Sewing Tools You Need: Electric Seam Ripper

Sewing Tools You Need: The Electric Seam Ripper ... I saw one showcased at a quilting expo ... and I instantly fell in love and knew I just HAD to have it.

ok ok ... technically it's for trimming hair ... but NOPE, in my mind it will be forever known as an Electric Seam Ripper.

I used to dread sewing a mistake and then having to rip out the stitches ... but now I actually don't mind it, not one little small tiny bit.  Sometimes I up sewing something just so I can rip it out, it's FUN!!

Remove stitches quickly and easily with the battery operated seam ripper.  Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and it only requires one AA battery.  Small enough to store with all your other sewing tools.

I paid twice as much at the quilting expo ... and then I came home and found the EXACT same model on amazon for half the price (and FREE shipping!!)  I'm sharing that good news with you.

you NEEEEED one ... for realz ...

Go buy one ... and then tell me all about what you think.

*** Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  When you purchase any items through those links I earn a percentage of the sale.  Thank you so much for your support!  I appreciate you!

Pajama Sew Along: Day 5

Today, we are going to work on the inseam and crotch seam on the ruffle leggings and  the crotch seam and elastic waist for the mega ruffles.

For the ruffle leggings/cuffed pants:

We left stopped after attaching the ruffles yesterday. We will pick up on step 8.

Place your pants right sides together and sew the inseam, making sure your ruffles (if you have them) are lined up. press and steam the seam and topstitch if desired.

For both leggings and mega ruffles:
Next, we will turn one leg right side out and put it inside the other, lining up the seams and raw edges.

Now we will sew that seam, making sure to stretch it a bit (for the leggings) and backstitch to reinforce it. Press, steam, and topstitch if desired.

For the Mega Ruffles/Boy pants:
Flip your waistband allowance back down and you should have something like this:

Now, we will topstitch 1/8" from the fold and again 1" from the fold. Leave a 2" gap for inserting your elastic!

Now insert your elastic using a safety pin or bobkin, making sure not to twist it! Sew the two ends together with a tight zigzag. stretch the elastic to distribute evenly, then sew the opening closed!

See you tomorrow to finish up the pants! I can't wait to share mine with you all!

Larissa

Pajama Sew Aong: Day 4

Welcome back! Today, we are going to start our pants! Here is the breakdown of steps for the different pants:

Ruffle/cuffed leggings: Steps 1-7

Mega ruffles/boy's pants: Steps 1-10

First, lets tackle the ruffle/cuffed leggings! Here are what your pieces should look like:

If you are doing the ruffle option, you will create your hem's first. Jodi gives some great tips on creating a faux cover stitch or using a zigzag. If you are adding cuffs, skip the hemming. 

Next, ruffle those ruffles! Again, Jody shoes you a great way to gather the ruffles with elastic, or you can gather by hand.

 Attach the ruffles to the hem, adding however many you would like. 

Now, if you are adding a cuff, follow the great add-on instructions (Cuff add on) to create the cuff to sew on later!

Now, for the Mega Ruffles/boys pants!

Here is what your pieces will look like: (boys on the left, ruffles on the right)

For the ruffle pants (both with and without the ruffle) you are going to add the pockets now (totally optional).

Then make sure you have the correct pieces and place them right sides together. Sew both side seams, press and topstitch, if desired.

 Now you will seam finish the top of the waistband and fold the waistband down. DO NOT SEW.

 Now, pin and stitch the inseam. Seam finish the raw edges.

See you tomorrow  to work on that waistband!

Larissa

Lengthening the Mega Ruffles to Straight Pants

FREE tutorial on how to modify the Mega Ruffle Pants pattern from Jocole to eliminate the ruffe and turn them into straight leg pants.

This is how I modify the pattern to use for my son (he's not a fan of ruffles).

Materials Needed:

Mega Ruffle Pants -- pdf sewing pattern

pencil or pen

ruler

scissors

paper and tape

Suggested Fabrics:

Lightweight woven fabrics like quilting cottons, flannel, batiste, lawn, broadcloth, linen, chambray, poplin, seersucker, lightweight suiting fabrics, lightweight denim, twill, lightweight corduroy

*** Alternative Fabrics: Consider making your Mega Ruffle Pants out of knit fabrics like: jersey, interlock or rib knit.

Cutting Instructions:

Makes sure you cut your pieces so that you have 2 opposite front leg pieces and 2 opposite back legs pieces.

The following picture is shown on a size 5, the blue lines are the original pattern lines, the RED lines are the newer pattern adjustment lines.

Sewing Instructions:

Compete Steps 1 through 21 shown exactly like in the pdf pattern.

Skip steps 22 through 33 (the ruffle instructions).  Instead press up the hem 3/4" and topstitch it in place.

Pajama Sew Along: Day 3

Welcome back! Today, we will finish up our shirts! These are Steps 24 through 27.

So, we left off yesterday with attaching the sleeve ruffles or preparing your cuffs. Now, if you are adding a ruffle around the neck, this would be the time! My girl asked for no ruffle (so no picture of a neck ruffle!)

Next, we are going to line up the side seams. Pin in place and sew from the sleeve cuff, up the arm, and down the side seam.

Next we are going to hem the bottom of our shirt. Fold it up and pin (if needed, I pressed mine with a hot iron and it was fine). I LOVE the tip in the pattern about placing the hem under the machine, then putting a post-it note pad next to the hem and then flipping it over to sew it! I also love hemming something flat rather than in the round!

Now, we can line up that last side seam and sew it! If you did a ruffled version, then you are done! Turn it right side out and give it a steaming if needed!

