Search This Blog

Follow Me on Pinterest

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Embroidery Hoop Clock

Hey, here's another tutorial I just published for making your own clock using an embroidery hoop.
I saw a clock like this on Pinterest and I couldn't resist trying to make one. I love clocks and I also love buttons so this was a perfect project for me. I used some fabric from my stash that I talked about in one of my previous posts. I already had all the buttons in my way too full button organizer, and I bought the clock kit and the hoop from Hobby Lobby. All I spent on this project was about $9 so this is a pretty inexpensive clock. Plus you can say "I made that clock!"
You can find my tutorial HERE.
Thanks for reading, if you like this please follow my blog, as well as Pinterest, friend me on Cut Out and Keep and don't forget to post your version of this if you make it!

Thanks for reading,
                 The Broken Thimble

Friday, June 29, 2012

DIY No-Sew Workout Tank Top

Hey, Check out my new tutorial on Cut Out and Keep for this easy no-sew tank.
 I've seen these all over the internet and have been wanting to do it for a while now, but I didn't have an over-sized tee to do it with. Well I got this shirt for free from Finish Line when I bought a pair of shoes there. After I got it I found out it was an XL, and thought perfect! I can make a tank top now and I don't even have to pay for the shirt. It is really comfy and it's tied in the back to take up the extra material.
Here is what the t-shirt looked like before I went to work on it.

Anyway, this was really easy to do and now I'll be skimming the racks at goodwill to find more XL t-shirts to use for this. If you want to make one too then you can find my tutorial HERE.
Thanks for reading, if you like this please follow my blog, as well as Pinterest, friend me on Cut Out and Keep and don't forget to post your version of this if you make it!

Thanks for reading,
                 The Broken Thimble

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Loose Sleeved Tunic

I was going through my new fabric stash again and I thought this screamed my mom. I bought it to her and she said "It looks like me!", so, I decided to make her a shirt out of it.
Simplicity 3621 is the pattern I used. It was a relatively easy pattern to follow.
It came out really well and it fit perfectly, and even better than that it only took about 2 or 2 and a half hours, and about 1 and 3/4 yards of fabric. The only part I didn't like was sewing on the tiny elastic cord loop for the button.
I only changed two things in the pattern, the first thing I did was I left out the elastic around the waistband. The other thing I changed was the tie, instead of making a tie out of the fabric (which I didn't want to do because it needed just a little bit of contrast) I used a complementary vintage light blue lace my grandmother gave me.
The lace worked just as well as a tie would have since it is a very strong sturdy lace, and it's about . It gives the tunic a little more of a unique look as well.
Anyway I just wanted to share this since I said I would put up everything I make from my new stash!

Thanks for reading,
                 The Broken Thimble

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

My New Fabric

I mentioned in my last post that an awesome woman from my church gave me a lot of fabric, and I decided that everything I make from that fabric I'm going to post on here.
This is only a few of the fabric pieces she gave me.
There are a lot of small pieces in the lot so I'm going to need a lot of ideas for projects that use scraps. So, (hopefully) I will be posting some how-tos on some of the things I make, or I will post links of where to find similar projects. I'm super excited to have some fresh fabric in my stash. And some of it is vintage fabric!

P.S. If anyone has any project ideas or favorite sewing how-tos, don't hesitate to comment!

Thanks for reading,
                 The Broken Thimble

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Vintage Jacket

I just got this amazing jacket from the 1970s, that a woman at my church made for her daughter when she was in high school.
It is still in great condition and the fact that it fits me makes it even better! It's made out of a tight woven tweed in dark blue, cream, dark green, and a golden/orange plaid and it has wooden buttons. The lady that made it said that she made matching pants for her daughter to wear, and that she wore the pants completely out, but I'm really glad the jackets still fully wearable.
I must say I think the buttons are my favorite detail
She was and is a very good seamstress there is not a mistake on it, it's so amazing and it's so much more special that I know who made it. The great thing is, she let me go through alot of fabric that she isn't going to use, and I found this in one of the boxes, and she said "If that fits you, you can have it if you want it." so I was so excited when I tried it on and it fit. I am so blessed to have such good people around me!

