A Sticking Problem Solved

 

Exposed hook/loop tape

     We had to get new bags for our bikes after we got new phones.  Our phones are only a touch bigger than our old ones but didn't fit into the old bag.  My husband went to the bike store to get the new ones.  There really was only one that went onto the top bar that would fit our phones plus blocks and salt for riding.  I installed it on my bike and after doing one ride, I hated it.  The hook/loop system they used to attach the bag to the bike was exposed.  Every time I had to stop my bike, like at an intersection, the hooks would catch on my bike shorts.  At other times my leg would brush up against it while riding and it would irritate my skin.  I was almost ready to toss it but thought there had to be a fix.

Jewel's Tape I used

     Jewel's Tape and fleece the rescue.  I cut a strip of fleece the width of the hook/loop tape and enough length to go from side to side underneath the bag.  Then I attached a piece of Jewel's Tape to each of the short ends.

Fleece strip ready for install

     I removed the paper from one end and stuck it to the bag.  Then I threaded the fleece between the bike bar and the cable.  I then removed the other piece of paper from the tape and adhered it to the bag.  No need to stitch or iron.  Now the hook/loop tape is covered with soft fleece.  No more catching on my bike shorts or scratching my leg.

Left side covered

Right side covered

June ASG Challenge - Placemat

Finished placemat

      We were given a fat quarter of the pink swirl fabric and told to make something using most of the piece and adding as many other fabrics as we needed.  The only other rule was it could not be hidden inside, like used only as a lining.

Back of placemat

     Since we as a group are making placemats for Meals on Wheels I decided to use the challenge fabric to make a cheerful placemat.  I had the yellow fabric and the multi colored piece in my stash, left over from making the birthday placemats for the grandkids.  I used fusible fleece for the inside.  I used a decorative stitch on my machine to sew on the yellow stripes on the front.  Then I bound it with the multi colored fabric.  

May ASG Demo - Tissue Holder

 

Finished tissue holder

     At our last ASG meeting, one of our members demo'd how to make this quick and easy tissue holder.  It just requires two rectangles of fabric.  The lining piece is larger than the outer piece and that is what gives the look of a binding on the outside.

Inside

     The inside raw edges are finished with a zigzag stitch.  You could use a serger also.

End stitching

     It was suggested to add some reinforcement stitches at the ends, as she said her nieces were having them come apart there.  These would make fun stocking stuffers.

Cinderella Walhanging

 

It's finally finished

      After many years, I finally finished this Cinderella counted cross stitch kit.  I think I have had the kit for over 25 years.  I started it and then it got put to the side after I got my embroidery machine.  A few years ago I pulled it out again.  The threads were so tangled together!  I tried working on it but each time I would put it away and then pull it out again I spent most of my time untangling it.  

Working on the backstitching

      Then something I hear on Gretchen Rubin's Happier podcast made all the difference.  She talked about wanted to water color every day but found she spent too much time pulling out her supplies.  She had an aha moment that if she left out her supplies on a small cart, they would be much more available.  Eureka, I decided to do something similar.  I set up a large folding table in front of the windows in my living room.  I then laid out all my carded threads with the tails hanging off the edges.  No more tangles!  I did have to take it all down for Christmas, but as soon as the decorations came down in January, I put it all back up.  

Detail of backstitching

     I tried to spend a half hour every week day working on it.  I finished the cross stitching, then the backstitching to bring it to life and finally the hundred or so beads were sewn on.  I did have to buy some more embroidery floss.  Not sure if I lost some or did it get so tangled I had to toss a color or two.

Needs to be pressed

     Then I had to press out all the wrinkles and hoop marks.  I took it to a local studio, Perkowitz Art Studio to get it framed.  She helped me choose a mat color that enhanced the piece and a pretty but not too ornate frame.  She did an amazing job!  

Hanging up

     Originally I was going to hang it on the wall on the stair landing going upstairs but in the meantime we purchased a second home, a condo in Cedar Rapids.  The piece is now hanging in my sewing room at the condo along with the eight Cinderella plates I had purchased YEARS ago.  I also found a cute plaque at a resale shop in Cedar Rapids that I hung with it all.  Eventually I will repaint the walls in the sewing room, but at least now I can see it whenever we go out there.

