NerdBliss

As previously discussed, I’m working on improving my wardrobe. One of the first things I did was pull all the items with stains for extended soaking in vinegar and multiple wash cycles. Some of them came perfectly clean, but some were left with a ghost of a stain. Honestly, the stain left on this sweater I bought on clearance for about three dollars when I was working at Target would have been fine to wear as it was. Only very close up in very bright light is the stain viable, but once it dawned on me how closely the color matched somepony I admire.

by KurosakiSoarin

I knew this was destined to be my first real embroidery project. I’d picked up Doodle Stitching: The Motif Collection in a little kit with a six inch hoop, a couple needled and some starter thread at Barnes & Noble right after Christmas and an assortment pack of thread at Walmart, but I had only played at various stitches. While practice may make perfect, I have to have a purpose behind my practice or I simply cannot motivate myself. I don’t mind messing up a “real project” as I learn a new skill and believe me, learning to sew over the last handful of years has been full of mistakes.

Likely because I’m experienced in hand stitching to begin with, I didn’t have much trouble turning a resized imagine of the cutie mark into a thread and fabric representation. The white felt was the base, then after all the embroidery was done I carefully cut out the area where the blue fabric applique would go. I really didn’t want to cut it, but I also didn’t want the blue third to be filled in with stitches. Seemed a little too much. Too uniform. Too much like imitating store bought. It would have been a safer option, but it wasn’t what I envisioned. Sure, I’d spent the better part of a couple days on the project, but if I didn’t try to make it match the idea in my head, the time would be wasted anyway.

As for embroidery itself, I really loved watching the imagine take shape and using thread as a medium to draw on fabric. Add in applique techniques to lend the colors, patterns and textures of fabrics – I freaking love fabric – and the possibilities are endless. I’ve been saving scraps of fabric since I began sewing and now I can put them to use in other projects. Very exciting. I also love how portable the most projects can be. The pleasure of a “project in a bag” is one reason I tried so many times to get into knitting even though I never really improved. A little thread, scissors, hoop and I can do it just about anywhere. Granted a lot of Dash was done on the sofa while watching Capria on Netflix last weekend, but that is besides the point. I’ve got a couple ideas up my sleeve already which will remain undisclosed for the moment, but that I’m super excited to get started on.

2 Comments | In: crafts and creations | tags: embroidery, fashion, My Little Pony, sewing. | #

I wasn’t planning on working on a My Little Pony costume right now. In fact, I was considering making myself a couple of everyday wear items before starting on a costume since our next convention isn’t until April. Two weeks ago, Chris and I made a trip to Joann’s.

He spotted the perfect fabric for Twilight Sparkle. I found a pattern. I was instantly inspired. The next weekend, we found the rest of the necessary fabrics at Hancock Fabric. While I don’t have a favorite pony, Twilight is a bookworm, studious and a bit neurotic with a bad case of perfectionism. I can relate.

The bottom fabric pictured with the silver stars was the find that started it all. To better picture my plans, I’ve included a shot of my pattern packet. It’s Simplicity 3685, out of the costume section.

My plan is to make the skirt of several layers of the sparkly fabric with a bottom layer – perhaps silver – to make it opaque. It’s hard to see from the drawing, but the “skirt” is actually part of a dress. I’m undecided on what I’m using for the bodice as yet. I had a vision of purple and pink plaid for the jacket, but in the end Chris and I independently found the tweed-looking printed cotton in the quilting section at Hancock. Great minds thinking a like is a good sign, plus not needing to match up plaids is always a benefit. It’s one of those sewing things I’ve managed not to try for myself yet. It will be much cooler in Atlanta in September than most fabrics we saw in plaid.

The awesome pink with purple plaid wool pictured. It’s going to be the vest. In the pattern, it’s only the front piece with a elastic harness. I’m thinking of building a back so I can wear it without the jacket. The final and topmost piece is apolstry

First things first, I’m working on my muslin mock-ups for each item. We’re planning to make paper tape body doubles on Sunday which should make for easier fittings. I got The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting and am learning a lot of methods I’d wished I’d had when we were making the Klingon wedding outfits. Of course, without the practical experience, I doubt I would have been able to make heads or tails of the advanced technique. Credit where credit is due, I couldn’t have done that without How to Use, Adapt and Design Sewing Patterns. I’m excited to see how this all turns out and what new skills I’ll acquire in the process.

