Stop staring and start sewing!

Finishing touches

I finally finished the last main part of my bedroom re-do.  Curtains!  Big curtains.  I put it off forever just because the hassle of working with panels this big was daunting and I really needed to clean my sewing room so I'd have the space to lay them out while putting them together.  I don't know which was worse, sewing them or ironing them when I was done.

But they are lovely.  And I am happy.  The previous curtains were red and white and they've been grossing me out for awhile so I was happy to rip them apart (to re-use the black out lining) and throw them into the trash once and for all.  These are so much nicer.  The fabric is one of Vicki Payne's designs and you may recall seeing it on my skirt here (I still love this skirt).

 

I have a few more things to do like pillows.  I'm going to use the old quilt draped on that chair for some pillows since parts of it are shredded (I got it at Goodwill, yes!).  And now I want to paint the walls but I'm happy for right now.  I didn't bother folding the quilt on my bed because I didn't want to disturb my napping kitty.  Spoiled.

 

I'm just going to join these two for now since this looks like fun.

A winner! And a project for me!

Okay!  The lucky winner of Patty Young's Sewing Modkid Style book is number 76, Jana who said "There are so many project ideas in that book that will be perfect for my little girls. It would be so great to win : )".  Congratulations Jana!!  You're going to love this book!

And speaking of sewing knits....I made myself a knit maxi-ish skirt and it only took about 20 minutes all together!  I saw this tutorial on Pinterest (follow me here) and it was so easy I can't wait to make more.  I used the fabric I had left over from this dress.  I totally cheated and simply serged the hem but I think it looks fine and it's so breezy and comfortable.  This is such a grab-and-go kind of skirt I know I'm going to be making more before summer hits.

It's only Monday and I feel so accomplished already!  Off to a good start here.  And don't feel bad if you didn't win the book....just be sure to join in the coversation at these other wonderful blogs since the blog tour isn't over by a long shot.

Monday, April 16th, 2012: Lil Blue Boo

Wed., April 18th, 2012: True Up

Friday, April 20th, 2012: Paige Hill

Monday, April 23rd, 2012: Boutique Café

Wed., April 25th, 2012: The Long Thread

Friday, April 27th, 2012: Sew Pretty Dresses

Monday, April 30th, 2012: Prudent Baby

Wed., May 2nd, 2012: Our Busy Little Bunch

Friday, May 4th, 2012: Fat Quarterly

Monday, May 7th, 2012: Making It Fun

Wed., May 9th, 2012: MODKID blog

It's the little things

Today I made a little valance and it made me feel like myself.  I took a short break from all the hub-bub around here and finished the last one in my kitchen/dining area.  I made the big one back in September so that's not too bad by my standards (only about 7 months to get to the last one).  I must confess I made the first one back in late 2009 and I'm just glad I didn't decide to completely change my style before I finished all of them (I have a habit of doing that unfortunately).

It feels good to have finished something.  I have a few more things to share but this one was one of those small things that is actually a big thing (because it represents a job finished!).  Onward!

Sewing Modkid Style....another stop on the tour

I'm so thrilled to have my turn on Patty Young's Sewing Modkid Style blog tour!   Once I had the book in hand I couldn't wait for my chance to show you what a great and necessary book this is. 

There are a lot of really terrific books on sewing childrens clothing out there but this one is unique.  It's all about knits!  If you've never sewn with knits you're in for a thrill.  Knit's are so quick to sew together and so forgiving when you make beginner's mistakes. 

When my 3 girls were little I bought two books on knits by Kwik Sew called Sewing For Toddlers and Sewing For Children and used them all the time (I had to get two books to cover their size ranges).  It was quite an investment because each book cost nearly 20.00 (and this was in the early 90's) but I felt it was worth it since I used the patterns again and again.  I was so disappointed when I found out they were no longer in print because I really wanted to encourage people with kids to consider getting them. 

Patty has solved my dilemma with this beautiful book and I'm strongly encouraging you to get it!  It costs less than I spent on the two books I had to buy way back when and the sizes range from 2 - 10 so it will stand the test of time.  There are some hip and stylish projects in here (like the fingerless gloves pictured above) but the ones that thrilled me the most were the more basic items that I know I would use again and again.  The Not-So-Plain Tee, pictured above, will be a sewing staple.  T-shirts go together in minutes (honestly!), whether you have a serger or not (Patty covers sewing with both types of machines in her book) and they don't take much fabric.

This swim suit is just perfect for girls!  It allows enough coverage for them to really wiggle around without it slipping and the skirt has shorts included.  I wish I'd had this pattern when my girls were little because it was such a challenge to find age appropriate swimwear in the stores (it still is!).  I really love everything about this swimsuit!

And look at this Swim Cover-Up.  It's got a hoodie and a pouch pocket for carrying things like sunglasses or a tube of sunscreen.  Patty smartly used terry for this version and it's genius.  Absorbant and comfortable.

