Sew Geeky: Anatomy Nerd

Do you know the Sew Geeky Series? Kat and Ari started this sewn clothing series to celebrate their geekiness. From Star Wars to 8-bit to classic anime, these amazingly talented ladies take a monthly theme and blow it up. Because everyone has such diverse geekery, October is Sew Geeky Spectacular and I'm here to join in!


I love skeletons. You all know that. No big surprise there. I am not sure when this love affair started exactly. Or even where it came from. As a kid I used to be afraid of a model skeleton in my Nana's basement. His name was Mr. Bones and he was perched on an overhang of her basement stairs. My brothers and I played down there often and I would rush down the stairs for fear that one day Mr. Bones would jump down on me.

Try as I might, I can't seem to recall when my fear of skeletons turned into love. I'm sure it had to do with my changing to public schools and embracing science classes. Biology and the human body have always captivated me. I want to know how it all works. And now, I get to see inside of you. I seriously think it's so freaking cool to look at a person's insides moving around in real time. Like, it's so awesome. You don't even know.


Loving skeletons is all fine and dandy, until Halloween comes around. Don't get me wrong. I love Halloween. It's a most excellent time of year when partnered with Dia de los Muertos to add to my skulls and bones collection. I just find it a bit embarrassing to be swearing skeleton things in late October. I don't want people to think I'm only wearing them for the season. (Which is highly stupid, because, hi, what do I really care?)

In any case, I had this idea twirling around in my head to use some of my great grandmother's vintage lace to make bones. I have just inherited a large box of her lace (along with her treadle Singer!) I wanted just a simple line of vertebrae running down my back. Clean. Architectural almost. Minimalist skeleton.


I sketched out the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae shapes onto a thin paper then sprayed a temporary adhesive to the back of it. This let me stick the scraps of lace in order to make sure they were aligned right and stayed flat while I sewed them. Next I pinned the paper to the back of my hoodie the appliqued away.



I have to admit to feeling defensive about my Sew Geeky post this time around. Mostly because it's October and I'm not sharing a costume. But this is the month of free for all Sew Geeky Spectacular, and I'm a super geek for science and anatomy. Last month we had a school project to make a life sized replica of the human organs. Most people used a metric ton of modeling clay or crap felt. I just couldn't. I may have drafted patterns for each organ and sewed them all with scraps from my stash. And made a super sweet rib cage that unzips at the sternum.


So here I am. Feeling like an awkward fourteen year old, but so super loving my new skeleton hoodie. Eh, I'm a geek. I'm a nerd. Deal with it. (zips up hoodie and stalks out)

Present Perfect: Cargo Tablet Sleeve

I catch a lot of flak from my dear husband, Danny. It turns out that despite my lack of affinity for ruffles and lace, my fabric collection is well, quite girlie. I do my fair share of sewing for our home and family, but since no men go fabric shopping with me, most everything handmade in our home has a feminine touch. I'd been mulling over a more manly handmade aesthetic when I was asked to make a little something from Present Perfect: 25 Gifts to Sew and Bestow, the newest book by Betz White.

As a very techie family we have a variety of devices in our home. Some have proper homes (aka, my tablet), others not so much. For instance, my husband's Kindle goes on business trips within the not exactly protective confines of the wool hat I crocheted him last winter. Hey, I give him points for the attempt. It seemed pretty obvious after flipping through Betz's new book that I should be making Danny some proper device sleeves (and practice using some manly fabrics, too.)


I'm not usually a big craft book fan. Most times there is one pretty great project and eight other meh ones that both you and I wouldn't exactly need a book for. But after flipping through the copy of Present Perfect that the publishers sent me, I've got to tell you, that this is not the case. I had a hard time deciding which 'man' project to pick. The Cargo Tablet Sleeve was the ultimate winner, but the Gentleman's Travel Case is still calling my name. Plus, I've been having this love affair with bees all this year and bam, there's that Sweet Life Pillow just begging me to make one. And then I saw the hot pink version Melissa made and it's a must.

