easy empire waist top

A new model for the class I'm teaching in October:

It's from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones book. This one was done in the 9-12 mos. size, but I think it runs large.

I still need to work out a few kinks before the class. I had a little trouble with some fabric pulling from the stitching on the sleeve vents, but I think I know how to solve it and make it much easier to do successfully for beginners. It didn't help that I was sewing that part around 10pm which is well past my sewing expiration time for the night. My brain has already shut down for the evening by then - I never cut things out that late at night either. I'm sure to make a mistake if I do.

The contrasting trim is far easier to do than it looks. You can almost see the vent at the bottom of the sleeve that gave me trouble.

Just a simple button closure in the back. There are side vents as well on the bottom of the tunic.

I'd love this shirt in my size.

dharma eco-bags

Long weekends totally throw me off. I keep thinking it's Monday - the day I meant to post these. That and I'm cleaning like crazy because Carol arrives tomorrow!!

Dharma Eco Bags - pattern by Serendipity Studios.
I'll be teaching this class in two weeks for those of you who are local.


This pattern is unlike any other tote I've put together. They're constructed like plastic grocery sacks with the same side pleating(which you can see a little better below). The handles open the same way as well. Pictured are the small size (good for a lunch which is why I put a coordinating napkin with the model), and the largest. It's HUGE. The medium is more of a standard plastic bag size. Both are lined.

Each tucks into the pocket on the front so they store very nicely. In fact, the pocket on the large size is roomy enough to tuck another folded down bag inside it.

No idea if I'll get around to posting tomorrow. I'll try to sneak one in between our thrifting and gabbing and me forcing her to go through my wardrobe to help purge stuff.

spring cardigan

Snow is falling outside while I type this post for spring clothes. Just looking at this cardigan makes me cold. Warm weather will return though and I hope this will be perfect for cool spring days.

The pattern is called The Shrug (My Favorite Things). I made the longer version and chose cream colored minkee with bias made from a small floral quilting cotton. (Tuli, I used the 25mm bias tape maker for this.)

It's hanging in the shop now as a model for my spring classes. I should get to bring it home just in time for spring.

bubble dress

It seems odd to post a spring dress with so much snow on the ground. If you aren't big on the cold, perhaps it will help you think of warm weather.

The pattern is from Oliver & S. I'll be teaching it this spring at the shop. This is a great clothing pattern if you don't have a serger - all the raw edges are hidden inside the lining so you don't have to overlock them (and making something with a lining is NOT hard, I swear).

I can't wait for Trixie to wear it as soon as we get to take the models home.

Those scallops make me smile.

kimono pjs and cutie booties

More models to share with you.

This one is the kimono pj's and cutie booties from Little Stitches for Little Ones by Amy Butler. Cute book with great projects, but most are relevant only for kids under 12 months.

I think there's a possibility I could redraft this pattern in a larger size to fit Trixie. Goes together quickly if you use a bias tape maker. (The 1"/25mm size was used for the trim on the top.) She also gives good instructions on how to make your own bias tape in the general instructions. Easy to follow if you've never done it before.

All the bias trim was sewn on using an edgestitching foot (Bernina #10). I sew it to the wrong side first so I can do the final stitching on the front where I want it to look perfect. (Yes, you can try to just sandwich the fabric in the bias and sew it in one pass, but I've yet to do this without slipping off at some point and it looks ghastly. Then it's a pain to correct. By the time I've ripped it out and fixed the problem I could have done it the "right" way and not been frustrated.)

I finished these up and just sat and thought about how teeny the kids' feet used to be.

They look a bit harder than they actually are to construct. You just have to sew through a lot of layers and the cutting of all the pieces for this takes as long as the sewing. I think I've figured out a few tricks for making the hand sewing of the lining's sole a bit easier for when I teach it.

I almost want to make a pair I can just stare at here at home.

leaf postcard

It's my favorite time of year.

This little guy was made as a class model about two years ago, but I love it so much I haven't been able to mail it to anyone. Normally, I'm not too interested in batiks, but they're just perfect for the mottled leaves.

The pattern is from Postcard Quilts by Caroline Reardon. Great book with easy to follow instructions. And these are perfect for using up the little odd shaped scraps after you've finished another project.

little hip skirt 2

Another model for a class I'm teaching this fall. Another skirt Ellie has to wait months to wear.

The pattern information is here.

One thing I like about this style is that it was easy to alter for Ellie's very slender waist. I simply drew a line connecting the 5/6 waist to the size 7/8 length. The yoke piece was cut out in the smaller size. That was it for alterations.

