Craft Challenge | ChristyNelson.net » Sewing

Netbook Sleeve Version 1.0

christy — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:18:56 +0000

I bought a netbook this week. My husband decided it would be a pretty good thing to have so we wouldn't have to haul two big laptops to Europe (we both need to work a bit while we're there). He'll be taking his laptop for work, and I'll be using the netbook.

I used some canvas from my stash. It is a pretty cool pattern and once I make it just how I want it (without my silly mistakes), I'll share it with all of you.

Do you notice my first major mistake? The width isn't quite big enough for my netbook to fit in the correct way. Not is all lost, though. It fits nicely standing on its side. There is also a pocket inside to keep the power supply from rubbing against the computer. I meant for the pocket to be on the outside. Oops. That may have been a happy mistake. I think I like it inside better.

I'm working on version 2.0 tonight. Maybe I'll have the tutorial up tomorrow!

Rollie Pollie Bean Bag

christy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:50:55 +0000

The day I saw the post on Fresh Nest about these bean bags, I knew I needed to make them. You see, my kids sit on a kitchen chair and an old office chair if they want to watch their little TV or play video games. Did I mention this is right in the middle of our family room? I've been looking for a bean bag solution but they are so expensive! I wanted to make one myself but didn't have the time or energy to figure out how to do it without a pattern. This pattern was perfect!

My daughter loves it. She calls it her "favorite pillow, EVER!". Before I had the outside finished she would sleep and play with the inside. Speaking of the outside, I used the leftover fabric from my table skirt. I didn't have quite enough to make two using the same fabric so I had to go and do some shopping for the 2nd one (that hasn't been made, yet!). On the inside I used some cotton twill fabric that I had in my stash that was gifted to me.

The stuffing was the most difficult part. I used a combination of polyfill and cut up foam. The foam was purchased already in bits from Hancock Fabrics for $.25/bag. It was really hard to work with but since it was practically free...I went with it.

This project also includes my most successful zipper in all of history. I pulled the tab out here just so you could see that there actually was a zipper. It is pretty much hidden and works like a dream. I don't know why I've had so many problems with zippers in the past. This one was a breeze.

I have all the supplies on hand to make the next one. Looks like I better get on that!

Flower Headband

christy — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:00:19 +0000

This floral headband was one of the quickest and easiest projects I've completed. I was inspired by some trash. My friend, Lisa, came over and had me serge the edges of some flannel blankets for her new baby. All the flannel edges that are basically trash, looked so amazing in a pile and I knew I had to make them into little rosettes.

I made three rosettes. The larger one had a bit more fuzz along the edge. The smaller two...not so much. All you do is roll up the strip of flannel until it is the size you want. I added a bit of tacky glue along the edges to keep it rolled up here and there but that is it.

I had a spare headband that needed embellishing so I got out my trusty glue gun and added the rosettes off to the side.

I made this the night before I went to the Big Omaha conference. I went with my Toolulu business partner, Deb, and we had a blast! Here we are in the photo booth with our friend, Nia.

Fabric Scrap Ideas

christy — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:18:47 +0000

image copyright photos8.com

I've been cleaning my craft room (again and again) and I've got some really great fabric scraps I can't bear to part with. I have a few ideas on what to do with them now and thought I'd share what I found!

Fabric Headband from Heather Bailey

What do you make from your fabric scraps? Have a project I should try?

How to Make a Table Skirt

christy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:12:44 +0000

My table was naked. It needed a skirt. You see, this is my "office". It is my old kitchen table sitting in my living room at the top of the stairs.

It doesn't look that hot with all those cords and stuff from underneath. I decided to make it a skirt. Here's how I did it:

I measured around the inside underneath my table so I could figure out how much yardage I needed. It worked out to be just at 3 yards. So I bought six. That's how I roll. You never know when you're going to need matching chair cushions or pillows. This fabric matches my living area perfectly!

I cut six panels. One panel for each short side and two panels each for the front and back. I hemmed all four sides of the panels.

We used some hammered some brads through the fabric and the inside of the table to secure it. I think it turned out nicely. Now I have a little bit of office storage and not have to worry about that being the first thing people see when they come in my house.

Having the panels in the front help when I want to get in and out easily. There is also a little part where I can put my legs inside. I love this simple solution to my problem!

Crafty NYC: Mood Fabrics

christy — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:21:39 +0000

I took a quick business trip to NYC last week for Toolulu. The weather was rainy and dreary but we didn't let that get us down! We had a blast.

On our free morning we headed out to Mood. Rachel from Swap-bot came with us! We spent a lot of time browsing and being overwhelmed at all the choices!

