BOY PANTS

I {heart} this site. No really. The fact that this wonderful woman puts these tutorials up for all us other sewers for no charge is just amazing! There are a few other patterns on her sight that she does charge for so I know she's getting some of her hard work paid for.
Dana (I feel like I know her) has so many wonderful (and not to mention super easy to use) tutorials on kids clothing. Basic pants (which I've made here), dresses, sweaters, vests, t-shirts, UGH, just go check her out! She's amazing!

Here's a little about these pants.

My mom brought me this fabric a few months ago. Yes, that's a dachshund on skis wearing a coat and hat printed with cats, you're not hallucinating. She insisted that if anyone knew what to do with it, I did.

I didn't.

That's why it's been a few months.

THEN. It happened.

I finally had a thought.

I know, I love the gut, too.

I was getting my son dressed in the pants I made him from Dana's tutorial
a few weeks ago and thought That's it! Pajama Pants!

The dog fabric is a fleece lined polyester. Think Adidas track suit. From the seventies. In fact, when I was ironing, I could smell my grandmother's house.

Ok, so I used her tutorial, added a drawstring instead of elastic and, voila!

More Grant's pants!!!

Procrastination...

Whenever I find my schedule packed with things I absolutely need to get done within a timeline, I ALWAYS find other things to do. For instance dishes and laundry will be piled high while I plow through some hats like some sweat shop worker! Unbelievable.

So, while you and yours aren't getting your gifts from me on time, my children will be receiving their new (not really needed) flannel personalized pillow cases! Sorry!

I had some fun through a stressful week though, and that's all that matters, right?

Ethan helped me pick out the fabric (from my stash) and we went to town.
Grant's wasn't hard at all, since that boy is infatuated with monkeys! Let's hope he's not the guy who grows up and owns a gorilla that ends up hurting people... :O

Ethan's is Shark Flannel with his name done with a pair of old desert cami's Paul "donated" to me.

Please don't think I left Hannah out. She received a flannel pillowcase 2 years ago from Grandma that had her name on it, and she sleeps on it every night. That's where I got the idea to make the boys. Though she may be getting a new one, as she kept asking, "Where's my name? Are you doing my name??"
:)

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!!

Sewing Extension Table

I have been perusing the world wide web in search of a large yet affordable extension table for my sewing machine. And by affordable, I mean, no amount of money that m husband would notice missing from the checking account...no such luck. ;)

I googled some "homemade" versions and decided I could totally try this out. After all, what else do I have to do!?

I started with a scrap piece of ply wood I got for 24 cents at home depot a while back (I tend to pick these up randomly knowing I will eventually find a use for them).
I had a package of 12 inch dowels I had gotten for a boot drying rack and I only needed 2 for this project. I think they were 5 bucks for 12.
I already had some High Gloss white paint as well as some screws. I was all set.

So here is what I did.

First take all the measurements. Take your removable piece off you sewing machine and measure the length and width of the free arm. Mine was 3 1/4 by 7 inches. I cut a rectangle out of my wood exactly that size. Then I measured my height. I needed 3 5/8 all together, so minus the width of my ply wood (1/2 inch) I needed to cut my dowels to 3 1/4 high. I then predrilled holes into the dowels and the table, countersinking the table holes so my screws would be flush.

Here is what I ended up with:

Then I sanded all the edges. (Normally I would have used the router on this, but I think a fuse blew in the router and it won't turn on, so I may need to see about getting a new one, or getting it repaired.)
As you can see I even cut the outside corners at a 45 degree so it would be nice a smooth. You can never be too careful with kids in the house.

My over all dimensions landed me with a nice 18/24 inch extension table that will come in handy when quilting! I'm so excited!
I slapped a few coats of high gloss paint on it, and I may even try some high gloss poly spray later, but right now I can't wait, so I'm gonna start using it!!!
Here's the end result:

Please ignore giant holes in drywall...I still can't get the shelves just where I want them... :)

If you make one, comment a link so I can see it! I can't wait to see your stuff!

ABK CREATIONS!

I'm linking up to amylouwho over at SewandTell Fridays, even though it's not a sewing project, it helps get those sewing projects done!