The Sewing Fool

Come take a look... New Tshirts with Cool Full Front to Back Suspenders and Funky ties.

2011-07-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

New tie tshirts for your little guy. Featuring full front to back suspenders. Tie can be customized to your child's interests. Just contact me with ideas and I'll see what I can find suitable for your little guy.

Come by http://www.thesewingfool.etsy.com/

Treasury Featuring Wrap Around dragon on Green Tshirt

2011-07-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Fun and cool treasury with lots of fun boy things!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzgxNTcxMHw0NzMzMjQ4NDI/autumn-2011things-id-love-to-have-for-my

Thanks celenfae for including my tshirt!

Tapestry Upholstery fabric remnants just added

2011-05-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

I've added a few listings for Tapestry Upholstery Fabric remnants. Come by and take a peek wwww.TheSewingFool.etsy.com

Vintage United States License Plates

Sports themed, hockey, basketball, baseball, football and tennis.

Lovely robed angels

Friendly dogs

Children of the world

Coupon code

2011-03-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Blog readers! In honor of April Fools Day I am offering a 10% discount on all regular orders this weekend. Use code Fool10Blog at check out between April 1 and April 3, 2011. Visit my Etsy store
http://www.thesewingfool.etsy.com/
Thanks!

Etsy Treasury including TheSewingFool Train tshirt

2011-03-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d7381efb79d6d9195fc492f/trains-and-boats-and-planes#4d73b7f22e136d914b1b23e7

Here's a fun little treasury including my train tshirt.

Thanks cynmb on Etsy.

Running to get to the starting line...

2011-03-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to actual followers. I am so excited to see my little business starting to take off. Though I am feeling a little like I'm running just to get to the starting line. In just over 3 weeks I have made close to 60 tshirts. I know that once the base stock is established I'll be able to cut that down a little.

What's all that stock for you ask. Well Mid-February or so I was welcomed into a brick and mortar store here in Southeast MI. I took actual tshirts there on the first of March. So you can find my tshirts at Root and Sprout on Old Woodward in Birmingham MI. www.rootandsproutbaby.com

Also Etsy is doing pretty good. Thanks a lot to taking the time to join some teams and learn about their new Circles.

I don't want business to slow down per say just let me catch up a bit there's laundry to be. :)
Thanks!

Etsy Treasury by fuzzydetails

2010-11-29T12:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cf3e5a24b068eef489bb4c4/whimsies-and-whatnots

I was included in another treasury- yay! Go check it out!

Black Friday Cyber Monday Sale in Etsy store starting today!

2010-11-24T17:18:00.000-08:00

So I'm starting my Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sale a little early. I figure I'll be to busy eating turkey tomorrow to set it all up so starting Now through Monday November 29, 2010 sale prices are in effect!
All youth/child size tshirts are marked down from $21.95 to $19.95! Buy 3 or more and take another $1 off each!
So stop by and take a peek...

http://www.thesewingfool.etsy.com/

Thanks and Happy Shopping!

Etsy treasury and Michigan Renaissance Festival

2010-10-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Two weekends at the Michigan Renaissance Festival completed! We had rain and more mud than we knew what to do with one day, 50 mile per hour wind gusts another, and a couple of pleasantly cool days. I sold a few tshirts, unicorns being the most popular, the goth pirate dresses all found owners (save one), and I handed out many business cards and talked with lots of great people.

I also have been updating my Etsy shop at www.thesewingfool.etsy.com
I was included in a treasury for the first time. A great selection of Rochester, MI artists.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4caa66498f586d91e8e009a3/shop-local-rochester-michigan-part-1

Now to get to Halloween costumes.

Michigan Renaissance Festival booth this weekend 9-18 &9-19

2010-09-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I will have a booth at the Michigan Rennaissance Festival in Holly, MI. I will have a small selction of garments and kids tshirts for sale. As well as I will be there with my portfolio getting my name out as a fashion designer and custom clothier.
Here are a few photos of Pirate dresses or Goth dresses I will have for sale...

All are floor length and have a small train in the back. They are adjustable in size with ties on the sides, about size 12 to about size 18 maybe 20. Polyester panne crushed velvet paired with a sheer and a lining.

I actually have fabric for 2 more black dresses and 1 gold dress. Maybe they will be done by next weekend my other weekend at the Ren Faire.

I'll also have child size tshirts. I'll have pirate ships, dragons, castle w/ dragon and unicorns. You can see more photos at the etsy shop...

http://www.thesewingfool.etsy.com/

Dragons and Unicorns Oh My. More tshirt designs.

