Sewing Machine Q&A from Sew, Mama, Sew

It's Sewing Machine Month on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog. Here are my answers to their questions.

What brand and model do you have? Babylock Crafters Choice

How long have you had it? Just over a year

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? about $300? It was a gift.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? I sew clothes for my daughter, and gifts for others, like bags, placemats, potholders, aprons, ect.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I use my machine about six hours a week, sometimes more or less.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I really, really like it, a lot! It is simple to use, no fighting to get it to do what I want, like my last machine!

What features does your machine have that work well for you? needle threader, top loading bobbin,

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Just the button hole foot, but that's probably because I'm not doing it right!

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it! I learned to sew on a trundle machine, pumping the foot pedal to make it sew. Next, I was given a machine from my grandma, it was a Kenmore that sat inside a small table. I took it with me when I got married to use as an end table, and used it to sew all the crib bedding for our first-born. The next machine was a Brother from Wal-Mart. I fought with that machine constantly! Now, I am using my Babylock and it makes sewing so easy!

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? Yes, its very user friendly!

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? I wanted a machine that would be easy to use. It really helped to sit down a try them at the store before I decided.

Do you have a dream machine? Someday, I would like to get a serger, and maybe an embroidery machine. But not until I have more free time!

Playhouse Dress

Summer Sewing

Here it is! My Mini Boden knock-off top! I like how it turned out. I started up the sewing machine last night and got a lot done. Two pairs of shorts, two tops, and a dress. I started another dress, but it was not going good, so I quit and went to bed.

I'm trying to get all the kid clothes sewing out of the way before school gets out and summer really starts. I have a few more things on the list, including summer p. j. bottoms for the boys.

Breezy

I started this top for Evie last spring, and for some reason never finished the bottom hem until now. It's a pattern from the 1/2008 Ottobre magazine.

Betcha She's 30!

So it's official now, I'm an adult! My mom took the two little ones all day, and I spent my time browsing the fabric stores. It was nice to be able to look and touch everything at a normal pace. And I found out the local Joann's moved into the old Linens & Things location and is at least 3 times larger then it was!
I ended up with fabric to make myself shirts for summer, now I'll have to find the time to sew them.
Here is a picture from last summer. I made this top from a Martha Stewart dish towel.

Easy Smocked Sundress

This little black and white dress started out as my skirt. I made it last summer from one of these I'd found at Wal-Mart. It never looked right on me, so after seeing this in the Mini Boden catalog I knew it was meant to be a dress for Evie.

First, I measured and sewed it into a tube to fit around her upper body. Then I just cut a "J" shape off each side, and used a bias strip to bind the arm holes and make the ties.

To finish the hem I added a band of polk-a-dots with white ric-rac peeking out.
It took about an hour to finish, but that is counting the time it took me to make the bias tape. I could have simply attached ribbons for the ties, but I'm glad I took the time to add the details.
(The next Mini Boden knock-off I have planned is this top. I have the fabric ready and waiting!)

Pack It!

We are getting ready to spend a couple days at a hotel with an indoor water park. The kids are excited to start packing, so I used this idea to make each of them a list of what to take.

Just a couple things...

It's been one year since we brought Scout home. He's such a sweet dog. Check out more picture of him here and here.
I was just over checking out the oliver+ s blog. She's been talking about the "cost" of sewing clothes. Our moms and grandmas made their own clothes to save money. Now-a-days clothing is so cheap to buy, so why sew your own? Check out this post, and this post, for some good answers!

I Love my Library!

Even though my library is teeny tiny, I can get my hands on just about any book I want through their inter-library loan system! I just place a hold on any book, in any Michigan library, and when it is available it is sent to me.
I have read many, many, many craft, and sewing books this way, for free! Here are three books I am waiting on right now!!
The first, Weekend Sewing, by Heather Ross, I can not wait to get my hands on! It is full of great pieces to sew and wear, on the weekend!