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Today is my niece’s eighth birthday. I sent these outfits for her American Girl Doll. This batch came out rather well, if I do say so myself.

It wasn’t until they were sewn up that I noticed the white leggings with navy stripes are obviously baseball pants. I’ll be making up a baseball jersey in the next round of doll clothes I do. It’s only natural, I’ll send some this summer along with a new swimsuit and maybe some sandals. After all, it’s a long time from January til Christmas with no gift giving reason except “just because.”

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I have to brag on my best friend Kate. She is a gifted gift-giver. She takes such pleasure in finding the perfect gift: Useful, but not something one buys for oneself, and always thoughtful.

She is not, however, much of a crafter. She’s great at coming up with ideas and buying supplies, plans tend to go a little haywire. The last thing I’d expected for Christmas was something wonderfully handmade even though I’d given help via text with some of the supplies. She’d sent me the link to this very cool ChalkByNumber Babushka wall hanging on Etsy. Of course, being a crafter, most everything on Etsy makes me think “how could I make it myself?” Even more so with this idea of chalkboard fabric – not expensive and readily available at Joann’s. Imagine the possibilities!

I was floored when Chris and I opened our packages Christmas morning to find Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie so perfectly traced onto the fabric. Kate explained she’d first carefully re-sized the images to allow for detailed coloring within the pony while leaving space around to draw and doodle around them. Then she spent hours and hours tracing over the lines while watching TV. Of course, once opened, I knew the small package labeled “open last” was chalk. I hung them in the hallway and drilled holes to hang an empty tea tin to keep the chalk handy.

I love, love, love them, even more so because Kate isn’t a regular crafter. Still, I can’t help but hope my BFF will ride this craft success to all out addiction for the selfish reason of wanting company in my addictions.

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Someday my niece Sabrina – my best friend’s daughter – will be too old to want doll clothes for Christmas and her birthday. Lucky for me, today is not that day. Barbie and Sabrina deserve the credit for getting me interested in sewing a couple years ago. I hadn’t since sewn since I was about her age. Now she has an American Girl Doll, too.

I took these pictures under the Christmas tree moments before packing everything up for the to Missouri. The first few were a little wonky. I took them with the brand new camera we won as a door prize at our apartment complex Christmas party. Best surprise of the season, but I’m still figuring it out. I keep a couple dolls around as fit models. Yeah, that’s why I have dolls.

It’s so much fun to match up fabric remnants with patterns. I strive for more sophisticated looks than you see commercially. Especially for Barbie who is a grown woman, I like colors a real person would wear and mix-and-match separates.

I’d made several items – five in all – out of sleeves from a black sweater who’s body is earmarked for another project. It’s clear which items are The leggings turned out nicely, but I needed something to pair them with. In the end, I’m more excited about tunic than the leggings.

The leggings turned out nicely, but I needed something to pair them with. In the end, I’m more excited about tunic than the leggings. It is a modified version of the peasant blouse below which isn’t exactly to pattern instructions either, but a bit simplified because the shirt was the real star.

Everyone needs a cape. I didn’t get a picture of the lining, but I used the red satin from the Klingon wedding. I’ve still got lots of bits and pieces, but I’ve got as many plans to use it.

I try to send at least one “fancy dress” every batch. Little girls love princess and dressing up. Again, I like doing a more grown up version with sophisticated color palettes. I love the not-too-shiny champagne colored satin. It pairs perfectly with the dusty blue. Sabrina’s favorite color is blue, so I tend to keep an eye out for blue fabrics. This dress represents a turning point in my sewing. Last December, I was just learning to use the sewing machine and in my attempt to make this dress, I sewed the skirt all up into the bodice. Not having time or skills to fix it, I kept it around figuring if nothing else I could cut something else out of the skirt fabric. This year, I was able to salvage it with my mad seam ripping skills and complete the project.

