Cleaning Out My UFO and Organizing Zippers & Serger Thread Spools

I needed to take a break from free motion quilting my little nephew's Christmas present. Searching through a box of UFO's (Unfinished Sewing) that I needed to get out of the way I found 4 new tops to wear!



Free Motion Quilting Peanuts Quilt

 



Peanuts Quilt

Do you have a box of Unfinished Sewing?  I don't know why I put some of these things in there.



Box of UFO's!

The geometric drape neck top needed to be hemmed.  Why I put this top in the Unfinished sewing box, I have no idea!



Drape Neck Knit Top

Drape Neck Knit Top-Back View

I know why I but this poncho in the Unfished Sewing box.....because it's a pain in the butt to work with!  It slides around.   I had the hem rolled edge already so all I had to fix was the neck edge and sewed up the sides for sleeves.  I really like it!  I can just throw it on over a tank top or a dress and go. 


Poncho



Poncho

This one is a wadder.  The drape is WAYYYYY toooooo low!  I don't like the way I finished the inside edge either.  The length was all wrong, I just didn't feel like messing with all of that.  Sometimes you just have to let it go!



Wadder-Drape Neck Top-Too low-Too much!

I know that there were three different pieces from this same tropical knit fabric.  I found this bolt of fabric at a thrift store in Alabama last year.  I might have paid $4 for the whole bolt.  It's a Jo-ann fabric. 

I used the fabric to test some muslins I had planned out for different tops.  This long sleeve top has a sleeve with the seam at the top on the length of the arm from shoulder to wrist.  I wasn't sure how the fit would be but I really do like it! 

It makes me laugh to think tropical print and long sleeves.  It's one or the other!  But, I like the fit of the shirt so I'm keeping it!  All I had to do was hem the bottom & the sleeves and it was ready.



Tropical Knit Long Sleeve Top

Cap sleeve version just needed hemmed and the neck edge finished.  Easy enough for another top in the closet.



Tropical Knit Short Sleeve T-shirt

Our house has been very quiet this weekend.  The County Maintenance department mowed the brush along the side of the road and mowed over our telephone box.  No telephones for 4 days!  Very quiet indeed!  I do not have a cell phone so I was allowed to sew, organize and think in peace!

I organized zippers one day.  I spent a day or two staring at Pinterest for ideas.  I decided to combine a few and this is what I cam up with:

I sorted the zippers by regular, invisible and metal teeth.  Then further sorted each by size and color.  I used a safety pin to combine the colors together onto a Joy Mangano Huggable Hanger.  I used this type hanger because they are thin.


Zipper Organize



Invisible Zipper Organize

I really like that that all my zippers are hanging and color/size organized.

I also organized my serger thread.  They were just thrown in a box.  Threads everywhere, cones going every which way.

I bought two Sterlite 3-drawer organizers.  I can fit 12 serger cones per drawer.  I'm so happy that they are visible and organized now.



Serger Cone Thread Organize



Serger Cone Thread Organize

 I also got the hot glue gun heated up and organized my sewing thread by colors.  I used wooden rulers to make dividers in the drawers.  Easy to keep the blues from mixing in with the greens!



Thread Organize

I don't know what's left to organize..............I'll find something

Until next time.....................

Bonnie

Simplicity 1279 Blouse............Gone to The Dogs!

I just love this Maggie London fabric with the little basset hound dogs on it.  It's a poly, blouse weight fabric with nice drape. 


Maggie London Dog Fabric

 

 

I do have a little black pug dog as my sidekick but these little dogs on the fabric just called out to me!

 

My Precious Pookie Bojangles (Bobo)

Ok, back to sewing!

I used the Simplicity 1279 shirt pattern that I used for the Lace Yoke version here.  The pattern went together easy and I tried to take my time to press, stay-stitch, measure and pin and pin some more.  I was a little worried about the collar but it went together so easy this time.

My only decision was what buttons to use.  I dug through my stash of buttons and found a few I liked.  I took a photo to see from an unbiased view what they would look like.  I'm going to go with the middle button.  I like that is has a little bit of variation to the center of the button.



Simplicity 1279 Button Choices

I left the sleeves long and used a 1/4" elastic at the wrist.  I wanted it so that I can have it 3/4 length or push it up to my elbows.  I love the gathering at the back yoke and the fabric is just so cute!



Simplicity 1279 Front View



Simplicity 1279 Shoulder Yoke View



Simplicity 1279-Sleeve View



Simplicity 1279 Buttons close-up



Simplicity 1279-No Flash

 I think a blouse for $5.49 is pretty good.  I can't wait to wear it!



Simplicity 1279-Fabric Tag

3/4 length sleeve blouse is considered fall sewing right?  I need to get back to working on my princess seam shirt but I keep putting it off.  I've ordered Silhouette Pattern #350 Stepanie's Blouse, I'm thinking that I may like this blouse pattern.  I'll have to make a muslin and see for sure.



Silhouette Pattern #350 Stepanie's Blouse

Florida has some crazy weather sometimes.  This photo was at 2pm today.  It's about 90 degrees with 99% humidity.  It looks pretty but once you step outside you can't even breathe! 

This is my view from my sewing machine.  I'm thinking of putting in a bird feeder.  That is my Muscadine grape vines and behind that is my chicken pen.  Nothing too exciting but in the morning I get to see deer in the pasture beyond  the fence line feeding.  I'm pretty blessed!

View out my Sewing Room window.

Now this view is about 2 hours later.  We received 2-1/2" of rain and a few hundred lightening strikes!  We always say, "If you don't like Florida weather, wait a few hours & it will change".  This evening about 7pm it was a beautiful 76 degrees!  Now that's more like it!

Typical Florida Thunderstorm

 Back to sewing again!

I ran out of navy blue thread and since we live 45+ miles from a Jo-ann's and 15 miles from a Wal-Mart, I made due with my serger thread.  To spool a bobbin I inserted another thread spool into my serger thread cone.  Bobbin was wound with ease and now I do NOT have to run to town! 



Serger cone hack

My serger thread cones seam to break easily.  I thought it was from them being knocked off the sewing table, but they just crumble when I touch them.  They are not that old, probably about a year, year and a half old.  I have a spool of black that the cone is completely gone.  What can I do with it?

Sewn So Far:

• Drape neck tank top in midnight blue ITY knit.
• Regular tank with neck/arm band in midnight blue ITY knit
• Drape neck tank top in white jersey knit
• Drape neck tank top in blue aqua jersey knit
• M6844 Cardigan Fuschia Abstract Wavy Stripe ITY Knit
• M6844 Cardigan Pink Black Chains Pearls Animal ITY Knit 
• M6844 Cardigan Blue Tropical ITY Knit
• B5760 Green Floral Ponte Knit Cardigan
• Drape neck dress in Raspberry matte ITY knit
• Nightgown in blue rose bouquet cotton sheets
• Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe’s Black Denim Skirt
• Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe’s Blue Denim Skirt
• Simplicity 1297 Lace Yoke Blouse
• Simplicity 1279 Dog Blouse

 

Still Want to Sew:

• Sweater Wrap Top
• Sleeveless Button Down Top
• Princess Seam Sheath Dress
• Stripe Vest
• 3/4 sleeve Maxi Dress-Solid Color
• Something with fringe
• Red dress with Animal Print Cardigan

Dear daughter and I caught up on our Project Runway watching yesterday.  I really enjoyed this episode.  So drama, crying or backstabbing! I loved that they used Neverland as an inspiration  and got to add their own touches to their designs.

I was sure that either Edmond or Kelly would win.  I loved Kelly's green evening gown. 

I was disappointed in Ashley's design and I think that sending Lindsey home was the right choice, I didn't think that she was up to the challenge. 

Can't wait until next week's episode!

Until next time.................

Bonnie

Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe's Blue Denim Skirt & More Organizing

Like I said, if I like a pattern, why not make a few of them.  This version of the Silhouette Pattern #2913 is from the stretch blue denim I washed in Coke. 

I didn't want to topstitch the skirt in the usual gold thread so used a variegated blue denim thread.  I really like the way the skirt turned out.




Silhouette Pattern #2913 Blue Stretch Denim



Silhouette Pattern #2913

I used an invisible zipper.  I took my time putting in the zipper and it turned out perfect if I must say so myself! 



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Invisible Zipper



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Back View

I'm thinking that a new denim skirt for $11.00 is pretty good. 



Denim Skirt for $11.00!

Since the directions says to use fold over elastic and I thought that is wasn't sturdy enough.  I cut a 2-1/4" x 44" length of fabric for a waistband.  I surged one long side, serging the other onto the skirt.  I added a 1/2" length of elastic to gather in the waist.



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Waistband



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Waistband





Topstitching

I used the variegated denim thread in a twin needle for topstitching the waistband.  I used my generic/low end Brother sewing machine (as usual).  The machine does a great job.  It's a workhorse.



