Somebody's Sleeping In MY Tee Pee!

"Somebody's sleeping in MY Tee Pee!"

Don't worry! Granma's just checking out the tee pee for her grandchildren!

Sew a tee pee for your kids! The tee pee, play mat and pillow are all quick and easy to sew. You will discover a ton of sewing tips and basic sewing techniques in this basic sewing course.

A tee pee is a great place to take a nap or have a snack or play with favorite toys. Kids can even use it at the beach instead of an umbrella. It folds up and is easy to store in a corner of the closet or even under the bed.

Granma, keep one at your house for some real fun play time and "no hassle" naps.

Get "Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids" today!

Sew some costumes to go with the tee pee and you are all set for Christmas and birthday gifts.

My grandkids loved their teepees and are saving them for their kids someday! Now, that's more than they can or will do with a video game.

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

PS: Thank you, Eileen!

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Sewing Tips - How To Sew Elastic

Sewing Tips - Elastic

Sewing Friends:

I get a lot of questions on How To Sew Elastic.

C writes:

"I enjoy your blog very much and thanks for all the sewing tips.I would like to know if you could give me some advice on sewing elastic on knits with zig-zag stitch. I've tried with both rubber elastic and clear elastic, but the final result is always a lettuce like edge. If I stretch the fabric and elastic while sewing, they remain stretched (hence I get a rigid lettuce edge). If I don't stretch while sewing, the presser foot has problem feeding the fabric.I've searched on the internet for advice, but it seems that I'm the only one that has problem with elastic.Thank you very much for help."

How To Sew Elastic

You may be using the right technique of stretching the elastic as you sew, but you may have the wrong kind of elastic. All elastics are definitely not equal. Or, you may be using too short a stitch or stretching the elastic too much or not have the right kind of elastic for the fabric you are using, etc.

I find I have better results if I use a stretch needle and a longer stitch length (between 3 and 4) when I sew elastic.

I like Stretch-Rite Sport Elastic and Ban-rol as well as Stretch and Sew elastics. You can find them online. I usually cut them about 4 inches smaller than my actual waist when I am sewing an elastic waistband. This is a matter of preference. You may like the elastic 5-7 inches smaller or even greater. Stretch a length of elastic around your hips. If you can get it over your hips when it is stretched out, you probably have enough. Make a note of what you use so you will know how much you need for future garments.

Don't overlap the elastic. This creates a bulky "bump". Instead, butt the cut ends to make a circle. Then, either wrap this area or place a small piece of fabric or tape under the cut edges. Set the sewing machine for a wide 3-step zigzag and stitch back and forth a few times to secure the elastic together. Test it to make sure it holds before applying it to the garment.

For a waistband, place the elastic just below the top inside edge of the garment and pin at each of the garment and elastic quarter points. These may not fall at the side seams. That's OK. Just divide the fabric evenly.

Now, with the elastic up at the machine, vertically stitch the elastic in place at these points before you begin stretching and sewing. This keeps the elastic from pulling diagonally and you don't have to worry about pins popping out.

Set your machine for a wide long zigzag. You may prefer the 3-step zigzag stitch. Remember that a longer stitch lets the elastic bounce back better. Try a 3 or 4 length.

Continue with the elastic up and stretch and sew around the bottom of the elastic attaching it to the garment. When you fold the elastic down to the inside, this stitching is on the top inside edge.

To complete the elastic, stitch the lower inside edge to the garment. However, if you don't want to see this stitching, some people prefer to just vertically straight stitch the four quarter points (centers and sides) in the ditch to hold the elastic down. It's your choice.

For more tips, check out my article on How To Conquer Twisting, Rolling Elastic Waistbands

You might get some good ideas from this Threads article:

Sewing professionals and designers techniques for The Great Elastic Waistband

Hope this helps.

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

Sewing Tips - Elastic

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Sewing Technique - How To Sew A Diaper

Sewing Tutorial - Diapers
Sewing Technique - Diapers

Sewing Friend:

Sewing your own diapers is popular once again. This is a fun sewing project. I designed and made a lot of really cute diaper covers for my grandchildren when they were babies, but we never really made the actual diapers. My kids preferred to use a diaper service for their baby cloth diapers.

I never thought there would be so much information on the web about sewing diapers. There are a number of sites with instructional tutorials, tips and diaper resources available to you. Here are some to help you sew your own diapers.

Diaper sewing and supply sites:

Go to The Sew Shoppe for all your diaper needs

Sew Your Own Diapers is another good site.

