Avalon Jacket

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Reversible Avalon JacketA creative and fun jacket with a flared petal hem. It can be easily made into a reversible version, or embellished with ruffles and embroidery. This kids jacket comes with pattern sizing between 18mo to size 11-12, I made this in a size 6 for my five year old niece.

Don’t you love it when something looks like it would be difficult and you doubt whether you are going to be able to do it? Then, as you are sewing it up, piecing it together, you see that you can do it, that those waves in the jacket are beginning to form and you might very well pull it off! I felt like a magician! Continue reading »

Project #8: Pullover Knit Maxi Dress

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Maxi Dress

Maxi Dress

I was looking at patterns to help me build my wardrobe for my sunny vacation in April and came across this McCall‘s pattern I got a few months back. I’ve had a few light knits in my fabric stash for quite some time now, and was reluctant to sew them because I don’t owner a serger. The knit fabric I chose to use is very light, soft and somewhat delicate (I got it as a discount because of a run right down the middle). In any case, this

Pattern Description: Misses Dress and Belt: Pullover dress has fitted mock wrap bodice, shoulder ties, elasticized shoulders and raised (seamed) waist, fitted narrow hem, thread carriers and self belt.

Pattern Sizing: 16-24, I made a size 20, but next time, I’ll probably made a size 16. I plan to use this as a cover-up at the pool, so it works as flow-y as it is.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy to follow the directions for this dress and some helpful hints throughout for those of us who don’t own a serger. Continue reading »

I Got my Sewing Room Back

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My son was in town, visiting from Vancouver and as a result, I gave up my sewing room so that he would have a proper room to lay his head for his two-week long visit. It was wonderful to be able to spend mornings and evenings with him, discussing like, where his is at in life and what his plans are for the future. At 26, it looks like the kid is going to be alright and I didn’t screw him up irreparably!

In any case, this week he went back to Vancouver and after a good cleaning, I’m ready to get back onto my sewing stool. I’m so proud of all I was able to do last month, and checking out each book and choosing just one item to sew has really opened my eyes to all the wonderful projects I already have patterns for! In fact, today is the last day of the 99¢ sale at BMV.com and though I am tempted to pick-up more patterns, I’m hesitant to buy more. I have boxes of patterns waiting for me, would it really be prudent to get more?

iDesign

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Here are my some of the fabric designs I’ve been messing around with and printed through Spoonflower.com, I love being able to design them myself and have something totally unique to work with!

Burgertime

If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably played BurgerTime at your local arcade. As a tribute to the “good olde days” I designed this fun and geeky fabric!

Tomato tomato

My study of tomatoes resulted in this fabulous fabric.

Pickle Me Pink

I’m pickled pink by how lovely pickled ginger looks!

Pucker Up

Tart lemon slices mimic tartan in this yellow delight!

January Recap

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Though I only started sewing for 2013 close to the end of the month of January, I managed to squeeze in seven projects from seven different sewing books that have, until now, laid dormant on my bookshelf, some for a few years already!  By far, my favourite of the bunch is the Red Riding Hood, it’s adorable and I just can’t wait to see it on my five year old niece! The one project that has gotten the most use so far is the Slipcover I made for my sewing stool.

Funnily enough, my husband got all giddy over the Baby Kimono, I think his biological clock might be ticking! However, he does loves his new Necktie, which I made specifically for the night we head out to see the Cirque de Soleil show Love at the MGM Mirage next month in Las Vegas.

Did I mention my plans to make a “micro-quilt” of all the projects I complete this year? I wanted to create one-per-month, but I might just have to focus on sewing what I’ll call a “remind-me-what-I-made” quilt whenever I feel I have enough pieces.

Project #7: Bird-Watcher Messenger Bag

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A great way to highlight gorgeous fabric like this Joel Dewberry Herringbone print!

A great way to highlight gorgeous fabric like this Joel Dewberry Herringbone print!

Talk about a productive morning! I got most of my todo list crossed off and I completed sewing this messenger bag, all before lunch!

The New Handmade is a book with a good mix of projects, including many smaller, patchwork items. I like some of the projects, but absolutely hate the way the patterns are written.

For example, this messenger bag is written with instructions like “cut 2 from olive bird print fabric”. Another problem was orientation. There are many pieces and without knowing where they will be placed, it is hard to orient how I should cut them.

I stopped following the instructions after having built the front of the bag, I just couldn’t seem to grasp the concept and figured I could make it work on my own from there. Obviously, that worked out just fine. If I make this again (and I probably will) I would make it a bit bigger and reduce the length of the strap.

Open the messenger bag to reveal my own Innocent Crush!

