Saggy Drawers

Problem: Fitting bottoms on my long & lean daughter. She needs the larger size for the length, but then the waist is usually way to big.

It's great to have a modest 2-piece bathing suit for easy diaper changes, though these board shorts didn't stay up when just standing, let alone playing & swimming.

The board shorts had a band of elastic at the waist.

Solution: Adding an extra elastic drawstring.

All I needed was a couple grommets, elastic cord & a toggle . . . and . . .

. . . Presto! They stayed up!

They made for one happy morning in the kiddie pool.

The bottoms stayed up the whole time she played in the pool, even when they were wet. This project worked out great. And there was no sewing required. Many thanks to Rojelio for helping me brainstorm the solution.

the original original Annie Banannie

During naptime today I had chance to bring out my Brother.

I took an old sheet from the closet . . .

. . . after some snips, cuts & stitches . . .

. . . WALLAH . . .

a little tote bag.

It can really hold things too! This first project was a success, though it never would have made it past the factory inspection. I picked up where I left off back at Emerson; it looks like a 7th grader made it! But I am proud of my first attempt, especially the fact that it actually reassembles something. Two things I learned from this project: 1) cutting in a straight line is difficult 2) sewing in a straight line is difficult too. Cheers to the original original Annie Banannie!

oh brother . . .

It's been nearly 20 years since I used a sewing machine in Home Economics at Emerson Middle School. I made an apron out of red bandanna patterned material. I enjoyed the class, being creative & coming out with a finished product. I could do it then, so why not now.

I did a little shopping around on-line and decided to go for a dive. I ordered a refurbished Brother XR-9000, a birthday present for me . . . from my husband. It was a great deal. My Brother seems to have a lot of features, way more than a beginner would ever need. But I figure it would be something I can grow into. Plus I hope to have it for at least the next 25-years, based on the limited warranty anyway!

My new Brother XR-9000.

Lucia picked out the colors of thread for me at the material store.

sun yellow. atomic red. hawaiian blue. black. I wanted to get some practice in. I loaded up my bobbin, threaded up the machine, grabbed one of Rojelio old t-shirts & put the pedal to the metal.

I was trying out all the stitches my Brother has to offer. All 120 of them.

I had a good time practicing and getting to know my Brother. It came with a DVD I suppose I should watch. Basically, I am going off some stale 20-year old knowledge of making an apron for which I had a teacher guiding me. At least this time around I don't have to share the machine with another 7th grader!