Technicos: Sharpening Flannel Buttonholes (Green Sewing)

Green Sewing with Leftover Stabalizer Scrap
The irregular hole on the left hand side remains from the fabric's
previous life supporting machine embroidery.
Plenty of area remains to help out my buttonholes.

(Originally published in my Sewing Blog Me Encanta Coser/Enchanted By Sewing) When I made my first test buttonholes on my birdie vest, the first thing I learned was that two layers of flannel, even though they were interfaced on the inside, did that gummy thing under the needle. I bet you know how that gummy thing works, the fabric just doesn't move through right. Two layers of flannel will do that to you. They just want to stick together.

I've used different kinds of stabalizer in various ways when it comes to buttonholes. Having recently been working on sewing area cleanup, it occurred to me this time to try out some of the scrap pieces I've saved from machine embroidery. There's such a lot of stabalizer leftover around the design. (Yes, I can't help but keep it. Occasionally I use it to write project directions on for myself.)

In this case I was able to pencil my buttonhole measurements and guidelines onto the sheet and sew through onto the buttonhole. Not only did the fabric slide really well, My buttonholes came out nice and straight!

Baylands: Believing

Please, click on the illustration above 
to enjoy the really glorious detail

Baylands: Believing

It took a lot of people believing that marshlands were vital to the future of a good many people and animals, for this area to be set aside. It took a lot of people pushing, talking and, maybe even shouting down other people. From the birds point of view,  it's the difference between a place to settle for a few days, eat up and rest, and flying on in desperation. When you eat like a bird, that's the difference between survival and raising your family and not making it.


Today I vote for believing mixed with a heavy dose of being pushy. 

* * * 

History of the Baylands Nature Preserve (Palo Alto City site)

A few other illustrated Baylands Bites from this journal have included:

Baylands Bounty

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

Some of us have to really put our heart into searching for supper.

Baylands: Sarcocornia pacifica recovering from overindulgence

Jan 11, 2011 

I’m partial to a pickle myself. S. pacifica likes that salty taste even more than I do. 

A Baylands Bouquet

Jan 02, 2011

California buckwheat,. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum. Please click on the picture above to immerse yourself in the detail of this lovely buckwheat bouquet. What's so great about the. BaylandsNature Preserve? ...

Baylands is for the birds

Jan 09, 2011

I think this gentleman is trying to nerve himself up to go in. I'm like that about lake swimming. I know you're supposed to be tough and jump right in, but....

A Taste for Tidal Salt

Jan 03, 2011

Pretty delicious, particularly if your name is Pickle Weed, Cord Grass or Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. You may also enjoy A BaylandsBouquet. ... to enjoy this really salty repast.