Next Month's Pattern : Simplicity 2443

As Rian mentioned in an earlier email she will be taking a break for a little while as she tends to the needs of her family. As a result you are going to hear a lot from me over the next few months. And I am excited because I have so many patterns that I have been dying to try.



For the month of July I decided to tackle one of things that has always scared me : knits.

We will be doing a couple of short tutorials, but the main pattern that we will be tackling is Cynthia Rowley's knit dress pattern 2443. I have loved it from the first time I saw it and am so excited to get started. Plus, my mother gave me some awesome nautical striped knit fabric from her stash that she has had since I was born.


So, get your patterns and fabric and get ready for next month. See you then.

In with the new. Out with the old.

Welcoming our newest addition to the family.

name: Maaike Rane (Micah Rain - its a Dutch thing)

weight: 8 lbs 14.5 ozs

length: 21 inches

biggest surprise: Maaike's beautiful purple lip sent us back to the US when she was only 9 days old for some medical treatment. As I am still there, far away from my sewing machine, and not sure when I will be able to return to China and my family, I will be saying goodbye to Presserfoot for the next few months. So, until then, happy sewing!

Finished Yoga Bags

On the left you will see Shawn’s finished bag in blue, made as prescribed by the pattern. To the right you will see my yoga bag with alterations.

Shawn’s only complaint is that her yoga mat peaks out of her bag. My only complaint is that the perfect yoga class is now at least a 14 hour flight away. Shawn, breath in the sunrise for me.

Attaching the lining, Step 6

The instructions are pretty clear for rolling the tops down and sewing them. Due to my need for closure I added length to my lining as noted in my “Step 1” post. I like the idea of having the lining peaking out. For my drawstring closure follow the steps below.

1. Fold down the top of the lining a half inch, iron, another half inch, and iron again.

2. Unfold the casing and sew a one inch button hole in the side of the casing to thread the cord through.

3. Sew along the edge to close the casing.

4. Insert the lining into your yoga bag and sew it in place.

5. Pin a safety pin into the end of your cord and thread it through your casing for lasting closure.

Sewing on the bottom, Step 5

What I liked about this step: The circle turned out to be the exact right size! That never happens.

What I would change: The instructions have you sew the outside of the bag first and then go back and sew the inner lining. I would reverse it. Practice on the the unseen lining and then sew the outside to perfection.

Pockets, Step 4

As I mentioned in a previous post, I like things that close. Call it minor OCD, but I have bad dreams about things falling out, you name it. I therefore decided to leave off the 3 panel pocket as described in the pattern and instead added a closing pocket for keys and such and a second smaller pocket for my yoga punch card.

I used a simple rectangle folded in in half. Sew around leaving a hole to flip it right side out and, as always, don’t forget to trim your corners.

Here is the finished pockets. I will be adding a button or snap closure to the brown pocket so that nothing will be falling out.

I asked Shawn how she like the three panel pocket as designed in the pattern. She said the construction was pretty simple and was happy to find that the pockets were big enough to hold her keys and a water bottle. Pick a pocket.

Making the Strap, Step 3

This step can be as simple as folding the fabric in half twice and stitching, but I just couldn’t. The problem was really in my cutting. I, once again, paid no attention to the print of my fabric when cutting out my strap, which is amazing since there is so much extra fabric left over. Depending on your fabric print this may be a no issue. I also found the strap to be a little wide, so I cut out about 2 inches and centered by fabric print down the strap.

The pattern instructs you to sew a seam down the 2 long sides, but I decided to add a third seam right down the middle, but do as you please. Happy strapping.

Yoga bag step 1 – cutting the fabric

The pattern instructs you to use a yard stick and chalk, but really…really, if you don’t already have a rotary cutter it is time. This is Shawn kneeling on the dining room table that was formerly known as mine. On our last trip to the fabric store together Shawn bought a set.

If you are worried about the size here are a few things to consider. The pattern is for an open bag. If you want to be able to close it I would add about 4 inches. I left the external fabric the same length, but added 4 inches to the lining that peaks out of the top and draw strings shut. Also, my yoga mat is double thick, but had no problem fitting in, so I wouldn’t add anything to the width.

