carrotflowers

Made: onesie from Ottobre (knits class)

Project Notes: I took my first class at my local fabric store. It was called Sewing With Knits II. I’d taken one knit class before in the last city I lived in, a t shirt class. That was less than successful, although I don’t know that it was as much the class. At any rate, this time, things went very well. I think because I did some reading and had more general sewing experience, this time I had many questions for the instructor. I also busted out my snap setter for the first time (a snapsource tool) - that didn’t go so well in class, but when I got home, I went out on the porch and really hammered those snaps in. Success!

My main goal was to really get a handle on doing the binding so I brought a pattern with a lot. I cleverly, but by accident, bound the little sleeve ends first, and by the time I did the longer and more visible neckline binding, I was really getting the hang of it.

I’m so glad I took the class, and feel much more comfortable with knit sewing now.

Mistakes/Complications: I put the snaps on the wrong side, so the bottom snaps over the front, rather than vice versa. No biggie.

Notes for Next Time: None.

Tags: knits, onesie, ottobre design

Made: Ringo pants from Ottobre 1/2008

Project Notes: These pants did not go so well. They looked very nice in the end, however and I might make it again. Sadly they are also already too small for V. I tried the one leg inside the other method for these pants, and it worked great.

Mistakes/Complications: The waistband was the biggest issue. First I realized that I had traced the pattern piece incorrectly, it was way too short. But when I did it correctly, and sewed it together it was waaay too long. I had to fudge it to get it to fit, and it ended up looking a little off. Actually the pants were just too loose, but too short - I had to take in the side seams and the darts, and in the end I just added a button so that the band could be closed more tightly.

Notes for Next Time: Next time, if I make it again, I’ll try measuring his waist and compare that to the waistband before I sew. They are flattering looking pants, but I don’t know if I’m going to try it again.

Tags: ottobre design, pants

Made: ottobre outfit

“Suzette” sash pants sans sash & the Maya top

Project Notes: This set was made for a friend’s daughter. The buttons are self-covered. The patterns are Ottobre Design, both from the first issue of 2008. The pants are drafted with belt loops and a sash but I skipped those for simplicity’s sake, and because I thought the sash was overkill (at least in this version, with my already busy fabric choices).

Mistakes/Complications: Well, these pants threw me for a loop. Every 2 out of three seams it felt like I ended up undoing. Matching pieces up wrong, sewing on the wrong side so that one crotch seam was in and the other seam the stitching was out, instead of the stitching both being in. Dumb but reversible mistakes. I cleverly sought advice on the pants after I’d made them. Turns out this is the sort of pattern where you sew the inseams and side seams, then put one leg in the other and sew the crotch, as demonstrated in this tutorial. I just winged it the best I could, and in the end it turned out ok. The pants also seemed waaay too wide in the waist so I ended up taking in the elastic twice. I also didn’t quite get how to do the leg bottoms’ elastic. I did each leg differently; one seemed better than the other but now I don’t remember what I did. I’m waiting to long to type up my notes and defeating the purpose of my sewing journal!

Notes for Next Time: Well, I think the top was a bit short and wide - this is a sort of common flaw with the Ottobre patterns, in my opinion. So next time I’d take it in a little and add to the lengthen. It might also be fun to add a band to the bottom, maybe in fabric matching the binding. About the pants - they were just way loose in the waist, just something to keep in mind. It might be fun to add a little detail to the join in the pants - maybe ribbon or rick rack going around?

Tags: ottobre design, pants, top

Made: ghost jacket from Ottobre 06/2007

I was not entirely happy with the end result of this project. I was so uninspired, in fact, I skipped the topstitching. I do, however, enjoy how my little guy looks like Little Lord Fauntleroy, or something.

Project Notes: I made the ghost jacket, minus the ghost, and the hood. The end result was a little odd, and maybe this was largely because it is just too large for my son. The lining peeps out of the sleeves and pockets, which is cute enough, but not intended. Sewing the sleeves was a nightmare. Although I was really looking forward to finishing this for the little guy, there wasn’t much payoff. I also rushed the buttons, just to get it on him and out the door that morning.

Mistakes/Complications: As I just said, the sleeve ends were a serious pain. The pattern itself is pretty simple though.

Notes for Next Time: Might be better off finishing the sleeve ends by hand?

Tags: jacket, ottobre design

Made: ottobre free bag pattern

This purse pattern is free from ottobre design. It is one of the nicest free patterns I have ever made. I only started sewing in September of 2007. Any time I had a question, I would ask my co-worker Linda. She always had an answer! I wanted to thank her with an apt gift- sewing something! Naturally, picking the fabric and then the rick rack was my favorite part. The pattern actually calls for velvet ribbon and a bow where I put the rick rack.

Project Notes: My friend made this bag as well. Now the pattern actually shows it made with polka dot fabric on the top half and for the handles as I made it. She however used a solid color for the top half. Her bottom half was made with Heather Bailey’s Freshcut, and she used the Freshcut for the top as well. she also skipped the ribbon but rather than substitute anything for it as I did, she embellished by adding a row of 3 lovely glass buttons in the center of the top half. The result is exceedingly lovely!

While it was not in the instructions, I interfaced the snap area (photo #2). What was in the instructions: basting the handles on first. Nice! Never did that before. It rules! I also used wonder tape to hold the handles in place as a pre-basting step. Niiiice. also not in the instructions - trimming the SA from joining the top to bottom. But this makes it way easier to attach the trim.

Mistakes/Complications: The fabric I used for the bottom half is a one way print. The instructions have you cut this piece on the fold, which meant after I cut it, I noticed that my birds were upside-down in the back! And this was after I spent several minutes carefully picking where to cut the pattern out for optimal placement of the fabric design! So, I had to cut the back piece separately, allowing extra fabric for an SA, and sew the back pieces together. I then used my new back piece, after joining it with the top, as the pattern piece for cutting out the lining.

Notes for Next Time: Pay attention, duhr : P

About the photo collage: I decided to document the steps of this project, because I thought it would be interesting.

1. The top half and botton half sewn together. My Janome Sewist in the background.
2. Sticking the outer back into the lining, RST
3. After pulling the outer out through the hole in the lining. Hopefully one remembered to lave a hole! But more often one has to cut a hole.
4. After shoving and poking and prodding the lining into place.
5. After ironing and topstitching! Yay!
6. Shot of the inside so you can see my pocket. All’s well that end’s well. And she loved her gift.

Tags: bag, ottobre design