Recycling feed bags

Anyone who has peeked in at my homestead blog knows I feed a small menagerie (or petting zoo, depending on how fancy a vocabulary Dad feels like using) and that results in quite a few feed bags - full when I buy them, then empty.  We had been using them as trash bags in the feed shed, then over the summer I saw someone at Tractor Supply's market day selling shopping/tote bags made from feed bags.  I tried asking her for details, but she just said, "Oh, there's tutorials online."  I guess she was just selling them for whoever did the actual sewing since she didn't seem the least bit interested when I tried to ask about needles and thread used.

So, we've been saving the 50-pound bags when empty, and they do pile up pretty quickly.  I don't bother with the very smooth plastic hay cube/pellet bags, and I also don't use the Nutrena brand 40-pound bags, as those have the annoying habit of splitting open if tossed at the store.  I easily found a couple different tutorials online (I like this one best), and made a test bag.  OK, my machine doesn't really like the textured plastic bags.  I used an universal needle, size 14, for the test bag, and I don't think my machine appreciated that too much either - it made the thump-thump noise that lets me know it's past time to change needles.  Meh.  Hubby ordered me some size 14 leather needles (I like Schmetz brand) and I had picked up some light beige heavy duty Coats & Clark thread off clearance ... now it's time to figure out which machine will do the best job at this.  I intend to pull the trusty old mechanical Brother, Timex, out to see how that goes.  If not, then the old-as-I-am Kenmore Anchor will get a shot at it.

First, though ... I need to wash the bags off.  I have about a dozen or so in the bathtub right now.

Patterns, patterns, and more patterns

OK, I guess I got a little caught up in the selection process of the big pattern prize pack win from 3 weeks ago.  It happens.  I meant to post up links to what I got as I got them.  It's the thought that counts, right?

Oh, and I did not buy a lottery ticket yet.  I had the idea that perhaps I should wait on that until I've used at least one pattern from each prize donor, and posted up appropriate links here, because one needs to show proper appreciation and gratitude before asking for more.  It makes sense to me, at least.

Let me work backwards here, and start with the pattern I just ordered this morning.  It should ship by tomorrow or Friday, and is a long out of print Kwik Sew bra pattern (#1018) I didn't know even existed until I saw a review posted up at Pattern Review.  It wasn't the written review that got me all excited, it was the pictures, including one of her wearing it.  Well, especially the picture of her wearing it - that made me say, "She's built like me!  And that fits her GOOD."  When I told my friend Lynn about the pattern, she said she wants to see it as soon as I get it in the mail.  Oh, I found one listed on Etsy for just under $15, listed as uncut with envelope still sealed.  Cool beans!

Picking up where I left off on the prize pack, I chose the Willow pleated trousers from Laela Jeyne.  Yes, they look very similar to the McCall's pleated paper-bag waist pants pattern I have ... in fact, my intent here is to compare the two.

Choosing just one pattern from 5 out of 4 Patterns wasn't as easy, but I decided I could probably get some good mileage out of the Nancy raglan (and yes, I snickered a bit at the pun in the name).  I have been wanting a variety of raglan knit top patterns, and until this year there had been  slim pickin's there.  I figured I ought to get while the gettin's good.

I had enough on the gift "card" from Bella Sunshine Designs to get three patterns, so I now have the Reagan raglan (continuing the pun from 5 out of 4!), the Amelia top, dress, and maxi, and the Maggie top, tunic and dress.

Choosing at Wardrobe by Me wasn't easy, and I paid close attention to the sizing as the designer(s) is in Denmark.  After quite a bit of dithering, I decided on the Aurora dress and tunic pattern.

I still have a $10 store credit to use at Striped Swallow Designs, but I used the code for the free pattern to get the Winter Park top.  I am still quite undecided on what else to get, as there is more than one that has caught my eye.

Finally, from the hostess of the giveaway, I've picked two of the four free patterns from Itch to Stitch: the Brasov wrap top and the Chai shirt and dress.

oh WOW I won!

So, I often enter giveaways and whatnot, even the occasional lottery ticket, but winning anything is a rare event.  Imagine my surprise to get an email today from Kennis at Itch To Stitch saying I won one of the two prize packs from her birthday giveaway!  When replying to her email, I remarked that hubby said I should get a lotto ticket since this doesn't happen too often.  When Kennis sent back my codes, she remarked hubby may be right and she thinks I ought to buy a ticket as well!  LOL  Sounds like she has a sense of humor.

