Remember this skirt? You might not have forgotten because it was only my last post. Well, it made the Top Ten over at CrafterHoursBlog and voting is happening today. I would much appreciate a vote.
In the works this week (with the deadline of a wedding Saturday) is the coordinating top. Here is a sneak peak blurry iPad photo of the beading in progress:
the pattern: Alabama Studio Sewing and Design’s Mid-Length Skirt
the fabric: AC’s medium weight jersey in silt and doeskin, with Abbie’s Flowers stenciled
the sewing: My first finished Alabama Chanin garment that is 100% hand stitched. I enlarged the floral print much larger than suggested in the book and floundered my way through stenciling with a spray bottle. The skirt is stitched with Button and Craft thread in Dogwood. All seams are felled with knots and seam allowances on the interior. This skirt might be a work in progress: I am trying to decide if it needs the reverse appliqué I had planned or is just right as is.
up next: a coordinating top with smaller stencil and beadwork. It will be just the right project to work on from the picnic blanket while kids play and small enough to take on vacation in the coming weeks.
How did nearly three weeks go between my last two posts? If the last few weeks are any indication, my presence here this summer will be slim. Sorry in advance if weeks go by in my absence. I am sewing. And I will post projects… but not with any regularity.
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On to the fun news and reason for this post:
This month is the first “season” of Project Sewn. The ladies that run Project Run and Play for kids fashion design have started a competition for women. It last four weeks with a different theme each week. I didn’t participate in the first challenge because I wear very little black, but this week is different. Week 2 theme: The Sundress. After wearing last summers sewn sundress a few times each week I knew I would be adding another easy dress this summer.
the pattern: Sew Liberated’s Clara Dress
the fabric: Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton in Blueberry The shimmer on this crossweave is awesome. The raspberry and light blue threads play together to make an iridescent purple with a raspberry or blue glow as the fabric moves. If you haven’t seen the Kaffe Fassett shot cottons, check them out.
the dress: I wear simple clothes. I like elastic waists and flowing skirts. Both those things make an easy wardrobe when wrangling kids and gardening. There are times however I want to look more polished and the details in a garment really help to accomplish a put together look. This dress has a shawl collar and cutout sleeves. A new mission for myself is to sew more details while maintaining an ease in wear. This dress is a good step in that direction. I will probably pair it with a skinny belt and ballet flats and actually do my hair when I wear it to a party this weekend.
Voting happens all weekend, so head over to Project Sewn and take a look at all the great dresses.
I have ideas rolling around for the next two weeks themes (’80′s and Your Signature Style) and hope to sew them up, in addition to finishing two lingering quilts, playing in the sunshine with my kids, cooking dinner every day, and maybe sleeping a full night here of there. So we’ll see.
The KCW list is finished. I knew I was over-ambitious, but it was all sewing that needed to get done. This shirt had been sitting without buttons for over a week and the tie was done before that.
the patterns: Ethan Shirt by Sis Boom and PurlBee’s Little Boy Tie (modified)
the fabrics: Sarah Watson’s Indian Summer (main: Native Band Apircot and accent: Basket of Thyme), the tie is a grey pin dot from Sew To Speak
the tie: The Purl Bee version was made to fit a boy a few years older than mine, so I shrunk it down: I thinned the width by an inch and cut six inches length from the middle of the pattern. It is lined with the same accent print as the shirt (which is also the piping for my daughter’s dress).
the shirt: I bought the pattern one night thinking I would dive right in, but decided to sleep on it after reading through the instructions once. There were a lot of parts to cut and lots of finicky sewing for this shirt. It is true dress shirt with a collar band, sleeve plackets, and a back yoke. The finished product is a great piece; it just took a few nights to get there. In the picture below, you can see a few details: the accent fabric on cuffs and collar, the fabric matching on the pocket, and the button band with the fabric turned horizontal.
the pants: blogged HERE
Only one month until my little brother gets married. The kids will be well-dressed.
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the pattern: self-drafted from a basic pants pattern
the fabric: linen from http://www.fabric-store.com and stripes from thrifted linen pants
the sewing: I took my basic pant pattern and added a flat front, slant pockets, and the tuxedo stripe. I took the extra time sewing these to make french seams; so there are no raw edges. I also got all finicky with the hem and sewed it with a blind stitch.
the garment: These were meant to be a simple pair of linen pants in the darker linen. When I unfolded all my pulled fabric, I realized there was not enough for pants. I went back to my stash and found this lighter linen. That is when the tuxedo stripe entered my mind and I am so very glad it did. These couldn’t be more perfect.
flat front view with pockets and belly button
nearly blind-stitched hem
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the pattern: modified Flashback Tee with gathered skirt and zipper closure
the fabric: Mama’s Feedsacks 1930′s Era Designs by Robert Kaufman, piping in Art Gallery’s Indian Summer by Sarah Watson
the sewing: I was slow to get moving on this dress. I procrastinated because the piping and zippers both require a bit of finicky sewing. Once I got started the dress came along quickly. I sewed the bodice on day 6. Day 7 I attached the piping and skirt. Last night I settled in for a movie with my husband and hand finished the bodice lining. It still needs hemmed, but I couldn’t fit my model in her sleep. Her favorite part….. it twirls!
