Storing my extra duvets.

Oh my........what happened to the last 5 weeks.......

But I am finally finished moving.

All my fabrics are stored in a small room, I have in the attic. But before it went up there (3 more storeys, I am on 2nd floor), it was measured and photographed, so I now have a file with a total overview.

I have managed between making Christmas cookies and wishing-lists, to make my couch a little more comfortable, and those duvets I have written about earlier are now "wrapped". I simply made 3 bags, and it was enough to reach the full length.

This is how I did:

I rolled a duvet together and measured the length

Found a dish that fitted the circumference

Measured the circumference

Or, if you know your geometry, you can calculate by measuring the diameter: 22/7 times diameter = circumference

For each bag I cut 2 ends using the dish as pattern and remembered 1 cm extra for seaming
and 1 piece for the bag itself : the length of the duvet + 2 cm for seaming times the circumference of the dish + 12 cm, for seaming. In my case it was like this: 65 cm (63+2) times 87 cm (75 + 12) .

To close the bags I decided to use velcro. I cut them approx. 8 cm shorter that the width (here 57 cm)

I turned the edge 2 cm and placed the velcro over the edges, and sewed each piece to the ends. 

IMPORTANT!!!!  they were sewn to each side of the fabric to make them lap over when closed. Notice that there's a gap at each end, that will make it easier to open later on.

I went back and forward at the end of the velcro and continued to the end of the fabric without doing it again. I wanted to be sure, that the velcro was fastened.

Then I sew the ends. I held the circles on top and started on top of the closed velcro. By having the circle on top it is rather easy to make it fit. If you haven't tried it before, then pin it together before sewing. (but if you have cut it right it will fit !)

After having sewed with normal stitches I just took another round using zigzag ( I lifted the needle, changed to zigzag and continued)

And this is how the finished bag looks on the inside.

And on the outside....

The duvet is in and it is closed.

As I had lots of fabric I hurried to make a cover for the matresses too. (There's two of them, as it can be converted to a double bed, by the way bought in IKEA  lol). I measured the matress, length and width and added the height(20cm + 20 cm to all the sides (200+20+20+20+2 times 80 +20+20+20+20) I cut out the fabric and sewed the corners (again I measured). In each corner could cut off a big triangle, then I zigzagged all edges and pulled the cover over the corners and folded the extra fabric under.

This is how it looks now with pillows (that is my extra pillows for the bed sized 60 * 60 cm)

Moving, messy and pillows

Hi, I am still here   :-)

Oh how time flies, when one is busy.....

I hope you haven't given up on me, but ríght now another corner is reached.

I was living temporarily in my late Dad's apartment and it is finally sold, we handed over the keys on Saturday.

The time has been spent with emptying the apartment, sorting and throwing out.......and my, what a lot, one gathers throughout a whole life..........and I tell you my Dad sorted several times before he died, he hated clutter and too much bric-a-brac.

Now I finally am in my own, and first, apartment, surrounded by boxes and sacks!

I still need to empty a storage room (still need to get 24 boxes) and look here:

I hope this will end up being my "sewing- corner"

And, at the moment I am "in bed with my fabrics"!

I am really trying to get this organized in the absolute best way, so I guess it will take some time before everything is placed as I wish.

But something I have found out:

In my small livingroom have I chosen to use a guest-bed as sofa, and I have made pillowcases, in which I can hide the extra pillows and duvets. so by now I have a really cosy corner! (the tv is just opposite - lol)

These are just the first ones, there'll be more when I find the rest of the duvets in the storage

And I have found time and place for sewing too, my daughter needed leggings......

The dining table functioning as cutting table! I am glad I am the only one living here...  ( notice the tool box on the floor, I have put up everything myself, even the shelves in the bedroom.... and they are still up!!!!)

Well I'd better continue, take care everybody until next time.............

French Seam......again....

I suddenly had to use the french seam again........
I am moving into an apartment with the smallest toilet/bathroom I ever have seen before, so I just had to figure something out.

I meassured the room to be  1 times 1,5 meter (3 times 5 feet).....but there's 2,5 meters (8,2 feet) to the ceiling

A shower curtain (bought) is about 2 meter (6,5 feet) high, but i needed it a little longer, as I wanted it to cover the funny window in the back

So I found those laces among my fabrics, but they weren't wide enough AND now the french seam comes in handy.
The seam will be perfect because the french seam leaves no edges and it is even stronger because you sew through the laces twice, and then hit more fabric. (you can see the seam to the right)

Now there's a curtain in bothe ends of the "bathroom", and you can see that the curtain covers the toilet bowl (then I only will have to wipe off the zink afterwards....I will now give it a try......

French Seam

Here you are, in the middle of moving to a new place, and you have to come up with a birthday present for a three -year- old....... But
As I was cleaning up, sorting my fabrics, I found these 5 metres of cotton, just enough for a bed spread.
That became the birthday present, and I just recalled and re-tried the French Seam which is ideal for these type of projects.
No fringed edges and it is really strong.
I think I learned to make this seam in second or third grade ( yes, we started learning sewing and knitting from 2. grade ㋡ )
Here it is:

Start sewing from the Front side ½ a centimeter ( 1/4 of an inch) from the edge

Cut with scissors until the edge is straight and as narrow as possible

Turn out the backside and "iron the seam with your nail or a closed pair of scissors (that is possible with cotton)

Now sew again approx. 1 cm from the edge( half an inch), the first seam is now closed in.

