Burp cloths: nifty tips

I have stacks and stacks of burp cloths.  Just because my daughter will be starting school this fall doesn't mean I can't put them to good use. 

Burp cloths make great rag rollers.  All you need are some scissors.  Just cut the burp cloths into strips and you are set.  If your hair is shoulder length or shorter, try 2'' wide strips.   If your hair is longer than shoulder length, I would recommend 2.5-3'' wide strips.  Burp cloths tend to hold moisture so your set may need more time to dry.  I recommend starting with barely damp hair.

I use burp cloths extensively for my make-up and skin care routine.  In the morning, I wash my face and use a burp cloth to dry my face.  I get dressed, and do my hair.  And then I take the same burp cloth, and tuck it into the neckline of my garment, like a bib.  This keeps makeup and powder off my clothes.  After I apply my powder, I like to use the burp cloth to gently buff my makeup.  This blends everything and prevents me from looking chalky.  I put the burp cloth away, but I'm not done with it yet!  I like to use the same burp cloth to remove the bulk of my makeup.  I apply olive oil to my face and rub it in to dissolve the grime and make-up.  Then I wipe it away with the same burp cloth.  If I am wearing a lot of make-up, I like to moisten the burp cloth with hot water, otherwise I leave it dry.  Then I toss it into the laundry hamper and hop in the shower.  One burp cloth, one day

Flowergirl Dress Alteration

It's wedding season!  Here is one of Valentine's flower girl dresses and this is how I let it out.

Start with the zipper open, and the dress inside out.  The center back seam in the lining has a top stitched section.  This is the gateway to the innards of the dress.  The lining is sewn into the hem; otherwise this would be much easier.

Pull the inside of the dress through the hole in the center back seam.  Have a mild heart attack, and then find the tail of the zipper.



Follow the tail up into the center back seam.  There should be four intersecting seams but only two are sewn to the zipper.  Just spread the seam allowances and check for the edge of the zipper tape.  Gotcha!

Follow that seam, working your way to the neckline, turning that side completely inside out.  You will likely need to clip a few tacks.

On the tooth side of the zipper, pin baste the lining to the outside of the dress.  This will make sure they stay lined up when the seams are picked.  I let it out from ~1.5" inches below the neckline to ~2" below the waistline.

One side of the seam will have two rows of stitching close together.  The other side only has one.  Pick the outer most seam and tie off the loose ends ~ 1" from the neckline.

Work your way down to ~2" below the waistline.  Tie off the loose ends.  You may encounter some difficulty in the area of the waistband; work gently with the seam ripper.  The waistband and bow may come off with this seam; we'll put them back on when we are done.

Now this is what it should look like.  The lining and outside of the dress are separated.  The zipper is still attached to the outside of the dress.

Pick the remaining seam and tie off the loose ends ~.5" before the previous seam was tied off.  Work your way down and do the same at the bottom.

Everything is separated!

Pin baste the zipper to the right side of the dress, gradually moving it towards the edge of the fabric. Don't let the edge of the zipper tape go beyond the edge of the fabric.  Use a zipper foot to sew close to the teeth.





Sandwich the zipper between the lining and the outside of the dress.  Thread baste through all layers, 3/8" from the zipper seam, on the tape side.  Here you can see the new zipper seam (in black) and the thread basting (in white).  Sew through all layers, 2/8" from the zipper seam on the tape side.  Remove basting stitches.



Repeat on the other side.

Turn the dress through the hole in the center back seam.  And make sure everything is okay before sewing shut.

If the waistband has come loose, hand sew to the original seam line, using a blind stitch.  And hand sew the bow back onto dress with a few tacks. 

All done!!

Re-altered #5 fitting pants

Well I took my altered #5 fitting pants and changed them again.  I removed the back crotch extension and then I scooped out the back crotch curve.  This is what it looks like.  The lower seam line is the new one.

Here are the results:

While it helped with the wedgie it worsened the diagonal wrinkles from cheek to hip.  I prefer the first alteration I did - flattening the back crotch curve.  So I will take this knowledge with me, back to the drafting table (my computer).  And hopefully soon I will have drafted the perfect jeans.

Altered Pants Fitting # 5

In the last seven pants fitting I have done, # 5 is the best.  So I took the #5 fitting pants and altered them to see what would improve them. 

I restitched the back crotch so the shape is flatter.  And then I lengthened the back crotch extension ever so slightly.  Here is the result.

I really like these.  They are comfortable and snug enough for me.  My husband likes the way they look.  But I don't know anymore what pants are supposed to look like.

Fitting Jeans #7

Here is my latest fitting garment.  These stupid jeans again.  I am so close but still not close enough.  And every fitting results in only modest improvements.  *sigh*  These are actually very comfortable but they are very loose.   

For this pair I took my Fitting Jeans #5 and simply added a 0.5" extension to the back crotch. 

It looks like 0.5" might have been too much.  And I should probably reduce hip ease. 

Voila! Motorcycle Jacket Lining

The lining came together so easily.  There were no darts.  I serged all the raw edges before sewing and then I bound them all in bias tape.  Here it is ready to be sewn in. 

I used a blindstitch to attach the lining to the coat.  It was easy but it took forever. 

DH is so excited.  He has a big ride this coming weekend and he can't wait to show everyone.

Buried Treasure!

I went to a garage sale on saturday and filled my trunk with vintage craft materials.  I found knitting and sewing magazines, sewing patterns, transfers and then some craft supplies.  I even found a Hank Williams Honky Tonkin' record.  This doesn't happen to me very often.  Most of the time the vintage crafts have already been bought or worse, thrown out.

 Here are some of the cooler patterns.

 These are the rest of the patterns.  They are mostly from the 60's thru the 80's.  

 These are the magazines.  There is a December 1950 issue of Better Homes.  Several old knitting and crochet pattern books.  Some even have patterns for bras and corset covers! 

 This box is full of magazines and catalogs from 1905 thru the late 20's.  They are mostly about homemaking.  There are crafts, and handy tips, as well as hilarious adverts.