Patching things up

One thing on my sewing list has been there for a while. Funnily enough I ended up not even using my sewing machine to fix it! The item I'm talking about is a pair of Sammy's bike shorts. Mountain biking is a pretty big part of Sammy's life and to be without one pair of bike shorts was a big deal even though he has four other pairs - not kidding! The problem with the shorts was a huge tear in the seat and another smaller hole above it.

The shredded shorts.

A closer look at the tear.

The origin of the rip is still be debated. Sammy thinks the washing machine caused it all. I think he fell and ripped them slightly and the washing machine just made it worse. I guess we'll never know.

The rip looks really big but when I finally looked at it closely it really wasn't that bad. It just had frayed a lot. The first thing I did was loosely close it up with a needle and thread. This helped hold it together while I figured out the patch. These shorts will be used a lot so I knew I wanted something that would stick and hold on. Enter the iron-on patch. I found brown twill iron-on patches at Joann's. I think it was $3 for two.

The patch.

I always read the directions and I'm glad I did for this. It said check the type of fabric and make sure that it can withstand the heat of an iron on the cotton setting (high). Well, these shorts are 48% cotton and 52% polyester. Polyester the material that melts under high temperatures. Eek! Furious googling ensued and I couldn't find much. Since it is a 50/50 blend it could take higher heat than just polyester but no one said anything specifically enough for me to be sure that I could use the patch. I finally just asked Sammy if it was OK that I might potentially burn his shorts. I told it would be the best way to fix them but I did have other "no chance of burning things" options. He said go for it. So I did.

I decided though to turn the iron down by one click and to move it around more frequently than the directions called for. There was never any burning smell or melted looking fabric but I'm not sure if it would work with a higher percentage of polyester. Here's the final result:

All fixed up and ready for riding!

I could make it extra secure by sewing it but I'm leaving it for now. If it looks like its coming up then I'll sew it but until then they are ready for riding and this guys mountain bikes hard!

My guy on his bike out at Moab, UT.

Next up some frisbee!

Sammy's new pillowcase

Christmas 2012 was THE year - the year I got a sewing machine! It is a pivotal point in a Knaak girl's life. Whole new possibilities of creative projects open up with a sewing machine! Here's the girl in her protective case.

Don't the stickers look great?

So what did I choose to make as my first sewing project? Well, there's a long list of things I want to make: quilts, clothes, etc. But as a grad student I'm limited on time especially since I have my 2nd comps (comprehensive exam) coming up. One thing that I needed to make that is fairly simple is a new pillowcase for Sammy. 

I originally made Sammy a pillowcase when he was in New Zealand studying abroad for a semester. I put a snake on it because its one of his favorite animals (yep, he was a biology major). Well, he's been sleeping on it for years now and it was deteriorating. 

Original Sammy pillowcase. The snake is falling off  in the middle.

A new pillowcase was needed and I now had the tools to do the job. I followed this easy tutorial and it turned out pretty well. But before I made the pillowcase, I asked Sammy what he wanted on it this time. In typical boy fashion, he said he wanted a dragon! Well, my simple first sewing project was turning into a difficult one. But I knew I could put anything on the pillowcase by fusing. Dragons have many complicated parts. Luckily, I took awhile looking around on the internet and found the perfect compromise.

A dragon shaped like a bicycle crank. (Can't find the original source.)

It was perfect! It's a  simplified dragon with a bike element for a guy who loves bikes. I did remove one of the horns and shortened the one I left. I used "Steam-a-Seam2" to put it on the finished pillowcase. I just followed the directions and it was easy. So here's the final result.

Much better than the old one!

Close up on the dragon.

Clashes slightly with the beautiful quilt. Jack had to make a sneak appearance.

I think it turned out well. I actually think I'm going to have to make one for myself! It was a great project to start on. Next up is patching bike shorts and a surprise gift for a friend. And eventually a log cabin quilt (I'm making myself wait until I defend my 2nd comps.)

Jack & the box

This is the story of Jack and the box. The main character is a large, fluffy, orange tabby who goes by the name Jack, mostly. He also answers to Jackolaus, Jacky, Bobo Jones, Spartacus, and a few other names. The box in its first life held ramen noodles. It's second life is the focus of this story. The box was relieved of its noodle holding duties one day because all the ramen was eaten by a hungry guy named Sammy. That same day it was placed on the floor with the expectation that a cat might enjoy its shape. Really the expectation was that the small cat, Juliet, would enjoy it, because certainly the large cat couldn't fit! Well, never tell a cat where he can and can't go because this will happen . . .

First, Jack decided to test out the box.

He wondered, "Do I fits?" 

He concluded that yes it was possible. Now on to finding the perfect position.

"Hmmm, only mah front halves is fitting!"

"Oh, I if I curlez up like dis then I fitz a little better!"

"Muhhahahaha, I can fitz purrrfectly!"

Now that Jack had found the perfect position he decided to celebrate by sleeping as only a cat could.

A square shaped cat! 

Sweet dreams, Bobo Jones!

What did the small cat think of all this box shenanigans? Well see for yourself.

"He'z ridiculous! I would never stoop to sleepingz in a box!"

And so the cat and his box lived happily ever after. At least until the cat got bored of the box and it was recycled! What will he try to fit in next?