I used the sweater sleeve dress tutorial from Finding Pins and Needles although mine is sleeveless. It is also pictured up top with it’s matching bordello jacket. I’m especially happy with the button brooch.

I would love to say I planned to make a top using the same method as the sleeve dress, but I made it after my first attempt at the dress failed. I will take credit for knowing the top needed bold black and white patterned pants. I’ve also got plans to make mix-and-match items in black, white and bright yellow to accent the golden brooch. Sabrina’s birthday is in January, so I’ll be getting on that soon.

These pajamas are another happy accident. I was commissioned to make a pair of teddy bear pajamas for our friend Alex’s daughter. I started them without the bear in question on Alex’s non-sewing word that American girl doll size would fit the furry little guy. As it turned out, not so much. I modified the pattern, made the bear his stuff, keeping the already done pants and excess fabric as my fee.

I love this navy patterned fabric so much I’m using a picture of it as the background on my phone. It was thin and difficult to work with, but worth it. The straps are elastic encased in the fabric for easy on and off.

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Double click for a better view

Once upon a time, I made a pair of teddy bear pajamas. Originally, I made a pair from the pattern for an 18 inch doll like the one pictured above. She is my “fit model” for outfits for my niece Sabrina’s American Girl doll or at least that was my excuse for picking out a dolly from Target’s Our Generation line of not-American-Girl dolls.

As it turned out, the bear in question – Upstate Bear – wasn’t as slim as an 18 inch doll. It is only logical a bear in need of pajamas would be a bit plump and this guy was reading to hibernate by the time I got around to trying again. I used the same pattern and modified it with the same techniques I’d used for full-sized-human clothes. It’s logical when you think about it. The construction principles behind, say, plus size scrubs for women and a doll’s pantsuit aren’t different. It was simple, really, having the bear to work on. The bear’s owner, a friend’s young daughter, was pleased with the results.

Flush with my success, I thought about other stuffed animals who might need the services of an armature seamstress. Specifically, Cutie, a monkey belonging to my friend Renee and Sabrina’s beloved Bear. Both are full fledged members of the family. As the type of person who takes toys seriously, I get it the unique relationship. Cutie I’ve known for nearly twenty years. Bear has been stuffed in my purse during outings and shopping trips. With these guys, I consider myself a friend. Since both animals live across the country from me, I can’t simply measure them. Nor is sending an irreplaceable family member in the mail an option.

What I’ve done to make long distance custom sewing possible is to create the measuring chart above. Along with pictures of side, back and front view, the measurements would allow me to make garments for pretty much doll or stuffed animal. Below, I have listed a description for each line on the picture.

Key to measurements:

1. Around the crown of the head

2. From the front of the crown line to the back crown line

3. Total height standing

4. Waistline to floor

5. Length of neck from under chin to “collar bone”

6. Around neck

7. Neck line to shoulder

8. Shoulder to shoulder

9. “Collar bone” to waist line

10. Around chest

11. Around “Natural Waist” (where the belly button would be)

12. Length of arm from shoulder to wrist

13. Around upper arm

14. Around lower arm

15. From waist to ankle

16. From hip to ankle

17. Around thigh

18. Around calf

19. Around ankle

20. Around foot

21. Length of foot

22. Depth of foot from top to bottom

I’d love for someone to help me test my theories. If you are a bear or a doll, let me know and we can work something out.

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I included a picture of our dedicated sewing table only a few days ago as a bonus/brag on post about the light box I made, because, dang it, when the table is clear, I want photographic evidence. Not long after I documented the state of the table, our good space got even better.

I owe it to some unknown person who was too lazy to take this great desk to Goodwill. They dragged it out beside the dumpster at our apartment complex. As luck had it, I look out the trash before some other “thrifty” person snagged this perfectly good piece of furniture. The minute I saw it, I thought “sewing machine table.” I envisioned leaving my pattern pieces and instructions on the six foot table while sewing elsewhere freeing the need to either lay things out in the bedroom or move our heavy duty machine – emphasis on heavy – to make room to pin, mark pieces, or otherwise lay things out.