I'm sorry, but I can't remember the name of the fabric line. I wish I'd had more of the polka dot for the belt. As it was, I barely got the yoke piece out of the only two fat quarters left in the shop.

little baker's set

Another model for a class I'm teaching this fall.

The pattern is Little Retro Aprons for Kids. Fabrics are by Moda. The pattern includes the size for the doll's apron. There's also a pattern available for matching adult sized aprons.

In addition to the aprons, there'll be a demo on how to make some pretend play cookies with wool felt and buttons. I love how these turned out.

monday's laundry day

Our neighbor just headed off to college. We sent her off with a gift card for Target and a way to tote her stuff down to the laundry room.

This was a class model that I'd sewn about two years ago. The pattern is from In Stitches. The fabrics are by Amy Butler as well. As much as I love how it turned out, it never got used here. Best to send it off where it will get used and appreciated.

This wasn't in the pattern, but was part of the class. It's a matching coin purse to hold all those dimes and quarters you'll need. The strap was made extra long so it could be wrapped around a belt loop or strap and have the purse run through it to keep it handy.

Now I need to go face the mountain of laundry in my own basement.

melissa's skirt

Look what one of my students did!! This past Saturday I taught a class on the Little Hip Skirts pattern by Favorite Things. I had a great group of women, but Melissa wins the prize for finishing her homework first (and sending me a picture of it!).

Check out that edgestitching, people! You've done me proud, Melissa.

You have no idea how this thrills me. Every class I've taught, I've carried my camera to class, but I either forget to take photos because I'm so busy or the projects aren't completed by the end of class. To know that someone went home and starting applying what they learned right away is wonderful. Thanks for letting me share this Melissa!

home dec 101

More models for some classes I'll be teaching this summer - Lined Valances 101 and Pillow Covers 101. The printed fabric is from Amy Butler's Nigella upholstery weight line.

The large motif on this pattern lent itself nicely to the windowpane effect.



The pillow class will be based on the book, Oh Sew Easy Pillows: 29 Projects for Stylish Living by Jean & Valori Wells.

I'm especially pleased with how the decorative stitching turned out on this one. It's metallic thread (which I normally wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole - not really my style) on silk dupioni. Instead of using a regular stitch which wouldn't really be thick enough to show up, I used a stitch on my machine that goes over each spot three times before moving on to the next stitch in the seam. It worked perfectly. I really need to remember to use this more for embellishment. It's a lot faster than hand embroidering when I don't have the time for handwork.

All three pillows have a basic overlap closure in back.

big dot pillow

It doesn't look like much draped over my sofa, but this is the big dot pillow cover from Amy Butler's book, In Stitches. It's currently hanging in the shop as a model for the class I'll be teaching this summer. It's HUGE - 28"X28".

It took me over an hour to select all 14 prints that are in the dots, but it was worth it. I love how they look with all the patterns mixed. Eventually, the girls will have the pillow in their room.

I added a zipper to one side to make the cover removable for laundering. There's a great tutorial here if you find zippers intimidating. I usually use magic tape to hold the zipper in place instead of pins, but am going to try the glue stick method in that tutorial the next time.

Now I just have to wait 4 months to finally bring this one home.

perfect for twirling

I finished up this model for a class I'm teaching this summer. (pattern: Little Hip Skirts by Favorite Things - fabric: Freshcuts by Heather Bailey) Beginning sewers take note - this pattern was VERY easy. It also takes very little fabric in the small sizes, but has maximum twirl factor. Finally got smart and started making the models a size larger than what my girls are wearing at the moment so they'll fit when I get to take them home. Once again, I made my casing a bit too snug for the elastic. Actually, I sewed the size recommended in the pattern only to find I didn't have the width elastic called for on hand. I made do with something a teeny bit too wide. Note to self: check supplies BEFORE sewing.
Now I can't wait for the class to be over so I can put it on Trixie. I have some fabric set aside for a double layered version for Ellie. Hopefully, I'll get busy and be able to share it in a few weeks.

britches and bloomers

Chalk it up to bad timing. This little outfit is up on the wall at the shop to promote a class I was going to teach in a couple weeks using a pattern called Britches and Bloomers. I thought moms or grandmas might want to get a jump on warmer weather and make up some cute pants for the spring. I was wrong. No one has signed up as yet, but that's actually good news. I picked the class date over the summer not knowing that Glenn would be in a play on that very same day. So I guess it all works out in the end. I'll likely rerun the class this spring. With any luck I'll have more takers.

In the meantime, the girls' wardrobes benefitted from my pattern testing.

A fitting end.