Crafts and the Cold

This old home Spencer and I live in has been cold this winter.  Just found out that's largely because our furnace has been clogged up and barely working, but the other problem, drafts.  I made this draft-stopper to help.  It reminds me of a red one my grandma had back in the day, and is, well, adorable!

Easy Peasy Skirt Tutorial

Back from Vegas where my favorite slot machine reminded me of Zoe. I drank way too many pina coladas.  And I learned a skirt I recently refashioned can also double as a top.

I took apart a skirt I bought at thrift store a couple weeks ago, shortened it up, and added a black elastic waistband.  The entire project took an hour at the most.  I can barely sew, so if I can do it, anyone can.  I didn't directly follow any tutorial, as I couldn't find any that seemed like they'd give me the resulting skirt I wanted.  That said, I figured I'd share this easy sewing project, if you can even call it that.

Aside from basic sewing materials (scissors, thread, sewing machine) you'll need some black elastic 2-2 1/2 inches wide and an old skirt or dress.  If it's a longer skirt it doesn't necessarily have to fit you as the width grows as you cut a couple inches off the original waistband.

Step 1: Measure your waist, where you want the skirt to hit when wearing it.  Add two-three inches.  Cut the elastic accordingly and using machine sew together.  I did several lines of stiches to make sure it really holds.

  

Step 2:  Chop up your old skirt!  I didn't do any measurements beforehand, and just laid into it with my scissors.  But a smarter sewer would put the skirt on, figure out how much shorter they want it and cut accordingly.  The skirt I used had pockets that I ended up cutting through, so I had to cut those out too.

Step 3:  You're going to pin the skirt and elastic band together in four places. Turn the skirt inside out before hand, and be aware, as you pin the waistband should be underneath the fabric.  My skirt has a back seam so I matched it up with the seam of the elastic waistband and pinned. (see picture)  Also pin the side seams of the skirt and a front center point of the skirt to the waistband.  You may have to repin several times to get an even amount of fabric.  I found hanging the skirt (above) gave me a better idea of how equally I had dispersed the fabric.

Step 4:  Almost time to sew.  First a little more pinning.  Keeping the pins from before in place, and looking at the front of the skirt, pin two pleats to the right of the center pin and two pleats to the left of it.  They should be symmetrical and with the folds facing inward (see above picture). Flip the skirt over and do the exact same thing on the back. (Again I used no measurements here, just pinned until everything looked even)

Step 5:  With the skirt still inside out, sew it all together, removing the pins as you go.  I'm paranoid of clothing I make falling apart so I did two rows of stitches.  Press afterwards.  And wallah!  An easy peasy, and cute, skirt!

Buttons and Business Card Holders

I learned a life skill today: how to sew on a button.  This as my cats, brother and sister, sat beside me, loving each other.  I blame them for my constant urge to nap.  It's impossible to get anything done when two furry creatures are stretching beside you, inviting you to lay down, just for a second, and cuddle.                           

But a button ain't nothing.  Look at what else I managed to make!  Okay, I just made some credit/business card holders and a cloth pouch, but as a dropout of I-dont-want-to-tell-you-how-much-I-spent sewing classes, being able to create with a sewing machine is an accomplishment. The project in the first photo is actually made out of an old child's apron I found at a yard sale last weekend.

Also made my way out to Elgin to see my mom's best friend, Amy.  She kept more of my mom's belongings than I did.  Her in-the-works daycare is loaded with mugs, towels, tables, even a washer, all from Winmoor Drive.  One of her employees apparently even took my mother's bedroom set.  Seeing memorabilia from my childhood scattered around was odd, but not unsettling.  I love knowing people, other than my sisters, close family, and I can't help but have my mom on their mind as her stuff is everywhere.

Starting Small

This whole 'goal' thing has gotten me up off the couch and I like it.  I like it a lot.  So often I just associate goals with my career, and well, here I am, unemployed.  So giving myself some other goals between applying for jobs and waiting to hear back has made my Wednesday pretty awesome.

I completed a sewing project, if you can even call it that, making pillows out of some old sailboat napkins of my late grandparents.  (notice the cat lurking in the background) 

And I tried out a new recipe.  Carrot coconut soup.  It gave me an excuse to use my mom's crockpot finally.  Spencer loved it (the soup, that is).  As did I, although it didn't beat my sisters.

Oh, and for the record: I don't cook. I also don't sew, at least that well.  It's why these small accomplishments are so major to me, and also why so many of my '101 goals' are focused on cooking and crafts.  The kitchen is where I'll need the most help.  I just don't know a lot of the basics.  Like with this soup, it called for minced ginger.  Turns out I don't know what ginger root looks like, that you peel it, and that, when you do, the soft pink substance they serve at sushi restuarants doesn't appear.  A grocery story employee and my curiousity at home led to me figuring it out, but this cooking quest will be interesting.  Mom would be proud, and a big help on this journey.