Sew ready for Spring!

Yesterday, I dropped off two piece of fabric to be pleated (for smocking) - one for Gracie's Easter dress and one for a sundress for her - both from Australian Smocking & Embroidery patterns. I'll pick them up in two weeks and construct the dresses. Benjamin was with me and we pick out a beautiful green fabric for his Easter shirt, which will have realistic giraffes embroidered on it. He's very excited about that.

Before I can cut the shirt, though, I need to finish sewing some projects I cut already. Last night I got down to business and knocked out three pieces of Gracie's warm-weather wardrobe.

First up is this swingy tunic from Bizzkids magazine (summer 2008 issue, design no. 3435). I used a plisse from Joann's that I had in my stash.

Luckily, I also have a lot of buttons in many colors from my grab bag purchases at Patsy Aiken Outlet (it's closed now - wah!)

My second project, this striped t-shirt (with a "cold shoulder" design) is from the 3/2007 Ottobre magazine. It's kind of exciting that moving Gracie up to a size 128 cm means she gets a whole range of new styles available in her size. Yay!

The skirt is a bubble skirt from the same Ottobre issue (design #37) and another one I have been wanting to make for a long time. The rib knit waistband is comfortable but snug enough to stay up well, but I would choose a strong ribbing for sure if you make this.

I have one more outfit, a knit top and skort, ready to sew. Then, I will make Benjamin happy and start on the giraffe shirt...and start thinking about MY Easter dress. I have some coral brocade and a matching texture lime brocade that might become a sleeveless A-line dress.

Forget football...it's fabric time!

Apparently, there are a bunch of guys knocking into each other over some small brown ball...not that I give a flip. I've been sewing, and I'm about to crash the football frenzy with some more dragging out of the fabric.

I have been busy knocking out some cute clothes - first up: Simplicity 2645 - jacket view A. The fabric is a subtle pin stripe, but the pin stripe itself is hot pink - love it!

This is a cup size pattern, so altering is kept to a minimum.

I also made up Vogue 8856 (view A) in a beautiful knit I got last summer in NYC. The combination of draped and fitted sections hides a lot of sin...

I also made an outfit from Simplicity 1462 (top) and McCall's 6842. Both patterns are technically for wovens, but a stable knit often works just fine (and did in this case). I decided to take advantage of the interesting structure of the top and color block it.

 So, while a couple of people at my house seem interest in football, I'm more interested in plotting out my next projects...I have some great heather pink velour fabric wanting to become a top to go with a pair of dark brown leggings I made (and still need to review).

Looking toward Spring

I definitely ready to be done with the "polar vortex" (unless we get a visit from an actual snow storm), so it's fun to sew styles suited to spring.

I stitched up three tops and two slips for me and the leggings to go with a top I have ready to sew for Gracie.

Burda 6964 includes two full slips, a cami, and a half slip. I purchased some black and white performance knits and made two versions of view A. (There will not be a photo of the white one, but I figured out why I had some gaping on the black one and corrected that on the white one by pulling my FOE tighter as a sewed it on.) I think these will be great under more sheer knit dresses - esp. if the bodice is low cut!

Butterick 5354 is a previously made pattern that I decided would work well with this awesome border print I purchased in NYC's garment district last summer.

Vogue 8581 is another top from garment district fabric. This is quick to make until you hand-stitch the neckline down. Even so, I will almost definitely pull this out again.

I have a third top cut and ready to sew from my garment district purchases, but it will have to wait until I sew one more item that requires the white serger thread since I will need to switch back to black. I really like to avoid switching that mess (even when tying on the thread) when I can.

I sewed up Vogue 1306 (a Rebecca Taylor design), view B, in this wonderful chevron knit. I could have definitely gone down a size, but if it shrinks any I'm covered. If it doesn't, I might take in the sides slightly. I also used this fabric for pedal pusher leggings and accents on a white tank style tunic for Gracie (from a La Mia Boutique pattern). I want to add some embroidery to the top pre-construction, so that is jamming up my progress on my last top for me. Overall, it is still a very productive sewing weekend.

Channeling Michelle and Hillary

Friends, it was a good sewing weekend.

I started off with a trip to Hancock Fabrics to purchase a zipper to complete a navy polka dot dress as well as to hit the pattern sale. I scored - every new Vogue, McCall's, and Simplicity that I had been eyeing up, as well as some notions, lining, fashion fabric - and yes the zipper.

