October 18th, 2009
The Girl is Crafty like Ice is Cold
A few years ago I wanted curtains but I couldn't find any that I liked, and none that I could afford either (window treatments are expensive, yo!)
So I told the Hyphenated Husband it would be cheaper to buy a sewing machine and some fabric and let me make my own. It was a LOT of work and I really had no idea what I was doing. I had to call my aunt and ask her how to thread the bobbin, then I read the directions that came with the sewing machine to figure out the rest. But to this very day one of the first things people say when they come into my home is how cool my curtains are. I get compliments on them all the time. They are pretty cool… even if they are probably sewn all wrong. A trained seamstress would probably laugh at my execution, but to the untrained eye they look just fine.
So since then I've taken on a little sewing project here and there when I get a wild hair up in the nether places. This year I decided to make the kids' Halloween costumes, so I went looking for some online tutorials on how to make the pants I needed for Julesy's monster costume. I found this AWESOME page from Rookie Moms that shows how to make baby pants from an old t-shirt! I tried that a few nights ago and Hyphenated Husband was so impressed with my pant-making skills, he said I should make some other outfits for the kids too. I decided to start out trying pajamas. I figured it would be more forgiving, and if I screwed them up royally then nobody would ever see them outside the house. So I went a-shoppin' at JoAnn Fabrics today and picked out some super cute prints.
What you're seeing here is my first ever attempt at making a complete pajama set. I learned how to sew the shirt from a YouTube video tonight. Overall I'm pretty pleased with myself. I LOVE the fabric and applique I used, but the shirt came out looking very feminine (maybe it's the trim, or the cut, or both… I dunno, but I hope I can fix that next time.) You can click on the photo to blow it up and see the detail. The pants are a Rock N Roll guitar/radio print, and I put a "Rock N Roll" applique on the shirt. I loved the concept, I just wish that damn shirt hadn't come out looking so girly. That would be fine if I had a girl (or if I have a girl in the future) but it looks funny on Julesy since the kid is built like a teeny football player.
If you have any sewing tips, or links to favorite sites, please leave them in the comments. I'm not going to get all serious about it, but my little craft projects are a nice stress reliever when I have time to do them, and I'd like to make something usable every time.
Click to Leave a Comment
That is awesome! I thought about making some clothes for Peanut but I’m not the most precise on the sewing machine.
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I love to sew! I am a real fly by the seat of my pants seamstress, though. I like to improvise and just kind of make it up as I go along. It involves a lot of swearing, I’ll admit it. But it also feels, I don’t know, satisfying, because it’s all me.
I have to say, I’m very glad that I have a daughter to sew for. It’s way harder to come up with cute and fun stuff for boys. At least, I think so. I’m pretty impressed with those pajamas. They look great for a first effort!
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I don’t think the shirt looks girlie at all. just comfy.
there’s a free hoodie pattern here
http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns?page=5
I think you’ll like burda patterns
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Way to go, girl! One of my first sewing projects was making curtains for our house. Because, yes! Curtains are expensive! I was sad to leave them behind when we sold the house.
I don’t have any links for you. Just words of encouragement. Your jammies look awesome.
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I love to sew, I just don’t have all that much time for it these days.
Check out this site for some good sewing tutorials (and lots of other cool crafty and baking stuff): http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/tutorialsrecipes/
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Hello New Best Friend. I’ve never seen your site, but I’m loving it. I really want to see your curtains, though!
I’m glad the pants tutorial worked out well for you. I feel horribly guilty when people say they had a hard time. I think the shirt is a little feminine because the neckline is wide, but it’s cute on a little boy, and it’s PJs, so no matter. (I have a boy and a girl, so I have done extensive analysis on what subtlety makes clothing skew one way or the other.)
I see you have a link to your VBAC story. Hooray! I will read asap and I have been meaning to write mine up for TWO YEARS!
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These are so cute! I’m so envious that you know how to sew. I have to re-learn every time I pull my sewing machine out of the closet. Basically I can never remember how to thread the thing, even with little arrow stickers all over it. And I have never sewn clothes, only Xmas stockings, throw pillows and cloth bags – total grade 7 skill level.
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very rad! I think its the neckline that looks a little femme- but you could always be like me: As a feminist mama of two boys, when people comment their home made digs look girly I just tell them that we don’t subscribe to gender bias in OUR household. They usually buy it (or are just too flabberghasted to know what to say back… smile and nod moment ;0) )
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Those pants are cunning. I’m past needing little tiny pants, but I know someone who’ll like the pattern.
I sew in dribs and drabs – I spent the better part of this morning repairing my child’s quilt.
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Super awesome! I think the sewing machine was a pretty darn good investment around here. I admit, I’m always afraid to try anything too complex, though. Perhaps I will try the pants. The pants don’t look too hard. Great job! Oh, and he is just so adorable.
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