The Wool Food Mama

I can make that.

It's the crafter's curse....I can make that. 

You know exactly what I'm talking about too, don't you?  You go to a craft show, see something adorable, "I can make that."   Thumb through the recent Boden catalog, "oh, I can make that."  Go to Home Depot and fondle the molding or tumbled tiles, "I can make that...some day."  I'm no better or worse than the next chick wielding a needle and thread or trowel and sponge. 

However, sometimes, I can't or don't or won't set my limits.  Like, we have this mudroom that needs finishing....for like a year.  Ok, so it's really two years but I'm cursed and kind of in denial.  Why?  Well, because my husband and I will talk each other into "we can make that."  He's co-dependant.  lol.  It's terrible.  Suck it up and hire someone.  We know it will be cheaper.  We know it will be quicker.  Still, it's a curse.  And a curse needs an exorcism. 

I think.

I believe I've had my exorcism.  Just this week even.  Which is appropriate because it's All Hallow's Eve week and I had to make costumes.  Or rather a costume and I already had it in my head that I could make a pettiskirt.  You know, those darling twirly square-dancing skirts that are still the rage with rookie photographers across the internet?  Yeah, one of those.  

So I googled and found patterns, researched. Huge time suck. 

Then I waited too long and didn't have time to order fabric on line.  No problem, I head to the fabric store.  It was busy, I was distracted (I took gusty thinking I wanted her input on colors) and bought the fraying chiffon.  ugh.  15 yards of it.  5 yard too many because I forgot my shopping list so I went heavy because I didn't want to go back again.  

Stop and pick up a ruffler foot because well, gotta have the right tools.

Get home. omgosh it's fraying chiffon.  Good grief.  Call mom.  Yep, she has pinking shears AND a pinking rotary.  whew.  Ok, her blade is probably as sharp as a spoon now, so I'll replace that for her.

Deep breath, hook up the ruffler which come with instructions that may as well have been Greek.  Adjust adjust, ok, ok...away we go.  ooo, it's fraying, oh how bad could it get, go Dory Kate, keep going.  

Ok, this is kinda fun!!

Done!!! 

Looks promising doesn't it?

Yeah, that's what I thought too. 

Try it on the daughter for a test drive.

Remember I asked myself "how bad could it get?"  when it started fraying in the machine.   Well, I won't tell you, I'll just show you 20 minutes worth of girl-twirl....

 

I know, I know!!!  You've done the math and time in your head already too, haven't you?

Ok, so here's the good part of the story.  I've been exorcised of my curse.  I won't say "I can make that" ever, ever again.  From now on, I will say "I can make that." Then I'll answer myself, "yes, you can...but just because you can, doesn't mean you should." ha ha ha

Ok, off to circle molding and trim dudes in the yellow pages for that mud room....we'll talk about the tile another day.

Backpack Troll

Tomorrow is Gusty's first day of kindergarten. *sniff* 

No, just kidding.  kinda.

Actually, I'm thrilled for her, of course.  She is so unbelievably excited to start school.  I mean really excited.  However, despite this week's excitement, last week she sheepishly confided that she's afraid she'll get "homesick tummy" while she's at school. 

Awww sweetie.  So of course, I had to make a baby troll for her backpack.  Something to love and care for on her way to and from school. 

Since it's a surprise, photos under the cover of night....

And just so she knows that this baby is ALL hers...I heart Gusty

Big day tomorrow.  whew. 

summer dresses

It has arrived, summer that is. When it unexpectedly hit 90 degrees, I found myself short of summer wear for Miss Augusta Bleu.  Of course.

So when the sky decided to rip open 2 days ago, I headed for the sewing room.  Dust bunnies could wait, girlfriend needed some new clothes. 

Let me tell you, that dress form was an absolute dream to have handy too.

My first try is already too dirty to showcase, Gusty had to wear it right off the machine ya know.  But here is dress #2....

The fabric is a Japanese double gauze that's been curing in my stash for a year.  Or maybe 2 years. lol.  Either way, it was a sewing dream.  Sturdier than I thought and not a wonky, every which way, sort of fabric like a single gauze is.

