FullOfStitches.com blog.A good laugh leaves me in stitches!

This one’s for DressADay. She had a great tutorial on her blog for adding pockets into a 3-panel skirt. She asked if anyone would show other ways to add pockets. I usually add jeans-style pockets to my A-line skirts:

Here’s what jeans generally look like inside:

First thing’s first: Get out the ABC and put baby out of the way.

Baby Cow snuggled on my back through most of the sewing parts of this tutorial. Good thing, too, the camera was charging in the other room, so I had to wander back and forth.

Let’s get to it. In the spirit of Erin’s post, let’s pretend you’re buying this pattern at one of those lovely sales where they’re only a buck or two. I suggest you get the pattern you want, plus one that has the pocket style you want. (I shopped my stash for a pocket pattern and came up with one that I must have bought when TJ was little.. Never been used, too)

Step 1: Trace the pocket edge onto the side of the front pattern piece. If you have an A-Line or other front pattern piece that doesn’t match the shape of the pocket, trace that shape onto the side of the pocket pieces (both because they have to be the same shape to work well and you don’t want wonky pockets in your skirt). I didn’t have to do that on this because I’m making long pants.
(pattern piece on the right is the pocket edge we’re tracing. pattern piece on the right has the traced edge for each size because I’m not sure which will fit her right now)

Step 2: Cut out pattern pieces. When using heavier material, like denim, I like to use a lighter weight fabric for the pocket pieces -I used a fun green print because it makes me smile (what will you use?). This keeps from having too much bulk on the front of the hips, and drying time to a minimal. Taking the jeans as an example, to have the same fabric above the pocket opening as below, I’ve cut a piece for my pocket with a bottom edge that will be at least an half inch lower than where the opening seam edge will be.
(top left: pocket facing, bottom left: pocket, flower piece: Visible piece [matches cuffs on these pants], right: front pattern piece)

Step 3: Sew pocket facing to front piece, Right Sides Together. Grade seams, clip curves, turn, press, topstitch, and all that jazz.

This is what the inside vs outside looks like (Left piece sewn but not turned, Right piece is ready for next step.

Step 4: Finish the lower edge of the Visible Facing thing (whatever, the flowers in this example) if using one, sew it to the pocket piece, matching edges.

Line up with front piece: Place pocket Right Side UP, then place front piece Right Side UP. Match notches, edges. Baste. Treat as one piece for remainder of pattern construction.
(left: inside, right: outside)

Finished example, capri-type things:

The baby does have a face!

I made those pink bloomers for AJ the other day. Only problem was No Pockets. Someone explain to me why the Pattern Makers insist that people look pretty but not for Real Life. Nevermind, don’t explain, I know. They refuse to add pockets to keep the aesthetics of the item pleasing to the eye. Sorry, we live in our clothes! Back to the bloomers!

AJ wants pockets in/on all her clothes. I made this first pair according to pattern as a fitting-muslin to try out how the pattern fits her. Must go down a few sizes! She’s 4, it’s a size 4. I folded down the waistband and sewed it in place again when I finished because the crotch curve area is super long. The elastic was pulled in an extra couple inches. These are wearable and she loves them.

The trick to ironing edges like the patch pockets is a greeting card:

Just mark the needed fold size and press fabric over edge of card:

I learned this on the NMSL, gives nice even smooth folds:

The left pocket has been marked with basting thread. This is wonderful for hems! Just fold and press at the line of stitching, and once the hem is sewn, remove the thread.

(edited to stick a picture up here at the top; see, I sewed)

My computer’s being a little slow right now, but in just a few minutes I’ll be posting pictures again! Yippee!! Oh, and I made the second pair of pants -really, they’re too cute with the styling pockets that I added so I could take pics for a tutorial for Dress-A-Day, so pants, not bloomers.

I’ll get to making that tutorial next, after my pics import and I reboot.
OK, rebooted 3 or 4 times to get the computer to import my blasted photos. Now, where was I?

Oh yes, when last I had pictures, my parents were visiting, Poppa gave baby Cow her first bath:

We had a nice visit and they went on to visit the rest of the family down south.

