard about that? Well, now it is out and it still looks pretty good and it is a lot easier to wash. I may get it evened out in a couple of weeks. It still waves in the back and you would never know I cut about three inches off the top.
Well, I didn’t get any takers on the free socks so they are now a women’s size 7 or 38. (My favorite shoes are made in Germany.) There is still time to apply.
quilt back
I decided on my quilt back. I also decided to cut it into squares and add some more colors. All the work that I put into on the front deserves an interesting back. Of course, I may never finish that quilt. But that would also mean I would never embroider again and I know that’s not going to happen.
Tags:haircut, quilt back
Posted in Knitting, Sewing, Stuff | Comments Off on Self Inflicted Haircut
July 10, 2008
The plumber was four hours late. That’s not bad for Sussex county. We’ve got a new pump, tank, pipes and other crap and now it is wonderful. Doug helped. He is handy. I made him roasted red potatoes that he likes so much. This time I put fresh mushrooms with them and I also baked some pork chops. He was happy. I made more than usual thinking I might have some for another day, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are gone by tomorrow afternoon. I found a recipe for chocolate banana cake that I might try. I like banana nut bread, but i wanted to try something different.
Some of my Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric came today. I have no idea when the rest will come. The Loralie fabric I ordered came yesterday. I have got so much nice fabric that I can’t part with anything to use on the back of my quilt.
Loralie fabric
- very hungry caterpillar
Tags:new fabric, new pump, roasted potatoes
Posted in Family and Friends, Sewing, Stuff | 2 Comments »
July 8, 2008
The plumber showed up around 10:30 this morning. I was glad because I was pretty bleary eyed from reading. I had put another border on my quilt earlier and I couldn’t make up my mind about the binding. I pulled out everything that was usable and threw it on the table and left them there until one of them started talking. Unfortunately, several started talking at once, so I left them all there to fight amongst themselves. I am hoping to have a winner be tomorrow but you never know about fabric. They are just like gas ovens. I took my knitting and went out on the porch deck–whatever that thing is. I wanted to weed, but I didn’t want to get sweaty. We have a hose going to the neighbor’s, but I don’t need to be greedy. It is Kevin’s birthday and he wants to go to the Mexican restaurant in town for dinner. They are at their trailer for the week. Doug got him two Wave Birds? on eBay and I got him an Ugly Poe doll and Ugly Poe key chain and a Ugly OX T-shirt. And if you don’t know what Uglies are, then shame on you.
So the plumber says the pump is shot. That’s not hard to believe. The original owner kept receipts for EVERYTHING and there was no pump. He is coming back on Wednesday to do it. Then I plan on doing my best to wear it out.
Tags:Mexican restaurant, plumber, Uglies
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing, Stuff | 2 Comments »
July 4, 2008
We went tonight instead of tomorrow so I wore my flag shirt anyway. I also wore my new red capris which are a size smaller, thank you very much. I almost bought my jeans shorts a size smaller, but I do a lot of walking around in them and they need to be washed a few times. I can still take them in if necessary. But not until I finish my quilt. Unless I really start hating it, I finish what I start and other stuff just has to wait. I love seeing the finished product and pray that it looks like the idea I had in my head.
No sewing was done today. I had to bathe and wash my hair and make blueberry cake. I swear it gets better every time I make it. It’s so nice to have the time to experiment. I wasn’t too happy with the strawberry banana muffins, but I have some more ideas.
I’m not real happy with the pattern of my new socks and I have changed a few things to make it knit faster. The pattern is so hard to see that it doesn’t matter. The yarn is wonderful. I”m thinking about going to a size smaller needle when I get to the ankle. I may also loose a few stitches.
Tags:cooking, finishing, socks
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Sewing | Comments Off on New Hat
July 3, 2008
We had another day with low humidity and temperatures low enough to turn the air conditioning off. I love to sleep with the windows open. The Powers That Be say it’s going to up to ninety-two tomorrow so I’ll enjoy it while I can. I did some gardening. I bought Doug another Hibiscus in orange and Linda gave me some Cone plants. I put mulch some yellow daisy looking plants and pulled grass out of the Impatiens. We still need to look at trees for the creek-side. We don’t know what we want. 
Zip knew what he wanted.
I worked on my blue socks later in the day. Now that I have the pattern pretty much memorized, it’s going a lot faster. The leg is over half done. I made 106 split squares for the quilt border. I think that’s enough. I hope that’s enough.
I got my confirmation letter from Stitches. I already knew because my second choice for Friday was sold out the first day. I will be taking Shadow Knitting with Vivian Hoxbro on Friday and Danish Skra-trojer with Beth Brown-Reinsel on Saturday and Sunday. I like an all day class and a two day class is even better. It should be fun. The brochure came the same day. Why wasn’t it sent out before the first sign-up day?
Tags:gardening, quilt, socks, Stitches classes
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Sewing | Comments Off on Ordinary
June 30, 2008
My son called me around 10AM. He asked if I had left yet because I didn’t have to come. He said he was having a panic attack last night (as if I didn’t know). He had since settled down and talked to someone. He is getting some help this evening and tomorrow before class. He really did sound much better this morning so I stayed here. This has happened before and it will probably happen again. At least he recognizes that he is this way and can straighten himself out. We talked about getting together in a couple weeks. I promised to bake him something good and bring leftovers. Doug always complains that there are no leftovers when I go, but he says it good naturedly.
I couldn’t decide what inner border to use, so I put two on. Tomorrow I hope to start making the patches.
I couldn’t resist that orange, yellow,red and purple stripes. Doug isn’t stepping on Gus. He’s rubbing his belly.
I hate Blue Jays. If they are not dive bombing Zip, they are dropping their kids on our deck. We have to get every cat in and wait. In the meantime, the little twerp poops all over my deck. Maybe the rain tonight will wash it off.
Darn. We forgot about the chairs. Oh, well.
I also got a little work done on the blue socks.
Tags:blue jay, quilt, socks, son
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Sewing | 1 Comment »
June 28, 2008
I was really hoping to get a lot of work done on my quilt in the next few days, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. My son called a little while ago, very upset. He is taking a writing class that he absolutely has to pass in order to graduate. The teacher has been intolerable and half the class has left. He has an oral on Monday and a final report on Wednesday. He is not worried about the oral. He always does well with them. I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll do what I can. He wants to graduate so badly! He’s trying hard, but the teacher seems to take pride in tearing everything apart.
The weather is suposed to be better tomorrow and the following few days so I won’t be running from air condiioned room to air conditioned room. Maybe I’ll take my machine with me and work on my quilt. I have a million split patches to make which also means a wad of fabric and cutting board and cutter. 
We’ll see.
Bye, Guys.
Tags:Add new tag, quilt, son, teacher
Posted in Family and Friends, Sewing | 1 Comment »
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 