Pattern tracing fabric

I recently discovered Pattern Ease or Easy Pattern.  Easy Pattern is what the label at JoAnns called it but the lady on the phone at JoAnns called it Pattern Ease.  It's about $2.50 a yard (but use your 40% off coupon and get it for $1.50 a yard!) .  It is similar to interfacing (it feels like a drier sheet without the coating).  It is used for tracing patterns (or creating a pattern).   If you have a tissue pattern that you want to keep and use multiple sizes, then trace the pattern onto pattern ease.  This stuff does tear, so you still have to be careful with it.  But it stands up better than tissue pattern pieces.

My first project with easy pattern was tracing a Lil Blue Boo pattern I recently purchased.  I didn't want to reprint the pattern  when I was ready for the next size up (and lining up the dots and taping take a little bit).  So, first I printed the pattern (this one is the leggings pattern) and lined up the dots as instructed.  Once it was all lined up and taped together, I taped it to a door.

Then I cut a piece of pattern ease and taped over the pattern like so

Then I traced the size that I wanted and all the markings.  The first time tracing I used one of these ink pens.

It worked just fine and didn't smudge.  I also tried a permanent marker and that smeared.  Then I tried a pencil and that worked fine.  You can't erase any mistakes though, so take your time tracing.

All done tracing.

Here is a close up.  It is kinda hard to tell where you have traced.

Now it's ready to be cut out.

Yay! All cut out and I still have the pattern still together for the other sizes.

I went ahead and traced each size so that I didn't have to get the paper pattern out and trace it once I was actually ready for it.  Besides it is only 2 pattern pieces so why not just get it done.

This shows the difference between pencil (top) and the ink pen (bottom)

Now I can put all these pieces in a folder with the instructions and the paper pattern.  I still have the paper pattern piece in case i want to lengthen the legs.

Now I just need to do this for all the other patterns I recently purchased!

 

Tip - tracing patterns onto fabric (on the cheap)

Marking pens/pencils and those disappearing ink pens found at craft stores are not cheap.  They are kinda pricey to me and the ink dries up quickly.  So, here is what you need to do:

go to your kid's room and grab their washable markers (or you could go purchase some too).  They are fun to use since you have a variety of colors to choose from.  Plus kid's markers last for a long time.  The price is reasonable as you get around 8 markers for about $4...which is about $.50 a marker!  So far, I have never had a washable marker that will not wash out (even when the marker has been on the fabric for weeks). I have not tried the markers on delicate fabrics so I'm not sure if they will stain or not.  If you are worried, test first.

Now grab your kid's marker.

Mark your lines and there you go!  Just remember to wash your project once complete.

Old Towel = New Bath Rug

I had a towel that was unravelling along the edges.  My thought was to turn it into a rug for the bathroom.  (Now I have had this thought for years!!!)  Today, I finally followed through on my thought and  completed the project!!

First cut the ends off (if you have that decorative part).

Fold the towel in half and pin all around. 

Serge each side.  I had serger tails at each corner.  Since I am far from mastering the techniques for hiding serger tails, and it was too thick to pull the tail back under the stitching, I just used my sewing machine and stitched around each corner.  Then I cut the serger tail off.

Now I have a fun spring time rug for the bathroom.

Tip - Storing spools of thread and bobbins

Here is a simple trick to keep your spools of thread and matching bobbins together:

Grab some pipe cleaners.  (I would have preferred white ones instead...but all I could find were the neon ones)

Grab spools of thread and matching bobbins.

Thread the pipe cleaner through the spool and bobbin, then cut the excess pipe cleaner off (leaving about 1/2" or so to fold over each end).  You can get 3 spools/bobbins out of each pipe cleaner.  This is also great for when you have several bobbins of the same color - just cut the pipe cleaner a little bit longer to accommodate the extra bobbins.

Here is where my thread is kept.  This is one of those laundry/utility room plastic drawer units.

The top drawer is for white/black/gold shades.

Next is the blue and green drawer.

Then the red, orange, and yellow drawer.

The bottom drawer is for pinks and purples.

I used to use rubber bands, but I would never take the time to band the spool and bobbin back together once I was done sewing.  I think this will be much easier to stick with!

Tie Dye with Tulip Dye - Sprinkling with powder dye

So I purchased this kit at JoAnns on clearance.  It comes with blue, pink, yellow and black powder dyes.   

First wash the t-shirts without fabric softener and dry them.  I used a package of boys undershirts for $6 or $7 for 5.  For this shirt I used black tie dye.

Lay the shirt out on newspaper and plastic.  This way the dye will not stain your worksurface.  The newspaper will help absorb the dye so you don't have a pool of water on the plastic just waiting to be accidentally spilt onto the table or floor.

Take the powder dye and sprinkle on top of the shirt.  Remember, you can always add more dye later, so don't over sprinkle.

Take a spray bottle and start spraying.  I just used cold water here.

Keep spraying.  The more you spray in one spot the more it will pool and spread.

Spray spray spray.  The black is cool because where it doesn't pool very much you can see the colors of dye that make up black.

All done on the front.  I dont like the front as much as i like the back.  I think i used a little too much.  You will see the difference at the end.

I was going to flip the entire shirt over, but i didnt want to make a bigger mess, so I just folded the shirt in half.

Sprinkle some dye powder where the dye didnt soak through already.

Spray Spray Spray

Now fold it back over to do the other half of the backside. (I had to turn the shirt so I had more room).  Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle, spray, spray, spray.

Once that is done, I put the shirt in a plastic bag and let it sit for awhile...maybe 4 or 5 hours.  Then rinse the shirt out really well.  Then was it in the washer on the hottest water for the shirt with a little detergent.  The instructions did not say to put the shirt in a bag, but I wanted to let the dye sit and really soak in.  Then dry in the drier. 

And here you have it! This is the front. The black turned out really nice and dark. It will fade with each wash, but it should stay pretty dark for awhile.

up close

 

And here is the back.  I really wish this is how the front would have turned out too.  I used too much dye on the front and I didn't leave much white.  Remember, you can always add more dye later!

FREE printable instructions!