How to Make an Ironing Board

アイロン台を作りました。
台っていうか、机の上に乗せるアイロン板って感じでしょうか。

作り方。
１．板を机の大きさに切ってもらう。

２．カバーとなる布、中にはさむキルト芯、板の順に重ねる。

３．タッカーで板をくるんだ布の端を板にとめつける。

４．針が机の表面に直に当たって傷つけないように布テープをグルーガンで貼り付ける。

５．完成。

I wanted a bigger ironing board so I made one that sits on top of my rolling desk.
This is how I did it.

1. MOTH cut the MDF board for the exact size of the desk top. He also beveled off the corner so it's nicely round.

2. I used cotton drill for the main covering fabric. The batting is 100% wool quilting batting.

3. Used a staple gun to attach the covering. I tucked in the raw edges thinking it will make a nicer finish, but I think I should have just stapled the fabric single layered and trimmed off the excess fabric to reduce bulk.

4. I hot-glued a twill tape around the edge of the fabric to cover the staples (so that the staples would not scratch the desk top)

5. Though it is finished, I think I will make an ironing board cover so that it can be washed or changed. My iron spits calcium deposit and dirty water so I want to be able to change the covering without redoing the entire stapling process.

Dog Car Hammock

先日作っていた犬用の車のバックシートハンモックの試着。
後ろから見るとこんな感じ。

後部座席の様子。

犬を乗せるとこんな感じ。まだ完成ではないけど、ほぼ完成。

Trying on the dog car seat hammock I was making the other day.
It is not done yet.

One thing left to do is to make a seat anchor.
What happens is that when the dog steps on the part that is not supported by the seat underneath (the rift between front and back seat), the weight of the dog pulls the comforter down.

So I need some kind of anchor to attach the comforter to the back seat where the seat back attaches to the seat bottom, so the comforter does not get pulled down.

I originally planned to sew down a webbing on the back of the comforter for the width of the seat (where the seat back meets the seat bottom) and secure the ends of the webbing in the back of the back seat. Well, that idea was totally rejected by the MOTH. So now I am thinking about a tube like this.

First Project for My Baby

新しいミシンでのプロジェクト第１号は、車のバックシートにつける犬用カバー。
犬をバックシートに乗せた時に、犬が座席の間に落ちないように、バックシートの背もたれから、前の座席の背もたれの後ろにハンモックのようになるカバーを作りたいわけです。
古い綿入りの軽い掛け布団を使っているのでものすごいふかふかなんだけど、さすがに新しいミシンにとってはへの河童のようです。もう滑らかに縫ってくれます。

この違いを一言（でもないけど）で説明すると、縫ってる時の音とか感触は、まるで高級車のドアを閉めた時な感じ。わかる、この感じ？
古い車とか安い車のドアは「バンッ」って閉まるけど、高級車のドアって「バフッ」って感じで閉まるじゃない？あのソフト感。

My first sewing project with my baby is a car seat hammock for dogs.
You know, the back seat cover that hangs between the back of the front seat and the back seat so that the dogs don't fall in between the seats.

I am using an old comforter. Despite its thickness and fluffiness from the polyester batting (and a thick cording on the edge that I did not bother taking off), the machine sews beautifully without any puckers (I have integrated walking foot engaged here).

The feel that I get from this machine while sewing is like the feel of the luxury car's door.
When you close a door of an old car or a cheap car, it just bangs, but a luxury car's door closes with a soft "thumph." That softness.

Bougainvillea in Bloom

去年花壇に植えて、冬の霜で枯れ果てて根元から１０センチぐらいまで切りなおされてしまったブーゲンビリアが、やっと花を咲かせるほど元気になりました。

Our bougainvillea that we planted last year and chopped off to a 4 inch high from the winter frost has finally gotten well enough to bloom.

My Baby Revealed

じゃじゃ～んっ。豪華すぎて泣けてくるよ。

Tada~. My baby, Janome Memory Craft 6600P.

Let me give you a story of how I decided to buy this baby.
Over the 4th of July weekend, I had to drive MOTH's truck to get the tires rotated and balanced.
It is a 1996 Geo Tracker. It is amazingly in very good condition despite its age. MOTH swapped the motor so it has less than 50,000 miles on it.

The tire shop is about 3 miles down the road: 1 mile to get to the highway, 2 miles on the highway, then the shop is right off of the exit. Well, I did not want to get on the highway with this truck, so I stayed on the frontage road.

