I'm still sewing!!

I'm still here! I'm just on IG now! Follow me there! @two_on_two_off . This is my newest pattern and it's a JUMPSUIT!!

View this post on Instagram

My first @closetcase.patterns #salliejumpsuit and I’M IN LOVE. 💗💗💗 I never thought I could pull off a jumpsuit but I totally OWN this one. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 ✨ 💥 I especially love the open (but bra-friendly!!!) back! The hair is my “ski meet, swim meet, curling team hair” 🥌 The only change I’ll be making, is to add an inch or so to the bodice. I do that with almost all patterns anyway because I have a long torso. The fabric is an ITY from @fabricmart a long time ago. It’s been in stash for a surprisingly long time! #fabricmartmake #sewingjumpsuits #sewersofinstagram #sewingover40 #alaskasewing #anchoragesewing #sewingfun

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Feb 1, 2020 at 4:18pm PST

I'm still here!

I feel bad that my blog is just sitting over here slowly rotting away. I'm still sewing a ton and just got done with a fabulous (if I do say so myself!) travel wardrobe. Of course, I'm done traveling for the summer and am back at work. Maybe the next time I travel in the summer? Ha! Hope some of you are still with me! I'm @two_on_two_off on IG.

View this post on Instagram

New travel capsule wardrobe. Loving life right now. ♥️♥️♥️ swipe to see a millllllion wardrobe combinations (well, only 27, but STLL. . .). My drawn-out plan isn’t quite accurate but that’s how it all started. Tops are Jalie Gisele, Jalie Michelle, Ottobre t-shirt. Bottoms are Jalie Clara, Jalie Vanessa, Jalie Simone. Cover-ups are Ottobre cardigan, Jalie Charlotte, RTW denim top. #jalielife #jaliepatterns #jaliegisele #jalievanessa #jaliemichelle #jalieclara #jalienicole #jaliesimone #ottobredesign #ottobrewoman #capsulewardrobe #geterdone @jalie_patterns @ottobredesign

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Aug 24, 2019 at 2:34pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Brand new #jaliecora shorts for my #golddiscoveryrun that’s coming up. This is a 16.8 miler with only two water stations so I need to carry my own water and fuel. This is my favorite all time running pattern. I love these fabrics too. This is the @discoverytrekkingoutfitters Stretch Yoga fabric. I love this stuff! Wicking, stretchy, and dead comfortable!!! 🧡💜💙 . . . When I do activewear bottoms that need stretch, I use a tiny zig zag and double sew all the seams. That way there is no way that my 🍑🍠🥑 shows. 😬😱😂 I find that sewing machine stitches last longer than a serger and give you better stretch. . . . I also added these two extra front pockets from the #jalieloulouxe running skirt. . . . #jalielife #jaliepatterns @jaliepatterns #discoverytrekkingfabric #dtostretchyoga #irun #ilovepockets #isewactivewear

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Jul 15, 2019 at 7:41pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Okay, a bunch more #jalie3245 . ✂️👍🏻 🏃🏻‍♀️ I made the orange one last week and realized that I needed more basic tanks. So I made Mojito and Margarita Pink (who else is loving these color names? 🍹 🍸) tanks too. Fabric is the Discovery Stretch Yoga from @discoverytrekkingoutfitters and I love it so hard!!!! The FOE is from @sewsassyfabrics and I love those bright colors. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 . . . . . And in other news, my fancy machine went it for it’s annual servicing and I have a not-fancy machine in its place. 😬😂🧐 When I posted my FOE tutorial, people commented with, “But I can’t move my zig-zag over like that!!!” I had that same problem so I had to figure out another way. 🤓🧐 I used a D foot (blind hem foot) and did it backwards. I made a short video of the process and can post it if people are interested. Let me know if you are . . . . #jalielife #jaliepatterns @jalie_patterns #irunhillsforfun #irun #isewactivewear #isewmyownclothes #dtostretchyoga #sewingtutorial #sewing #sewersgonnasew

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Jun 2, 2019 at 12:35pm PDT

Discovery Trekking Fabrics - Review of Four Fabrics

Okay, okay, are you as excited as I am about the Discovery Trekking Fabric?? I have four different types and it's SO HARD to buy activewear fabric online, I figured this might be helpful for you!
Here's their main fabric website. I reviewing four of the fabrics from the Activewear category.

