Simplicity 2245

Oh I can be such a doofus!  I've been sewing for months for the Sewing With a Plan contest (SWAP) at Stitcher's Guild, and I finished on time... but I totally spaced out and missed the deadline to get photos in yesterday.  So frustrated with myself.  Oh well, at least I have some great new things.

ANYWAY, moving on.  I have to catch up on showing my me-made photos, but trust I have still been participating.  For now, I'll show something brand new, finished up just yesterday - Simplicity 2245, which is apparently so out-of-print that it isn't on the Simplicity website anymore.

Now, I have mixed feelings about this.  I fear that it won't be very popular.  It has a distinct whiff of muumuu.  However, the fabric is so pretty, and it fits well, and the pockets are just so handy for toting around my iPod that I am in love.

The height of fashion?  No.  Not even with the cute little star buttons which probably push it into twee-town.

But goodness help me, I just like it.  Is it super "becky-home ec-y"?  Do I care?  I tried it with a couple different pairs of leggings, but I like it best with some white shorts just peeking out the bottom.  Hubs thinks it is super retro... like 1950s housewife housedress.  Not his least favorite thing I've made but not his most favorite either.

Do the pockets make it look like a nurse's smock?  I can't decide.  Again, though, I can't be bothered to get too worked up about it either way.  Maybe if I'd made the yoke and cuffs from the same fabric as the body, it would look more conventional?  I don't know.  Practicality wins me over either way.  I just am in love with these big pockets.

I know using a quilting cotton for a garment is the ultimate faux pas for some seamstresses, but I just can't get worked up about it.  I know this is not the latest thing from a catwalk, but I just don't care.  The fabric makes me happy.  I just hope I'm not a walking billboard for "why not to sew your own clothes."  :-)

Oh, the fabric is by Moda.

Colette Patterns Macaron

Here it is!  My finished Colette Patterns Macaron.

 I feel like I've said so much about this already; there isn't a whole lot left to say.  :-)  The fabric is from Sawyer Brook - Tennis White and Spaqua.  The only change I made was to make the waistband the main color instead of the contrasting white.

 I cut a size 4 at the bust and tapered out to a 6 for the waist and hips.  The fit is perfect!  If you want to make this, definitely go with the suggested size for your mesurements.

 I got a ton of compliments at church on Sunday, and I really like it, so it's a win!

Dog Cushion Cover

Awww check out my beautiful lady!  (and her dog bed, the subject of this post.  Do you want the long story?  Too bad, here it comes: 

 

I was browsing around in Homegoods, as I have a habit of doing, and I saw this glorious dog bed - large and round, zebra patterned cushion, iron-look scrollwork.  It was a beauty.  It cost about $60, and steal-of-a-deal I'm sure that was, I'm sure if I spent $60 on a dog bed, Hubs would have freaked. 

So I decided to make River a nice, personalized bed instead, with stash fabric to boot, so the cost would be almost nothing.  Ha!  That foam - with the 50% off JoAnn coupon almost as much as the froufy dog bed from Homegoods.  Sheesh. 

Anyway, here it is.  I put in a zipper so I can take it off to wash it.  It's a bugger to pull on and off, though, so I don't think I'll do that too often.

Love my embroidery machine!  She seems to enjoy it, depending where I put it.  If it's right next to our bed, she will lounge on it during the day, but if I move it to an unacceptable spot (like an open area by the door), she has no interest.

At least she's pretty.

More Baby Clothes

Here is another baby outfit I made recently, this time for my brother-in-law's wee one - about three moths old.

 She lives in Michigan, so I thought a warmer layer was in order.  I came up with a little zippered vest made from the same cozy knit as the pants.  All of the fabric is from JoAnn's.

Jammies

Early on Saturday, I'm dragging the boys in the car and starting the drive to PA to visit family. Between now and then, I have to finish packing, take the cats to the kennel, wrap presents and have a little party for my giant 2-year-old, clean up the house, consolidate houseplants for watering, etc, etc, etc...

