Part 1 of 2015 Charity Goals!

Now I know I have mentioned that I have been in a blogging rut- the cold doesn't inspire me to click away but I will say that I have been sewing some. It has been wonderful. I know that my 2015 goals have been lofty (see here for my resolutions) and I had some time to just clear my head and think over the holidays. Last year I sewed a lot of clothing for myself, between the 99 refashions and sewing in general. It put a strain on my creativity sometimes b/c I was solely focused on numbers. And I didn't work on many other projects, some of which have just been sitting here. I thought, let me change this up. Last year it was all about me and increasing my wardrobe, how about I start this year out by sewing for others and other projects. I hypothesized that this would increase my probably of finishing projects that I need to finish. It would also give me a nudge to make a leap into something I may not be comfortable doing. Also, maybe this would help me move some of my lumps, I mean fabric stash.

Resolution #4 is to sew through some of my scraps and make things for charity. My goal is 300.
First project was bibs. I love bibs, they are easy to make and I can use a lot of fabric. I had planned (sigh yup last year was too ambitious) to make more for charity, as I have done in the past, and brought an entire bolt of fusible fleece on sale.  So I had everything on hand. I just started grabbing scraps of fabric and sorted to sizes that would work for my bib pattern. I also found pre-cut bibs that I never sewed so I had a good start. I cut and cut and cut and cut. OMG fabric was everywhere. I killed a rotary cutter blade. I usually cut multiple layers of fabric at once to maximize my time.

Then I attached to the fusible fleece. I worked out how I could maximize my usage of fusible fleece, I really didn't waste much! I did it in batches. I cut my heart out. Then fused and fused and fused. My poor iron looked rough afterward. Then I cut out the bib individually. Then I paired front and backs. Sew. Sew. Sew.

Fact, I timed myself and my average time to sew a bib is 1:30. Yeah I know this pattern so well that I could do it with my eyes closed, I promise you!! Then excess fabric was removed and corners and round seams were clipped. I then turned them all right side out (great and easy to do while watching a movie!). Iron again (after cleaning my iron!!) and seal with a piece of stitch witchery. Add snaps. The snaps my boyfriend and I did on Saturday. We just hammered away and banged on fingers. Our poor thumbs!

So drumroll please..... The final count is 120!!! Yes 120! I am super excited!

I have quite a variety of fabrics. Some are refashions, that if you follow my blog you may recognize. Same with fabrics-some you will probably recognize.

These made me laugh- they were clearance iron-ons. Also the refashions, which were a total of 19.

One of my favorite set of bibs were these Indian paisley fabric. You may recognize the fabric from this refashion (and yes I know I ironed on the middle fabric to the fleece on backwards so the colors are dull but the pattern is there).

I loved this skirt to dress refashion, I had leftover fabric and I really like those bibs!!

The bibs have a home they are traveling to and are given to a charity. The box I got was the perfect size. I love many of these were upcycled from other projects and the fabric isn't getting tossed into the dumpster. Also, a great way to start the year with my goals! 120 is awesome! I had no idea it was going to be this big! It is not quite half but almost!!!

Now since I knocked out this project relatively "fast", my next question is what next? I have actually sewn something for myself for MGAM and that will post soon (haven't had any darn light for pictures!). My options are my t-shirt quilt that I already started and didn't finish, my latch hook, or another charity sew. Currently I am leaning toward the quilt. Then do the latch hook as I might need a sewing and cutting fabric break. As for my next charity sewing project it won't be bibs again, it will be something else. My ideas are stuffed animals- teddy bears (because I got a free pattern) and maybe smaller animals; then I also realized I have everything for dolls- like rag dolls, this would be a great stash buster as I would use the flesh colored fabric and fabric scraps for dresses, and an added bonus would be the yarn I could use up for hair. My other ideas (the previous ones are a higher priority) based on the fabric I have would be knit hats with some of the knit fabric I have-I just need to use it first- it would work for both babies and adults; fun quilts with other scraps, walker caddies, really the sky is the limit. Let's see. Baby steps.

So expect to see a little less "me" stuff and more posts on things for others. Yes I will continue to MGAM (make a garment a month for myself) and refashion. I just don't want the pressure of hitting numbers. Actually, it is a bit refreshing not having that looming number above my head.

Cheers,
Lauren

Iron on bib fun

Lol just had some fun with some of the iron-on's I have obtained through out my travels.

Here are the end products. Way too fun!

Yeah seriously.  A lot of fun. :) Most are going to charity!

Cheers,
Lauren

Charity bib sewing round 2!!!

Here we go again! More bib sewing! Cutting was half the battle! This has taken a lot of my time but I just wanted to focus on one project and reach my New Years Resolution Goal!

How I reduced my time was cut several bibs at once

Oh Yeah I had over 350 pieces!!! Wow. Just wow. Now to start sewing them!!!!!

Again I went in batches, I could cut everything I could. Then I sewed everything. Then I sealed them shut.... I used a trick I used fusible seam sealer-the wide kind. Saves a ton of time! No sewing involved!

Now time to close the bibs. I grabbed everything I had on hand. Which was a lot considering people have donated their old notions to me in the past. Now time to use them! We have everything from sew on snaps, velcro, and bang in snaps. 

