Good Enough: One Yard Wonders

Showing posts with label One Yard Wonders. Show all posts

Sunshine On My Shoulder

>> Wednesday, February 17, 2010 – About me, One Yard Wonders, Stuff I Love, Stuff I Made

Not that I needed another bag, but this fabric simply shouted, "Sunshine!" And I could use a little sunshine right now. This is the Folklore pattern from (what else?) One Yard Wonders.

Yes, my bag really does look like that inside. Okay, well, I may have taken out a couple of crumpled grocery lists, a used tissue, and yesterday's Walmart receipt before taking this picture, but the rest I left in its natural state. I have been accused of being a "neat freak." Once or twice. I'm really only compartmentally tidy. It's hardly an overwhelming affliction.

The pattern directs that one 6-inch pocket be sewn into to the lining, but I wanted more than that, and I like smaller pockets (on account of the tidiness) so I made two, about 7-inches each, and when I put them in I stitched up the middle, to make two small sections- perfect for my phone and those other tiny necessities that always fall straight to the bottom.

More Sewing

>> Saturday, January 30, 2010 – One Yard Wonders, Stuff I Made

A couple more One Yard Wonders projects: the Smock of All Ages and Pintuck Top, which I modified slightly by leaving off bias tape altogether and making wider straps. This is the first sewing I've done from a paper pattern since I was in 8th grade and the first I've ever done without help. The original pattern for the smock included a pretty large ruffle around the neckline, but it was just a little too frou-frou for me, so I left it off and finished it with bias tape instead.

I repurposed one of Travis' old work shirts for the pintuck top, using the front of the shirt for the back of the top. I've never made a buttonhole in my life, but I like the interest this gives to the back. The top did require some additional fitting (I put in an extra dart) to that described in the book, but was otherwise pretty easy to put together.

One Yard Wonders

>> Friday, January 22, 2010 – Books I Read, My sweet family, One Yard Wonders, Stuff I Made

For Christmas, my sweet sister-in-law (and kindred spirit), Mary, gave me Handmade Home, by Amanda Blake Soule. A great book. Unfortunately, a friend gave me the same book for my birthday a few months ago, so Mary offered to return it for me and exchange it for something else. At long last, I chose this:

It arrived last week, while we were in the depths of sofa reupholstery, but I pored over it when we weren't pulling out staples, anticipating the joys to come. I had also managed to break all but my heavy-dutiest sewing machine needles, so I had to wait until some light-duty ones could be had to begin anything in the book anyway. *Sigh!* In the meantime (couch being finished), I began cutting for the projects I wanted to tackle first: the obi-inspired heat/cold wrap, the sewing trio (machine cover, needle book, pin cushion), and the Smock Of All Ages. When my needles arrived yesterday in the mail, I was ready to start begin right away.

Here are my finished results, completed with relative ease and speed by a novice sewer:

Obi-inspired Heat/Cold Wrap

The fabric is an African print on cotton that I've had for many years. I filled the hot/cold pack with buckwheat hulls from a buckwheat pillow I have that doesn't get much use. (It didn't take much, so after I took out what I needed for this project, I closed the pillow back up and it was good as new.) I tried the wrap out last night. The long, wide straps are very comfortable and the buckwheat warmed up wonderfully. I think it would be lovely to wrap this around yourself before getting into a cold car in the morning, for anyone not fortunate enough to have heated seats.

Post updated 1/28/2010: I DO NOT recommend buckwheat hulls as a filler for this project!!! As stated above, I did try the heat pack out the day I made it, heating it for about 1 minute in the microwave, and had no problem. However, last night I put the pack in for about 1 1/2 minutes and I began to smell something strange. I looked in and the center of the pack was turning brown and it was smoking. I quickly removed it and tossed it out onto our back porch. The house smelled of smoke for the rest of the night, and when I went out this morning to throw the thing away, an entire section of the fabric had been burned away! It must have smoldered there for some time after I threw it out. So, I repeat DO NOT USE BUCKWHEAT HULLS AS A FILLER FOR ANYTHING YOU INTEND TO PUT IN THE MICROWAVE! The book recommends white rice, and I have seen that suggested other places as well for similar projects. I may try to make a replacement heat pack and fill it with that.

Sewing Trio (sewing machine cover, needle book & pincushion)

This is made up in a navy/red tie-dye, another African fabric I've had for years. I love the big pocket on the sewing machine cover for my user's manual (which I refer to regularly) and my power cord and pedal fit in there, too.

Instead of using a button and and loop closure, as suggested in the book, I used a small piece of wide grosgrain ribbon with a snap attached. I have a good supply of snaps, and as I had used the ribbon for the pincushion I thought it would tie them together nicely.

I don't love the pincushion. Either I didn't stuff it quite enough, or I am overly enthusiastic when poking pins into it, but I stuck myself in the arm a number of times. Still, it is cute.

I have to get some bias tape before I can do up the smock, but of course I'll post pictures when that's done.