It should look like this on the backside.

Turn out the front and you have now made a French seam, double and with no fringes.

By the  way - the birthday girl loved it ..........

My fabrics + moving = totally crazy!!!!!

I have started on sorting my fabrics. They have been stored away for three month in sacks in a storage facility. 
It is necessary for two reasons. First of all we were smoking a lot in our old home so ALL the fabrics just stinks!!!!! Right now I am washing all of it and is almost halfway through. 

This is most of the jerseys and the elastic materials for waist, cuffs and neck on sweatshirts, now I only need the non-elastic fabrics and the fabrics for lining. By the way, there's also two sacks with sweat fabric, velvet and such behind the couch.
Another reason why I need to do this is, that I won't have the same space for it, so I will have to check if there's something I " can live without", then it will be given to charity.
I just don't know if I will be able to let go, because everytime I get hold of a piece I just get new ideas...........................I just need the time !!!!!!

It won't be the next couple of week because it is moving time ........

Oh by the way.....I just had to make these kettle holders the other day, they were needed in a vacation apartment, no. 206, if you can see that.       The material inside for insulation is an old towel, didn't have any absorbent cotton at hand.

Shirts for children with decorations

Hello   and yeaaahhhh.................
I have got an apartment..........
BUT.......
I means, that I will have to clean up in my storage of fabrics, the apartment is not much bigger than the room I used for sewing in my old house. 

So now I have started making these shirts, I am having fun creating the decorations. 

The first 4 are almost finished, so I thought you might like to see what it is all about. 

I don't really know who they are for, but maybe I can sell them if anybody are interested.....................

Size 8 years

Size 6 years

Size 4 years

Size 2 years

Feel free to comment or give me some new ideas...........thanks   

Have a nice weekend..................

How to thread the machine

A friend asked if I could show how I threaded my machines, so here you are, hopefully a couple of ideas to help:

The sewing machine:

Yes, it IS old, but it works. the reason why the thread is going through all these loops is, that it is important, that is not too loose or too tight. Every machine is different, but follow the thread from the backside and through the metaldiscs, that tighten the thread, and remember all the other hooks. Also remember the little hook above the needle. (remember, the needle has to be placed as far up as possible with the flat side turning away from you, there's also a narrow slot from the eye of the needle and up on the front, to make room for the thread while sewing) Put the thread through the eye from the front and place the end under the pressser foot.

the thread from underneath is always taken off the bobbin from the top and to the right. As it is placed on the photo you can put it directly into the bobbin case and then the thread is pulled through the little spring placed outside the case. the case is now ready to place in the machine, remember it has to click before yous can start .

You pull up the thread from under the board by dragging the wheel (the  one that makes the needle move, placed on the right side) TOWARDS YOURSELF, so the needle is moving down, and up again. Now you pull the end of the thread that comes from the needle and the thread from underneath should appear as a loop. Drag it up until you have two ends and place them underneath the presser foot and away from you. Ready to sew.

Marking the darts

Today it is raining, so why not do what you like the most......
Darts are almost impossible to avoid when you are sewing, it is necessary for letting the fabrics follow the curves that the body obviously has, and on the top I made the other day, there were darts at the shoulder, to make the sleeves fall nicely over it.
I have never marked with chalk on the fabrics, but instead I have done like this:

Marking of darts:

Cut with the scissors a small chip at the ends of the dart and put a pin through the point of the dart. Pull carefully the pattern off, while the pin stays in the fabric (the head of the pin is pulled through the paper).

Open up, so you have both the backsides and be sure, that the pin is going through both layers.

Place a pin through the same hole in both layers, and make sure the point of the pins are pointing towards the two chips at the edges.

Now the darts are marked, then you put the two chips together in each dart, so that they form a triangle with the pin at the end. Ready to sew.

Making a top 1

Welcome to another great weekend.....
Well, I didn't write yesterday as we are having a blues and jazz festival here in Aalborg, Denmark, where I live. 
And what is better than a little happy jazz........between showers and sunshine.....

I managed though, to make a top Thursday and shot a lot of photos. But the story behind first. 

When I buy fabrics isn't it because I have seen a photo of something, I want to make first, no, I see a store selling fabrics,  and then I look for bargains, but use my fingers when I choose..... (it has to give me a nice feeling, and it also help to decide the type of fabric)
And when I have found something I like, then the ideas are popping up.
If they turn into something real....? Well, but I usually take the fabrics home.
And then I have the option of buying packages with pieces of fabric, i.e. on the net. I do that once in a while too, and this top is, in the matter of facts, the result of such a bargain resently.

I had a piece of grey jersey and got the striped piece from such a package, received by mail.

and then the pattern.........

I had made this pattern for a dress a month ago (my daughter was going to be married, and I just had to find out what to wear) and it has already turned into several pieces of clothing. Look:

Some summerdresses and even a top










Well, let's just start:

 As it was leftovers and cheap parings, I had to make the top as long as the fabrics allowed (I had checked, that the lenght was ok) And remembered to add 1 cm/half an inch to all the edges (2-3 cm/ 1-2 inches at the bottoms to make a nice seam). I also checked all the sides, to be sure that all pieces had the same lenght. I used my tape measure vertically to make it follow the curves.

The small strip at the top of the photo is for the neck lining, I will show you how to do that tomorrow.

The result.

Now I will go listening to more good music, have a nice day