Test Trouble 2024 Part 3

Test Trouble 2024 Part 3

Time to deal with those pesky Holes.

Blanket Stitch

To Strengthen the Material where the Holes are I decided to Fold the Material Lengthways and Blanket-Stitch. That solved one problem but created another.

To make a Scrunchie I needed to create a Tube for the Elastic. However I realised that would mean Folding the Material Widthways and that would make it quite thin. It also meant that it would be thicker.

Button

I tried a couple of different Needles. The thin ones would break and the thick ones would make big Holes in the already damaged material. I had to have a rethink.

I decided to forget the Scrunchie idea and change to a Headband. I Sewed Buttons on where I could see Holes and where the Material was thin.

Hem Elastic

I was still going to need to use Elastic so I took a small piece and Hemmed both Ends.

Attach at Back

I took the Hemmed Elastic and placed it face down at the Back of the Material and Sewed in place.  I did the same with the other End.

Headband

Well the Scrunchie did not go as planned but at least now I have a funky new Headband to keep my hair out of my eyes. 

Tartan Tidy 2023

 Tartan Tidy 2023

 This was a quick off the cuff project.

 Tartan Waistband

 

Quite some time ago, I had to have a Tartan Skirt altered. I had the Waistband Removed and elastic put in. Being me, I had decided to keep the Waistband in case it came in useful.

 Remove Threads and Open

 

First, I had to Open up the Waistband and Remove all the loose Threads.

 Pin Tartan

 

I reversed the Tartan and Pinned in place ready to Sew.

Tartan Blanket

 

I used my favourite Stitch, Blanket and Sewed up the sides. I stopped Sewing roughly a quarter of the way from the End.

Blanket Buttonhole

 

I then turned my attention to the Buttonhole End. This area was quite frayed so I had to tidy up before sewing. Time for a break.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 63

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 63

Continuing with the Bag for the Pocket.

Nearly Cut

Whoops! I am trimming the Excess off and Nearly Cut the Hem. I hope it does not Fray.

Green Blanket Stitch

I have now Blanket Stitched the two Side Edges of the Green Material. I hope it fits, as the Wool is a bit Stretchy.

Inside Pocket

As I anticipated, the Green Bag was a little Long so I have Folded the Top over. Now it fits nicely.

Leaf Layout

I am trying to work out what order to Layout the Leaves. It has taken me about half an hour to do this. I have Pinned together for later. Now I need a break.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 54

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 54

The final furlough of this part.

One Edge

Since the Blanket Stitching I had already done was questionable and with the added possibility of Fraying I decided to Reinforce the Stitching. I was originally going to Blanket Stitch with Brown Wool but I realised that I had quite a few strands of Red Wool. I thought this would be nice, bright, and therefore easy to see.

One Complete Side

After going along One edge and was satisfied, I continued all the way around. This Completed One Side of the Bag.

Both Done

Now that One Side was Completed, I could continue with the other Side. They are now Both Done. On to the final test.

Success

Well it was a lot of Blood, Sweat and Tears not to mention a choice selection of Expletives at times. I Slipped a Baking Tray inside to check for Size. Eureka! It fitted so I declare Success. However, I still have a few more bits to finish it off.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 52

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 52

Here we are folks Part 52. That is a full year’s worth of blogging on this project and it is not over yet.

Blanket Stitch Side

After attaching it at the Top I Blanket Stitch along the Side of the Bag.

Difference in Stitching

The reason there is so many blogs on this project is due to the amount of mistakes I keep making. This time it is loose Stitching whilst Sewing whilst ill. This is going to have to be rectified.

Smaller Stitches

I have gone over the Loose Stitching again. I have Blanket Stitched in-between the ones already there. I will have to do this on the other Side too. However, I am going to Pin it first.

Pin to Side

I have Pinned the Insert to the Other Side of the Bag. If you notice in the photograph above, I have not Sewn all the way down. This is deliberate and will explain in next blog.

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 37

Autumn Cape Bag 2022 Part 37

This week I am struggling with a wracking cough and cold. However, I have managed to get some work done on the Flap.