Recycle old clothing into diapers. See Frugal Diapering for ideas.

Here are some step-by-step sewing tutorials for all the Moms and Grandmas that would like to learn how to sew diapers for their babies.

I guess these suggestions and techniques would work if you wanted to make adult diapers, too.

It just makes sense!

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

PS: If you know of a good diaper sewing site, please add it to our list.

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Colors, Body Shapes and Types

Sewing Friends:

At some point, I think we all wonder if we are wearing the right colors and styles for us. I thought I had it all figured out. However, time passed. Now, I barely recognize that lumpy, faded, old lady in the mirror! Who is that? Is that really me? Should I have so much black in my wardrobe? HELP!

You have to really be honest with yourself. I know it is hard to do. We tend to see ourselves as we were, not as we are. Look at your image and analyze it as if you were looking at your very best friend and she needs your honest opinion.

Need some help?

Discover your colors, body shape and type. Then, choose the right styles and colors for you.

If you are looking to fine tune your colors and lines, go here. Check out colors, body shapes and types. Irenee Riter, Color Educator and Lecturer shares a lot of very interesting information to help you learn what is best for you.

Go to "The Science of Personal Dress."

Learn all you need to know about colors, body shapes and types plus a whole lot more. You will look and feel a whole lot better about how you look when you know you have the right thing whether you are making a garment or buying ready-to-wear. It will help you in your fabric and sewing pattern shopping as well.

Just because our body shapes change doesn't mean that we can't look and feel good in our clothes.

It just makes sense!

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

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Sewing Classes From Simplicity

Sewing Classes - Free Sewing Projects

Sewing Friends:

Here are more free sewing lessons for you! The list keeps growing! You will want to add these sewing projects to your favorites.

Check out the fun, fast and easy sewing projects that Simplicity has to offer. The kids will want one of those Halloween Ponchos. They are really cute and easy to make. Learn how to do face painting and the kids are all set for trick or treat.

All of these sewing projects would make great gifts. There is something for everyone including sewing for your pets.

I know I will be sewing a few for my family and grand-dogs. I am making my list and since I have to mail away most of my gifts early, I am going to start sewing Christmas gifts very soon. The fabrics I want are on sale now.

I always struggle to come up with something new for the pets every year. I can just see the dogs running around with their "Santa Bandanas"! What fun! Love it! Love it! Love it!

Simplicity Classroom has easy-to-read instructions and illustrations to follow. The projects are suitable for sewers of all skill levels.

Click below to view a Simplicity sewing project:

:: How to Make Regency Bonnett
:: How to Make Obi Belts
:: How to Make Faux Fur Boot Covers
:: How to Make Easy Halloween Ponchos
:: How to Make 5 Fun Pillows
:: How to Make Decorated Towels and Sachets
:: How to Make Silky Fleece Collars and Cuffs
:: How to Make Embellished Tee Shirts
:: How to Make Embellished Jeans
:: How to Make a Placemat Purse
:: How to Make a Border Tote Bag
:: How to Make a Memory Book
:: How to Make a Tote Bag
:: How to Make a Pillow in a Quilt
:: How to Make a Lunchsack
:: How to Make a Muffler
:: How to Make a Warmer
:: How to Make a Poncho
:: How to Make a Scarf
:: How to Make a Jeans Skirt
:: How to Make a Santa Bandana

Get started on your holiday gift sewing. Let the kids, girls and boys, help. They will love it. What better way to spend quality time with your child than making a gift of love together.

Are you just returning to sewing and need to brush up on your skills? Check out some basic sewing classes to help you achieve greater sewing success.

Here is a really fun basic sewing course called, "Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories for Your Tribe of Kids" . You will discover an incredible amount of sewing information in this sewing course. It is a certainly more than just tee pees. Check it out! Lots of super gift ideas to stitch up including pillows without "floppy rabbit ears"!

"Sewing Mat Tote Bag" is another basic sewing course where you learn a ton of basic sewing techniques. The bag is really a multi-purpose bag that you can use for lots of things other than sewing. It is a mat that turns into a tote bag. Make one for changing the baby, a play or exercise mat, a beach mat, a pressing mat for sewing class, etc.

This course is a real winner! You won't want to miss "Sewing Project Tips - Volume I". It is absolutely loaded with more than 60 sewing projects, tips and techniques to help you achieve sewing success. You will discover many gift ideas to sew and learn a lot in the process.

