Tonight I am…
tired from camping for 2 nights and a day.
thankful to call that cute baby up there my own.
amazed at the grandeur of the Colorado mountains and how being surrounded by them never gets old.
excited to let you know that I have a post over at the Rhythm of the Home blog.
looking forward to a restful Sabbath.
thinking about the miracle this country we live in is, and so thankful for it.
How is your weekend going?
Is it any wonder that Hunter’s first word, after bird, was Daddy? He does have the best Daddy in the world. I am so proud to be on his team. He makes life fun and beautiful and joyful, this husband of mine. He is a model of patience and love. I want to be like him when I grow up.
We adore you, Barry! Happy Father’s Day!
And happy Father’s Day to all of the Papas and Grandpas and Uncles out there too. My life is full of wonderful men. I love you all!
When I made this little batch of shirts for Hunter, Logan was insistent that he knew exactly what needed to be printed on this one, so I did what I could to make his vision a reality. We got out my dusty gocco printer and the fabric inks, and just like that we were done. It was one of those projects that made me wonder why I don’t do it more often– it was so quick and painless and made my Logan so happy and proud.
It is a rare thing to have something so potentially messy go so smoothly, but it sure is a happy day when things work out. I think with a big brood of small people the more spontaneous projects are the ones that end the best. For me, at least, when i plan and prepare I have way too much invested in the outcome to be adequately relaxed, patient and kind about the process. Does this ring true for anyone else? I need to somehow find a happy medium between the spontaneous and the planned so that there can be more happy collaboration between the kids and I. How do you guys plan happy creative projects with your kids?
I made a couple more shirts for Hunter and just totally love them. While I was at it I thought I’d show you how I put the binding on them because all of the tutorials and instructions I’ve seen make it way more complicated that I think it needs to be. Instead of sewing it on then folding it over and sewing it all again, I make double fold tape, sandwich the edge to be bound inside of it, and sew it on all at once.
First I cut my binding fabric into a 2 inch wide strip with the stretch going along the length of the strip. Then I get out my handy dandy tool to press the edges of my strip into the center to make my binding tape. (I have a super cheap Dritz 1″ tape maker, but it looks like they don’t make them anymore. Clover does, though, and they’ve got cute colors on them.)
Then it’s ready to be sewn onto my project. With the folded side up I just line up the edge of the fabric that I’m going to bind with the fold on the left,
fold it over, and sew it on a little less than 1/8″ away from the edge.
I like to move my needle over all the way to the left so I can center my binding under my presser foot. I gently stretch the binding as I sew and cut it to length once I’m done with an edge. I also tend to have more binding underneath than on top, so I don’t have problems failing to catch the binding underneath in my stitches. Then it’s all done in one step.
This is the way I put the binding and ties on our Sweet Pea Pilot Caps too. I also bind quilts this way (with quilt fabric, of course). I’m all for quick and easy.
When sewing with knits keep in mind that you need to use a ball point needle in your machine. That way you don’t risk snagging runs and making holes in your fabric and it slides through the fabric much better than a universal needle does.
Now for the pictures with the shirt on my model.
“Hunter, go sit in your seat so I can take your picture!”
That works…
I’ll show you the other one tomorrow.