Andy!

This guy turned out better than expected.  I made the pants with a micro fiber fabric which I used to make myself a jacket.  Can't wait to give to my son for his first born.

Snappy Little Upcycled Backpack with Hat

I made this backpack and hat for my sister's birthday gift.  Love the zippered pockets: two on the front, one inside and one in the back! I upcycled old jeans and an Hawaiian shirt for the lining.

Finished Jacket

Finished jacket.
Cannot wait for cooler weather to have an opportunity to wear this jacket.

Finishing Interior Seams and Edges

This jacked called for binding the edge of the facing which runs around the neck and down the zipper.  It took two tries to get it to catch the fabric correctly but adds a very finished look to the facing.  This jacked did not call for the finishing of the interior seams.  I got the serger out and finished various seams.  For no other reason than I had already sewed it, I finished the shoulder seam edged separately.  The other seam is the dropped shoulder and I sewed and serged this simultaneously. 

I pulled out a few of my sewing books.  I think there are specific times you might want to sew then serge versus sewing/serging at the same time.  I'll have to do more investigation into this as I am quite a newbie serger.  One thing my sewing instructor suggested when I took a class at Saddleback was to go to the department store and see how commercial garments are put together.  I think it is a good suggestion.

Vintage Little Skater Jacket

Working on a sewing project using another "vintage" pattern.  This Simplicity pattern is copyrighted 1976.

I'm using a fabric I found in the LA Design District.  It has some stretch to it as well as a bold black and white print. 

Sewing--Hot New Hobby

The first of February 2007, the New York Times featured an article on Sewing in the Fashion and Style section, On Pins and Needles, but Not Missing a Stitch .

The reporter of the article stated that she had "taken it up" referring to sewing. Now she is obsessed and trolls the internet for notions and fabrics.

I can relate. I started a fashion sewing class at my local community college, Saddleback, this semester. I am hooked on sewing all over again. I have been sewing up a storm. This week I am working on my sewing samples completing samples of French seams, Mock French seams, curved seams, pointed seams and many hand sewing selections.

I was a little disappointed in the article from the Times reporter, however. She references several web sites. The Home Sewing Association web site was a good reference given the nature of the article. She also referenced supply sites like Clotild and Junetailor. I was hoping these sites would be the ultimate source of sewing supplies. They had no more in the supply side than the local Joanne Fabrics in my town. She also found a great site for reproduction fabrics from the various decades.

Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Postcards: Keepsakes You Can Make & Mail

Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Postcards: Keepsakes You Can Make & Mail is a very cool idea a friend from my sewing class shared with me. I want to try this after I finish my next sewing project.

My friend and I both agreed, however, that even though you CAN mail this fabric postcard as is, we would be inclined to place inside an envelope so the hard work would not be destroyed by the machines in the post office.