So Many Options

Have you been noticing all the great new fabrics recently? I have and it’s got me thinking about how I can justify buying up a bunch of them. My answer: that stack of napkins on my handmade list. The way I see it, with just half a yard of fabric I can make two napkins. That means for a week's worth of napkins I’ll need 7 half yard cuts. I should allow for some realistic delays in laundry though. Perhpas I'll need 8-9 half yard cuts to be safe, right? The hard part could be narrowing it down!

My Shame

If any of you were big fans of the show Friends you’ll understand this analogy. My fabric scrap basic is like Monica’s secret locked closet of junk. You see, Monica and I are very tidy people but we have a little secret we hide behind a door. Her secret involved the inability to get rid of anything but mine just involves the inability to get rid of any little scrap of pretty fabric. Until it got completely out of control, that is.

See that photo up there? It doesn’t look so bad. What I’m not showing you, though, are all the piles that had found their way to the bottom of the closet floor. As a tidy person with a tiny house, it was driving me crazy!

I had to be ruthless. I pulled every scrap bit out of the closet and onto the floor and set myself in the middle of it. (It was a totally rockin’ Saturday night.) If I didn’t absolutely love it, it went into the garbage bag. What I ended up with was a totally manageable basket and nothing on the floor. The sweet success of a bit of organizing!

Now to find projects that use up my best scrap pieces. I’ve been thinking about making some doll quilts and maybe tackling some paper pieced hexagons. How do you use the bits you can’t bear to toss?

Number 8 on The Nest List

The Half Square Triangle Quilt

My obsession with half square triangle quilts started after the doll quilt. I adored the crisp white with the pops of colors and the precise geometric arrangement. I had to make a human sized one.

It just so happens that my need to make intersects with Little Miss Lou’s need for an Auntie made quilt for her newly decorated big girl room. Of course, that big girl room prominently features her favorite color orange along with doses of white and turquoise. Sounds like the perfect quilt combination!

I had a few oranges and turquoises already in my stash and the rest came as a result of a 40% off sale at Joann’s. Then came the backbreaking part: cutting out 378 squares, each measuring 4 and 7/8 inches with the goal being a finished block size of 4 inches.

I am now deep into the block assembly process. All the squares have been stitched together and I am spending evenings at the ironing board. I alternately snip them apart into their half square triangles and then iron all those seams. (Oh, how I wish I could hire out the seam ironing!) The plan is to get all this done before the weekend so I can start on the fun part, the layout and quilt top construction!

Wish me luck.

No. 4 on the Handmade List

Baby Burritos

The week before the girls were born I waddled into my sewing nook and made a dozen large colorful swaddling blankets from Anna Maria's Folksy Flannel. I purchased a yard of each and squared them up with my rotary cutter and finished them with a rolled hem using my trusty serger. The remnants were also hemmed and added to my basket of wash cloths and burp rags so I literally used every square inch of fabric for this project. They were by far the easiest and most useful items I made for the babies. The Folksy Flannel is a wonderful weight for this sort of application and the colors are simply gorgeous; I can't tell you how many compliments I received.

The only thing I would do differently next time is to make them bigger. We swaddled our girls for a long time and once they got to be about 13 pounds they started to bust out of them. I made a few more from 1 1/4 yard pieces and they worked until we stopped needing them at about 6 months old. They are still in great shape (even after many washings) and I'm sure I will be able to re-purpose them at some point in the future. For now I'm keeping them in the bin with the teeny-tiny premie clothes that I can't bear to part with.

Kindergarten!

For more than a year now Little Miss Lou has been talking about when she was little. Because you know that at 4 going on 5 you are all grown up and ready to take on the world. Or really just take on kindergarten. And that’s just what she started doing last week.

As a complete, rambling aside….How did this happen? It was but yesterday that I met her for the first time. She was tiny little thing, only slightly bigger than a five pound bag of flour. Her car seat seemed to consume her and her beautiful, pink baby flesh. And poof, overnight, she’s five and getting ready for her first day of school. I certainly don’t feel five years older but one look at her and I realize time has been marching along. And in that gap of time a beautiful kid emerged, full of energy, imagination, politeness, and the occasional bad joke.

