I love the olympics!

Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

T-shirt binge

Today was the day of the t-shirt apparently. I made 4 for Audrey, all long sleeve from a Kwik Sew pattern, 2511 I think but I'll have to go check. The pattern has snaps at the shoulder but I omitted them because she doesn't have a very big head and I didn't feel like banging in a million snaps. Anyway, they slip over her head fine without. The 2 solid ones were made from old t-shirts of mine, with the green one having contrast sleeves from another cast off old shirt. The two polka dot prints have been hanging out in my stash for ages waiting for inspiration. I think I may make a couple of Hanna Andersson inspired t-shirt dresses out of those prints as well because I still have lots of them. I'm also contemplating a shirt for myself from the blue print but I'm trying to decide if grown women wear blue with yellow polka dots...



Audrey and I will be attending an Itsy Bitsy Yoga class in the fall so I wanted to make a special yoga outfit for her. The pants are from the Little Comet Tails Crescent Moon Yoga Pants pattern and man, are they fast. I probably had these sewn up in 15 minutes or so total.



Sorry about the crap pictures. I need to work on that.

I love Ottobre

I've been working on an outfit for Audrey from the latest issue of Ottobre (fall 2008) and I am just so pleased with these patterns. I finished up the Alma pants today and they are so stinking cute, and they went together flawlessly. The details are great, and it's so nice to have patterns for real clothes for kids, not the elastic waist pants and smock tops that the big pattern companies pass off as patterns. I understand that a lot of sewists are looking for easy ways to be creative, but I've felt for a long time that there weren't options for people like me who like a challenge and want to be able to create cute garments that take a little time and effort. I don't mind spending all my free time for a few days on one project if at the end I end up with something that I am truly proud to put on my child. Anyway, just my way of saying thanks Otto!

Cozy fall togs for a wonderful wee one

I made this dress for the 3 year old daughter of a dear friend who has done so much for me over the last couple of years. I used design # 12 from the Ottobre 4/04 magazine in a size 104. The print is a Michael Miller babycord and the pink is a no name babycord from etsy. This was my first ottobre pattern and I'm in love! The patterns are just right, well designed and drafted, challenging but not frustrating, and this came out looking great. I faced the hem with bias tape to cut down on bulk and inserted my first invisible zipper ever. It's not perfect but I'm happy with it. Hopefully the recipient will be as well!

Cover thyself

I've been trying to expand my wardrobe a bit, while also improving my sewing skills with knit fabrics. So far I've managed 2 tees/ knit tops to date, both from Ottobre patterns.

The first is pattern #2 from the 2/06 Women's issue, and it's a pretty basic v-neck tee, made from a cotton rib knit that I got on clearance at Joann's for $2/yard over the winter. This is a size 52, and it's a bit big, but the neckline is laying flat, which is a major triumph, and it's comfy and getting lots of wear. The hemline is a bit wonky, I need to work on that.


The other one is from the 2/08 Women's issue. I just made this one today - it was so quick to sew!!! I used the pintuck top pattern with short sleeves in a size 50. I shortened the body by about 4" and used a rolled lettuce edge instead of hemming the bottom and sleeves because the fabric was stretching funny when I tried to hem it. I also used FOE at the neckline instead of ribbing. It's a lightweight poly/lycra knit that I picked up on the spur of the moment at a local fabric store recently, and I'm not sure what I was thinking when I bought it. It's a lovely print, but so not me! Anyway, the fit is great, and this definitely looks very RTW. I just need to make a black blazer and some black slacks and it will be nice for a dressier outfit.


I'm waiting on some more pattern paper so I can work more on the t-shirts. I still have lots more of the clearance rib knit so I'm going to try and alter the pattern to fit better and make a long sleeve tee next. I've also finished the 'Venny' jacket from the 4/08 kids issue in a sz 74 for Audrey, but I'll blog about that when I finish the whole outfit. The 'Tilly' blouse and 'Alma' pants are cut out and sitting on my table to be sewn up next.

Hi!

I'm a mother, homemaker, wife, dreamer, and do-er who is constantly engaged in some sort of "making". This will be the place where I share it all!