A few weeks ago I went home to surprise my mother for her 70th birthday. My sister and I took her out to a FANTASTIC dinner (a place called the New Scenic Cafe, it’s a must try) in Duluth. On our way there I spy this little Quilt Shop. “STOP!!!” I yell. My sister looks at me and says, “Seriously, who ARE you?” I give her a friendly hand gesture and we pull into the parking lot. I throw out a challenge. “You MUST pick out one fabric. I will make you something out of it. Pick anything you want and get three yards.” I figure I can make many things from 3 yards. She picks this…
Perfect! I can work with this!
I find this pattern.
Now, I don’t know about you, BUT this does not scream hip & trendy. “I cannot wait to slip on my fleece orange vest and matching pants”, said no one EVER! However, I see past the orange and think a vest would be perfect for this flannel. Plus, vests do not have sleeves….so it’s a win, win.
I open the pattern and read Step One. There are 3 words that I have no idea what they mean! Let me remind you I am on STEP ONE! Overcast stitch (WHAT??) I know straight stitch and zigzag. Period. Topstitch with a DOUBLE needle…again, what is that!!?? My machine has one needle!! I feel like chucking the pattern, BUT I continue on.
Another problem is that this pattern does not have a lining (I want a lining) AND I want a cute PUFFY vest. I decide to go “rogue” and come up with my own design that does not include a double needle!
You probably already know where this is going.
Does this look like a vest to you??? NO. It looks like an amoeba. According to Wiki, “amoeba is a type of cell or organism which has the ability to alter its shape”.
I had this brilliant idea to leave the turn out opening in the collar. In other words, I sewed the arm holes shut. Which means it looked like this. (See above) DO NOT SEW ARM HOLES SHUT.
I also learned that when trying to sew through 5 layers of “puffy” batting, you should use a walking foot. MUCH easier.
In the end, my vest (I mean my sister’s vest) turned out great! I did not add the zipper though. That is a project for another day!!
Cheers!
Andrea
Perfect! I can work with this!
I find this pattern.
Now, I don’t know about you, BUT this does not scream hip & trendy. “I cannot wait to slip on my fleece orange vest and matching pants”, said no one EVER! However, I see past the orange and think a vest would be perfect for this flannel. Plus, vests do not have sleeves….so it’s a win, win.
I open the pattern and read Step One. There are 3 words that I have no idea what they mean! Let me remind you I am on STEP ONE! Overcast stitch (WHAT??) I know straight stitch and zigzag. Period. Topstitch with a DOUBLE needle…again, what is that!!?? My machine has one needle!! I feel like chucking the pattern, BUT I continue on.
Another problem is that this pattern does not have a lining (I want a lining) AND I want a cute PUFFY vest. I decide to go “rogue” and come up with my own design that does not include a double needle!
You probably already know where this is going.
Does this look like a vest to you??? NO. It looks like an amoeba. According to Wiki, “amoeba is a type of cell or organism which has the ability to alter its shape”.
I had this brilliant idea to leave the turn out opening in the collar. In other words, I sewed the arm holes shut. Which means it looked like this. (See above) DO NOT SEW ARM HOLES SHUT.
I also learned that when trying to sew through 5 layers of “puffy” batting, you should use a walking foot. MUCH easier.
In the end, my vest (I mean my sister’s vest) turned out great! I did not add the zipper though. That is a project for another day!!
Cheers!
Andrea