After checking the drawers for signs of trouble and the legs for soundness, I dragged the desk across the parking lot and hoisted it up the terrible concrete steps in front of our building. I was thankful to find, once it was on the flat surface outside the apartment, no wobble in the legs. Score!

With this inspiration, I cleared out the boxes, odds and ends from under the window in the office as I’d been meaning to do for ages. I also drilled holes in the thread rack I’d bought myself in August as a somewhat-birthday-gift-to-me. The idea of keeping on a table or shelf almost defeats the purpose. I was a little shy of using Chris‘ drill to make holes in a brand new item. I measured more than twice and drilled twice, once with a smaller bit than the screws I needed to accommodate. I was amazed how well it worked and how simple with not even a Google search for directions. Of course, I staged an action shot to text to my “people” – Chris, Kate, Renee and Alex. I present it here as proof of my handiness with power tools:

While I may never see the space as finished, now I can call it functional. I want to add a peg board for hanging sewing tools, for one thing. Plus, I know full well how quickly projects-in-progress or new purchases can pile up in our work space. It happens even faster with two people sharing the space – with an occasional third borrowing space.

At the beginning of this year, the bookshelf had books on it and a twin bedside it. Now, the books and the twin live in the dinning room turned pantry/library/Tina’s desk. Everything on the remaining shelf is sewing or craft related. I have found the desk in front of the window makes day-time sewing much easier. The more light on the sewing machine, the better.

The six foot table is pictured here with my laptop “visiting” it’s second home, but otherwise clear for use. Underneath are two huge bins of fabric and two laundry baskets, too. You know, we intend to go to All About Fabrics next weekend for a few items. It’s seems crazy, but some of our stash is earmarked for projects not in progress yet or is left over from something finished. Some things we run out of or didn’t know we needed for a right-now project. If you make things, I know, I’m preaching to the choir. If you don’t, the whole thing is a bit ridiculous, I’m sure.

I am so very inspired by the functional workspace we’ve created. I want to go make a mess of it digging through fabric and piling projects in progress all over the place, but I admit it’s unlikely I’ll post photographic evidence of the chaos.

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I made a light box. It was super simple. I didn’t even go shopping for supplies. I researched various methods and modified to fix the materials I had on hand. Google is a wonder of modern DIY, am I right?

I don’t intend this post to be a step-by-step tutorial, but it show the gist of what I did. I based my methods, for time most part, on this video and this article.

It was way past time to do it, too. It seems like everyone who blogs or crafts is using one to make product pictures look super professional. I want better pictures of my crafts and even food for my blog, plus I have big plans to open an Etsy store. A light box is the perfect solution since an upgraded camera isn’t in the cards anytime soon.

I haven’t taken a whole lot of pictures with my new toy yet, but I wanted to test the difference it makes with lowly cell phone camera pictures. I regret not taking the time to relocate a second lamp for the cause, but the improvement with just one lamp is substantial. Just the lack of glare off the subject helps so much.

Before I get to some action shots of the light box in process, I had to share photographic evidence of a clean and clear work table, ready for making and sewing. It’s hard to keep it from becoming piled up with projects, but we do try.

Like I said, my light box method is super simple. The box I picked is 12 inches by 13 inches. First, I drew lines an inch from the edge on all four sides:

Carefully cut out the center of each side of the box. I used scissors, but a box cutter would be handy for the job.

Now that my box is completely useless for holding objects, I contemplated how best to cover the cardboard on the bottom of the box, turning it into a crisp white field.

I used several layers of printer paper to conceal the floor. Had I gone out for supplies, a piece of white poster board, cut down to fit, would have been my first choice. After arranging a base layer, I taped the pieces down carefully.

I secured the final layer of paper with a bit of glue along the edges. I may pick up some poster board at some point for a smooth surface, but until then I can shoot around the lines the edges of the paper makes.

I used a rough muslin, an inexpensive cotton fabric we keep on hand for mock-ups and pattern making, for the three sides. The top is a finer, thinner muslin. For the sides, I measured the sides of the box and cut out fabric to fit each side. After some thought, I decided to hang the pieces on the inside, tape the top edge to the outside and glue the sides down.

