Stop staring and start sewing!

Out with the old...in with the totally awesome!

I've been long over due for a new bag.  I've been carrying this one around for long enough (nearly two years!) and frankly, I'm tired of it (plus it's starting to get little holes worn in it).  After two weeks of being laid out by a nasty cold and tooth ache (going to dentist this week) I finally had some time to myself to sew (wait until you see the dress I made too!).  I downloaded a tutorial for this cute pleated bag here (the pattern is very nicely done and I love her version).  I beefed it up with a layer of re-inforced batting inside (I didn't want to take the chance that it would flop over) and attached the straps in a different way as well.

I also added a whole bunch of pockets and even made one with with a velcro closure (for my girl stuff which has a tendency to fall out at the most inconvenient times it seems).  Normally I stitch the lining down at the top but there was so much bulk (due to my added batting and the jute being so thick) that I had already broken one needle and knew my machine would just growl angrily at me if I tried to sew through all that again.  It's roomier than my last bag but not too big (I totally don't understand that whole massive bag thing).



I really love my new bag and it really has a durable, tough quality to it (while still making me feel like a hipster gal when carrying it!).  The fabric is Kool Koi from Waverly and it's sun resistant and has a rubbery-ish coating on the other side.  This should keep me happy for quite awhile!

Back with a pattern review on my new dress soon (and I'll spill the beans on who I had dinner with last night!).

Simplicity 2593...a review (and a winner of Bari J's book!)

The winner of Bari J's Inspired To Sew book is Jessica!  Congratulations to Jessica!

I've spent the past two days working on this Simplicity 2593 pattern.  It's from designer Cythia Rowley and could be the perfect Arizona blouse.

I picked up this sweet, very lightweight (but not see-through) fabric at my favorite cheapo fabric store.  It was 2.99 yd (and 50 inches wide).  It's cotton and has the same weight as a voile but is not as silky as a voile (but still very nice).

According to my measurements I should be a perfect size 14 with Simplicity patterns but after constantly writing "use next size down next time" on my patterns I decided to just dive into the size 12 and cut my pattern out using that size.  I put the front and back pieces together and then attached the binding at the neck.  I was not happy with the gapping in the back.  It caused the shoulders to hang off on the side and the front to droop.  (I was going to photoshop that red mark off my neck but realized this would be a good time to make a PSA...Caution: Curling Irons are Hot).

I took in the gap on the pattern by folding under 1" on the back fold line at the top and tapering it out so there was no change at the bottom of the pattern piece.  This ended up taking it in 2" on the back neck center part of the blouse (making in narrower at the top but the same at the bottom).

I had enough extra fabric to cut a new back piece so I took out the binding along the back and removed the original back piece.  Here you can see the new back fit is a lot snugger (but not tight).  It also brought the shoulders in enough to fit nicely without slippping from side to side.  Nice.

When the armhold binding instructions began the first sentence was: Trim away 5/8" from armhole edge of garment.  No pictures, no nothing.  Ugh.  Why didn't they just remove the 5/8" from the pattern in the first place?  It made me realize how much I depend on good pictures to get the point across.  I thought about it and it dawned on me that this instruction only applied to the sleeveless versions (which is finished with binding) and the 5/8" was there for the sleeved version (as the seam allowance).  But since I'll never make the sleeve version I'm just going to cut it off the pattern pieces now.  I also checked as many reviews on this blouse as I could find and a lot of gals complained about the armhole being too tight (because they hadn't removed the 5/8" from it).  Here's what it looked like while I was trimming it.

I made View A with the twisted neckband and it took quite a bit of fiddling to get everything looking even.  I pinned it like crazy before slip stitching it in place.  I tacked down some of the loopiness since I didn't want it popping up.  I also unfolded it at the shoulders and machine stitched the band to the blouse along the shoulder seam line (then folded the band back down so it'll never been seen).

Here is the finished blouse and I really love it.  It's comfortable, modest and uncomplicated (but the neckband makes it interesting).  The next time I'm making it without the neckband and I'll be surprised if the whole thing takes more than an hour (it's just a front and back pieces plus binding for the neck and arms).  This pattern is going to serve me well in the Arizona heat this year.

I hope you're having a great week!  It's almost Friday!!

Digging into another quilt

I'm in the middle of quilt number 3 and I think this one will be cute.  It's for my Sofia who is 14 and needs something made especially for her (she's my middle child and I want to make sure she doesn't get lost in all the hub-bub).  See I actually have a plan written out here.  Nothing too complicated but it is a queen sized bed so it's pretty ambitious for me in light of my smaller quilts.

Here are my remaining strips all cut out.  Bright and pretty without looking baby-ish I think.

5 down, 4 to go.  I'm really liking it so far.  I bought a sheet for the backing just to try something uncomplicated.  Fingers crossed that it's not weird.  I'll let you know what I think.  The blocks make great wall hangings in the meantime!

Keep on sewing!!

Inspired to Sew? You will be!

When I stopped to consider what makes me Inspired to Sew it really came down to one thing....creative people.  Creative people inspire me to sew and the funny thing is it doesn't even need to be sewing people, just creative people. It just so happens that sewing is my outlet when I'm inspired. 

Four years ago I was sitting at my computer, 41 years old with a new baby on my breast and a heavy case of post-partum sadness (and belly pudge to boot).  I wanted to get back to sewing and I was looking for fabric online when I landed at the blog of a new designer.  I can honestly say my life took a drastic turn in that moment, though I didn't realize it right away.  I was inspired!.....to sew!!! 

I must've spent 8 hours in that chair going from blog to blog with my mind swirling and my heart soaring.  People were so creative and they were sharing their ideas on their blogs.  How generous they were to me!  I spent weeks absorbed in sewing and craft blogs before it hit me that I really needed to stop staring and start sewing.  Yes. 

I had already been making handbags for quite some time but on one of my bloggy excursions I happened upon handbags made by a certain Bari J....well Holy Smokes!  Inspired!  This one is my favorite Bari J bag and it's the first one that pops into my mind when I think of her unique sewing style.  The lush velvet, the sparkly brooch, and then the ribbon that isn't supposed to match this fabric and yet....look at it!  And a little bit of selvage there before it became the rage ("she can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time"). 

 

Bari is one of those people who makes me inspired to sew and I'm so happy to call her friend (seriously, she's in my speed dial!).  She's creative in so many ways and behind all those beautiful fabrics and clever patterns is a mom who cherishes her family and brags on her kids (she's just like us!)

Here's something Bari inspired me to sew a couple of years ago.  It's okay but I never finished it because I felt like I just didn't know what I was doing.  I had to wing it on my own but you don't have to....

...Because she gives away her collage secrets in her new book Inspired To Sew by Bari J Ackerman.  It's yet another great one from the folks at Stash Books and I'm amazed at everything in this book.  I now have an inkling as to why writing a book takes so long (around 2 years!) and requires so much effort.  Everything in this book is simply beautiful...quilts, pillows, wall hangings, and a handbag of course (and so much more!).  Here is one of the many beautiful photos from her book (and this is what collage work should look like!).

If you're inspired to sew but are a little intimidated, this book will ease your mind and get you ready to sew right away.  Bari's "Keeping it Real" hints are so helpful and will keep you from making the mistakes she made along the way (isn't that nice of her?!).  So.....if you're "Inspired to Sew" or just want to be....leave a comment for a chance to win your own copy of this book!  And be sure to pick up an "Inspired to Sew" badge on Bari's blog (to make your own blog even prettier!).

It's an understatement to say I'm humbled to be included with these amazing people on the blog tour this week (I mean seriously...look at this list!) so be sure to visit each one of them for more chances to win Bari's book!  Good luck!

 

January 31 Mary Abrue: Confessions of a Craft Addict

February 1, Jennifer Paganelli: Sis Boom!

Feb 3, Rashida Coleman Hale: I Heart Linen

Feb 4, Sarah Fielke: The Last Piece

Feb 5, Jenny Doh: Crescendoh

Feb 6, Cara Wilson: Cara Quilts

Feb 7, Deborah Moebes: Whipstitch Fabrics

Feb 8, Monica Solorio-Snow: Happy Zombie

February made me shiver...but at least I have a new quilt!!

Okay, here is my finished quilt!  I'm very happy with it and ready to move on to another pattern since this is the second one I've made using this pattern (first one here).   The pattern can be found in the Spring 2010 edition of BH&G's Quilts and More magazine.

Here is the back which I really like.  I had to add a little more of the white fabric when I realized I had measured it based on the size of the front before I added the border fabric.  I learn something new every time!

Peety was complaining of sore arms from all the picture taking but fortunately help showed up in the form of this strapping young fella' (who's been wearing the same clothes for 3 days, must take care of that).

This is how it's done ladies!

I really loved pulling it out of the dryer when it was all done.  The fabric feels so soft and the nubbiness covers a multitude of mistakes.  Lovely.

And finally our little Cupcake got in on the action.  She has grown so much since she first joined our family and is a smart, springy puppy.  She'll be even smarter when she stops pooping under the foosball table.

Come back tomorrow!  Something great is happening here (you'll be Inspired to Sew and yes, that's a hint)!