[juliamom2009]

Thanks @reeni – very helpful info. I’ll use the Purl Soho one then, and will make a cardboard pressing tool as well. I’m going to use cotton lawn for my first attempt. I’m hoping for the best!

[juliamom2009]

I watched it all the way through and may actually go back and re-watch from the beginning. I must say, I feel like some of the sewing was not as good as it has been in previous years. Just my opinion! To me, there was no clear front-runner. Definitely, I was kind of surprised at the outcome – my daughter actually screamed “Nooooooo” when her favorite sewist lost!

[juliamom2009]

I did a Popover dress using fold-over elastic in the past. It worked great. I measured the dress on my daughter and sewed the FOE into a circle and applied it folded over the armhole. In fact, I just finished up another Popover. Intended to use fold-over elastic again but couldn’t find it in my disaster of a sewing room. Literally, the minute that I finished sewing on the straps, my cat knocked over a pile of patterns, and I found my package of bright pink fold over elastic….

[juliamom2009]

Here’s how I roll…

I learned to sew in 7th grade Home Economics class. I wasn’t particularly good and got a B (which was devastating to me). The summer before high school, I enrolled in a summer class at the high school for sewing. The pattern that I picked – a fully lined fitted blazer. I sewed it in a no-wale brown corduroy. I’m short, so I had to adjust everything for the petite size range. It actually came out good and I wore it proudly. I wish I had kept it for posterity!

I’d like to make well fitting jeans for myself. It’s pretty much all I wear, and being height challenged, it’s tough to get ones that fit well. Once I do, I wear them to death and beyond.

And, I won’t even mention my request for a kid’s blazer pattern….and now that I think of it, an adult blazer that I can wear with my jeans.

[juliamom2009]

I moved from the US to Canada after my oldest two kids were born. All I knew was that my two preemie kids were 1150 grams (about 2.5 pounds) and 950 grams (about 2 pounds) at birth. So, when I’d go to the meat counter, I’d have to stop and think – did I want a Nathaniel’s worth of meat, or a Melissa’s worth of meat….I didn’t want to look like I didn’t know what I was doing!

Once you get used to it, metric is definitely easier and more logical.

[juliamom2009]

Hi Nathalie – I used a border print and left the hemline as per the pattern piece…you can see it in this photo:

[juliamom2009]

Yes, @motherof5, yes regarding lining the Secret Agent trench!

I own the pattern and have never made it – and I admit it’s because I prefer a lined jacket. I worry that my version would end up too bathrobe-like and not be worn.

Could you link to your blog post about lining it and I’ll check it out…please!

[juliamom2009]

I have a Brother SE400. I don’t have any software, but I did use a trial version of Sew What Pro when I was doing some monograms. There are a ton of resources online for Sew What Pro.

If you are just doing designs, you generally don’t need software, unless you are going to merge designs or alphabets. Call me an enabler, but the absolute coolest embroidery designs are on Urban Threads (http://www.urbanthreads.com/) – they have great sales all the time, so get their newsletter or stalk their Facebook and Instagram feeds. There’s also a Facebook group for SE400 users if you’re a FB person.

Also, Youtube Brother SE400 for info about stabilizers, etc. You will need cutaway, tearaway, and Tender Touch (to avoid scratchy stitches on clothing) to start with. Or, you can always shoot me a message!

[juliamom2009]

@sarvi that song makes me cry even on a good day. I saw that the LAUSD head was getting criticized for the closures – I’m glad he did it. Our kids live in a jacked up world. I get tired of trying to tell my kid why people are sleeping in the street, and why we just bought a bunch of gifts for a 3 year old who was homeless but now has a home and no money for gifts. Tough, tough times. To say nothing of terrorism….

[juliamom2009]

I just tested one on my kid – it slipped easily over her head without unbuttoning the back. It was a teeny bit of a wriggle pulling it down through the chest, however. I don’t know if that helps or not! Honestly, if I were sewing in a rush it would work without the placket…but if I were sewing for someone else’s child, I’d put it in.

[juliamom2009]

The kid’s costume got completed this morning….at about 5:30 a.m.! She had a Halloween costume parade at her school, where the kindergarten kids wear their costumes for all the older kids. As they were lining up, Julia was checking out the other costumes – she pulled me aside and said “Mom, I think all these people BOUGHT these costumes….don’t their moms want to sew for their kids?” – seriously, she was really sad for the other kids!

[juliamom2009]

Thanks @jesims – definitely! And @lightningmcstitch such a smart idea – I never would have thought of that!! Off to make a giant Messy Kid Bib!

[juliamom2009]

My kid is going to be Word Girl (a cartoon that I actually LOVE) and I’d love some advice on her cape….if you look at the photo I’ve attached, I’m not sure if the yellow around the neck of the top is supposed to be part of her cape?

This will be a super simple costume to make….mostly – once I figure out the cape/neckline!

Any advice?

Attachments:

1. 

   WordGirl_Official_Pic.png
   

[juliamom2009]

I did a corduroy jacket last year for my daughter – I lined the body with a rather lightweight (Polartec 100) fleece, and lined the sleeves with quilting cotton and underlined with Thinsulate. We’re in California, so she won’t get too much wear out of it here but she did wear it in Boston when it was less than freezing. I made her a size 5 and she definitely could still wear it this year as it is really generously sized (I’d imagine for wearing sweaters underneath). Last year (on my kid) the really only big part was the sleeves, which we just rolled up. This year I’d imagine that we won’t need to roll them up.

[juliamom2009]

@cybele727 – I love the ugly fabric challenge idea!