Bias Tape From Scratch

My husband wears out jeans like nobody else I know.  I've been collecting the worn out pairs to use the denim for something else.  (I once heard one of my friends mention a denim quilt and I've been saving jeans for years, dying to make one - but I don't think my sewing machine is up to the task.)  This morning I got tired of looking at the stack of jeans and decided to make something.

The Project:

My daughter got a ton of fingerpaint for Christmas and loves it.  I love it too, but I don't love it all over her clothes.  I've been loath to let her use it because Mama only has so much patience for mess.  So I cut one leg of my husband's old jeans into an apron shape.  I have a friend who has a denim apron with shoestrings for ties and it's cute.  But I don't have any shoestrings laying around.

But I did get a bias tape maker for Christmas...  I could just slip double fold bias tape over each raw edge of denim to finish it.  I could let some hang off the top and off the back to be ties, and I'm set. 

I got out the machine and sorted out all the parts, read the instruction manual, and nowhere did it tell me how to assemble the forever long fabric strip I needed for the bias tape.  I assumed you just cut strips and sewed them together, right?


Well, not so much.

If you want the bias tape to go around curves, you have to cut the strips on a diagonal across the fabric. This way it has some stretchiness to it that can ease around the curve.  But sewing together fabric on a diagonal is not pretty.  Especially for a newbie like me.

Here's what the edges look like that need to be stitched together.  You could just lay them right sides together and stitch across, but that will lose all the fabric in the triangles at the ends.  I only had a quarter yard of this fabric and I was a little nervous about not having enough.  So I needed to stitch diagonally just above the cut edges.








To get it to work, one of the strips has to lay at a right angle to the other with right sides together.  My first few attempts to stitch a 1/4 inch seam resulted in a lot of swearing and ripped stitches.  I guess you just can't do a 1/4 inch seam on the bias.  I found it worked much better if I overlapped the fabric and had at least a 1/2 inch triangle overhanging the edge.  This way the feed dogs in the machine had something to grab on to, and the needle didn't eat through the fabric.

I couldn't get it to work with the edge corners any smaller than this.

Next, I had to figure out where the seam should be.  My first couple attempts looked like this.

Unacceptable.

The seam has to go from point of overlap to point of overlap across the fabric.  In the picture below, the string is hanging directly over the point where the seam should go.  If you don't connect those points perfectly, you get shifted edges like in the picture above. Boo, hiss.

While I got the seam above in the right place, it still didn't open and lay flat.  In order to keep my machine from chewing through the stretchy bias cut, I started stitching 1/2 to 1/4 inch inside the edge, backstitching out and then forward stitching to the other side.  But my machine ate the fabric anyway.  You can sort of see the chewed edge at the end of the seam.  I discovered my problem was that I was letting the needle go out past the fabric and stitching in thin air before coming back onto the fabric.  So I started paying extra close attention to not go off the edge before changing direction.  Below is a picture of the one seam I nailed.

Anyway, after an hour of frustration, I got a whopping 5 yards of 2" wide fabric that I can turn into bias tape.  Cutting diagonal strips out of my 9"x42" piece of fabric got me slightly more bias tape fodder than I would have gotten cutting on the grain and I had very little waste.  And, once I run it through the bias tape maker, it'll lay beautifully around the arm curves at the top of the apron. 

Still needs to be pressed, but I'm excited about the result.

Actually using the machine to make the double fold bias tape will have to wait for another day since I have to return to regularly scheduled housework.  But stay tuned - I'll post updates on this project each step of the way.

Reflections

So, I didn't get my list finished. And, I didn't keep my resolution about not buying new craft stuff until the old stuff is gone. In my defense, I'd really like to get an etsy shop going and it makes sense to buy materials when they're on sale, right?

I have continued making stuff since I finished the Christmas Gift Frenzy, but at a slightly slower pace. Sleep is actually more important than making things, although I am loath to admit it. Here are the projects I have been working on so far in 2013.

This ribbon was actually the handles of two philosophy Christmas gift bags.  I thought it was super cute and turned it into a hair bow for my daughter.  It didn't come out at all like the idea I had when I first looked at the ribbon.  Instead, it looks exactly like the three other hairbows I've made.  I think I need to take a class.