So today, I made little boy jammies! A totally appropriate use of my time.


All of the fabrics are from good old JoAnn Fabrics, and each set took about an hour including cutting. The boys picked out their own prints and are super excited to have these. I didn't use a pattern but traced jammies they already have, adding a bit for growing room. My big boy's fit better because he was more cooperative with the trying on process than my crazy baby, who is very much the 2-year-old these days.



I asked for a model pose and got this. Such a ham!

Vogue 1174

I can't believe I finished this dress in a week! It was a lot of work, but I was excited about it from beginning to end (and truth be told, it still needs two hooks/eyes and hanging loops). I had some doubts about the fit and whether this style would flatter my (lack of) curves, but I'm thrilled with the result.

Here is my version of Vogue 1174:

I discussed in a previous post that I had to take in my usual size about 2 inches around the top. Other than that, fitting was ok.

I like the pockets, but forgot to really show them in the photos (working with a 4-year-old photographer here). I LOVE how the pleats on the skirt make it stand out swishily just enough to balance out the rigid top half. I think my body-ful linen/cotton fabric helps. It's from Gorgeous Fabrics, by the way, but long sold out.

Excuse the wrinkles, please. That's just life with linen.

I briefly considered attaching the skirt like any other dress pattern (right sides together) instead of this top-stitched on method, but then I decided that's just part of the interesting design and went with it. Sooooo glad I did that. It's just another interesting touch to the dress, like the "piping," which is actually just a strip of folded fabric - I don't think that is technically piping.

Here is my back zip, discussed at the end of this post.

Inside shots. This pattern has what looks to me to be very high-end construction methods with the foundation inside the lining with a waist stay. It's beautifully finished inside (again, just following the instructions).


Here it is, styled for Easter. I didn't plan to wear a belt with this dress, but once I put on the cardi, my waist disappeared, and I think the belt helps define it a bit.

Things are very classy here for photo shoots. I have a photographer AND a photography assistant to direct me.

Some photos of the man behind the lens.



Patter Review is here.

on to the sewing part of my life...

Here are some sewing project ideas I would like to complete before the summer is over.

First, these are pieces for a tote bag. I made up the pattern by looking at one I bought and love. The colors are obviously not for a girly-girl like me. This one will be for a friend. I really hope it turns out nicely, though, because I bought all of this gorgeous stripe and toile fabric to make more...

If it they do turn out well, I will post my made-up pattern and directions here. This weekend, I'm bumming use of an embroidery machine from a friend. We're going to try to embroider names on the tote pockets.

Next is some gorgeous blue linen I bought for a dress. It's so light and has such a wonderful drape (I actually think it is a linen-cotton blend of sorts) I'm thinking something floaty and strapless. ...and if the top doesn't, um, stay up, I can always add some straps later. Here is the fabric and the pattern I plan to use. The color shows up on my monitor very accurrately.

This is a pattern I want to sew, but I haven't found the right fabric yet. Besides, how many dresses does a girl who wears a uniform every day need? I'm thinking something with a virtical stripe. I like the way the example on the right looks.

Finally, a dud online purchase. :-( This looked so beautiful on the screen! I thought it would make a pretty, chic sheath. It's drapery material, but I've found great fabric suitable for a dress that way before. Some home dec fabrics have really pretty patterns that are sophisticated. Anyway, I did not love it so much when it arrived at my mailbox. I don't like the feel of the fabric, and it is as washed out as it appears on the screen here. The photo on the web site was overly flattering. I'm not sure what I'll do with this. It will definitely go in the stash. It could be useful to make a muslin for some home dec project... not that I'm planning one any time in the near future.

I have a reasonably large knitting stash, but I'm just starting to work on a sewing stash. I learned to sew from my mother, who never bought material without a project in mind. Hence, no real stash to speak of (until she started quilting). So when I started up sewing again, I didn't buy fabric without the plan and time time to complete it. In the past year or so, though, I've definitely fallen behind and don't see myself catching up with my visions any time soon, so I guess you could say I've developed a fabric stash.