Self Made Clothing

I have always enjoyed making my own clothes.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do it much in recent years due to appointments, teaching classes and just generally being busy.

What I loved most was finding my patterns as cheaply as possible, then finding the fabric I need and buying it in bulk, making whatever garment as inexpensively as possible.

However, that is not possible in every case.  I have purchased a pattern at full price, paid full price for fabric and made a prom dress for my daughter and it turned out beautifully.  Fabric is not cheap, neither are patterns.  So finding what will work or look nice is a challenge sometimes.  I like buying "lots" of patterns in my size or my daughter's size on ebay. It is usually very cheap to buy 10 patterns for $4.95 to get that "one" pattern that would normally cost $15.  Yes, I've done that before!  😄

I've made my daughter a robe from polar fleece that I found at a yard sale one year.  She was very warm and cozy and loved the robe.

As for everything else, fabric is becoming very scant at yard sales and thrift stores.  You have to look at sales, coupons, and work hard at getting it inexpensively.

Another method of making one's own clothing is by either crocheting or knitting.  Currently, I am getting some shirt patterns together to knit in the next couple of months.  I want to have a more modest cut of clothing, but comfortable and "flowy" if that is a word.  I've found some free patterns on Ravelry that I'm going to try and I just need to get my yarn together and get started.  I have some summer shirts to both sew as well as knit and/or crochet, then I'll review and decide where to go from there.  In the mean time while I wait to get my yarn gathered, I'm starting another shawl started as a gift.

Hand crafting items has become a thing of the past.  I am trying to keep the craft alive by teaching the next generation these basic skills at one of our homeschool groups.  I would love to continue long past the time when my children graduate, but we'll see.  I'm getting ahead of myself.  Needless to say, I have quite a few skirts, shirts and shawls to make this year.  We'll see how many I can accomplish by Christmas 2017.  I know what you're thinking...and of course I'll post pictures!  😊

And with that I will bid all of you adieu for 2016.  My next post will be in 2017, so I'll "see" all of you next year!  LOL

Have a Blessed Day!

In Christ,

Almost a Month and Lots Happening

As I showed in my previous post, we had concrete floors.  Now, we are pretty close to having them done, minus the threshold pieces.  It looks so much nicer than bare concrete!

The living room floor after flooring installed.  It's lovely!  

From the other side of the room.

Photo Bombed by Biscuit

Getting Gus acclimated to the pool...or just having fun putting him on the inner tube.  LOL

Biscuit's turn! 

A graduation celebration dinner at church.

Visiting with Grandparents and one special uncle.

"And these alligators are found in the Flint River?  I guess we shouldn't swim in there!"

Beautiful daughter with her sewing machine.

The living room window that needs a treatment of some sort.  I'm not sure what, but since this window is so huge, it will probably be something simple.  We have new pillows that I found at the local W*lmart on a 2 for $12 deal, so I couldn't resist adding more color to the room.

I just love my drive home!  This area is so beautiful!  (Sorry for the bug splat on the windshield!!)

The view out my front door.  This is such a quiet neighborhood, it is almost like living in the country!

The morning this picture was taken, I was on my way to get my blood work done and to talk with my Dr about the Trim Healthy Mama Plan (THM) life changes I've been making, as well my right knee.  I found out that my right knee is "bone-on-bone" and it gets worse when I ride/drive for long periods of time.  The verdict?  Less riding/driving, less walking, more THM cooking, and more swimming.  With my blood test results back, I know that I can rest assured that THM is working!  I've lost 35 pounds, my Triglycerides decreased by half, my A1C is 6.1 and my fasting is 105.  I've not seen those wonderful numbers in YEARS!  You betcha I'm sticking with it! 

Strong young men hard at work, replacing worn out steps and putting in new concrete.

One side of my office is going to be a sitting area and I think I have a pretty good start with these wonderful pieces I found at a yard sale and an online facebook flea market group.  The wing back chair is a reclining chair.  The side table is an antique from the 60's or 70's, the lamp I just loved, so I bought it for a good price....and.

...the magnolia swag that I thought was so pretty.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll finally be able to get some curtains up on the dining room window, my oldest son's window, the office, and hopefully our bedroom.  With everything being so busy, I'll be able to sit down long enough to get my sewing machine out to work on some stuff.  I also plan to keep my eyes peeled for more furniture for the sitting area.  I love decorating "on the cheap."  

