Bend the Rules Sewing

[http://users.livejournal.com/_perestroika_/]

I'm new to this community but I'm a constant LJ lurker. I have really been enjoying seeing everyone's projects. I am especially interested in subversize craft, stuff that uses up waste materials or somehow betters the enviornment/reduces sweatshop use.

For my first post, I wanted to show off/recomend a book. It's 'Bend the Rules Sewing' by Amy Karol and it's brilliant. I'm an experianced sewer and yet the book is fun to use for projects you MIGHT have been able to come up on your own but never did...anyway, here's the first thing I've made, a purse for a friend's birthday:( Read more... )

Details: all leftover linen scraps (the lining is from an old pair of pants) interfacing found at the thrift store, and instead of the ribbon trim she uses, I added a scrap pocket. It took maybe 2 hours tops and my friend SCREAMED with joy when she got it. I used all her favorite colors and she happens to love butterflys. Not bad for a gift that cost me >.10, and isn't even perfectly sewn.

One cavet: if using lightweight fabric like linen, also add interfacing to the straps, they are already twisty and wrinkled when I saw this purse (day 4 of use) today.

Anyway, I highly reccomend the book, and can't wait to meet you all!

I Need Some Sewing Advice!

[jagnightwalker.livejournal.com]

My former husband decided to use my sewing skills to hem his canvas signs for an outdoor festival. He had already marked where he was painting and told me to cut the ends off so that my hem would be equal distance from the markings, which I did.

Little did I know (he didn't tell me this btw), that there was an empty spot on one end because he was planning on drawing in and painting something extra that wasn't marked, so I ended up cutting off too much.

Rather then start all over again (he'd already started painting it), I'd like to just attach that piece to the end and re-hem. Could someone give me an idea on what sort of finish I can use on the raw edges of that fabric (on the backside) that will protect it from fraying? I definitely don't want anything that will cause any extra bulk or that would require extra stitch lines along that seam. We're wanting this as camouflaged and flat as possible. Thanks!

Cuff Bracelets

[drowningmermaid.livejournal.com]

I've made three more cuff bracelets this time around.

The idea of "stars all over" was given to me by heliumglow, who was my very first reader on my artsy journal. Since he gave me the idea, I decided to comp him a couple of them. It doesn't hurt that his birthday is coming up in October, so woo. Double!

I searched through my bag of fabrics and scrap fabrics and everything else I had and ended up finding several different patterns with stars on them. I'm pretty sure they were destined to be an americana patriotic pillow of some sort to their previous owner, but hey. they're mine now.

teaser:


( Read more... )

(no subject)

[browniegirl322.livejournal.com]

Hey guys,
I'm stuck at a boring IT conference (for work) in Manhattan (I'm around 50th & 6th). Any cool fabric shops in the area I should check out?

I'm a big fan of funky fabrics--like vintage polyester or wonky prints. And I love em cheap! ha ha


Suggestions welcome.


Ang


x-posted to sew_hip

Strong beading string?

[moonflake.livejournal.com]

I've tried to search for this in beading sites and such but all I seem to find are instructions on beading the pearls, not so much about choosing materials.

I made a cellphone charm and a necklace recently with beads using illusion cord or some such. The knot on the necklace slowly came loose, and so the whole thing broke. Wisened from this, I used nailpolish to seal the knot on the cellphone charm, but this time our kitty dropped the phone and the cord broke at a point near the knot. So I'm not entirely convinced I should be using this cord at all. But what would be a good, endurable string/cord to use for such projects? I'm afraid that with wire they'll seem too stiff.

(no subject)

[atyourmercy.livejournal.com]

Hello ladies! I was wondering if any of you have ever attempted to make a journal or a book? I was going to make myself a 2008 planner (because I can't find one that suits my needs) but I'm not sure how I would go about making it. If any of you have any tips or how to guides I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks dolls!!!
xxo

Hiya

[danielleorama.livejournal.com]

Long time no post! Here are some of my latest creations, click photo for more. Thanks for looking:)

gourd vine thingy

[weeefairy.livejournal.com]

erp, i couldve sworn i bookmarked this website but now i cant find it anywhere!

the website i'm looking for  had a recipe for home made massage lotion made from olive oil, and other cheap like crafts like that. i know that person posted in here a few times, i think it may have also had like a sort of little "scene" like made from a box, and decorated like a room with a doll in it and such.

this was quite some time ago though, at least a year i think. the website also had some recipes including that persons recipe of her grandmas pumpkin pie.
i think it mightve been in some kind of blog format, but it didnt look like your standard cookie cutter blog.

lol! i totally found it. yay me for being so darn unorganized x___x;
anyone wondering what website it was, it was this: http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/ :)


to not make this an entirely text post here is a little eh, thinger. i made from gourd vines :)
most of my gourd plant had sadly died due to not having received enough water during the summer (although it may also be related to the fact that gourds are not supposed to be in pots on your balcony xD)
so i cut all of the dead branched off and made it into this little thinger. i microwaved it for about 5 seconds to make it a little drier and to make sure no scary bugs crawl out.

