Summer Sewing

It's been quite a while since I posted anything.  We've been busy with construction/reconstruction on our place this summer so I've not had much time for crafting.

I did manage to knock out some Hawaiian print shirts and sundresses for the grandkids and their parents when they went to Kauai in June. (Does any mainlander understand how to pronouce or spell these hawaiian words????) 

I'd been wanting to try that 'shirring on the bobbin in your machine' technique for some time.  It's relatively easy, but somewhat time consuming as you have to wind the bobbin by hand (you don't want that elastic stretched!).  I would do it again.  I watched a couple of youtube videos and off I went!

Shirring on my sewing machine.  You set a zig zag stitch and the elastic thread automatically will get stretched as you sew -- right side UP.  I messed up a couple of times and had to rip out a few threads when I started onthe wrong side of the fabric.  I don't know why that was hard for me to remember, right side UP, but it must have been as I goof 3 times!!  Relatively easy technique and I want to try it on some insets in blouses.

 

The finished product for the grandkids.  A shirt for the boy and shirred sundresses for the girls.  I made another dress and shirt for the parents also.

A satisfied customer in her hotel room in Hawaii at 4 am! (She was still on Wyoming time!)


For my sundress straps I cut 1 1/2" strips of fabric, cut to the length I want.  I press under 1/4" on both edges and the ends.  Then I fold in half and stitch down both long sides and ends.   I think it's much easier than trying to turn a tube that size.

That is basically all I've sewn so far but I have a long list of sewing for fall and winter.