Have a Great Day!

God Bless,

Everything in it's Place

While that age old saying holds true for many households, it is going to be a while until it can happen here.

Why?

My husband took a 2nd trip up to PA to get more of our things.  Come to find out, the things I need to put away belong inside some furniture that is still in PA.  So, I just pile all those things on the dining room table until the hutch and buffet table arrive here so I can put them away.  On second thought, I'll just line the wall with them so I can start serving dinners at the dining room table!  Yes!  I think that will work!  :)  I'm missing our "family table" and after having over 2 or so months of "eating where we can" it's time to get that going again.

I have no side tables for what is now the living room at this time, but, I do have ONE living room lamp here.  Hopefully soon I'll be able to get everything put together.  I feel myself getting so very frustrated because my home is not coming together as quickly as I would have liked.  Currently our "Living Room" is my Sewing Room/Sitting room until we can get the AC on the other side of the house fixed.  The technician should be making contact soon, hopefully.  I've wanted to get moving on my sewing by now, but I need to get things put away before I can sew.  The main reason for that is because I need to find my foot pedal for my sewing machine.  All I know, that could still be in PA too!  LOL

As I wait, I'm trying to tackle getting things cleaned up, put away and/or set aside for when the rest of the furniture arrives.  I'm also trying to find an Armoire for my canning jars.  I'm looking for something made from solid wood that we can gut, add some shelves, and put in the yellow room on the wall opposite of my kitchen.  Who knows how that project will end up.  We may line the wall with cupboards, who knows?!  I've found some nice Armoires on Craig's list, so we'll see how things go.  I'll post progress pictures as things move along.

What have we done since moving in here in Georgia?  I'm glad you've asked!

• The carpeting was purged by a husband and wife crew before we got here on the 29th.  They did some basic cleaning because it took an act of God Himself to get the water and electricity turned back on.  It was turned back on on August 27th, so the cleaners didn't have time to do much cleaning.  
• The exterminators have become our best friends.  They have been here four times to help eradicate cockroaches, 2 times for termite protection.  Upon closing we paid for a termite bond where they protect our house and/or fix any future termite damage should there be any once we've signed on with them.  The roaches are fewer and fewer.  I've found it to a point where it is "ok" to start putting my things in the drawers.  I keep the roach bait handy though, so that when we see one, we put the little packets in the general area where we saw the roaches.  We go days now without seeing them, then we'll see one and put out the bait station.  
• With a great start by some wonderful friends of ours, we were able to get the house wiped down....everything!  We started and within 3 days--even in the part of the house where the AC is down--every wall was wiped down.  We took a little longer with the kitchen because it was a disgusting mess.  We couldn't put anything away.  So we spent the first 2 weeks here eating microwave dinners, sandwiches, and just very simple meals because of the roaches and bait in my kitchen.  They would leave their little corpses in drawers and everything.  I didn't want to put anything away until I knew they were eradicated.  My husband bought bait stations and spray stuff that we'd used for the Lady Beetles in PA worked for roaches in GA!  LOL
• My husband and sons have begun working on the flooring.  If you look at my last post, you'll see our bedroom.  If you look at the floor, that will be throughout the whole house with the exception of where the tile is currently.  I think he plans to get more of it done after the 3rd and final trip to PA to get our things.  That way there is nothing looming over his head to have to take care of in PA.
• Fencing was taken care of within the first day or so due to having the dogs.  We wanted to make sure they would be contained.  Once they got out there, they settled down and just relaxed.  They knew they were supposed to be there.  It was all good!
• Plumbing!  Oh wow!  We didn't have hot water coming from any of the taps.  We just really had our hands tied with it....so after closing on Monday, we called the plumber on the way back to see if they could get out to the house to look at the hot water issue.  They not only fixed the problem, but fixed the pool pump as well as a leak under the sink too!  What a blessing by God!  He said, "Welcome to Georgia!"  We thought it would cost so much more than it did!  Whew! 
• The pool, Oh My Goodness!  This was potentially a wonderful thing for exercise for all of us. However, it looked absolutely nasty scum covered pond like. Fortunately, I have the most awesome hubby!  He got to work very quickly on the pool once the plumber took care of the pump!  Awesome!  Now it's beautiful!  