Itch to Stitch Birthday Celebration Prize Pack 1

• 4 patterns from Itch to Stitch
• 1 pattern from The Wolf and the Tree
• 1 pattern from Laela Jeyne Patterns
• 1 pattern from Stitch Upon a Time
• 1 pattern from Wardrobe by Me
• 1 pattern from 5 out of 4 Patterns
• $25 gift card from Bella Sunshine Designs
• 1 PDF pattern & $10 shop credit from Striped Swallow Designs
• $10 store credit from Candy Castle Patterns
• 1 PDF pattern of choice (except bundles) from Susana Coelho de Melo Cunha
• $15 credit from Flosstyle

Candy Castle Patterns and Stitch Upon A Time are time-sensitive, so I surfed over to their sites first.  I finally decided on the very practical mens' and womens' sweater pattern from Candy Castle.  Looking through Stitch Upon A Time, I saw the exact thing I was thinking about this morning during milking: women's boxer briefs.  Well, that made my decision quite easy!

That's as far as I've gotten so far.  This is actually a little overwhelming, such a big pattern splurge.

Oh, and before Mom calls me out, a big public THANK YOU to Kennis and her friends for putting together such a big prize pack.  I suppose I ought to thank the software program for picking me as well ... LOL.  Nah, we don't thank computers.  Still, what a novelty to win so much.

Butterick 5682 jeans pattern

I have been asked over on PatternReview for pics and a full review on the Butterick 5682 jeans that I made over a year ago.  That was the straight leg view, and I decided I need to retrace the pieces onto the Pellon EasyPattern stuff, as that is a lot more sturdy than the red-dot stuff I initially used.  Instead, I traced the flare leg view to play around with.  I bought some fabric paint markers at WalMart the other week, with intentions of covering up the tea or pop spill stain on my linen tunic, but there ought to be plenty to paint the flares in the lighter denim.

A quick teaser picture: the pocket pieces on the Butterick are the standard-issue useless mostly-decorative model, so - inspired by the PR jeans class by Jennifer Stern - I drew some nice roomy big FUNCTIONAL front pockets for my jeans, complete with pocket stays that get sew into the fly.  Now *these* are some kick(*donkey*) pockets.

my big roomy FUNCTIONAL front jeans pockets

I think I'll blog about these jeans I'm about to make, since it seems quite a few sewists think jeans are intimidating.

Fitting notes for Simplicity 8243 blouse

It's been a busy week, and tomorrow is also busy, but I want to get these notes posted before I forget them.  On the Simplicity 8243 blouse, when I googled for reviews (there were none on Pattern Review) I found just two: one from Tanya at CurvySewingCollective and one from a blogger who calls herself Seam Racer.  I am honestly surprised this pattern is not more popular.  It's been out for a while, and I bought it up in Chicago when Mom and I hit JoAnns the day before son's wedding.  I think it ought to be more popular ... but then again, I tend to be very much out-of-step with most folks.

So, these fitting notes are for the blouse only:

• Collar: I love the cut-on collar.  Once I wrapped my mind around it and grokked the fullness, it seemed absolutely brilliant and I wondered why this technique isn't in common use for camp shirts, casual button-fronts, and of course Hawaiian shirts.  I think I'll do the facing in a solid white next time I do up a for-reals shirt.  Which brings me to:
• Shoulder pads: Apparently they aren't a "thing" right now, because I had to scour Goodwill's racks to find something to swipe the shoulder pads from.  For some reason I thought I read they were big in the NY Fashion Week?  Maybe that's the forecast one for spring ...?  The only reason I pay *ANY* attention to that is because it affects my ability to get certain items.  You know, like fancy or unusual sleeves ...
• Pleated sleeves!  These are cute enough on their own, but the pleats really shine with shoulder pads.
• Back to the shoulder pads: I posted a thread on PR about how to back out the shoulder pad allowance, and Gloria came through like a real champ, even emailing a snapshot of one of her sewing books.  I am going to give it the ol' Girl Scout try here, probably in that silly cherries cotton broadcloth I got in a FabricMart bundle and have been using for pockets on jeans when I run out of green shamrock fabric. (pic to follow)
• Length: The blouse is supposed to be tucked in, and tucked into high-waisted pants, but I like it untucked and so I'll lengthen it a bit to avoid my fishbelly-white belly playing peek-a-boo.  Wouldn't want to blind anyone.
• Sleeve width: these are VERY close-fitting sleeves.  While it doesn't impede my movement, they are a little too close for my comfort, so I am going to try widening them a bit in the cherries broadcloth experimental version.
• FBA: I did an inch-and-half FBA on this, so it does button without gaping, but looking at the pictures makes me think I need just a smidge more to eliminate the drag lines I see.
• Swayback adjustment: I didn't do anything to the back piece, and I am thinking of widening it a bit to add two fisheye waist darts to give it proper shaping in back.

