duffel and pillow

today i worked completely without patterns or instructions. i feel so much more accomplished when i can visualize something and then create it by myself.

Here is the duffel bag! It's 9" by 9" by 22". The outside fabric is just a simple calico print. I used fusible fleece to give it shape then used white canvas for a sturdier lining. Again, i conquered the zipper without a zipper foot! I still haven't really figured out how to hide the zipper ends better but i'm giving me some slack since this was my first bag without a pattern haha.

I also made a pillow today for my step-sister, Marge. I used a 12" by 22" pillow form. The yellow flower print underneath is from a fat quarter; the owl fabric is a silk look-alike fabric infused with something unnatural so it doesn't wear as quickly. The bottom picture is the close up on the owl fabric.

i think that's all for today!

~m~

freestyling

i am beginning to realize how much of a rebel i am when it comes to patterns and following the instructions. Below are two of my creations from this past weekend, one made with a pattern and one without.

This is the one with a pattern. i made it for my step-sister, Mary. It's a Simplicity "6 Made Easy" pattern, number 3956, shirt E. I made it with a silk look-alike fabric and two snaps in the back instead of a zipper.

Here is the nightie made without a pattern. I have nighties that look like this one so i decided that instead of buying lots of them as i tend to do, i should start making them. I have no idea what fabric it is, but it's soft and light, perfect for sleeping. I made a casing for the elastic while leaving 1/2" to connect the skirt to the bust triangles. The white lining along the triangles is just simple double folded bias tape.

I am working on a duffel bag right now, hopefully i will have that up here soon!

m

yellow and grey

here are two of my latest projects:

This is from "One Yard Wonders," a book filled with 101 sewing projects using only one yard of fabric. It's the Mailbag Pocket Duo. I followed the

pattern exactly and used a fabric that i found while in New Hampshire. I believe it's an Amy Butler print.

The second project i made without a pattern. It's a high waisted skirt with a V shape in the waist band. Hopefully i will be able to recreate this look because this skirt fits perfectly. The zipper was quite an accomplishment for me; my sewing machine doesn't have a zipper foot and so anytime i manage to put a zipper on something i get really excited. The fabric is vintage (1950s) cotton.

m

the prodigal sewing machine returned

Last Friday my grandmother's beautiful vintage Singer sewing machine was returned to me, repaired and restored. And with the burst of creative ideas that sometimes comes and overwhelms me, i went to work.

Hopefully this blog can become where i share all my newest creations, if i can be that faithful to the interline haha....

p.s. this is my sewing station!