When I got home, I started in on the dress, a Palmer/Pletch pattern (McCall's 6834). I love the fit and flare silhouette and was able to get a great fit once I adjusted for a full bust, but took out some extra width (all I needed was extra length in the bust). I think this turned out fabulous. I might even try wearing it with this great red patent leather belt - and maybe a cardigan before the weather warms up. (a.k.a., the Michelle Obama look - that woman can rock a dress!)

I had enough material left to make Gracie a cute little Butterick 5776 dress since she also loved the fabric. I used rick rack to embellish the hem and create a flower at the neckline.



My second big project of the three day weekend was more Hillary Clinton than Michelle Obama. Yes, I sewed a pants suit. One color, head to toe, tailored...it works. I used Simplicity 2446, an Amazing Fit pattern, for the jacket. The pants are from Vogue 1293.

My only complaint there was that they ended up shorter than I prefer, so I ended up adding the cuffs as a facing to get the length where I wanted it.

I purposefully made the pants suit in red. I had purchased this fabric near the start of the school year, but the project got sidelined by Disney sewing. Now, however, I was glad to jump it up to the front of the production line. After all, it's RED for ED - supporting public education as a North Carolina teacher is a BIG deal. We have been crapped on by our state legislature and the governor big time, and RED for ED Wednesdays is an ongoing thing this year. I also want to look professional when I got to events and still represent the fight for education in this state!


So, now my sewing stack is clear...time to grab some fabric and get inspired!

Sweet & trendy

McCall's 6785 - done in Patsy Aiken knits

Did I mention that they have closed their outlet in Raleigh? Waaah!

 Why, yes, this pattern IS twirly!

Did I also mention how much I have loved getting my daughter premade hairbows to match these wonderful fabrics??? OMG - I am going to miss that outlet!

We also got a rainbow loom and started making those little bracelets from rubber bands. My Daughter insisted we make one for her stuffed monkey - aw!

On grown-up sewing notes, I just made up the leggings from a new Today's Fit pattern (V1376). My first pair is a wearable muslin, but a total win! I also have a dress mid-construction that I would have finished...if I had the right zipper. Ugh! I have loads of zippers, but not a dress length navy invisible one. I hate it when that happens. I won't have time to hit the fabric store to get one until next weekend either.

Stepping up my embellishment game for the new year

I didn't get a lot of (non-Disney-related) sewing done in the last third of 2013, and I spent the last week of the year doing a LOT of home organization. I finally got around to finishing a few 2013 projects and embarking on some lovely new things for 2014.

First up, I had three new tops for me cut and ready to go, but I had put them on hold to complete pre-Disney projects.

McCall's 6796 has such an interesting collar treatment - made in a light gray rayon jersey.

For Simplicity 1539, I made view E in a cream ribbed knit with exposed back zipper.

The second version of S1539, view F, is made from a cotton-lycra jersey knit and embellished with a rosmaling design from emblibrary.com. I constructed part of the top, embroidered, and then finished construction. I will have to try this again. I love the results.

 For my next project, I cut out a gymnastics/cheer ensemble for my 6 1/2 year old daughter. The leotard is Jalie 2792. I even made the scrunchie included in the pattern. The fabric is royal blue stretch velvet and a sparkly, patriotic print stretch velvet. She looks like she is ready for the Olympics - so cute!

I made view C which has a square neckline in front and an open back area with a high fastening at the neck. It called for a swimwear hook for closure, but the velvet worked better with two sew-on snaps.

She likes to wear a braid, but I think she's going to appreciate having her hair up once she realizes how much better it will stay put!

She's still working on her splits, and she loves to wear little shorts with her leos at gymnastics. Those same shorts will also work well as tumbling shorts with a crop top for cheer.

The shorts are Jalie 3022 (which is fast becoming a TNT pattern in my arsenal). The top is the leotard pattern - Jalie 3138 - cropped at the lengthen/shorten line. I added an iron-on "cheer" embellishment in sparkly little rhinestones.

Next up is a tunic and leggings combo for Gracie in pretty, printed knits. Then, I might move on to a Vogue Today's Fit leggings pattern for me.

Kindle cover

I got a really good deal from Amazon on a 7" Kindle Fire HD. I'd been thinking about getting one for awhile, but a discount sealed the deal.

I knew I wanted a nice cover for this and I knew I wanted to make it. After scouting around options on Pinterest, I ended up using Simplicity 1630, view C.

Based on the pattern directions, my version is a bit backwards, but I had a reason - the embroidery needed to be against the flat portion of the case.

One of the things I like best about the pattern is that it can fold into a stand-up easel. My interfacing might not be the neatest, but it is very functional and will keep my device protected. I am very happy with the results!