Patterns

@ElicBxn (63194)
United States
May 16, 2009 6:59pm CST
So, my friends may have heard me mention my mom a few times. Sadly, mom is in dementia caused by strokes and she has a hard time eating, more specifically, chewing and keeping food in her mouth. So she has this problem of things dripping on her clothing. I found this pattern for an adult bib that I can make for her, and I have scrap fabric (lordy do I have fabric) and so I figure that I need to make her some bibs - bought the pattern and pulled some fabric out. Well, yesterday we had dinner with a friend and she's wanting to take a quilting class so she wanted some fabric to take to the class to be from her "stash." While going thru what I have, I found more fabric for bibs. This morning I threw them in the washer. Now I'm going to have to get out my ironing board and iron and iron the fabric so I can cut it. Still need to dry them tho, will get around to that soon I suspect. But what got me writing this was a discussion on a cat group about cat nip "cigars" that are so cute and the cats love them. Looked at the darn things and all they are are sewn tubes in brown fabric stuffed with catnip. I could push those things out in barely longer than it takes to fill them with the catnip. so, my fellow crafters, you seen or planning any simple sewing projects?
5 people like this
14 responses
• United States
17 May 09
Well I don't know how simple it will be, but I have decided to make myself some shorts for summer. I have one pair of shorts that I love. Sooner or later they will wear out and I can't find another pair to replace them. So I am going to seek out the proper fabric and use the shorts as a pattern to make myself some new ones.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
17 May 09
I did that to make dresses for the former roommate
2 people like this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
17 May 09
I did that once from a pair of shorts. Like you, I had one pair that I adored but couldn't find that same style once these wore out. I took it apart, used that as a pattern and made several more pairs of shorts from it. Have fun!
3 people like this
• United States
17 May 09
One of my clients made these wonderful bibs out of towels. They were great because they went the length of the torso and caught all of the spills. She also made one that was for a male that was shaped like a big necktie. It went around the neck with a piece of elastic to hold it in place.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
18 May 09
hey thats a pretty good idea. maybe you could sell a few. since its like just scraps. i know its not sewing but its almost like it when i do beadwork because i go by certain special native american patterns. i've been meaning to get back to that but it seems i spend a lot of hours on the internet and dont get anything done. sadly. your a very good daughter. i hope i one of mine will be like that for me when the time comes.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
18 May 09
well, I know nobody is making me any, because I didn't have kids... really simplifies things ya know...
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
19 May 09
well ordinarily id say sorry, but with the economy like it is, you should pat yourself on the back for not having any. life is just to hard when you do for them and you. i used to work for an elderly lady that had no kids and she said she would never be able to afford me and all she had if she'd had kids. of course i used to tell her if i ever had to be taken care of, i hoped it would be someone just like i was with her i took good care of her like she was my own mom. didnt get to take care of mine like that
1 person likes this
@riyasam (16556)
• India
17 May 09
when my kids were younger,i used to need lot of bibs and so to save money,i used to go through the scrap clothing to make its best use.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
18 May 09
I found a cool bib pattern using washclothes that I give to all my new parent friends. I also sell them for 3 for 5.
@ellie333 (21016)
17 May 09
Hi ElicBxn, I can't even sew a button on but I think that both the bib ida for your mum and the cat nip are great. If you made enough o the cat nip igars ones you could probably selll them at a craft stall or car boot. Have fun sewing. Huggles. Ellie :D
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
18 May 09
Thanks, I'd like to do sales, but I'm not very good with doing sales...
1 person likes this
@Dasari100 (3791)
• Anantapur, India
17 May 09
I am really sorry to know that, your mother is not feeling well and i have gone through your message and i hope everything will be fine in coming day.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
17 May 09
mom isn't getting any better, and for the last 2 years has been declining.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
18 May 09
If only I had time for sewing! I have more than enough fabric to create all sorts of things I just never seem to get around to any of the projects on my list.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
18 May 09
Yeah, I need to pry myself away from the computer and do some ironing, then sewing....
