Tuesday, December 26, 2017

McCall's MP239 M7261 Exercise Leggings

Hello sewers!  Thank you for stopping by my blog.
I hope you all had a blessed Christmas.

With the new year just ahead of us,
it's time when many of us think about starting an exercise routine,
or changing up an existing routine.
I try to exercise throughout the year,
but I am an eclectic exerciser.
To me, that means I play around at many types of exercise.
I get bored easily with the same routine,
so I switch up my exercise routine A LOT.

I also get bored with my exercise clothing.
And it was time for a new pair of leggings,
so I chose McCall's pattern number 7261.

Just as new exercise routines keep me interested in exercising,
so do new workout clothes.

This is the only pair of leggings I have that are not one solid color.
The panels of color in the mid leg make me happy.
I purchased both fabrics at Joanne.
The black is performance fabric so it helps hold in the jiggle!
The galactic print is a little bit lighter weight spandex knit.

As with all leggings, this is a really quick pattern to sew.
I used my Baby Lock Triumph serger for the entire project.
I was able to neatly sew, trim, and finish the edges of all the inside
seams with just one pass through the serger.
I then used the cover stitch to keep those seams from "rolling" around.
Here's a close up of the outside and the inside of the garment:


I really like this pattern because the waistband does not have a casing or elastic.
That makes the leggings smoother on the tummy and more comfortable to wear.

Here's a short video that I made.
It shows a few more details and I also discuss how to choose your size.



How about you?
Do you already have an exercise routine,
or do you plan to start one in the new year?


Thank you for visiting with me today.
I enjoy your company so much.




Monday, December 18, 2017

Treasures and Trinkets Case

 
It is so rewarding to sew custom orders for my awesome clients!
We started with the #treasuresandtrinkets pattern from #patternsbyAnnie
and my client (V) customized it for her needs
You see, she is a jewelry maker and she requires lots of little storage pockets
The pattern has instructions for 3 sizes (S, M, L)
V chose the smallest size, which finishes at approximately 4 x 6 x 3.75 inches

This isn't just any ordinary little case . . .
It's like opening up nesting dolls
There's more and more storage as you progress through all the layers
The pattern is designed to have a zipper pocket
only on the lining side of the "flaps",
but V requested double-sided pockets,
and I was happy to oblige.
We also made the little removable pods double sided.
The bottom of the case is designed to just house the strap
that holds those pods in place,
but V requested an additional zipper pocket on the bottom.
If you decide to add a pocket here,
just be certain to allow room to attach
the snap for the pod strap above the pocket
V also requested a mesh zipper pocket on the inside lid of the case
instead of the mesh earring bar as designed in the pattern instructions
I used the vinyl mesh as directed in the pattern, but I made it into a zipper pocket
The vinyl mesh is sturdy and V can still attach earrings to the pocket
and/or she can store items inside the mesh pocket as well (pretty smart, isn't she?)
The small removable pods measure about 3 x 3 inches
and they have a loop on one side to allow them to be attached to the snap strap
at the bottom of the case
This is the perfect size case for travel, but if you are new to bag making,
I would recommend starting with one of the larger sizes
and sew the case as instructed, without the extra pockets, 
as this smaller size can be a bit tedious
and it is a little fiddly to attach the binding
to those double-sided vinyl zipper pockets.
If you are an experienced bag maker,
go for it!  Have fun customizing your own version of this handy case.












V's fabric choices are just lovely and the case is so useful with all those storage pockets.  
Perhaps she should pursue pattern design!     😉

If you have made this, or any other byAnnie patterns, please share in the comment section.

Happy Sewing, my friends!!!




Wednesday, December 6, 2017

A Place for Everything Organizer

Here's another custom order for A Place for Everything organizer.
This is a popular #patternsbyannie organizer, and I can see why.
All those vinyl pockets offer so much storage for so many different supplies.
Whether you are a sewer, crafter, jewelry maker, etc.
there is no doubt you have lots of necessities
that you need to keep organized.
The front and back mesh pockets offer additional storage areas.
One is a slip pocket . . .
And the other is a zipper pocket.
The hook and loop tape on the back of the vinyl insert pages
makes it very handy to remove the pages for ease of use.

Isn't that fun fabric that Renee chose for her lining?

If you would like to sew this organizer for yourself,
I sell the supplies in my shop
- OR -
If you would like to hire me to sew a custom item for you,
please contact me via my blog or my Etsy shop.

I am blessed to have such sweet customers and clients.
Thank you, Renee, you were a joy to work with.