Reusable Cloths for a Dust Sweeper

Here's something that requires zero sewing: duster cloths. Instead of constantly buying (and trashing) these things, why not be resourceful? Leftover pieces of fleece would be best, but you could use any fun-looking fleece that catches your eye at the store. I'd personally like to find some fleece with a kitchen-related print... Oh, and to have enough for 8 cloths, just ask for 1/3yard. I only spent a buck!

When you get your fabric home, get out a pair of fabric scissors and cut 8" X 11" rectangles.

That's it. Really! Fleece doesn't fray, so don't worry about that. Just toss them in the wash when they get dirty. Beats the pants off disposables!

And here's a tip, I found I can "charge" them up with static cling, and the dust will just jump right off the floor. Okay, well it's not a magic method, but I definitely notice an attraction!

Another Way to Gather

This is another way to gather- as in, not the technique in this post. With this new way, a string is used instead of tension. It requires a bit of skill, but practice makes better with this one.

You'll need "gathering cord" (really, just a thin string) and fabric.

Place your fabric on the machine with the "wrong" side up, and lay your string across the length you're sewing.

Use a zig-zag stitch and carefully "jump" over the string, essentially sewing a stitch on either side of the string as you go. Do your best not to catch your string with the needle! You will want to sew the narrowest zig-zag your string will allow. Too wide of a zig-zag will cause the fabric to pucker.

Once it's sewn, go ahead and adjust your ruffles. Lock them in if you have to (simply pin or hold in place, and sew a straight stitch across).

To make it easier, try pinning your string to the "start point" and "end point" of your line (keep the string on there by wrapping it in figure eights). Just pull the string as you sew and you'll be ready to go, no adjustment necessary.

Without a doubt, the best way to utilize this method is with a five- or seven-hole multi-cord foot. Just thread the string through the center hole and use a wide zig-zag stitch. But if you don't have one, just use this method. It's very quick and only requires a little bit of concentration.

Gathering Fabric and Making Ruffles

While making a skirt, I realized that it looked too flat. I decided to gather the fabric at the top of the skirt, in order to give it more body. Of course, that made the skirt too small at the top! So here we go, round two.

Cut your fabric, making it twice (or three times) as wide as your finished product will be.

Turn your tension to the highest it will go, and make sure the stitch is the longest it can be. And pull a good amount of both threads to create a long tail before you work.

Go ahead and sew! As you go, you'll notice that the fabric is curling up and "ruffling." Great!

Leave the tails very long, because you will need to pull the fabric after sewing. Measure the width you'll need for your finished product, and make sure it will work. GENTLY Pull the fabric until it's as wide as you need it to be. Start spreading it out from the outside, working your way in

Be very gentle with your new ruffly fabric edge, since the thread is pulled so tightly that it can break very easily. Put your tension back where it belongs (on my machine, it's in the middle, at the "auto" setting). Go ahead and run the ruffled fabric top back through the machine. Be very careful to keep the ruffles even as you sew; your presser foot will do its best to keep everything flat, and this may or may not keep things even for you. After a pass or two locking in your ruffles, you're ready to add the finishes.

Depending on what you're doing, you can just use some bias tape to finish it off. I made a skirt, so I made a tube of fabric and sewed it over the ruffles so I couldn't see the stitching.

What do you think? Easy, right?

Making a PUL Diaper Cover

Here's a great use for PUL... A diaper cover! Talk about containing messes and needing a leak-proof way to do that. This will be a "size 3" diaper cover, because that's the size my little mess-maker is currently wearing. We will be using a 19"L by 13"W scrap of PUL, a little over 2 yards of fold-over elastic, and some hook and loop for the closure (Velcro is an example).

I use a template from other diapers I have made, but you could trace around a diaper you currently have. Or free-hand it! First, I fold the fabric in half, then I place the template on, then I cut both layers of fabric at once to keep things symmetrical. Once your cover is cut out, you're ready to add elastic.

Fold-over elastic is a great thing. Instead of having to be sewn in a hidden casing, it's folded around an edge of fabric and stretched while sewing. Once you get the hang of it, it's a very convenient way to use elastic on the outside of a project.

