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Instant gratification;-) (Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952)
Posted on: 8/31/09 11:24 AM ET
So DH loves his loose fitting stretch yoga pants (yes, he does wear them to class when I teach in my home studio) and decided he wanted a pair of shorts something like them for cycling. He is tired of the super-fitted "real" cycling shorts and was idly wondering aloud if I could make a pair. This is at about 4 pm on a Sunday afternoon.
I race to the sewing room, find a perfect black 4 way stretch knit in the closet, measure up the yoga pants (OK - a glitch here - I have no earthly idea where I put the pattern I used on the yoga pants! I either lost it or tossed it in my big cleanup), find the simple pj pattern that should work. He wears a medium in flannelet, so a small in lycra should work. Flip up the bottom half of the pattern (already marked for DS's board shorts length pj's) cut, serge and voila! Ready for fitting in about 40 minutes flat.
It actually would have been quicker than that, but the guys on Mythbusters were blowing stuff up and I had to watch... I just have to finish putting the elastic in this morning and he'll have new shorts to wear for his evening bike ride.
I have never been that interested in purposely building my stash. It seems to expand on its own quite well. But experiences like this are making me reconsider that position. Maybe if I get rid of all those silly old baby photos and tax records, there will be a bit more room in the stash closet?
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I race to the sewing room, find a perfect black 4 way stretch knit in the closet, measure up the yoga pants (OK - a glitch here - I have no earthly idea where I put the pattern I used on the yoga pants! I either lost it or tossed it in my big cleanup), find the simple pj pattern that should work. He wears a medium in flannelet, so a small in lycra should work. Flip up the bottom half of the pattern (already marked for DS's board shorts length pj's) cut, serge and voila! Ready for fitting in about 40 minutes flat.
It actually would have been quicker than that, but the guys on Mythbusters were blowing stuff up and I had to watch... I just have to finish putting the elastic in this morning and he'll have new shorts to wear for his evening bike ride.I have never been that interested in purposely building my stash. It seems to expand on its own quite well. But experiences like this are making me reconsider that position. Maybe if I get rid of all those silly old baby photos and tax records, there will be a bit more room in the stash closet?
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 8/31/09 5:40 PM ET
Your whole post cracked me up! I can so relate. I've never, ever made anything that fast... but I'm having a similar "wow, I can make this for DH from stuff I already have!" moment. He's decided he'd like a Gimli (the dwarf from "Lord of the Rings") costume, and, after downloading a couple of pictures, I've decided I can make the major pieces from fabrics buried in my stash. Ok, so I did have "someday" plans for that brick red wool flannel, but like you said: stash expands on its own, doesn't it? LOL
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~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
Posted on: 8/31/09 7:23 PM ET
In reply to tourist
I use my stash all the time. I've posted on PR before about making PJ pants for my sons' friends who sometimes stay over at short notice. If it's too cold to sleep in undies, (and my 2 sons are very tall and thin - none of their pjs fit their friends) I can whip up a pair of flannelette pants in 20 mins.
I can make a TNT Ottobre t shirt from the stash in 1hr. It's quicker than going shopping and at least I know it'll fit properly.
I don't purposely stash build either. But, if I see something on sale that is good quality and I know I can use, then it comes home with me
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I can make a TNT Ottobre t shirt from the stash in 1hr. It's quicker than going shopping and at least I know it'll fit properly.
I don't purposely stash build either. But, if I see something on sale that is good quality and I know I can use, then it comes home with me

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Melbourne
Posted on: 8/31/09 8:38 PM ET
In reply to tourist