2010-08-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

Fun Winged Dragon

With a tail that wraps around.

Unicorn also.

Backside (literally).

These are just a few more new designs. I have some more in the works. :)

New Birthday tshirts added to shop

2010-07-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Wrap around Pirate Ship with optional birthday year.

Pirate Ship backside.

Pirate Ship without optional birthday year.

Wrap around Fire Engine with wrap around Flames on the sleeve and optional birthday year.

Backside of Fire Engine.

Wrap around Castle with winged Dragon.

Castle backside.

2010-06-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't given up on the blog just been very busy with my family. I have more tutorials I want to share and I'm working on new items for the shop. So keep checking back for new posts. Thanks. :)

More applique tshirts....

2010-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Rrrrribit.

Fun fullsize frog.

Cute roly poly fullsize Penguin.

Still more designs to come. Keep checing in here or at the shop

http://www.thesewingfool.etsy.com/

Applique tshirts now at thesewingfool.etsy.com

2010-03-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Several cool new tshirts added to thesewingfool.etsy.com. More to come!

Wrap around train.

Monkey business.

A Pirate says Rrrrrr.

More designs to come!

Train Birthday Cake

2010-02-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

Well it's not sewing related but I did make it myself. For my sons third birthday this year I got ambitous and made him a Choo Choo Train birthday cake.

I used a selection of disposable aluminum bread pans to create the base. Then decorated with homemade butter cream frosting and M&Ms, they hid a multitude of sins along the color line change. The headlights are Hersey Kisses, the grill is pieces of a hersey bar and the wheels are Oreos.

I think it turned out very well. What do you think?

Holiday sewing tally.

2010-02-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

So the holiday sewing season "wrapped" up almost 2 months ago but here is my sewing gift tally. Pictures will be added later; they are on the laptop which currently doesn't have an internet connection.

1 recycled denim bag
1 magicians cape
1 pirate vest with sash
1 reversible cowboy vest
4 tutus
5 flannel pajama style pants
5 super hero capes and one for a Christmas birthday
5 nightgowns made with a recycled tshirt top and flannel skirt

And "a partridge in a pear tree " as the song goes.
A busy sewing season. It seems that no matter how far ahead I plan or start sewing it just is never enough time.

Tutorial- Birthday Tshirt with Fabric Applique

2010-02-04T18:26:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share how to add a fabric applique to a tshirt. I've used this technique for years to add a little color to tshirts to go with handmade PJ pants given as gifts. This is a simple technique and works well for large simple shapes. I have done letters and numbers also but they are more difficult so I suggest starting with simple shapes, like squares and circles.

You'll need...

t-shirt or other item to be appliqued
a piece of fabric for your applique, size will depend on applique desired
fusi-knit a piece equal to your applique fabric
matching thread
scissors
sewing machine needle for knits; ball point if you're sewing on a t shirt
pins
iron and sewing machine

to add a number or letter detail you'll need...

a scrap of tshirt knit the size you want the letter or number to be
a piece of Heat n Bond equal to the size of your scrap (available at your local fabric store.)
thread to match
iron and sewing machine

Soon to be 3-year old helper is optional

So lets start with the fusi-knit. This is a lightwieght 100% polyester tricot knit interfacing. You can find this at your local fabric store, it comes in black and white.

Your applique fabric can be what ever you like. I have had the best luck with woven broadcloth fabrics; your run of the mill calico prints are great.

You can create your shape freeehand, copy a shape from a book or print something from your computer.

1- Create your shape. Cut it out of your fabric and fusi-knit.

2- Sew these two pieces together, right sides together. That would be the right side of your fabric and the fusible side of the fusi knit facing each other.

Sew all the way around. Do Not leave an opening.

3- Trim any curves, clip corners or trim seams as needed. Be sure to leave an adequate seam allowance.

4- Seperate the fusi knit form the fabric.

and clip the fusi knit

Cut an X shaped opening in the fusi knit. Don't make it to large and stay away from the seams.

5- Use the hole to turn the applique rightside out. Smooth out all corners and edges.

6- This is your applique.

Front

Back

Notice that all edges are safely, securely and neatly hidden in between the two layers.

7- You are now ready to place your applique on your tshirt and fuse it down.

Use pins sparingly as they can scratch your iron.

8- Now topstitch your applique to your shirt.

You're done or you can add a number or letter detail to personalize the shirt.

9. Create your number or letter pattern on a piece of paper. If you follow these direction you do not need any seam allowance, so cut it the size you want it to be on the shirt.