I had driven this truck a few times before, and I totally hated driving it. Once, I had to drive it to my office, which is 17 miles away (half of it on highway), and I wanted to cry.
The clutch is very jerky, the car doesn't brake right, it is slow, and it just feels very exhausting to drive.
Just driving 3 miles to the tire shop totally drained my energy.

MOTH has no problem driving it. He sees no problem with it.

My car is nothing fancy; 2006 model little Toyota econo box. Other than the power window, everything else is manual, like moving seat position and what not, including transmission.
But the driving experience differs so much between my car and his truck.
(And I'm sure if I drove a Lexus or something, I would feel the same way about my car)

Then I had to wonder.
My Kenmore sewing machine is 38 years old. It is solid and in great condition, but newer machines must provide much better sewing experience... Maybe I am missing a much more pleasant, quality sewing experience...

The more I compared the sewing machines to cars, the more it made sense.
Non-computerized machine and computerized machine is kind of like stick shift car and automatic car.
MOTH likes stick shift cars because he can repair pretty much everything on his own, but once you start having sensors and computers, you have to pay big bucks to the dealer.
Same goes to the sewing machine.

I can open my Kenmore and see the motor and screws and everything, and obviously, it has lasted 38 years and working just fine.
I don't know how durable the computerized machines are and I will have to take it for service instead of oiling it myself.

Then comes all those creature comforts. Power windows, heated seats, rear camera, touch screen navigation system, bluetooth, etc, etc.
Once you get used to them, it's hard to go without, right?

So I thought: hmmm, my Kenmore must be like Dutsun pickup truck. Solid, Japan made, and still works fine, but it's all metal with no creature comforts.
Then what kind of car do I want?

I briefly considered getting an industrial machine since most of my sewing I do on the sewing machine is straight stitch.
But it's like buying a Formula 1 car. It would do the most spectacular job on straight stitch, but no creature comforts whatsoever.

So I began my research on the machine.
I always thought Bernina is the most sought-after brand, kind of like being in a clique, but they are way too expensive for a tiny machine. Janome seems to have better "bang" for the buck. (and look how big this baby is)
After considering the features I wanted, I decided on this baby.
Of course, I have a sweet spot and pride for Japanese products.

I shall see if my decision was right as I get used to this baby in the coming months. I hope it was right. I hope I made a good investment.

Kenmore 158.16250

新しいミシンに場所を譲るため、義母からもらったお古のミシンはケースにいれて、押入れに閉まっておくことにしました。
ケンモアというブランドで売られていたけど、日本のジャノメの工場で作られた日本製だよ。昭和５２年式だよ。

Before I retire my Kenmore, I would like to record its goodness.

My machine is Kenmore 158.16250. According to the serial number, it was made in 1977 in Japan. So was I. We were meant to be together.

The Man of the House cut out a base shape from a desk so the machine can be buried almost flush with the desk surface. But even without a custom desk, it has a nice large relatively flat work surface.

The machine was originally my mother-in-law's. MOTH always talks about his mother sewing all his Halloween costumes. At one point, when she became a quilter, she bought a Bernina as her main machine, and kept Kenmore as her back up. She handed it down to me about 10 or 12 years ago.

Great metal body and solid; covered with very durable glossy paint. (or is it enamel?)
It came with a hard carrying case.

The harp is about 7 inches.
It has a little knob for adjusting the presser foot pressure behind the thread uptake on top.

The table comes comes off for a free arm. You can disengage feed dog.

And open the little flap door to expose the bobbin area. If you move the two black plastic levers out, some of the components can come out for cleaning and oiling.

The presser foot has up position and extra high up position (though you have to hold it manually for the extra height) for thick fabrics.
The feet are slanted super high shank, and although it is not a snap-on, it is very easy to put it on and off (just move the lever up to attach or lower to release).
There is a thread cutter at the shaft as well.

The throat plate is simple but has convenient markings. In addition to the seam line markings on both side of the needle hole, the bottom horizontal line is 5/8" so you can stop and pivot at 5/8" seam allowance.

The needle place can be changed to a zig-zag plate with just one push of the metal spring release without unscrewing the throat plate entirely.

There is a total of 11 stitch variations.

Unfortunately, the machine uses imperial units. The longest stitch (6 on the bottom dial) I believe means 6 stitches per inch, and bigger the number, shorter the stitches.

The side and the top covers are just snap-ons. Very easy access for cleaning and oiling.

The bottom of the machine does have screws and it can be opened fully as well.
This is the top.

