It happened. I had the moment where I understood the appeal of applique. Having this moment required some key elements: 1. Probably the most important is this little unassuming tool: an applique presser foot. It came as part of this pretty sweet presser foot set my hubby got me for Christmas. ($60 seems like a... Continue Reading →
The latest project: a little snap-closure "wallet." Until now, snaps have confused me. I was intimidated by the tools and the different parts, and somewhat scarred from a google search that revealed the intricate world of snaps. But they're not so bad (she says after installing a grand total of ONE snap.) The hardest part... Continue Reading →
Continuing the getting-more-annoying-as-I-go Sew Me book with the MP3 holder belt case thing that I reworked to fit my phone. I've been anxious to finally get to this project, and the final result does not disappoint. I kind of want to make tons of these. The walk-through, however, does disappoint. Literally 4 lousy photos to explain... Continue Reading →
Headbands. I keep trying to buy them, but no one seems to make them the way I like. They're too tight or too narrow or not the material I want. And so for my first dive into working with knit fabric, I went with making a simple headband. Found a scrap of knit fabric with... Continue Reading →
If you're anything like me after being bitten by the sewing bug, you want to dive right into making useful things. And who doesn't love a storage box? Of course, you can hit up your nearest Ikea or Target or Walmart or craft store for all kinds of storage boxes you don't have to make,... Continue Reading →
One of the later projects in my sewing book is a little coin pouch with an eyelet/grommet (which is the same thing from what I understand; eyelets are typically smaller/lighter duty, and grommets are larger/heavier duty). Well, the materials list a 1" grommet. "Buy a kit so you get a setting tool to go with... Continue Reading →
Well, fabric (I used some kind of polyester that felt heavier to me than the usual quilting cotton), fusible midweight interfacing, bias tape, and some ultra stiff plastic canvas (I bought the 12x18 size in store at Joann's but oddly they don't seem to really have it on their website. Anyhoo, they key here is the ultra... Continue Reading →
You'd think sewing squares would be old hat for me by now, but turns out, a picture-perfect straight edge is still a work in progress. As is hand-sewing a ladder stitch. (I think my book is slightly full of crap saying to make the stitches 1/4" of an inch long. It looks sloppy and gappy... Continue Reading →
Do you feel lost when you start reading about fabric? Yeah, me too. I'm thinking I should start this post-that-shall-be-continually-revised as I discover more and more about fabrics, and maybe we'll end up with a comprehensive reference to turn to when we start getting lost in the woods. So right now, I don't know a... Continue Reading →
I shared my pencil case on my Facebook page and it spurred a friend to say "I need one!" So I offered to make her one. I finished it today and I kind of like it better than mine (not that I don't like mine, but one learns and tweaks as one goes and so... Continue Reading →
Deborah J Sews 