Harley Quinn Headaches

The pattern for Harley Quinn is fairly simple.  I did a muslin mock-up one afternoon a few months ago to test the fit.  Easy-peasy...

Well, maybe.

You see, there is a very DEFINITE order to the red and black.  Red is on the right and black on the left.  Ok, got it.

Except...

When you do the hooded shrug.  There, the shrug is black on the right, red on the left and then the hood is back to red on the right, black on the left.

So, because I tend to get distracted and am lucky to the the right side facing out (especially if listening to/watching Tour de France coverage), I have to do this.

Lay it out on the table, label the sides and get up and do one thing at a time.

It's a bit more time consuming, but this way (hopefully) I will not be ripping out seams to reverse colors.

Of the five pieces to the costume, the tube top, skirt (complete with the diamond appliqués) and the bustle.  Shrug and corset left to do and two weeks to go.  My plan is to do the shrug after work today and then the corset over the next couple of days.  Then I will have it done about 10 days early!  Which will make Texter very, very happy.

After this?

Lady K is demanding "PANTS, grandma!"  So pants for her and an article of clothing for me or Savvy.  She needs some summerish clothes for work.  And catching up on some quilting.

April Progress

Between the coughing and hacking and general funk, I have managed to start catching up on some of the projects I need to get done.

I finished up the fourth block for the Bee Hive Swap (it's the top left one).  So staying on track there.  Should be interesting once I get all the other blocks done.

I finished the blocks for the RSC16 for April.  Although I did do them slightly backwards, but it's still the same pinwheel effect.

Since I decided to make a wedge based on the monthly colors, I have kept up.  I think this will be a great circle of color which I will appliqué on a white background as a large throw.

But best of all, I have started on Harley.

It's all cut out and I have finished the top.  The really simple part.  I have the bustle, skirt, corset and hooded shrug left to do.  But it will go quickly - maybe.  I am zigzagging the seam edges to make the finish a bit more polished.  So we will see how it goes.  I also have to stitch in black on the black and red on the red where it shows on the outside.  So not really that simple a sew.  AND I have to make sure I have black on the correct side and red on the correct side throughout the costume, as it makes a big difference.

My knit and swirl sweater is going slowly.  Really slowly.  But getting there.  And the Sari scarf just needs fringe added.

So things are getting done....slowly.

Two Bags Full

One thing about being a seamstress/quilter/crafter, is when anyone offers you free fabric you take it.  Doesn't really matter what it might be, you haul it home.  I was gifted a couple of bags of fabric recently and brought it home, like a stray dog or cat, to take up residence.  

One of the pieces was about three yards of this...

Not sure what I could do with it and then it hit me!  I don't have curtains in my room and the green in the pattern matches the green of my walls.  My window in my bedroom is long and narrow, horizontally.  I really didn't want curtains to block out the east light completely, but needed something over the bare window.  

So with a few thumbtacks and about 10 minutes, it was hung over the window.

As Savvy says, very 'bohemian', a look I was going for.  Free and pretty are a great combination any day.

There are several pieces of upholstery fabric which I will hold onto to make bags or journal covers.  And a couple of pieces which might be turned into a Victorian-looking suit for cosplay.  The colors don't thrill me, but a package of dye might solve that problem.  And a lot of 'silky' fabric.

This is what I have planned for these two pieces.  And the lighter piece is about 5 yards, so I have plenty to then do this...

Out of some of the other pieces, I will make Savvy some little tees to wear with slacks and skirts, under a jacket or sweater, for work.

The downside to all this generosity is I now have several additional projects on my list.  And now I really want a serger for the seams on the tops, to make them more polished looking.  

I was strong and sorted out the fabric I don't want.  Now I have about half a bag to take to the thrift store for someone else to take home. 

So I am off to rearrange my project pile to accommodate the new projects.

Flannel, Flannel Everywhere

With cooler temperatures having arrived and a sale at Joann Fabrics, I decided to make everyone a quick and easy pj pants.  On those days when we aren't rushing around to work and school, we all like to get comfy and I thought some flannel pants would be great.  Big, baggy, soft and warm.

I had assistance picking out the fabric for everyone.  She liked the fabric so much I had to reclaim from her in order to cut out the pants.  Luckily, there is enough left over from each to make her a 'wild' pair of pants this week so she can be comfy and warm too.

Wrapping up in the length of fabric seemed like the thing to do last Saturday morning.  Guess my idea of warm, soft and comfy was spot on, pants or not.

Texter was excited about her pair of pants and couldn't wait to get into them.  Now the question will be how to get her out of them to wash them!  I had enough fabric I made eye masks out of each fabric.  Lady K refers to the as 'eyes'.  Savvy and Texter's bedrooms are light and they were both excited to have an eye mask to wear to cut out the light, especially for afternoon naps.

While in the flannel mode, I bought this plaid to make into a 1890's dress for the Big Read at the library in October.  I haven't used flannel 'shirting' before, but it is so soft.  A little thin, but with the apron I have planned to wear over it, it will be fine.  I have a pair of lace-up shoes which look old fashioned I will wear with it (maybe-depends on my bunion!)  My plan after the Big Read for this is to keep it as a night gown!  The style of the dress is big and loose and it will make a great 'granny gown'.

