Caddyshack and sewing?
Yes, it is an embroidered gopher. I’m gonna give you some time to digest that last sentence.
Tag: sewing
I’ve got a pair of Mark Twains, can you beat that?
I feel like I am playing that old card game Authors.
It’s still February, right? So this is my second Mark Twain this year. So far.
I didn’t exactly set a goal for sewing that included multiple American humorists. Funny how things work out. But I’ve always had a soft spot for Mark Twain since we share a hometown, Hannibal, MO. (Say hi to my mom if you’re in Hannibal.) I posted a picture of my Twainy quilt in January.
The quilt is heading off next month to the amazing Deonn for her quilty touch.
Just before my Destiny headed to the spa, I had an idea. I started an embroidery project that I hope to make into a fun and very personal quilt. I don’t want to share the project until I feel that it is properly cooked. Suffice it to say that Mark Twain will be in the quilt.
And maybe some stars.
So we have a mystery brewing here. Mark Twain, stars, a gopher…
I cheated on my Destiny with another sewing machine!
I am sick and tired of organizing. Oh, I’m not done yet, just tired of it. And my machine is still at the spa. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I cut out some fabric.
I decided to make a smallish project. I wasn’t sure how my Project Runway backup sewing machine would do, and I didn’t want to bite off more than it could chew. I just happened to have a 24″ pillow form sitting around, and some fabric from the new Tidal Lace collection by Windham Fabrics.
I was inspired by an adorable quilt pattern called Making Waves, on the See How We Sew blog. You can see the pattern here https://seehowwesew.wordpress.com/patterns/
I used the templates for one of the beach balls. The curves in the waves and sand were made by stacking the fabric and cutting freehand curves.
The back has a lapped zipper. Somebody’s bound to slobber on it at some point. Gotta be able to wash it.
It sure helped out my symptoms of withdrawal. And I gained a newly refreshed admiration for my Destiny. I have fallen in love with my dreamy machine. But I need it back, or I might not be held accountable for what happens next.
Stay crafty, my friends.
Now this is what you should do when your sewing machine is in the shop!
WARNING! Fabric porn! 
If these pictures don’t just set your heart a singing, I don’t know what will! By the way, this second photo is part of my collection of vintage batiks from Indonesia. Aside from silly hatbands, I have spent my sewing-machine-less time well. I am putting my fabric collection on little mini bolts. 
I am using these magazine boards that I bought from Amazon. Don’t you just love Amazon? When you live on a small island, it’s the only way to get your hands on certain things. 
I’ve fired up Netflix, and I’ve been sitting here for days folding fabric around these boards. I can’t even begin to tell you how much space this saves. 
I am preparing to move into my much larger studio quarters. I have no idea what I will use to hold all my mini bolts, but for now they are fitting nicely in these plastic bins. And I can see ALL of my fabric. 
I also need to figure out how to sort the fabric. I do like this last bin and the rainbow sorting method. 
These two bins have fat quarters, half yards, and pieces under a yard.
Let’s have a show of hands, how many times have you Googled fabric storage? How many times have you oohhh-ed and aahhh-ed over fabric collections on mini-bolts? How many pictures of mini bolts have you pinned on your Fabric Storage Pinterest board?
Right here and now, I am throwing out a challenge to my cousin Kim and her new sewing room. Are YOUR fabrics on mini bolts?
This project is almost making me happy that my Destiny is in the shop. Almost. At least I can say proudly that I got something done while my machine was at the spa. I did not just curl up into a whining, little ball and watch a Downton Abbey marathon. Oh no, not me.
How am I going to tote around all those hexies?
Don’t you just love those ah-ha! moments? I’ve been working on rosette number two from the New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt-Along. And I have bits and bobs spread all over the table next to my chair. Time to rein in my mess.
This is the Bionic Gear Bag Notions Tote, by RipStitcher. The pattern is here on Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/accessory/winner-bionic-gear-bag-notions-tote/93596
This has enough zipper compartments to make me do a happy dance! And I got to install four zippers! A place for everything, and everything in its’ place.
