Dortje Pants

Dortje Pant, back viewDortje Pants from Sewing Clothes Kids Love; an example of what you can accomplish 15-minutes at a time, every couple of hours over a 12-hour day. Of course, I chose not to do the extra steps (contrasting knees, ruffles, etc) and I decided to keep it simple. I just didn’t have any suitable contrasting fabric, and I wanted the pants to match the Avalon Jacket I made previously. Continue reading »

Project #8: Pullover Knit Maxi Dress

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 »

Project #1: All-You-Need Sewing Kit

The ribbon trimming sweetly accents Amy Butlers fabulous Full Moon Dot

The ribbon trimming sweetly accents Amy Butlers fabulous Full Moon Dot

I have a couple dozen sewing books on my bookshelf, but I find that I don’t use them very often. I gravitate to the same books over and over again, while perfectly enticing projects in other books lay neglected and unused. This year I’ve decided to complete at least one project from each book I own. This will not only allow me to peruse all of my investments, but to really get a sense of what I do, and do not like when it comes to pattern books.

My first project is from the first sewing book ever I purchased, some 2 years ago, heck, 2 sewing machines ago! One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects caught my eye from the day I first thumbed through its pages of fascinating projects. It was perfect for me; a new sewist, struggling to figure out how to wind a bobbin, let alone use one of my precious fabric pieces to make something.

One-Yard Wonders remains one of the books I flip through most, and it seems fitting that it would be the first project I work on this year. I chose the All-You-Need Sewing Kit because it seemed like something that would make a nice gift, or work as a hand-sewing kit to keep by the sofa.

I finally tied a bow I can be proud of!

I finally tied a bow I can be proud of!

The kit comes together fairly quickly once you get past the teenie-tiny double fold hem on each of the three pockets, but I found many of the steps took the “long” way of doing things. For example, the casing with the elastic requires creating the casing, turning it out and then adding in the elastic. I simply sewed the casing with the elastic enclosed. I found the same issue with the ties, instead of creating the ties, turning the out and then adding the trimming as instructed, I simply sewed the ties right side out, then attached the trimming over the seam.

In the end, though I think the sewing kit is cute, I find it too awkward when filled with sewing gear. That said,  I think this kit could be a sweet way to showcase antique sewing notions and maybe some old thread spools.

Book:  One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric!

Project: All-You-Need Sewing Kit

Fabric: .5 meters of Amy Butler Full Moon Dot in Slate (Etsy shop Bella Fabrics)
Trimming: 1″ ribbon, source unknown
Thread: Gutermann 100% Polester col: 610
Elastic: 1/2″ wide

Difficulty: Easy
Sew again: Probably Not