My Sewing Studio

Last year I decided to turn my Pottery studio into a sewing studio. I love doing pottery, but it takes very strong, steady hands to work the potting wheel and I am at an age where I don't want to work that hard! So I have gone back to my first love... sewing. It used to be an unfinished shed type of building. We put up wallboard and a patio door, a little paint and some curtains, and voila! Sewing Studio!

This spring, my three sisters came for a week of sewing, talking, laughing and having some fun. We have all had some health issues in the last few years so we dubbed the week TBASSS (The Broke Ass Sisters Sewing Soiree). We had a wonderful week!

I have a Husqvarna Designer 1, a Janome Serger, and an Industrial machine for uphostery. I love them all!

These pictures were taken before I re-did the chair.
That is, all of them but this last one. I took it this morning. My husband has his "man cave".... I have my 'girlie grotto'...

I am reupholtering a chair

Several months ago, I purchased 2 easy chairs off Craig's list. They are of good quality and exactly what I had in mind for my sewing studio. Not too big, not too small. They recline for when I am not really sewing, but hiding from other things that need to be done. This is what one of them looks like:

It took me almost 2 months to remove the old fabric! They must have used a hundred pounds of staples in just one arm! If anyone has a faster or easier way to remove upholstery staples, I would sure love to hear about it. I used a hammer, a screwdriver and pliers. Needless to say, I am not anxious to start on the second chair. Here is how the first one turned out:

I loved the colors in the fabric. We have a salvage fabric store where I live and most of their inventory is upholstery fabric. I got this for $5 a yard.

Make 3 New 'comfort' bras in 45 minutes!

I don't have hot flashes, I have meltdowns and living in the South in the long HOT summer months, I find wearing a bra uncomfortable. Especially when working in my yard, walking the dog, or just sitting on the patio. I came up with an idea for a comfy cotton bra that was inexpensive (about $6 for 3 of them). The bras are made from cotton panties! They would be great for a young girl that just needs a liner under T-shirts.

Here is how I make them:

Buy a 3 pack of cotton 'granny' panties and some elastic

Cut a V shape in the center through both layers like this. I tried it on an old pair to get an idea of how big to cut the opening. The back of the panties becomes the front of the bra.

Fold down the center and cut a little extra from the front. I like to make the neckline a little rounder. Then cut a strip of stretch Lycra or elastic a few inches shorter than the neck opening.

Sew the lycra toghether at the short end like so:

Then fold it in half to make a folded ring like this:

Pin the seam to the back center of the bra. I pin the center of the strip to the center of the neck opening to make sure it is even on both sides. Sew the lycra to the neck opening on the right side of the fabric, stretching the lycra as you go

I used the lycra just because I had some that almost matched and wanted to see how it would work out. I actually like using elastic a little better. If you use elastic, sew it to the wrong side of the fabric (stretching it as you go)

Turn the elastic under and top stitch, always remember to stretch as you stitch! I use a decorative stitch, but a simple zigzag works just fine!