spring tops

It’s cold, and damp, and windy here. I’ve made two tops from Rae’s Spring Top Week but couldn’t wear them outside yet, boo!

This lovely floral one is from a pattern by Cynthia Rowley and the fabric is from Target. Yes, Target! I bought a big floral Liberty of London for Target scarf and cut into it to make this top. It is 100% cotton, unlike the polyester Liberty clothing that’s available on Target, definitely nicer. After I washed and dried it, it softens up considerably.

The basic Cynthia Rowley pattern is simple enough, just two pieces of fabric with bias binding on sleeves and neck. But sewing those sleeve thingies are a pain in the ***. I had to redo them so many times until I liked how they lay down on my not so slim upper arms.

It was well wort it and I love the final result, but this pattern will not be made again. I’m wearing it with my new Tulip skirt. I’m not showing you the whole thing, I’m only 5’2″ and the supposed to be mini skirt falls to my knee. Not flattering! Next time I’ll shave off some length from the skirt.

This is my second entry, simple sleeveless top from chambray. Pretty basic so I’m hoping that I would get a lot of wear out of it well into my winter layers. I’m also joining in on another sewing week fun from Elsie Marley. I already traced some patterns for a dress and a top for Abigail and I plan to finish two overalls for Christopher.

Have you sewn something for yourself or your family this spring?

Note: these was all sewn on my old Singer, not my new Bernina. I have sewn something with it, but have not take pictures yet. Soon.

sample sewing

The jumper from One Yard Wonder sewed from Hope Valley fabrics. This is for a class I will be teaching in March. Me, teaching! I can’t believe it, either. Come and sew with me on March 7! Please call here.

And you still got a few more days left to enter my giveaway, one post below.

busy busy

I have a pattern review up on Sew Mama Sew. Go and check it out, all you wonderful people!

And I’ve been busy filling up my shop. Come back tomorrow for a giveaway to celebrate!

one yard wonder

Do you know this new book, One Yard Wonder? It’s a fabulous book full of projects that only needs one yard of fabric. Now, depending on where you buy your fabric, that would cost you at most $10. That’s great, right? What’s even better, it’s got my a project of mine! It’s this little girl’s jumper. There’s no modeled shots in the book so here’s Abby wearing hers. I made her this more than a year ago and she’s outgrown it last fall. It’s time to make her a new one. She’s just a baby in this photo, just look at those little folds on the wrist!

More photos here. I’ll try to make her a new jumper this weekend using the instructions because I truly forgot about it and I want to check if there’s any mistake with it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

thursday’s skirt

Sew along lazy days skirt in Kokka fabric and linen trim. I made this one a little bigger to fit her until summer because the pink one the other day is a perfect fit.

monday’s skirt

I joined Lazy Days Skirt sew along here and this is the skirt of the day. Made in pink to please Abby and made from Munki fabric to please me. In true lazy spirit, I cut this from the bottom part of a pajama top so no hemming is necessary. I also added the cute monkey tag from the pj to the tell the back of the skirt from the front but my model won’t let me take off her new skirt!

2+2 blouse + other things

Another Oliver + S pattern, which I don’t have so much to rave about this one, just because the front gathers were giving me a lot of trouble. I’m still not satisfied with it. At least it’s pretty when you don’t look inside, and the sleeves are perfect. Lovely rounded shape and no puckers at all!

I used Heather Ross’ West Hill for the main fabric and 30′s print for the trim. Accidentally, this is the same combo as Kit’s outfit. The main fabric is the undersuit (which you couldn’t see) and the trim is the dress. Now that I saw it with the jumper, that might be the perfect fabric for the bottom. I am still undecided though, make the matching pleated skirt or the Puppet Show shorts. I made a pair for Abby last year and although the main part still fits, sadly her thighs have outgrown the leg hole. And it’s made from linen that has gotten soft now after all the laundry. I’m sad to see that one go (keepsake box, of course, not the throwawaypile!)

Here’s more Heather Ross, double gauze Far Far Away collection that is oh so soft… I originally intended to stash them indefinitely for upcoming summer clothes for Abby (dare I say for the next five summers?). But then I see it with her in person and some of them are just too orange for her colorings. So maybe I will get a super special quilt out of it, something like this maybe? Of course I don’t have that much variety, so maybe just big chunks of fabric sewn together. Well, that’s saved up for another day. I already have plans for another quilt.

A zigzag quilt from a fat quarter set that I got from SewMamaSew. I left out one piece of fat quarter because it’s already a zigzag print and added a vintage linen fat quarter and a half yard of lime green Kona Cotton to make it bigger. The cutting part is done and I’m itching to sew it but I have to finish this stack first! Good motivation, huh?

every day in may – the finale

First, happy birthday to my girl who turned two on Saturday!

And these are the sights of the small corner of our front door. The two are final products for May, framed Echino fabric and a nine-patch doorstop. I just need to add a small table between the two and it would be perfect, sigh…

every day in may – 13 through 26

Whew, I have been gone for so long! The main reason is my camera cable is missing, and what’s the fun in posting without photos? Then it magically showed up yesterday so we can get on with the regular programming. I did finish a lot of stuff and start a few others which most likely won’t be finished in time for May.

The first one is an embroidered kimono for baby boy’s coming home outfit. Then it’s Kit with her undersuit (not shown, obviously) and dress. She is wearing Olive‘s jumper because it fits nicely. Then a quilt from this book. The top was finished last year but I’m just too lazy to make the quilt sandwich, baste, and quilt it. I finally got the kick to finish it and it’s done in one day! Whoever thought? The binding is still half way done, though.

On the second row, we start with a dress for Abby’s birthday party. A nice blue floral with tiny bit of linen and no sign of pink anywhere, thank you. I made size 12-18 months and it fits her perfectly. Abby is a petite girl. Then it’s Peanut the elephant‘s butt. He is intended for SewMamaSew’s Giveaway Day. I’ll also dig up some elephant themed goodies from my stash to go along with him. Finally it’s a birthday banner from here! I made it in gender neutral colors so it can be used by every member of the family. It is quite a bother to cut those freezer paper stencils but I was able to finish it in one sitting during Abby’s nap.

Well, I think that’s all of the finished things. Other things that’s on the works are two sets of embroidery, SewConnected’s block for May, and a doorstop. And lots and lots of cooking to do for Abby’s party on Saturday!

every day in may – 9,10,11

How was your Mother’s Day weekend? Mine was spent with shopping and planting trees, and of course a nice lunch. Saturday was also spent organizing Abby’s clothes. I bought four big plastic containers and sorted everything. There’s piles to keep for a future baby clothes quilt, to keep for upcoming baby boy, to keep for Abby’s still too big clothes, and the rest will either be sold or given away. Now everything is nice and neat in her closet that I can breathe again. Before, I couldn’t find anything, so she had a lot of clothes that only get worn once or twice then forgotten. That’s not going to happen again!

While sorting clothes for the baby boy, I couldn’t help sighing every now and then. They’re all so unbelievably tiny! Like that one up there, the one which we brought Abby from the hospital in. It was a baby shower gift from a friend and I love it so much. I want to find something as special for the baby boy. And knit him a teeny tiny hat and booties to match.

Sunday was spent with lunch and sewing a little bit here and there to finish Abby’s tunic. I cut the Liberty fabric on Friday night and just finished this morning. Liberty fabric makes the simplest pattern so special. It’s still too big, intentionally so she still can wear it next summer. I wish I could make one for myself but sadly it’s just more cost efficient to make children’s clothes than adult’s clothes out of Liberty. Someday…