It's Been Awhile

Hi Sewing Friends,

It has been awhile since I posted any sewing projects.  A lot has happened in the past month and a half.  Here are some highlights.

Me and one of my sewing students made a trek up to Vogue Fabrics in Evanston to see what we could see and buy.  Lol  

I had an eye procedure to remove a cyst from my right eye.  It had been there for over a year but didn't hurt. What brought me to the ophthalmologist in the first place was I had started seeing floaters in that same eye.  To my surprise, I learned that floaters are a common condition that happens with age.  The eye becomes more fluid over time.  Anyway, the cyst was removed mid March, and it took some time for my eye to heal.  

Other news, my nephew, Christopher wanted to make a turkey dinner, but didn't know how.  I volunteered to teach  him how to roast a turkey, cook collar greens, corn, and make some buttery potatoes.  His meal turned out very well.  We sat down with my daughter and had a lovely dinner.

We had two book club meetings: March and April.  Both books were good, but I like the second the most.

I didn't take any photos of my garments until a month after my eye procedure.  Now, I'm just starting to post me wearing them.  

I'm showcasing Vogue V1937 view A, worn with Vogue V1929 pants. 

Press, Press, Stitch, Press - McCall 2233

Press, press, stitch, and press.

In sewing, pressing is just as important as stitching. This is something that I teach my sewing students.  One of the first projects that we make is an apron.

An apron gives students repeated opportunities to practice pressing and straight stitching, essential to developing good basic sewing skills.  I like teaching these skills using a basic apron like McCall's m2233.

This apron project was at the bottom of the UFO box that I decided to tackle at the beginning of the year.  Two aprons were cut almost ten years ago!  Last week I decided to finish them. One I will give to one of my sewing students and the other I'll keep for myself.  

The instructions included were antiquated. To form the strap they instruct to sew with right sides together to form a tube, then turn to the right.

Instead, I decided to press by folding it in half lengthwise, then turning the raw edges in. The same way that you would form belt carriers. See below.

The entire apron: hems, pockets, and straps are all completed by a series of folded edges, presses, and stitches.

Benefits to student:

• Ample practice with pressing
• Ample practice with straight stitching
• Ample practice with measuring and forming hems and seam allowance
• Opportunity to use needle positioning to create double rows of stitching for a hem
• Attaching straps and "D" rings

In conclusion,  a sewing student is able to create  agreat looking aprons that they can be proud of.

The fabric that I used for these came from Joann's.  A novelty cotton depicting a love for sewing.

That's all for this post.  I'm happy to complete two more UFO'S.