	Light Scuba - Print	Midweight Scuba	Stretch Yoga	Stretch Solar
Content and Weight	78% Poly 22% Elastane, 62" wide, 6.14 oz/sq yd	80% Nylon 20% Elastane 53" wide 9.49 oz/sq yd	SOLIDS - 88% Nylon, 12% spandex, 64" wide HEATHER - 48% Nylon, 45% Poly, 7% Spandex 9.92 oz/sq yard.	85% Poly,15% Spandex, 60" wide, 8.61 oz/sq yard.
Stretch	80% selvage to selvage 50% along selvage	50% selvage to selvage 80% along selvage (most stretch goes ALONG selvage)	60% selvage to selvage 70% along selvage	70% selvage to selvage 70% along selvage
Possible Uses	Lightweight bottoms, thin top.	Leggings, running skirts, thin jacket, thicker running top. This almost as thick as a ponte.	Leggings, running skirts, thin jacket, thicker running top, athleisure wear like a sporty dress, this sweatshirt.	Leggings, running skirts, thin jacket, running top, athleisure wear like a sporty dress, thin sweatshirt.
Tips for Sewing	Works well with 70 stretch needle. Cool iron (I used Poly - Level 3)		Edges tend to curl.
Misc.	Cold to the touch, thin but not at all see through, a bit of a sheen to it but not shiny, starts to lose print and turn white when stretched along the selvage. Does not curl along the edges.	A bit of a shine to the fabric. Seems stiff before you wash it. Very slippery. Edges do not curl. Imagine a thick Nylon swimsuit fabric. Because of the direction of most stretch, you may want to put pattern pieces perpendicular to pattern lay-out.	Warm to the touch. Squishy, matte fabric. More of a cotton-y feel to the fabric. Edges will curl  badly if you stretch fabric aggressively.	Cool to the touch, totally matte finish, cottony feel. No show-through even when stretched.

I also made a little video review on YouTube about the four different types of fabric.

Things I've Been Sewing!

I'm still here!! Really!! I'm just posting to Instagram because it is so much easier. Although I AM working on a big ol' blog post for a review of the Discovery Trekking material. I have a bunch of it and a bunch of different kinds to review. I'm in love with it for sure!!!

Here are some of my recent posts from Instagram (there are TONS more!!). If you are an IGer, you can follow me @two_on_two_off

View this post on Instagram

New #jalievanessa pants out of a thin, drapey denim fabric. These are just like #secretpajamas and I love wearing them in the spring and summer. I left off the cuffs, shortened them a bit and took off about 3/4” from the sides to make them a bit more pegged. These are perfect with sandals!! Fabric from @joann_stores Pattern from @jalie_patterns (duh!) #memademay2019 #isew #isewmyownclothes #jaliepatterns #jalielife #sewing #sewersofinstagram #mmm2019

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on May 4, 2019 at 2:18pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

My favorite all time #runningshorts , the #jaliecora shorts. They have a huge, amazing pocket in the back, and awesome non-moving waistband AND they are named after my daughter. How much more amazing can you get?!!? Fabric is from @fabricmart . I have run many races in other versions of this same pattern. ♥️♥️♥️ 🏃🏻‍♀️ Watch out half-marathons and hill races, I’m a comin’ for you! #iloverunning #alaskanrunner #irunhillsforfun @jalie_patterns #jaliepatterns #jalielife #fabricmartmake

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Apr 25, 2019 at 7:26pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Okay, yes, I have issues. I will stop making these now. Sometimes you get in a groove, ya know??!? 🙄 I promise (probably) that I will stop going through the scrap bin and I will stop making (probably) the #jaliejulia underwear. 😬 But these are #merinowool scraps and they make fabulous undergarments! #jaliepatterns #jalielife #isew #isewmyownclothes #sewersofinstagram #sewingaddict @jalie_patterns @sewsassyfabrics

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Apr 27, 2019 at 3:53pm PDT

Remember, I'm still around!

Hi guys! I guess I'm mostly posting on Instagram now. I AM STILL SEWING though!!! I have posted quite a bit on IG over the past few months. Come and follow me on IG @two_on_two_off is my username. Here are some of the goodies I've been working on:

View this post on Instagram

New wool @ottobredesign coat. This took me a really long time to finish because I was waiting for my zippers to come and then by the time they got here, I was in the middle of swimsuit sewing. Wool coating from @fabricmart and zipper from @zipperstop . I love the length of the coat but I wish I had made the zipper go down another inch or two. It just seems like an awkwardly long slit in the front. But it does not restrict my movement! 💃🏻 The collar is big and here to party. I love it!! 😍🥰 #fabricmartfabrics #fabricmartmake #fabricmartmakes #ottobredesign #ottobrewoman #zipperstop #duoboots #killerheels #killerboots

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Mar 9, 2019 at 1:15pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Okay, ridiculously excited about top number two. 👍🏻🤪🥳 I used a stretchier knit for the main fabric and a fun blue/white for the binding. I decided to not add the corners to the binding because I like the exaggerated scoop neck (there’s a close-up if you swipe). NOW, I feel like I’ve done something today! #ottobrewoman #ottobremagazine #ottobre022019 #nolongeradumbass #isewmyownclothes #isew #sewersofinstagram👗✂️ @ottobredesign #coverstitch #bindingattachment #coverstitchbinder

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Mar 23, 2019 at 4:20pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Got the second @jalie_patterns Diane swimsuit done! ✅ The front fabric is from @fabricmart and their recent activewear sale. The back fabric is from San Diego @yardagetownsd . She loves it! . . . . . . I’m still waiting on my zippers but once they get here, I’m ready to finish my coat!! . . . . . . #jalielife #jaliepatterns #jaliediane #swimwear #swimsuitsewing #fabricmartmake #fabricmartfabrics

A post shared by Dawn (@two_on_two_off) on Feb 23, 2019 at 9:15pm PST

DIY Fat Tire Bike Pogies (Hand Warmer Mitts)

Edited to add: I put pattern pieces down below. :) 

Get cold hands when you are biking? I certainly do when I'm biking in the winter. I decided to try my hand (see what I did there??!) at making my own bike mittens, aka pogies or poagies.

Photo: www.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com

Well, I don't post on my blog very often anymore since I made the leap to Instagram. But, since this was more of a tutorial, I decided to put it on my blog with more complete directions. Do you know that these bike hand warmers cost around a hundred dollars and you can make them yourself easily?

These Fairbanks-made ones are $135.00! With fabric, I have about $20 into my version and only a few hours. I also cut up a floor mat which I already owned but you could easily find that at Goodwill or Value Village.

These pictures are from Instsgram so they come with all the writing and all the labels that came from Instagram. I had a sample pair from a friend and I had looked at a bunch of samples online. I traced these pogies onto paper and started making some prototypes.

This is the first prototype. I ended up making it a big more narrow and making the "arm" shorter. 

Then I thought the mitt needed to be more angled so I sliced and overlapped. 

After this, I created prototype #2. The second version was almost perfect except I needed to make the opening just a little bit bigger so it would slide over the brake bar, the shifters, and the handle bar. 

That was an easy adjustment so then I cut it out of my Cordura fabric. This is a thick, stiff fabric that will hold its shape. I used a blue cordura for the side piece. I ended up with three pattern pieces. The first is the oven mitt piece, the second is the long rectangle for the side piece that wraps around, and the third piece is the cuff that is made from a stretchy knit. I didn't take a picture of the next step, but basically I cut out the same pieces in a Malden Mills Polar Fleece and put it inside the shell wrong sides together. Then I attached the cuff to both of these layers. 

Here is the inside of the pogie. I cut the lining 1.5" shorter than the shell and then just finished the edge of the lining, folded it down, and topstitched from the outside. 

This last part is optional but makes for extra cozy mitts. I used a foam mat and cut into the shape taken up by the bar and brake lines. You don't have to do this, but then cold air comes in from the bottom and goes right into your warm hands. I just cut ovals and then held them up and cut until I got the right shape. 

 You shove those "plugs" into the cuffs and it blocks the air. The knit cuffs keep them in place.

Done, done, and done. I added some reflective tape to the front of mine because it's always dark and I bike a lot early in the morning. 

Let me know if there is any interest and I can add pictures of my actual pattern pieces. It's pretty darn easy and CHEAP! My son wants a pair now too. I couldn't find anything like my Cordura at JoAnn's so I bought some leather-ish vinyl in the Home Dec department and I'm thinking it will work well for this pattern. I think I'll start on those tomorrow. Happy trails. Literally! 

Here are the plans and the pieces that I used to make my pogies. You are basically just making a curved tube, adding a cuff to one end, and hemming the other end. Let me know if it's not clear what I did. 

Note: All green boxes below are in 1" intervals so that gives you the scale. This is the main piece. I cut this in two layers. The first is a thick Cordura and the second time in a fleece for the lining. On the lining piece, I cut off the 1.5" hem at the top. There is also a rectangle piece for each of those fabrics too (look on the directions above).

This is the stretchy cuff. I had made it too narrow the first time so I added a bit of width to it.