Reusable Swiffer Cloth

It always bugs me when I buy something with the full intention of throwing it away. For example, Swiffer cloths. In fact, I don't have any right now because of that reason. Here is one super EASY way to make a reusable cloth for the Swiffer.

You will need:
- Fabric- fleece, flannel, terry cloth would all work great (Think "recycle" here...old fleece jackets, blankets, old flannel shirts or pjs, old towels or robes, etc.)
- Scissors
- Tape measure/ruler

1. Measure your Swiffer pad. Measure around the pad from pinch hole to pinch hole- plus some. Then measure the width. OR if you have Swiffer cloths on hand, just measure the dimensions of the cloth...duh! OR I suppose you could just trust my measurements would work for your Swiffer, too.
Mine measures 9 inches around and 10 inches wide. Let's add 1/2 inch to the 10.
Dimensions are 9" x 10.5"


**Note about fabric choices: if you choose fleece (or other fabric with a stretch), you need to figure out in which direction it stretches. You want the fleece to stretch in the direction of the long side of the Swiffer- you do not want it stretching around the pad.

2. Cut this rectangle out of your fabric.


**If you go choose a flannel or terry cloth, you might want to serge or zig zag stitch the edges to prevent fraying.

3. Attach to the Swiffer pad.

4. Now go Swiffer!

Must Sew!

In any bit of my free time these days, I have been sewing. Even squeezing in a couple of things for my pregnant self. I just want(ed) pants that fit. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the maternity pants that go all the way up and over the belly. It just makes sense! My big belly holds the pants up. No underpants (or worse) sticking out of the back of my pants as I bend down- slowly and methodically. None of that constantly tugging up my pants every time I stand up, walk, move, or breath them out of position. Any mama relating to me? So I just finished Simplicity #5756. I had to add two darts to the back of the pants and take about an inch from the top's fullness and 3 inches from the elastic in the neckline.

Look what was on the Sew Mama Sew blog last week.... I need to try this awesome summer top

The Free tutorial is here.
I can't stop thinking about how cute this top would be even for maternity! I do wish it had a cap sleeve. But I think I can change the ruffle a bit. I need to first follow her pattern. THEN make my adjustments.

Lucky Me

Of course I didn't feel so lucky yesterday around 3pm. My sewing machine just stopped working. No life. Seemed electric/electronic. Panicked. Quickly I called the repair shop. Called Shawn. Started scrambling to get dinner made and the machine packed up and Nick's stuff ready for swimming (b/c now Dad was taking him). SO, I get to the shop 30 min before closing and the guy starts taking my machine apart almost as I walked in the door. (Hey, y'all, this was a crisis.) He worked on it for a long time- switching out fuses only for my machine to fry them. Then he asked me if I had filed my warranty. Ummmm.....Uhhh..... (I should have done that back in November!)

Now, very rarely do you benefit from not doing what you are supposed to.

But the store owners decided that since I hadn't yet filed my warranty they would just swap out my machine with a new one! WHAT?! So I just got another new Janome MC 4400 yesterday. I think I like this one better already.

Martha, I will be bringing you your birthday present afterall! Here's a peek:

Ooooh New Fabric Day!

I LOVE new fabric day!! Just got about half of what I just ordered (along with the essential zippers, D-rings, and webbing. I was at a work stoppage b/c of the D-rings!). Take a peek at future yoga mat bags. Mmmmm.

Happy Twirly Day

Since it is almost Stella's second birthday I thought I would make her a couple things. One is wrapped already. Show you later. Here is the other. A twirly skirt of her very own! I would have the model show you herself but she is coughing and snotting terribly today. eeew yuk.
But this, awww, cuuuute!

Sewing Room Closet

So I reorganized my sewing closet. It was Shawn's idea, really. Here's a glimpse.

This is new fabric washed, pressed, and waiting on deck.

I also bought a cutting table this weekend. How ever did I live without this before. I must take a picture of it and show you.

Converting Maternity Jeans into Great-Fitting Maternity Jeans and How to make buttonhole elastic

I know the fashion industry is really trying hard to come up with great-fitting and stylish maternity pants- especially jeans. Well, back in 2006 when I was pregnant with my daughter, I bought the latest and greatest...a "no-waist" jean from Old Navy. These jeans consisted of an elastic waist in the back and a drawstring for the front. This resulted in pants that fell down in the back and a string that cut into my enormous belly in the front. Other than all that, they are cute jeans.

So I noticed that now, in 2009, the new trend in "no-waist" maternity pants is a normal front with an adjustable elastic waist in the back. You know the kind that is in our toddlers' clothes? Well this was a brilliant idea, because it works! And it is comfortable. So this afternoon, I converted my 2006 maternity jeans into 2009 maternity jeans. Take a look.

Jeans before:


You will need:
Old style no-waist maternity pants
3/4" to 1" wide braided elastic or buttonhole elastic
2 buttons, 1/2" to 3/4" wide
seam ripper, scissors, pins, safety pin, sewing machine that does buttonholes, needle and thread

Step 1: Use a seam ripper to open elastic casing. Open on both ends of casing, cut existing elastic at one end and pull out the other end. Cut off this useless elastic.


Step 2: Cut a new piece of elastic. I used 1 inch wide braided elastic. I cut this one a couple inches longer than the back of the jeans. Turns out, that is more elastic than you will need. Next time I will cut my elastic the length of the back casing because it is going to be pulled/scrunched tighter when worn.
Ideally, you can use the elastic with the buttonholes in it- the kind found in toddler pants. However, I didn't find it so I made my own.

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Here is my sidebar on making adjustable waist, or buttonhole elastic:
1. Fold over ends of elastic so the cut end is not exposed- about 1/4" then again 1/4". Zigzag stitch a couple times.

2. **You should FIRST practice sewing the buttonholes on a scrap of elastic. Adjust the length and width as needed. Every sewing machine is different, so you are going to have to know how to use your machine for this part. I used a stretch buttonhole stitch. I also sewed each buttonhole twice. Sew buttonholes centered on elastic and in this direction (along length of elastic).

Measure the length of the sewn buttonhole on your scrap. Use that measurement to mark your elastic. Mark elastic for buttonholes with a fabric pen/pencil/chalk/etc. Start about 3/4" from the fold so that the fold doesn't get caught under the buttonhole foot. Leave 1/2" between each buttonhole.

3. As seen above, sew in about 3 to 4 button holes on each end of the elastic. Place a pin on one end of the sewn buttonhole. Seam rip from the other end of the buttonhole up to the pin. The pin ensures you don't rip right through what you just sewed!
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Step 3: Sew buttons to inside of jeans waistband. One on each end of the casing. I can't tell you how to sew on a button. I despise hand-sewing. Just do the best you can! Google it if you really have to.

Step 4: Button one end of your buttonhole elastic to one button. Feed the other end of the elastic through the casing. Best to attach a safety pin to the feeding end and scrunch along until it gets to the other end. Pull out a good amount of elastic and button it to the other button. Try on your jeans and adjust as needed.