Sewing with Knits - Project 1 Completed

*I am a Craftsy affiliate and this post does contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.*

I've been incredibly slow about sewing up my first project.  I pushed it to the side because it wasn't a priority for me to finish, but I finally got tired of seeing the cut out fabric on my sewing table so I started working on the hoodie again.  I was amazed at how quickly and easily a hoodie can be sewn.  I feel confident saying this can be sewn in under an hour!  The most time consuming part for me was cutting out the fabric and that was mainly due to my huge baby bump.

The purpose of the Craftsy class is to teach you how to sew knits using a regular sewing machine.  I tried to sew this using only my sewing machine and my walking foot but I found that the zig-zag stitch on my machine made my needle hit the side of my walking foot attachment.  I tried to play with the setting but no matter how I changed it, my needle didn't clear the side of the foot (face palm).  Since this project is made using sweatshirt fleece, I figured I could get away with a straight stitch on my machine and then use my serger for the edges to reinforce the seam.  It all worked out pretty well but I am disappointed that I can't use the zig-zag stitch with my walking foot (mind you, it's not a no-name brand walking foot).  Oh well!  I guess the main reason I took this class was to get over my fear of knits and to start sewing with them and I've done that so what more could I ask for?

To finish off the cuffs and bottom I used my new coverstitch machine (that I got for a steal from a local vendor).  Now that I've finished this hoodie, I am excited to keep sewing up more projects from the class...however I might wait until after the baby is born because the rest of the projects are fitted garments.

For more information on the sewing with knits class, you can read my previous post here or visit the Craftsy website by clicking the picture below.

Happy Sewing!!!

Kelly Moore Camera Bag Discount Code!!!

*I am an affiliate and this post does contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own*

This discount is too good to keep secret!  I have been waiting for a discount like this to buy Kelly Moore's newest camera bag Riva.  I guess we can consider this a Mother's Day gift to myself.  ;)

I currently own this beauty here (the b-hobo bag):

I took my camera bag on a family trip to Disneyland and I used it as a camera bag, purse and diaper bag.  It was great to have, especially because it is water proof and I got a little wet on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!  I love all the space this bag has to offer but I found that I over packed the bag and at the end of the day it was a lot of weight to carry.  That being said, I want to scale down and get a smaller bag for times when I'll be wearing it for long periods of time....which is why I want the Riva bag.  The Riva bag is super compact but it's big enough to hold all your essentials.  To browse Kelly Moore's other camera bags, click the image below to be taken to her website and don't forget to use the promo code to score $30 off.

May 2-7th, you can score $30 off by using the promo code: MOM30  

Now I have to figure out which color to get...any suggestions?

Free Craftsy Classes!!!

*I am a Craftsy affiliate and this post does contain affiliate link, all opinions are my own.

I am enrolled in a few craftsy sewing classes, but I am taking a break from my classes to work on sewing clothes for my children.  Anyway, Craftsy has been adding more classes to their class list and some of those classes are FREE!!!  Yep, that's right, I said FREE...

These free classes are mini classes so they give you a great introduction to the regular Craftsy classes.  I signed up for a few of the free sewing classes as well as a few cooking classes.  Two of the classes that I signed up for are: Modern Buttercream and Sewing 911.  I did watch the Modern Buttercream class and the  instructor is amazing!  My husband and I love watching Cake Boss so I wanted to learn how to make great buttercream frosting at home.  Joshua Russell, the Craftsy instructor, really knows his stuff and I learned that all recipes are not created equal...and that there are a few things to consider when making buttercream frosting.  I haven't watched Sewing 911 yet, but I have watched parts of the other free sewing mini courses and they are excellent.

To check out other free mini courses, click here.  Happy crafting!!! 

KCW Spring 2013 Day 6 and Day 7

On Saturday I ran a few errands and I think I overexerted myself, by the time we came home and I had zero drive to sew.  I did change the thread in my coverstitch machine and buy/wash the black rib knit that I needed, but that was all I accomplished on Saturday.

I had lost all will to do anything on Sunday.  I cut the neck band and attached it to the 2 tanks but I didn't sew the hem or the sleeves yet.  I will probably have to go back and stitch down the excess part of the neck band...I wasn't too happy with the outcome, it looks gathered a little in some parts (especially on the striped tank)...not cool on a boys tank!  Maybe tonight I can make a little progress on the tanks.

p.s. I'm in the home stretch!  My last trimester!!! Woohoo!

KCW Spring 2013 Day 5

Today I felt much better and I may have exceeded an hour but that was mainly due to me changing the thread and settings on my serger.  I cut out the pattern (M6495) for the muscle tees and cut out fabric for two tanks, although I'm not sure how I feel about the second fabric choice.  I used my serger for the shoulder seams and the side seams on one of the tanks.  I also realized that I don't own black rib knit for the neck bands...boo!  I guess I'll have to go buy some black rib knit this weekend.   

I managed to hem the geranium dress and I asked my husband to put in the snaps for me.  It turns out that the snap tape I bought was packaged incorrectly and it only included one side of the snap tape (face palm).

 

KCW Spring 2013 Day 4

You can find the pattern for this dress here.

I sewed the bodice for the dress on Wednesday and I gathered and attached the skirt today.  I still have to hem the dress and add in the snap tape, but that should be quick.  I really shouldn't have done any work today because I've been in pain throughout the day.

I really like the pattern and the assembly directions of this dress.  I did have a little problem when I was sewing the bodice to the skirt, I didn't catch the lining so I had to add a second row of stitches. 

I had planned to 3 projects made from knit but I haven't cut out the fabric or the patterns so I don't know if I'll get to complete all the projects I planned.  Even if I don't get to all the projects I had planned, this week has been great because I've been busting my stash!  I'm not sure why, but it's a great feeling to use supplies from my stash (I've had this fabric for a year or a little more...eek!).  :)   

KCW Spring 2013 Day 3

I started having contractions on Tuesday so I went to see my doctor.  He told me to get some rest and relax for the next two days and not to worry because it doesn't look like I will go into pre-term labor (I'm only 27 weeks).  I listened to him and stayed in bed so I only got a little prep work done Tuesday evening.

I spent 20 minutes on Tuesday night sewing the fronts to the back and pining the fur and lining together.  While pinning I noticed that the back pattern piece is slightly curved like a slight "w" instead of being straight.  I didn't like the curved look so I trimmed the back to make it straighter and less curved.

On Wednesday afternoon I felt a bit better and I spent a little time sewing up the vest (using my walking foot).  I still have to handstitch the turning opening shut but that can wait.  Later in the evening I felt up to making dinner so I snuck into my sewing room (while dinner was on the stove) and assembled the bodice for the baby geranium dress.  We will see how tomorrow goes...I started to feel a little strange after eating dinner so I've been resting since.

You can find the free pattern and tutorial for this vest here. 

The supplies I used for this project were left over from another fur vest that I made as a gift for a toddler, so I really made a two-fur here!  Ha ha ha...get it?  A two-fur...just a little play on words there.  I believe I only paid $7 for the lining and fur material at JoAnns, which isn't too bad for two fur vests.  :)  

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