Sewing Sunday

This pretty apron is the "Emmeline Apron" from Montessori By Hand. I've had this green fabric for a while and was inspired by these fabric combinations to make my own. The great thing about the apron is that it is reversible - two in one!! The reverse side is a polka dot print that didn't photograph too well, but you get the basic idea.


Making the apron was appropriate since I did a bit of baking this weekend (too bad I made the apron AFTER the baking was done!!). Friday night Jeff's parents came over for dinner, and we celebrated his mom's birthday. I made these Carrot Cupcakes from the latest issue of Everyday Food (find recipe here.

Coat Sew-Along

Well, I've signed up to sew my most ambitious project to date - a winter coat. I've wanted to sew a coat for a while, I've had some fabric for over a year now and the pattern too, I just haven't gotten up the nerve to start it out. Then I read on Marji's blog about a blogging sew-along she was putting together. It appealed to me because it is structured to spread out the work between now and September. So in June we will fit a muslin, July, cut and interline fabric, etc. I figure this way I won't get to overwhelmed and not ever finish. Plus there are tons of other sewing experts whose blogs I regularly read that are participating as well, so I will be asking a lot of questions. Marji has set the blog to private, so only members can see the posts, but I'll post my progress here as well.

I will be sewing Simplicity 4403, view A (the one on the far right)


My fabric is this wool houndstooth fabric I picked up from Cy Rudnick's fabric during their going out of business sale. It was such a steal - only $6 a yard, and the regular price was over $30/yard!!!


Now, I just need to pick up my other items, lining, buttons etc. I'll keep you updated!

Getting My Sewing Groove Back

After making so many bags for other people, I just found I wasn't motivated to sew. So, I took a little break from sewing and boy did I need it. Now, I'm feeling creative again, but wanted to start with something fairly easy. I've had this pattern (Simplicity 3877) sitting around for a while now. It only took me a few hours to make this afternoon, and while it needs some tweaking (neckline is a bit too wide, almost falls off my shoulders when I'm wearing it) I'm very happy with the result. I even wrote my first review on PatternReview - check it out here

Long weekend = project progress!

I decided to take Monday off since it was a holiday for Jeff. I used the extra time to get some projects finished off:

First up is a custom order for a diaper bag/changing pad. I'm really happy with how this turned out.



Then I finished a tote bag for my friend Erin. I'm going to have to make a bag for myself out of this giraffe print. I love it!!



Speaking of bags for myself, I'm tweaking a new design. My neighbor liked my regular tote bag, but wanted the strap long enough to wear cross-body. I whipped one up for her (forgot to take pictures) and liked it so much I made one for myself in a cool Michael Miller print I picked up.



This is a project I finished months ago but am finally getting around to posting pictures of. I knit a hat for Jeff as one of his Christmas presents, it was my first foray into knitting in the round and using double pointed needles.



Jeff wears it all the time, so I think its a hit. I think I'll knit one for myself, maybe in a pink/green combo.

Progress

Wow, is it February already? I cannot believe the first month of the year has already gone. Luckily, I do have some finished objects to show for my work, and I've actually done well with some of my resolutions!!

First up: Yoga Pants/Burda World Of Fashion/November 2007
I saw so many great reviews of this Burda WOF pattern that I bought the issue on ebay (see also: resolution # 1, only buy patterns with a project in mind). Now, this was my first WOF pattern and I was a little nervous. You need to trace out the pattern from the sheet first, then make your project. So I jumped right in and tracing wasn't all that bad.



Once I had the pattern pieces laid out, I tissue fit them and discovered a few alterations were needed. With I gift card I got for Christmas, I bought Fast Fit by Sandra Betzina and found it useful for this project (see also: resolution #3, learn to make pattern alterations).

The construction was super-easy, and thanks to the serger I'm using it was also very fast. This FO also fit into resolutions #2 and #4 as well. Not too bad. Maybe I should post more resolutions online!!!



I've also had a few more bag orders completed and delivered.




Here's a peek at some orders in progress.

My Big Adventure

Today I participated in my first craft fair. My office has an annual holiday bazaar where associates and others can come in and sell their wares. I didn't know what to expect, or if people would actually pay money for what I made. I'm really pleased with the turnout. I made up a few samples in a shoulder bag and a tote, along with a couple smaller sized cosmetic bags. I brought in the fabric I had so folks could customize their bags with their own fabric choices. That turned out to be the big draw, most people went over to my fabric stash and oohed and aaahed, and that allowed me to get started on the selling. Here's a snapshot of my "booth"

Getting ready for the sale wore me out!! I worked on my samples all weekend along with my marketing materials (name, business cards, etc.) I've only gotten about 4 hours of sleep the last few nights getting ready. Jeff joked about the "sweatshop" I was working in.

