new dress!

Let me start by saying I am hopeful that I will wear more dresses this summer than in the past. I feel like I have to say that because I keep making dresses but so rarely do I wear them. Actually this awesome fabric was initally bought to make some sweet leggings....which I wear less frequently than I wear dresses and since I could think of absolutely no tops I have that I could wear with said leggings, I switched gears and went with a dress instead.


I'll be honest, I really wanted it to be maxi length, but I didn't have enough fabric so I had to settle for a shorter dress. In the end, I think it worked out great! I actually used a simplicity pattern for this (2219), against my better judgement, but I managed to make it work. It was pretty straightforward, although like every simplicity pattern I make, I feel like it looks a little weird. I had to shorten the elastic quite a bit to get it to do anything and I still have some underarm wings or something, where it never lays right in these patterns, but it is still cute and totally wearable. I also cut quite a few inches off the hem because for some reason, the length was odd on me.  On the plus side though, that pattern matching in the front there is nothing short of a miracle!

Anyway, point is, cute dress. One more thing off the list! Speaking of the list, I am now making the lists for the spring/summer clothes for the littles, but I can't bring myself to get started on that or to work on the scrapbook I need to be doing because all I want to do is work on my double wedding ring quilt! For now I am just going to run with it and work on the quilt I think since I have the motivation. I had a breakthrough the other day on the corner pieces for the quilt and now I am all excited again. This is actually #1 on my finish-it list, so hopefully I'll make some good progress before I get sucked in to more urgent sewing.

Basic beauties

Look at this, back again! As promised, I have some more basic clothes that I have made for myself recently. These two things are sure to be staples in my wardrobe considering I don't want to take them off.

First up, I made another lane raglan shirt. I went down a size and made it long sleeved this time. I have been hoarding this butterfly knit for a while. I think it was a joanns clearance purchase and it is so.soft! Since I just used it for the center of the shirt, I might even have enough to make something for one of the children. This shirt is so stinking soft. As in, every time my husband hugs me while I am wearing it he comments on it ha! I think I want to make another one now, maybe with the sleeves and body the same fabric.

The other make that I am absolutely living in is a pair of hudson pants. Only not exactly since I took the pattern and made it work for a non-stretchy sweatshirt fleece. I used the same size as my test pair since that came out big and just cut some extra on the sides and made a nice long straight leg. I used knit for the waistband and the pocket detail. They are pretty perfect. They are the right length (no easy feat for a pretty tall girl) and so soft and comfy and man do I love having pockets. I think I added 6.5" to the length from the edge before the cuff. I skipped the button holes and the string in front, mostly because I am lazy. I just....really all I have to say is that I love them. I wish I had altered the pattern for them so I could make another pair just like them, but oh well, I'll figure it out again when the time comes. 

A couple of more springy makes to share next. I am still not sure if I am done making myself things, but for now I guess I should start focusing on some clothes for the small people as the weather gets ready to warm up. A certain tiny someone has only 1 short sleeved shirt I think, so I should probably get on that, or else I'll get stuck buying them *gasp* and we just couldn't have that. At least not while she's so small and uses so little fabric.

You'll never guess what I made!!!

Alright, I debated what to share first as far as the clothing I made for myself recently and in the end, I just had to start with the most exciting thing. So things may seem a bit boring after this, but I can't help myself, I am practically bursting. What could be so exciting I would be bursting, you ask? My friends, I have made a leather jacket!

Just take a minute and let that sink in. If you are thinking I must be crazy, you are probably right. It started when my mom thrifted me a leather jacket that I had intended to use for bag accents, something I have wanted to try for quite a while. The jacket was hanging around and waiting for me to get it cut up and usable, and as I kept walking by and looking at it and thinking about how nice the leather was and how much I would like to wear it. Keep in mind I had never sewn with leather at all at this point. Yep, I'm nuts! For reference, here is the jacket, a men's XL.

My main problem was a pattern but as I was perusing my pin boards (I knew I collected all that stuff for a reason!) I came across the perfect pattern! The cookie zipper blouson by waffle patterns. I was a bit concerned about whether I could get all the pieced I needed out of the jacket but in the end, I bought it to see since it was on my wish list anyway and let's be honest, I was going to buy it eventually. I figured out that I could {just barely} get all that I needed out of it, with only a few odd seams and such to work around. For the knit I used an old shirt I haven't worn in ages, and I decided to use their tutorial to add a lining which is made from an old sheet. I didn't have enough leather for the facing inside but I did have some old brown corduroy pants of the husbands that were perfect. What I am saying is, I made it work.