Other than the new foot controller and the light bulb, I believe all the parts are original.
For accessory, I got them all from MIL except for the walking foot.
I was never good at rolled hem, so gave up on the various width rolled hem feet.
I don't think I ever used the binding foot either.

This machine has done what I asked and I feel so bad that I have to retire this guy because I bought a shiny new toy. Such a good useful machine to be sitting in a closet.
Well, maybe I can use this machine if I ever need to take it to somewhere...

Hacking T-Shirts

オットが会社のイベント用に作成された赤と青のTシャツを持って帰ってきた。
イベント実行委員は青、イベント参加社員には赤のTシャツが配られるらしい。

実行委員で、イベント自体にも参加する予定の同僚が、この赤と青のTシャツを合体させた奴を着たいと言い出し、私の知らない間に「俺の嫁が縫ってやるよ」ということになったらしい。

そんなわけでロックミシンとカバーステッチミシン大活躍。最近ニット生地ばかり縫っているので普通のミシンより使用度高いかも。（じゃぁ何で新しいミシン買うかな、ってか？）

袖と首周りをほぐして取替えっこ。

シャツの内側に肩と襟足の補強でついていたニットテープも取替えっこして、アクセントとして外側につけてみました。

夜の作業だったので写真の色が良くないけど、サッカーのユニフォームみたいでなかなかいい出来で私は大満足です。

The Man of the House brought home a red and a blue shirt for the company event. The event committees wear the blue shirt and the participants get the red shirt.
One of the committee member wanted to combine the T-shirts, and MOTH told him I could sew....

I unpicked the sleeves, the knit tape that was sewn along inside of the shoulder and back neck seam, and the neck band and swapped them around.

I thought it was fun to have the knit tape on the right side of the garment as part of the design so I attached it on the right side of the shirt along shoulder and back neck.

I used my serger for construction and the coverstitch machine for attaching the knit tape.

It went very well and I really like the result. With the accent color shoulder seam, the shirts look kind of like a soccer uniform (though it does not show well on the night time photo).

My Baby

と、と、と、とうとう、新しいミシン、買ってしまいました。
清水の舞台から飛び降りました。奮発度でいくと、東京タワーから飛び降りたぐらい。
はっきり言って、私の裁縫レベルより全然上のミシンだけど、ま、そんなのを買ってしまえるのが子供のいない中年女性の人生の醍醐味ってやつかな。

ジャノメミシン！
昨日は忙しくて買ってきたものの箱開けてミシンを出す暇もなかったので、週末はじっくりこれで遊びたいと思います。

I made a huge decision and bought a new sewing machine.
Considering my skill level and amount of sewing I actually do, I probably spent more than I should. But well, that's the life of a middle age woman with no children to raise.

I was rather busy last night and did not even have time to open the box so this will be my weekend project to set up.

Adventure at Night

オットは、週末に開催される会社のイベントの実行委員で毎日帰りが遅いので、今週は夕ご飯が私一人でラクショー。
なのでちゃちゃっと食べた後は犬に付き合ってプールタイムです。
水に濡れたカワウソではないけど、水に濡れたライチはとても貧相です。

夜８時過ぎにようやく「これから帰る」とオットからメッセージが入りました。
オットの帰りを寝ずに待つような嫁ではないので、寝巻きに着替えて就寝準備をしていたら、１０分ほどして今度は電話がかかってきた。

オット「あのー、ガス欠になっちゃったから、ガソリン持ってきて？」

話を聞けば、朝からガス欠マークが点灯していたにもかかわらず、朝７時半から始まる会議に出席のために時間が無くて出勤時にガソリンスタンドによれず、お昼休みに行こうと思ったら会議につぐ会議で昼休みもなく、帰途について「やばいな」、と思ってたらガソリンスタンドを通り越してしまって、次までもつかな、と思ったらもたなかった、とのこと。

着替えるの面倒くさかったので、先日作った短パンにTシャツという寝巻きのまま、とりあえずブラジャーだけつけていざ出陣！

・・・と思ったら、私、まずガソリンタンクが家のどこにあるかわかんないし・・・。
オットに電話してタンクをみつけたけど、もっすごいホコリまみれでこぎたなっ。
私の車に乗せるの嫌だわ・・・、とちょっと思ったり。

家の近所のガソリンスタンドまで行ったら今度は私もガス欠マーク点灯で、とりあえず車に給油。
で、持参のガソリンタンクに給油しようかと思ったら、・・・私、あの人の車のガソリンの種類知らないや。
ガソリンの種類は３種類あって、私のような小型車は一番安いやつです。

