Making it on Monday

The only new thing I have been able to start is an explorer vest (an adorable project from Liesl Gibson’s Little Things to Sew ) that we will give to a friend of ours who is turning five.

I must say that this project has been incredibly fun. Working on the bellows pockets was tough, and I now regret the decision to use contrasting topstitching, but the project has come together so quickly and is so beautiful to look at. I’ll be making more of these!

I did finish our felt garland:

It was a quick, fun project, and I am glad I did it. What are you working on this week?

Baby Boy Kimono Shirt

My entry into Shwin&Shwin’s Link Party sponsored by Appliances Online.

A few weeks ago, I finished this adorable kimono shirt for my friend’s son. The pattern came from Heather Ross’ Weekend Sewing –a book I really like. I have made a few projects from it, and they have all been easy and beautiful.

I got my supplies at Hobby Lobby. Instead of making my own bias tape, I just bought some already made. It was very hard to find cute fabric for a baby boy there, but these polka dots were absolutely adorable.

I am finding sewing for little kids such rewarding projects since they are always so cute and fast. The pattern was very nice, too, and quite easy to sew. The whole thing came together very fast!

This is how I put it together for gift-giving. Cute, isn’t it?

What color combos do you like for boys?

Linking at:

Shwin and Shwin

Nap Time Crafters

A few favorite links from this week

These last few days of summer, I am getting super excited about fall and holiday sewing. These are a few links that have totally inspired me to go on in my crafting:

– Kristin’s post where she talks about learning and improving her sewing has been such a source of inspiration and excitement for me this week. Thank you, Kristin!

I am always debating whether I should try to become a better seamstress or a better shopper, and reading Kristin’s blog is a reminder that you can’t buy such beautiful things as you can make yourself. So, sewing it is for me! Reading through the comments on that post, I am thinking that I will sew through the Oliver + S syllabus. I wonder if anyone would like to join me?

– I loved this post from Coletterie–very useful things that I will keep in mind as I try to improve my sewing.

– This tutorial by Mama Says Sew for a shirted peasant top looks so easy and lovely!

I have been hoarding some of Natalie Lymer’s woodland fabric that I got earlier this year, and I think it would be perfect for this project. What do you think?

Making it on Monday–on Tuesday…

I got sidetracked yesterday and did not have time to post “Making it on Monday,” so here goes:

I always have more projects going on than time to finish them. But, these are the projects that I have actually done some tangible work on, at the moment:

– Pleated bishop dress for my two-year-old. I love how it’s looking. I wish her sister’s dress were as easy…

– Fall felt garland from this gorgeous tutorial. I pinned this to my Pinterest account since last year, and this year it’s finally getting done.

– My daughter wants a stuffed sheep. I know. So, I’m crocheting her one from this pattern. It is a dog toy, but she does not know that 😉

– The socks are still in the same, pitiful state, so I will not post a picture for those.

That’s about it for this week! What are you working on?

Oliver + S Apple-picking dresses

I finished these two a while ago and never got around to posting the pictures. I *love* how they turned out!

This was my first experience sewing from an Oliver + S pattern and I have to say that it is love, love, love. I finished the main construction/sewing of the two dresses in two days! The pattern comes together like a dream and, I have to say, the challenging neck tie/placket were quite easy to put together thanks to the awesome instructions.

Sometimes it wears me out to have to make two of the same every time, but it’s so worth it. This fabric was lovely and perfect for the project: Michael Miller’s Children at Play, from fabric.com. I have some yardage left… Maybe shirts for the girls? I think I have just enough!

Here are pictures of some of my favorite details: love the finishing on the sleeves.

The placket is adorable, and that cute neck-tie completes the look of this dress so well.

Finally, I used blue and white buttons to finish it off, making reference to the playful pinwheels.

Ta-da!

Linking at :
Shwin&Shwin

So you think you’re crafty…

After a long hiatus…

…I finished a project!

I finished this Sweet Little Dress from Leila&Ben for a sweet friend, and really enjoyed the process of watching it come together.

I love the construction of this dress and how easy, yet amazing the results. This time I finished the hem using this technique from Liesl of Oliver + S, and was very pleased with the results. Super easy and lovely!

I’ll be making more of these, for sure…

Making it on Monday

I’ve been so busy juggling three or four major projects, but this is what I want to focus on this week:

-The smocked dresses. With their jackets. I know I’m insane. This is what the bishop is looking like, hand-pleating done and pre-blocked:

-I also would like to make Apple-picking dresses for my two girls out of this lovely pinwheel fabric.

-Baby shower gifts for a friend. So far, the thought is to make big brother/little brother matching shirt/onesie.

-I want to make a Crepe dress for me. I even have the fabric. What I don’t have is the time 😉

What’s on your plate this week?

Here’s my Minoru!

It’s finally finished! And I am so pleased with the results. I have never *ever* worked on such an ambitious project, and I feel so happy I stuck with it and got it done. Thank you, Tasia, for such an awesome pattern and sewalong!

Materials: red wool crepe; lining: print quilting cotton, both from www.fabric.com I got the notions through Amazon, if you can believe it. It was great, I did not have to go anywhere!

Adjustments: The only adjustment I did on it was shorten the sleeves. Oh, and I did not add Velcro to the pockets.

Notes about the fabric: It was great to sew with these two fabrics. They are both very forgiving when it comes to using your seam-ripper. The wool does not press well, but I was okay with that. Such a lovely color! It is the perfect fall/spring weight.

Difficulties: Stitching in the ditch and the final hem were the hardest for me. They look a bit wonky, but not too bad considering… I was scared to sew in the zippers, but everything turned out great. Tasia’s instructions on the pattern are absolutely fabulous.

Techniques learned: I am not rembering the proper names for these right now, but I learned so many things! The most important lesson was to take my time preparing to sew– it is so worth it in the end! I also learned neat techniques for attaching lining, new ways of transferring pattern markings, the meaning of stitching in the ditch, a review of slipstitching, among others. It was great!

Favorite features: I love everything about this jacket but, especially, the raglan sleeves with gathers, and the cinched waist. Gorgeous! My four-year-old asked me if she could get this jacket when she grows up 😉

Thanks again, Tasia, for such a fun sewalong!

Pleating without a pleater

I love smocked garments, but their price has always been a turndown. For a while, I have been meaning to smock something of my own, but I thought I could not do it because I lacked the fancy equipment. I did not want to dismiss my dream so easily, but I looked for instructions high and low and it was very difficult finding any.

And then I found this article on Marie Grace Designs. Here was the answer!

I have finally gathered the courage (and supplies) and started pleating. This is what the back looks like:

And this is it, threads pulled:

I am still working on the rows I need, so have not blocked it yet. This is my very first time doing this, so it is a work in progress but, at least, it looks like it might work!

Making it on Monday

I am currently working on

-Smocked Easter dresses from Sew Cute Couture

-Still knitting the socks.

-Still working on the Minoru.

-various baby shower gifts that are still in the concept phase (more to come)

-Spring wardrobe planning for me and the girlies

(A peek at my gorgeous fabric).

Hope you are having a good Monday!