Sewing Cat

 Her favorite spot to be when I'm sewing.

I'm not a garbage digger but,

I'm not a garbage digger but, while throwing trash a stack of eight old patterns did catch my eye, so I dug!

 I did not rip bags to get them, they were sitting on top just waiting to be found. I did have to climb in the bin though, not a problem because this was a paper bin.

After sorting and refolding 5 out of 8 were complete patterns. The remaining three were top half's to dresses that could have any type of skirt drafted for them.

 Win Win situation if you ask me.

Dating Vintage Patterns

I have been  putting my vintage patterns in order by year and maker. I have found some that stumped me for awhile until I knew just what to look for or came up with some solution for them.

Here are two of the sites that I used in dating my patterns.

This one was the most help in dating unmarked envelopes and Mail order patterns.  

-Cemetarian-

About Dating Vintage Sewing Pattern

For anything the first site didn't cover this one helped some by being able to look at patterns that had already been dated.

-Vintage Fashion Library-

Sewing Pattern History / How to Date a Vintage Sewing Pattern

Fun Site

I have been seeing a lot of these Visited State Maps pinned on Pintrest here lately but there are never links to go to the original site.

States I have visited, I don't travel much

My favorite site for this is epgSoft they also have a Campground Map for finding that next campsite.

TCL Etsy Store 75% Off

Have you been eying something on The Charlotte Letters Etsy Store waiting for the right moment to pounce, well now is the time to buy. Get 75% OFF your purchase from The Charlotte Letters Etsy store by using this coupon code SPRING75OFF

*discount does not include shipping

Knock Off Sailor Shorts

These Sailor Shorts are from JCrew

Mine do not have the trim on the legs and the elastic is only in the back. At this point I think this is pretty cool and the fact that I can say I thought of the shorts/pants and was one step ahead of the designers of JCrew. 

  These are my pants I made my son last year.

Want to make your own JCrew Sailor Shorts, 
use my pattern and tutorial.

The tutorial for them is posted on June 27, 2010 Here.  

The Pattern for them on June 13, 2011 Here.

Needle Size

This question came up yesterday while talking to a friend that did not know that you use different sized sewing needles for different weight fabrics. They wanted to know why their sewing machine was jamming and breaking the needle when trying to sew jeans.

Here is my simple needle guide

Sheer to lightweight  =  9, 11

 Lightweight  =  11

Medium-weight = 14

Medium to Heavy-weight = 16, 18 

Denim/Canvas = 16

Lightweight Knits = 10, 12 

Medium to Heavy-weight Knits = 14

Leather/Suede = 14, 16 

Truth is you can use one size needle but the results will not be what you expect or even worse. Too small a needle used on jeans or leather can break and potentially harm you or your machine. Too large a needle will ruin your fabric or snag it making unsightly runs in the weave. Another thing that can cause poor stitching is a dull or bent  needle on the fabric your using. It is best to use the right sized needle or wait until you have it to start a project, that is what I do. 

Loved

Oh, I have found a ring that makes me want to love jewelry more and it is this little beauty.

It is found at  St. Kilda

See I am Not a jewelry girl, I am found most days with just my wedding band. This little ring makes me want to change my mind. One real good reason I don't wear a lot of the sparkly stuff is I garden a lot, and it is hard to find rings in a tiny size of "4", yes that is my ring size. When my husband went to get my engagement ring they had to size down a size "5" ring. It's a funny thing to go into a jewelry store and ask to see the size 4's they bring out the little girl rings.

Makes Sense 2

Use a plastic basket with holes to store your ribbon stash. Just add ribbon spools to dowels and then slide the ends into the plastic holes at ether end of basket. Next lace the ribbon through the side holes and Viola, you have a ribbon dispenser. 

My ribbon stash rests on dowel rods held up with large hooks on the wall next to my sewing machine, I like to display mine. This seems easy enough if you don't have space for your ribbon or you just want yours to be more portable. The only thing is I don't like the way it bends the ribbon.

Gift Wrap To Re Use

Fukoshiro is the Japanese practice of making the outside of a gift look just as good as the inside. In Japan, gift wrapping is known as tsutsumi and is considered as important as the gift itself.