Simplicity has more online basic sewing classes for you. Go to: Simplicity's Sewing 101.

And, don't forget to go over to my "Sewing Project Tips Sewing Blog" for even more sewing information to improve your sewing skills and inspire you to sew and sew.

Have fun sewing! It just makes sense!

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

PS: Please pass along any good sewing courses that you know about so we can share them with everyone.

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Sewing Patterns - Free Burda Patterns

Sewing Patterns

Sewing Friends:

It is so great that we have so much free sewing information available to us on the internet. However, surfing for good sewing stuff takes a lot of time and leaves not many hours in a day to sew. That's why I really appreciate you sharing what you find with me so that I can pass it on.

Thank you for that. Please keep it up!

Here is a site that I think you will like. Burda is one of my favorite sewing pattern companies especially for pants.

This Burda site has a number of nice sewing patterns and they are absolutely free for you to download and print out. There is something for everyone. I think I will try the top and tiered skirt for my granddaughter when I can get some time. Take a look at these:

Top
Tiered skirt
Cell phone/Mobile phone bag
Beret
Cosmetics case
Neck roll
Satin purse
Clutch
Carpet bag
Empire Top + Dress
Cape, bag, and dress
Dress and scarf
Skirt
Trousers/Pants

Have fun with these patterns. If you try any of them, please let me know how they turn out.

Be sure and follow the printing instructions. You may have to adjust your printer settings to have the patterns print out accurately.

Want more? Check out these resources for sewing patterns

Do you have any sewing pattern links? Add them to my Squidoo lens, "How Many Sewing Patterns Do You Have?"

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

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Sewing Technique - How To Hem Knits The Easy Way

Sewing Technique - Hemming Knits

Hi Sewing Friends:

I just finished recycling a very long slinky dress that came to my ankles and made me look more like an old Granny than I care to look. It was a gift from my kids and I couldn't give it away, but I just wouldn't wear it the way it was.

What is so nice about slinky and other knit fabrics is that lopsided, crooked people like me can wear them without worrying about our off balance lumps and bumps since the fabric stretches right over them. However, I still like to hide my belly if possible.

So, after hanging in my closet about 3 years, I decided I would simply cut the dress and create a top and a skirt. The top helps to hide my tummy bulge and the skirt length is still long, but much more flattering. Now, I will probably wear it more often.

All I had to do was to hem the slinky knit top and sew some elastic on the top of the skirt. The trick was to get the hem in the knit top to look good.

Here is the sewing technique that I use:

How To Hem Knits The Easy Way

• Lightly press the fold of the hem up to establish a crease. I use a 1 inch hem allowance.
  
• Apply "Lite Steam A Seam 2" (a paper backed 1/2 inch wide fusible web) at the top of the inside of the hem. You can find this with sewing notions. It is a great product that I use a lot.

• Remove the paper strip.
• Now press the hem up.
• Use a press cloth to protect the fabric while you steam press the hem in place.

Although this will permanently hold the knit hem, I prefer to top stitch it for a more finished look.

Prepare the Sewing Machine

Needle

• Insert a 4.0/75 Twin Stretch Needle in you sewing machine.
  
• Slightly loosen the needle tension.

Thread

• Use a high quality polyester thread like Metrosene.
  
• Thread the upper part of your sewing machine with 2 threads.
  
• Sewing Tip: Instead of buying 2 spools of thread for this job, wind an extra bobbin and place it on the thread spindle on top of the spool. Have the thread come off the bobbin in the opposite direction of the thread on the spool.
  
• Hand wind a texturized nylon thread like Wooly Nylon on another bobbin and place it in your machine. Do not pass the thread through the tension guide.

Top Stitch the Hem

• Put a piece of tape or something on the bed of your sewing machine to help you guide the edge of the hem so you can stitch straight.
• Lay the hem right side up at the sewing machine with the folded edge of the hem along your guide.
• Begin and end leaving long thread tails.
• Topstitch the hem in place.
• The underside of the double-needle stitching makes a zigzag stitch and allows the fabric to stretch.
• Pull the long thread tails to the underside and tie them together to keep the stitches from coming out.
• Trim away any excess fabric above the zigzag stitch on the underside.

Voila! There you have a nicely finished hem in a knit top. The fusible holds the knit and keeps it from shifting or stretching out of shape while you sew. And, by using the lite weight fusible, the knit is still flexible and not stiff and boardy.

Try this sewing technique to hem knits. It just makes sense!

Let me know how you like it!

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

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