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Getting it done, part 16

Well, I've set aside one project that grew beyond what I had originally planned (cutting a dress shorter, hemming it as a tank top somehow turned into taking the dress apart and remaking it, but longer, and also reclaiming most of the original dress fabric as a tank).  Hopefully by the time I tackle a few more of the pending projects on the project board, I will have a better idea of how to proceed, whether that is re-assembling the parts I already deconstructed or proceeding with the plan to remake the dress, but longer, and also some kind of top, or just remake the dress, and re-claim the original dress fabric for something different.

In the meantime, sweet hubby, now about 85% recuperated from his recent back pain episode, allowed me ample time in the sewing room over the past few days. 

I completed a set of towels for a wedding gift (I added the monogram).


I added some embellishment to Miss Middle's pinafore.  She received this as a hand-me-down from a family friend, and has LOVED wearing it.  (Embroidery design is from urban threads.  I purchased it.)



And I spent a lot of time putting together this pinafore for Peanut, inventing the pattern as I sewed based on Miss Middle's pinafore.  I really wanted the whole dress to be gingham, to match her younger sister, but alas, I could not figure out how to cut all of the bodice pieces and also have the right amount left for the skirt.  I went to two fabric store locations looking for a little bit more, but neither had it in stock.  The gingham and the white fabric and even the tiny bit of blue trim are all leftovers from the borders and binding of the frog quilt.  I also spent some time after completing the pinafore to detail the steps I took and modifications to my process that would make it easier in the future.  My very sweet sister helped me with the button holes -- for some reason my machine won't make them with the button hole setting.  Perhaps it is because the needle is permanently off center?  Perhaps because it is just old and cranky?  Perhaps it is user error, that has been repeated over and over?  Not sure -- but I was very glad that my sweet sister agreed to let me come over for her to "give me a button hole lesson" in which she proceeded to sew the two button holes for me.  (elephant design is also from urban threads, and I purchased it for my own use)



If you were going to buy a new sewing machine, of the not-super-expensive variety, what features would you look for?

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