This is to remind me to make the family calendar for December and to look up the December holidays.
Monthly Archives: November 2007
Tutorial: Zipper Fly
Step 1:Sew the fronts together.
Usually, a pattern is marked where the pattern designer recommends that you stop the zipper or end the fly. Because I often take 2 to 3 inches (5-7.5 cm) out of the front crotch curve, I end up with a really short fly. I extend it down an inch. Where ever this point is, I’m calling it the bottom of the zipper.
From the bottom of the zipper down, you want to sew with a regular stitch. From the bottom of the zipper and up, you want to use a basting stitch. Sorry that I forgot to take pictures at that point.
Step 2
Pants on table, wrong side up. Fold
both fronts to the left, leaving one
extension pointing to the right. Pin
zipper in place, with side lining up
to center front. You will be sewing
the side furthest from center front.
Pants on table, wrong side up. Fold
both fronts to the left, leaving one
extension pointing to the right. Pin
zipper in place, with side lining up
to center front. You will be sewing
the side furthest from center front.
Step 3
Use a zipper foot to stitch close to the zipper
on the side sticking out from the pants fronts.
Use a zipper foot to stitch close to the zipper
on the side sticking out from the pants fronts.
Step 4:
Turn zipper over. Fold the extra fabric down
under the zipper. The extra fabric may extend
under center front. Pin and stitch about 1/8
of an inch (1 mm) from zipper. This holds that
extra fabric in place.
Turn zipper over. Fold the extra fabric down
under the zipper. The extra fabric may extend
under center front. Pin and stitch about 1/8
of an inch (1 mm) from zipper. This holds that
extra fabric in place.
Step 5:
Use zipper foot to stitch close to the zipper.
Use zipper foot to stitch close to the zipper.
Step 6:
Flip pants so that pants fronts are both on
your right. They were on the left.
Flip pants so that pants fronts are both on
your right. They were on the left.
Step 7:
Turn zipper over. Make sure that it’s flat.
Turn zipper over. Make sure that it’s flat.
Step 8:
Pin zipper to the fly extension on your left.
.
Pin zipper to the fly extension on your left.
.
Step 9:
Using a zipper foot, sew close to the zipper.
Using a zipper foot, sew close to the zipper.
Step 10:
Now your zipper is attached to both fly extensions,
but no sewing shows on the front of the pants.
Now your zipper is attached to both fly extensions,
but no sewing shows on the front of the pants.
Step 11:
Turn pants over so
they are right side up.
Turn pants over so
they are right side up.
Step 12:
Butt fly template against
the center front seam. If
you don’t have a fly template,
you can copy one from a
pair of pants.
Butt fly template against
the center front seam. If
you don’t have a fly template,
you can copy one from a
pair of pants.
Step 13:
Trace around fly template.
Trace around fly template.
Step 14:
Pin pants front to the fly
extension underneath.
Make sure everything is
nice and flat and smooth.
Pin pants front to the fly
extension underneath.
Make sure everything is
nice and flat and smooth.
Step 15:
Using your usual foot, sew fly stitches in place.
I always start at the bottom. If I start at the
top, I tend to twist the fabric.
Using your usual foot, sew fly stitches in place.
I always start at the bottom. If I start at the
top, I tend to twist the fabric.
Step 16:
Hey, it looks like a fly!
Hey, it looks like a fly!
Step 17:
Press
Press
Step 18:
Admire your fly.
Admire your fly.
Step 19:
Admire your fly some more.
But wait; something is missing!
Admire your fly some more.
But wait; something is missing!
Step 20:
Cut a piece of fabric 4×8 inches
(10 x 20 cm) for the fly shield.
Cut a piece of fabric 4×8 inches
(10 x 20 cm) for the fly shield.
Step 21:
Fold Fly Shield in half, wrong sides together.
Fold Fly Shield in half, wrong sides together.
Step 22:
Press
Press
Step 23:
Do you see the difference between the pressed
fly and the unpressed fly in step 21?
Do you see the difference between the pressed
fly and the unpressed fly in step 21?
Step 24:
Overlock the edges of the fly shield. I cut off
some fabric from the bottom to form a curve.
The curve is optional. There’s nothing wrong
with a rectangular fly shield.
Overlock the edges of the fly shield. I cut off
some fabric from the bottom to form a curve.
The curve is optional. There’s nothing wrong
with a rectangular fly shield.
If you don’t have a serger, you can overlock
with your sewing machine. Use your overlock
foot and a zigzag stitch.
Step 25:
Pin your zipper shield to the
extention on the underlap
side of the fly.
Pin your zipper shield to the
extention on the underlap
side of the fly.
Step 26:
Fold your pant fronts off to the side, so that
you only sew thru the fly shield and extension.
Fold your pant fronts off to the side, so that
you only sew thru the fly shield and extension.
Step 27:
After you’ve sewn the side of the shield
to the extension, tack down the bottom
on the opposite extension. This is
optional, but it will keep your fly shield
from flopping around.
After you’ve sewn the side of the shield
to the extension, tack down the bottom
on the opposite extension. This is
optional, but it will keep your fly shield
from flopping around.
Step 28:
Admire your fly shield. Here you can see
where I tacked down the opposite side. I
sewed this shield twice along the side. I
don’t know what I was thinking the first
time, but I didn’t sew close to the edge.
Admire your fly shield. Here you can see
where I tacked down the opposite side. I
sewed this shield twice along the side. I
don’t know what I was thinking the first
time, but I didn’t sew close to the edge.
Step 29:
Admire your fly from the wrong side.
Admire your fly from the wrong side.
Step 30:
Admire your fly from the right side.
Admire your fly from the right side.
Ta Da! No more steps.
Journal Page
This page features a background in Biocolors washable paint, but it doesn’t run when I watercolor on it. I used Biocolors because we have a lot of it. It’s a great paint for kids.
The face doodle is in colored pencil. The bird is Chunguita’s artwork, and the teddies were stamped out by Pulguito.
Pins and Needles Day
Here I was thinking that today was a day to celebrate sewing, but no. Then I thought it might be about your legs falling asleep, but no.
It’s about commemorating the labor movement.
Journal Page
plastic paper, watercolor fairies, watercolored stamped images, and watercolor pencils.
Journal Page
Watercolor on handmade paper.
Journal Page
The fellow on the lower left is a colored pencil sketch. The fairies are watercolor and ink. Pulguito’s artwork is featured on the right.
