John-John or Jon-Jon? Tutorial on the Snap Tab

Spiritual -  Only the Holy Spirit can teach you to pray.  That gift is there for the asking.  I often use the expression, "Fake it till you make it!".  That works for almost everything I try from doing daily tasks cheerfully, accepting suffering, practicing forgiveness, and praying.  It is hard with all the "things" we have to do and the "stuff" that is on our minds to get away to a quiet spot and be alone with our Lord.  But, without prayer, we will not progress in our relationship with our Maker and with Charity.

 

Sewing -  I remember John F. Kennedy, Jr. standing at the side of his mother and sister saluting his father at the funeral of JFK.  He was wearing a John-John or Jon-Jon or jumper.  I thought he was dressed "just right" and have always spelled it as John-John since.   I made many of these darling little outfits for Liam.  My favorite go to pattern is "Holly & Hunter" by Bonnie Blue Designs.  This pattern contains sizes 6-24 months and 3-6 years.  The pattern is for a lined jumper and a jumpsuit in short and long versions.  It is a very versatile pattern.  The instructions are good and it has a very unique way of completing the lining process which makes lining the garment, IMHO, easy.   

 

Most patterns for jump suits for boys and girls instruct the sewer to make completed crotch snap tabs  before attaching them to the garment.  I  have never found that the finished crotch length and the snap tabs were the same lengths  when I tried to attach them.   Gggrrr!  So, this is what I do instead.  I hope you find it easier, too! 

 

1. Prepare crotch tab strips - Measure finished crotch length (CL).  Cut 2 strips of fabric   according to the following formula: 

CL + 2 "   X   2x   Snap Tape Width (STW) + 1/2".   

Ex.  CL = 4",  STW = 3/4", then strips would be  6" X 2/ 1/4"

 

 

2.  Adding Snap Tape -  Press each strip lengthwise in half to mark center.  On the right side of each strip, mark a line 1/4" from each long edge with a water soluble pen.  Cut a male & female piece of snap tape 1" longer than the finished crotch length.  Place a piece of snap tape on the right side of each tab strip between the halfway crease and the 1/4" mark.  One of these will be for the front and one of these will be for the back.  They must be complimentary.  

3. Front tab - Place the front tab strip to the crotch right sides together.  **Notice that the snap tape is on the lower side of the tab strip.  Sew a 1/4" seam.

 

4. Back tab - Place the back tab strip to the crotch right sides together.  **Notice that the snap tape is on the upper side of the tab strip.  Sew a 1/4" seam.

5. On the right side of each tab, mark a sewing line "one needle width" from the crotch edge. Mark another line 1/4" from that line and trim the remainder of fabric off.

 6.  One the wrong side of each tab, fold over 1/4" from the edge and press.

 

7. Turn the garment to the right side. Fold over tab at half way crease right sides together.  Stitch through all thicknesses 1/4" from both edges on sewing line,making sure to sew in a straight line.  Do this on both front and back.  Trim just short  of 1/8". 

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8. Turn tabs inside out.  Press.  Stitch in place.  Press.

Back tab on wrong side

 

Back tab on right side

Front tab front right side

Copyright protected, 2011

The Bomber Cap

Spiritual -  Since Divine wisdom is a perfect knowledge of everything, there is nothing new it can learn because it sees everything in an eternal present.  "The very hairs of your head are numbered"  (Mt 10,30)  During prayer time this morning I read this from my favorite prayer book, Divine Intimacy,  "God knows us much better that we know ourselves; the most secret movements of our hearts, even those which escape our control, are perfectly manifest to Him.  Let us ask Him for the grace to know ourselves in His light, in His eternal truth."  A priest told me once, during confession, not to concentrate so much on my faults, but on my virtues.  This last line helped me to finally understand what he meant.  If I could only see myself in His light, in His eternal truth, I probably would love myself and others more and sin against myself and others less.  Thank you,  Holy Spirit, for that revelation.






Sewing -  I made the pattern for this little cap when Liam, now 7, was one years old.  It was a cross between an antique pattern and a cap from a box of family heirlooms.  I've been wanting to produce a pattern of this cap, but needed to make sure I had the proper sizing  for today's child. I have been making and selling this cap for several years and I think I have the sizing down for a pattern.  Maybe soon. The chin strap and folded brim reminds me the leather "bomber's" cap of the old war movies.   The first one I made was navy corduroy and I made a double breasted jacket to go with it.  Liam was so adorable in it and wore it for 2 years.  I'll have to put it in the shop til the next grandson comes along. 

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011