Of course, in America we can certainly sympathize as we dress up our own gifts for birthdays and holidays with bows and ribbons, but traditionally furoshiki uses fabric as wrapping paper. The level of detail is also impressive and a great deal of care is taken in selecting the right types of fabric and sewing it all together.

The history of fukoshiro comes from the word itself translated, which is bath spread. Originally, fukoshiro was used to carry bathing items to a public bathhouse, but later this was expanded to carrying groceries and to hold purchases meant for gifts. It many ways, the modern day American equivalent would be a tote bag.

So what kind of materials can Japanese gift wrapping be made out of? Really any type of material works, but usually cotton, nylon, or silk is used. The pattern of the fabric will depend on your tastes and the occasion. You may want to choose a children's fabric theme for a more festive birthday, or a Christmas print for the holiday seasons. Even denim can be used as an elaborate gift wrap, if that is to your liking.

While going out of style when plastic bags came into existence, fukoshiro is still used to carry items as a reusable bag, because it is environmentally friendly and eliminates trash.

So how can you make your own fabric gift wrapping? All you really need is a sewing machine, and then you can hand piece of fabric together yourself. You may want to check out your local fabric store in order to find thrifty deals.

Scarves or handkerchiefs can also make excellent material for fukoshiro for smaller gifts. You use it in much the same way that you would as paper, but it looks much more formal and is much more festive. Anyone receiving gifts in fabric wrapping paper would certainly be impressed with the amount of effort that they took to create. So if you are interested in practicing Japanese fukoshiro, get down to your local fabric store and start crafting. Anyone who receives a gift from you will love the outside just as much as they love what is on the inside.

Not To Do List

This is almost what my To Do Lists look like here lately.

   
Although mine are: 
"Don't Want To"
"Really Don't Want To"
"Maybe My Husband Will Do It" 
and 
"OK, But Your Going To Hear About It".

De-cluttering

The doomed thread

 I have had several spools of almost empty thread that has been taking up precious space on my thread stand and there for getting on my nerves. So, yesterday I had a idea, I have a fabric pattern that needed to be zigzagged and I really did not want to use any of my go to thread on it.  I decided to do a De-cluttering of the thread stash and use them up to make room for new thread.

Fabric Pattern that received the thread transplant

 Going around a fabric pattern with a zig zag stitch is a great idea if you don't want your edges to fray. I have found that if you stitch the pattern before it is cut out not after it will hold up longer and receive more wear.

Ask

I have been working on a new  pattern to go with my "Sailor Pants" pattern, it is a "Sailor Skirt" pattern. It's going to take me awhile to get it done (I'm still sporting a cast) but when I do get it finished  I will upload it. I have a new promo going on too, send me a picture of something you have made from one of my patterns and get my next new pattern emailed to you before anyone else gets to it. Details are in the "Looking for this" page.

I did a little sewing yesterday to mend a pillow, ouch, I'm not ready to get back into full swing just yet. It was fun though, I can't wait to have mobility back in my wrist. I almost forgot I had the full arm cast removed a week ago and am now sporting a short arm Exos cast, it has the thumb spika just like the long arm had.

Cut the Cost of Your Kids Bath Art

 In our house we do a lot of bathtub art, so we go through a lot of  "Bathtub Crayons". When you have artists like I have you have to constantly replace the crayons and that can add up over time. So, I am letting you in on how I save on the bathtub master pieces without giving up the quality name of the loved products.

   

 Crayola Bathtub Crayons

$ 5.99 for 9

Pros: 

Protective covers keep fingers clean

Cons: 

Very thin

 soft

crayons go back in when your trying to write

don't last

not easy for little guys to use

Verdict: 

All though we have these (Purchased by someone else) they are not a favorite. Kids are already in the tub, let the fingers get messy.

 Crayola Beginnings - Washable Triangular Crayons

$ 3.29 for 8

Pros:

They are WASHABLE

shape is easy to grip (even wet)

thick

great for little guys

writes well

wipes clean with one swipe of wet cloth

lasts long 

price is half of bath crayons 

Cons:

 Fingers get dirty

 Verdict:

We LOVE these the best, yes, they are not "Bathtub Crayons" but they work better and last longer. They are the ones that my boys choose over all the other marketed for tub use.