The sleeves are a bit shorter than they were supposed to be since the original jacket had snaps on the end of the sleeves that I needed to cut off, and the back yoke has a weird seam, but overall, it worked out better than I could have imagined. The leather was light and smooth and pretty easy to sew with. I used a leather needle and my walking foot and a bunch of clover clips since no pins allowed, and things went really well. I had one place on the shoulder where the seam started to rip and I'm not sure why, but I glued it down and reinforced it and it will hopefully be fine. I will say that gathering the leather was a bit of a beast and I had a heck of a time figuring out that lining tutorial, but it all came together. The only thing my machine didn't like was the top stitching at the end, around the zipper especially since there are so many layers. I definitely have some areas of skipped stitches, but I decided I am okay with it and no one will notice but me.  Also, I was quite happy that I didn't have to make pockets since there were some there already, and while they may not be ideally placed, they are super functional and I was glad to be able to skip that step. I reused the zipper too even though it was a bit shorter than I needed.

I finished it days ago now and I am still amazed that I made a leather jacket. I would guess that eventually I will make this pattern again, maybe out of sweatshirt material and perhaps without a lining. Or maybe out of knit....oh the possibilities! For now though, I am just going to be proud of this :) With that said, next week I'll show of some of the much more boring everyday clothes. 

mama jammies

It is time to start sharing some of the things that I have been making lately. I am going to start with some jammies that I made for myself. I am still really working on making clothes for myself and getting my wardrobe to a better place, and this round of things was primarily to test out some patterns before I make the good version.  I used 3 patterns, the easy t-shirt, julia cardigan, and hudson pants, the last two of which are from one of the perfect pattern parcels. Please excuse the crappy pictures.

The t-shirt fits pretty well. It's a free one drafted only in a Large. My test version has some pretty serious problems. As in, the neckband went so badly that I didn't bother finishing the sleeves or hem since I was just making it to sleep in. That said, it's still comfy. I don't know if it is my perfect tee or not, I have a couple more to try, but it was simple and I like it.

Next up were the hudson pants. I went with the cropped length and a size...12 maybe? I forget, but it ended up bigger than I expected and I might have to size down if I make another pair. I have another lounge pant pattern to try, so we'll see, but they came together pretty well and look pretty nice. What I really need is a pattern I can use to make a pair of non-stretch sweatpants, and this is one I may try.  Made out of an old sheet, these are so comfortable!

The Julia cardigan came about because I wanted something to throw on for colder nights or in the mornings that would be comfy with no buttons or zippers or anything. It is perfect. I made a large and used more of that same old modal sheet that had a hole in it and it is comfy and wonderful. I have plans for another couple, a short sleeve and another long sleeve I think.

So there they are. I have another shirt that I need to find time to take some pictures of while wearing it, and eventually I am going to make some things with the nicer fabric I have. Still to come, a bag, and a dress. I also started another quilt although who knows when I will get around to having that finished. In the meantime, happy week, friends!

another for me

Ahhh, I can't believe it's August! In just a couple short weeks, my baby will be 1! I just can't even. I definitely need to get going on a few birthday things for her, along with a few other deadline things. But today, that is not the point. Today, I am going to share a bit more selfish sewing, as in, another shirt for me.

Ever since I saw it, I was in love with this lane raglan top. I knew I wanted to make it, I just wasn't in a hurry. I mean really, doesn't tank top weather last forever around here?? Then I was at joanns perusing the clearance as I tend to do, and I saw and fell in love with this polka dot knit. So light and soft! I considered making something for a child, but really I wanted it for me and so this was born (and there may be enough for a kid shirt too! The question is, can I stomach matching shirts?!).

I used some white baby ribbing or something that I already had for the contrast and it's a bit thick for it, but it works okay. I constructed the entire thing on the serger which was nice and quick, and made the sleeves 3/4 length. I decided against the waistband and instead just added some length when I cut it out and left the hem to roll. I kind of love that look on a light knit that rolls well, and it is so much easier. I probably need to pull the neckband a bit tighter next time, but overall, it came out really well and I can't wait to wear it. You'll have to excuse the bathroom picture, but otherwise there would be no picture of me wearing it, so it will do.