The second, Sewing Green, is from Betz White, her book features felted sweaters, and other recycled material sewn into useful, beautiful things.

And the final book is from the lovely Mary Englebreit. It's titled Sew, So Cute! . She also has a new line of fabric out for Moda.
So, any day now, any one of these books will be waiting for me down at the little Henika District Library. I think the anticipation might be half the fun!

little bo peep bag

I made this little bag a few years ago. It's just big enough to hold a diaper, and a small case of wipes. Just right for church.

The embroidery patterns came from here.

I took my sewing machine in for it's one year check-up, so it might be a while before I get to sew anything new.

strawberry sunshine

Summer clothes for Evie. I plan on shortening the pants to capri length.
I used Simplicity 2913.

Stitched in Time for Bed

This little dancer made her debut in time for bed last night. She is from a patten in this lovely book. Evie has been asking me, in her two year old way, to make her one of these dolls since before Christmas. She first spotted the doll on the cover of the book and then later while I was reading this(scroll down). Each picture got a kiss, and that was all in took for Evie to get her doll!
I used what was on hand, white yarn for the hair, and a pillow case skirt. She went together easily, and it was fun too. Equal parts hand and machine sewing...She won't be the last one I make.

Stash Talk

Sew, Mama, Sew! is one of my favorite blogs to follow. It's also a fabric shop!
Here are their questions and my answers about my fabric stash!

• What do you usually sew? I sew gifts for friends and family, but mostly clothes for my daughter
• When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?) I will usually buy no more than a yard, unless it's on sale and then I'll buy two yards!
  
• Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need? I am an impulse buyer! I find fabric first and figure out what to do with it later
  
• Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it? I pre-wash if it will be made into clothing, and only right before I want to use it.
  
• Do you iron it? Yes
  
• How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.) If I sort, I sort by color, warms and cools.
  
• Do you have any special folding techniques? Nope!
  
• How do you store your fabric? Usually on the floor
• What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash? NO tips here...
  
• When do you say enough is enough? It's never enough! If I can't find what I want at home, I'll go shop for the right thing, and bring home a few more yards to stash.
  
• What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects? Right now I am working on a quilt for my daughters toddler bed. It started with fabric from the stash, but I had to buy a few more prints to make it big enough.
  
• Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it! I like this floral print, I like the red, pink, orange, and blue combination. The quilt I'm working on is built around the colors in this print.

• What’s your definition of the perfect stash? Perfect would be the right color, print, amount, right when I want it and right where I can find it. But for now, I'm working with this!

playin' with the food

Evie found this handsome couple at the thrift store today. They came with a whole lot of parts and few other heads, including a green pepper, and the more popular potato. How often do you see toys that have a pipe?

new year, old weather

These two pictures were taken about a year apart. After an unexpected thaw last January we were wearing spring coats and taking walks outside.

This year, things look more like Michigan should in January!

found it at the thrift store

I found this wooden sewing machine at the Rustic Market. It was too cute to pass up! It came with the sewing kit box, three spools, scissors, and the petal. It was originally $10, but I got it half off.
I haven't let anyone play with it yet, it's been sitting in Evie's room as a decoration. I'll get it down for her some day!

Christmas Tote Bag

I made this tote to carry gift to and from the Christmas parties we will be at over the next few days. I used a pattern from the French General Home Sewn book.

The fabric is from a vintage tablecloth and an apron I found at garage sales this summer.

Holiday Hair

Candy Cane buttons in her hair.
An idea I saw here that has me raiding the button jar for new hair accesories!

Embroidered Rose (is the name of this fabric!)

We are still watching the snow fall, this will be day number four of staying home, off the roads.

This is another pinafore, the fifth I've made from this pattern, so far!
Not all are for my girl, two are Christmas gifts.

Little girl's messy room, and I love this action shot!

what she wore last summer

Polka-Dots

A-line Smock
Criss-Cross Back

Vintage Buttons and Baby Ric-Rac