Wheelchair Blankie/Cape

I really don't know what to call this thing. It's a cape, but not really. It's mostly a big, heavy blanket with a cut-out for a head. Laugh if you want, but it does work:

It is essentially a big piece of Berber fleece left over from a jacket that I'd made for myself (which, apparently, I've never blogged about. Oh well.) Purple plaid Berber fleece at that. Nice, heavy, warm, purple plaid Berber fleece.

I folded it in half and used a saucer to cut a hole in both laters. I then measured Em's head and cut a piece of ribbing and stretched that around the hole, sewing all three layers together. Then I tried to sew around the outside and turn to topstitch. That, unfortunately, did not work.

While it was a great idea in theory, I couldn't turn the thing right side out. I had to frog-stitch three sides so that I could turn it. I then topstitched the one side that was left and realized that four layers of nice thick, warm, purple plaid Berber fleece was too much even for Rosemary the Singer 401 to handle. So I serged (overlocked) the remaining sides and the cape/blankie with a collar was done.

Despite my terribly accurate measuring (the thing stretched, of course) the neck is still too big. But since Miss Em likes to have one hand by her face at all times so she can stick her fingers in her mouth, it's all good.

Her dad, teachers and paras all like it -- it seems to be much easier to get on and off than any of the coats I've tried, including the famous wheelchair coat. Divine Miss seems to like it -- keeps her warm and cozy and is heavy enough to keep the wind out. The only issue is that it is pretty long and without vigilance, will drop down and get caught in the wheels of the chair. But that is minor and the length means that she will be able to use it for a long time.

The original cape has been retired permanently. It was getting pretty ratty toward the end, but it lasted much longer than I expected, considering it was made from cheap fleece and an even cheaper lining. I think that it lasted a good 6 or 7 years,

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The other funny thing from yesterday, in addition to Sprite's telling everyone I'd made my top, is that I was wearing the jacket that matched the blankie. So of course, everyone knew that I'd made both of those as well. Sprite was so proud of my accomplishment and so sweet to tell everyone that I just felt good all over. My sweet, funny little girl.

Kwik Sew 3915: Ruched Top

I've been making clothes for the girls for months and realized not long ago that they have more wearable clothes than I do. So I have decided that they have enough for now (though Sprite disagrees, having a long list including a robe that she has been wanting for months) and Mama needs tops for work.

I have about 8 tops that are in constant rotation and I am bored with them. I need new colors, new styles and right now, long sleeves. The majority of my wardrobe consists of the same Ottobre t-shirt and a couple others, usually paired with one of four jackets or cardigans and basic trousers in black, brown or navy. Boring.

I know it is black, but the pearl buttons give it a bit of style. The top is a plain long-sleeved t-shirt with a lapped collar that is gathered at each end and embellished with pearl buttons. This is a misses pattern and I cut an extra large with no adjustments.

Like most Kwik Sew patterns, construction was fairly straightforward. I got hung up a bit on sewing the collar. The patten recommends interlock, jersey or textured knots with 35% stretch across the grain. I used interlock and found that the gathered ends didn't gather well. My interlock is also fairly thick and and my beloved BL Imagine broke a needle trying to go through all those layers.

The loops that hold the buttons also had issues due to the thickness of the fabric. The loops are strips which are sewn lengthwise, turned and cut into fourths. They are then sewn to the seam allowance of the top and the collar, which is folded, is sewn over it. The combination of the two layers of collar, front and loops was too much for my needles,

The buttons are supposed to lay outside the collar but the loops would not lay flat so I pointed them toward the collar instead. They look just fine that way.

The only real problem was the fabric being too thick. It caused a dimple at the bottom of the collar. I think that this pattern would work much better with a thinner knit, such as a rayon polyester lycra blend. Overall, however, it is a comfy top. If I make another one, it will be with a different fabric.

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I have to share a story of my funny little girl. When I picked her up from her before-and-after school program yesterday (no school means she and her sister get to stay and play the whole day), she very proudly and excitedly told everyone that I'd made my top. I just love her.

iPad Doodling

I have never outgrown my need for crayons and paper. I just got more high tech...

I am not an artist nor do I have a desire to be but I do have fun with my apps. This was done in ArtStudio for the iPad.

Enabler Alert: Interfacing Sale

This is a shameless post for the garment makers out there: you should really check out Fashion Sewing Supply's last interfacing sale of the year. If you have never used Pam Erny's interfacing, you should check it out and if you have, you already know how good it is.

So, go and check it out!

Blogger+ Test

I'm testing my third app for posting to my blog -- this time I'm testing Blogger+. This is a fairly new version so not a lot of reviews on it yet.

BlogPress, despite glowing reviews, kept crashing once iOS 5 came out for the iPad. After several failed attempts at posts, I finally gave up and went searching again.

My criteria for apps is simple: can it handle links? How well does it handle links to my Picturetrail account? How hard it is to use? I am an applications developer and database administrator for my paying job, but I don't want to spend a lot of time fudging to get my blog to post easily. I'd rather spend my time sewing than fiddling with settings and code.

So here is the first test:

Tiny Sprite in her elf coat

Hmm, that was easy.

Now how do I put in pictures taken with the iPad itself?

So the first was just a link to the original picture, the second is the linked embedded as an image. I like the second one better and it was fairly easy to do once I found the online manual. The manual is available online through their About option.

Okay, now for the next test, pulling in the iPad picture:

That was easy also. You add sections of text, images or video and that makes up the entire blog post. If Blogger+ successfully publishes this post, it is clearly the winner over the other two apps I've tried and my new friend.

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The last picture is a "tragic" bike accident that befell our littlest family member, LilyAnna. Unfortunately, she seems to have permanently dislocated her hip as a result of the accident. Sprite has requested a wheelchair for her for Christmas and a friend who can push her? We'll see what Santa can do for her.

Unfortunately, this is the second bike accident in our family in recent days, the first having much more serious consequences. My father is still in the hospital after a serious motorcycle accident over a week ago. Prayer for him and my mother would be gratefully accepted. Sewing and Blogging is going to take a backseat to everything else these days...Family comes first.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

Sewing and Sewing Machines, with a side of Brownies

It's been a busy couple of weeks.


Yes, I finally finished Sprite's denim skirt. This is from Ottobre, Spring 2011. The top is denim from JoAnn's Fabrics, the bottom is a woven cotton from Sew It Seams, a local fabric shop that specializes in fashion fabric.





Slightly blurry close-up of a skirt which has already been worn to twice and just came out of the dryer without being ironed before being photographed.  Sprite opted not to have me add the belt loops and back pockets which renders it a little plain.


The  skirt went together easily, the only issue being that I have yet to  truly comprehend how to put together a fly zipper.  But the zipper works  and Sprite is delighted.  She can wear it with a short sleeve top like  in the picture or with tights and a sweater or hoodie, making it a good  option for as long as it fits.



Next up, another velour button sleeved top with pair of Kwik Sew Sewing for Children pants.  The fabric for the pants was some old Painting Red Rhinos that I have had for years and finally decided to use.  These are for the Divine Miss.



I tried to use Pattern Master for Kids to make a new version of the Twirly Dress pattern that Sprite so loves.  This isn't exactly what I was hoping for, being somewhat more slim that I was trying to accomplish.  The top fabric is a single knit jersey from a buying spree last month.  The skirt is navy fine whale corduroy.  The red hem is wooley nylon in my coversticher with the loop side up. Sprite wore to church Saturday to receive her first Bible and we discovered that the PMK size 8 is already too small. I remeasured her and entered those measurements to make another pattern.

 

This is my latest sewing machine project -- a lovely Singer 15-91 that I purchased through a Craigslist ad. I bought it from the original owner who bought it in 1945 (Singer records date it to 1946, however.)  The wiring, being at least 65 years old, needed to be replaced but once that was done (with help from a friend), and the machine cleaned and oiled, she runs so smoothly and stitches beautifully.  I am so very excited about this one.

The wiring had been changed at some point as the foot controller was not a Singer controller.  I purchased a new controller and wiring from Sew-Classic and got a lot of good information from her site as well as others.  Having access to the service manual was a huge help.



I was given a set of attachments, but they were for a zig-zag machine.  I did, however get this lovely buttonholer which, after being oiled, also worked beautifully.  The only downside is that she will not fit into my grandmother's cabinet as I had planned.  The bed is too short.  So for now, she will stay in the case that the seller gave me. 




And finally, a picture of Sprite saying the Girl Scout promise during her investiture as a Brownie.  She was so excite and got her patches and pin that night.  She did a pretty good job with the pledge, also.  My sweet little Brownie.  This mama is so proud.

Getting Blogger to work with the iPad.

Sprite, almost 3, with her first sewing machine


I know that you all are waiting with bated breath to see if I ever finish the denim skirt (it is, almost) but I have been testing and testing to find a good solution to blogging with the iPad. I have tried Blogger (app only has an iPhone version -- not user friendly) and BlogPress (keeps crashing). So far, the best thing is to use the Edit HTML option in the old Blogger interface. That doesn't crash and lets me add pictures from my existing Picturetrail account. I could switch photo sites, but Picturetrail has hundreds of my pictures and I have over 5 years of blog entries that I don't particularly want to update with new URLs. The above pic is an oldie, but cutie that I picked out randomly to try the picture capabilities. Click on it to see a larger version.

So I am back to square one with the iPad blogging. But it is working, so I'm good.

DH has been playing with his new toy, a new iPhone 4S. Siri has been most fun and he has been asking it the most ridiculous questions he can come up with just to get the funniest answers. My favoriate so far:

DH: Knock, knock.
Siri: Who is there? Tracy. Tracy Who. Tracy, I don't do knock knock jokes.

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The denim skirt is almost done. I still need to add the back pockets which we have decided to embroider with butterflies to match the fabric and the belt loops. However, Sprite couldn't wait and wore it to a birthday party today. Hopefully, I can finish it tomorrow after church and spend some time cleaning my sewing room for the next project.