Guitar bag!

[cheshcan.livejournal.com]

My girlfriend and I are huge screaming ridiculous fans of Bernard Butler, the guitarist. You know--from Suede, and McAlmont and Butler, and slashgirls, you know the part in Velvet Goldmine where Brian and Curt are doing a Bowie/Ronson during Baby's On Fire and the guitar is all werrr werrr werrr totally awesome? That's him, too. Anyway, so my girlfriend wants a tattoo and since she's a fangirl in general, she was coming up with all these band-related things. I suggested Bernard's red Gibson with his rainbow guitar strap, because they're pretty instantly recognizable (provided you're loser britpop nerds like us). And the guitar's never going to go get busted for kiddie porn or anything.

But it'll be awhile before she's got the cash for body modification, so in the meantime I decided to applique it on a bag for her.

( Messenger bag with an applique guitar. Shiny! About 275K of pictures. )

I have SO much other crap to post, but I'm so lazy. The only reason I've stopped procrastinating enough to post this is so I can ask a question:
What do you kids know about beading clothing? I'm thinking I'll be a flapper for Halloween this year, but it's just not worth doing if I can't work in a bit of sparkle. I've never beaded fabric before, though, and I'm not sure what the best technique would be. Do you know of any websites with tutorials, or do you have any tips for me like "seal your knots with fabric clue!" or whatever? Thank you!

(no subject)

[deehazel.livejournal.com]

a few things i've been doing
totebags, necklaces, pins etc..
have a look :)



( more crafts here )

Help!

[madfishmonger.livejournal.com]

So I got this book from my grandma, Sewing With Scraps, from 1976. I started a bag, but now I'm confused!

( the instructions )

I'm stuck on the lining part, I don't know what they mean by sewing the lining around three sides to the side strap. Isn't there only three sides? I don't know! Help?

black cat hat

[rosa-witchy.livejournal.com]

I finally got around to it and made an adorable/mad black cat hat. Can't post pictures due to lack of camera, Tutorial under the cut.

( Tutorial )

Embroideried tiger

[alwdis.livejournal.com]

(click to enlarge)

all work of mine

Hello Kitty Swap Items

[j9crafts.livejournal.com]

I was recently in a hello kitty swap over on craftster.org I made a hoodie out of a couple tshirts, among other things:


( lots more random HK stuff... )

Pincers. Leather.

[bob-basset.livejournal.com]

( Read more... )

silk scarves...

[caitlinmary.livejournal.com]

I inherited some silk scarves... some pretty, some really ugly... but I can't bear the thought of them going to waste... so what should I do with them?

(no subject)

[okrockon.livejournal.com]

Okay, Halloween is coming up and my two month old baby will be almost 4 months by then. I really am dying to see him in a Yoshi (of Mario Brothers fame) costume! However, I can't find one pre-made and can't seem to find a suitable pattern to modify in his size.
So, this might sound weird, but there's a gaming store at the mall that has a Yoshi stuffed animal that is just about his size. Do you think it's possible to cut the little guy open, and turn him into a costume for my little man's first Halloween?
...Has anyone ever done anything like this? Do you have any pointers or tips? I hope it's not a stupid idea, but if it is tell me before I ruin a poor yoshi plush's day.

(no subject)

[stargazercrys.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone!

I have a question for those of you out there who have done craft shows before. I will have a table at a local nursing home for a few days. The first day I believe is just for the residents themselves to do some shopping for Christmas presents for family members. The other days it is open to the public. However-my concern is...does anyone have any ideas on what nursing home residents would like to buy? Other than gifts for family members-they purchase books and stuffed animals for themselves. Any other ideas? None of my older relatives are in nursing homes. They are all very active and pretty young. So I'm clueless! If anyone has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated!

And so this isn't text only...

( follow me for pictures! )