Thanksgiving Sweatshirt

 

Finished sweatshirt

     Just a quick blog this week.  I embroidered a sweatshirt to have to wear at Thanksgiving time.  I think I bought the sweatshirt from Amazon.  I washed it in hot water so if it was going to shrink, it would be before I did the embroidery.  I ironed on a polymesh stabilizer and used my magnetic hoop.  The design is from Designs by JuJu.  A quick and easy stitch out.

Embroidery detail

     It will be fun to wear this next Thanksgiving.

Neutral Brampton Shorts

Finished shorts

       I made these shorts with fabric I bought from my ASG trip to San Francisco 2024.  I made them last May and wore them a couple of times last summer.  They fit okay, not sure I like the bag waist fit on my body though.  

Pattern and fabric

     When I bought my fabrics at Stonemountain and Daughter, I took a photo of the pattern with the cut fabric so I would remember what I bought each piece for.  This was necessary as the fabric was getting shipped to me and I wouldn't remember otherwise.😁

Back pocket detail

     I did both the in-seam pockets and the back pockets plus the the sash.  The fabric was maybe just a little too 'stiff' for the tie sash.  Maybe a more flowy rayon would work better.

Hem detail

     The pattern was easy to follow the directions and the fabric was a dream to work with.  

Grey Floral Kashi Tee

 

     Just finished this for myself.  I had bought this so so soft knit at JoAnn Fabrics before it closed.  I used another Itch to Stitch pattern.  This time the Kashi tee.  I chose the v-neck version with long sleeves.  I did not use my serger for the construction, just for finishing the hems.  I used the stretch stitch on my sewing machine for putting it together.  

     The instructions for the v-neck were very good, went together smoothly. I can't wait to wear this.  I can see wearing it with my sage green pants, grey ones, blush or white.  So many possibilities.  I highly recommend Itch to Stitch patterns.  The directions are excellent and so far most of the things I've sewn have fit well.

 
 

Lavender Tweed Jacket

 

Lavender tweed jacket

     I made myself this jacket from fabric I bought while at the ASG conference in San Francisco in 2024.  I bought it at Discount Fabrics.  The pattern I used was Capri Jacket by Textile Studio.  I like how it fits plus it is easy to sew.  See here, here, here, here, here, here and here for all the different jackets I have made using this pattern.  I think I still have three of them.

Fusing on the interfacing

     I didn't know the fabric content of this piece so I decided to just wash it in hot water and dry it.  I figured that would then make the jacket washable.  The washing however didn't soften up the fabric much.  I found it to be quite itchy still.  Since this pattern doesn't call for lining, I fused a soft, knit stabilizer/interfacing to the back of the fabric.  This makes it nice and soft against my skin.

Back of the jacket

     The construction of the jacket was then straight forward.  I didn't make any changes to it except for one.  I lost the back facing piece when I was cutting out the fabric.  I drafted a new one and of course when I cleaned up my sewing studio after finishing the jacket, I found my missing piece.  😀

Button detail

     I found buttons in my stash that went well with the fabric.  Even though I have gotten rid of a lot of my buttons, I did still have something that matched.

Shoulder detail

     The pattern calls for shoulder pads.  At first I thought I would not do them but when I tried on the jacket, it just didn't hang correctly.  So I added the shoulder pads.  I sewed them in place by stitching in the ditch on the shoulder seam.  

Pattern

     I think that makes about at least 8 different jackets I have made from this pattern.  I don't know if you saw then hanging side by side you would even know.  

Easter Mug Rugs

Finished Easter mug rugs

      This year for Easter I decided not to buy the grandkids lots of candy for their baskets.  I know they get plenty and the younger ones aren't really allowed candy.  I saw these cute mug rugs on the Designs by JuJu website.  The pocket was perfect for just a little something.

Cut pieces

Hooped stabilizer

     I went through my stash of fabrics to find pieces large enough for the backing and the background.  For the stabilizer, I stitched together scraps of mesh cutaway that I had from other projects.  