Inspiration Anthro : Catch and Release Scarf

So here is my tutorial for the Catch and Release Scarf from Anthro. Better late than never right?





Materials:

- 1 piece of fabric about 90 inches long
- elastic thread
- matching thread (all purpose)
- rit dye (optional)
- tailors chalk
- sewing needle


* Your fabric needs to be light weight, breezy, and somewhat see thru. I think a cotton voile, cotton lawn, or cotton gauze would work really well. I am not sure what mine is made of but I found it on clearance in the home decor section.
here is a closer look at my fabric:


1 - Cut your fabric so that you have one long piece that is about 90" x 17"

2 - To finish the two long edges fold in 1/4", press, fold another 1/4", and press again. Edge stitch both sides with normal all purpose thread.




3 - Leave the top thread of your machine with your normal all purpose thread. Hand wind the bobbin with your elastic thread.

4 - Using your tailors chalk, mark 3 vertical lines down the middle of your fabric - each 4 inches apart.

5 - With all purpose thread as your top thread, and elastic thread as your bottom thread, stitch all three vertical lines from top to bottom allowing it to gather as it goes. Do not back stitch at either end.
*test on scrap fabric first. i found that my machine used the elastic thread best at a longer stitch length (4) and the usual straight stitch.
here is a good link to learn a bit more about sewing with elastic thread.


6 - Using a sewing needle, pull the regular thread to the back and tie a knot with the elastic thread to secure ends. (the video suggests backstitching but everything else i read said you shouldn't backstitch with elastic thread as it wont hold.)


7- Try on scarf to make sure that the length is what you want (depending on how much your machine gathered your fabric it may be different - the goal is about 40" long)

8 - Finish off ends the same as the sides by folding at 1/4", fold again at 1/4", press, and stitch.




9 - If you want a different color as I did, use RIT dye to dye your scarf. I used teal.


Finished scarf:

Yoga bag fabric

You know you are a dork when you buy your fabric for your yoga bag to match your yoga mat. Yes, my yoga mat is that green color. I bought it with my birthday money at Target. My dear grandma, who has 25 grandchildren and will soon top the charts with 26 great-grandchildren, has never missed a birthday, or an anniversary for that matter. Every year I can count on a Hallmark card with a crisp check and her endearing shaky handwriting. She insists that we go and buy something we want and not groceries or diapers and so, for my thirty first birthday I bought myself a green yoga mat with a tree design on it. And yes, it was the double thick one, but hey, I am no longer 20 and it was on sale :)

This is Shawn’s beautiful blue fabric. Her yoga mat is blue, but not quite as matchy as mine. We were crazy enough to take our kids to the fabric store together to get fabric. Thankfully we are both pretty decisive and had our fabric in hand in about 15 minutes. One could say that we just settled for what was one sale, but I think we did rather well. Shawn’s blue fabric has a very zen feeling to me. I secretly like hers better than mine.

Yoga bags between friends

You may notice that these photos are not from China. Yes, I cheated, but I am having a baby any second. In the final weeks of the move my good friend Shawn and I decided to make yoga bags. We had taken yoga together for a while, before I got pregnant and fell off the wagon. The class was really inspiring and deserved a beautiful handmade yoga bag. (This was a no makeup, no retakes kind of a day. Oh, us pasty Southern girls)

Our class as from 6 to 7:15 AM on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It was on the second floor of a performing arts center, in the ballet room. One whole wall was a window, facing east. Our instructor, another neighborhood friend, is from South Africa. Imagine for a moment a beautiful South African accent singing you through movements. It is pitch black outside when you arrive, but as you move the sun begins to rise over the mountains. Ahhhh.

Shawn is a beginning sewer, but with only a little guidance was able to make her way through this project. I am thankful once again to creative people who are willing to share their brains for free. Thank you Amy Butler. Click here for her free yoga bag pattern. You will need to down load it and print it. Shawn and I will walk you through the project this month. Shawn’s bag is made as prescribed by the pattern and I will show you how to make the alterations I did for my bag if you should want to. Have a happy downward dog on me today. I on the other hand will be working on dialation.