Saturday, October 11, 2008

New Fabric + New Sewing Machine = New Dress For Keara

Here it is: my new Bernina Artista 170QPE. I never realized how spoiled I was to learn to sew on a Bernina until I tried using my Singer a couple of weeks ago. Talk about different. So, I got my Christmas present early and got a used Bernina. It is a quilters addition and it also has an embroidery module with it!!! My first project was to sew a dress for Keara. It is out of the new Heidi Grace fabric. Unfortunately, it is too big for Keara even if I hem it, but she will grow into it someday. I also need to teach myself how to do button holes on the sewing machine. It was a really simple pattern, but I think it turned out okay. After learning the buttonholes I will need to learn how to do zippers. If anyone knows of a really good beginning sewing book that explains terms and markings on patterns, as well as how to do things like buttons and zippers let me know.

Doesn't she look like she is dancing?
I think it will look nice with a brown top underneath and maybe brown tights. I really love the Heidi Grace fabrics, very cute!!

9 comments:

Sasha said...

oooooh! Me likey! I love that fabric!! It looks REALLY good with the brown shirt under it. Good job, mama!! :) I SO need a sewing machine! I'm gonna go through depression when I leave my mom's house. I bounce between scrapping and sewing. Where'd you buy a used Bernina?? Miss ya, hope all is well!

Tiff Niff said...

Awe....so cute! I love the brown shirt under it!

Margaret said...

Sasha- ebay is a wonderful thing. They have a lot of different models, some used some new. Some bernina retailers have used ones for sale as well.

Corinnea said...

That dress is so cute on her!!! Yes, she looks like she is dancing and singing. I always LOVED making clothes for the kids....

Jennifer said...

yeah!! you got it! best to take a class for stuff like button holes, zippers, markings, etc. even if it's just from your sewer friend.

kms handmade said...

OH Margaret! I LOVE it! I want a shirt out of that fabric for ME! I got the hang of zippers from an Amy Butler pattern. I think it was the halter top. I'm terrible with button holes though! Keara is SO cute!!!!

Norma's Nonsense said...

That baby girl of yours is adorable and she looks so proud of her new dress. I would love to see you both whenever you are in my neighborhood.....

Gma Jilli said...

Oh Margaret,
How exciting....you will have so much fun. If you try to learn something new about the machine every three days or so by the end of a month you will have all the basics. Buy a bag of old zippers and practice on scraps of fabric. I still sew for the girls..making ashley a pair of scrubs and a dress for her bday. When is your bday? kisses to you both.

Margaret said...

Gma Jilli - My birthday is April 25. I can't wait to visit next year and you can see how much Keara has grown. I hope that she likes to craft. She has 3 really talented,crafty grandma's, so hopefully its in the genes.