I love this old school box of snaps. 80 cents- wow! These were ones I had to learn how to bang into the fabric. 

Same with these snaps. Total old school right here. 

Here are all the ends bibs on my kitchen table. 

Close up of some of the snaps. 

Velcro too. easy sew. 

Here is my Natasha Bear with the what was leftover from the first picture. I used A LOT! Got to love my cat, she is my sewing buddy. 

I just had to take a picture of some of these old snap packets. These are old! I just love the old school notions. 

Look this cost only 29 cents! crazy! 

Into the box everything went. 

So what was my totals for Bundles of Love??

132 total bibs for charity
33 wash cloths
1 piece of extra terry cloth that they can use to make more items. After sewing that I couldn't do it. So I just donated! :)

I just shipped the other weekend and I am so grateful that I did! :)

Almost at my 200 goal for the year!

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Cape For Kids Finished

To infinity and beyond! Yay my first charity sewing project is completed for Enchanted Makeovers!

How fabulous did the capes come out? More info as you scroll down the blog post...

Basically I fused the stars and lightning bolts to the backs of the capes, trying my hardest to center them. Then I machine stitched them down. I tried the zig zag but had issues. What I should have done is temporarily reinforced the back with temporary stabilizer. So they all got a straight stitch b/c I didn't want to scare the kids. 

See the ends would get stuck in the feed dogs.... nom nom it wanted to eat the fabric. 

Sew sew sew!

Added the velcro. That was fun! I killed 1 heavy duty needle sewing velcro on 44 pieces of fabric.

Attach 2 pieces together. Sew everything down but the top of the capes. 

Make a pile.... this is my iron, clip curves, and turn right side out pile

Get rid of excess fabric near seams

Done! Super Lauren to the rescue! I must admit it was fun to put them on and take pictures. I had to refrain from too much sillyness. Here are some of the color combos I made. And yes some barely fit around my neck and shoulders. :)

Actually this is my new favorite color combo I love the pinky/red with turquoise! 

Into the box they go and they are shipped to the main head quarters. 

Here's the run down... I used 44 yard of fabric. Yes you heard me 44 yard of fabric. Still barely put a dent in my stash. Yes seriously. I know sad right? The scraps will be used to make dolls for this charity also but I am going to put that on hold for a bit and focus on some other fabric projects (which will generate more scraps and thus more dolls! yay!). It was a total of 22 capes that went to charity, so 178 more items to go before I fulfill my New Years Resolution of reaching 200 sewn items for charity!!! Onward! I used 2 heavy duty needles for just the appliqueing. I additionally used another heavy duty needle for the velcro (so 3). I then also used up another regular needle with everything all together. Now I got a brand new needle on my machine for new projects! :) I mailed off this package this past Saturday and the box almost weighed 10 pounds! Crazy! But crazy awesome!

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Day 37: Charity sewing, pillowcase dresses

Many of my new years goals was to reduce my fabric stash and sew for charity.
I have already done 2 shipments to Bundles of love ( see here and here).
But another thing I wanted to do was make pillowcase dresses with alot of this fabric I knew I was never going to make something for myself.

I got my pattern and information from Dress a Girl Around the World, an Organization that gives dresses to girls in need all over the world. A wonderful organization. I could not be any happier sewing for them.

I cheated and made templates for 3 different sized dresses to make cutting easier. BTW i didn't use the arm holes on the templates b/c I forgot about the seam. Whoops!

Here is all what I made, there were too many dresses to fit in 1 picture so I split it into 3!

4 Size small dresses!

10 Size medium dresses!

10 Size large dresses.

How much do I love that orange that I know I can't wear myself but mixed with the turquoise and yellow. OMG fabulous!

I sent them off and they are on their way with a mission trip. I am so excited they are going to people in need! Makes me happy. I have now donated 132 items to charity this year!!!!! Completely superceeding my goal. :) Yay! And it reduced my fabric pile.

For more of my 60 days of blogging posts click here.

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Sewing for Charity: Bundles of Love

Now many of you may (or may not know) one of my goals this year was to sew more items for charity. I am trying to get rid of my huge fabric stash (and make my boyfriend happy) and I don't want to sew everything for myself. One of the first projects I decided to tackle first was for Bundles of Love. They are a charity organization that gives needy mothers in Minnesota a diaper bag filled with goodies for each child when they leave the hospital. They started out as a little church group but wow took over Minnesota! They are absolutely inspiring and amazing. Please go and check them out! They do offer some patterns for babies online.

Here is my box of goodies I sent them!!! The box is pretty big and I filled it up to the top! Here is what was included in the box!

Yes I know! A lot of things I made out of my own stash! I was so excited to send everything out. :)

Now this summer I am going to actually change the organization I am sewing for to.... Dress a Girl around the World!!! I have a lot of fabric that I would probably never use for myself but would make great little girls dresses! Not to mention I just received a donation of bias tape trim and now I can sew until my heart is content! Wahoo!!! 

I would love love love to sew about 50 dresses this year. I probably have enough fabric to do so since it doesn't take much. I would be incredibly excited if I could do so! So keep your fingers crossed. And maybe with the scraps I could make more bibs. We will see what happens! 

xoxoxox,

Lauren!