Those Unsew Days

Do you have those days that  you have to take out more seams than you put in?

I had one of those days recently. Between the time I got from my design board to the sewing machine with the quilt blocks, they had turned themselves around and jumped under the presser foot-time after time to be sewn on the wrong sides-crooked-just off, way off.

The project hadn't started out well, to begin with. The thought of making an all gingham quilt had floated in and out and this seemed to be the project for it. There were a couple of glitches-the ginghams weren't in my stash, the nearest fabric store was rather far away and I wanted to get started. I had been bypassing some ginghams in the fabric area of the store where I get groceries because of their content and feel but I thought they would do since it was for a quick little quilt and the price was right.  Soooo-I broke down and got enough of each since it was just a little doll quilt and anything should work-right? Wrong!

 Now,  I haven't met many fabrics that I don't like till these five little ginghams made their way onto my cutting table. It seems they have a mind of their own. They ravel. They creep, crawl. There were always threads to be cut with scissors after going over them with the rotary cutter. My motto from now on is: when in doubt, don't. 

The aggravation I had with this fabric made the project take 3 or 4 times what it should have and I am very dissatisfied with the way the little quilt turned out even if it is only a doll quilt. 

I am sharing all of this for a couple of reasons. The first is, we have so much time and effort involved in our crafts that we should use the best we can. By the time the quilt was done, I don't think it would have looked ok to me no matter what. 

And second but the real reason I started this piece-a way to unsew those wayward seams-with a electric shaver or moustache trimmer.   My friend, Valerie, shared that tip with us in one of our sewing afternoons. 

In a fabric/notions online catalog, I saw a electric stitch remover which was no more that a shaver with a different name on the side and the price was almost $70. I found mine in the drug store for $19.99 and could have gotten a cheaper one but like the shape and feel of the one I am using in the video below.  It surely came in handy for the gingham day. You might also find one at a yard sale or something, or in your husbands shaving kit.

Hope this helps and makes your quilting and sewing more enjoyable.

Happy crafting and God bless you!

Carolyn Wainscott

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Check out my designs in My Pattern Store @ 

http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

 

HOW TO MAKE DOLL SANDALS FOR YOUR AMERICAN GIRL DOLL

Doll clothes are something I hadn't intended on getting into until a couple of months ago. My granddaughter wanted to give her boyfriend's daughter accessories for her American Girl Doll but couldn't afford to buy them. I told her I would help her out and make a couple of outfits for the birthday-and that started the whole thing.

I downloaded some crochet patterns and started with those. I looked up the dolls online and ordered a catalog. I like the concept of the doll with its historical background and line of books and things to do. I just can't get around the cost of eveything so a lot of clothes are being made and put aside for Christmas for my great granddaughters. I love dolls and being able to share this with them.

I have crocheted some hats and bags to match some outfits, even some Mary Jane shoes for one dress that I got carried away with making such a swirly skirt but it looks like I wanted it to.

This is one of my favorite little outfits. I love the two tierred swirly skirt. The top is from one of the downloaded patterns. I couldn't find a top I liked so I used one of the dress patterns and just didn't crochet the skirt. The fabric at the waist is a Tinker Bell piece which is just perfect with the little calico print. The flower on the headband is crocheted.

Let me say something about all those downloaded patterns-I appreciate them so much because they have helped me a great deal and I will share the links at some point. I did find, however, that some of the patterns are not accurate. I am not a greatly accomplished crocheter but one pattern I started several times was just not right. I have made lots of things but this one would not work no matter what I did.

The talented people who create these patterns and then share on the internet are wonderful and I have been able to follow along with almost all of them. It takes a lot of time to create and write instructions. Writing crochet instructions is far beyond me.

So, I had some outfits piling up and wanted shoes to match. I came up with making sandals that are really quick and easy. Since the crochet brigade is so generous in sharing their expertise, I am sharing my idea for the sandals. You can make dozens in an afternoon. If you are going to craft fairs, they would make an inexpensive item without too much time involved that should sell well for you.

I first used some craft foam sheets that I had on hand using my hot glue gun and that worked well. But wonder of wonders, I found the adhesive backed foam sheets, in glitter, no less. Here is the sandal to match the Tinker Bell outfits I made.

Throw away nothing! Even little 1/4" snippets can be used as jewels for trims here and there. Make up your own kit as a gift for children to design and make their own doll sandals. They will have the best shod doll in town.

To help secure the adhesive on the foam, add just a dab of hot glue or other good glue at the ends to keep it from coming loose.

I had fun creating these from anything and everything, hope you do, too. Here is my video showing you how to put these together. 

So get some craft foam or felt sheets and have fun.
God bless you,
Carolyn Wainscott
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Check out my reversible designs in My Pattern Store for doll clothes, quilts and other crafts on Craftsy.com @

http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

video tutorial for reversible doll cape @
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJzQkEVTTWk



video tutorials @
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Hp75xJHn0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZeoePfP0NE