Open the messenger bag to reveal my own Innocent Crush!

Book: The New Handmade: Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style (That Patchwork Place)

Project: Bird-Watcher Messenger Bag

Fabric: main fabric is Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow – Herringbone in Berry (from Etsy seller StitchCraftShop) and the lining fabrics are from Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush line (from Etsy seller PatternCrush)
Notions: Quick release clip and heart button
Thread: Gutermann 100% polyester col:

Difficulty: Some challenges
Sew again: Yes, with changes

Project #6: Artsy Clutch

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The artsy clutch from Bend the Rules Sewing

The artsy clutch from Bend the Rules Sewing

I recently joined a workshop website called Creative Bug and have been browsing their video collection for some ideas and inspiration. I came across Hillary Williams Intro to Screen Printing and felt a tinge of guilt. You see, I have a whole ton of screen printing tools and inks but haven’t made the time to do anything with it!

So, no, I didn’t pull out the screen for this, but I did pull out some of the fabric inks I have and decided to let loose. I also “tried” to embellish this clutch with some stitched words. Not great, but completely unique and I think, with the works “Love You” on it, all imperfections should be forgiven!

Book: Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew

Project: Artsy Clutch

Fabric: The main fabric is Aqua Blue Solid and the lining is Michael Miller Bike Haze (Etsy shop PoppySeedFabrics)
Supplies: Speedball Fabric Screenprinting Ink
Notions: Wooden log button
Thread: Gutermann 100% polyester col: 10

Difficulty: Easy
Sew again: Inevitably I will

Project #5: Power Tie

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The Beatles power tie!

The Beatles power tie!

I don’t know why or how, but I have over 6 meters of a Beatles quilting cotton. Actually, I do know why; I let my husband come shopping with me at Fabricville once and he decided that buying the rest of a bolt of fabric made sense. That was the last time I brought him with me!

What better way to show my appreciation for his taste in fabric than to sew him up a tie? It just so happens that S.E.W. has just such a project detailed within its pages! This tie is a little wider than my preference and definitely stiffer than I like my ties to be, but for my husband, this is just perfect. The most challenging part is pulling the tie to the right side, partly due to the stiffness from the interfacing.

I like this book because the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. The author takes the time to detail every step and offers many tips and ideas to perfect the outcome. Each project is labeled by difficulty, but I’ve found that most of the projects in this book are quite easy to complete.

Book: Sew Everything Workshop: The Complete Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide with 25 Fabulous Original Designs

Project: Power Tie

Fabric: The main fabric is A Yellow Submarine quilters cotton by Cranston Villiage purchased at Fabricville but the musical lining unknown.
Supplies: non-woven Pellon interfacting
Thread: Gutermann 100% polyester col:

Difficulty: Some challenges
Sew again: Yes with changes

Project #4: Lucy’s Kimono

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Lucy's kimono fits a newborn to 3 month old.

Lucy’s kimono fits a newborn to 3 month old.

Since it is still the weekend, I thought the most appropriate pattern book to move on to next was Weekend Sewing. This book has a good number of projects that could be completed in a leisurely weekend, so most of the projects are easy and I like the little weekends inspirations sprinkled throughout. This book also has thick two thick paper pattern glued to the front and back of the book (like the Oliver + S Little Things to Sew book) and each pattern piece is outlined in a different colour making them a little easier to find.

The Lucy’s Kimono is only three pattern pieces and takes up a little less than 1/2 yd of fabric. It’s why I chose this project even though I am not expecting and I don’t know anyone who is. Most of the projects in Weekend Sews require quite a bit of fabric or are just too simplistic; like the napkins, tablecloth or tent.

Really cute, and it would make an adorable sake bottle cozy!

Really cute, and it would make an adorable sake bottle cozy!

Sewing together the kimono is pretty straight forward but I don’t like all the unfinished edges for a baby garment. Nowhere in the instructions is there anything about finishing the seams! In the end, I zigzags all the side and shoulder seams before sewing, I don’t love that solution, and next time I might try encasing each seam with bias tape.

Speaking of bias tape! The instructions for the ties were horrendous! I still don’t get it! And I loathe the illustrations, there are just terrible and confusing. My last complaint? There was no way to tell which way to put the sleeves on! I guessed it was the short end out, but I can’t be certain. I am almost tempted to return it because I don’t see myself using it again, it’s too frustrating.

Book: Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching

Project: Lucy’s Kimono

Fabric: Alexander Henry‘s Bauhaus in Berry (Etsy shop PoppySeedFabrics)
Notions: 1/4″ bias tape in peach (antique)
Thread: Brother 100% polyester col: pink

Difficulty: Some challenges
Sew again: Yes with changes