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Jan
3
As we kick off the New Year, we have opted to forego the standard “New Year Resolutions,” and make some ReSEWlutions for 2013 instead. Maybe it was purely for accountability sake….if we share our ReSEWlutions with you, we might be more likely to carry them through.
Our ReSEWlutions chosen were all about stretching our sewing comfort zone! Although we really, really, really, really want to learn/do these reSEWlutions, we shiver at the thought of attempting many of them.
Here they are….. in no particular order:
1. Using the perfectly good serger that is positioned right beside Ashley’s sewing machine
2. Installing a zipper on an outfit
3. Working with various types and styles of pockets
4. Using more than 3 stitches (straight, zigzag, and buttonhole) on the sewing machine
5. Sewing with knits (dress/leggings) and/or fabrics other than cotton
6. Sewing a non-English pattern
7. Completing CL’s heirloom Easter dress…from an “Heirloom Sewing Class” taken years ago
8. Increasing the “tutorial” section of our blog
9. Feeling a bit more confident in sewing {and eventually drafting} various peter pan collars.
We are always on the lookout for great online tutorials, so if any of you know ones that specifically relate to our ReSEWlutions, please…please…please feel free to share! Also, we’d love to hear any ReSEWlutions of your own. Of course, then we’ll probably need to add them to our list too!!
Our work is cut out for us this year {362 days and counting} – and one of these ReSEWlutions is already in the initial phase {ie: the planning stage} of being checked off our list. Now, now….don’t even try to pry it out of us…..our lips are zipped!!
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Hmm, I would guess that you are working on that zipper. =) I’ve done a few invisible zippers, and they are so simple! I’m not confident with regular zippers though. =/
My biggest Christmas gift was a serger, so I’m going to be working on that one right along with you! Although I do love a good French seam, and flat-felled seams have so many beautiful applications. =)
I haven’t made any reSEWlutions, exactly, but I do have the beginnings of a list of sewing goals for this year over on my blog. =) Mostly they are actual items I want to create.
Glad to know we’re not alone in our lack of serger knowledge!! We KNOW it will be a major time saver…. If we can master it!
I did a tutorial + pattern for a racerback dress that is a great first foray into knits, if you want to get your feet wet! It’s here: http://www.crafterhoursblog.com/2012/05/racerback-dress-tutorial-pdf-pattern.html
ps: you’ll love working with knits. There are some tricks to learn, but overall they are waaaay easier! Check out Rae’s pinterest board about sewing with knits – lots of good info there!
I just looked at your tutorial+pattern and it is awesome! Now I am shooting myself for not getting that fun knit I saw today at Joann’s. I am totally saving this for the next time I come across a fun knit. Great job!
This is fantastic!!! Thanks so much for passing on the link and information. Here’s to 2013 – the year of sewing knits!!!
I could think that you two would never be scared of anything. Especially since you tackled smocking (one of my fears)! I was scared of knits and now they are my very favorite, my greatest successes have been when I have used favorite items from my/daughters existing wardrobe as the pattern. Maybe you can ask your sister which shirts/leggings are favorites and you can make your own paper patterns. I think it is great to tackle knits while working on your serger knowledge because the two go hand and hand. It is almost crazy how quick you can make a knit shirt with a serger. It usually takes me longer to cut out.
Smocking: it would be a walk in the park compared to what you are doing now! The major downfall is the time factor…. It isn’t hard, just slower than other techniques. Ohhhh, I so hope we can conquer knits this year. Great suggestion on ‘pattern making.’
That Easter dress is making my mouth water! I have a love/hate relationship with knits. They’re comfortable and make up the majority of our wardrobe, but somehow my finished knit projects never look as polished. I agree with Scary, though – they are easy and forgiving once you get the hang of it.
Ikat bag had a whole series on pockets with tutorials and such:
http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/12/pocketful-of-sky-summary-and-giveaway.html
And if you’re going for invisible zippers, here are my favorite tutorials from Colette:
http://www.coletterie.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/tutorial-installing-an-invisible-zipper
http://www.coletterie.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/video-how-to-sew-an-invisible-zipper
Good luck! I look forward to seeing the results!
Wow! Thanks for such a comprehensive list!!! We appreciate you taking the time to help a blogging buddy tackle a reSEWlution or two in 2013!
Good luck with your reSEWlutions for 2013.
For No.4: (more than 3 stitches) using a good quality thread in the bobbin and top thread too, click on your #3 (C) stitch to create a hand-quilted look for topstitching. (Lengthen the stitch to 3.5 or more) Technically, you’re supposed to use clear thread for the top thread for a hand-quilted look but to me it looks good either way.
Good luck with the “zipped” project.
Happy New Year ladies and I can’t wait to see all your projects for this year!
Ooooooh, thanks for the suggestion Deb!!! Now, to start marking them off the reSEWlution list :).
I’m definitely with you on #3. I usually forget those other stitches are even there!
You’re going to love zippers once you try them though, especially the invisible ones. They are so simple that once you do one, you wonder why it took you so long to try them! 😀
Eeeek!! We sure hope we feel the love with zippers….. Four are in our near future. If we can pull it off….
I love my serger! This is a REALLY complete tutorial, I don’t know that I”ve seen a better one! http://sweet-verbena.blogspot.com/2012/10/serger-101_20.html
Good luck!
Awesome!!! Thanks so much…. This will definitely be referenced multiple times in the upcoming months….
I second (or is that third) the love for invisible zippers…so much easier and I just like the look better. I had to laugh about the stitches…when I bought my machine I purposely bought the simplest/bottom line one for that reason. My mom had a fancy machine and never used any but 4-5 basic stitches. The only other ones I use are blind hem and the stitches for knit fabrics…which is key to enjoying sewing with knits. Use the right stitch. Things just look better.
How fun for you guys! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
We’ll see how the stitch reSEWlution turns out for us. Some habits are hard to break!!
We are overwhelmed…Thank you all for the wonderful {and helpful} suggestions. We’ve created a Pinterest board specifically for these reSEWlutions (http://pinterest.com/francessuzanne/2013-sewing-resewlutions/), so if you think of any more gems….send them our way!!
Stitch #15 on your machine will be handy for doing a flatlock hem with your reSEWlution knit fabric sewing. It ends up looking like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27858004@N05/6686340363/ I use it when I’m too lazy to deal with the twin/double needle. You all have a lot of great plans for 2013!
Thanks for pointing us int the right direction!!! We need all the help we can get :)!!
Found your blog last night and I am thrilled to be a follower! Love your reSEWlutions!
Yea!! Glad to have you follow along….. Now, if we can actually accomplish some of these reSEWlutions ….
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