Crayola - Large Washable Crayons

$ 2.99 for 8

Pros:

Same as Washable Triangular Crayons

Cost less

Cons:

Same as Washable Triangular Crayons

they are round and harder to hold when wet

Verdict:

Although we don't buy these often because of their shape, they with stand a good bath just the same as the "Triangular" ones and there for pass the test.

Note: When using Washable, you do have to follow the same rules as the bathtub crayons.

 * Don't leave them submerged on the bottom of tub (it dissolves them)

* Store them in a open air container when done so they can dry 

* They are not supposed to be used as makeup!

Bagging It?

Ok, I am having a dilemma here. I am usually in awe of almost

all of Vogues patterns but here lately I think that they have  

lost there minds when it comes to designing patterns. Now, 

I am no "Skinny Mini", I have some shape to me, most of the  

time I wear size 6-8 depending on brand and time of month.  

Have you not seen the shape to a lot of their new patterns  

and can you not say that there is not some "Major Saddle 

Baggage" action going on.

Here are some examples from Vogue Patterns Summer 2011 

 This poor model looks like she is about to be saddled to go out 

on a long excursion in the desert, I hope she remembered to 

pack her sun block.

 She's a stick and it doesn't look as "Oompa loompa" on her but, bless 

your little heart if you have HIPS and you make this to wear yourself.

 When I see this one I just think, "OK, where's she hiding it?". What, 

you might ask, is she hiding? Her luggage, no, her shape, or does 

she really have a big back side to go with the big hips! I mean, look 

how tiny her waist is, this skirt does nothing for her. The giant bow

 on the front reminds me of a old trick I learned when I first started 

to sew. You know the trick, the "Oops, I made a mistake, I know,

 lets put a bow over it" trick. I don't do that one any more, it is 

okay when you are under 18 but after that it is just sad.

 ____________________________________________________

Here are (in my opinion) Vogue's other hip disasters. 

 This top reminds me of a fairy dress with its pointed 

bottom sides and a Japanese wrap kimono. No, I don't 

think I will be making this one, I just can't bring myself 

to looking like Tinker Bell.

 To my understanding the above pattern is for ladies that 

have hips. When worn, the side hem line will even out to 

match the rest of the top. OR..... maybe they are trying to 

replicate the "stretched down side effect" that those with 

little kids get on all of their shirts. You know, in the mama 

crowd, that is fashionable, and almost every mom sports it in the

first five years of her kids life. Wait a minute, are 

they trying to say that moms are in style?

These are the only patterns that really made me question 

Vogue as a favorite pattern company. Vogue, if you read me,

 "I like and love the rest of your new line" it is the above patterns 

that I scratch my head at. These are solely my opinions!

In Time

So, for a while sewing will not be on my agenda or a least until my orthopedic says I can.

I am in pain in this photo hence the lack of smile.

 I plan on posting non-sewing projects to keep busy. My great sons want to help with this so I will let them.

My lovely thumb spika.

I have been listening to a lot of music as of late and I am stuck 

on one particular album at this moment.

Thrift Store Finds!

I don't use thrift stores that often but I wanted to find some MooMoo's so I could use for a "Thrift Store Redo". In the process of looking for my MooMoo's I found some great "NEW" jackets on the cheap! Best of all they are made well, for instance both have Hong Kong seams on the inside, one is almost complete except where the sleeves join the jacket.

This one had nothing wrong with it, tags still attached, but it was last seasons fashion.
Cost $4.00

This darling had two broken buttons.That's easily fixable for some one that has thousands of buttons to choose from. All inside seams are covered in a pretty floral fabric. 

Cost $2.00

I think I my have found a new hobby!

1 1/2 Month Hiatus Repost

Repost from February 2, 2011

I did not mean for it to happen but sometimes a hiatus is what is best. My last post was really posted 2 months ago and published 1 1/2 month ago. Christmas was really exhausting but I had tons planned for January! Somewhere along the line I got "The FLU" that took all of my energy and left me stranded in this body with nothing but my mind to think of all the things that I wished I could do. While trying to get well and regain my lost energy I got depressed. I had to take a few days to feel self pity and to do what I know best to heal myself and that is get to the point of breaking and letting everything out with a good cry. I have finally got to the point am at now and that is......BETTER! 