10. To add the number or letter. You'll need to fuse a piece of Heat n Bond to the wrong side of your tshirt knit scrap.

11. Pin your pattern to the right side of the tshirt knit scrap that has Heat n Bond on the wrong side and cut it out. Be careful and exact these edges will be visible.

12. Now just peel off the paper from the Heat n Bond, place it on your shirt and press according to the manufacturers directions.

13. Since you are using a knit for the letter or number it wont fray with washing. I do suggest to topstitch around the letter or number. I go about a 1/4 inch in from the edge all the way around; if your letter or number is fairly small you could just do one stitch down the center.

Thanks for reading my first tutorial I hope you have fun making all kinds of appliqued tshirts. Please leave any questions in the comments and I'll answer them as soon as I can.

Happy Sewing!

"Rain Spout" Skirt

2010-02-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

Polyester Flocked Black Brocade

Accented with 100% Poylester Satin

Lined with 100% Polyester Lining

Falt Pattern Method

Created for "Flat Patterning" Wayne State University 2006

Wayne State University Student Art Show

2007

Inspiration rain spout on porch of building on Wayne State University Campus.

"My Purple Suit" with "Rose Window Skirt"

2010-01-26T11:08:00.000-08:00

"My Purple Suit" with "Rose Window Skirt"

Created for "Flat Pattern" Wayne State University 2006

Flat Pattern Method

Jacket 100% Cotton Denim

Full Circle Skirt 100% Cotton Print

100% Polyester Lining

Inspiration: Circular Rose window of St. Josaphat Detroit, MI.

"Summer Breeze"

2010-01-26T11:00:00.000-08:00

"Summer Breeze"

Created for "New York Study Tour" Wayne State University 2007

Flat Pattern Method

Dress 100% Linen

Overlay 100% Polyester

Inspiration: The dresses of Donna Ricco

"Garden Party" One Piece dress

2010-01-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

"Garden Party"- One Piece Dress

Created for "Draping" Wayne State University 2007

Draping Method

Cotton/Silk Blend

Polyester lining

Pattern piece for dress. Dress is cut as one piece with added fabric flowers.

Inspiration: Detroit Historical Museum

Mrs. Firestone Opera dress

"Pink Cadillac"

2010-01-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

"Pink Cadillac"

Created for "Draping" Wayne State University 2007

Jacket 100% Silk Dupion

100% Polyester Lining

Full Circle Skirt 100% Polyester Dull Satin

100% polyester Lining

Draping Method

Wayne State University Student Art Show 2007

Inspiration 1959 Pink Cadillac

photo source: http://www.rhps.org/

"Office Flirt" Hand Tailored Wool Suit

2010-01-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

"Office Flirt"

Hand Tailor Wool Suit

Created For "Tailoring" Wayne State University 2006

Vogue Pattern 8128, V2873

100% Wool Suiting

100% PVC pleather accents

100% Polyester Lining

Artregeous Fashion Show/Contest 2006

Winner Professional Wear

Early Italian Rennaisance Dress

2009-12-30T09:51:00.000-08:00

Early Italain Rennaisance Dress

chemise- cotton/linen blend

dress- 100% silk Dupioni

surcoat- polyester/nylon blend flocked with cotton/linen blend lining

detachable sleeves- upholstery fabric lined with silk Dupioni

combination flat and drapped pattern methods

Created for "History of Costuming" at Wayne State University 2001

Inspiration

Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni

1488

Domenico GHIRLANDAIO

Follow Shop updates and check out Portfolio photos...

2009-12-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

You can also follow shop updates by becoming a fan on Facebook. I have photos from my portfolio on this Facebook page.
http://tinyurl.com/fanofthesewingfool

Also you can follow shop updates on Twitter
http://twitter.com/thesewingfool

I will be adding Portfolio photos here soon. I will be posting shop updates here also.

Holiday sewing continues...

2009-12-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

Today I'm sewing nightgowns for a few neices. The top portion is recreated from a tshirt. I love reclaiming fabric. Tshirts are the best, they are so plentiful and colorful. The skirt portion is flannel. Joanns had a great sale on it for Black Friday. I have 5 of these to make today. Some how Holiday sewing always ends up being last minute even though I start planning in August/September. Oh well I guess that's how life goes.

Welcome to the Blog..

2009-12-18T09:39:00.001-08:00

Hello and welcome this will be the official blog of thesewingfool. That's me, Monique.
I expect to have pictures of my portfolio here. As well as discuss happenings in my store www.thesewingfool.etsy.com . I'll probably be sharing some sewing tips and projects, a tutorial or two perhaps.
Please excuse any grammatical errors, I try but I know I'm not perfect.
I'm very excited to see where this goes...