Present Perfect has great handmade gift ideas for everyone, really. Babies, men, your girl friends, housewarming... you name it, Betz has a great idea for you. Oh, and did I mention that the book comes with pattern pieces? Yes! Even the rectangular ones that most books just tell you what size to cut out. I don't know about you, but I usually screw those up. But not with these patterns, friends. (You can tell, I was perhaps quite excited by this.) If you know someone who has just gotten into sewing and crafting, this book would make a fabulous gift for them. The instructions and drawings are clear and easy to follow, and the photographs just make you want to keep sewing up project after project.


I used a pirate print for the lining and a milk chocolate brown cotton twill for the outside of the Cargo Tablet Sleeve. I was going to wax the twill with some beeswax I recently got a honeybee festival, but it was too soft to alter it. The flap and base of the Cargo Tablet Sleeve are cut from a chocolate brown suede jacket my sister in law gifted me for upcycling purposes. It's the first time I've ever sewn with salvaged animal hide and I was pretty pleased with the result.



The clasp is a vintage Euro swivel clip and key ring I picked up from an Army/Navy store in Provencetown, MA this summer while we were on vacation. I don't even want to tell you how inexpensive this hardware was. I'm embarrassed to say that I did not buy them all, because I so should have.

The result is a pretty sweet, man friendly, tablet bag. It's not the first fabric choices I would have chosen, but Danny approves of it's manliness and I can breath a bit easier knowing his tablet is traveling protected (and in style!) I think I'll have to make myself one with a bright vintage floral canvas...

Until then, check out Present Perfect by Betz White. She's made a short video to flip through some of the projects in this book. I can honestly say this book is worth getting, or giving. Also, you can pop into the blogs below on their tour dates to see what other makers have sewn from the book.


Happy Home:
October 6 - Sew Mama Sew – Make & Bake Apron
October 7 - Stacy Sews – Falling Leaves Appliquéd Placemats
October 8 - House on Hill Road – Hot Mitt House & Tea Towel Set
October 9 - A Happy Stitch – Sweet Life Pillow

Memorable Moments:
October 10 - Sew Sweetness – Wool Courier Bag
October 13 - Raspberry Sunshine – Gentlemen’s Travel Case
October 14 - Pink Chalk Fabrics – Pasha Pleated Clutch
October 15 - The Long Thread – Eye Candy Glasses Case
October 16 - Made with Moxie – Cargo Tablet Sleeve
October 17 - Bijou Lovely – Coffee Cash Coin Pouch

New and Little
October 20 - Flax and Twine – Forest Friends Finger Puppets
October 21 - Imagine Gnats – Bib, Rattle & Burp Baby Set

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget tomorrow is the launch of Perfect Pattern Parcel #6! You're going to love it.

Upcycle Men's Shirts

There's something about men's dress shirts that I find irresistible. Be it oxford or fine spun cotton, it's the hand of the fabric that gets me first. Such lovely textures. The stripes and patterns are most often woven in instead of stamped like women's clothing which is a sign of a nicer construction as well. I personally love a man's dress shirt for it's length too since I have a long torso. But most of all there is a sexiness to a man's dress shirt. Maybe I shouldn't have watched Flashdance as a kid, but it taught me that a woman in men's clothing can be damn fine looking. Also, Jennifer Beals taught how to take my bra off underneath my shirt. But that's another story.

The trouble with men's dress shirts is that they are boxy and a woman's body is anything but. All you need is a few nips and tucks and your husband's dress shirt can be YOURS!


Start by putting your shirt on INSIDE OUT. Yes, buttoning a shirt on inside out is challenging. You'll be a pro by the end. You shirt should be large enough to button over your breasts, but not super large.