To cover the top, I taped the first two corners down, then cut the fabric allowing enough hang over to comfortably tape each corner and glue down the edges all around. It turned out to be about an inch, just like the cardboard left around the sides after cutting out the box sides.

I took a first test photo – again with just one lamp – of a couple of my favorite office/art supplies I’d used. You can expect lots and lots more pictures – with a second lamp going forward – soon. I even have a box set aside to make a larger light box to accommodate an 18 inch doll for modeling clothes.

Not bad for a couple hours and zero dollars, eh?

1 Comment | In: crafts and creations | tags: DIY, light box, photography. | #

I made this batch of doll clothes in May.

I took pictures with the intent of documenting them on the blog, but as so often happens, I didn’t do it right away. If I were all smooth and slick, I wouldn’t have mentioned how old these pictures are, but, hey, we’re all about honesty that makes me look like a slacker here at NerdBliss.

The important part is that I promptly mailed them to Sabrina, my BFF Kate’s daughter, my niece and owner of an American Girl doll. Since her birthday is close to Christmas, I thought it might be nice to send a summer vacation care package, plus any reason to both use my stash of remnant fabrics and shop for additional pieces or patterns.

Enough with the chit-chat and on to the pictures:

Black Bathing Suit from McCall’s M4896

Hounds tooth skirt, navy leggings, camisole.

I had to make the cami to bridge the weird gap in the ruffle shirt. Not sure why the pattern was designed this way.

With the vest. Despite the weird gap, I like the trendy look of McCall’s M6480

I made the vest reversible since the lining – made from Klingon wedding scraps – was too pretty to waste.

The reversible part wasn’t part of the pattern, but it was simple enough to tuck in the seams where the front and back connect under the arms.

The hat sells the look. Sadly, I didn’t get a better picture.

Real leather boots. They were a hassle to sew.

I winged it on these, but they came out well enough. I was on a mission to make shoes since learning Sabrina’s doll only had one pair. Unacceptable even for a plastic girl.

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Nothing like a project I can start and finish within a few hours. And nothing like bears in pajamas.

The bears in question belong to my friend Alex‘s nine year old daughter. The big guy is “Upstate Bear” and his little friend is “Daisy.” They’ve been waiting patiently on our love seat since January to have custom sleepwear fitted. I’d originally made a set for Upstate Bear with an 18 inch doll sized pattern, but that was without laying eyes on the fluffy fellow. When I had Alex bring him over to measure for a hem, we found the whole thing would have to be bigger, but I had to launch into work on our Klingon wedding costumes before reworking the PJs.

Little did I know it would take four months to complete all the Klingon wedding stuff or that I’d be sewing the night before the convention and talking a hand-sewing bit for the car ride to Atlanta.

I was so relieved to have a small project to jump back into after we got home. But first, I moved our sewing area from the dinning room into our office and put my desk in the dinning room. Crafts breed chaos. When you have a connected living/dinning room, working on a big, long project out there makes it feel like we don’t have a living space at all. I will eventually post pictures of our sewing room when I’ve got things set up how I’m envisioning. I really want a giant spool and bobbin rack, an cork board and maybe a peg board to hang our fanciest tools on.

When I finally sat down to make the pajamas, I wasn’t sure how well the skills I learned modifying patterns for our wedding garb would translate to working with dolls and bears. Let me tell you, it’s much easier to work with a bear than a person. And the pattern shapes are much simpler. Measure the waist, cut the pants pattern down the middle, tape in some of the cool giant graph paper we’ve got and presto, it fits. The shirt is a little more in depth to explain without diagrams, but a cake walk compared to fitting the bodice of my dress, for sure. The little pair needed only to be shortened. I used a Ken doll sized patten and it was perfect.

I’m proud of myself for learning a skill I’ll hopefully be applying for years to come for costumes, dolls & toys, and possibly even day to day wear clothes. Without being to cocky – the seam ripper is always handy for a reason – I feel like I’ve got the basics down. For someone who never had hobbies before besides reading and writing which, at the core, are basic skills everyone learns in school, it’s a darn good feeling.

Upstate Bear and Daisy went home a couple days ago. I hear their owner is very happy with the results. Without a doubt, that’s the best part.

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