I just finished this scarf today!  SO EXCITED, as this is actually the very first knitting project I ever attempted.  I started it in November 2007.  I can tell you it's three skeins of blue and purple wool purchased at Hobby Lobby.  That's all I know for certain.  And it's warm :)  I see people wear scarves as accessories, but not until now have I appreciated just how much warmer and cozier you feel when wearing one.

Originally knitted for Bear as a button-up crew neck sweater, it's a classic boatneck on Cinderella. Really lovely paired with traditional flannel elf pants, cropped at the knee.  Deborah Norville Serenity Garden Yarn in Gems.

The first of two sample cakes I'm making this winter as advertisements at work.  Gum paste sweet peas and ivy leaves on chocolate fondant.

Also, I'm continuing to work on the commissioned quilt as well as finish a gift for my brother's upcoming birthday.  Little by little, space on my office floor is clearing up, and that is definitely a Good Thing.

The 2013 Project List has been added to the blog, and I'm going to work really hard to actually finish it this year.  Some of the items are pretty time-intensive though, so it'll be a challenge.  And, so far I'm doing GREAT at not buying craft items.  I've been in the craft store three times so far for work and not bought a thing!  Woohoo!

Decluttering

The last few days have left me increasingly stressed about the amount of clutter and unnecessary things in my house.  So I've been going through mail, washing dishes and laundry, putting things in the box for Goodwill, shredding, cancelling unused credit cards, etc.

My new resolution is take care of today's stuff today.  All the mail, all the dishes, all the things we got out.  They all have to get dealt with before bed. There's a huge backlog of stuff to do - piles on the desk, boxes of unfiled papers I meant to deal with months ago, craft tools to organize and put away. But that stuff needs to wait until today's stuff is finished.  I was talking to somebody about scrapbooking and how overwhelming I find the prospect, and they offered some sage advice.  Start with the events that are most recent and then work backwards.  I've decided to apply that to daily life.

Today I think I nailed it.  But it takes 21 days to make something a habit, right?

There haven't been many posts since this summer.  But believe me I have been crafting up a storm.  I am giving nine homemade gifts this year and some of them still aren't finished.  I can't exactly talk about them here as the recipients all know about my blog.  After Christmas I'll share some of them with you and some of the other projects I've been busy with this year.

Flower Girl Dress

Very very scary.

About to cut main fabric for my daughter's dress. I think I have her size figured out, but she freaks out every time I have her try on the sample bodice. At this point, I've decided to just make it big and adjust it down if needed - better than oh, crap sweetie, you're gonna have to suck your tummy in so mom can zip you up.

Sample bodices. Left is a 3 and I swear it fit her the first time I put it on her.
Right is a 4 with the width of a 5. Fingers crossed.

Other craft madness has been going on too, but have had no time to blog.  Will catch you up on what I've been making when the dress mania ends.

Bridal Shower

My sister-in-law's shower was this weekend and it was fantastic!  Imagine a tasty brunch in a restored Victorian mansion, surrounded by beauty, sunlight, and laughter, and that's what it was.  The ladies who organized it did a great job!!

One of the tasks I helped with was dessert.  I have been dying to show the little hearts I made as toppers, but I wanted them to be a surprise.  I designed a little filigree heart and piped it (tip 2) in melted white chocolate flavored with pina colada.  I let them set overnight, then spritzed them with Wilton's new pearl color mist, which is stinking amazing.  Since we don't have air conditioning, I put them in the freezer until time to go on the cupcakes.

 

And here they are! I meant for the icing to look nicer, but I should have gotten up an hour earlier.  The little flowers are actually Starburst candy.  I squished them up and rolled them into the flowers.  The tropical fruit flavors complemented the colors of the table flowers perfectly.

When I started applying the filigree hearts, I laid them down because I was afraid they would break on the way over.  But I didn't really like the way they looked with the taller roses around them.  On a whim, I tried standing them up as they were meant to be, and once I secured it with an icing leaf, they stood up just fine.

Here's the dining room in the mansion.  The tables are set with vintage mismatched china,
and each setting had a tasty cake pop favor atop it.

At the shower, I got another project commissioned, but it's a surprise too.  Once it's finished and delivered, I can show it here.  Super excited about that one too. 