Oh, the feeling of being back in the swing of things. I have been working non stop today with a small but fun project/pattern for boys, but you will have to wait to see it.


Update: 02/07/11 
Well, I think that I have possibly broken my wrist........or something, 
I am just having a hard New Year so far!

Update: 3/7/11 I have in fact broken my wrist and am now sporting a royal purple full arm cast. It has been two months and finally get to see a orthopedic. So, I might not be posting much for awhile except for small projects I have already done.

Sorry to those that have missed me,

I have missed You,

Charlotte

Lack of...

No pictures, tutes, patterns for now! I am currently working on Christmas for my family and they read my blog, well my boys do to see if they can get hints at presents.

 I will have something for you real soon!

---------------------------------------------------

Also, I have been thinking of switching my site over to typepad or somewhere else but while playing on typepads free trial it just seems to be more hassle than good. They haven't the programing to import blogger blogs and I want all of my work to move with me. Anyone have a site that you like that will host files (mainly PDF's) and is not too out of budget? My goal is to have all of my patterns on my site so you will not have to go to another site to download, or figure a way to get them on my current blog for download. Another reason to have them on my own site is that I keep the rights to all my work and not forfeit them to share my patterns!


OK, I have solved my dilemma I am going to use Media Fire to host ALL my patterns including the ones that are currently on Burda Style (which you have to log in or create an account to download). My current blog will NOT be switching to another site, blogger is easier to navigate and I don't have to deal with the spam or the wierd formats of the other sites.

Four things that help me!

When it comes to working with patterns, making them and fabric storage I have learned a few lessons and those are:

 1. Dealing with all the pattern inserts

First off I have a subscription to Burda Fashion and at one point a subscription to Ottobre so where do you put  the inserts once they have added up quickly. I place mine in a art portfolio that once housed my husbands art work. All of my pattern sheets are in their own poster board folder according to their month and subscription.

 It makes it a whole lot easier to get to my patterns now. All I do is slip the folder out that I need and get the pattern sheet. Once I am done the pattern sheet get put back and the whole folder slides with ease back into place. This system is a ton easier than leaving the sheets folded how they came and it causes less wear on the sheets.  

With this system I have room for additional patterns, maybe a new subscription or two.

2. What I use to trace patterns on to

I have learned that wrapping paper "does not" work for me especially if it has a pattern on the back. Most wrapping paper is made so the recipient of a present won't be able to see whats on the inside when wrapped. I use packing paper from Wal-mart or any other super store it is thin enough to see your lines to trace but thick enough not to shred when tracing like tissue paper. Plus is is CHEAP about five dollars for a big bundle.

3. Paper I use when making my own patterns.

I use a fat roll of architect tracing tissue paper (that I get from Dick Blick for a real steal) to draw out my patterns. When I have my patterns drawn and I want to finalize them I use gift wrap to lay under the tissue so that my markers that I use don't stain my counter top. Gift wrap is perfect for this because if you lay it blank side up under the tissue and draw on top of it with any marker it won't go through because of the shiny printed side keeps the ink from bleeding. If you write on the shiny side with a marker it will smudge, this is another reason I don't use it to trace patterns. 

 4. How do I get all my fabric folded uniform

I have saved a long cardboard insert from one of the last times I did a major fabric purchase and it what I use as my guide to fold. I spent a evening one day and unfolded and refolding what I thought was a lot of fabric around my "Bolt Folder" as I call it. When I was done folding all my fabric I was amazed to find out that I had room for more.

  To fold the fabric wrap it around the fabric bolt guide neatly, pull the guide out when finished wrapping around, then fold each fabric bolt over evenly in two and place to the side to start forming a nice uniform stack. 

 This gets rid of those "just can't get my fabric to fold properly" days. I have also found that some fabrics that are sheer of a suede type will not pull away from the guide. Solution: I have lamented my guide with Magic Cover laminate. Now when I go to the pulling the guide out step it glides right on out with not problems.

I have left the laminate ends on my guide as a extra sort of handle to help get the fabric pulled off.