I got orders for about 12 bags, so the work in the sweatshop will continue so I can have them ready by Christmas.

I also set up a storefront on etsy, check it out here I've only got one item on there now, but I hope to get more listed soon. In case you were wondering, KikiBoo is the name of one of my cats, so yes, I named my business after a kitty!!

Busy Weekend

Or, 2 Shirts, 2 Skirts and a headband!

With vacation coming up, I thought I'd see if I could sew a few things for my trip. After many hours of work, I'm mostly pleased

This is a pattern I've had for a while but been hesitant to try because it uses knits. Knits don't like me. I do fine with the seams, it is the finishing (hems, neckline, etc) that gives me the most problem. I had this really soft knit I got for like 2 bucks at Hancock's from the remmnant table I thought I'd try. It went together really fast and was fairly easy, but the neckline hem is wavy, like most of the knit projects I try.


I saw this shirt popping up on so many blogs I had to try it. I read that it ran big, and I didn't want it to look like a tent on me (not very flattering) so I cut it a size smaller than my usual. It is plenty snug, so it was a good thing I used some leftover fabric I had. I'll try reworking again. I think it will be very cute when I get it right.


This project started out being inspired by the fabric. I thought it was very Lilly Pulitzer-like print that would make a good skirt. I used a pattern from the book Sew What Skirts and made a wrap skirt. Very happy with how this one turned out.



My second skirt was again inspired by fabric. I saw this madras plaid at the store and thought it looked like a JCrew skirt I had seen. I also used the Sew What Skirts book on this one.


Since I had fabric leftover, I thought a headband would complete my preppy look. Heather Bailey has a free pattern on her website that makes really cute, easy headbands. A few minutes after cutting, viola...a headband.



I also had a great helper during my sewing marathon. Why do cats like fabric so much?!?!?

Catch up time!!

I know, it has been a while since I've posted. About 2 months to be exact. But that doesn't mean I haven't been busy working. Here are a few pictures of some finished projects:


This bag is the "Chelsea" from Amy Butler. I made it up in some of Amy's new fabrics from her Lotus line. http://amybutlerdesign.com I love her fabrics and patterns. This bag is supposed to be reversible, but I liked the blue fabric so much, I decided I probably wouldn't ever turn it inside out so I added some pockets and a fabric loop to clip my key ring on to.

I also worked on some projects from Amy's book, In Stitches. I actually got to meet Amy last summer, she was here for an event at my local fabric store. She was very nice, autographing copies of her book and posing for pictures. Here is a picture of Amy and I. Now, I'm tall (about 5'10) and you can see Amy is several inches taller than I am!!

Here are some projects from her book:

This is the CD Holder, but it is really the perfect size to hold patterns!!

Here is the Short Pleated Apron
I gave this as a gift to my sister. She had us over for Easter dinner, her first dinner party so I made her an apron for the occassion.

I also used up some more Amy Butler fabric on this tote bag pattern from Burda 8112.

The tote is actually much bigger than I expected. Guess I should have looked at the finished measurements! It will be nice to take to the farmer's market this summer. My kitty, Samantha, sure does like it! I also finished the knitting needle holder from McCalls 4728.

Of course, I have several more projects in the works....stay tuned!!

Project Inventory

I think I am becoming an "accumulator". I have many more projects/fabric than I have time. A quick tour of my list of to-do's include:

Valentine's Day cards to be made. Yes, I learned my lesson from Christmas cards. I am (A) starting early and (B) making fewer - only immediate family members will get cards.














My local fabric store just got in the new Heather Bailey line of fabrics for Free Spirit named "Freshcut". I got a gift certificate for Christmas and promptly used most of it up buying fabric for:


This great stripe/pattern combination to be made into pajama/lounge type pants. I'll use the stripe for the main part, and the pattern for the cuffs and possibly some detail around the waistband.









Apron - love the retro colors and bubble paisley. I plan on using the pattern for an apron in Amy Butler's In Stitches book.










I really liked this patterned fabric, so I picked it up with no particular project in mind. When I got home I remembered I had a pattern to make a knitting needle holder I wanted to try so I could get my knitting stash organized (a whole other project list there!!






Those are just some of my recent acquisitions. Older projects languishing include:

A dress for an event I have in February. I picked up Vogue 8313, thought it would be a perfect "little black dress". We'll see... So far most of my sewing has been simple bags, home dec projects, etc. This will be my first garment I'll wear in public. I picked out a black crepe for the body, and black georgette for the contrast top. I've never sewn with a sheer before, but I've been reading up on sewing the seams/hem so we'll see.

I also have a stack of beautiful wool fabrics I'd like to try making a Chanel-style jacket out of. The January issue of Threads magazine has inspired me to try it out.