Friday, November 20, 2015

First Coverstitch Project - denim skirt

I've been wanting a cover stitch machine for a long time! I do so much with knits and with a new grand baby on the way too - I know it will be getting tons of use!! So last weekend while at the Creative Sewing Expo I got one for a fairly decent price. Way off retail. It's a floor model from a local dealer, plus a show special so it was lower even than I had hoped. I came right home and ordered a couple binder attachments from ebay too but they haven't arrived yet.

It's a Babylock BLCS-2..... I'm in love.... I can't wait to see all I can do with the three wonderful machines I have now!!! I looked at updating my serger with one that would cover stitch but decided against that. I wanted a separate machine that I didn't have to switch back and forth on. Besides I actually love my 20 year old serger. It needs a new upper blade but still runs like a champ!

After playing with it for a few days to familiarize myself, I tackled just a simple denim skirt. I was planning on doing one floor length but I'd have to alter a pattern for that. I just went with Simplicity 2184 (size 20) which is my favorite denim skirt in my closet right now. The one in the closet is beginning to show some wear so I thought I'd play around with my new toy and make something that will be needed soon.

Just a simple elastic waist skirt that will be perfect for a work skirt around the farm too.

Here's a close up of my triple cover stitch
The pattern calls for cutting on the bias but I was using fabric from another skirt that I had made that turned out to be a wadder. There was enough fabric to make this one out of that one if I went straight on grain. So that's what I did.

Expect to see more sewing since I've spent the next two years clothing budget on my new "toy" so I'll have to be making most of our clothes again for a while...... LOL

I made a baby outfit recently too but forgot to take a picture before I gave it as a gift. Hopefully the new mom will send me a picture, with baby in the outfit even! When she does..... I'll post it too.

White Tank copied

I managed to trace off my first pattern from RTW this summer. It turned out great!!! I wore it so much - I plan to make many more, especially since last weekend Hubby bought me a coverstitch machine!! Whoohoo!!!

Anyone remember Weekender Wear from back in the late 80's and early 90's? I had two tank tops left from way back then!! They were SO well made and lasted that long!!! I wore them hard too. Well they are since defunct and out of business. I couldn't even find any items on ebay. So I thought it was high time I tried to trace off a pattern and see how I could do.




The neckline is much more modest than they look in the pictures. I also added several inches to the length just to make it more versatile. Can't wait to use my CS to make more!!!

Forest Green Skirt

I have been sewing a bit here and there over the past few months but never get to blogging any of the projects. So in order to get caught up I'm just going to "plunk" a few right in a row here. Hopefully I can make the pictures work.

Here is a Forest Green skirt that I made for myself last spring. I used the "Country Skirt" pattern that I've had in my stash for a long time. It's the same pattern that I used for the black calico skirt that I made a while back.

Here's a close up of the waistband. It turned out okay and it fits but I'm not head over heals in love with the skirt.
Fabric was sportswear that I had in my stash, from my fabric fairy I believe.