A Real Honor

I feel it is a real honor to be able to test pattern's designed by Genine.  I am working on a new one she just sent and I love it.  That one is staying under wraps as they say,  so you will have to wait.
Meanwhile,  I don't think I have shared with you a couple of her latest that I did test.

 The wrap dress and pant's set is from a pattern called 'Lizzie'.  Designed for the 18" doll.  Samantha (Sam for short) is modeling and found it the perfect outfit for yard work.

I am so glad Sam likes to model, and is so willing to try new places.  I hear some dolls are not as brave as Sam.   So she was more then up to modeling and having a new adventure at the river,In the latest pattern called "Ship Ahoy".  The pattern includes a hat pattern but Sam's hat went into the river, no damage just a little to wet to wear.

Genine is such an awesome designer of doll clothes.  The patterns are pdf, but no short cuts are taken.  Very clear instructions are sent with the pattern, it is not one where you are left wondering what to do, she walks you through every step,  yet also take's the time to answer by email if there is anything left you do not understand.
If you are looking for something special for a gift or if you just enjoy the company of your doll friend I know you will love these patterns.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Genniewren

Let's line the playsuit.

Lining a garment big or small can seem confusing.  Lining is really not very hard to do, just think of it as an extra step in construction.
When I first started sewing for my little ones, I would not attempt lining anything.  Then one Christmas, my sister in law Nicki, gave me the most precious little outfit for our daughter Cami.  It was a button on the shoulder jump suit and had a LINED jacket to match.  Yes, Nicki made the outfit, she was such a beautiful seamstress.  Well, of coarse I knew I had to get over my fear of lining anything, as I wanted Cami to have more of these adorable outfits.
So, do not be afraid of lining anything!!

When lining  a garment, it is just a matter of cutting two of everything.  

Now, lets put those two, together.

 Place one playsuit back piece to front and back RIGHT SIDES together, leaving the back completely open.
You will sew the top all around together and the leg opening together, everything else stay's Open.

 This is the open back, both fashion fabric and lining fabric.  Remember you left the back open and this is why.  You will now reach in between and pull the lining out.

Line up the back fabric and the lining fabric and sew lining to lining fabric to fabric, leaving a 3" opening in your lining fabric so you can turn everything right side out.

Reach through the back crotch and pull the front crotch through to the back crotch again sew fabric to fabric lining to ling  this will form a circle and close your legs.

Now, reach in, pull the playsuit through the opening in the lining.  Hand stitch the lining closed and press well.

 There you go---one darling little play suit.
 

Lot's of Playsuits

With so many baby boys being added to the family, I have been making little boy play suit's.
My favorite go to pattern is "Holly and Hunter"  by Bonnie Blue Designs.  The Holly part of the pattern is a jumper.  I have made ton's of those jumpers.
Now, I am making the Hunter part. I used to make these for my grand babies that are now in their teens, but they were or so cute in their little play suit's.

The fabric for this one has been in my stash just waiting for the right thing to sew.  The lining is from Hobby Lobby.  I love that store!!

 Again, stash fabric, even the lining was fabric from stash.

This one will need to go in the mail, it is a gift.  I know it looks like the button is not right but it really is just fine.  The camera likes to pick up little shadows.With another baby boy due in November, I better get busy and get more of these made.

Why Everythingsewing??

Why is the blog named  Everythingsewing?  Well, the answer to that question is because I also have a web site called Everythingsewing.
http://www.everythingsewing.net/  I have had the web site since 2004.  Wow! it just doesn't seem like it has been that long.  Seth and Zoe were just babies then, so most of the sewing went for them.
I met so many friends over the years and many remain very close friends to this day.  We share sewing of coarse on the forum,  but I think the most fun is our 'coffee house'.  That is a little place on the forum where we share our lives, where we live, what our other hobbies are, a place where we get to really know each other.
I could go on and on about the forum and I will.  I will share more about it in the future.  I would like to say, that many of my forum friends have also started blogs because they are awesome and love to share.  I will also be sharing those blogs with you. 
So yes,  we will sew here, I will learn more and try new things but it will also be a bit of 'coffee house', where you will get to know me better and I will get to know more about you.
This is one of my favorite summer things--spending time on the beach.

