When I Was Young, We Called Them Pedal Pushers

Of course now they're called capris. We had capris too, but they were almost ankle length where the pedal pushers were just below the knee. Now they lump them all together in the same category.

I am glad they are back in style. I hate shorts-it comes from fat thighs in hot weather, chafing and other ugly subjects. The only time I wear shorts is on the beach, for more sun exposure and to keep my clothes dry when I dip my toes in the water.

Anyhooo-my capris were wearing out, time to make some more. One day I was looking in my closet and I noticed a few pairs of pants hanging there that I never wear, not because there was much wrong with them but I just didn't like ME in them. "Hey," I said to myself, "Why not cut the bottoms off and make capris out of them? That way they get some use and you only have to make more pants, which you need anyway."

I agreed with myself and promptly dragged out a couple pair. The red pants-well a chubby lady in red pants is just wrong! They're OK for bumming around, but not for dress. The navy ones fit nicely and I liked them, but they were about an inch too short. Measuring error on my part.

An hour in the sewing room and I am the proud owner of two nice pairs of capris.


I made some nice vents on the sides.

You notice the ancient sewing machine cabinet? My hubby bought the cabinet and a top-of-the-line Viking on my birthday the year we got married-in 1968. I still have the machine but I have a Viking 500 that I bought about 14 years ago, and it has taken over the cabinet. Some thinks you can't let go of-it's full of scrapes and gouges but it is well loved.

Today I developed a new pants pattern. I'll blog about that in the next day or so.

Have a great 4th!

And We Have Rugs

Way last winter I decided that my bathroom rugs were on their last legs, so I decided to crochet some rag rugs. I've been wanting to do that for years and figured it was time to get off my duff and just do it! The best thing to use, I discovered after cruising the Net, is old sheets. Heck, I have tons of old sheets! I'm sleeping on old sheets. Not really, I just upgraded the sheets for our bed thanks to an unbelievable clearance sale at Kmart.

The center was not made from sheets, but a very large piece of very cheap navy fabric from my stash that I was anxious to get rid of. Then I started culling sheets out of my closets.

The lighter green is from a queen size set from our bed, and the darker green is a twin sheet someone gave me. It was fitted so I had to cut off the elastic and square it up. All of my strips were made with a rotary cutter, and I cut them all 1". Then I went scrounging again and found a twin set the boys used to sleep on in a light blue print. I thought that would be enough but one of the things I learned doing rugs is more is not only better but essential! Now what?

I kind of dropped the project for a couple of months, but the other day I decided to give the bathroom rugs their last wash. No dryer, just a gentle cycle and lay flat to dry. I put them in and left for a few hours. When I got home my hubby showed me the rugs-nothing but a big pile of fuzz! They weren't even that old! I had to get busy again.

Hubs and I hit a couple of garage sales and I thought I was in business. But when I got home I realized the "new" sheets were in better shape than the ones I had on the daybed in the guest room, so I washed them and dug out my sheets. I filled an old laundry basket with sheets for future rug projects. I found, in the back, a queen set that isn't deep pocket and is fairly worn-kind of a blue/green/burgundy plaid. I didn't know how it would work but I think it's just fine. I discovered that I finished the center on the oval rug wrong and it's lopsided, but I decided I didn't have to be that fussy for my own bathroom. They sure look different with the different strips, don't they?

I did a single crochet, but I only made the stitches into the back loop of the previous row to give it dimension without making it too thick.

You probably notice a pattern here-blue/green/rose or burgundy. I love the color combination and can't make myself change it. My wardrobe yes, but my house is mostly these colors.

I'm On a Roll!

So I had this shirt I made a few years back-I made it out of a thermal knit cotton print. Every time I washed it, it would get longer and wider. I know I'm chunky, but this thing could have covered the couch!


Yesterday, I was bagging up some clothing to take to a charity when I spotted this shirt. The waffle knit looked like it would be perfect for more mop covers. Back out of the bag and into my sewing room it went. I was able to get three mop heads out of that big top.

I also cut out a cover for this small scrubber thingy I use in my bathroom, because I'm too old and stiff (fat) to scrub behind the toilet with a scrub brush. I made a pattern by tracing around the scrubber, then adding about 2 1/2" to the tracing. I finished just like the mop covers.

I thought it would work pretty well washing the ceiling, and then I wouldn't have to haul the stepstool upstairs. I can tell you're really impressed with my housekeeping skills! Such dedication!

The finished products. I tested one of the mop covers-much less "sticky" than the smooth knits, and Sydney tested the scrubber thingy by dusting the floor.

I think I'll keep the test mop and maybe give the other two as gifts. Or maybe I should put them in my Etsy shop.