Winter Break

With all this free time on my hands during break, Gladys and I have been busy bees. I made several tank shirts and a new loot bag to bring when I go dumpster diving.

I 'm obviously not a photographer and remember that I dont really know anything about anything when it comes to sewing.. Considering this, I'm quite pleased with how comfy the shirts are. I gave the printed one to a friend for christmas, but it didnt fit her very well; Ill have to alter it a little to better suit her small stature... I'm still learning how to measure and cut material so it will fit well and I'm also learning a little about how to work with different types of material. The cotton knit was pretty tricky because it kept rolling up and getting caught in the feeder dogs, but its really comfortable to wear. Once I master a simple tank shirt, I think I can handle a vest, which isn't very different..
I think the bag is going to work out well. Bags that I bring to the dumps with me get full pretty quickly, so I needed an extra large one that I could carry on my back. I made this one out of black linen so it will be stealthy and not look too large and baggy. I am going to put a zipper in the cover flap so it can be used as a pocket to put smaller loose or fragile items in. The shoulder straps are the drawstring, connected to the bottom corners, so when you pick it up by the shoulder straps, the weight of the bag's contents will pull it closed. Ill have to use it some time soon to see how well it works.
I would aslo like to try making an apron some time soon. Maybe this week Ill make it out to the other thrift store for some more material.

What to do..

To make anything, you need some kind of material first.. so today instead of last minute christmas shopping, I went with a friend to a thrift store to look for some fabric. I tend to buy fabric that I like without knowing what Ill do with it. Ive accumulated a few small pieces but don't really know what to make with any of them so today I went out looking for some fresh inspiration. Here's what I found:

I seem to have an affinity for vintage looking floral prints. I also got another swath of blue cotton knit that has a nice stretch.. maybe another tank or tee shirt..? The white and blue one is a really thin synthetic fiber that I think would make a cute blouse for one of my lovely ladies.  Im not sure how Ill go about creating one, but that's what this blog is for.. trial and error I guess.  Perhaps next week Ill have a finished product from these pieces. Any ideas?

Gladys, meet The World. World, this is Gladys

Ive always thought I would be pretty good at making clothes and stuff, but I never really tried to make anything before. Growing up, my mom always had her Kenmore 10 stitch machine that she got as a wedding gift out on the dining room table.

I never knew what she made, but I figured out that I could make little bags out of a rectangle piece of fabric folded in half with two straight stitches along the open sides. Since I had no idea how to use the machine and would usually end up getting the threads tangled up inside the bobbin thing, Mom didnt want me screwing around with her machine. I later realized that sewing stuff by hand was sort of fun and I could do it really fast. Over the years I would make the occasional draw string bag or pillow case, but I never really considered getting a machine until recently. When I started school again last year, I needed a new book bag and decided that I could make one myself. So, for the next couple weeks I would take my material over to moms house and work on it, with some of her help. I was quite pleased with the final product and decided that if I could pick out random upholstery and curtain fabric form a thrift store, make up a pattern and put it all together with my minimal knowledge of sewing, I could probably make other less complicated stuff too..  And so I decided I needed a machine of my own. Unfortunately, they are pretty darn expensive, and I never really have an extra $300 bucks laying around to blow on a machine that I dont know how to use. After talking it over with Mom, she decided to give me her old one, as Aunt Patricia, who has like seven machines, had given mom one of her "old ones."  Now that Ive got a machine and a fabulous little sewing table from a thrift store, I just need to make stuff.

One day Ill be making all my clothes.   maybe . . . Except for my school bag and the occasional curtain, I dont have much experience using a sewing machine and each time I attempt a new project I learn something new about how Gladys, as I've named my machine, works. So I guess this will be an adventure in creativity and self sufficiency. Stay tuned to see how it goes.