I am planning to make a few more of these lovelies in a few variations perhaps, but there is no rush. I will probably have to make a certain little preschooler some fall clothes first. And lots of baby gifts, and a few get well gifts and birthday gifts....not to mention the quilts, oh the quilts! Oh my, I need to go back to not trying to think about it all at once and doing one thing at a time. Next week, I should have a pretty quilt to show though! Happy weekend!!

shorts!!

I made shorts, people! And they are probably as nice as any I've bought! And they fit and I love them and thank goodness they are done because it's so freaking hot!

This was a big one for me, in case you couldn't tell. Bottoms, elastic waistbands aside, are scary stuff! I used the grainline studios maritime shorts pattern, and it is fantastic. I decided to test it out with some corduroy I had sitting around, and used some leftover lawn for the inside of the waistband and the pocket linings. I inserted my first zip fly, which was not as hard as I had feared, and ultimately changed the closure from a slide hook and eye thing, to a button. I even hand stitched down the waistband like a champ and they look so professional. I admit I am a little shocked.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of me wearing them. Mostly because by the time I thought of it they had been worn all day and looked it. But they fit great. I think I might actually shorten them a bit on the next pair, because oh yes there will be a next pair. Once I figure out what to make them out of.

I think that's about it as far as clothes for me for the moment. I am sure there will be another round, but I am definitely taking a breather for now. I have a few things for the kiddies and of course, a quilt to share soon :) I have so many things to get made right now and I am pretty sure every day I add something else. Currently I am figuring out what birthdayish things I need to make all sneaky-like while the little is at camp during the mornings next week, and trying to have it all ready to go so I can actually get it done.

tunic time

I am suffering from a serious case of *more ideas than time* right now. Things feel so super busy, and I am afraid they are only about to get worse, but I am working away trying to get some things done. Right now I am in the midst of both a lot of hand work (binding and cross stitch in fact) and some birthday/travel prep. But today, I want to share the washi tunic I made!

I have had this pattern for quite some time, but was waiting for my body to settle down from that whole baby thing before I made one. I really want to make a dress version, but that is for when the little nursling is all finished I think. This one is a medium that I made out of a lightweight fabric my grandmother gave me. It is definitely a cute top, but I'll be honest, there is something about it that is a bit off for me. I think it seems a bit short in the straps or the waist or something, so I might try adding some length there next time.

In this version I narrowed the sleeves for a tank top and made the scoop both wider and deeper. I didn't use any facings or lining or anything and just finished it with bias tape on the neck and sleeves. It does feel a bit puffy in the belly and I think I keep wanting it to come in under the bust where the seam is instead of floating away, but I'm not really sure. I ponder these things every time I wear it. I do plan to make a voile maxi dress version at some point, for sure, but I am probably going to have to do another test to work all this out. Hopefully as I learn more about making garments, it will be easier to figure out what my problem with things actually is and how to fix it. For now, it is still a cute shirt that I am happy to wear :)

Now I need to get back to my binding I guess. For some reason, this pony club quilt is taking me absolutely forever to bind, but I just keep telling myself it will be worth it when it's done. Maybe this week. If I can keep myself from getting totally distracted by cute cross stitch. I am still very much in clean it up mode and this cross stitch is the last thing standing between me and the sweater I desperately want to try to knit later this summer. In my overambitious dream world, I am planning on having it finished in the next month....I'll be back to show a bit of it later, once I get a bit more done.

more tanks

Not too long ago, I posted about the tiny pocket tank from grainline studios that I made. It is really a great pattern and it is so nice to have a solid basic pattern like this. For the record, I live in tank tops. Like, all year. I wear them probably more than anything, so it only makes sense that I figure out how to make some myself that I love. After my first test version, I made 2 more.


The first is a super soft voile. Now to be honest, I had been in love with this print and was super excited about it, but I was very disappointed when I got it and it was only 44" wide so I had to get another yard. I was invested at that point though, so I got the other yard and carried on. I decided to line this with a super soft white voile too so it wouldn't be so sheer but would still be light and airy. I just treated the two as one and went about my business. I did french seams again on this one and I love it. It is super comfy and good for a hot day, but will also be cute with a sweater. It does wrinkle a bit, but I'm okay with that.