Applique bunny and egg

   The batting was sewn down first and then the background piece for the bunny appliqué was sewn down and quilted.  Then the appliqué pieces were stitched and trimmed.  After that side was done, then the pocket piece and other background piece were sewn on, flipped over and the rest of the stitching done.  The back pieces were laid on top and stitched around.  After removing it from the hoop, you trim the seams to 1/4" and trim the corners. I then press it, turn it right side out through the opening in the back pieces and press again.  I closed the opened with Steam A Seam.  

Granddaughters' mug rugs

Grandsons' mug rugs

     I added a flat chocolate bunny and some money to the pocket and I was finished.  I love doing projects like this and using up some of my stash.

Back of girls' mug rugs, matching the stripes

Back of boys' mug rugs

Sewing Machine Sweatshirt

 

Finished sewing machine sweatshirt

     I made another sweatshirt for myself for when I am on a quilt retreat, either away or a stay at home one.  I started with a sweatshirt from JoAnn Fabrics.  The design on the front is from Designs by JuJu.  I like that it is a nice open design and doesn't overwhelm the sweatshirt.

     I wanted to add something more to it, so I used the free side design of scissors.  I bought some HTV for the handles on Amazon and the silver vinyl at a quilt store.  

Hooped

     I hooped the sweatshirt with sticky paper and pins for the side designs.  I found it a little hard to get the shirt to lay flat.  When I did the second one, I cut the ribbing so it could spread out flatter.  The HTV for the handles did not work well, it got perforated by the stitches and pulled away from the stitching.  For the second scissors design, I used black flannel instead.

HTV handle scissors

Flannel handle scissors

     The side seam designs are a little tricky to do since you need to cut away the ribbing and part of the sweatshirt, not easy fabric to cut through.  The other problem I have, is that when I wear a sweatshirt like this, I usually turn the ribbing up, not stretch it over my hips.  The side seam designs don't open the bottom enough for it to lay nice over my hips.  So I either turn up the ribbing and you don't see the designs or it is stretched over my hips and doesn't feel comfortable.  Oh well, live and learn.

Embroidery detail

ASG February Challenge - Jar Opener

 

      Debbie's challenge for the month of February was to use gripper fabric/shelf liner to make a jar opener.  After showing us how to do it the then gave us a square of the gripper stuff and some directions.

     This was a quick project to do with some fabric from my stash.  I added the ribbon from my stash also.

     I used a star stitch on my machine to hold the layers together.  I learned how to use the single stitch feature on my new machine.  Fast and fun project.

ASG March Demo - Easter Egg

 

Front of Peep Easter Egg

      At out March ASG meeting, Ellen demo'd an Easter egg ornament she had made.  She talked about how she started with sewing a pattern, but felt the curves weren't smooth enough.  She then used her software and digitized the ornament.  First you hoop a tearaway stabilizer, stitch the first outline, place the front fabric, stitch it down, do the bunny appliqué design, Then place a ribbon at the top with the loop facing in, add the two folded back pieces and stitch one more time around.  Remove from the hoop, tearaway the stabilizer, trim close to the edges (I used my pinking shears) and turn right side out through the overlapped back pieces.  Give it a press and you are done.  I added a piece on the back before the final outline stitch as I wanted to have a pretty inside.  Thanks Ellen for the demo and design.

Back

 

Tierras Woven Joggers

 

Finished joggers

     Here is another of my items that I sewed from my ASG Conference trip in July 2024.  The pattern is from Itch to Stitch, The Tierras Woven Joggers.  I knew from sewing other pants patterns that I would need to lower the front crotch because of my swayback.  Because the description called it a low rise waist, I added 1 inch to the back crotch length instead of subtracting from the front.  When I tried them on, the waist was nice and even all around but still a little too low of a rise for me.  Next time I will add 1-2 inches all around so it sits more at my natural waist.

At the store

     At the store I made sure to snap a photo of the pattern with the fabric so I would remember when I finally got around to sewing it.  The fabric was from Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkley, CA.  It is a yarn dyed linen/cotton blend - nautical color.  I was able to find a matching drawstring on Amazon.  The lining for the pockets came from my stash.  

Slash pocket detail

Elastic hem

     I like the slash pockets in front.  I opted for the elastic hems.  I finished these in October and I am just waiting for the weather to warm up so I can wear them.  The construction was pretty straight forward and her directions are excellent.

Pattern