Scrunchies

I don't think I ever posted any pictures of the scrunchie I made my dear sister. So instead of posting the photos I have on my home computer of the sunny weekend in Central Park hubby and I had or my new handmade skirt or shirt, I will show you this little ditty. This is some of my all time favorite fabric - it's Laura Ashley from a thrifted dress (it was a size 10 with a full skirt - plenty of perfect fabric!).

I think I did mention that dear aforementioned sister gave me her super sentimental April Cornell scrunchie. My favorite detail on that beauty is the little ridges sewn in every few inches.

Isn't that just so pretty? Here is my attempt to copy that detail in the new scrunchie:

This was such an easy project. Basically I just cut a 5 inch wide strip of fabric that was about, oh I don't know, 4 feet long? Something like that. Obviously the longer the fabric, the more ruffly the scrunchie. Then I put in 4 ridges every 5 or 6 inches, put right sides together and sewed it into a tube. After pulling it right side out, I used elastic I robbed from another less desirable scrunchie and inserted it, tied it together securely, then blind-stitched the fabric ends together (being sure I didn't twist the tube). And wahla! A luxuriously ruffly scrunchie with pretty little ridges. Hopefully soon I will get my butt in gear and post some of my new projects before the week is up.

Sick Day

I have been SICK for the last few days *shudder* I hate being sick. Yesterday I left work around 1:00 to rest at home for the afternoon, which was WONDERFUL. I hardly ever take sick days (even yesterday wasn't an entire sick day). I spent most of my resting time sewing - I can't wait to paint/sew/knit full time, it really doesn't seem like work to me, even when it's annoying. So I finally have a little project to show you - I made this yesterday after getting frustrated for the 54th time with my little tomato pin cushion levetating when I tried to pull out a pin. ARGH. This hefty dude is packed with cedar sawdust from my wood crafty brother-in-law, and underneath that it's packed with yarn and fabric scraps. Whenever I reach for a pin or stick one in, I smell cedar :) I did this with Christmas presents for my sisters, mom, and g'ma too - they double as sachets for those who don't sew.


I used the pattern from Last Minute Patchwork and Sewing Gifts, which is awesome. I thought the most important part of the instructions was the order you put the pieces together. Very neat and tidy, and I never would have thought of it.

These are some of my absolute favorite fabrics. Some are even sacred - like the yellow flowers. I have no idea what that was originally used for, but it was in my mother's sewing cabinet when I was younger and I think my sister used it for something. Mmmm. Anyway it's from the early days of my sewing experience, so it's sacred. Same for the purple with pink flowers. The blue & cream floral is a scrap from the quilt I made my husband for our wedding (I need to post a picture of that at some point), the paisly, gingham and red floral (Laura Ashley!) are thrifted, and the black and white rose is new - it's from a futon cushion cover someone discarded from my apartment building. Ahee. My hubby wasn't thrilled that I ripped it off and used it - even thought I DID wash it in clorox.


The spirals are from an April Cornell skirt I sacrificed to the sewing gods. Again, my hubby was not thrilled that I sacrificed that skirt. I still feel guilty :( I need to start buying fabric soon...

I used this yesterday to finish my sister's birthday present - I'm ITCHING to post her presents, but will attempt to be patient.

New Obsession

I have a couple of new projects to show you - one I have been too lazy to take pictures of, and the other is a present, so it will have to wait until after May 1. Meanwhile I shall inform you of my new obsession - sewing my own wardrobe! My only problem is buying fabric :( It involves money, and well, I am the miserly sort. Once I can see myself clear to buying some, I will be going APE BANANAS making almost everything on burdastyle.com. People, these patterns are COOL, and they are also FREE (well most of them anyway). I can't stop imaging me wearing my own handmade jeans with the most awesomely cool pockets you've ever seen, or a knock-off designer dress, or this adorable ruffly shirt. I'm gone man, gone. Totally in love. I also broke down and bought this amazing jumper pattern from risingfeenix.com (it is a genuine vintage 1960's pattern!!!). Well it IS my birthday soon.

Once I try a few of the patterns from burdastyle and this gorgeous jumper pattern, I want to try built by wendy patterns. Then I will conquer the world!