So, what was I to do but make her a kindergarten wardrobe? I may not be able to stop those hands of time but I can certainly turn out a handmade wardrobe special enough to mark this amazing milestone.

Of course, the patterns are from Oliver + S. They are simple, classic silhouettes and they’ve never let me down. I picked the jump rope dress (because I not so secretly wish they had an adult size), the Sunday brunch jacket and skirt, and the 2 + 2 blouse and skirt. For fabrics I wanted a palette of red, orange, turquoise, and blue. That led me to prints from Joel Dewberry, Heather Bailey, Cosmo Cricket, and Anna Griffin. And because not everything can be a print I chose some red broadcloth and red fine wale corduroy that feels as soft as velvet.

I couldn’t be more proud of the wardrobe I came up with. It’s perfect for a girl her age and will take her from late summer through fall and early winter. Imagine the dress on chilly days with tights and a cardigan. Or those blouses with a cute pair of cords and a long sleeve T underneath. And then there is the brunch jacket with a dark pair of jeans, some wild socks, and a pair of brown mary janes.

But all that pales in comparison to how proud I am of Little Miss Lou. Though she was a bit nervous she handled herself with such confidence that first day. Congratulations, my sweet Lou! I hope you enjoy every day of this new adventure.

A Year in Sewing

See that? Up there? That's just a portion of all the sewing I did in 2009. Would you care to hear the full list of my comleted sewing projects? Yes? I thought so.

5 charming handbags, 12 coffee cozies, 3 clutches, 2 patchwork table runners, a swing swing smock, a chef's hat, a sleep mask, 4 Oliver + S playsuits, 2 comfy jumper dresses with bloomers, a flower girl dress, a smocked sundress, 8 yoga mat totes, a birdie sling, 2 patchwork belts, a set of embroidered dolls, 2 mousepads, 2 lazy days skirts with matching embroidered Ts, 8 half aprons, 2 full aprons, an oven mitt, a patchwork scarf, a ruffled spring blouse, a baby quilt, 3 zippered wristlets, a fabric flower pin, a weekender bag, and a stuffed elephant

It's a pretty impressive list, if I do say so myself. For a few of those projects I plan to share more details soon. For instance, the elephant I wanted to keep for myself but didn't and the bag that nearly killed me.

Let There Be Ruffles

Being a bit of a planner and organizer I like to get my Christmas shopping and making done early. However, my colleague put me to shame in this regard when, in May, she requested that I make some aprons for her to give as Christmas gifts. That’s right…more than seven months in advance.

A week later I showed her piles of beautiful fabrics. She chose some of my favorites from Heather Bailey and Amy Butler, prints she thought would perfectly suit her mom and sisters. The style she requested was a half apron with a ruffley hem, cute pocket, and ties long enough to come around to the front. No problem!

I suffered with a mental sewing block before finally getting around to putting these together though. I think I feared the ruffley hem. But then I found my sewing mojo and the gathering foot I bought more than a year ago. Yep, I’d completely forgotten about it. I wish I hadn’t.

What you can do with that foot is amazing. You start with two perfectly flat, boring fabrics and in a minute or two you are left with one gathered piece of fabric attached to a flat piece of fabric. From now on everything shall be ruffled!

Little Boy Blue

Not long ago I was lamenting my overflowing scrap basket. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that giant container of fabric scraps too good to throw out but not big enough to become projects on their own.

I’ve been playing in that pile of scraps, pulling together various bits to see what they might become. That first pile of scraps I pulled together has become a baby quilt, one I’m calling Little Boy Blue.

It contains fabric bits from Denyse Schmidt, Joel Dewberry, American Jane, and Tanya Whelan all in shades of blue, green, and brown. The design is simple and so is the quilting. It’s finished size measures just 36” x 36”, perfect for a handsome little fellow to play on and someday drag everywhere he goes. At least that’s how I imagine it being loved.