So you don't think I am way over protective, she does not need her life jacket to play in the sand. We had just gotten off the boat.

Try Again

I am trying to figure everything out since I have not posted here for a very long time. Maybe I need to just take the time to see if anything is written about what to do now??? So, what ever it is worth, I am back and will try to keep up this time. Also, I think I am trying to find my little corner in the blogging world. I love sharing sewing, but there are tons and tons of sewing blogs. I am not very good at cooking, there are also tons of those blogs. I do love to eat though, so maybe I have a spot there??? Then, I had this revelation!! There is only ONE of ME!! so maybe for what it is worth, I will just share ME, with you. I so enjoy you and am so glad you take the time to let me see your little corner of the world. This just might be fun!!

TODAYS TIP

Thought it might be fun to share some of my quick tips.   I use this method for applying lace and love how easy it is.

How To Make a Mitered Edge Insertion lace is flat and meant to be sewn on both sides, as is the lace I used. This lace would not work in real life, but thought it ok for a how to. Edging lace has one flat side and the other side is scalloped. The main point here is how to miter the corner so I hope its ok.

Step One: Zig-zag the lace to the finished edge down to the corner.

Step Two: Extend the lace down, the same measurment as the lace is wide, mark your lace.

Step Three: Stitch from corner to outside corner as soon.

Step Four: Continue sewing down other side. Trim the excess lace from the corner, press well.

Step Five: Finished lace attached.

 

SUMMER TIME

And the livin is easy--It gets a lot easier if you whip up some shorts for the kids to live in this summer.  No need to buy, even if you are new to sewing the following instructions will walk you right through sewing shorts.

This is such a cute set sewn by my friend Jerry for her granddaughter.  


Looks very expensive.  A perfect project for a beginner seamstress.

We will show you how.

 

How To Make Children's Shorts This "how to" was contributed by Marilyn Mac. Thanks Marilyn for putting this together for the site.

Step One: Cut out front and back of shorts making sure that pattern arrows are on the straight of the grain ( this is the directions that the threads are going) you can also cut them on crossgrain with most fabrics ( this is sideway)

Step Two: Sew front and back seams to just below notch.

Step Three: What I do next is open up shorts front and back and align side seam.. I stitch side seams then I stitch inside leg seams ( see photo below).

Step Four: If you have a serger , serge side seams and inside leg seam. Next you are going to finish sewing the front and back seams from the front notch to the back notch.. Remember where you left off when you were sewing the center seam?? Yes ( see photo below)

Step Five: Next 2 pictures show how to make the side slit.. You don't need to add these if you don't want, but if you want to make them.. When sewing the side seams I left about 2" open at the leg end of the seam. Turn shorts inside out..clip seam all the way to seamline with out cutting thru seam. fold under 1/4" of open seam then 1/4" again and press.. do this for both legs.. Then top stitch on fold. I usually make a V where seam begins.( see photo below)

Step Six: Waistband.. If you have a serger serge waist of shorts.. If you don't you need to press 1/4" of waist.. Next turn waist down 1" and press. I usually use 2 pieces of 1/4" elastic for waist.. you can also use 1 piece of 3/4" elastic.. for 3/4" elastic.. stitch down waist closest to the serged or 1/4" folded edge leaving 1 1/2" open at back to insert elastic. cut elastic waist measurement + 1". I usually attatch a safety pin to end of elastic and thread it thru opening.. being carefull to keep other end of elastic outside the casing.. Once elastic is completely thru casing make sure that it's not twisted.. Overlap ends of elastic and zigzag together.. Then topstitch back opening closed.. for 1/4" elastic you basically do the same as above except you add another row of stitching 1/2" from the edge of waist leaving, again the 1 1/2" opening.. Insert elastic closest to the top of the waist first.. Joining elastic as above.. then close the middle opening.. Insert bottom elastic as above, join, close bottom opening. Hope this is clear. If you have any questions feel free to post. I try to check the site every day..

Finished Shorts: