In the realm of clothing, there is nothing more abhorrent than a fake pocket. All the hard work has been done, with the fiddly finish and neat corners, why couldn’t the designer just add a real pocket? And not one of those shallow useless pockets, but proper pockets. I’ve heard the line “it changes the line of the garment,” well, then they are more concerned with themselves than with their customer. Ok, rant over. Let’s fix the issue.
Inevitably when I sew a lining, a section of the lining slips and shows past the edge. I use pins and go slowly, but lining material tends to be slippery, especially when sewing satiny fabric to velvet.
At this point there are several choices: hope no one notices (I know it is there!!), rip out the seam and try again (horror), or hand sew it. I have found a rather useful stitch to tuck in the offending blob of material.
To fold the lining in and keep it there, it works well to alternate small stitches near the original seam, then at the top of the original fold. Keep these stitches loose for four or five repeats, then gently pull the stitches tight. The fabric folds down and is secured!
This is part of an adjustment on a purchased velvet tail coat. It was faster and more economical to get a pre-made garment, then make alterations, than to make the jacket from purchased material and a pattern. Although I would have had the same issue either way; linings and velvet always gives me fits.
My trail cam strap broke due to degradation of the webbing. It has been out in the wind, rain, and sun (although not much sun because we usually tuck it under a tree) for nearly five years. Time for a new strap.
I removed the old strap from the buckle, and cut a piece of the new strap to the length I wanted. I made is a little shorter because the old strap was designed to go around trees, and I have a stand with a much smaller diameter that I use. I sealed the ends of the new strap by passing them in front of a flame to slightly melt the fibers together.
After the ends were sealed, I sewed one end onto the buckle, and threaded the other through the trail cam and back through the buckle. I gave the camera a good clean up with a microfiber cloth as well.
Someone had a really great idea using a suet holder as a cage for fiber for birds to use in their nests. I bought two suet cages and filled one with scraps of wool fiber, and the other with washed alpaca.
The birds may utilize it, but I’m really putting it out for our squirrels. I have been strewing alpaca fiber across the branches and bark of the trees. This seems a much neater option.
I’m hoping that by providing fiber the squirrels stop trying to shred my ropes. I think the natural fiber has been warmer and better for raising kits, as we have seen two young squirrels at the feeder this year.
My husband loves his Italian made leather belt, but the metal fatigued and broke the other day. Luckily I had a buckle in my stash, and the belt is so well designed, I could fix it.
First I took out the broken metal, which was held on with a screw rivet (love these) and some stitches.
I used waxed linen cord and the saddle stitch to sew the new buckle into the leather. I made the final knot between the layers of leather so it would be hidden.
Then I reassembled the belt reusing the screw rivet, being careful to catch the leather loop and stay in the right places, and making sure the buckle faced the right direction. Did I mention I love screw rivets? If you assemble incorrectly, it is easy to remove the rivet and try again.
Critters and Craft 