I made an embroidered house to round it all out. 

One more, complete with sun in my eyes squint....

Owl (or cat) Sewing Instructions

Some time ago, I made an owl for Gusty.  Since then, at Gusty's request, I made a cat friend to go along with C. C. Ally.  Here are the instructions if you'd like a scrappy cat or owl too.  C. C. in this picture is sporting a headband made by Gusty so her ear tufts are hard to see. 

1.  Cut a strip of wool (or woven fabric) 8.5 inches wide by roughly 12 inches long.  You'll need 12 inches for the 3-section cat, less for the owl. 

2.  Fold in half lengthwise and sew, making a tube.

3.  Center the seam down what will be the back of the critter.

4.  Use the round edge of a jar or can as a template for the ears, mark with a pen.

5. Sew along your pencil line and trim away excess.

6. Turn right side out and stuff the head until it is about 3.5 inches from the top (ears) seam.

7. Cinch down the neck. You can do this one of two ways;
-Hand-sew a running stitch and cinch tightly, use a locking stitch (or several) to set the neck.
-take a strand of floss and tie it tightly.  You may need an extra set of hands to help set a knot.

8. Before you stuff the body, decorate the face.  Use a doll head needle and start your stitching through the neck. Sew in the nose or beak, I used a satin stitch.  Cut wool felt circles, add buttons first (to the wool felt), then secure to the face.  I used a running stitch for the eyes. 

9. Stuff the body.  Decide now if you'll be making an owl or cat.  You'll do a finishing stitch now for the owl or add another segment for the cat.  This is why the tube is roughly 12 inches long,  I left a lot of room for variations.  You'll trim off quite a bit of excess for the owl. 

10.  To close the bottom, set a running stitch where you'll cinch the bottom closed, Before tying it off, cut away excess fabric leaving  1 inch from your running stitch.

11.  Tuck in raw edges and pull thread tightly, closing the tube.  Set a locking stitch or two or three.

Add a tail or wings. Or not?

For the tail, cut a strip, no particular size, just eye ball it (remember, scrappy cat or owl)  fold in half and secure it's shape with a running stitch. Attach to the cat. 

For wings, cut a circle, fold in half, sew around the edge with a running stitch, attach with your preferred stitch at the neck.

meow.

hoot.

Child-size duct tape dress form instructions part IV

Part I

Part II

Part III

38.  Using your tissue pattern pieces, cut out front, back, arms and neck pieces.  Remember your note to add a seam allowance an inch and a half to the bottom of the front and back pieces.  This is to make a drawstring closure around the bottom.

39.  Mark darts on the back of pattern.

40. Fold on center line, sew on curved line.

41.  Check fit.

42. Trim away excess fabric in pleats and darts.

43.  Sew up just half way the back or leave a side seam partially open so you can fit the cover over the form later

44. Attach front to back at shoulders.  Right side together.

45. Check fit. Sew up side seams.

46.  Fit arm and neck holes.  Use your pins or it won't fit.  

47.  Fit on to the form.  This is where it was a good idea to leave a back or side seam open. close open seams with a ladder stitch.

48. Use running stitch and set in a drawstring.  You could do a casing if you wanted but I'm working against time and growth here with a child size form. lol.

49. Done!!

Child-size duct tape dress form instructions part III

Continued Part II

I decided to draft the fabric cover in tissue paper instead of muslin.  It drapes well enough and is easy to tear and mark as needed.  For speed you know, considering the child may very well have gone through a growth spurt shortly after completion.  Anyway...

21. Make arm and neck templates. 

I traced around the form (or you can use your existing templates from the cardboard if you saved them) and add a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Or whatever allowance you prefer.  Just make sure you're consistent with your seam allowance throughout the project.

Add dots or dashes around the pattern using a 1/4 inch ruler or compass set to 1/4 inch. 

Then connect the dots.