You're going to make four double pointed darts in the shirt, two in the front and two in the back. Pinch the front of your shirt directly under your breasts where your waist is its smallest. Place pins at those points in the pinched fabric. Next, slide up those folds until you are just underneath the curves of your breasts and place pins out on the very edge of the folds. Then slide down the folds and determine where you want your darts to end. I stopped mine just above my hips so the fullness of the shirt curved over my hips.


Take off your shirt. Straighten out the two folds of fabric you made so that they are both going perfectly straight up and down and are both equal distance from each side seam. This is fairly easy to do with plaid and striped shirts. Use a straight edge to draw a diamond shape along the fold connecting your three pins. Stitch those double pointed darts down. Press your darts. Try on your shirt, right side out. Move around in it. Make any adjustments in each dart length or rise.


Put your shirt back on, inside out and pin two more darts in place in the same manner. Yes, bring your darts up higher, since you don't have breasts on your back. Yes, stop them a bit sooner if you have a nice round buttocks you've got to account for. Yes, this is a bit more challenging, but it's not an exact science. Just a little trial and error. Straighten your dart folds out, draw your lines and stitch in place. Press.

Try your newly refashioned shirt on. Make adjustments as necessary. Then roll up your sleeves, pop that collar and you're on your sexy little way!



My husband should be afraid. I'm starting to go shopping in his closet! Totally kidding. He really loves it. He just wants me to accessorize it with only a pair of panties. MEN!


New to upcycling and refashioning clothing and afraid you're going to screw something up? Don't be! Head on out to the Goodwill and grab yourself a practice shirt. I got this gingham one for only $5 and it's from Johnson & Murphy. Before you know it you'll be going through your closet and everyone else's.

Got the refashion bug and need some ideas? Check out the rest of the Refashion Blog Hop!

1. Vintage pillowcase upcycle by Sew Country Chick
2. Large tee to adorable dress by Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop
3. Rit Dye upcycle by While Camden Sleeps
4. 15 minute tank upcycle by Raegun Ramblings
5. Men's shirt refashion by Made with Moxie
6. Women's tank & tee to girl's tunic & leggings refashion by Andrea's Notebook
7. 15 minute tee into bike shorts by Sew Like My Mom
8. Fringe cardigan upcycle by Rebel and Malice
9. Mu-muu refashion by Lil' Bit & Nan by Bethany

Wiener Dog Hoodies: KCW Day Two

Having kids that are only 20 months apart is almost like having twins. You really have to do everything in pairs. I can't make one hoodie. I have to make two. Which means double trouble during Kids Clothes Week. (deep breaths)


On Monday, Jane put on a new shirt her grandmother had bought her with wiener dogs all over it. As I helped her pull it over her head, Jimmy looked down at his plaid shirt and sadly asked, "Where my doggie shirt?" My mother in law has two wiener dogs and my kids love the hell out of thos dogs. I couldn't let Jimmy down and leave him without a doggie shirt.

I go through the kid sale racks often for blank or mostly blank clothes that I can upcycle into something nicer all the time. There hoodies I bought last year on sale. They said something silly on the front, but would be easily enough to cover up.


I whipped up quick wiener dog appliques with freezer paper and Pellon Wonder Under on fabrics the kids picked out. (Which probably took as long as it did to make the damn things.) A quick press with the iron and a run of zig zags, and the wiender dog hoodies were made. I added some handstitching with embroidery floss around the appliques. Jane requested her name on the heart of her hoodie. I was tempted to write "I heart my..." above Jimmy's wiener dog, but decided to keep it PG.



Nutters

Quick and easy appliqued wiener dog hoodies? Check. Just the kind of project I needed during Kids Clothes Week when I'm making for two!

What did you make today?

Crochet Skull Cap and Upcycled Jeans: KCW Day One

I'm dedicating this Kid's Clothes Week to Jimmy. Sewing for boys is fun, and then there is this boy! Who knew a two year old could ooze so much character? His smile just slays me and he knows it. Plus, little dude loves him some new clothes.