Gus is making progress getting in to the pool on his own.  He barks his fool head off at the other two dogs when we bring him in to the pool, as if to say, "Get back here!  You're not supposed to be in there without me!"  LOL

• Odds and ends--there is always something to fix, something to redo, something to replace.  We purchased a "quasi" foreclosure so it stands to reason that it is going to be more work.  We're not afraid of it.  

Hubby is fixing a sliding screen door.  The wicker set that you see, I found on a facebook flea market site. I'm going to clean them up, paint them teal and reupholster the cushions in a bright red/yellow/fuchsia/teal fabric.  It will go in this sun room once it is done.  I'm hoping to find a nice area rug as well. And true to form, the ceiling fans in this room need to be replaced and the popcorn ceilings need to be replaced too.  LOL  One thing at a time, though.

• The truck has been worked on for more money that we would have liked, but it needed to be done.  We are so glad that it is done though!  
• We've been to our homeschool group class days twice.  Hubby and I have decided that we need to buy a different Pre-Algebra curriculum for our youngest so that the class he is taking makes sense for him with the curriculum they're using.  I didn't know they would be so rigorous when I signed him up for it, so I need to bite the bullet and make the changes. 
• I've finished my 4th hat for our Operation Christmas Child boxes!  I just need to weave tails in.  Next is a hat just like it to make it the 5th hat.  I don't know if I'll get it done, but if I work each evening on it, I'm sure it'll get done.  :) 
• We've decided on a church and so far, youth activities locally.  We're staying local for youth group and traveling almost an hour for church on Sundays at Sherwood Baptist Church.  We'll see what happens on Wednesdays when the time comes.  Sherwood has a lot going on for families on Wednesdays, but we'll see what happens.  We're thinking we'll stay local for now, though.

Goals for the not so distant future:

1. Find my foot pedal to my sewing machine so I can start making curtains for my house.
2. Find and organize my sewing room and office so that I can get moving making not only curtains, but more aprons to sell.
3. Get my armoire set up so that I can get my canning jars put away in their place whether they're filled with yumminess, or waiting to be filled with yumminess.
4. Get my actual living room put together with side tables, lamps, TV, piano, computer so that everyone can congregate in there.  I have to get the young men helpers to remove furniture from my sitting room and office where we are currently using as a living room. LOL  I'll post pictures soon. 

I think that's probably good for the next month.  I promise to post pictures soon!

God Bless,

My New Felted Lined Purse

Beginning with leftover variegated wool that I already had on hand.

Almost finished on 11-23-13

What did I do?  How did I do it?

I formulated this purse in my mind before I began casting on stitches for the bottom.  I thought about it for 2 weeks or so, tossing ideas and how I wanted it to be over and over in my mind.  I love my current purse.  It's nice and roomy, holds all the things I need to carry, and it is functional.  So what's wrong with it?  I'm glad you asked!  It's made from plastic and it is starting to crack and peel in places.  I figured I'd better take action and get another one made before this one fell apart.  

Why not buy a 31 or a Miche purse?  I'm beginning to "shy away" from automated manufacturing types of things.  I'm finding that things that are hand made withstand the test of time much better than one made by mechanical methods.  Yes, the store bought purses and things are wonderful and functional for a little while.  But, I've found that felted bags withstand much further wear and tear due to the durability and strength of the materials.

What did I do?  First of all, I made a rectangle of garter stitch for the bottom.  Garter stitch is just knitting, turning, then knitting again.  Very easy, very straight forward.  

Once I made the rectangle big enough for my own liking, I picked up stitches along the sides and joined all of it "in the round" with these needles:

The ones in the packages with the metal ends attach to the cable in the package to the far left.  The larger free standing needles are straight needles.

Once I joined everything, I counted stitches on the long ends and made sure the  numbers matched, then did the same thing with the shorter ends.  If they didn't match, I increased stitches in appropriate places so that it would be even while I knitted those areas.

Once I had everything knitted and all the stitches even on each side, I knitted a couple rows and began increasing every 10 stitches so that the purse would be fuller.  I did this twice with 4 rows of straight knitting between them.  

