Easy Sweater Alteration

I've had 3 people this week ask me what some good starter sewing projects are. So this is for y'all. It's so funny to hear this, because I'm still a starter myself. But, what has helped me learn and gain confidence in my skills is my thrift. Shopping at Goodwill or yard sales is a great way to try stuff out. Since I've never taken any sewing lessons, most of my learning has been trial and LOTS of error. But who gives if it's only a $3 investment? Go hog wild, friends. Threading your machine is the hardest part.

I found this sweater at Goodwill a while back. I loved the scalloped sleeves and whatever the name is for the bumpy appearance. But, it swallowed me whole and was obviously an old, frumpy Grandmotherly cardigan in it's past life. But that's kind of what drew me to it. I remember my Grandmother wearing one very similar to this. Since it was just a few dollars, I could afford to try my hand at a quick, 10 minute alteration. For anyone who reads this blog is a good/professional/semi-professional, or educated seamstress, turn yorn eyes. If you're just starting out, have a new machine, have cheap clothes you want to adjust to new curves post-baby, etc, you can dig it.




I used a fitted long sleeve t-shirt as my template. I wanted it to be a fitted cardi.


Turn inside out. Using a marker, I traced about 1/2 inch around the lines of the t-shirt, extending the length to the bottom, and sleeves to the end of the arms. Pin, cut and sew. I used a zig-zag stitch since it was knit. That's it, folks.

Just another birthday

I'm heading to Boone today to celebrate my great grandfather's 102 birthday. I've written about him plenty 'a times. Every year, we all make the trip, naturally assuming each party might be his last.

That way of thinking has been going on for the past 10 years or so.

What do you give to a 102 year old?

Great-great grand children is what.

DIY Heart Shirts

For Valentine's Day when Adelaide was a baby, I made her a doily onsey from an idea I'd seen on some blog way back then. I thought we could do it again this year for both girls' Valentine's shirts, and try to make it a craft project with A. As you'll see, listening is not quite her strength (but what 3 1/2 year old is actually good at it)? I'm not a fan of little girls wearing earrings, but if I was, THIS is what she'd get for her first pair.

Moving on. All I did was use the foily- type doilies (foily doilies!) - these were found at Walmart. I got solid t-shirts at Old Navy. I have been looking for cheap long sleeve t shirts everywhere, but I guess after the mild winter we've had, until a few days ago, stores are chompin' at the bit to roll out summer. So these shirts will go over long sleevers.

I slid a plastic clip board up the shirt, but anything like cardboard or thick paper would work too - just to keep the paint from bleeding through to the back side. Putting the doily where you want it to go, dab craft/fabric paint around the doily, and over all of the cut out design. Since A is a 3 1/2 year old and on an independent streak, she wanted to paint wherever the heck she wanted. The fruits of the spirit are patience and self control. I had to tell myself (through somewhat clenched teeth) that frustrating moments like my child wanting to use her own creative energy in this project and the encouragement I offer during such times must outweigh exercises in listening and obedience. But good grief, Child. God gave you two ears.

Slowly peal the doily off.

An additional detail I wanted to use was to cut out an 'A' and a 'C' in the middle (solid) area of the doily. Pretty glad I didn't now, since it would have taken more work and time. The patience and self control probably wouldn't have been as easy to muster up that there is a bleeding heart on the bigger t shirt.

Total time: < 5 min

Total cost: $5 shirt, $1.88 for 40 doilies, $.60 paint = <$6 per shirt

Overheard

WARNING: 'Mature' content below.

(however, as I wrote this post, it felt like very immature content)

This post contains the 'v' word. Many times. And a single use of the 'p' word. It is innocent in context, but it's still my disclaimer since this is the 'interweb' and all, Lys. We've tried to use formal anatomical names with our girls. It's how I was raised, and I suppose it's best to be consistent at home and at work in a hospital - the so called professional image I try to maintain. Plus, I guess it's just too confusing having a bunch of different names for our privates when raising kids. I'm trying to get on with this story, but I can't be anywhere near the topic of names for privates without quickly mentioning the time my brother, at the age of 2 or 3, called Beanie Weanies "beanie penises," at the table. It's now part of the Moretz lexicon, and I'm sure he won't ever live it down.

Before you judge that Adelaide didn't have a bath tonight, we were super-late in getting the girls to bed, they (and we) were exhausted and fussy, so we skipped a bath, rushed to do PJs, teeth, potty, etc. The following is the conversation between the 3 of us as I went in to give Adelaide a kiss while Ben was getting her into bed for prayers.

A: My bottom hurts.

Ben: What's wrong?

A: I think there's sand in it

Emily: Why do you have sand in your bottom

A: I think it's in my vagina too.

Emily: OK. Well why is there sand in your bottom and vagina?

A: Rebecca threw sand on my clothes today and it got in my bottom and vagina

Emily: (lifting the sheets, which by the way, seem to always contain mounds of playground contents that have been dumped from her shoes onto her bed, carpet, stuffed animals, books, everywhere during room time, and indeed finding a PILE of sand in her bed):

Adelaide!! There's sand everywhere! Honey, get up - this is a mess. We have got to clean it up. Ben, can you grab the Dustbuster?

A: Mommy it hurts.

Emily: I know Sweetie. I bet it hurts to have sand down there.

A: No Mommy - it HURTS! The Dustbuster would HURT and make my vagina so COLD! Can you just get me a wipe instead?

Ben & Emily: {uncontrollable laughter}

Ben: Adelaide, don't worry. Your mom is not going to vacuum your vagina.

Emily: We should have given her a bath