Can’t do EPP without my trusty 3M blue painters tape. And massive spools of gray thread. Here’s a small preview of some of the fabrics in my second rosette:
I may start putting this together by machine. I am very pleased with how my first rosette turned out, using invisible thread and a zig-zag stitch. If you haven’t checked out my tutorial, you can find all three parts here on my blog. https://handmadebycarolecarr.com/2015/01/23/machine-stitching-the-millefiore-quilt-tutorial-part-one-for-those-of-us-who-hand-sew-at-the-speed-of-a-turtle/
For those of you who are loving on my Shaka Hula Fork Chef Dude, here’s a gratuitous picture of his bad self.
My wonderful Destiny is still in the shop. You will never believe what I ended up doing all day yesterday. Just try to guess.
Stay crafty, my friends.
Left Zipper and Right Zipper are both hoping they can get their own internet memes.
Have I mentioned how much I like zippers? I even like installing zippers. I think that makes me a weirdo.
If you haven’t been hanging around the notions aisle at the fabric shop like me, you might not know that there are differences in the zippers that are put in garments and the ones typically used in bags. Check this out:
On the left is an all-purpose, regular old zipper. On the right is a handbag zipper. I made sure to use the same color for both examples, as I wouldn’t want you to favor one just for the color of it’s tape.
Left Zipper is the one you would typically find at the fabric store, lined up like little soldiers. Right Zipper probably isn’t at your local store. Check out the differences.
I’m sure you noticed the difference in the zipper tapes right away. The tape is the part of the zipper that gets sewn into whatever you’re making. The total width of Left Zipper is just under one inch. The width of Right Zipper is about 1-1/4 inch. The tape is wider and the teeth are wider.
What a difference in the zipper pulls! Left Zipper comes in at about 3/4 inch, and Right Zipper at about twice that length! Makes sense, doesn’t it? Think of how often you use the zipper pull on a handbag.
Look at the tape on these. Can you tell from the picture that the Right Zipper has a heavier, more substantial tape? Truth, not opinion.
Left Zipper is the one that you would usually find in garments. It is more flexible and lighter. Easier to hide or blend in. Small zipper pull can be less conspicuous. Right Zipper is slightly less flexible. The wider tape makes is ideal to put into bulkier applications. The wider teeth hold up to more stress. The big pull is easier to grab, especially when you use the zipper lots…like in a handbag. Of course you can use Left Zipper in a bag! And you can use Right Zipper in a garment, but I wouldn’t. It all comes down to preference, my friends. There is no wrong, only what you like.
For most of us, it takes a little more work to get our hands on Right Zipper. I buy all of my on Etsy at Zipperisland. There are several good vendors on Etsy that sell high-quality, YKK zippers in bulk. I keep a good supply on hand, so when I get a whim to make a new bag, I can whip out a matching zipper. And remember, you can always shorten a zipper! Just bar tack a new zipper stop at the length you need and cut off the excess.
Both Left Zipper and Right Zipper objected to the idea of including that roguish relative, the Invisible Zipper, into this comparison. But look back at the first picture. Invisible Zipper snuck in on the right side of the picture. You just can’t see him because, well, he’s invisible.
You’re welcome.
My bathroom is blue, and now I have a purse to match! So…a bathroom photo shoot.
Look at how nice my purse looks in here!
Our lady of Guada-LOO-pe. It’s the February bag-of-the-month, the Hyacinth Bag, from Sew Sweetness. I bought this fabric knowing I would find a perfect project for it. I can always do blue.
I like the way this bag sits next to the body. In this case, a foam body with really pointy boobs. You should thank me for making sure those didn’t show up in the photo. Do you like my little splashing waves made of tiles?
I am also digging the adjustable strap. I can wear it cross-body, two hands free. Ooh, think of the browsing I can do when both my hands are free!
The lining is so darn cute! Coordinating fabric from Kanvas, obviously. Teeny little gold shots in the roses. Color, not liquor shots.
It’s hard to tell that this is the across-the-body shot, because I worked so hard to leave out the boobies. But it is.
Under the flap, we have all the built-ins. Coin pocket, card holders.
This is the back side of the bag. That one lady is doing pretty good, considering the fact that she has been bisected by a blue zipper.
My sister in law is already trying to lay claim to this beauty, but I think I need to give it a test drive. I feel like if I am carrying this bag, the force will be with me. I’ll let you know how that works out.
Live long and prosper.
Pardon the interruption, this blue bag budged in line and is screaming for attention.
Give that fabric a break for one day, and look what happens!
