New Jamies

Pictured here are new jamies for my niece. There is a story behind these new jamies though. My first thought for the fabric was a shirt for me, just a simple t-shirt. I washed the fabric then laid it out to cut. I cut the back out, only to find a huge flaw, a run in the single knit right down the middle of where I was to cut out the front. I turned and folded the fabric every way I could to get the front, but to no avail. I tried to find a matching blue in my stash to creatively piece together with no luck. For a long time, I considered using white, but I do not wear white well. Discouraged, I folded the fabric up and pushed it into the corner. As it sat in the corner, it started to speak to me. My niece has beautiful blue eyes, and looks so pretty in blue, and needs new jamies. It all just worked out. I was able to cut around the flaw and use the already cut pieces and scraps. I have enough fabric left for a t-shirt for her or a smaller baby sleeper for someone else. Too bad her younger cousin is a boy. This is the first time I have made this particular pattern. I have made the smaller size many times, but this pattern was a little different, so I hope it fits well.

Success at Last

I finally did it. I made this shirt without any major hang ups. It is good fabric. It cut out well. The fusible interfacing went on without a hassle. It sewed up nicely. I did not have to argue with the buttonholes much, and best of all, it does not require much ironing after washing. Admittedly, I do miss not learning something from this project, but sometimes it is nice to just have everything fall into place. There will be plenty of learning opportunities in the future. (Just a side note, I really like this fabric. I bought 10 yards of it at Wal-mart for $2.00/yd.)

The Shirt on the Irregular Rack

Take a look at this shirt. Can you see the problem? I made this shirt for me. I had put several hours into its construction, only to find my cutting error as I started to sew it together. Boy, do I feel stupid. I thought about not finishing the shirt, salvaging the fabric for another project, but could not come up with another project for the fabric. I finally decided to just finish the shirt for me and hope that the fatal flaw would not be too noticeable. So, I am asking you, "Why would this shirt be on the irregular rack?" Each time I sew a project, I learn or relearn something, which make even the problems worthwhile.

Fusible Interfacing Redux...

Well, I have ironed what feels like a million little 3" squares of fusible interfacing to a variety of different fabric scraps. I have learned a lot, but I sure feel stupid because I thought I knew everything I needed to learn at some point in my sewing career.

First, it did not seem to make a difference what temperature the iron was set on, and it did not seem to matter if it was a dry or steam iron. I tried using a damp cloth on a few samples, and learned that that is only a good idea if the fabric can handle it. Pre-shrinking the interfacing did not make a difference either, but my interfacing may have already been pre-shrunk.

There are two points I learned that are of the most value to me.

1) Do not slide the iron while applying fusible interfacing. Sliding the iron seemed to produce a lot of bubbles and wrinkles on the fabric side. Just set and lift the iron over the interfacing. Now, I am sure that I have applied interfacing just like this before, but why I forgot, I will never know.

2) Trim the interfacing so that it is 1/8 to 1/4" smaller than the fabric you are ironing it to. I knew this, but never paid it any mind. I have always just cut the interfacing to the size of the pattern piece and applied, but I noticed that with my samples that I got a better adherence if the interfacing did not come completely to the edge of the fabric.

Hopefully, this newly remembered knowledge with help me to apply fusible interfacing with more success.