Our neighbors have been so sweet! We’ve been given several random congratulations gifts, this one BB wanted for her own:

The first of my mail order patterns have arrived. I have the girl’s 10,12,14 and the ladies sized Modest Swimming Suit. I was hoping to have and begin working on the little girl’s 2T-8 pattern, but there was a mixup and they’ll send it out tomorrow. Thankfully, the web makes fixing mistakes really quick, too!

I’m hoping to make one for my friend in OK’s daughter(s), so maybe I’ll just start on that one! I just need to figure out what size everyone is! And, hehehe, they’re on diap-up, so they don’t read my blog… (they’ve had issues with sites loading.. and I like picture heavy content when I can).. so, I can post pics and info on surprises like this and they won’t even know!!!

Anyway, the pattern is a shirt (top) and skort-ish-thing (skirt & shorts & panties that are all sewn together at the waist). I’m not so sure about the skort thing, but I get the concept. Maybe the panties are supposed to make it more comfortable? I hope they don’t ride.. I plan on making the top a touch shorter and attaching the skirt there and just making the pants/shorts thing a second unit. Then, I’ll send it out to OK and make them test it and find out if it’s comfy.

Oh, and I’ll make AJ a suit of her own, too, to see how she likes it. Right now, I’ve cut out most of a trial run for BB from the New Conceptions’‘ (I use the Side-Snapping PooPockets pattern for my diapers, when I use diapers) One Hour Bodyshirt pattern. I used the largest cutting line (3T), folded it where it looked good to get rid of the snap area, and used the long sleeve cut off at Newborn length. I need to cut out the skirt and get it sewn to try it on BB. Then, I can make up the swimshorts.

Woohoo! I finished sewing up the first pair of bloomers! This is my ‘trial run’ pair and they came out cute. Best of all, she likes them. When I find the SanDisk drive, I’ll post pictures.

So, I ordered that swimdress pattern (another is here, I’ll tell you which I like better). And, I found a link to this company that sells a one piece already made version. I prefer the separate top and bottom, so I’ll stick to making ours -Swimwear Solutions pattern makers sell ready made also-, but this one is also available. I’ve been looking for pattern reviews on either of these patterns, but haven’t found any! I may have to dig up what my PatternReview.com membership info was and post one myself! um.. when I have the time..

I’ve been trying to clean up my sewing room. Imagine having a one month old and trying to make the time to clean up a disorganized sewing room. Add to that the slightly jealous (but getting better with each passing week) nursing 2.5 year old, and clean up that room. And, the somewhat whiny high-touch (not high-needs, mind ye) 4 year old, and keep cleaning. Now, add in the sweet but procrastinating 9 year old who could use a motivation to finish his schooling, and clean up the sewing room. Needless to say, it’s a long slow process with crazy piles bigger and more plenty than usual. My husband has been wonderful, while he and TJ were playing WoW on the computer, he held the sleeping baby in the sling to give me a head start.

I found my ironing board.

And my swimsuit fabric.

Bliss.

Last night, I finally cut out some bloomers for AJ from a pattern (New Look 6258 peasant style top/dress and pants/shorts) I bought a couple years ago (I’d post a link, if there is one, but Simplicity.com is having issues). The pattern is sizes 1/2 (half) through 4, so I cut out the size 4. Even if they end up too wide, they’ll fit eventually. I picked up some baby sweatpants for Cow last night and AJ put on the size 6mo as tight knickers (pantaloons? shorts to the knees)! The pants/shorts in this pattern are for woven, but still. I cut out 2 pair in corduroy that was lying around, so she can wear them in the fall or on cooler days this spring. Nights can be a touch cool around here sometimes in the summer, but not often.

I’ve found at least 3 fabrics that can be used for dresses for the girls. AJ could really use some longer dresses. I’d like to make her some from the lighter color fabrics for the summer, that’s at least 2 so far.. I may be not seeing one. I’m sure they’ll end up soaked and covered in grass stains, but she a child, so who cares? Plus, I still have to have TJ finish the orange dress for her (I messed up with the zipper, is that even possible? I don’t know how to put in a ‘lapped’ zipper it seems and I was trying to follow the directions in the package. When I find my sewing desk again, I’ll sew in the zipper properly -it has been removed- and then let him finish up). Has it really been that long? I seem to have no concept of time. It’s time to get it done before it fits the next girl!

Someday, I’ll even get pictures on my site again! Maybe after I find and use the sewing machine (it’s on the desk, just have to make the desk useable).