Home EC Class: Project 6

Ironing Board Cover

Lessons learned:
   using old cover (or board) to create a cover for the new
   edge-finishing options
   elasticizing an edge
   calculating fabric required

close-up of my fabric...love it!  :)

This project came at just the right time.  Some of you know that my husband and I are getting ready for a baby due the end of October so we're having to change what used to be the guest room into what will be the nursery, and in the process, keep the full-size bed that was in the guest room so we'll still have a place to house guests who come to visit (the baby or the beach.  Or both. :).

To do that, my handy husband is building a murphy bed to encase the bed which will go in our other bedroom which is currently known as the "craft/computer/catchall room".  But not only is he building the murphy bed cabinet itself, he's adding shelving, etc. on either side to create a "wall" structure.  It's absolutely amazing (and nearly done, hooray!).  Anyway, one of the features he's building is a fold-out ironing board for me.

I have a full size ironing board right now that we store in the laundry room.  I hate ironing in the first place and it's so difficult to get out.  And it has this really ugly gray cover on it.  :)  This new fold-out ironing board will be so nice because it will be easily accessible and it has a beautiful, though not perfect, cover on it!  That I made!

I chose this fabric because it matches some other countertops in the room itself and when everything is complete, I'll post photos of it all and you can see for yourself.  I'm so excited about how this is all turning out.  :)

The cover was a good challenge -- we took the board that Jeff built and laid it on some thin kraft paper to make the pattern.  We went out about 3 inches from the board itself to allow for overhang, etc. and drew around and then cut it out.  Voila -- my first pattern!  :) Then I pinned the pattern to my fabric and cut.

As I said, the cover isn't perfect and I do need ironing board clips (like everyone else in the class has said) to create a more tight effect, but it's functional for now.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Home EC Class: Project 5

Supplies Roll-up

Lessons learned:
   creating sections (albeit uneven :)
   working with thicker material and heavier needle
   installing an adjustable strap

open with the flap closed...

open with the flap open...

open & filled with my sewing supplies...

closed (rolled) up...

closer detail of the ribbon closure...

It's cute, right?

I made a few modifications to this project:

1) I couldn't get my hands on oilcloth specifically (which is what the project called for though they said we could use a few other materials) without ordering some and I wasn't patient enough to wait for it so my (wonderful) husband picked up some vinyl for me at Hancock Fabrics.  It worked just fine.

2) I couldn't find O-rings very easily so I chose some (too large) D-rings that worked.

3) I didn't have any matching ribbon that was 1" thick but I had this really cute ribbon "that matched and everything" so I decided to use 2 strands of it.  THAT was a challenge.

As was sewing the straight lines to form the sections inside.

Home EC Class: Project 4

Round Bunting

Lessons learned:
   creating fabric circles
   machine applique

my sewing area...

This project took a really long time but I'm so happy with the way it turned out!  The circles aren't perfect by any means, but I think for my first time ever doing something like this, I did good.  :)

I used the font "Impact" and typed it out in the appropriate sizes (I made the "t" a bit smaller than the other letters) using Photoshop 7.  I printed them, cut them out and traced them backwards onto my felt to cut out.

I did use individual ribbon strips in between the circles since I didn't have enough ribbon to use continuously.  I was worried about the drape of the letters, even as I sewed everything* together but it seemed to work out fine.

*The tutorial said that if you were using individual ribbon strips, that you should sew your circles and then hand-sew your ribbon to the back (meaning that that would be seen if you hung it where both sides could be seen).  Well, we all know how I feel about that hand-sewing business, so I just pinned them into place and sewed everything together so the ribbon strips are sandwiched in between the felt backing and the fabric, just as if it were a continuous piece of ribbon. 

Home EC Class: Project 3

Reusable Grocery (Tote) Bag

Lessons learned:

   making a larger bag

   straps

   strong "x-joint"

   corner technique

I used an old pillowcase for this project...

a close-up of my x-joints...

I LOVE the x-joint technique! It's relatively easy and it looks really great.  I thought I might get this monogrammed with a fun color...