Twin needle stitching on waistband

I finally picked up a few sheets of craft foam from Wal-Mart this past week.  Jo-Ann's no longer carries them.   I am making closet dividers for my "fit to me" patterns.  I used a CD to outline a circle and a pattern weight (a large washer) for the center hole.



Closet divider from foam sheet

I could get four circles from each foam sheet.  The foam cut like butter.  Easier than I thought.



Closet divider from foam sheets

I sorted my closet my wovens; jackets, shirts, skirts, dresses, misc. Knits; tops, cardigans/jackets, dresses, and skirts.


Closet dividers from foam sheets

Finding my patterns is now so much easier.  Sorted, organized and ready to use!



Closet dividers



Closet dividers

My last organizing project for the day.  My sewing machine needles.  I bought this 24-compartment box from Harbor Freight for $2.99 with a coupon!  I like Harbor Freight.  I buy tape, screwdrivers and  magnetic pin dishes from there.

I have the needles sorted by woven or knit and then the different sizes.  I have room for more.....I need to get shopping! 



Needle Organizer

 

Now if I could just get an idea about organizing my zipper stash.  They are currently sorted by length in zip top bags but just stored in a cubicle bin.  I have to dig every time I need a zipper. 

 

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Sewn So Far:

• Drape neck tank top in midnight blue ITY knit.
• Regular tank with neck/arm band in midnight blue ITY knit
• Drape neck tank top in white jersey knit
• Drape neck tank top in blue aqua jersey knit
• M6844 Cardigan Fuschia Abstract Wavy Stripe ITY Knit
• M6844 Cardigan Pink Black Chains Pearls Animal ITY Knit 
• M6844 Cardigan Blue Tropical ITY Knit
• B5760 Green Floral Ponte Knit Cardigan
• Drape neck dress in Raspberry matte ITY knit
• Nightgown in blue rose bouquet cotton sheets
• Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe’s Black Denim Skirt
• Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe’s Blue Denim Skirt

Still Want to Sew:

• Sweater Wrap Top
• Sleeveless Button Down Top
• Princess Seam Sheath Dress
• Stripe Vest
• 3/4 sleeve Maxi Dress-Solid Color
• Something with fringe
• Red dress with Animal Print Cardigan

 

 

Until next time.....................

 

Bonnie

Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe's Skirt Black Denim

While looking for fabric to wash, I found a length of black stretch denim.  I am going to sew the skirt up in this first as a wearable practice muslin.  I have enough left over if something goes wrong.  Then. I'll be moving on to a blue denim version.  I also found a beautiful satin back black peachskin fabric that I think will look great for the holidays.



Black Fabric Choices



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe's Skirt



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Black Stretch Denim Skirt



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Black Stretch Denim Skirt



Silhouette Pattern #2913 Back View

I wore the skirt to the store but I didn't take photos until the end of the day.  The reason the skirt is wrinkled.  The skirt was very comfortable and easy to wear.  I'll be sewing up more!




Silhouette Pattern #2913

I finally repainted the thrift store lamps.  I thought a bright, shiny red would look nice.



Repainted Thrift Store Lamps



Repainted Lamps

I've been having trouble with my feet hurting while sewing.  I wasn't sure why but I caught myself arching my foot forward while I was sewing.  The pain is really bad if I'm not wearing shoes.  I now try to remember to wear shoes and be aware of what position my feet are in.  Who says sewing isn't rough on your health?

Tip-toe sewing?

 

Sewn So Far:

• Drape neck tank top in midnight blue ITY knit.
• Regular tank with neck/arm band in midnight blue ITY knit
• Drape neck tank top in white jersey knit
• Drape neck tank top in blue aqua jersey knit
• M6844 Cardigan Fuschia Abstract Wavy Stripe ITY Knit
• M6844 Cardigan Pink Black Chains Pearls Animal ITY Knit 
• M6844 Cardigan Blue Tropical ITY Knit
• B5760 Green Floral Ponte Knit Cardigan
• Drape neck dress in Raspberry matte ITY knit
• Nightgown in blue rose bouquet cotton sheets
• Silhouette Pattern #2913 Nick & Zoe’s Black Denim Skirt

Still Want to Sew:

• Sweater Wrap Top
• Denim Skirt
• Sleeveless Button Down Top
• Princess Seam Sheath Dress
• Stripe Vest
• 3/4 sleeve Maxi Dress-Solid Color
• Something with fringe
• Red dress with Animal Print Cardigan

 

Until next time......................

 

  Bonnie