In the meantime, it's time to get serious about bridesmaid dresses.  I have to make mine and I have to make my daughter's.  Those will be my priority craft projects over the next couple of weeks, and those I can show as I work. :)

In Wedding Mode

I got to spend this afternoon with my fabulous sister-in-law and her wonderful future mother-in-law.  Today was the first fitting for her wedding gown, and she looks stunning in it.  Looking at dresses in the store and talking about hair got me excited about the projects I have to finish before the big day.  I'm making my bridesmaid dress (this, only sleeveless) and my daughter's flower girl dress (the green one, but with a neutral sash)

A few months ago I ordered the book Fit for Real People after reading about it in a set of McCall's pattern instructions.  It is fabulous.  I can't wait to put the tips I've read about into practice.  I got out my daughter's pattern first since it's more complicated and will take more time.  However, I haven't a clue what size to make her.  A) the wedding isn't for two months; I have no idea if a growth spurt will hit, what direction it will go or how far.  B) I can't find the finished garment measurements ANYWHERE on the blasted pattern.  The outer envelope says it's on the pattern tissue, but damned if I can find it.  So, I cut out all the pieces and attempted to tissue-fit the bodice on my daughter.  Getting a two year old to wear paper clothes with straight pins in them is not fun. Or easy. I think I got a good read on what size I need to make, but I'm going to wait a little longer to cut the pieces to a size.  It's really important that I get the size right; it's not like I can take it to the store and exchange it at the last minute.  For now, I've employed my giant piece of cardboard as a pattern piece holder.  I'm hoping over a few days the lines in the pattern tissue will drop out somewhat.

I love this piece of cardboard. This is the fifth project I've used it for this year.  My favorite thing about it is that the sides are already creased to fold to the front and it stores half its size, but with enough depth that my project stays nice.  I've done two quilts and a painting on it.

And here's an update on the current sock project.  One down, one to go.  I tried a few rows of the Basket Check pattern I mentioned before, but with striped yarn - especially these Easter egg colors - it was just not going to work out.  So I went to a straight stockinette stitch for the leg and foot.  I went ahead and used the Eye of Partridge stitch on the heel that the pattern suggested.  I really like the way the texture looks, and I think I might use it on some mittens. (So excited about this mitten book that I picked up the other day!)

To do this week: Make final decisions about bridal shower cupcakes and create the pieces.  Finish non-crafting projects I committed to.  Not knit.  I have no time to knit.  Must... finish... other things... first...

Blitz

It has been one project running right after another today and I am so excited.  Here's my breakfast masterpiece, created using the Muffin Method in Alton Brown's I'm Just Here for More Food.  I threw in some fresh blueberries and strawberries and sprinkled some sparkling sugar on the top - I love the crunchy crunch.

After that, it was time to get going on the mosaic stone. I've never mixed concrete before and there are hazard warnings all over the box, so I was pretty nervous.  The not quite 2 cups of water the instructions called for was not quite enough and I'm not sure I got it mixed well.  I'm a little worried the result might fall apart after one season.  (Note to self - bring the stone in during the winter.) I'm also worried the glass isn't secure in the stone either, but nothing I can do about it now.  Here are the fresh handprints.  I underestimated how much space they would take up.  Hopefully it doesn't look too crowded. Since the prints and the name were the last thing I added, I couldn't really modify the design at that point.

Having got the stone done, I set to work on my socks.  I thought I was going to get finished with these two days ago, but as much as I worked, the end continued to be just out of sight.  Finally today, I put the final stitches in - and Kitchener stitches are actually pretty easy.  They are super comfy, and now I am totally jazzed about homemade socks. 

I MADE THESE!!! ALL BY MYSELF!!!

So jazzed that I went straight to my office and pulled out another ball of yarn to make some socks for my daughter.  This is the second attempt.  Once I cast on the stitches for the first pattern and started to work them, it was pretty obvious they'd be too small.  So I went for a more reliable looking pattern (the first one didn't even say how to distribute the stitches around the needles) and am now started on child's medium Basket Check Socks. These will probably be too big, but she'll grow.

I'm using Patons Kroy Socks Yarn, Sweet Stripes on size 3 DPNs

I snapped this of the stone just a little while ago.  It looks like it's setting well, but I could have done a better job getting the concrete level before I started putting the stones in.  In another hour or so I have to go scrub the residue off the stones with a toothbrush (not exciting) and then the color will show through better.  Tomorrow afternoon I get to dump it out of the mold and it'll be ready for my garden!