[Not this] weekend sewing

Another not-quite-as-easy-as-I-expected project from Weekend Sewing that I actually finished and photographed a few weeks ago. Thinking that one can't have too many bags, I decided to try the Everything Tote using some home dec weight Amy Butler fabric and a fun print from Heather's Mendocino collection for the lining. I had heard that there was an error with the pattern and checked the errata page before I got started so I knew how how much fabric I was really going to need, which was a good start.

I had a minor OCD moment when I realized that neither the pattern or the errata mention that if you are using a directional print (like the orange I used for the lining) that following the pattern as written will result in the print being upside down on one side of the bag. This is because the bottom of the bag is placed on the fabric fold. I fixed this by cutting two pieces for the lining instead of cutting it on the fold so the octopi ended up all swimming in the same direction and all was right with my world. One other thing to note about the materials: you need about 1/2 yard extra for the lining fabric in order to be able to cut out the handle and binding pieces. Also, to give the bag some stability, I lined the binding and handles with a layer of flannel a la Bend the Rules.

Unfortunately, the pattern is just not quite right, although it's pretty easy to figure out what you need to do to make it work. For example, to create the gathering between the handles, the pattern says to gather the material until the two markings (where the handles join) are 12" apart. Well, they start out 12" apart, so you need to gather the material until it looks right to you. Because of this adjustment, the binding pieces end up being a couple of inches too long and you have to trim them flush with the raw edges before you add the handles. Also, the instructions for applying the binding and handles make no sense whatsoever. Fortunately, you can easily find better instructions for making a bag with bias tape binding and handles, there are a lot out there.

All that said, I quite like the way this bag turned out and would probably make another.

Not the skirt I planned to make

I had planned to make a yard-sale wrap skirt from Weekend Sewing. It looked like a simple project, so even if the notoriously bad directions led me astray I figured I had a good chance of making it work. The pattern call for 2.5 yards of 45" fabric and I had 3 of this summery Midwest Modern print on hand. Perfect, or so I thought. After I traced the pattern I noticed that there was no diagram for how to lay out the pattern pieces on 45" fabric. Strange, but I could deal with that. Until I realized that, in fact, it is impossible to cut out enough panels for the larger sized skirt from 2.5 yards of fabric. Or 3 yards. I estimated that I would need 8-9 yards of 45" fabric to cut out 9 panels; more if the print was directional (like those made by the author herself). No wonder there was no diagram for cutting out panels from 45" fabric; it can't be done.

Surely this error was due to some mishap as the book passed from author to editor to pattern testers and it would be fully explained on the errata page. Alas, no such clarification was forthcoming. Strangely, upon googling peer reviews of this book, I found only glowing praises, many citing the "excellent and clear directions". In my opinion, I don't think anyone test-sewed the yard-sale skirt pattern before the book went to press. I understand that mistakes happen, but please correct them, acknowledge their extent, explain what happened. Can you tell I'm a little disappointed?

Enough about the lemons, let's move on to lemonade. Or, in this case, a Barcelona skirt. I love this pattern, it having been a staple of my summer wardrobe last year. Since I used a lighter cotton than for the previous two, I lined this one with a lovely pima cotton that I found at my local fabric store. I was pleasantly surprised that lining it only added about half an hour on to the construction time. Fortunately the rain let up yesterday and I was able to get outside to take some photos. And experiment with my remote control and tripod. I even attempted some action shots: I love bloggers who are able to convey movement in their photos.

Yes, we're pretty happy to see the sun around these here parts.

Oops, I did it again!

I don't know how this happens. It all begins so innocently. I need one fabric to finish off a project. Then I start rationalizing. Well, I'm already paying for shipping so I might as well pick up a few pieces I've had my eyes on. That makes sense, right? I'm saving on future shipping charges by buying more now. Is this an economist's dream or nightmare? Please, tell me I'm not alone.