Just wanted to share my favorite jacket in my closet, now I just have to find something to wear with it!)
Thanks for reading,
                 The Broken Thimble

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Sewing Gadgets

Hi, just thought I would talk a little about some of my sewing gadgets, sewing machine, and serger. If you have any sewing gadgets that you like, have a question, or would just like to say something leave comments.


Bernette 56 by Bernina
This is my sister's machine but she lets me use it. It's really good and it's got a reasonable price.
Here are some of its functions:
  • 23 Total stitch patterns
  • 4-Step buttonhole
  • 16 Sewing stitches
  • 4 Decorative stitches
  • 2 Quilting stitches
  • Maximum stitch width is 5mm
  • Janome MyLock 634D
This is a fantastic serger it usually sells for around $600-700. My parents found this one for $175 at a pawn shop, so they jumped at the buy, and I'm glad they did!
It has:
  • A maximum speed of 1,300 spm (stitches per minute)
  • Ez changed rolled hem
  • Adjustable foot pressure (adjusting screw)
  • Snap-on presser foot
  • Differential feed adjustment with a ratio of 0.5 to 2.25
  • Cutting width adjustment
  • Alined spool pin spool stand
  • Cutting width from 3.1 - 7.3mm
  • Waste chip box
  • Foot controller
My favorite feature is definitely that it trims the fabric to be perfectly straight as you serge it. (unless your doing a rolled hem)

Pintastic Automatic Pin Dispenser by June Tailor
This I just got today and it's pretty cool.

All you have to do to load the pins is lift the lid, turn it so the hole in the barrel is facing up then either use the paper funnel or just dump the pins in a few at a time by hand. Then set back right side up and turn on the switch, which makes the barrel to turn causing the pins to catch in notches along the inside of the barrel then line up in the feeding slide.

Then once the slide is filled up you can either turn it off or keep it on so it will continue to  fill it up as you take the pins out. To take the pins out you just push down the lever, release it, and take your pin.
I suggest using pins with bigger heads because even though it will line them up they kind of end up more piled up and are not as easy to grab out.


Seam Allowance Guide by Hollie
 My sister bought this for me after I saw it in Threads Magazine. It works amazingly you just stick it to the blade of your scissors with the magnetic side, move the little rubber ring to your desired seam allowance and cut. It's the only seam allowance guide on the market and it's works really well. They arrived around 5 days after ordering them, and the package comes with one green guide and one yellow guide. The yellow guide is for slanted edge scissors, I have only used the green one because my Ginghers don't have much of a slant. These are really good and I highly recommend them.

Anyway these are things I like to use in my sewing room and I'd like to see what everybody else has, comments are welcome!!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Derby Necklaces

  Hey, check out my sisters Etsy page she makes necklaces with roller skate and skateboard bearings.
Go to it here: Pink Flord's Roller Derby Bling And don't forget to like it on Facebook!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Amazing Gianni Bini

I found this amazing Gianni Bini dress at a resale shop for only $14.
I'm so excited it's so adorable and it's incredibly well made.

It has ruffles on the sleeves and bottom of the dress which just adds to the simple shape of the shift.
I don't really know anything about when it was made or what it sold for originally so, if anyone does know about this dress please let me know I would love to have some info on it.
Thanks!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Twisted Strap Maxi Dress Tutorial

Hi, I'm so excited about this blog, it's going to be about a little of everything. Well, about clothes, sewing, and vintage things anyway. I thought what could be better than a sewing tutorial as a first post.
I't is my first tutorial so I'm open to suggestions and tips, or if you have any trouble following it let me know and I would be happy to help (or at least try).
Anyway this is the dress that the tutorial is for.




You can find the tutorial HERE on cutoutandkeep.net, (my new favorite website).
Good luck and I hope you enjoy this project