Taming the Yellow Beast

The beast has been tamed. The pile of oversized yellow fluff has been transformed into a cozy bathrobe at last.  I received so much encouragement after that last post that I decided to dive back in and take control of that yellow monster.

It was easy!

First I took a bit of time with the seam ripper and picked out the hem on both sleeves. Turning it inside out, I laid it on the floor and carefully smoothed it out. I pinned two inches or so along the inside of the length of the side seams and the seam of the sleeve. Then I just cut – cut off the two inches along each side.

The nice thing about this robe is the fluff. Conversely, the worst thing about this robe is the fluff!  Once everything was stitched back together I tried it on. Amazing how this helped! ( If only I would have thought to do this the first time around!)   It fit much better but was still too puffy. Topstitching around the entire collar and all the way down the front of the robe, on both sides, really helped to tame it. Because of the fluff, it was hard to sew accurate straight seams. When I was sewing on the “wrong” side of the fabric, there was no issue. However sewing on top of the fabric was really tough. My presser foot would get lost in all that fluff! There was a lot of drag on the fabric and my top thread shredded over and over. (I tried my walking foot but that seemed to make it even worse.)IMG_2862

Like I was saying before, the fluff was also a positive attribute in that it didn’t truly matter how straight my seams were. The depth of the fabric made it difficult to see the actual seam, you only see the impression the seam leaves.

Here is my first attempt at modeling the robe (in my sweats and socks!)

IMG_20151218_4286Photo credits to my kind husband for these modeling shots. I may send them into a bathrobe modeling agency. I feel a new career beginning.

IMG_20151218_4287Looking at these amazing photos, I noticed that the pattern on the fabric almost matches where I put the patch pockets on. I cannot take credit for this – it certainly was not planned! I found that hand stitching was much faster than top stitching so I sewed the hem by hand while watching some TV last night.

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At this point my only remaining concern is that this is one very warm robe. Maybe too much so for this post menopausal model.

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Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Also with Sew Bittersweet Designs, once the December ALYOF link up is posted.  Because, with 13 days to spare, I just completed my December goal!  Woot woot!

Both links are found at the top of the page under Link Ups.

 

19 thoughts on “Taming the Yellow Beast

  1. Preeti

    My menopause is still a few years away. I will happily hold it for you till then. Honestly, it looks so fluffy and cozy, I might just lower the thermostat in my house a few degrees just so that I can wrap myself into that fluffy goodness!!!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Oh, I hope so. I am in the put a sweater on and take the sweater off stage. It’s a little crazy. Thanks for the note Marie!

      Reply
  2. JanineMarie

    Oh, so cozy! It’s snowing out, so this is looking really good to me right now. Just turn down that thermostat (and remember to wear something under the robe so you can throw it off as needed–ha, I remember those days).

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Yep, put the sweater on, take the sweater off, repeat as needed!
      We are having a nice stormy weekend tho so I am happy. An inch of rain last night!! Yahoo.

      Reply
  3. Rosemary Bolton

    After menopause comes the big freeze. My mom is always cold.
    This looks like the coziest robe ever.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Well, that’s what I am hearing in these comments. So maybe the robe will come in handy soon. Nice to hear from you, Rosemary. Hope all is well.

      Merry Christmas!!

      Reply
  4. Kathy Upton

    The robe is gorgeous….there is only one shade of yellow I an wear…and that’s it! lol….My hot flashes are starting to get farther apart….so I’m thinking there really is a breeze…I mean a light at the end of the tunnel.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Ahh…. I am so looking forward to that breeze!!
      I loved the email that you sent me. Thanks for sharing. I truly hope that 2016 is a peaceful year for you Kathy.

      Merry Christmas!
      B.

      Reply
  5. Linda

    Menopause – come and gone, so I need that bathrobe! 🙂
    Started out snickering at “nice thing and worst thing” about the fluff; ended up in full-blown hardy-hars over the rest of your post. You need to write a book of quilting humor (along with your tips and projects of course). Congratulations on a beautiful bathrobe – it really is.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Haha. From all of the comments it would appear that the robe will come in handy soon. Really, the fluff was nothing short of ridiculous. I am kind of afraid to wash the robe. What will happen to my washer or dryer?? I zig-zagged all seams but wonder if it will just give off a ton of fluff??

      Happy weekend Linda!

      Reply
  6. Mari

    Looks super cozy! And I love the yellow. It may have been frustrating, but it turned out great! If it holds together, the seams are perfect. (And I really love that wood floor pattern.) Merry Christmas to you and the whole family!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Oh, we love the floors too. They were already in when we bought the house. But it was one of the things that we loved when we were house shopping.

      Safe travels Mari. Are you guys driving today? Enjoy your break from school. Julia is finally done with finals so she is looking forward to doing “Christmas-y” things. We are seeing the Nutcracker this afternoon (two of her bff’s dance in it).

      B.

      Reply
  7. Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

    Congratulations on taming and finishing the robe! It looks great and I hope is quite useful for you. As someone who gets cold easily, it looks so snuggly warm and perfect for cool winter mornings out of a shower or bath.

    Reply

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