If you are adding cuffs, we are going to turn our shirt right side out and mark it into quarters, the same as we did with the cuff pieces last night. now, we are going to slip the sleeve into the cuff (right sides together), matching up the raw edges.

Line up the pins and sew, stretching the cuff to fit (don't over-stretch!). if you are not using a serger, seam finish that edge!

We did it! We finished our shirt!!!

Join us tomorrow as we start the pants!

Larissa

Pajama Sew Along: Day 2

Sew a long day 2! Steps 13-23

Today we are creating our ruffle sleeves or preparing our cuff pieces to sew on at the end.

If you are creating the cuffs, you are going to skip to step 16.

First, gather your supplies for today (shirt, sleeve pieces, and either your ruffle strips or cuff pieces).

Now, for those creating ruffles, hem those sleeves, making sure to stretch while stitching! There are great tips on using a twin needle to create a faux coverstitch, otherwise you can use a zigzag stitch.

Time to get our ruffle on! There are great tips of ruffling with clear elastic (I always forget to pick some up!) or you can ruffle by hand.

Now, attach that ruffle using a zigzag stitch. Repeat with however many ruffles you want to add! My girl is 11 and requested no more than 1 ruffle on the sleeves!

Now we are going to attach the sleeves to the shoulder. **Remember to take your time here and pin, pin, pin!**

Now sew it on, gently stretching as you sew (if not using a serger).

If you are adding cuffs to your sleeve, you will want to follow the instructions (cuff add on) to create the cuff. We will not be sewing  them on until tomorrow, but have it ready!

See you all tomorrow, when we will finish our shirts!

Pajama Sew Along: Day 1

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• Hi! I'm Larissa, a Stay at home mom to two wonderful kids and owner of Ellie's Trunk. You probably see me in a lot of designers sewing groups and the big PDF group quite often. My oldest, Jody, just turned 11. She is my little fashionista. The baby is 6 months old. That's right, they are 10 1/2 years apart!
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• When I was a child, Christmas always meant three things. First, lots of goodies to eat. Second, we would be seeing family that we rarely got to see. Third, we would get a new pajama set. We always opened them first, then ran to change into them, claim our spot on the floor and open presents! Now, my family opens presents on Christmas Morning, but I still wanted to carry on the tradition of pajamas on Christmas Eve. Usually, they are store bought and reflect the interest of my daughter that year. Well, I have been sewing for just over 2 years now, and decided that this year would be momma made jammies! I am still trying to convince myself that I will be able to complete jammies for both kids, pajama pants for both myself and the husband, and sew up Christmas Day outfits for both kids. Christmas is 2 weeks away....I can't seem to get anything done unless I have a deadline these days. When Jodi contacted me about running a sew a long for her, and then said she wanted to do pajamas, I was sold! Get some Holiday sewing done, and a deadline to meet!

If you have any questions the Jocole FB group is a great place to ask them!

On to the sewing !!  Today we're working on the Shirt ... Steps 1 through 12.

By now, you should have all your pieces cut out  (the picture is for the cuffed version) ... neckband, sleeve, sleeve cuff, front and back

[Steps 1 - 4]  Place the front and back right sides together and sew the shoulder seams -- be sure to stretch it a bit while sewing if you aren't using a serger.  Topstitch if desired!  (Oops, I forgot to snap a picture of that step!)

[Steps 5 - 9]  Next, take your neckband piece and sew it into a loop!  Fold it in half and mark it into quarters.  Do the same for the neckline of the shirt.

• [Steps 10 - 12]  Now we'll them together, matching the pins.  Remember to stretch it just a bit while sewing if you aren't using a serger.
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Join us tomorrow when we will construct our sleeve, and either hem or add the cuff pieces.

Cuffed Pajamas Tutorial -- Classic Tee & Leggings modification

FREE tutorial on how to modify the Classic Tee and the Leggings patterns from Jocole to add knit cuffs at the bottom of the sleeves and legs.

Materials Needed:

Classic Knit Tee or Ruffle Tee (or Mix&Match Classic Sleeve) -- pdf sewing patterns

Basic Knit Leggings or Ruffle Leggings -- pdf sewing patterns

Pencil or pen

Ruler

Scissors

Paper and tape

Suggested Fabrics:
Jersey (my favorite is cotton/spandex), interlock, rib knit
** your cuffs need to be VERY stretchy, something with lycra/spandex is recommended.

the following picture is shown on a size 5, the blue lines are the original pattern lines, the RED lines are the newer pattern adjustment lines.

1.         FOLD the cuff in half lengthwise.  Align the short sides, RIGHT sides together.  Pin if necessary.

2.         STITCH cuff into a loop using a 3/8” seam allowance, RIGHT sides together.

[If using a serger, STITCH using a 1/4” seam allowance, trimming 1/8” from the edge.]

3.         FOLD cuff in half, aligning the raw edges, WRONG sides together.

4.         MARK cuff into quarters. 

5.         MARK your sleeve/legging into quarters.

6.         With the sleeve/legging RIGHT side out, slip inside the cuff, RIGHT sides together, aligning the edges and matching the quarters marks and pin into place.

7.         STITCH cuff into place along the sleeve/legging using a 3/8” seam allowance.  You’ll need to stretch the cuff so it matches the length of the opening, but don’t over stretch!!  Backstitch to reinforce seam.  Start stitching at center back seam of the waistband.  A zigzag stitch is recommended for optimal stretchiness.

           

[If using a serger, STITCH using a 1/4” seam allowance, trimming 1/8” from the edge.]

8.         SEAM FINISH the raw edges of the cuff.

FINISHED CUFF ... doesn’t it look fantastic ?!?!