Racing stripes

Another baby boy gift, this one for a sweet new cousin in Sarajevo. I was thrilled to be able to make another Oliver & S playsuit using some lovely light weight cotton, I can't remember where I found it. I am pleased to report that I think I have finally mastered the snap tape situation: it's a tricky maneuver on these tiny 0-3 month outfits, I have to say. Since he's a summer baby, I made two lightweight blankets using two of the Heather Ross Kokka prints and super soft flannel.  They are each about a yard square which I think is a very useful size. Finally, I wrapped it all up in a big draw-string bag (another Heather Ross print) and put it in the mail yesterday. Hopefully they will arrive by the time we see the little guy in person in a few weeks.

It was a bit of a relief to finally cut into the fabric that I bought about this time last year, intending to a make a quilt for an entirely different baby. Oops.

M is for Margaret, and for mine

I've been in a bit of a sewing slump lately. Not to say I haven't been sewing, it's just been less inspired and more utilitarian than usual. There has been some disappointment with one recently published sewing book with incredibly poorly written directions that is receiving rave reviews around the craft blog circuit (more on that later) but mostly it's been a feeling of "meh, seen/made that before, why bother" when I think of starting a new project. I suppose I've been looking for that project that would reset my crafting mojo, if you will.

Internets, I introduce you to my new muse, the Margaret Sling Bag. The pattern is available as a free download from the very talented and generous Elizabeth of Oh, Fransson! And Internets, if ever there was a cure for the crummy craft book blues, it is an Oh, Fransson! tutorial. Perfectly written instructions that were intuitive and easy to follow, correct measurements for fabric and materials, it was a joy to cut out and sew. Fabrics are one of my favorite Good Folks prints and a gingham linen that I bought before A Little Goodness closed it's doors (anyone know where to go for interesting linen these days?) The vintage button is one that I've been hanging on to for a while, I'm so glad I was able to use it here. It must have been a bridle decoration judging from the bits of dried out leather I scraped from the back of it, but it cleaned up nicely.

I made the cross-body version because I want a hands-free summer bag for biking and yard sale season, but the pattern also gives instructions for making a shoulder bag. The strap fit my rather long torso perfectly; the bag sits right on my hip and is very comfortable. It's the perfect size for my purposes, I can fit my wallet, camera, note book, water bottle and a snack with plenty of room left to stash treasures found along the way. One little thing I might do differently next time is to make the internal pockets a little deaper and also to set them a little lower, but it's a minor issue. In fact, I'm already pulling fabrics for the next one.

Baby love

One of my colleagues is about to become a grandmother for the first time. She is over the moon excited and more than a little nervous. She is more nervous about the birth of her granddaughter than she was about the birth of her own son, a fact she readily admits. How to calm those nerves? The best way is with teeny, tiny handmade clothes.

For everyday, summer casual I made the Oliver + S playsuit. The shorts were made with fabric from Heather Ross’s West Hill line. I went to painstaking trouble to get the stripes to line up just right on the front and back. The result is perfect and so worth it. The bodice is simply white kona cotton that I trimmed with a yellow calico. I found the snap tape impossible to work with on such a little garment. (0-3 months is so tiny!) Instead I sewed in snaps by hand for easy diaper changing.

For more dressed up occasions I made the comfy jumper dress and bloomers from Amy Butler’s Little Stitches for Little Ones. This dress came out so, so beautifully. I just love it. The butterfly fabric for the skirt and bloomers is from Hoffman while the bodice fabric is from Wilmington Prints. The dress came together easily. If you found yourself with an entirely free evening you could definitely get this completed in one night. There is one error in the cutting instructions though. It says to cut out a piece of fabric for a loop but a loop is never mentioned in the sewing instructions. Amy’s people confirmed it was a mistake and the loop should be ignored. The bloomers were also an easy project though I found the wording in the instructions a bit confusing. Luckily I’ve made her lounge pants before so I had a good idea about what needed to be sewn together and what shouldn’t be sewn together.

But back to how lovely this dress is. It’s perfect for warm days. On cool days though it would be just darling with a pair of tights and a crocheted baby sweater. Oh, and tiny little shoes. See? There is no time to be nervous when you’re imagining dressing a baby.