After leaping from one backpack right into a second backpack, I decided to take a short break. From backpacks. I’ll finish that coral beauty soon.
I joined the Bag of the Month Club over at Sew Sweetness. You can still get in on this cool deal, six new purse patterns, one each month, January through June. The February pattern is by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness. This is called the Hyacinth Bag.
This is the front of the bag with the flap already finished and attached. Sara added some cool details – a coin pocket and three credit card slots.
Hope my topstitching can hold up in the close-ups! And it is not an optical illusion – there are two saints hovering over that zipper. Have I mentioned that I love putting in zippers? And how pretty is this fabric? It’s Lady of Guadalupe by Kanvas.
Shaka Hula Fork Dude is holding the back of the purse with a – wait for it – zipper! That’s where I’ll keep my ginormous new phone. And Shaka Hula Fork Dude has something he wants to say…
Hi Linda!
OMG, you haven’t even seen the lining yet! You’ll just have to suffer until tomorrow.
Now go make something pretty!
The pack is back! And I’m not talking about Green Bay, Bubba!
Backpack number two, travel bag number four. All in the New Year!
The Shaka Hula Fork Chef wanted to get in on this one. Cheeky little guy.
To recap my obsession…I am determined to make the perfect travel bag. One’s too small, one’s too heavy, one is ALMOST just right. I’m living Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Maybe this one will be Baby Bear.
The pattern is the Dawn to Dusk backpack by Chris W. Designs. This fabric is from the Lark Collection by Amy Butler. I redrafted the pattern to add one inch to the width, two inches to the height, and two inches to the depth. And, by golly, my laptop will definitely fit into this one!
I had to redraft my redraft of the water bottle pocket to make it wider, and also added an inch in height. I put in a 2″ gusset at the bottom of this pocket, so the water bottle will sit nicely and not squirt itself out of the pocket. At this point, I’m pretty sure I could stash a liter bottle of vodka in this bad boy. Not that I’d want to do that, but I could.
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The snappy pocket on the other side also got a makeover. It’s 2″ taller and 2″ wider. I could actually put something useful in here. Like Junior Mints and a bottle of Ambien.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to change the curvy strappy part. I still have to add on the buckles, then the outside will be done. Except for the fact that I forgot to put in the webbing at the top to make the hangy-uppy loop. Rip-a-dee-doo-dah. And I still have to make the lining. Wait ’til you see that!
Now you have to sit back and suffer. I’m going to leave you hanging for a day, unlike this backpack, which does not yet have it’s hanging loop. We’re going into town, into civilization, to shop for new phones and a new phone plan. I fully expect this to take all day, much to my chagrin. So no progress in my sewing room expected today, and I am not planning on posting tomorrow. Although, maybe an intermission…
Stay crafty, my friends.
Bigger, better, faster, stronger. And monogrammed with a giant C.
When last we spoke, I was contemplating the shortcoming of my gorgeous Dawn to Dusk backpack. Just one shortcoming. It wasn’t big enough for my laptop.
I spent the weekend drafting a larger version. Lots of pieces to this baby, and most of them needed to be resized. I added to all three dimensions; length, width, and height.
One of the hardest things about making a new version is the fabric choice. I have to admit, I am in love with that Philip Jacobs Japanese Chrysanthemum fabric I used for the first one. The good news is that I scored a gorgeous Amy Butler fabric at one of my local enablers.
I seem to spend lots of my time lately disproving my own operational tactics. I really don’t like to make the same thing twice. But here I go again.
I decided it needed something. Like a gigantic monogram. Lucky me, my first and last names start with the same letter. Then I went to the Urban Threads website. They have the coolest, most unusual embroidery designs I have found. And they are having a sale right now on alphabets! So I bought a massive letter.
I did not want the monogram to be glaringly obvious, which is kinda counterintuitive when you are adding a humongous letter to your project. I picked brighter versions of the colors that are in the fabric, so that it could be seen but would not overwhelm the gorgeous textile.
BTW, I also had to watch the Superbowl this weekend. Well, at least the ads and the halftime show. Katy Perry was awesome, especially riding in on the giant metal tiger. With guys in black bodysuits moving the legs. Of the tiger, not Katy Perry. And the little lost Budweiser dog…let’s just say, tears were shed.
Now go make something pretty!
handmade by Carole Carr 