Sketchbook Shirt

Sorry I've been gone for awhile. It's been a bit busy. I've done this and that but haven't managed to blog about it. I've also done some stuff. What stuff? Hmmm I'll have to think. 

I did manage to make the Little Mister a Sketchbook Shirt from the pattern by Oliver & S. Jess had just barely enough of this fabric to get it done. Matching the plaid wasn't completely possible, but the overall look was exactly what we wanted. 

Then we took about a hundred pictures. 

You get to see four. 

Simplicity 2866

I made this a couple of weeks ago and yes, I am just now getting around to showing you. It's finally warm enough to take pictures outside comfortably. For me. I'm a wimp. 

 I got the fabric at Joann's back in October. Kinda forgot about it until one Saturday morning when I woke up and decided I needed a new dress.

 I really like the embroidered flowers.

 The pattern was super simple. I did change the front to have tucks instead of pleats... 

 I'm not sure it's the best style for me but it's easy to wear and I just needed something new. 

Sophia Trench Coat

Have you ever made your husband turn the car around, park, cross a street and help you climb a fountain? No? Um, yeah, me neither……

The pattern is from Serindipity Studios. I used a black chambray by Kaufman Fabrics, with a bit of Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding for Moda as a fun surprise on the inside.

Next time there must be pockets.

Simplicity 2975

Made with a gorgeous linen in one of my favorite colors. I added pockets on the side seams instead of the front patch pockets it called for. Sorry there are no closeups.

I love this tree. It hangs over a pond in the gardens by the theatre district. You know who thinks I am a huge goof for wanting a photo of myself here. I thought I could walk out farther..... the water is shallow and very not clean. Yeah, he also had to help me down.

Hope you've had a great weekend!

School House Tunic

This really is one of my all time favorite go to patterns. The shirt is comfortable. I like matching fabrics to the shirts I have. Most of all it is cute and easy! You can make one of these in just a couple of hours.

I found a gorgeous mens shirting fabric at the same time that I found the madras fabric. I knew this was what I wanted it to be and was able to make it last Sunday. I wish you could touch it, like butta.

My New BFF

Has anyone ever used this before? If so, why didn't you tell me?

I was reading somewhere (no, can't remember where, sorry) about someone taping their zippers down before they sew them to hold them in place and how much better it was than pinning. Then I forgot about it. I don't try a lot of new ( to me ) products because I forget to look and see if we have it at work and then I get home and then I am tired and the next day it starts again. K, really, it's because the new stuff I buy most is fabric. BUT, not anymore. I will never ever be without this again. We had it, it's on the wall I walk past no less than 20 times a day and I never saw it! I haven't tried it on a zipper installation yet but let me tell you, on teeny tiny baby clothes where you need a sharp 1/4 inch turn under and you're trying to go around a sleeve that's ridiculously small, it's amazing. It saves time. I didn't have to poke my poor fingers with pins.

Wonder tape, I love you.

Ridiculously small baby outfit. Simplicity 3852. Cannot for the life of me remember the fabric and there is no identifier on the selvedge. Size 6 months.

I think it's cute, what do you think Jessica?

Next up, crazy booties! Made from the free bitty booties pattern by Heather Bailey. My first try at needle felting. You can see I let my imagination run wild....

What can I say? It makes me happy!

Whoa Nellie!

When they say saddle bag they mean it.

I cut this out yesterday and finished sewing it this afternoon. Indygo Junction's Saddle Bag pattern and a new fabric line Party in Pink by Fresh Designs for Henry Glass came into the shop on Thursday.  After making so many clothing peices, I needed a break and this seemed like the perfect solution. A sample for the store and a new huge bag. I saw the measurements on the pattern but there are times I am spacially challenged. 13 x 18 x 6 apparently has no meaning for me...... I'm special.

Good news, I love it.

There are no photos of me with it. Sorry, it's raining and you know who is studying.

I feel the instructions were well done up until step 16. I've read it several times and still don't get what they were trying to say. Are they using too many words for a simple step or am I just brain dead? You may ONLY answer that if you are trying out the pattern. Anyway, I think a beginning sewer with a few pattern projects under their belt would enjoy this.

The sides are black cotton twill.

If I did it over again I would probably make the interior pockets a bit larger. It could also be interestiong to try and divide the interior in two. I'm thinking things could get lost in here. Like small children.

For those of you who may also be challenged size wise that's my laptop in the bag.

Roomy comes to mind.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

They were asking for their mama.....

Fabric, Nicey Jane Dream Dot. Pattern Ellie & Elwood from Yesterday's Charm.

Is it just me, or is this cute?

You know who and I went to the second hand store downtown yesterday. I found this box of old buttons (but-tons). It was fortuitous to say the least, saved me having to drag the afore mentioned you know who to a fabric store. In the box were the exact things I was looking for, in the exact amount I needed. I started this project Friday night. I had everything I needed except, out of the hundreds of buttons I have, none fit.

This pattern is from Favorite Things it is their Uptown Coat pattern. The pattern is a simple one. You should probably have a few clothing projects completed before trying it though. There are some things they leave out.

So, as I said, I had the fabric in my stash. The lining is a cotton that we had at the shop, Middleburg by Jenny Beyer. The outer fabric is a wool-blend, it's older than most of my kids. It started it's life grey and I dyed it purple. I never made the project it was intended for. I have plenty left over.....

You know who kindly photographed me in the coat. I told him these pictures make it look like he almost knows what he's doing.

He said that sounded like a compliment.

I said it almost was.

So glad he loves me.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Buh-bye!

I'd like one in my size....

I have wanted to make this jacket since we received the pattern in the shop. I asked Jessica to send me this fabric since it's not one I can get. The facings are done with Mendicino by Heather Ross. I think it's a nice little surprise. The pattern was fairly easy to follow. There are a couple of things I might do differently next time. Minor stuff.

All in all I like the way it looks. Now I just need a model. Size 4.