For the second, I wanted to try it with a knit fabric. I knew I was going to need to alter it a bit but instead of going down a size, I decided to use the same size I had cut and alter from there. I started by trimming off between 1/2" and 1" on each side of the back, tapering up to the armpit. I used the serger on this one for all the seams and when I tried it on, I ended up taking off another probably 2" from each side to bring it in enough for the knit fabric. I had been saving this stripe fabric for years. It is so soft and lovely and I want to wear it all.the.time. I went with the bias tape on all the edges again and it was perfect. If I could somehow manage to have this clean every day, I might just wear it that often.

Once I find some more super awesome knits that I want to live in, I might make a couple more of these. But I also have some t-shirts to try out at some point, so we'll see. I have a couple more articles of clothing to share and by then I really hope I have a quilt to share. My pony club quilt is quite close to finished and I'll be honest, I love it so much more than I thought I would! Hopefully that love and the desire to have it on my bed will help me push through the binding in the next few days :)

dress #2

Well here we are, another week. I made some good progress on my quilting this weekend so I hope to have a quilt to show soon, but in the meantime, some more clothes! I mentioned before, I made 2 dresses, and this is the less practical one, but naturally the one I am totally in love with. Unfortunately there is no way I can nurse my babe in this so it will be mostly tucked away for a while. Still, I love it.

It has a bit of a difficult story though. I made this from a creativebug.com class. I had been wanting to check out some of their offerings and I saw this class to make this peasant dress and I fell in love. I couldn't stop thinking about it and how much I loved it. So I signed up for the free trial, and while I admit I have a nice finished product, I am sure glad I didn't pay for it. It was a bit of a nightmare. The class is to learn how to take a tank blouse pattern, which they provide, and alter it into the dress, which is something I was seriously interested in learning. Things started out pretty badly though, when I printed the pattern and it was almost impossible to tape together. I am not kidding, it was the worst pattern taping experience I have had. The pages were askew and didn't line up even remotely straight, and there were absolutely no markings to tell you where the pages should overlap. I made my best guess based on the overlap of words and curves, but it was so frustrating. Not to mention I absolutely could not find a size chart in any of the class information so I had no idea which size to cut. I went with the size I normally wear; thankfully it is a really forgiving dress so it worked out. The materials for the class were a bit off too, saying that you need a zipper (which you don't for the dress, only if you are making the top it's made from) and that 2 yards of fabric is enough, which it is if you don't have a directional pattern, but otherwise you will need more as I found out the hard way, which is why my design goes sideways.

The class itself was fine. A little sparse on information and there were mentions of things that were never taught, like cutting slippery fabric which it says she will talk about and show tips for, but it doesn't happen. I actually thought I was going crazy for a while there. I did learn a few good general tips though so at least there is that. Clearly, I was so in love with this dress that I was willing to deal with all this and not quit, and what I am saying is you have to be really dedicated to work through this one, but if you are, it is so worth it. I used an Amy Butler voile that I found on sale and am completely in love with. And I am happy to report that it looks just as cute with my sandals as it does with my boots and a cardigan, so I am set for year-round wear.

In conclusion, the class was rough but the dress is awesome. I really really love it and I think a date night may be in order so I can wear it soon :) 

dress #1

So, dresses. I hear a lot of people love them, but I actually don't end up wearing them that often, especially since since my day often has me crawling on the floor after one child or another. It is a bit unfortunate that a disproportionate number of sewing patterns seem to be dresses, but anyway. I did end up making two dresses recently and this is the first.

It is simplicity 3503 and honestly I only chose that neckline since I could nurse in it, although I do like it. I used a comfy knit I got ages ago and have been saving to make myself something. It was pretty simple to make really and once again, it was nice to have the serger option to finish a lot of it. I also tried out some stretch thread instead of my stretch zig-zag to finish the hems and it worked alright, but I definitely had some bunching on the back. I think if I can perfect the use of it, I will love this stuff! I definitely prefer being able to use the straight stitch.

It is totally comfy and I love having pockets! All in all, a great make, even if it probably won't be the most worn thing in my wardrobe. Next week I will be sure to share my other {less practical} dress and some tops that I've made. There is also a possibility I will get a quilt basted and quilted sometime soon, which would be lovely. Happy Weekend!

jammie time!

