How utterly cool are WordPress bloggers? Really. I’m askin’.
Best I can tell, Life With Monkey seems to have started this project on its virtual journey years ago: I’ve seen assorted versions, as well as one person who took the idea and sells the finished product . I’m not sure of the etiquette on such things, though if somebody was making and selling something from my books I don’t think I’d be overly pleased unless said seller asked permission. Since I don’t know the details of their arrangement I’ll leave that…but I can’t help but wonder. When I was teaching at Liberty’s Sewing School in the 90s I told people that they could make up to 20 items for charity without asking but anything else needed my express permission. I had a few honest people call or write about that over the years.
Anyhow…all credit to LWM for giving me the basic design idea, which I’ll only be using for myself or a gift. I made one test following her version pretty much exactly, then came up with a slightly different way to make ‘em. All the machine sewing can be done at once and the stuffing and hand finishing done at night while you are sitting watching sports with your handsome husband.
(Who will NEVER see me in these. This is an overnight when he’s away for work/wrap first thing in the morning AFTER he leave for work situation. After nineteen and a half years I’m not going to let slip the secrets of looking-fabulous-as-if-by-magic. It would only be a short step to leaving the bathroom door open. Therein lies the start of the end. Don’t be giving me ‘he should love me no matter what I look like’ crap or we’ll have to step outside — and we’re just here to sew, aren’t we?).
So, why post it here instead of my main blog? Blogger’s prerogative, plus I haven’t put anything here in a while due to lack of refashion inspiration. Er, make that I haven’t refashioned anything of great interest to ME, never mind y’all. I’m on sabbatical from Refashion Co-op at the moment and am not likely to get back soon what with this drought! Well, some of the curlers are made from scraps of fabric with which I made items of clothing so perhaps this tips into refashioning. A little — but not enough.
I digress.
I started with a trawl though the Quilting Leftovers: When you’ve cut too much (next on deck to be published) sample tub for 4 inch strips. I made some of the curlers with 3 1/2 inch strips too, just because I could. I have little blond nieces so I may raid the 2 inch tub next if their Mommy wants some for them. Let me know, Mommy. The winters are dark and long here and Himself is not about to stop travelling so much for work any time soon. Having a good long list of projects from which to chose keeps me away from cheating on Himself with Ben and/or Jerry.
I used 9 1/2 inch strips (LWM used nine inches): more on why in a moment. With the right sides together and one short end turned and finger pressed
I sewed the unturned short end and long end. The turned under end will be the insert stuffing end. If you have a copy of Fabric Leftovers: Simple, adaptable ways to use up scraps you’ll see why I thought to do it this way if you go to page 31. Shameless plug. Naughty IWOM.
I snipped the corners then turned and pressed the tube. A quick test of the auto button hole function of my Janome Memory Craft 3500 was in order as it had been ages since I used it.
I measured five inches from the buttonhole end and stitched straight across.
I think you know why I chose that particular title for today’s post. All I’ve really done is make LWM’s curler in reverse.
Same thread to hand gather = thread to use for sewing on the button. I am a LAZY crafter after all.
Repeat 19 x times. I have made mine to accomodate my very long thick hair — the ‘strap’ needed to be longer than the roller so that’s why I made it 5 inches and the roller 4 inches. As Harriet always says: ‘ten bald men curse you daily’. Himself says that one of his earliest memories of me is when I pulled off my fencing helmet and masses of my long dark hair spilled out. I’m told people around him at the time actually heard him gasp.
Once again — yeah rah Life With Monkey! You have GOT to love someone who uses a CHISEL to cut open her buttonholes!