Cut out template and check fit.  Misspell pattern pieces in your haste

23.  Mark your form with shoulders and a center line (front and back) to help with pattern draft.

Now, if you're really following along and this isn't just for my own future reference, this is typically where all of the (lack of?) skills and reasoning and frustration with traditional patterns  brought you.  To build in 3 dimension, not 2 dimension.  This...this is precisely where my accomplished sewing mother closes her eyes and looks away.  Smiles and nods, or maybe shakes her head a bit.

Disclaimer aside, proceed with the fabric cover with  whatever methods you prefer, or continue along, by making marks on your form for the shoulders and (front and back) center.

22.  Fold tissue paper in half or make a center line, pin it to the front of the form.

23.  Pin around the neck. Fold aound the neck to generate a guide/pattern line.

24. Fold over the paper to match the shoulder marks that you made previously.

25. Lose control of camera to husband...
 

 

26. Mark sleeve, bottom and side seam. I'm working just one side of the pattern now. 
 

27. Remove and fold in half on your marked center,  shoulders should nearly or perfectly match. Cut out one half and trace to the other half to make it one complete pattern piece.  You could work on the half or fold but we'll be checking fit, so a full front works better in this instance.

28.  Cut it out and check fit.  If you can go ahead without making this a two-piece pattern front or an under arm set in, proceed.

29.  Moving to the back, set tissue paper on the center like on the front.  The back will be a two-piece pattern so folding won't be necessary....

30.  Trim away excess on the bottom immediately 

31.  Fold shoulder to meet front piece or the mark made on the form.

32.  Pull over the front pattern piece and mark side seam.  Mark sleeve and neck seams as well.  Pin and secure.
 

 

33.  Pinch in to make vertical dart, using pins to hold and mark the sew line.

34.  There is also a horizontal dart needed at the waist, pinch, pin and mark as well.

35. remove and mark all pinned darts with a marking pen if you haven't done so already.   Remove pins and smooth out patterns.

36. Make note to self.

37. Make another note to add and inch and a half to the bottom of both patterns.

Part 4 (the fabric cover)  is all photographed.  Just need a breather.  Back tomorrow.

Part IV

...and Part I can be found here.

Child-size duct tape dress form instructions part II

Continued from Part I

18.  Hug test.  Ok, now give your work a hug.  No really.   Oh don't be shy, no one's looking....and it's your child's model after all.  lol. Does it feel just like your little one?  ok good.  Success in size and shape.  Before we move along, I'll admit, I had a creep feel for a split second until I realized it was exactly her size and this just may work!!! glee.   ok, moving along.

19.  Apply spray adhesive.

20.  Apply batting.  snip, fit, tuck and smooth.  I used up some quilting scraps and filled in with wool batting.  You don't want to add too many pounds to your child, but you do want to be able to use straight pins so choose your batting accordingly.

and another view.

Next up, the cover.  I will probably do this in two layers.  One I'll sew directly on to the form and a second that will be a pretty slip cover.  I'm not positive yet....I'm blogging as I progress on this so it doesn't turn into another wip.  So, plans could change. But that's the intent right now. 

My motivation and intent is changing somewhat.  I started out yesterday looking for an affordable solution to patterns.  I *really* don't sew well from a pattern.  But a dress form is simply the bomb for me.  Drap, cut, sew, swoon.  Anyway, I didn't want to invest a lot of time or effort into this because I know gusty will grow. 

Now though, I may just slow down and deck out the slip cover in some favorite fabric.  This piece may be a fun thing to pull out 10 years from now as decor for her bedroom ya know.  Look at how tiny you once were....

Ok, more soon. 

Part III

Part IV

Child-size duct tape dress form instructions part I

I really want to make one for myself, but thought I'd start on a smaller scale by making a form of Gusty...

**side story here, if you want to make one of those priceless visa commercials for yourself, do this;

buy a roll of duct tape *5.00*
ask your husband if he'd be willing to wrap you up in it.  *free*
expression on his face. *priceless*

Ok..here it is on the cheap.  REAL cheap.  The child is only going to be this size for another half of a year, maybe a hair more, after all.