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
17 May 09
I have had my machines buried for so long I bet they will be hard to resurrect. I think one of the nicest things I have ever thought about sewing is a set of soft stuffed bracelets for a baby. Or soft stacking rings in graduated sizes. I have enough fabric to start my own store. I used to make scrub shirts for hubby and I when we worked in nursing homes.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
17 May 09
yeah, I've picked up patterns for scrubs, but sewing isnt' my favorite craft.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
17 May 09
I do not sew very much at all. I sew ever so often with easy things though, with a needle and thread. I don't have a sewing machine. That is a good idea for you to do that with your mom. We had to use bibs for my step-dad also when he a brain-stem hemorage and a stroke. He could not eat without drooling either.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
17 May 09
She doesn't drool all the time, but after eatting stuff does come out.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
17 May 09
Mostly I've been moving buttons over to fit my fatter body. I think I need to plan on getting a smaller body back. You can only move buttons over sooo far. I'm really loving my stretch pants, but they can only stretch so far. Take care
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
18 May 09
I don't like stretch, makes me itch - guess I'm allergic to something in the material. also don't like elastic around my waist, haven't since 7th grade - go figure... but I don't do zippers or button holes, so ...
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 May 09
How about frogs? Those things you sew on that have a loop on one and the other one has a pattern or a bead or something. That works well for sweaters and over shirts, but not for other stuff. There are pants that can be made with draw string.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 May 09
People are doing a lot with velcro these days, too.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
22 May 09
Lucky you! I wish I knew how to sew on a machine but I don't. I had one and tried so many times but the string would get all tangled up or loose on one side and not the other. I constantly tightened the tension on it but nothing I did worked. I really need to take a class and refresh my memory of the 6th grade sew class which was a LONG LONG time ago!! LMBO!! Shhhhh, we won't tell anyone about that, now will we? LOL There's a few things I'd like to make but can't since I don't know how. One thing, which I need so desperately which is those hand drying towels that has a string on them to tie up on the cabinet door in the kitchen. They look really easy to make but I can't make them. Maybe someday I'll find someone who can make a few for me. Nothing fancy but something that doesn't look worn thin like my last two do.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
22 May 09
This machine is supposed to have a auto tension, but I still have problems with that!
17 May 09
Hi Elic, So sorry to hear about your mother going through this illness, it is never easy when that happens, as for sewing, I have not done anything sewing for very long time, I prefer to be on my computer, lol, good luck with your bibs, they will come in very handy for your mum. Tamara
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
17 May 09
Yeah, they should, and if they are pretty than they should be happy to put them on her every day.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
17 May 09
Hey Elic! Your projects sound wonderful! I think that is so nice that you will be able to make your mom some bibs. I think that making them yourself and adding your own personal touches will mean so much even if she really won't understand. I wish that I was able to sew! I never mastered that craft! And the catnip toys, well my cats would love them so! I don't have a sewing machine and as I said even if I did I can't sew on one! I can barely get the little things sown that I have to do by hand! I give you alot of credit! I wish I was able to sew! I am jealous of those that were able to master that craft or any of those crafts like knitting or crocheting because I just was never able to learn any of them!
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
17 May 09
Hi Elic! I am not much of a seamstres I'm afraid. I thought I was going to be smooth one time and make my daughter a very simple costume for a play once and the night before I realized I had gotten in over my head. I had to rush to the seamstress on the corner and thank goodness she felt pity in her heart for the one who thought she could sew for a moment..LOL..I am more of the paint...glue..decorate kind of person..although I can cross stitch. I have been thinking of redoing my girls' rooms. Take care.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
18 May 09
well, I know my limits on the sewing, no zippers, no button holes, velcro - that I can do, so I can look at a pattern and know if I can or can not do it.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
18 May 09
Me too now. No sewing..lol
1 person likes this
• United States
23 May 09
I took some scrap fabric from my stash and made a sewing machine cover a few months ago. My cat likes to bat at the thread spool when the machine is out, and I've found thread all over my desk a couple of times now. With the new cover, my cat has lost interest with the machine. Now that I don't have to worry about thread all over the place, I'm thinking about making some simple pillows for my living room. I have a lot of spare buttons that I could use to dress them up, and I've been meaning to practice some embroidery stitches I've seen...
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
23 May 09
Right after I got my machine, I made a vinyl cover for it so the cat's couldn't spray it, no idea where the cover is now, but the machine is also where they can't get to it (in the car at the moment.)