The nice folks at Wiley Publishing are giving away a copy of Patty's book to one of my blog readers.  Just leave a comment and I will draw a name on the 16th and they will send a copy of this great book out to the winner.

Be sure to visit the other blogs in this blog tour (listed below) for more chances to win.  Many of them created some of the projects from the book and they are darling!  And join the Sewing Modkid Style group on Flickr to see what everyone is making and to find some inspiration!

Even if you don't win I suggest you add this book to your wishlist right away because I think it will quickly become the resource for sewing knits for girls and you will get years of use out of it.

Sewing MODKID Style Blog Tour

Monday, April 2nd, 2012: Wiley Craft Blog

Wed., April 4th, 2012: A Sewing Journal

Friday, April 6th, 2012: Pink Chalk Studio

Monday, April 9th, 2012: Melanie Dramatic

Friday, April 13th, 2012: Generation Q

Monday, April 16th, 2012: Lil Blue Boo

Wed., April 18th, 2012: True Up

Friday, April 20th, 2012: Paige Hill

Monday, April 23rd, 2012: Boutique Café

Wed., April 25th, 2012: The Long Thread

Friday, April 27th, 2012: Sew Pretty Dresses

Monday, April 30th, 2012: Prudent Baby

Wed., May 2nd, 2012: Our Busy Little Bunch

Friday, May 4th, 2012: Fat Quarterly

Monday, May 7th, 2012: Making It Fun

Wed., May 9th, 2012: MODKID blog

A little bit of sewing for everyone

I kind of miss the days of my 3 girls all wearing matching smocked dresses on Easter Sunday but I don't miss the late night of finishing everything up the Saturday before (only to have them rip the hems out right away).  This year I kept things very simple and fairly quick.  I wanted Sofia to have a new skirt since her wardrobe is the one that could use the most updating (and she had to spend the first 12 years of her life in her sisters' hand me downs).  She picked some great fabrics and told me she wanted pleats. 

I put the skirt together lickety split but when she tried it on she asked where the pleats were.  Ugh, in my focus on getting the size right I had forgotten the pleats.  I felt terrible since she doesn't ask for much so I ripped the front of the lining out, split the skirt down the front and added two pleats.  I'm so happy I messed it up because the final result was so much cuter than the plain pleats would've been.  She likes it too (whew!).  I'm just wishing I'd had time to make a cute blouse to go with it but that will have to wait.

 

The guys all got bow ties (my camera battery died before I could snap a decent picture of Joey's).  I used my Mr. Hipster pattern and everything came together to quickly.  Asher actually hated wearing it and I was informed by his sister that he came out of his class at church and said "just kill me now".  Tempting buddy.  Skate, on the other hand, is always looking for more ways to draw attention to himself so he was quite happy to look dapper.

 

I ended up staying home with a stomach ache but that gave me some quiet time to put something together for myself.  I'm continually trying to improve this blouse pattern and I think I'm getting pretty close to being done with it.  The ruffles are a little to abundant in my opinion, but I think I'll really have it figured out by the next one.  I got this fabric at Bolt in Portland last summer and it's absolutely perfect for Arizona.  Light and breezy without being see through (it's a very fine striped fabric).  I love the quilting fabric at bolt but my favorite stuff is the garment fabric and Liberty fabric they carry.  Great stuff (and I have another fabric I got there recently that I'm getting ready to play with).

 

And I was so thrilled to see Sarah Jackson's version of my Sunny Scallop Dress over on her blog!  Great fabric, sweet review, and the cutest little girl around!  Yay!  Go take a look!  Monday just got better.

Come back Wednesday because it'll be my turn to take part in the blog tour for Patty Young's new Sewing Modkid Style book (and yes, they are letting me give away a copy!).

Winner of the beachin' book....and a sale!

The lucky winner of the Seaside Home book is #55 Joanie MacIntosh who said "I love your blog. I am just getting back into sewing. A copy of your book, signed!, would be wonderful. thank you!"  Congratulations Joanie!  And thank you everybody for the great comments.  I hope you'll get this book anyway because it's so terrific (if'n I do say so!).

I realized just yesterday that I need to get cracking on my Easter sewing (yes, I always wait until the last minute) and realized maybe I wasn't the only one.  So to make it easier I've dropped the prices on all of the pdf patterns by 25% for this week only.  You can take a look at my etsy Fabritopia shop and I'll email your pattern right away so you can get started.  The hardware for the bow ties is over at my Hipster Haberdasher shop and if you order by Tuesday at the latest I can get them to you in time for the weekend.  I have 25 sets left but they go fast.  All of my boys, Joey included, are getting new bow ties this week and they're excited whether they know if or not! 

And I made a new logo for myself!  I've added it to my blog banner as well.  I think I love it.  It's cute and sassy but hopefully not too sugary.  What do you think?

Have a wonderful week and keep on sewing!!