またオットに電話：
私「今ガススタなんだけど～、あんたのガソリンの種類、何？」
オット「ぷ、プレミアムでお願いします」
・・・あ～、やっぱり一番高級なやつね？

やっとガソリンも満タンで晴れてオット救出に向かったわけなんだけど、夜道の運転は慣れないうえに見えないからとても緊張です。

オットの会社には一度だけオットを迎えに運転して行ったことがあるので、なんとなく方向は知っているものの、私が普段通勤に使っている高速のずっと先で、その上街から離れるほうに分岐した先にあるので、ヒジョーに不慣れな道。（うちから２０キロぐらい）
高速の出口間違わないように必死で通り過ぎる看板凝視です。

高速の出口を出て、高架を渡って即座にUターンで逆方向の高速に乗り直し、暗闇の路肩にハザードつけて止まってる車発見。
あ、見ず知らずの人でなくて良かった。（車故障して路肩にとまってる車結構いるからね）

さて、夜の最後を飾るのは、高速道路への合流。
車学時代、高速道路の合流に緊張したものだけど、夜道の慣れない高速道路で、路肩の、それも砂と砂利の未舗装部分からの高速道路への直接合流は、また別レベルの緊張感でした。

なかなか車の列の切れ目がなくて（っていうか夜だからライトしか見えないし。３車線だし。）クラッチ踏みながら待つ間、ちょっとドキドキ。
ラッシュ時ではない分、皆１００キロ以上で走ってるので路肩にいるだけでもちょっと怖かったのが本音です。

切れ目が出た時は、もうアクセル目いっぱい踏み込みました。もちろんエアコンは消しました。

私の車の馬力では、駐車状態から時速１００キロ出るまで１１秒ぐらいかかるので（フェラーリとかランボルギーニとかのすごいスポーツカーだと３秒ぐらい）私の車、もっすごい頑張りました（笑）

は～、疲れたけど、ただのガス欠で良かったです。

Knights of Sidonia Season 2

シドニアの騎士の2シーズン目を毎晩見ております。アニメです。

日本でも6月まで放送してたので、終わってすぐこっちでも公開なんてハヤワザですね。
一応1日２話までと決めています。
オープニングソングの合間に犬の馬鹿面で心和ませつつ。

Wow, it was super fast for Netflix to get the 2nd season of Knights of Sidonia.
To prevent binge watching we only watch 2 episodes a day.

Cactus Flower

今年も玄関先の小さなサボテンの花が咲きました。

Jalie 3024 Ver. 2

先日のタンクトップワンピースと同じ型紙で、もうひとつ作りました。
柄がお気に入り。大昔、食器棚のガラスに張ってあった70年代調な花柄シールを思い出す。
前回のと違うのは、前身ごろがVネックなのと、スカートの裾にひらひらがついてるところです。

Don't ask me why the dog is making the face.

Back to back pattern repeat and I made another Jalie 3024, with slight modifications from my previous version.

This time, I made a definite "front" and "back" bodice (so that I can't interchange front and back).

The front bodice is a V-neck. I just folded the cross-over bodice pattern in half and cut the fabric on fold.

Since I made it a V-neck, I finished the neck line with neck band method instead of the binding method that the pattern calls for. I made the neck band piece wider than the neck binding pattern piece, and eye-balled the length. I then used Jalie's V-neck band tutorial video to attach the band.

The neck band makes the V-neck slightly less deep, which I prefer.

I don't know how to fix this sway back.

The back bodice is a round-neck version but used the boat neck version's neck line since the round neck version would show too much of my back.

I also lengthened the bodice by 1" so that the empire waist band would sit under my bust better without pulling down the neck line too much.

I then shortened the skirt by 2". I wanted to add the flounce this time but I wanted to keep the overall skirt length a knee high.

The hem of the flounce is finished as rolled hem. I used white thread, but I think it would have been better to use a darker blue thread to match the waist band.

The main fabric is cotton jersey with some Lycra in it. I sew this fabric in a clearance section of Fabric Mart website for $2.89 or something and I just had to have it. Love the pattern. The fabric had just arrived and I had to make a dress.

The waist band is poly double knit or ponte knit (don't know what the difference is) that I also bought from Fabric Mart for another project. Though unintended, the colors matched very well.

Just like my previous version, the skirt portion is lined.

I am very happy with this dress and I just love the pattern on the fabric. I still have to work out my back issue but for a casual knit dress, I'm ok with it.