Completed: Floral Suede Skirt, Simplicity 2226

I present to you Simplicity 2226, in a fun black alova suede with metallic dotted roses. My first completed, wearable handmade garment! I am quite pleased.

I think my first zipper came out pretty darn nice if I do say so myself! Of course, I did have some fine help throughout this project. First, this was actually started in a class but we ran out of time just before getting to the zipper. However, I was lucky enough to find out a whole sew along was set up for this pattern! Noodlehead's extra guidance through the rest of the skirt really helped give me the confidence that I could finish this up on my own!

For my hem, I decided to try out this tip of marking the hem amount x 2 up from the raw edge, then lining up the edge to the line and ironing in your hem. Similarly, I marked 1/4" down from this first line as a guide for folding in the raw edge. Funny enough, just the other day I was looking at this little square I bought some time ago for a quilting class, wondering if I'd ever have a use for it. Then lo and behold, what does this technique recommend using? Perfect!

This fabric was really nice to work with. It didn't fray, it pressed well, and it stayed in place pretty well without pinning. I actually tried out the Clover Wonder Clips in both this project and toward the end on the tablet case instead of using pins. It always bothered me the little bit of distortion created in the fabric around the pin so Im really quite happy over these clips. So far they are working out nicely. 

Completed: Nexus Tablet Case

Yes! I finally got something finished! And Im mostly pleased with it.

I did end up having a few issues at the end. The one large pocket ended up being a tad small for the board. I restitched the seam once but the topstitching ate up the extra space again. You might notice in the above picture how the case curves up at the bottom under the tablet. I think that might be from the board being to snug or those bottom triangles being stressed. If I make one again, Id like to find a solution to that.

Next up on my plate is to finish a skirt I started in a sewing class some time ago, using Simplicity 2226. I think all that's left is to finish the waistband and hem it. I also have a costume I need to start on. It's for an event at the end of August, but it will be my first costume and first dress so I dont want to end up rushing through it. 

What Am I Working On

So to start this off, let's see what Im working on right now.

Here are the supplies for my BF's soon the be Nexus tablet case, made following this tutorial. Im using a 21W brown corduroy for the outside and brown symphony broadcloth for the interior and lining. I decided to try out using a fleece rem in place of batting to save a bit, since I dont have any batting scraps.

Ive gotten as far as finishing up the interior and am about to sew on the button. I need the BF to bring me the nexus so I can get the elastic positioned right before I can sew it all up. So far the only thing Ive done differently is to carefully topstitch closed the board cases by machine rather than by hand. (I will avoid handstitching wherever possible!) I also plan to sew the button on 2.5" from the edge, rather than the stated 3".  Pretty sure that's left over from her case which is for a larger tablet. Being that the nexus is only 4.75" wide, 3" didnt really make sense. 

Hello Again

I would like to attempt to resurrect this blog. I hope to use this to document all my projects, be it knitting, crochet, sewing, or whatever else I get my hands into! Maybe else I little on my life.

I also have the hope that this might get me more motivated to actually work on something! Since learning to sew, I've amassed quite the stash and backlog of projects. Add to that all the knitting and crochet projects I'd like to get to and I cant afford to sit on it all anymore!

Wish me luck!