First Strengthener

 

In the last blog, I had completed my first Strengthener, which by the red lines I am getting in the text leads me to believe that I have invented a new word.

Part Hemmed

 

I have Part Hemmed the second piece of Material. I have left one side Unhemmed.

Double Thread

 

To make it a stronger bond I used Double the Thread. I started to attach the Material with a Blanket Stitch. I know I used a temporary Tacking Stitch on the other piece but I simply forgot.

Excess Amount

 

I have completed Sewing one Side. As you can see in the above photograph, there is quite an Amount of Excess Material.

Cooper Concoctions 2021 Part 8

 Cooper Concoctions 2021 Part 8

I have now Hemmed the Bottom of the Bag.

Carpet Thread

 

As this Bag needs to take Weight I have decided to Blanket Stitch along the Bottom using a strong Carpet Thread.

Hem Top of Bag

 

With the Bag still inside out I do a quick Hem cross the Top of the Bag all the way around.

Place Cord

 

This is where I had a bit of luck. Instead of using an ordinary piece of Cord I found that I had an old Toggle and Cord that I had taken off the Bottom of a Coat. I placed it along the Length of the Hem.

Pin Cord

 

So it didn’t move whilst I was trying to Sew I Pinned it Section by Section.

Back Stitch over Cord

 

To make it both Stronger and Neater I used a Back Stitch over the Cord.

Laundry Bag

 

Here we have it one nice new Laundry Bag

Dionne’s Draught Excluder 2019 - Part 11

Dionne’s Draught Excluder 2019 - Part 11

I am continuing with making the Ears.

Hemmed Inner Ear

Having got my Rough White Inner Ear I place it on the Outer Ear. I can now see how much I need to Trim before Hemming so it will fit Inside the Outer Ear Pipe Cleaners.

I then double check the Rabbit Ear Shape before Pinning and Sewing to the Outer Ear. I then repeated this process with the other Ear.

Sewing Rabbit Ears

Next I have to Sew the two halves of the Rabbit Ears together. Normally I would turn them Inside-Out before Blanket Stitching. However since I need to Stuff the Ears I am doing this face on.

I Blanket Stitch all the way down one Side of the Rabbit Ear. I then Sew the other Side but I leave about an Inch Gap So that I can Stuff it.

Stuffing Rabbit Ear

Regarding the Stuffing of the Ears I have made a change. Instead of using Offcuts I am using proper Stuffing. This is because I want the Stuffing to be Softer so I can manipulate the Pipe Cleaners if necessary.

Stuffed Ear

After I have filled down to the Gap I only add a little more. This is so once Sewn it will be flimsier than the rest of the Ear. This is to make Sewing and Attaching the Ear easier.

If you look at the above photograph you can see the finished Ear has a slight Curvature.  I repeat the process with the other Ear except in that case the Curvature is in the Opposite direction.

Dionne’s Draught Excluder 2019 - Part 5

Dionne’s Draught Excluder 2019 - Part 5

This week’s blog will be slightly longer as I found some of the pictures that I meant to put in the last blog but couldn’t find.

Assorted Trimmings

I have been Stuffing the Legs with various bits of Trimmed material. Those that follow my blogs regularly might recognises the material as off cuts from Mademoiselle Marionette’s clothes and accessories.

Sewing Leg End

When I decided that the Leg was sufficiently stuffed I simply Blanket Stitched the last flat part together. I have left about a fingers Width gap without Stuffing.

4 Inch Mark

I Folded the material then measured and Marked 4 Inches. This represented the approximate Length of the Thigh.

Back Thigh

Using the Mark I drew upwards making a Thigh shape. I Pinned the material together to avoid it slipping when I cut it out.

Front Thigh

Although the process for the Front Thigh was the same as the Back this was about a centimetre shorter. The Width was slightly less to keep the proportions correct.

Replica Thighs

To make a pair of Thighs for the other side of the Body I simply Pinned to more material and cut out around them.

Thigh Attached

IMPORTANT

When Attaching the Thigh to the Leg make sure that you have slipped the Leg End into the Thigh Horizontally before you Sew. Otherwise it will be at the wrong angle.