Hey! Long time no chat! Remember when I was talking about all the clothes I had been making and still had to make, well most of them are done and, get this, I even have some pictures! I still have a couple that I am working on, but I would say most of my handmade summer wardrobe is complete. For now, anyway. I am still not sure how much I love making clothes, but I have to admit that there is something super satisfying about having nice clothes I made myself.

To start with, I made a pair of voile pj pants, and then a pair of shorts in a quilting cotton. I am ashamed to say, the voile pair is a pair I planned to make at sew south last year and didn't have time to do. Plus I was pregnant and fit was kind of an issue. I knew even then that I wanted a flat front waistband, a la noodlehead, but for some reason it wasn't until recently that I finally sat down and figured it out and did it. I started with the kwik sew pattern (K3602) we were given and after chopping 4.5 inches off the top and trimming the sides a bit, I was ready to go. It was actually my first time shirring and how fun! I used all french seams so it would be perfectly finished inside and added cuffs at the bottom. They are amazing and I want to live in them. Which is why I just have a few crappy pictures before I started wearing them haha.

The only thing I wanted to change was to shorten the back elastic a couple of inches, which I did, and it works wonderfully. I shortened these and sewed the tie right on the front instead of making button holes. I also narrowed the legs a lot (possibly a bit too much actually, but still comfy) and used binding to finish the bottom. I have been hording this fabric forever too because I just love it for some reason. I opted to serge all the inside seams for this which was definitely easier and still looks really nice and finished.

Hopefully it won't take me too long to be able to sit down and share the other clothes. I have quite a variety! And as soon as I am done the last couple things, I am going to get down to quilting business and turn my two tops into finishes, which will be really exciting. The baby sweater I have been working on is coming along nicely too. Busy busy busy! How is everyone else doing?

tiny pocket tank

Clothes. I have a weird relationship with them. I actually hate clothes, kind of a lot and for a long time I swore I was not going to be making any for myself, as I can barely stand to buy them. And then I started dabbling, and still I wasn't sold, but it was kind of nice to have some handmade clothes that I was proud of. I still wear my voile tova top when the temperature is right and I love it.

Things are little different now, and I am on a bit of a long-term mission. Earlier this year I read Ovedressed: the shockingly high cost of cheap fashion. And while if I had thought about it, none of it came as a surprise, it was eye opening and made me really consider where I am putting my money and what kind of a system I want to support. I have just been buying cheap clothes and dealing with it for a long time. I can't be the only one who sews that looks at a garment in a store and realizes how poorly made it actually is. If I stop and think about it, I know I can make higher quality clothes that will fit better and last longer and really that is what I would prefer. I don't know how far I will get in the journey, but I am taking the first step.

I started with a tank top. My summer uniform and my fall/winter layering piece. I am beginning with a woven tank top and hope to find a good pattern for a knit one too since I wear those a whole lot, and I am even considering trying this pattern in a knit. This was my test run, using a mint dot chambray from joanns. I do love the fabric and so far I have been wearing this tank top a lot, although it wrinkles a bit by the end of the day as you can see. I used the tiny pocket tank pattern from grainline studio, and it fits pretty perfectly I think, I just need to adjust the armhole a bit because it rubs a little, but since it is a tank, that should be pretty easy, at least I hope so. I am looking forward to trying something with a bit more drape, so a voile version might be up next. The only change I made here was to finish the bottom hem with bias tape in the same was as the neck and arm holes, mostly because I dislike trying to keep a curve curvey when hemming, and it worked perfectly and I may just do that for all of them. I also used all french seams to keep it nice and neat inside which just makes me happy.

So I am starting simple. I am not sure where I am planning to go with this, but even the knitting is part of it, and I am really looking forward to having some hand knit sweaters in my wardrobe. I hope to be making things before the things I have wear out but we'll see. Perhaps the saddest part for me was learning that paying more does not increase the quality of the construction or the social/environmental consciousness of the company making it, so I know that I am doing better, even if the things I make are not necessarily cheaper. I am trying to work up the nerve to make myself a pair of shorts, which I desperately need and really really don't want to buy. 

Stay tuned next week for the big pony club top reveal!!!