Hooping it Up

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Sorry. That was lame lol. The girls made some really nice embroidery hoop art pieces at their sewing class last week. The projects called for lots of new techniques for them. They drew their designs on paper and cut them out to trace onto fusible web. They ironed that to the fabrics and cut and ironed the pattern pieces to the their background material. They used a tight zig zag stitch to embroider detail as well as hand sewing some buttons for the Archie dog. He figures prominently in many family art projects. We heart Archie!

How to for similar fusible project we want to tackle here

Zigzag tute here

first solo stitching

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Tess took her first sewing class away from home this month. She made a notebook cover with pockets and ribbon tie. Her overall impression was that there was a lot of pinning, cutting, and ironing involved and it was worth it.

Following this success she and her little sister are enrolling in the full semester course starting soon. It is so very exciting for me to see which directions each child goes creatively and to be able to accompany them on their way.

button trees

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Kim Halloran-Fry

All finished. Our October project with the neighbor girl was button trees. They basted the felt trunk onto the cotton backing and then sewed the buttons on in criss-cross fashion. The backs are not beautiful. They did not knot and restart each button because the stitching was doable and knots and rethreading was…not. But hey, for 6, 7, and 8 year olds I was impressed.

To finish we (the me part of we) trimmed and glued the fabric to the inner hoop. This is the same technique you use for framing patterned fabric or tea towels etc. with embroidery hoops.

Story Stretchers – Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Years ago when our adult sons were small we had a couple volumes called Story Stretchers. (here and here – they are a PENNY today. Still find that stunning. I saved so long to buy books pre-amazon days) Like the outstanding Five in a Row volumes that would come later they took a children's book and created activities based on the story's location or language or illustrations. We haven't done full-out units in a while but I always find some element in a story we can build on a little. Once you work through Five in a Row you just start to see all sorts of potential rabbit trails inside a book.

We read Joseph Had a Little Overcoat last week. I love this book and like the best picture books there is so much happening in the illustrations that goes over children's heads but is totally engrossing for the grown-up reading. Shortly after we got the book the little girls ran through the knees of a couple pair of leggings. This is a rather regular event. Tough girls, we have. Before we tossed them we talked about Joseph and looked to see if there was potentially some more life in them.

Cotton knit headbands are a favorite of Tess and Alannah right now since they don't pinch behind the ears and can hold back heavy hair. (and don't crack in half when small people overextend them…) When I looked at them they were seriously just a tube of t-shirting. For a dollar or two a piece? So before tossing the trashed leggings we cut a tube off across the tops between the waistband and legs. Quick work to turn right sides together and sew a seam, leaving a bit for turning. You don't really even have to bother with a seam if you fold the band when you put it on or cut it into a strip and tie it instead.

Not the world's most glamorous tute. Just a little practical 'stretcher.'

these came from pants like these…

Now if someone can point me to some girl proof leggings I'd be a happy woman. : )

a sew-sew project

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Sewing books have been on and off the shelves for months now but today we actually got the sewing machine set up. First time in this house. We moved in 11 mo ago so don't be too impressed. I have a copy of Absolutely A-line and thought it might be a good first dressmaking project for Moira, not to wear, but to make for the little girls. In many respects it was that, but the caveats shared on Amazon do apply.

The pattern is very simple. There are four pieces to cut out and the written instructions are straightforward. There are no illustrations showing how to lay out the pattern pieces however. (no guidance re:right side up etc) If you have sewn before you can wing it. It's a great base pattern to teach someone else to assemble a garment. For $2 used, the paper templates are cheaper than you could buy at the fabric store. I would not try it for your own first sewing project without an experienced seamstress available. And this folks, is how we keep our amazon credits nice and low around here – discourage you from purchasing lol.

The measurements given were pretty accurate. I went a size up for Tess because she has gone through a few sizes in the past year. It's pretty roomie right now but I expect it won't be by summer's end.

I worked up this first dress and made enough mistakes to feel confident helping Moira make the second one tomorrow.

Sew – a needle pulling thread

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that – one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery.

- Oliver Wendell Holmes