Spring Kitty

There's a lot of pink and green springing up in our garden right now. Just look at this wee kitty, isn't she sweet? I think I can sew up this Wee Wonderfuls pattern in my sleep by now, I've made just a few kitties and bears. The dress is a lovely Heather Ross Kokka print and the body is a pale pink baby corduroy that is super soft. I thought she needed a pair of shoes and a lace collar and she was ready for Spring.

It's been busy around here, five more days until I write my final final exam for my master's program, I can't quite believe it. I also have a some new and inspiring sewing books and am trying my best to make a dent in my fabric stash and not buy any new fabric.  I'll share more soon, hope you are having a wonderful weekend..

Spring ensemble

I did it! I found the perfect spring coat to go with my perfect vintage pin. Could I be content with that? No. I had to make the perfect patchwork scarf. It’s a good thing Heather Bailey looked in her crystal ball a few years ago, saw my future coat, and kindly included the perfect colorway in her Freshcut line. Yep, perfect.

Another lap quilt

I promised my sister-in-law I would make her a lap quilt for her front room in her new house right after I made my mom's.  Well, her house isn't quite as new as it was, but I did finally finish the quilt and take it out to her on my last visit.  I was thrilled with how well the fabrics I chose went with her decor and recruited my niece and her side-kick Clifford to help me take some photos.

I used the pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing but increased the size to 50 inches square like I did the first time around. Our family is tall and I wanted to make sure someone could really cozy up under it.

Clifford wasn't really holding up his end of the deal, so Grandma stepped in for the final shot.  Can you tell that my love of red runs in the family?

Spring flowers

We received a couple of inquiries regarding the fabric flowers in our current blog header so I thought I'd post some more information about them. I made them using this tutorial that Blair posted on her blog Wise Craft a couple of years ago. They are super easy and fun to make and her directions are very clear. I cut out the pieces to make a half dozen in an hour or so and then took another couple of hours to put them together and hand-stitch the backings on. I did find fabric glue to be very helpful; both to attach the felt pin backing and also to provide some rigidity, as well as to shape the petals. Once I had the pins put together as per the directions, I "fluffed" the petals to make them fluttery and soft looking and then squeezed a fairly generous dollop of glue near the base of each petal pocket and let them dry. Buttons were either from my stash of vintage finds or fabric-covered. They are a fun little splash of color that will hopefully keep me going until Spring arrives (soon, please?). Thank you, Blair, for generously sharing your creations with those of us less talented (she has other tutorials posted, you should take a look).

Psycho bunny, qu'est-ce que c'est?

I've spent a lot of time laying on the couch watching TV lately thanks to a particularly nasty virus.  I caught reruns of the first season of Project Runway and decided to find out what Jay McCarroll is up to these days. Hello, two fabric lines for Free Spirit.  In an interview from last fall he describes them as the following:

"It’s like cotton for a more cultured, crafter’s world, like, the artsy girls who make cute little tote bags or little outfits. It’s perfect for that."

You have to love someone who tells it like it is. Can't you just see some of his prints fitting right in at the Black Apple?

Beautiful

My sister’s family welcomed an addition just before Christmas. Their family has now expanded to include Baby B, a 6 pound 11 ounce girl with a head full of hair and the tiniest little feet with the longest little toes. In a word she is breathtaking.

So it was because of the impending arrival that I seemingly vanished in November and December. I was not, however, sitting about twiddling my thumbs. In whatever time I had free I was cutting, ironing, sewing, stitching, and shopping to help decorate a nursery from over 800 miles away. (Oh, and there was the Christmas sewing but that is another post all together.)

Click here for more photos and details.

My sister’s only request for the nursery was that it be pink, brown, and non-flowery with a big dresser for storage. With the help of a thrift shop, etsy, Joann Fabric, and Lowe’s, Nana and I did just that. Little Miss Lou, the big sister, declared it beauuutiful. With the addition of one beautiful baby we couldn’t agree more.