It took me half the day yesterday to get started on some sewing projects. The kids left early in the AM and I spent the morning sort of piddling, doing this and that. Then I started sewing and stuff started happening. 
It was fun. I was looking forward to it because I wanted to do some more with fold-over elastic.
I received the fold-over elastic order I mentioned last week. Shana, the ebay seller (Fold Over Elastic Plus) gets a thumbs-up from me! She is prompt, has an excellent product, and the best price anywhere (20 cents per yard!). She sent me a full set of her color samples last week. There are 100s of colors!
Yesterday, I took the samples and matched them up with the colorful bamboo jersey I ordered recently. Then I sent her an email listing the 12 colors I wanted. Within a half hour, she emailed me with an invoice. Then I paid it, and then a few minutes later, she wrote to me that she was taking my order to the post office right then. Amazing and friendly service!
Now the fun stuff. Here’s what I did yesterday with the fold-over elastic I’d already bought from Shana last week.
- (thrift store) 4-way stretch lycra + fold-over elastic = cheap and easy undergarment!
- close up of fold-over elastic at neck and arm holes
- bamboo jersey + fold over elastic = easy tank top!
- Undergarments ~ It is embarassing to put up pictures of the undergarments.
But, with the goal in mind of sharing how fold-over elastic works, I figure you’d rather see the project than imagine it. My methods may seem over-the-top, but to me, they’re not. I got some undergarments from Target a few years ago and I’ve never had a better fit. So I painstakingly took apart one of them that was worn out and made a perfect pattern, even preserving all the elastic so I could get the right length when I copied them. Since then, I’ve muddled through getting the elastic on new pairs with the serger or coverstitch machine, and it is never consistent or easy. I’m just pleased as peaches about how the fold-over elastic makes this project one worth doing! The brown 4-way stretch lycra blend came from a thrift store – $1.75 for 4-1/2 yards (compared to the JoAnn’s price of $8 per yard!). I’ve also made a tank top out of it and have plans for nightgowns and other comfy around-the-house garments. - Pink Bamboo Jersey Tank Top ~ I made this tank top a few weeks ago out of pink bamboo jersey. I used self-fabric bindings on the neck and arm holes when I first made it. It was a little tricky to work with it in the coverstitch binding attachment. In fact, after the first time I wore it, some of the stitches starting coming out, which is a recurring problem with the coverstitch machine. Well, fold-over elastic to the rescue! I stitch-ripped the binding off, opening the neck-side-end of one shoulder seam and the top of each side seam. The ripped off bindings told me how long to cut the elastic. Then I zig-zagged the fold-over elastic in the binding’s place. Okay, ladies, listen up. You don’t need a coverstitch machine to apply bindings. All you need is fold-over elastic and sewing machine. Here’s what I’m thinking. If I can figure out how to make fold-over elastic manly (like for Jeff’s t-shirts), then I may be able to simplify my life and sell my coverstitch machine. It has been a rocky relationship, fiddling with tensions and stuff. This could be the end! The pictures show you both a full view of the tank top and then a close-up of the neck and arm hole area.
Here’s how I originally developed my tank top pattern, at first making it from recycled men’s t-shirts. Today, I’m going to do a tank top for each of the girls and I’ll take pictures along the way so you can see how easy it is!
Wow. I wanted a coverstitch machine, but, looks like the fold over elastic is what I REALLY want.
That pink color is PERFECT for you. I love it.
You’ll probably get so much done without the kids there. If only the goats had gone on vacation to CA? Ha Ha Then you’d really have time to sew.
Are you sewing some things for the kids when they come back? Love, Mary
Mary ~ You know I’m glad for the goats, they get me outside and more active. But yet, I am going to get so much done, including some peaceful reading times! Right now I’m sewing with my laptop sitting here and I’m watching “Cranford” on it. I can’t do that with the kids around, otherwise they’d want to watch movies in the middle of the day and would zone out…
I just finished a tank top for Naomi. I took pictures to share the process tomorrow. 20 cents per yard is alot cheaper than $500 for a cs machine!
You’ll love it!
Very Nice! I love the color of pink!
Your making me long for sewing again – but alas, I wear to many hats . . . .
However, my cooking experiments have been doing better with all the time I’ve been throwing at them…. I tried your biscuits with my sprouted/soaked wheat/rye and they turned out very nice. Didn’t get the rise you did, but very nice all the same. So next we made the soaked oats (Mu…. something). Great breakfast, we love it! Going to try some different spices next time just for fun. I have lots left over.
So I’ll console myself with cooking for now and dream of sewing in the future
Looking forward to seeing the girls tops . . . .
Jami ~ Thanks! I love hearing about what you’re doing in the kitchen. Did you use the sprouted wheat/rye dehydrated and ground or wet? I’m glad you like the muesli, please share the spices you use!
We all have to console ourselves with what we’ll do sometime… not enough time in the day, is there? Love ya!
Wow. You’re so bold, Wardeh. Not with showing the undies but just making them. It seems difficult somehow. I make my wedding dress, but undies…that seems too hard. Why is that? I guess it’s that I’ve never worked with stretchy fabrics and only have limited experience with knits. You’re inspiring.
Bethany´s last blog ..Water Play
wheat/rye Sprouted – Dehydrated & Ground – Yes.
Only the dehydrated for now, I can barely manage that
I get so discouraged with cooking when things don’t work out, and baking isn’t my thing. So I want to get using this strange different flour down cold before I try and get tricky. Remember I have never made bread that wasn’t a garden decoration (rock!)
We have started our ginger soda culture! Very excited about that…. I want to make root beer and ginger beer (really sodas). Finally – something easy!
Thanks for all the encouragement!
Love,
Jami
Jami – oh, I’d like to try those beverages soon!
How are you grinding the sprouted grains?
Bethany ~ perhaps too bold
I am still embarassed about it. I have never made anything fancy, like a wedding dress ~ that is quite an accomplishment and you should be proud! It does take a bit to get used to working with knits, BUT if you have a serger and if you get used to it, you’ll find it easier than anything else. They’re amazingly forgiving and fun to make and fun to wear! If you ever want to try, I’d be happy to help you. And if I ever make a wedding dress for my daughter, I know who to call! 
Hi Wardeh, I am using The Ultimate Chopper! Commercial over…. I have to shift and re-grind, and repeat, then I get a medium grind product. I will have to save up for a real grinder *grin*
So the wet method might work better… who knows. Like you say ~ I’ll have to do more experimenting.
Ooops, I should have typed ’sift’ but you knew that
Were do you find the fabric for you undies? About all we have around here is wal-mart, and I have never seen any there that I thought would work.
April – You’d be surprised what you can use. You can use t-shirt fabric. Use old t-shirts or knit sheets from the thrift store. These that I made are from a 4-way stretch from a thrift store. When I bought it retail, it was in with the fashion knits for swimsuits and dance material. I don’t choose the shiny fabrics, but the options that have a matte finish. But you can pick whatever you’d like. Truly, the 4-way stretch fabrics in the dance apparel will work better than 2-way stretch knits (like for t-shirts), BUT I know that people use old t-shirts for undies, too. Have fun!