Let me count the ways...

Remember that Study Hall Jacket I can't get enough of?

Just to refresh your memory :

Version 1 (and 2)

Hello Kitty style (hood hiding)

I've made ANOTHER ONE!

A goddamn adorable one, amirite??

This time I opted for the ruffled welt pockets and ruffled collar.

I mentioned previously that I'm not in love with the pattern. And after making it four different times, in two different sizes, experimenting will all the different cuff, waistband, collar and pocket options...I am really not happy with this pattern.
I am also putting off writing a review so I can gestate a positive outlook and potential remedy. (Since I've already got plans to make 2 more of these gosh darn cute things for upcoming birthdays.)

All in time.

Enjoy the photo, and good luck with last minute Halloween preparation!

Sewing FO: Bib Round 2

MORE BIBS!! 

Those burp clothes weren't enough - but they were great inspiration! I wanted to try out the hemming style I did on those with something more complex, like, a bib. 

Presto Bib-o

These bibs (like the cloths) are terry on top and linen on bottom. Since I'm terrible at pinning my new method is great because it completely avoids that. 

Basically, I sew the three layers with the patterned fabric strip on top, facing down. Then I fold that over the edge (revealing the pretty pattern!) and use a pretty stitch over what is now four layers to complete the hem and make it cute. (I will take process photos another time...this happened too fast!)

New sewing machine magic - pretty stitch pattern.

See? So pretty. 

I love it! My new favorite. 

Jute knee patches

Here we go, round two!

Some jute patches - that's more durable, right? They make carpets outta that stuff. 

Potato sack looking, eh. 

Don't worry, I didn't line them with jute! My son's knees are bruised plenty... Here's some soft felt and secret winter touches for your viewing pleasure. 

(Confession: I love inappropriately placed holiday attire. I met a new mommy-friend just a few weeks ago because she was wearing Halloween socks in public - and I was wearing Christmas ones! KISMET.) 

(Kismet doesn't insinuate anything romantic, does it? That would be wrong.) 

(Just checked, phew! We're safe. No romance needed.)

Let's see how long these suckers last. 

Bib Frenzy

I made bibs!

Clearly, I am still on a sewing kick. Sorry guys, I promise I am still knitting. (Sewing is just so....immediately gratifying!)

We loaned some housing supplies to a friend for a month, and upon their return somehow came out with a few extra towels. They were nice enough but since we are already overflowing with towels I decided to try and repurpose them.

So many ideas for old towels:

• bibs
• burp cloths
• door sweep
• boot leg stuffers
• scrub glove
• hot pad (rice filled)
• bean bag

...and who knows what else.

For my first go, I did bibs.

I just copied the shape from one of the baby's existing bibs and traced it onto the towels and some other stash fabric. Then I sewed on the hook and loop pieces in the appropriate places, and pinned the two pieces facing each other.  Sewed all around leaving a two inch gap, pulled the bib right-side-out, then seamed the gap.

For some reason I traced the bib a little large, and didn't end up sewing with as much seam allowance as I had planned (bad habits die hard). Consequently, the bibs came out larger than I planned. This made them a little awkward to wear, and the neck hole was too small on a few. Easy enough to remedy for next time.

Good thing I have an easy audience!

Destiny Fulfilled - Felted Knee Patch

Remember me joking about how this felt knee patch wouldn't last?

Here's the car after one wearing:

Little fingers love poking through little holes!

And predictably, this was the result:

Sad panda!

The patch tore off completely within one week of application.

Oh well!!

Working with the kid on projects like this is so fun. Creating something he asks for is like magic! But I guess the downside is there are a few extra tears when it is ruined. (Tears don't last too long though...he has already requested a 'purple house' for his next patch! This time I'll dig around for some more durable fabric, though.)

Another patch!

Since the little man requested a "red square" this time, I had to use felt (only red material on hand). Of course I decided to spiff it up a bit - how's about a race car, guys?

Criteria for car shape: needs wheels. The end.

I stitched this last weekend while some friends were over, and one of them jokingly commented that it would only be a matter of time before this, too, was torn open...which is unfortunately, undoubtedly true. Ah, boys! Good thing I enjoy doing these. :)

Learning From Mistakes with Mods Gone Wrong

Modifications are cool because you can learn from a new pattern while trying to implement changes of your own - kind of like designing with training wheels. That said, it doesn't always work out the way you want it to...

Striping on the collar and cuffs of my Kouki cardi mod, for example.

before and after

I knew getting clean looking stripe was going to be difficult because of the way a purl stitch looks, but I couldn't for the life of my think of how to avoid it. I decided to just knit as the original (non-striping) pattern was written, hoping that inspiration would strike me later.

The pattern called for a k2p2 ribbing on the cuffs and bottom edging. As you see above, the left cuff (k2p2) looks pretty sloppy. The collar however called for a portion of k2p1 ribbing... d'oh! Of COURSE that makes the stripes look so much better! I don't know why I didn't think of hiding the purl stitches this way... So I ripped out the cuffs and redid them with a k2p1 rib - as shown on the right. MUCH nicer.

Let's see that again.

Ripping out the cuffs was really rough, but luckily I was able to pick out the black from the cream yarn easily enough and knit out from there. I actually wasn't able to rip out and fix the bottom edging because I had already sewn the fleece on, and was tired of ripping out stitches. (More mistakes I learned from...tbc later) Part of learning the hard way, I guess!