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KCW made for some very productive sewing, but I will continue with kid’s clothes this week to finish up two more items from my initial list; a tie and dress shirt to pair with the pants up top.
I am checking in on my Kid’s Clothes Challenge sewing. Yesterday (day 3) I finished up both the jumper I previewed in my last post and #7 on the list, a baby dress.
the pattern: self-drafted/heavily modified, inspired by a MiniBoden jumper seen HERE
the fabric: Lisette, an impulse buy at JoAnn’s because it was the perfect pattern for this jumper
the sewing: I used my basic top and pants pattern as the base for this top. I then dropped the shoulder and widened the front for gathering. I also added width to the front to accommodate a button placket. The shorts have an added cuff and button. I attached the two pieces with a wide french seam that I felled to make an elastic casing. I hope I explained that clearly.
the finished garment: I am so happy with this jumper. The top is exactly as I had pictured it and I like my finishing better than the Boden version. The shorts, which my daughter likes to wear longer, will be fuller in the next version. I think they would look cute gathered too. I had so much fun making this garment. It is the first time I have a desire to design clothing patterns for production. We’ll see?
gathered shoulder and placket detail (a.k.a. I am so done with this photo shoot)
buttons and ribbon waistband
post-photo shoot play and only detail photo of shorts hem
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the pattern: Rae’s free Baby Geranium
the fabric: Sarah Jane’s Children At Play and Kona Solid, lined in white
the sewing: This dress is tiny. I had one piece of the balloon print that was almost big enough: the skirt is not quite as full as the pattern calls for. I love those balloon-clutching bunnies!
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Today I have been working on a pair of linen dress pants for my three year old. He is not into fittings and I have bribed him with chocolate.
After cutting for well over an hour last night it feels good to sew today. I started with #6 on yesterday’s list: a jumper for Mira inspired by Boden. The top is finished minus buttons/holes and the shorts are constructed, but not hemmed. Most of my sewing time happens after my kids’ bedtime so I will hopefully get this finished tonight.
Kid’s Clothes Week starts today. I have written an overly ambitious list containing appropriate attire for a June wedding and a few items to fill out the girl’s summer wardrobe.
I guarantee this list will not be finished this week, but it is sewing that is high on my overall sewing list. Today I plan to trace/draft the necessary patterns and get all my fabric cut. As long as I get that finished I can focus on constructing garments the rest of the week and end the week with at least a few finished garments. Happy sewing!
I needed a quick and fun project….
the pattern: inspired by THIS scarf, like THIS
the fabric: sheer linen in 60″ width
the sewing: Instead of adding pompoms, I finished in the long edges with a zigzag stitch about 1/2″ in and pulled the outside threads for a frayed edge. I also added glittery dots in two sizes: pencil eraser and wine cork. The small dot pattern is 11″ wide and the large dots span about 8″. I also left much of the linen bare so the dots are just a fun detail. It is perfect for breezy days like today.
the pattern: AMH’s Painted Portrait Blouse and Dress
the fabric: Liberty of London ”stack of books” print (couldn’t find actual name) with facing and trim in Free Spirit Voile seafoam
the sewing: I am glad I found my love of hand-sewing about one year ago. This pattern requires a bit more than most, but it is worth it. The entire yoke lining is hand stitched. I put aside my usual “hurry up and get it done” attitude and took extra time to sew french seams when attaching the side panels to the front and back, in addition to all the handwork. This means no exposed seams. The hem is finished with voile bias trim for a hidden bit of color.
I had plans of a flannel dress version that was not made over the winter. Maybe this fall? Anyways, I could not wait until then to try this pattern. And I am happy I didn’t. There are many great versions of this blouse/dress in the AMH flickr pool; Like THIS and THIS.
A few details:
stamped “low beam studios” detail on the yoke lining
button/upper back detail with pearl cotton loop
Lining attachment detail (please ignore the little X that I haven’t washed out)
On the hanger
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If you are in need of your spring top sewing inspiration, check out Made by Rae and her spring top sewalong flickr pools. You have until Friday to join in on the fun.
And coming up next week…..Kid’s Clothes Week! I will have a KCW to-do list with ideas and fabrics here on Monday.