Once the dress and a couple of aprons made, it's time to start on the mock-ups for the cosplay outfits Savvy and Texter want for next year.  And I have the Farmer's Wife 1930 QAL starting next week.  Luckily, that will be stretched out over the next year.  Lots of plans for time at the sewing machine!

NOTE:  I forgot I had written this post almost two weeks earlier.  Everyone loves their flannel pants and Texter picked out 3 fabrics for cotton ones.  

Planning and Plotting and Organizing

My list of projects is HUGE!  So what do I do?  I keep adding to it!  Isn't that what you are suppose to do?

I knew I had these projects coming up and now I will have space to sew on them, they have moved up on the 'list'.  Actually, two of them were only just released as patterns for the fall.  Texter saw them and has been haunting Joann's to them to arrive and the patterns to go on sale.  Frankly, paying $20 plus for a pattern is not in my budget.  But 99 cents each or 5/$7 is.  So I make a list and catch them on sale.  This is especially important since I usually buy both the large and small size in case I need to  make different costumes.

It's the same with the materials needed for the costumes.  For example, the blue Tardis outfit requires about 8 yards of fabric just for the dress.  It doesn't include the linings, etc. on the outfit.  The total yardage is about 14 yards.  So if I have to pay $13 a yard for fabric, already I am into triple digits.  But if I wait and watch, I can get a 40% off coupon or catch the fabric on sale and drop it back into something reasonable.  Also, this planning/plotting means I'm not sinking a huge amount at any one time into the outfit.

Now that I can plan and plot, I have my little notebook where I write all my 'requirements' down.  This way I can whip it out and when there is a sale on notions, for example, I can pull out my list and check it twice and buy what I need.  So soon, there will be a bin labeled 'cosplay' with my sewing stuff so I can dump it in there and know where everything is when I get ready to whip out an outfit.  (I also have to update measurements for the girls so I know I am using the correct pattern size.  Pattern size and ready-to-wear size are ssssooooo different.)

So for Texter, and the patterns she has been waiting for...

Bottom, left, Harley

and, of course, Tardis.  Maybe Lady K as a Darlek?

But the real ambitious one is going to be this one...

Yaya Han is like the top of the Who's Who in cosplay.  Savvy is all over this one.  But I am thinking 'black'.  Raven.  Face mask with feathers sweeping up over her head.  And maybe one white feather in the mask.  

But then there is also a more mundane cosplay outfit.  Both of the girls want something 'steampunk' and I have several patterns and ideas, both for them and for me.

The one of the left.  It has chains.  Of course, I have to figure in an outfit for myself.

Then there are the True Grit outfits I may or may not be making for the October Big Read at the library.  Still on hold for those.

But in the meantime, I have plans to make 2-3 of these in either wool or fleece to be able to throw on and go during the colder months coming up.  I can make large, so one-size-fits-all in the house.

It's a McCalls pattern and one of the quick and easy ones.

So lots of sewing coming up after the move!

Yo-Yo, Yo-dog

I'm not sure of 'his' name yet.  I do feel he is a he, but then I could be wrong.  But he does have personality though.

About two months ago, Texter, Lady K and I were exploring our new downtown area and walked into Prickly Pear Quilts.  I say walked, actually I think I was running through the door.  Once again we were greeted like old friends (I am so loving Montana).  Anyway, Lady K spotted this little yo-yo dog on a shelf and they gladly let her play with it.  Texter and I exited the building with material for an owl quilt and the pattern, by Indygo Junction, for this little guy.  

Texter was going to make it for Lady K and after getting sidetracked a bit, she spent a couple of hours going through my 'allowable' fabric for the material needed and cut out all the pieces.  This was the first time she had actually cut something out from a pattern to sew something.  At this time we did not have the yo-yo 'makers', but as it turned out a couple of weeks ago, in the sale basket at The Sewing Palace, they had all sizes of the Clover Yo-Yo makers and I snapped them up.

I had never made yo-yo's before.  I had an idea of how they were made without the forms, but had never actually sat down and made any.  I am sooooooo hooked now on yo-yo's.   They are as addictive as hand sewing hexies.  I want to make a yo-yo quilt now (I think).   Since the sewing room is downstairs and we spend a lot of time upstairs, I need 'handwork' and this was perfect for that.

I do have to say that the little pieces for the head were not my favorite thing to stitch - thus his personality.  And I didn't have any fray check or buttonhole thread.  I used clear nail polish (to stabilize the knots) and embroidery floss (all 6 strands) to sew him together.  The instructions did call for making a little slit in the head to sink the shank of the button, but I just pulled them tight and doubled the thread through the shank.  I felt with my shaky stitching on the head if I cut two holes in it his head would explode.

So Yo-dog is finished (and one project scratched off my long list of things to do).  Now I have Yo-Monkey to make (also by Indygo Junction).  Guess I'll set Texter onto my fabric shelf again.