So if you've been reading my blog you're probably aware that I've been making a skirt for the past few weeks and I am excited to say... IT'S DONE! Yaaaaaaaay. So i figured out that I somehow sewed pockets in it without realizing.... All I did was cut out the pieces that the directions told me to and then sewed the seams that it said, not actually knowing what I was sewing at the time.
Now with just a few days left I am ready to start sewing my shirt for the presentation. I have been researching a ton about how to make patterns from scratch so they fit and look good and such so I'm pretty confident that I can finish it quickly.
I loved using the patterns to make the other products but a big reason I did this project was to save money making my own clothes. Well when using the $10 (sometimes $15) patterns, I'm not actually saving money. I also believe that by not using the patterns I am able to make it more "my style" and do really whatever I want and make it however I want it to be.
Once I finish the tank top using my homemade pattern I will be finished my product and will be set to present!
Can't wait!!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
March 26, 2013
Well this week hasn't really been the best progress-wise. I have been in Jamaica since Saturday and trust me I'm not complaining about that at all, but I've had no way to finish my final product since I had to leave all my sewing stuff at home. It's also been extremely hard to research anything because the internet connection is SOOO TERRIBLE. It took about 10 minutes just for this to load and I'm sure it will take another hour just for this blog to post. Anyway, there isn't really much to report for this week but in a few days when I come back it will really be time for me to get everything together and finish my final product! Excited to see how it turns out! Wish me luck(:
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
March 19, 2013
This week wasn't terrible! I didn't make as much progress as I wanted to but there weren't really any prominent failures, which surprised me a lot. I'm still in the midst of making a skirt. Hopefully if it goes well, I will end up wearing it for the presentation!
I bought a pattern to make the skirt (shown in the video at the bottom) and it is very helpful but also very confusing. I've had to use this sewing glossary >>> http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/basics/sewing-glossary/ in order to understand most of what it is saying.
I probably should have expected this, but sewing actual wearable clothes is really hard. After sewing pillows and other easy things I thought "psh, I got this." and then I tried to make pajama pants. Thankfully I was able to find a 3-part youtube video with step-by-step instructions on how to use the pattern I got for it. {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=984XMmBAhoE}
When I began making the skirt, I attempted to do it without using any outside help, since I wanted to get good at using and understanding the patterns. I eventually gave up. I searched and searched for a youtube video to help me with the specific pattern and I couldn't find one for the life of me. So now I am forced to do it without any help.
Instead of using sources that directly relate to the pattern I am using, I have found other, more general sources that so far have been relatively helpful. I think it's better that I don't have any videos to help me because this is the only way that I will truly get better, even if it takes 14 billion tries.
I bought a pattern to make the skirt (shown in the video at the bottom) and it is very helpful but also very confusing. I've had to use this sewing glossary >>> http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/basics/sewing-glossary/ in order to understand most of what it is saying.
I probably should have expected this, but sewing actual wearable clothes is really hard. After sewing pillows and other easy things I thought "psh, I got this." and then I tried to make pajama pants. Thankfully I was able to find a 3-part youtube video with step-by-step instructions on how to use the pattern I got for it. {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=984XMmBAhoE}
When I began making the skirt, I attempted to do it without using any outside help, since I wanted to get good at using and understanding the patterns. I eventually gave up. I searched and searched for a youtube video to help me with the specific pattern and I couldn't find one for the life of me. So now I am forced to do it without any help.
Instead of using sources that directly relate to the pattern I am using, I have found other, more general sources that so far have been relatively helpful. I think it's better that I don't have any videos to help me because this is the only way that I will truly get better, even if it takes 14 billion tries.
Monday, March 11, 2013
March 11, 2013
This week probably didn't go as well as it could have. Actually that's an understatement, the week sucked. As much as i would love to say that I got a ton of work done and I'm improving a lot, I can't. I did finish my pajama pants which I was extremely excited about (they are purple and fuzzy), but they were definitely harder than I thought they would be. I ended up finishing them but after they went through the ash the hem and elastic ripped in like four places.
I also broke my sewing machine. Again. Yes, this was the second time in two weeks. For clothes you are supposed to do a zig-zag stitch for the bottom of the pant leg. Here is a visual of what the different stitches look like.
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| This is a presser foot |
Once I put the new needle in, which was surprisingly easy, it was all smooth sailing from there... of course then I managed to break it again. At this point I figured out it wasn't the machine that was the problem...
If you've been following my blog you'll know that last week a ran out of thread on the bottom. This is when all hell broke loose. Of course Caroline's mom was there to save the day. Well the same thing happened again. I attempted to rewind it and was actually successful. Then came the difficult part. I tried to put the thread back in the sewing machine and it wouldn't work. again. I'm sure all of you assumed I am a pretty patient person (picture that sentence in sarcastic font) but after about 5 minutes I gave up and angrily stomped away for about the forty-eighth time since I've started sewing. But luckily I came home from school to a fixed sewing machine! It was a miracle yaaaaaaaaay (I'm pretty sure caroline's mom came over and fixed it when I was gone so.... shoutout to Sandy yet again! I have a feeling there will be a shoutout to Sandy every week until I actually figure out how to use this without breaking every other day.)
This week I'm attempting to make a skirt and if it turns out nice then maybe I will be able to use that as part of my final product! Cross your fingers I actually have a completely working sewing machine by the end of the week, though..
Resources for the Week:
- http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/reading-a-sewing-pattern.html
- http://www.ehow.com/how_2042207_make-own-sewing-patterns.html
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