Buttonhole Fun

The title of this post would keep about 99.9% of the population from exploring further, but for those of you that think that  buttonholes have the potential for expressing some creativity then read on!
 It is a snowy, cold day here on the shores of Lake Superior. It seems like the perfect day to try a fun technique!

Aerial Lift Bridge   Duluth, MN

 I have some "real" sewing I should be doing today but it is Friday, and I want a little fun, so here is a tutorial that may prompt you to think of buttonholes in a new way.

 How about a round bound buttonhole? Here are some photos of one I made today. I am using some denim scraps to show this technique.

Apply tricot interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric, and pin a piece of lining fabric  under the fashion fabric right sides together

Trace a circle of the desired dimension on the wrong side of the fabric. I am using a large vintage button as a template. The buttonhole I am making is for a smaller button.

Using Small Stitches sew on the traced circle

Leave a 1/4" seam allowance and then carefully clip up to the stitching at 1/8" intervals

Pull the lining through the hole  to the  wrong side, and carefully press until you have a nice, round opening.

 

Choose a contrasting fabric, and make some narrow piping. I am using stripes cut on the bias

Cut two pieces of the fashion fabric, and two pieces of lining

Sew the piping to one edge of each square on the right side of the fabric.

Sew the lining pieces onto the squares right sides together sewing right on top of the stitching that attached the piping.

Baste the two "lips " together so that they line up in an attractive way

Using an adhesive such as Steam a Seam cut some strips and lightly steam them around the faced hole on the wrong side of the fabric

Center the hole over the "lips" and using steam set the adhesive so that they are secure

Lift the top layer of fabric until you see the original row of stitching that formed the round hole. Using short stitches sew right on top of that stitching

Remove hand basting threads and you have a unique bound buttonhole!

A buttonhole like this looks really interesting with a vintage button!

A winter afternoon lends itself to playing around with fabric! This tutorial shows that there is no limit to the ways that we can adapt our skills to create new details in our sewing.
 One unique buttonhole could be the focal point on a jacket. Here is another unique buttonhole that I posted previously on the blog.   http://villagedressmaker.blogspot.com/2012/12/kooky-bound-buttonhole.html
 Have fun with details, and I'd love to see photos if any of you are interested enough to devote an hour or two to unique buttonholes!

Skirt Design

Here is a skirt I made for myself a few years ago. The fabric is a stable knit that I purchased from Emma One Sock. http://www.emmaonesock.com/

Despite the wonderful nubby texture of the fabric I felt that the skirt lacked "punch", so I played around with the  remaining fabric to create a loose panel on one hip. I used the front and back pattern piece to create a panel that covers the upper front and back of one side of the skirt. I played around with the horizontal stripes to cut the panel in a way that is interesting to the eye. 

 If you ever look at designer clothing in stores or in magazines you will notice that designers frequently have a unique little twist that sets their designs  apart. As sewists we can do the same thing by playing around with the design until we make it uniquely ours.

 I wear this skirt with a black turtleneck sweater and black boots. 

Making a wool jacket

My daughter and I spent a very happy weekend in her cozy sewing room. We made Vogue 8861 for her out of some Marc Jacobs herringbone wool.

"Window" faced with lining to frame bound buttonhole

Bound Buttonhole

Bias detail between jacket facing and lining

Sushi for munching while we sewed

This jacket has a very graceful collar

                                        It was a very fun project for a cold winter weekend!

 My daughter texted me this photo of herself going off to work this morning in her new jacket!!

Sewing Weekend

Here are some quick photos I took on Friday while wandering the aisles at SR Harris. I was only there for 2 hours which was really a pretty quick in and out for me!

Home Dec

Right Side of Wool Aisle

Left side of Wool Aisle

 Customers cut their own fabrics in this place except for the silks.
 I didn't buy a lot of fabric this trip. I purchased two pieces of wool for a client's jacket project, and an interesting piece of red/green jacquard shantung. It was a good price, and I will put it in my stash.

Weekend Sewing Fun

This weekend promises to be fun! I am off to Minneapolis with sewing machine in tow. My daughter and I are going to sew together. This is a great way to spend a cold winter weekend!

Vogue 8861

 We are going to make this Vogue jacket for her. I haven't seen the fabric yet, but it looks like a fun project!
 There will also be some fun times with my two grand kids, and son-in-law. They are a lively family!

 On the way to Minneapolis I am going to stop at SR Harris which is the Holy Grail of fabric stores for those of us in Minnesota! http://www.srharrisfabric.com/ 
 It is best to visit there with comfortable shoes as it is hard to spend any less than two hours wandering the mind boggling aisles of fabrics. The fabrics are piled to the very high ceilings, and should you want a swatch of fabric from on high an agile young man will scale the racks, and whack off a piece for you!

For Valentines Day.... Heart Shaped Sewing Box

Handmade Sewing Box Covered with Pine Cones

Inside of Box Lined with Velveteen, Padded area on Lid for Needles
and Loops for Holding a Thimble and Scissors

 This is one of my most treasured sewing antiques. The antique dealer from whom I purchased it said it came form New England.
  It was made with materials at hand, and it has not lost one of it's numerous pine cones in the many years since they were applied to the exterior of this lovely box.

Vintage Mother-of-Pearl Buttons/Buckles