Lay the elastic so the wrong side (soft side) is facing you. Lay the back of your diaper cover over it, and line it up with the middle of the elastic.

The elastic will then fold over very easily over the top, and you can put it all under your presser foot. 

Make a PUL sandwich. 

 Once everything is situated, you can stretch the elastic over the PUL and get sewing.

Use a wide zig-zag stitch so that you can get the maximum stretch out of your diaper cover. Starting at the back, stretch the elastic as far as it will go, while sliding in the PUL so it's flush with the inside crease. Stretch your elastic, then pull some more! (It helps to keep a hand behind the machine to guide the fabric out, since you will be working against the feed dogs by stretching toward you.) Stretch as much as you can for the back of the cover. When you reach the tabs, don't stretch it at all. Before you reach the end, snip the elastic (not all the way through) so you can turn the corner without much bulk.

Then comes the back of the leg, where you will also want to stretch as much as you can. When I reach the front of the leg, I only stretch half as much. And when I reach the front, I don't stretch at all. Go all the way around, and meet the elastic at the back. Sew back and forth a bit to lock up the stitches.

A quick reference as you sew:
Back: Full stretch (stretch as much as you can, then stretch some more!)
Tabs: No stretch at all
Back leg/buttocks: Full stretch (most important place to get a full stretch of elastic)
Front leg: Half stretch
Front: No stretch at all
Front leg: Half stretch
Back leg/buttocks: Full stretch
Tabs: No stretch at all
Back: Full stretch

Nice work! See how the back puckers out, but the front lays flat? Now you'll need some way to keep the diaper on. I like hook-and-loop for the snuggest fit. Sew a strip of loop (soft) across the front. Remember to switch your stitch to a straight line!

For tabs, I like to sew the hooks and loops onto a strip of fold-over elastic before attaching them to the diaper. This way, I have a little bit of stretch as I'm putting the diaper on. Also, I like to trim the corners, so it's not a sharp angle rubbing against the baby's skin. Sew on a bit of loop (soft) and a bit of hook (scratchy), one for each of the two tabs. Then attach them to the diaper. The soft bits will act as a "laundry" tab. Stick the loop parts here when the diaper is not in use. Remember to keep the loops on the outside!

Trim up the threads and admire your work!

Go ahead and try it on... 

Enjoy your new diaper cover!

Storing Sharps

Sewing can be some prickly business. Not only are bent or broken pins and needles dangerous to work with, but just tossing them in the trash is a big no-no. An empty spices shaker is the perfect thing to use!

I just re-used one that was destined for the recycling bin (and since #5 plastics cannot be recycled, I actually saved one from a landfill). The holes are perfect for dropping them in, without making them too easy to shake out. The lid makes it perfectly safe to use, even if travelling. The next time you're ditching an old spice shaker, think about adding it to your sewing room!

Remember, never sew with a bent or dull needle... that's just asking for trouble!

Making a Reusable Sandwich Bag

In a continuing effort to "live green," my family and I choose to use reusable bags wherever and whenever we can. Because of its versatility, a popular item around here is the reusable sandwich bag. This is an extra small wet bag made of PUL that closes at the top with either snaps or a zipper. This post will demonstrate this quick and easy bag... there are only three lines to sew!

For tips and tricks for working with PUL, see this blog post.

Let's get sewing! 

Cut a rectangle of PUL.

The size and shape don't matter very much, but a cut bigger than 8"x16" would be best.

Fold it in half, with the wrong side (shiny side) out.

Now, fold over an edge so you can see a strip of the "right" side.

Try to make it as wide or wider than your presser foot.

So now you have your large rectangle, folded in half with a strip of "right" side facing up and facing down.

There should be four layers of fabric between your presser foot and the feed dogs.

After you've sewn down one side, flip it over and sew down the other.

Here is a close-up, inside-out look at the seam. See all four layers there?

If the opening of your bag is uneven, just cut off the excess.

With the the bag right-side out, fold in the top and sew it down from the inside.

Go all the way around, being careful to keep the rest of the bag out of the way of the needle. 

You don't want to accidentally sew the bag shut!

At this point, you can add any type of closure you prefer. Or leave it open!

Enjoy your little bag, and go ahead and make some more. They're great for nearly everything!