Once I made it to the end of my variegated yarn, I had to put it down for a couple of days until my new wool order came.  I wanted the yellow to be the more predominate color in the bag, so I striped the bag with that in mind, simply taking artistic license--just because I can.  LOL  

After doing a couple sets of stripes, it was time to drastically decrease and make the top of the bag smaller.  I began by decreasing where the sides of the bag would be and decreased evenly every other row.  

Once I finished the last row of yellow, I decided that I would use dark burgundy and do a ribbing stitch all the way around, binding off and keeping the handle stitches on my cables to work those in a stockinette stitch until the length reached what seemed to be a good amount.  I didn't predetermine this length.  

[Note:  At the time of writing this post, the length of the handles are not completed.  I currently have them almost half way done.  From this point on, the plans for the bag are as follows.]

After casting off, the tails still need to be woven, then the bag felted, and blocked.  11-27-13

After joining the handle with the other side of the bag, I plan to make a flap by picking up stitches along one side and knitting those with a stockinette stitch.  I plan to add a couple cable stitches when I do the flap just to add some interest and artistic flare.  [As you can see in the above picture, I didn't do the cables.  I figured they wouldn't show up very well and I was right.  I decided to continue with a regular stockinette stitch and it worked well.]

Once the bag is done, I'll put it inside a pillow case and wash it with some jeans or heavy bath towels until it reaches the felted stage that I'm looking for.  The more you wash it and agitate the wool, the more the stitches disappear and the material becomes one piece of felted fabric.  At that time, it will be about 1/4"-1/2" thick and very durable.

After the bag reaches that point, I'll lay it on a box the same size as the felted bag.  Not the same size as the prefelted bag because the size will decrease as it felts.  I let it dry for a couple of days in this fashion so that it will take on the shape of the box.

[In this case, because I increased at the bottom to make room for the things I need to carry in my purse, I had to use rubbermaid dishes to push the sides out because I couldn't get a box inside.  The top is more slender so as to keep "prying eyes" out of my purse (in theory).]

A close up of the felting.  The pins that you see sticking up are holding the flap in place after it has been stretched and "blocked" to dry.  

Once the bag is dried, I'm going to take it to Joann Fabrics and try to match material to the colors of the bag as well as get 2 zippers and some thread to make the pockets for the inside.  I'll also pick up some invisible thread for adhering the liner to the felted bag.

This should take another 2 days or so to finish knitting, but it will be 2 weeks before I had to Joann's (planning trips to do more shopping where that store is to save in gas usage.)  with the sewing taking only an afternoon.  I hope to have it done by the 7th of December.  I'll post updated pictures after I'm finished.

In the mean time, here are some other crocheted felted bags I've made:

This one was crocheted with Icelandic Wool.

This one had some Icelandic Wool in it as well.  

  

I'm finding that crocheting wool bags is just as sturdy as knitting, but the stitches are still visible.  The differences between the two are amazing!

The finished product. :)

The Life of a Hunting Widow

This is probably the last day this year my hunters will be out looking for venison for our freezer.  A friend of ours invited them to come to their farm to hunt since the deer are everywhere through their corn fields.  My hunters would be doing them a favor getting rid of some of their deer.

While they are gone, I am listening to Christmas music, cleaning and pulling my sewing out.  Since my hunters read my blog, I won't elaborate what I'll be making.  I'll make sure to post pictures when I'm done.  I'm hoping to finish the project this next week.  It should be a quick sewing project.

I'm also working on some cute little crocheted hats for a little girl in a couple different colors.  She's absolutely adorable.

What are you working on while the hunters are out hunting?

Easter and Sundry Daily Things...

Serging more napkins.

What one child does when he has a light sensitive migraine.

Easter 2013

My apologies for not having many cohesive pictures, but this past week has ranged from sewing, to getting ready to plant seeds, cleaning, migraines and most spectacular of all--getting ready spiritually and musically for Easter.  

We enjoyed serving God musically so very much this Easter.  What a blessing singing in the bell choir and choir, filling the church with voices and bells in praise to God.  It was so difficult to not break down in to tears in thankfulness for all that the Lord has done for me.  What a breathtakingly wonderful treat for the ears!  Our church has such wonderful acoustics that everything reverberated right back at us when we sang on the stage, complete with the empty tomb right behind us.  

Praise God!

Thank you Jesus! 

1 John 4:10  

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, 

and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."