Home EC Class: Project 2

Drawstring Gift Pouch

Lessons learned:

   making a bag

   joining 2 fabrics

   drawstring casing

   square corners

   strong slit

*the fact that I will probably NOT make another one of these in the same way again...

open (i.e. not tied up)...

closed (hypothetically w/gift inside)...

I have a couple of notes about this one:

The main fabric is hawaiian fabric that Jeff picked up for me on one of his business trips over there (so I've had it for awhile) so when I say "hawaiian", I mean authentic.  :) 

The top band is actually fabric from a bed skirt we have no need of anymore so I ripped out seams, squared it up and used it for this project.  I think the colors match perfectly.  :)

There was a part in this project that we had to hand-sew and if I learned nothing else from this project, it's that I'm not into that.  At all.  I did what I needed to but not without a few tears of frustration, some impatient outbursts and a vow to NEVER make one of these bags again.  Not unless I can make it without that hand-sewing business.

It's a good thing the fabric is cute.

Home EC Class: Project 1

Single & Double Layer Napkins

Lessons learned:

   squaring up fabric*

   simple hemming

   adding ric-rac

*it's questionable that I've learned this yet...

starting out...

my single layer napkins...

my double layer napkins...

really proud of these... :)

the double layer napkins on my kitchen table...

I'm sew excited!

Look what I'm participating in!

I discovered this class through another blog that I read (she's a sewer) and clicked on the link to see what it was all about.

I've been wanting to get into sewing for awhile now -- maybe the last 3 months or so.  I think that skill could come in pretty handy with all kinds of things.  So I sent Jeff the link to see what he thought of it and he was all for it, saying, "If you really want to get into sewing, this looks like an excellent opportunity."

My sentiments exactly.

So for $60 (+ my materials since it IS an online class), I registered to take this class and learn how to make 26 projects -- each project teaching a new technique and building on each other to take us "from beginner to confident"!

The class started this past Tuesday and while they post a new project each day on the blog, there are no deadlines and they will have the information up for a full year online so we can take it at our own pace.  Thank the Lord for that because it has crossed my mind a time or two that maybe I've stepped outside my mind to try to take this on at this very moment in my life.

With that being said, however, I couldn't WAIT for this class to get started!  Jeff got our sewing machine out last Thursday and set it up in my craft room on its own separate table with a lamp and everything.  Friday night, I didn't have any plans and the machine was calling me so I went online to just see what kind of simple projects with tutorials I could find.

I ended up sewing my very first thing that night!  A cute little drawstring bag made from a heavy green/brown/cream striped material (we had some material and other notions from when we got the machine in the first place) with a wide brown ribbon for the "drawstrings".  I can't even TELL you how tickled I was that I made it!  I just kept looking at it and giggling.  Jeff was proud of me, too.  

The next day, Saturday, I found a tutorial for a weighted pin cushion -- how convenient since everyone who sews needs a pincushion!  :)  So I made that, too, out of that same striped material plus some other green & yellow fabric & felt.  It came out pretty well, too.  So I had 2 projects under my belt already!

Well, as it turns out, I've not been able to even start the first project for this Home EC class due to other obligations each night this week.  But that all changes TONIGHT!  I'm going to sew tonight, if it's the last thing I do.  :)

Being the organized person that I am, I got a spiral notepad that I can use to keep track of things I learn, supplies I need, etc.  Being the crafty person that I am, I decorated the front of it.  :)

I am ready!  Bring on the fabric & thread!

Now you may be wondering why I would post this information (and any subsequent info/photos) on this blog and the MAIN reason is so that I don't have to start a FOURTH blog, hello.  But the other reason is because I think it can kind of be related to the home -- a lot of the things we're learning to make will be for our home so I plan to make them useful.

So you may or may not care about how it goes with this class, but this is where I'll be posting my progress for the class for awhile.  I know it's been QUITE a while since I've posted anything here and I'm thinking I'd probably be pretty lucky if I still had any readers who check this blog of mine, but whatev.

Okay, wish me luck!