Supplies
duct tape
card board (pizza boxes)
big rock, sort of flat
old t-shirt
clean plastic bag
spray adhesive
thin batting
old plastic bags for stuffing
packing peanuts (not required, if you have enough old bags, that's ok)

Prep
1. tie up long hair or it will get stuck in the duct tape.
2. put on a tv show for bribery
3. precut several strips to get you started

Instructions

1. Have child wear old tshirt.  you're eventually going to cut the form off of them and may nick the shirt.
2. cut head and arm holes into clean plastic bag and slip over child.
3. start taping.  (through my own trial and error, I found that a long strip around the waist and over the shoulders would have been a better place to begin.) 
4.  After you have waist and shoulders in place, use shorter strips  6-8 inches long, start from the top and spin the child as you add tape.

Annoyance will set in just before you're completed....but we managed a happyish smile no less.

Working around the stomach and butt was difficult.  She has no concept of suck it in but when I did work around the bottom of her belly, she automatically drew in her stomach.  This is just the price of working with a five year old.

5.  Cut straight up the back and then remove the form.

6.  Use small strips of tape to tape it back together.

7.  Hang the form so that you can add tape to the bottom to kind of level it off.  If I just stopped, without adding leveling strips, my form would have been tilted forward.  Which would affect drape and skirts later... 

before leveling

After...

8.  Set the form on a piece of cardboard to make a base template.   I used four layers of cardboard so cut 4 total.

9.  Tape and/or glue the four layers together.

9.  Tape a rock or scrap of concrete to the base.  I'm undecided about using a stand so I wanted it weighted so it doesn't fall over on me while I work.

10.  Tape the base inside of the bottom of the form.

11.  While holding a piece of paper against the arm hole, draw a template.  Use this template to make a cardboard insert.  Mine worked for both arms.  Repeat for neck hole.

12.  check the fit and adjust as needed.

13.  Trace two armholes from cardboard and cut out.

14.  Tape into place. Leave neck open for stuffing.

15.  Start stuffing through the neck hole. .  Use plastic bags at the base, to fill in snuggly around that rock.  Then top with peanuts if you have them, of use bags exclusively.

Note, you may get some dents even after you fill it up with peanuts.  Use plastic bags to push those out by shoving plastic down the inside wall. 
 

16.  Cover the neck.  What I did was place a few strips on the back of the insert so I could pull up the cardboard if it fell into the form.

17.  Tape it all up...

Continued tomorrow.....

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Diorama

di-o-ram-a

–noun

1.	a scene, often in miniature, reproduced in three dimensions by placing objects, figures, etc in front of a background.

My love for a diorama probably has its origins in the doll house that my mother gave to me as a child.  Playing house, keeping house, in miniature.   That love continues...through my own work.

Oddly enough, I was always drawn to a miniature 'scapes of a various designs but never really knew that they were called a diorama until recently.

I always tried to instill a hiding place in each piece that I do and now, I know why.  So that the child can imagine themselves in the play, not just on the sidelines moving pieces.  A secret vessel to transport their imagination into the details and wonder.  Maybe, even a place for the grown-ups to quietly tuck their own child-like whimsy.

Admittedly, until just now, I never gave the why much thought....just knew that it had to be there.

How lovely to learn that there's actually a name for one of my favorite things in the whole world...now, I can google and be transported instantly to new and delightful places. lol.  I loves me some Google.

hand crafted toys & wnlip!!

Just wanted to share some of my projects for Gusty's play time.

Horses and their arena...

The chicken coop.  The adorable little red hutch came from Foster's Imports.

And finally, a wnlip (work no longer in progress) lol.  I didn't know if I'd ever finish this playset.  Actually, the playmat is my work and the bendies, of course, came from Dannielle. 

The entire base is a hand-hooked rug.  I dyed all of the wool, then cut the strips before rug hooking.  This is just my 2nd rug hooking project. It's pretty fun.  I'd do more if I could think up more applications or designs.  Come to think of it, it's probably just as well that I have a lot of artist block with this medium.  ha.