That's great! Are they already in the wash by now?This reminds me of a summer day ages ago when DD was about 9 and we all decided to go swimming. But DD had no suit! So I got out some lycra and whipped up a suit on the spot. At the time I was sewing leotards and tights as a small business so that helped. But the look on DH's face when a suit materialized out of thin air was priceless. And then we went swimming.
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Liz
thefittinglife.blogspot.com
thefittinglife.blogspot.com
Posted on: 9/1/09 10:03 AM ET
Liz - yep, they have been worn, approved of and sent to the wash already.
Fun!
Yesterday was my last dedicated sewing day as I am back to work today.
I will be
on payday, but I'll miss all that nice, peaceful time in the sewing room.
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Fun!Yesterday was my last dedicated sewing day as I am back to work today.
I will be
on payday, but I'll miss all that nice, peaceful time in the sewing room.------
http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 9/1/09 10:21 AM ET
In reply to misschris
I make all my son's PJ's, but recently his best friend came up to me and asked if I would make him a pair of Star Wars PJs like my son's. Then I found the fabric on sale for a song. I usually buy up nice flannel for fast sleeping pant projects and speedo gifts. I even reinforce the seams and it only takes about an hour minus the embroidery if I do that. Then when I go back to sewing something for myself---it takes forever! It is good to have fast projects in between to keep the mojo up and running. 
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"Sewing should be fun; make it that way!" Margaret Islander
Flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping I get my crotch curve right.
"No humiliation is too great for a well fitting pair of pants!" Heidi Cooper
J6500P,
J1600P
J3160DC
J350E
JCP1000
Babylock Enlighten serger
My grandmother's Feather Weight
Flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping I get my crotch curve right.
"No humiliation is too great for a well fitting pair of pants!" Heidi Cooper
J6500P,
J1600P
J3160DC
J350E
JCP1000
Babylock Enlighten serger
My grandmother's Feather Weight
Posted on: 9/1/09 10:54 AM ET
I love my stash. I feed it frequently to keep it healthy, and occasionally it pays me back. I entered the Wardrobe Contest last year and every single item was made from stash. It wasn't deliberate, either - every time I planned to go shopping for fabric I looked at the wall first, and there it was, just what I wanted.
Considering I could build a 10 piece wardrobe from my stash wall, I guess it says that I am at least color-consistent in my purchases.
Congrats on your instant-gratification sewing. Doesn't it feel good? And I'm sure he was impressed.
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Considering I could build a 10 piece wardrobe from my stash wall, I guess it says that I am at least color-consistent in my purchases.
Congrats on your instant-gratification sewing. Doesn't it feel good? And I'm sure he was impressed.
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Karen
There's always room for one more cat, one more book or one more yard of fabric.
http://sewingbytheseatofmypants.blogspot.com/
There's always room for one more cat, one more book or one more yard of fabric.
http://sewingbytheseatofmypants.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 9/1/09 12:00 PM ET
Oh YES YES YES! A big stash is my lifeblood and comfort! So many times I've got into my sewing room and pulled out fabric and made something as a whim struck.
I gained a wonderful stepson about 3 years ago, and he was amazed the first time he asked for something and I took him out to my sewing room and said "pick the fabric" and then made it. This last year we had a very unusual cold/snow streak so I made him 2 polar fleece hoodies, mittens, hats, scarves, and jammie pants/sweatshirt. I was fortunate to have scored a great deal on some Malden Mills polar fleece from a small business going out of business (saw it on Craigslist!)--and both SS and DH had laughed when I brought it home--but they don't laugh now!
Now I'm doing scrappy quilts for presents--theoretically to reduce my stash, but then last week I bought a quilter's entire stash (saw it on Craigslist). Beautiful stuff! She was moving to Hawaii and just wanted to get rid of it. I've about tripled my quilting stash now...
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I gained a wonderful stepson about 3 years ago, and he was amazed the first time he asked for something and I took him out to my sewing room and said "pick the fabric" and then made it. This last year we had a very unusual cold/snow streak so I made him 2 polar fleece hoodies, mittens, hats, scarves, and jammie pants/sweatshirt. I was fortunate to have scored a great deal on some Malden Mills polar fleece from a small business going out of business (saw it on Craigslist!)--and both SS and DH had laughed when I brought it home--but they don't laugh now!

Now I'm doing scrappy quilts for presents--theoretically to reduce my stash, but then last week I bought a quilter's entire stash (saw it on Craigslist). Beautiful stuff! She was moving to Hawaii and just wanted to get rid of it. I've about tripled my quilting stash now...

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Weezy
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be." Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be." Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
Posted on: 9/1/09 9:41 PM ET
I have a million of these stories...
but mostly I like the fact that at any moment I can get the urge to make something and go into the fabric closet pull out some pieces and get it done!
Congrats on getting the bike shorts made so quickly even with TV breaks!
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but mostly I like the fact that at any moment I can get the urge to make something and go into the fabric closet pull out some pieces and get it done!Congrats on getting the bike shorts made so quickly even with TV breaks!
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Carolyn
My blog: http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/
"I've always maintained that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility. Choose your words carefully ~ Susan”
My blog: http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/
"I've always maintained that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility. Choose your words carefully ~ Susan”
Posted on: 9/1/09 10:09 PM ET
In reply to Karen6790
Quote: Karen6790
I love my stash. I feed it frequently ...
I love my stash. I feed it frequently ...
I think that's part of my problem. My mom-ness has to feed it ...
I have had moments of actually Using my stash, but it grows and grows.
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from Daytona Beach, FL
http://mary-sews.blogspot.com/
http://mary-sews.blogspot.com/
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