Project #6 - Pattern Box Set-up

921 Days LeftThis one isn't technically a sewing project, per se. However, this project was becoming a necessary one. My patterns and printouts were beginning to take over a rather large area in the kitchen. It was becoming difficult to find what I needed when I needed it. This was my solution:

Cost Breakdown

Box: Approximately $5.00

Files: Refurbished and recycled

Total Cost: $5.00

Project Rating

Difficulty: Easy

Enjoyability: Boring, but necessary
Time: Excellent. I needed to wait on my darling husband to bring me the hanging files.
Final Product: Excellent
Overall Rating: Excellent. Oh the joy of being organized again!

Instructions:

Purchase a box that allows for hanging file folders. Place hanging folders in the box. Decide on the titles for each of your hanging files. So far my files are Misc., Blankets, Clothes, Online. As I increase the number of patterns, I'm sure this will change. In fact, changes are already brewing in my head!

Place the patterns in their respective file folders.

Project #5 - Car Organizer

941 Days Left

Cost Breakdown
Fabric: $5.24
Thread: Free (from my stash)
Pattern: $.99

Fusible Webbing: $3.47

Notions: $13.75

Total Cost: $23.45

Project Rating
Difficulty: Challenging
Enjoyability: Good

Time: Poor - even the cutting and transferring of marks took two hours.

Final Product: Excellent
Overall Rating: Okay

Materials: Purchase according to the indication on the pattern.

Pattern: Simplicity 2916

Instructions:

I've debated how to describe the process on this project. To date, it has been the hardest project I've ever created. I've decided that since this was created by pattern, I will defer the directions to the pattern. If you choose to make one and have any questions, I will happily answer it.

I will say that the process was this:

1. Create the base


2. Add the bottom row pockets


3. Add the second row pockets


4. Add the third row pockets


5. Bind the whole thin

Project #4 - Pillow Case

950 Days LeftPillow Case

Cost Breakdown
Fabric: Free (My grandmother purchased all of these materials for me for my birthday back in September. Therefore, I do not remember how much each material cost.)
Thread: Free (from my stash)
Pattern: Free (There was no pattern for this project)
Total Cost: $0.00



Project Rating
Difficulty: Easy
Enjoyability: Excellent
Time: Excellent - from start to finish approximately 20 minutes
Final Product: Excellent
Overall Rating: Excellent




Materials:
Same as the materials used in Natalie's bedskirt. 1 yd of main color (pink), 1/4 yd contrast color (yellow), matching thread, scissors, pins. Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler are optional.
NOTE: The amount of material is approximate, since I just used remnants from my other projects.

Pattern:

I made this pattern up. I took measurements from another pillow case and modified it to the way I wanted my pillowcase to look.

Instructions:

NOTE: I made an error in my pillowcase that I'm not including in the directions. I accidently made my contrast color rectangle too small and needed to make two to correct the problem. Therefore, in some pictures there is an extra, unneccessary seam in the yellow.

Allow 1/2 inch seam throughout, except on the last step of the hem.

Cut a large rectangle from the main color 24" x 39". Cut a smaller rectangle 12" x 39" from the contrast color. (The extra yellow rectangle is due to my mistake)

With right sides together, sew the 39" edges of the contrast to the 39" edge of the main color.

Fold up contrast color edge 1/2". Iron.

Fold up the contrast color slightly past the stitched edge the main color. Do not fold up 1/2 inch past the stitched as is the usual seam allowance. (See picture, this is not a very good discription.) Iron.

"Stitch in the ditch" to complete the hem.

Fold pillowcase in half, right sides together. Stitch around raw edges.

Clip corners.

Turn right side out. Finished!

A picture to show how the pillow case accents the bed skirt:

Natalie with her new pillow:

Quick Update

My computer had a virus that caused it to randomly shut down. This meant that I couldn't spend any time updating my blogs or facebook. But, it also meant I could spend a lot of time sewing! As a result, I've completed two projects: one VERY easy and one more difficult.

I've updated my project total and the time left in the right-hand margin. I haven't updated the total money. I haven't added it up yet. So, as I update my projects, the total project total will also go up.

