Brady Bunch Denim Shacket

 While at the thrift store I found several yards of multicolored denim for the huge price of $1.49.   I know it is old because it had a Montgomery Wards tag stapled to it.  Since Wards has been out of business nearly twenty years, this makes the denim a vintage fabric.

The pattern I used is one I used before, Simplicity 1328.   I have used it as printed and also tweaked it to have a lining and welt pockets.  This time I made it as printed in small size with two inches added to the sleeves.

I decided to use my Singer 201 for this project.  I bought this machine a few years ago at the thrift store for $2.  It didn't have a foot control, that is why it was so affordable.  It amazes me how smooth it sews.  Especially for being almost 70 years young.  Yes, it is a Centennial version, made in 1951.

The first thing I did was lay out the pattern pieces on the fabric.  The fabric was only 34" wide, so I had to make sure I had enough.  Then I started lining up stripes.

During a trip to Wal-Mart I purchased some material for the pocket and cuff lining.  Plus a stop at Joann's for the buttons.  I also bought some patterns on sale for $1.99 for future projects.

Maurice helped me line up the pockets.

The button plackets are separate. They are sewed on after the hem is finished, but before the collar.  I lined up the red stripe to make the pattern flow.  I made the button holes with my Greist buttonholer and the 201.

Here it is finished.

This was a fun project.

Thanks for stopping.

A New Outfit

 On my trips to Wal-Mart I always check their fabric section for great values.  This time I found a precut of 3 yards gray denim for $8. 

Of course, Kwik Sew 3504 jeans pattern came to mind.  I have made this pattern several times in both jeans and shorts.  I make a medium and taper in at the top to make them fit.  I also add two inches to the inseam.

I am using a machine I have had for a few years, a Kenmore 148.15600.  This machine is all metal and has some fancy stitches and a built-in buttonholer. I talked about it in this Blog.

I am using a different machine for the top stitching.  My old DressMaster handles the thick thread with ease. Plus it is easier to have two machines setup, one with gray thread and one with top stitching thread. I used it to top stitch my Jean jacket.

I embroidered a design on the right back pocket with my Bernina 640.

I flat-felled the inside leg seams and serged the outer leg seams using my Singer Quantum lock serger.

Then while shopping at Joann's, I spotted an interesting pattern in the snuggle flannel section.  At $2.99 a yard, this will make a long-sleeve shirt.

I went back and forth on what pattern to use, but finally decided on Simplicity 2741.  I have made this several times before.  I make a small and add two inches to the sleeves.

I also substitute tower plackets for the continuous lap packets on the sleeves.

It also took me a while to decide what machine to use.  I picked my Singer Futura since I hadn't used it in a long time.

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Dinosaur Quilt

I had so much fun making the Ahoy Sailor Quilt, that I decided to make another baby quilt.  This time it is Dinosaurs.  I dislike paying for patterns, but since this one was so cute, and promised to be easy,  I decided to buy it here .

Large Quilt

The ease is due to the whole quilt being made out of squares and triangles.  No paper-piecing or templates.  One has to be careful to sew the triangles and squares properly.

I thought I would have to wait until Joann's had a sale, but after checking my stash, I found I had plenty of fat-quarters and enough background fabric to make the 48 inch square quilt.  I still had to go to Joann's for the  backing fabric.

 I decided to use my featherweight for this project.

All the plants were made first.

Then the two Brachiosaurus were made.

Next the two Tyrannosaurus were sewn together.

Then came the Stegosaurus.

Finally, the Triceratops.

Then all the dinosaurs sewed together with sashing and borders to make the 48 x 48 quilt top.

Making the quilt "sandwich" out in the driveway.

I was lucky and found a dinosaur fabric for the backing.

Here it is finished.  I used invisible thread to quilt it with my Bernina 640.

Thanks for stopping.

2013 Revisited

My blog is a good sewing diary.  If I didn't have this blog, I wouldn't know I made Simplicity 1948 for Joe in the form of shorts way back in July of 2013.

These are his favorite, they are made out of a light-denim and have had regular use until now.  The side-seam ripped out.  So time for a new pair.

I am using some black corduroy I found in my stash.  I washed and dried it while I was ironing the pattern so I could trace it out on some tissue paper.  I am using the same size as before which is a 36" waist.


I am using the cousin of the sewing machine I used for the original shorts.  These are the only two sewing machines I have named.  I used Alice for the original, now I am using Ann for these.

Alice, a Free-Westinghouse model ALB

Ann, a New Home type F

These machines are friction drive and the wheel turns away from you instead of towards you like most machines.  Also they were originally built to take shorter needles than standard, but I adjusted the mechanism so I could use standard ones.

I don't have a zipper-foot for Alice or Ann so I used my Bernina 640 to sew in the zipper.  I also used my Bernina for the buttonhole.

I flat-felled most seams.   The outside legs were serged with my Singer QuantumLock 5.

Joe likes the way they fit.  Hopefully he gets as many years out of them as the 2013 pair.

Thanks for stopping.

Ahoy Sailor!

I bounce around between sewing apparel and quilts.  This time it is a baby quilt called "Ahoy Sailor".  It is a cute little nautical themed quilt with sailboats.  You can get the pattern here .

The pattern was released in 2016.  I had to look around for fabric.  I also asked in my quilt class (via zoom meeting) where I might find the fabric.  I received a lot of good suggestions.  One was Saltwaterfabrics.com .

I found the nautical fat quarters I needed for the quilt at Saltwaterfabrics. The white material was from my stash.  I purchased the backing and the other material from Joann's.  Half the fun of making this quilt was hunting for fabric.

My Bel Air Bantam with a 1/4" foot was the machine used for this project.

I started making the boats, and realized the measurements for the large sails were  extremely accurate.  7 3/4 by 4 7/8.  This made for some fussing with the ruler to get the right size. Then once the large sail is sewn, it is cut down to 7 1/4 by 4 3/8.  Needless to say, I ended up with some going in the garbage.

The first of 14 boats finished

Once I finished the boats, I started piecing them together to form the quilt.  Unlike the model quilt, I used a light blue material under the boats to mimic water.

Here it is before quilting.

I used my Necchi to quilt it by stitching in the ditch.  I used Pellon FB-96 cotton batting.

Here it is finished.  It measured 60 inches by 60 inches.

This was a fun project.

Thanks for stopping.

A Shacket for Joe, The Reveal

I have been working on Simplicity 1328 for Joe.  Unlike the pattern,  this will be a lined shacket with welt pockets.

I was going to put a red lining in it that I had in my stash.  Joe quickly vetoed this idea, so we went to Joann's to get the light-blue lining for it.  Joann's needed to order the buttons I wanted, so one more trip was necessary.  Luckily we live in a county that only has nine reported Corona virus cases.  So I feel safe to go to out of the house once a week.

I enjoyed sewing this with my Wilson Rotary sewing machine.  I stitched on the buttons with my Bernina 707.

Maurice helped me with it, even though it was too large for him. 

Here is Joe.  He likes it.

Our weather has turned to hot, 100 degrees this week, so might not need a shacket for a while.

Thanks for stopping.