New toys!

Okay so maybe I'm just one of those once-a-month bloggers. Truth be told, I'm having too much fun actually sewing to really want to take the time to blog. I'm not taking step by step photos (sorry), but maybe I will again.

Since it's been three-ish weeks since I last blogged, here's a baby bath photo. Because because.

ookader big o bewwy!

 Back to business.

You guys. I GOT A SEWING MACHINE FOR CHRISTMAS. I was really not expecting this, since my family does a gift exchange dealio, and this year, our gifts were supposed to be only $50 (thankfully, since our budget is super tight these days). But my parents totally broke the rules for both me and my sister. Rules are made to be broken, right? :) My sister was gifted with a Kitchen Aid mixer (squee!) and I with a Brother CS-6000i sewing machine (double squee!)

Look at all the different seams it does!! 60 [SIXTY]. different. stitches. Six of which are button holes! (I still haven't tried that out yet...)

I also got a clear acrylic ruler and a rotary cutter (Thanks, Susan!). Dudes. These tools make cutting So. Much. Easier. Makes me want to consider quilting...

Lemme show you all the things I made with my new toys so far.

Well, first, I started this clothespin apron on Grandma's machine, and finished it on my new machine. I really like this apron, and I would totally use it if I hung my laundry out on a line to dry. Or if I had a garden with fruits and vegetables to harvest. But alas, I do not. Therefore, I shall sell it on Etsy.

I know you dig my modeling-while-photographing skills.

 I proceeded to making a couple of these coffee cup sleeves. Pretty purple paisley, with some decorative stitching and velcro -- or rather, I should say "hook and loop" (whatever) -- closure. I made this identical thing for my sister for Christmas, only, without the decorative stitching, since I didn't have my fancy schmancy new machine yet. (E, if you want, I can add it to yours :D)

This was my first experience with interfacing. I'm sure I'm doing it wrong, but it turned out looking nice, right?

Then, my fellow music teacher from MCS saw the clothespin apron, showed it to her husband, and he said, "I'd totally use that if it were in camo or khaki." Verbatim, I'm sure. And poof! Thus appeared camo and khaki clothespin aprons from my Brother! I manned them up a little bit, too -- I squared out the corners so they wouldn't be so hip accentuating. I think Dan'll appreciate that, eh, Lori? hehe

I learned how to "stitch in the ditch" with this pattern. It's not easy! It takes a lot of patience, steady hands, and laser eyes. I'm quite satisfied with the outcome. Because I have all three of those qualities.

HA.

I was also quite fearful of round edges, but apparently there was no need! Again, it takes a lot of patience, but I managed fairly well. This is the best example of some tight corners.

I had a bit of a hard time with the khaki apron because the material was so thick. At some points, I didn't think my Brother would make it! That thing's a work horse, though, and powered through.

And lastly, I made a doggy bed. Poor Gilligan's bed was old and gnarly, and I figured it'd be cheaper to just make him a new one. I used fleece, and banged it out in a couple of hours. Dare I say, it was easy to make? The hardest part was cutting the trapezoids. But with my new rotary cutter and acrylic ruler, it was a breeze! When I finished making the bed, I plopped it down on the floor and Gilly immediately jumped in it! I didn't even have to call him over. He knew it was for him. I wasn't too precise with this project, since I knew it would just get old and gnarly. But maybe it will wash nicely! We'll see.

 By the way, the clothespin apron and dog bed are patterns from my awesome book "One Yard Wonders". The coffee cup sleeve I fashioned after a cardboard one from a coffee shop.

And. Grandma's machine will always be dear to me, but I took it back to my parents' house last night. I don't plan on using it anymore, and we have limited space in this here house. I hear my sister may want to give it a try...