Invisibility Cloak -- a handy thing for your car

If you have a hatchback car with a black interior, a large piece of black fabric can be your own "Invisbility Cloak." A two-yard piece of 60" black knit fabric spread over anything in the car virtually makes it disappear to passers-by. Knit fabric doesn't unravel so no hemming is required. And when you don't need it, just fold it up, or don't... it won't wrinkle. Best of all, when you're not using it, it barely takes up any space.

I made one each for my mom and stepdad as gifts. Wait until Joann has a 40% off sale on fabric and you can make an invisibility cloak for about $12.

The groceries and a blanket randomly strewn in the back of my little hatchback.
The black fabric can be seen on the roof.

The Invisibility Cloak has been placed over the items... it looks like nothing is there!

Sewing Tools Tote

I'm taking a pattern making class at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. 

We had to buy a set of odd-shaped tools, plus an L square which is  24" long x 15" wide.

Last week in class we discussed creating designs for a tote to hold everything.

 I designed mine as a vertical bag with multiple Velcro closure pockets sized to hold the various tools. (The pockets can seal up all the way; I just have the tools poking out in the photo to show what goes where.) 

One pocket needed to hold a small plastic box so I put darts in it.

There is another pocket on the inside for a 9" x 12" sketchbook. My drawing shows the t-shirt and asymmetrical wrap vest I hope to make with my new patterns.

I bought the fabric Thursday night, started sewing last night, and finished it up on Saturday.

The inside of the bag shouldn't be examined too closely because I didn't finish it as well as I could have,

but it will be very functional regardless.

After I finished it, I realized it looks like I turned a pair of striped pants my brother had in the 70's into a bag!! (Though to be fair to Joe, they were various shades of brown stripes, not these circus tent colors.)

Oh well, my tote will be a conversation piece.

Sew busy with yet another hobby

I have been neglectful of my blog and clay for a while. Feeling in a rut lately so I decided to expand my horizons backwards -- I pulled the sewing machine out of mothballs. My grandmother sewed everything she ever wore and got me started on it with a sewing class when I was in 7th grade. I used to sew all the time. My closet was full of homemade short tight skirts back in the 80s.

So far I have completed one pair of simple pants, but mostly I succeeded in buying a boatload of fabric. I got gorgeous faux distressed leather. It looks totally real but is just very thin, very drape-y fabric. Easy to sew and irons beautifully. It is halfway to becoming a shell, a skirt, and a pair of pants.

Also got a nice knit in a crazy brown, gold, teal, and white pattern and a woven stripe in similar colors. These will end up as coordinating skirts, tops, and simple jackets.

But the wow-est of them all is an asymmetrical knit that goes from navy on one selvage edge to bright yellow on the other with wild feathery brushstrokes of every color in between. I may look like a giant pretty bird!
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While at Joann's on my fabric splurge I discovered an artist I have not seen before in the book section. Do you know Moy Mackay from Scotland? 

 

She makes gorgeous pictures out of felt and wool and stitches. Fantastic colors!! She has a book called Art in Felt and Stitch. 

 

Check out her work! Now!