Little Miss Cheer USA

Gracie had her first encounter with cheerleaders at a high school football game last fall. She was impressed. When the local high school had a junior cheerleader day, I signed her up. She had a blast. When I found a really affordable cheer class going on this summer for girls 4-6, I enrolled her. She loves it.

Of course, sewing anything for Gracie is super fun, but sewing a little cheerleading outfit was just a blast - lots of fun details. This is her 4th of July outfit since I used patriotic colors and a USA embroidery with fireworks behind it.

We had a photo shoot on our neighbor's trampoline. She was in her element.

I think she likes it...Simplicity 4040.

McCall's Fall pattern picks

First Simplicity, now McCall's has their new fall looks on the web site. I am equally pleased with their offerings!

Here's what I'm eager to pick up:

6394 has some great lines (and cup size pattern pieces!)

This pattern (6395) looks really fun and reminds me of a Cynthia Steffe pattern Vogue put out last year.

I'm not usually a jumper person, but this is so cute and would look great with leggings. (and cup size pattern pieces - yes!)

I can't resist Palmer/Pletch patterns for their great fit instructions. 6399 looks like a winner.

I'm a skirt person and these are just my style - 6402.

I like the cut of 6403 - might make the shorts now and the pants later.

6408 is really cute.

6391 will be great for Gracie!

I also think 6389 would be cute on Gracie.

I also like 6386 - would make up quick and easy from my stash of Patsy Aiken knits.

I can get some brother-sister action for my little two out of 6393.

6409 bags are really fun.

I love this quilt (6412) - I want to make it using scraps of fabric I used to make things for Gracie. How sweet would that be?



Okay, now I really need a pattern sale!

Summer style for Mom

I've reached a point in the summer where I hesitate to sew for the kids (unless it will cross seasons), and that means Mommy needs some new looks!

The bright floral minidress (Joann's cotton twill) is a DKNY pattern (Vogue 1236). I think it needs some red knit bike shorts/boy shorts to go under it so I can play with the kids without flashing!

The blue and aqua skirt is a Cynthia Rowley pattern (S2192) made with Amy Butler twill I picked up at a sale last fall.

The blue print blouse is a Rachel Comey design (V1247) made with a rayon voile by Kaffe Fassett.

The blue geometric print dress is Kwik Sew 3521 made with cotton twill from Joann's.

Simplicity Early Autumn picks

The Simplicity Early Autumn collection is up and I'm excited. There are a number of patterns I would like to sew.

This would be cute and simple for Gracie - definitely begging to be embroidered or appliqued!

I think the round pillow is especially cute - reminds me of a velvet pillow my grandmother had with this type of really interesting smocking/pleating.

I can't resist Amazing Fit patterns - always looking for ways to tweak the fit.

I really like the lines of this Project Runway dress.

I really like the red outfit on the left.

More cute dresses from Project Runway - including a Kate Middleton knockoff.

I like the Chanel inspired jacket.

I can see making a great lightweight casual jacket from this pattern.

Nice basic skirts - love the contrast details on the gray version.

I particularly like the style of the green top.

More cute Project Runway options for Gracie.

I'm pleased to say that the overall selections are very wearable and not weird - a great trend! Now, I just need a Simplicity sale!

Sweet summer dresses

 I just finished up two dresses for Gracie - both very different, but I don't know which I like better! The first one is Ottobre (3-2010, #20) with contrast panels of fabric. I embroidered a stack of flamingos on there, too. This dress makes me want to go to Florida...

The next dress is a Farbenmix pattern - Williemetje and it is super girly once you add the ruffles. I did a test fit (in which I discovered I needed to adjust how the armholes were stitched) and then I added more gingham in ruffle form. 

You gotta love the cowgirl hat as an accessory! 

Backpack purse - done!

How cute is this? I love backpack purses and this one turned out so summery and fun.

BTW - This pattern (see post below) would make a perfect size toddler backpack (with shorter, adjustable straps).

Let the summer sewing begin

As I have shared before, I am a teacher, and that job gets super crazy at the end of the school year. I am excited to report that the kids left at 12:15 and my sanity began returning at 12:16. This week I gave state mandated child abuse testing, sold OUT of yearbooks for the first time (!), and dealt with the end of year crazies (both in terms of kids and all the end of year stuff teachers must do). I still have to work tomorrow and two days next week, but the pressure is off and I have time to sew tonight!

Last week I cut small backpack style purse from Taylor Made Designs' backpack pattern booklet. I am finally going to embroider and then sew myself a stylish new bag like the one on the upper right cover:

The material I am using is two Kaffe Fassett prints and I plan to leave off the cute button embellishment since I am doing machine embroidery.

Keep calm and sew stuff

This image represents not only a good bit of my weekend sewing, but two of the most indispensable patterns in my stockpile. The t-shirt (embellished with "Born to cheer" for Gracie) is an Ottobre basic from 2004's summer issue. I've made this several times with embellishment from my embroidery machine. It's a classic.

The bags are Amy Butler's "Chelsea" tote. I love this pattern and have already made 6 of them previously for storing pattern magazines. I have one for Ottobre Woman issues, four for Ottobre (one for each season - I have every issue I could get my hands on), one for Burda, and now one for Sew Beautiful (the green one), one for my other European pattern mags (Patrones, La Mia Boutique, Knipmode, etc.), and the red bag for my Threads/Sew Stylish/Sew News issues. I still need to make one more for my Australian Smocking collection and I will have all of the magazines wrangled in an attractive and protected way. I had fun stitching on these. I especially like the "Be Calm and Sew Stuff" design from Urban Threads. It was kind of my mood this weekend. ;-)

I also managed to knock out the skirt I had in mind on Friday: McCall's 6327. I really like the way this went together. I think I might search the stash for some fabric to make view B with the contrast layer. This version is view C with essentially a square skirt layered over a 3/4 circle skirt. It has an elastic waist and went together quickly, so it is a great beginner project as well as a quickie for an advanced sewist.

Finally, here's the seashell/seahorse dress on Gracie. She looked really cute in it, but she was being a goofy model for me.

I don't know how much sewing will happen tomorrow since we have a number of projects around the house to complete (including that flooring), but I hope to at least do up a back for my Australian Smocking mags and maybe a couple for my scrapbook magazines. I still have some great Urban Threads crafty/sewing designs I want to use!

What to sew next?

This week has been suck-tastic thanks to end-of-grade testing (or as I fondly think of it, federally mandated child abuse). Combine that with a home improvement project that has eaten my sewing time, and you have a recipe for some serious frustration.

I did manage to knock out one pillowcase dress from a Simplicity pattern I got last summer (not that you really need a pattern for one, but this saves measuring.

 In the meantime, we are laying down Pergo upstairs and I had to make room for this awesome cabinet from Ikea (clearance corner!).

So now, I am plotting my stitches for Memorial Day (still need to finish the flooring and my grad school paper first).

I'm eyeing up a Suede Says (Simplicity pattern) or possibly a McCall's skirt pattern for some flowy white and blue floral poly charmeuse from Joann's. I'm also thinking about making a camera bag for my DSLR (Nikon D50). I got a nice booklet with instructions and some great embroidery designs from Urban Threads.