Project #3 - 961 Days Left

Stuffed Letters - "S" "N" and "C"

Cost Breakdown

Fabric: $10.41 (More expensive than normal, but I allowed Steven and Natalie to choose their own material)

Thread: Free (from my stash)

Pattern: $.99 (Joann's Fabric pattern sale)

Stuffing: $9.49 (yes, it was expensive, but I ran out of stuffing and needed a new bag. However, any stuffed project from here on out will be free since the bag was rather large and is now part of my stash!)
Total Cost: $20.89

Project Rating
Difficulty: Easy - The directions were straight forward and easy to follow. If you've never used a pattern before and want to learn how, I HIGHLY recommend "Sewing Patterns for Dummies."

Enjoyability: Excellent - Easy project with quick results makes for an enjoyable time.

Time: Excellent- The only reason why I wasn't able to complete all three letters in less than an hour was because I had to go to the store and buy stuffing!

Final Product: Excellent - Natalie and Steven were so excited to chose their own materials and they have been sleeping with their letters ever since.
Overall Rating: Excellent

Materials:

5/8 yd of material for each letter, since each letter used a different material - the pattern explains how to determine the amount of material required for more letters. I used cotton and fleece- the results were fantastic for both.

Stuffing- that's a big bag! Matching thread, scissors, pins.

Pattern:

Sewing Patterns for Dummies - Simplicity #4928. Although, if you are good at making bubble letters, a pattern would be unnecessary.

Instructions:

Follow the directions of the pattern for cutting letters out.

Pin the letters rights sides together.

Sew around edge, allowing a 1/2" seem allowance. Leave section open as indicated in the pattern

Cut notches into curves as explained in the pattern directions.

Flip the letter right side out and stuff

Hand stitch the opening.

Project #2 - Bedskirt

1000 Days Left

Toddler/Crib Bed Skirt

Cost Breakdown
Fabric: Free (My grandmother purchased all of these materials for me for my birthday
back in September. Therefore, I do not remember how much each material cost.)
Thread: Free (from my stash)
Pattern: Free (Once again, a birthday gift)
Total Cost: $0.00


Project Rating
Difficulty: Moderately Easy - The directions were straight forward and easy to follow. I only struggled with the "deck" of the bed skirt, so I made minor moderations.
Enjoyability: Excellent - I was so excited to use this on my daughter's bed.
Time: Okay - The panels of the skirt were easy to create, but due to the challenge of sewing the panels to the deck, I decided a break from the project was in order.
Final Product: Excellent - It is a little long, but if I sew and additional 1/4" of the panels to the decking, that problem would be solved.
Overall Rating: Great- LOVE the way this turns out. I can't wait to finish the other items to finish Natalie's new bed set.

Materials:

1 7/8 yds of main color (yellow), 1 1/4 yds contrast color (pink), 1 1/2 yds decking (white cotton), matching thread, scissors, pins. Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler are optional

Pattern:

McCall's Home Decorating M4855

Instructions:

Follow the directions of the pattern for cutting and assembling the panels. Do not use the pattern for the deck.

For the deck, measure the length of your long panel and the length of your short panel. Add 1 inch to each measurement. Cut a rectangle with these dimensions.

Sew each panel to the deck with a 1/4 inch seem allowance. Sew around the panels and deck again 1/2 inch in from the previous seem.

Project #1 - Toothless the Dragon

1001 Days Left
Toothless the Dragon Stuffed Animal

Cost Breakdown
Fabric: $4.49 (50% off)
Eyes: Free (given to me by a friend)
Thread: Free (from my stash)
Pattern: Free (found on the internet)
Total Cost: $4.49



Project Rating
Difficulty: Hard - due to the size of the project. A larger proportion would have been easier to do.
Enjoyability: Good - I knew I was making this project for a friend's son, so it made it totally worth it.
Final Product: Decent - I failed to consider the bias of the material when cutting the back, so the tail twists a little to the left. However, this is a minor detail and the recipient seemed to not mind at all
Overall Rating: Okay - Despite some errors, the project ended up quite decent.


Because I'm starting my 101 crafts from three projects I've already completed, I did not take pictures of the process.

I used the pattern that can be found at Deviant Art. The creator of the pattern was Katy A. It can be found HERE.




The pattern is straight forward. I suggest increasing the size of the pattern by 1.5. I have created Toothless before, increasing the dimensions and found it much easier. Since the eyes I received for this stuffed animal were small, I did not increase the size, nor did I cut with a 1/4" seam allowance. This made the project incredibly difficult, but well worth it, proportionally.

I used a black fleece as the pattern suggested.