It’s Rodeo Time, y’all

021212-3

Our family doesn't normally go out for the Rodeo and usually my kids barely squeek by with a bandana from the dress up box on Rodeo Day at school.  Lucky me that I've had this shirt in the hopper for a while.  It would have been done sooner but after starting construction (with the intent of using the brown/black stripe for the neckband) I didn't think it had enough stretch to make a good band and that was that, it sat.  All the while this great rib, Ringel, kept staring at me yelling "use me for that neck", and I just didn't.  I'm happy that I finally did.

021212-1

I took a bunch of close-ups of the hems and neckband so you can see how they look.  I used the coverstitch for hemming and as you can see when switching from mid-weight jersey to lighter weight thermal and all those serged seams on the side there was a little bit of wobble, but not too bad.  To sew the neckband I stitched my piece into a circle, folded it in half, marked each quarter, made the same markings on the shirt neck pinning them together and stretched as I sewed.  I debated about top stitching and didn't.  Mainly, I was running out of light and wanted to get the pictures done.  I might go back and add topstitching, but then again I might not.  I'm already buzzing through another project :-)

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coverstitched hem on thermal and jersey knit

021212-6

hemming knit fabrics

and one just because she's beautiful

021212-5

it’s my party …

and I'll cry if I want to. 

Every darn time I try to switch my 'evolve' serger to coverstitch I end up in a fit of one sort or another.  Which is really a shame, I'm pretty sure it's all operator error but I'll be darned if I can re-thread and be happily on my way.  GRRR. 

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I'm starting off, right out of the gate, with that because it's right there… UN-HEMMED TOP!  Like a homing beacon; it's pressed for hemming, even has some needle marks along the back where there are unpicked wonky coverstitch stitches, but it was the end of the day and I was at the end of my rope and really just didn't care any longer.  Then M REALLY wanted to wear it and  who am I to say no to a request like that.  Except that now I've snapped a bunch of pic's advertising that I let my kid go 'round in UN-HEMMED tops.  Bad bad mommy!

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This tank is so super easy that it should have been a quick buzz through the machines.  But alas, I got in the way of that, well …  me and a little help from the machine.    The plan is to add a black iron on to the front to continue with the black and white bits.  But I think I'm going to re-do the top altogether.   There was this brilliant (NOT) idea to bind the neck and arm holes with woven bias binding, so I backed out the seam allowances.  After adding the bias to one of the arms it was just too much.  Too much bulk, too much black and white and just too much NOT RIGHT.   This is where I should have re-cut the top pieces with seam allowance so all would be right in the world of Sara tanks but I didn't and it's a little too gappy in the front arm hole area, which makes a momma a little uncomfortable with little girls and active playground play. 

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The black and white bias trim was chosen because the fabric for the skirt is just so awesome and colorful but I wanted the hem to stand out, not get lost.  To tie in the bold hem is the black and white ruffle and eventually the black iron-on on the white jersey. 

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Oh and the leggings.  They are made out of some stretch lace fabric from a local shop and using my favorite legging pattern.  They are stitched with a  3 thread rolled hem stitch on the serger.  I don't know if that's necessary or beneficial and didn't do any research.  My thought was just that that's a nice tight stitch and I wanted to catch as much fabric as possible in the seams so there won't be holes.  I'll report back if they fall apart after a few washings :-)

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some stretchy combinations

Don't get stuck in a rut!  I love to mix fabric from different collections, designers and even countries.  While sometimes it's easiest to play it safe and sew directly from a collection (thank you designers for grouping like fabrics together for those days when we want a sure bet or to grab and sew)  I tend to lean toward mixing things up a bit more.  It's a little risky but can be a lot rewarding! 

Right now I'm itching to sew up some of our new knits.  Are you tired of hearing about knits yet?  I sure hope not, if you are pick some up and sew with them I think you'll have a change of heart.  Here are just a few combinations I'm really digging on right now.

Carnivaldaisydot 

Carnival, Stenzo dots and Daisy

Pycampanhilco

Blossoms, Gimnast, and campan

Naycampan

Nay Roses on super light pink ribknit with campan