June's Finishes -- A Lovely Year of Finishes

I had hoped to finish more items, but I did get the project I wanted to done....   Here is my goal post listing my goal to finish these little bags - June Goals

And the kilt was finished too!

WIP Wednesday -- ZIppered Pouches

I am slowly making progress -- on my little zipper bags....

Two were finished today....  One was given as a gift today and very much appreciated from my 11yo's teacher.

And yesterday my daughter's made some using the free pattern at Five Star Fonts

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And I made a bag for my step dad as few days late for Father's day.... hey it's still June!  Right?

Custom Kilt Repair

My children all play with a local youth Pipe Band.   This summer we are travelling to Sctoland for a band trip that includes some competitions and performances.   My son has had a number of band kilts throughtout his 4 years in the band, and all have been in decent shape, so all that has been needed as been basic repairs such as moving a buckle an inch or so, repairing a few stitches at the bottom of the pleat, or adding a belt loop.   For our Scotland trip, my daughters were issued their band kilts.   They will be dancing in George Square for Piping Live in Glasgow in August with the Pipe Band, so needed kilts.  

The first kilt required a couple of pleats to be repaired, just a few stitches at the bottom to secure stitches that came out.  And the buckles moved back to their original location.

Buckles moved back to original location.
All pleats stitched to the hip line.

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But sometimes when issued a band kilt a it is a little worse for wear!   This kilt has probably been used for over 20 years (or possibly 30 years, as there are a few floating around from years ago).   This kilt had been repaired in the past -- flipping the apron and under-apron, along with weaving together a tear in the "new" under-apron.   And this kilt was made smaller to fit a 24" waist.  This was done by moving the buckle and leather strap so the kilt wrapped nearly twice around her.   BUT the biggest problem with this kilt, were the a number of pleats at the centre of the kilt that had completely worn out!   As a seamstress, and kilt maker, I found this hard to put my child in.   So asked if I could pull the kilt apart and remove the damaged pleats.   

Damaged Pleats.  Wool completely frayed along 3 or more pleats.  
The fell (or stitched) area also damaged.

Repairing.... first required pulling a section out of the kilt.  First task was pulling the stitching from the pleats, the lining, the interfacing, the straps, 3 buckles, waistband, and hem....  I only undid the hem, lining, and interfacing in the required area, and tried very hard not to remove the 3rd buckle, but it came off....

Pinned together, ready to restitch the fell.

Fell stitched, interfacing, lining and waistband repaired.

Fell stitches repaired on a number of other pleats.

After all the stitching, the buckles needed to be placed. To get a good fit, it is best to sew the waist buckles, and then fit the hip buckle at a separate fitting.

Kilt repaired.  Fitting for 3rd buckle placement.
Yes it still needs pressing!

This kilt is pressed and ready for her first band event! All told this repair took between 6 to 8 hours, with most done while sitting at highland dance class or drumming lessons.

Repaired Kilt Back

Repaired Kilt Front

For an overview of kilt making see Kilt Making.

WIP Wednesday

The kilt repair is progressing.  The pleat is restitched and looks great, as well as fixing a number of others that either had previously been repaired or should have been repaired.  The interfacing has been restitched and lining is mostly stitched down.  The hem, strap, and buckles are still to go.

I started sewing on the Izzy top from Climbing the Willow blog for my 8yo.

And attached some Girl Guide and Brownie Badges to sashes and a camp blanket.  Thanks to my mom who attached most of the girls camp blanket badges w.  Little does mom know that my camp blanket is coming next!   And I think I have more than they do, especially since I found my badges from I was a girl....  I think I'll give them to her after camp -- I won't need it until September or October!

June Goals -- A Lovely Year of Finishes

As you can see from looking at June's calendar -- it is FULL - and I can't guaranttee that everything is on this calendar.... I just added one of the dance competitions because it was missing from the calendar!  I'm pretty sure I need to keep this month's A Lovely Year of Finishes goal simple!

So my goal for the month is to finish sewing 6 more circle zipper bags.... Here are the first ones that are completed.....

And I must finish altering this kilt....