I did buy a little something for me but if you want to see the pic of that fabric, you'll have to check out my Facebook page...or wait until I make it into a beautiful skirt. I'm not going to work on that until I get my crafty mojo back. No way I want to hack up that beautiful fabric.

If you could go to Mood, what would you buy?

How to Make a Dress in a Few Hours

christy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:33:26 +0000

In no particular order...

1. Wait until the very last minute.

2. Use any and all mistakes to your benefit.

3. Let your family know that you will be locked in your sewing room for a while.

4. Have a more knowledgeable person "on call" to answer all your questions. (Thanks, Kelly)

5. Give up and post on Facebook that you're giving up.

6. Let Facebook friends remind you that you are not a quitter.

7. Wonder why you listen to your Facebook friends.

8. Use a serger (I love you, serger!).

9. Follow a pattern (mostly).

10. Make it Work.

Last Minute Dress

christy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:05:44 +0000

I'm going to rename the wrap front knit dress. It is now officially my last minute dress. I made another one today for an event I'm attending tomorrow. Maybe you've heard of it? It's the Mom 2.0 Summit. They are having a Mad Men themed party and while this dress isn't truly Mad Men style, I did choose some really fun 60's vibe fabric. What do you think?

This is what my dress looked like this morning. Fabric. Just fabric. I had some issues with some puckering. In my defense, it was my first time using my serger. I'm not quite finished with it. I'm going to hem it and also finish the sleeves. In the meantime, let me show you my progress on my Olympic Knitting.

This is the back of the sweater I'm working on and I'm just over 19 inches into it. I'm on pace to finish in time but I'm going to need to work on it while I'm traveling. We'll see how that works out. I know someone will ask...the yarn is Artful Yarns Flora and I bought it at Personal Threads Boutique in Omaha almost 3 years ago. It's been knit up before and I'm hoping this time the finished project is what this yarn was destined to become.

Wrap Front Knit Dress

christy — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:11:00 +0000

I needed a red dress. For weeks I shopped. I don't know why I couldn't find one. Isn't it the season? I couldn't believe there weren't any out there. I went to more and more shops...even thrift and consignment shops! Nothing. I was last minute shopping with Kelly. She seemed to think we could make a dress in a few hours. We went to the fabric stores. Still...nothing! I decided to try my luck again later that night and wrapped on the bolt inside out (and placed on a table--not in its usual spot), I found some patterned knit fabric that was just the kind of thing I was looking for!

My daughter took this picture of me after church on Sunday. You can see some of the details. Can you believe that Kelly was right? It really only took a couple of hours (with her help--and awesome serging skills). All I did was cut out the fabric--and even then, I didn't do such a great job at that!

We used the wrong side of the fabric as the contrast. That was Kelly's idea. She was very much in "Project Runway" mode. We also screwed up the back but it ended up being a blessing in disguise. The contrast around the middle was supposed to go all the way around. But, we like it without.

We also didn't have time to finish the sleeves or do the hem. I like it without the hem so I'm going to leave it. I like the way the bottom rolls up and matches the contrast on top. I'll eventually finish the sleeves but I wore it all weekend with them undone and it wasn't any big deal.

I had enough fabric left over to make my daughter a matching skirt. She loves it! It is just an elastic waist a-line skirt. It took me about 5 minutes. I used my regular sewing machine. I have a serger now (I got it for Christmas!) but I didn't take it out of the box until Saturday night. I also didn't have thread for it until Monday night. Now, I'm ready to rock and roll.

Good thing, too. I bought some more fabric last night for another last minute dress. I'm making one to wear to the Mom 2.0 Summit and I leave Thursday morning. I think Kelly taught me well enough that I can do this one on my own. Time will tell.

Do you want to know what pattern we used? I took a class from Judy Kessinger at the Original Quilt and Sewing Expo last fall and I got her FitNice System. She took my measurements and drew the patterns to fit my body. I have the whole system and I can't wait to try some of the other projects.

Holly Holy Christmas Sweater

christy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:13:49 +0000

I entered a contest. It is a contest to win a trip to Neil Diamond's Christmas party. All you had to do was a take a picture of yourself in your Christmas sweater. Too easy, I say. Why take a picture in any old Christmas sweater when you can make one yourself? I give you...

The Holly Holy Christmas Sweater

I used a GeMagic to do the "Holly Holy" rhinestones. I added mirror ball ornaments around the neckline. Christmas buttons sewn on. A holly and poinsettia garland holds some Hanukkah ornaments (Neil is Jewish).

The fringe is my favorite part.

My intern, Kashoan, helped me with the silver ribbon around the cuffs. What? You don't have an intern*? So sad. Maybe you can ask Santa for one. He said I must have been a very good girl this year.

I'll find out on December 7th if I win or not. Wish me luck!

*intern= friend that comes over to craft with me and lets me call her my intern