This probably looks like a whole lotta things to do to the pattern, but I feel it's certainly worth it.  This is a classy blouse, and I intend to keep playing around with it.  Now, if I could just find which box has my rayon satin, then I'll make a seriously fancy blouse!

from Power Sewing by Nancy Zieman Sandra Betzina, 1993 edition
snapshot by Gloria

Simplicity 8243 blouse finished

I'll do a bunch more notes in a few days, but I wore it in to town yesterday and got pics when we got home, so I wanted to post them up here.

Simplicity 8243 blouse, with arm down

Simplicity 8243 blouse, with arm up showing
the crease up near the shoulder pad

Simplicity 8243 blouse, back view - no back shaping

of course the front view picture is fuzzy - we just cannot have a photo session
without an out-of-focus pic (or three)

This top came out WAY fancier than I had envisioned.  I was going for "cute and casual," but as you can see, it stepped over that standard.  I had quite the time finding shoulder pads locally - finally decided to scour Goodwill's racks, and sure enough I found a red dress (probably poly) with red shoulder pads and a red long back zipper and even a cute bit of red lace across the front.  Trust me, the blouse doesn't look right without the shoulder pads ... unless you adjust them out.  That's another post.

Dreams and schemes for a mini wardrobe

Wearing my linen work jeans around the property for chores has made me want MORE!  More linen work clothes!  And then, right before a stronger-than-normal summer storm hit the other evening, inspiration hit me first.

For over a year now, my precious linen/cotton denim chambray has hovered near the top of the fabric piles, and sitting close to it in my imagination is of course Simplicity 8447, the Rosie the Riveter overalls, along with two blouses and the pants without the overall bib.  I now intend to make the pants in a heavy linen from Fabrics-Store (in the patriot blue color), get those fit well, then the overalls, the regular blouse in a medium blue handkerchief linen I think I got from Fabric Mart more than a few years ago.

While I was pulling out the overalls pattern, I grabbed up Simplicity 8243, a 1940s sportswear pattern with a short sleeve blouse that caught my eye when Mom and I were doing some shopping the day after son's wedding up in Chicago.  I have some red bandana paisley cotton from WalMart I think would be cute.

Today, the rules for the PatternReview.com mini wardrobe contest were posted, and it is work themed ... but you need 5 garments to create 6 looks.  Oh, and all five must be cut and sewn between 1 September and 30 September.  I hit on an idea for a fifth garment this afternoon, if it's ruled as a garment: Simplicity 4282, view C vest style apron, and I'll tweak the pockets to make it an egg-gathering apron.  The pockets are more to the side, so I'll be able to scrinch down to get the egg laid in the smallest part of the corner of a tractor, because you know there's always one hen who must make it an obstacle course for you.

So, that's my inspiration and plans.  Now the big question is: how long will it take me to sew all these up?  Only one way to find out.

Some fitting notes on Butterick 5682 jeans pattern

Yeah, yeah ... I've been quiet almost a full year here.  I have been sewing, though not as fast as I would like.  Yesterday I finally (FINALLY!) finished my linen work jeans using the Butterick 5682 pattern and some jacquard weave linen from Fabrics-Store that I cut out over a year ago.  It's the dog days of summer down here in humid inland Florida, which means my last two working brain cells are trying to come up with ways to either sweat less, or catch every possible air movement while outside working.  Hence, linen work pants.  A few fitting notes as I further refine this pattern to my body:

• I want to try raising the crotch curve.  While I am going for relaxed fit, there is a point it gets too relaxed and just feels baggy.  I'm going to start out by raising half an inch.
• I need to compare the size 22 with the size 20, as I needed to take in two small tucks in back to keep them from sliding down.  I also do this with the denim pair now.
• I shaved off about 3/8 inch from the hips from the denim version to this one, and it feels just about right in the very flexible linen.
• My front panels are still rotating towards the center, so time to shift the seams from inside to outside and vice versa along the thighs.
• Lengthen the zipper in front, and take a bit more out below that.  While I'm at it ... don't sew the zip in quite so high.  I'm lucky I didn't hit the metal zipper teeth while sewing on the waistband.

Overall, I am quite pleased with these work pants.  They may not be much to look at, especially since my idea of a dye job was to wash this piece of linen with three new pieces of denim and just let it do its variation thing as it pleased, but they certainly are comfortable now that I've taken in the back waist a bit.  I guess my yoga stretches are having a bit of an effect.