Case in point: Jimmy's new skull cap. The boy won't take it off, which is a huge sigh of relief. Last winter this kiddo wouldn't keep a hat on if his life depended on it. I'd put one on and before I even turned away it was off and thrown somewhere. A few weeks ago, Rachael was cleaning out her stash and had tons of yarn she wasn't likely to use, so I told her I'd take all her natural fiber yarns. The ball of olive green wool yarn was just perfect for a Jimmy sized hat.


Yaaar! It's his pirate face.
When I make hats, I use this awesome guide to double crochet a circle just smaller than the person's head size. Then I stop increasing and double crochet until the hat is the length I want it. I finish with a few rows of single crochet with a size smaller crochet hook to tighten the brim. It's such an easy, no brainer crocheted skull cap pattern. So easy, I'm working on one for my husband, who can never find a large enough hat for his head and next in line is hat for Jane. She is feeling left out already!


Jimmy's jeans are upcycled from my favorite pair of maternity jeans. I am a huge sucker for a good pair of jeans and if I could have figured out how to un-maternity these jeans I would have. I never send a good pair of worn jeans to Goodwill. Instead they sit in the sewing pile until the kiddos need new jeans. Both Jimmy and Jane are long and skinny waisted kids. Store bought jeans are either going to fall off or be too short most every time. Upcycling adult jeans in to kid jeans is great. You get to use the original hem and side seam, so they whip up quickly and look store bought. Add pockets and a encased elastic waistband, and your done.



Moose antlers. Don't shoot!
I would love to be able to make a shirt like this flannel one for Jimmy. Anyone know of a good yoked shirt pattern for little boys? This one is one of my favorites in his wardrobe, but as you can see, the sleeves are already too short for him. Any suggestions? Also, do you know of a good shop to get pearl snaps from? I've only got the ring kind.

Kid's Clothes Week Day One done, and my little dude is so ready for fall. I just want to go apple picking with him, carve pumpkins and roll in leaves. Sigh. He has that affect on me.

Old earrings made new

Ingredients:

Old, too heavy earrings
Needle nose pliers
Wire
Electrical tape
Scissors
Feathers

**I recommend wrapping the tail ends of the wire loops around your feather stems before taping to avoid it from pulling right out.

Upcycled Fat Quarter Skirt

Earlier this week I showed you how to make The Fat Quarter Skirt. Here are some cute skirts I made the same day using some upcycled material.

upcycling: taking something you would otherwise throw out and making it into something else.

Warning! Upcycling can lead to a new level of hording fabric collection. In our house we have a basket of tshirts and other pieces of clothing that have stains or tears or some other reason why it can't be worn anymore and shouldn't go to the Goodwill, but is still good for something. All our jeans go into a box for the someday when I finally make a jean quilt. Adult tshirts become dresses for Jane

or hats for Jimmy.

I had a pair of khakis that I chopped into shorts this summer. Their fabric has a nice hand (feel) to is and had a little stretch, so I kept the bottom legs that I cut off to make Jane two skirts. The bonus to using them for these skirts is that you can utilize the pant hem as your skirt hem.

The only different thing you need to do from the instructions on the The Fat Quarter Skirt tutorial is you will need to most likely sew three seams to make your skirt 18" wide, unless of course you have really wide pants. You can see my three seams in the picture above. I just made sure to center a panel in the front of the skirt.

I used some discontinued fabric samples my friend, Erin, sent me along with some Pellon Wonder Under to make cute appliques for the skirts.

\ You could also sew some ribbon or rickrack around the skirt hem too to add a decorative detail. Or leave them plain for a preppy look. Oooh, or do a little hand embroidery of an alligator!

They're great little rough and tumble skirts, and they save some trash from being added to a landfill. Heck, these two skirts only cost me thread and elastic.

Don't forget to take pictures of any Upcycled Skirts you make and upload pictures to the Made with Moxie Flickr group.