A few random projects

Haven't really been doing much sewing, we've been taking turns being sick this past month. But I finally finished up a few projects so I thought I would share.



Pair of wide leg lounge pants. I had initially made a regular elastic encased waistband, but got some cotton/lycra fabric in the mail and decided that a yoga style waist would be fun to try. I now have 2 more pairs of pants in the mending pile to convert to yoga style waistband. No idea what took me so long to try it!


A raglan style night dress to try out a new pattern. (it's new look but i don't have the number off the top of my head)


A fun springy top also to try out a new pattern, I really like this one! (also new look, i think...)



The back. The pattern called for the back to be cut in two pieces but i was feeling very very lazy so I cut on the fold and just cut the slit down to the notch for the keyhole opening and finished the edge like the pattern directions.


finished up the froggy socks for baby n. I was being to think this yarn didn't want to become socks (or the kid didn't want it too) cause the boys frogged it too many times to count. Broken needles. Cast on the wrong size. You name it, it's gone wrong. Anyway, finally just sat down and worked on them (it had been sitting in my diaper bag) and I think they are really cute!



A solo sock for me. I had every intention of making a second sock but the second skein of yarn has gone MIA. So I am off onto a new project, maybe I will make mismatch for this one some day.


We finally had a nice day (with no one sick) so I dyed up a skein of sock yarn. I was going for a deep indigo, but I quite like the result and I think it will make a fun pair of socks. (It looks a bit washed out in the pic it's about 2 shades darker.)



I liked the color in the dye pot so much that I got out the wool/silk shawl that I had half dyed a while back. I couldn't decided on a color for the cream side so I had left it for a while and decided on a whim that this blue would be perfect! I love how it turned out! Totally different than anything else i have. :)


Attempting to take a picture with the wind blowing, lol, didn't turn out well. In case ya can't tell it's gradation dyed (darker at the edge gradually fading to the cream in the center.)

I am doing a bit of mending/altering right now and working on my first Cookie A sock pattern! Oh and I got all of my fat quarters from the sewmamasew swap! I need to take pictures and share all of the wonderful goodies and notes.

Take care,
Annmarie

All that dreaded sewing

Hello again, too much time has past yet again and I haven't posted. I had a sick little i this week so my time has been spent cuddling (which I love) and cleaning up sickies (which I do NOT love) and enjoying some lovely weather. I meant to try and take better pictures of the projects, but I don't think that is going to happen any time soonish, so y'all will have to take my word that they are super fabulous. ;)

A couple of months ago I decided the boys needed new and shorter curtains in their room, and at about the same time found out one of my favorite prints was being reprinted on home decor fabric. yipee!!! So when said fabric went on sale I snapped up several yards to make curtains. Once I got the fabric, I was overjoyed at the cuteness and decided it was indeed perfect for the boys' jungle themed room, and then realized this meant I actually had to sew curtains. Oh dear. I dislike curtains, we have lived in 6 different homes and have had to get different curtains in every single house and I have made 2 sets of curtains. Both of which did not turn out fantastic but did the job. Oh right, and one set was made out of sheets where all I had to do was make a rod pocket. So anyway, I fretted and plotted for a couple months on what to do about the loathed task of actually making the curtains and not just admiring the amazingly cute fabric. Finally, with a little nudge from my Mom I ironed and measured and ironed and ironed and ironed and finally, cut the fabric. :) I must say I am quite pleased with the results!

I know it is difficult to tell, but the print is Alexander Henry's 2 D zoo in blue. I tried a modified roman shade style with the ties shortened and attached snaps to the ties to hold the curtain up. It works wonderful! The boys can't mess with the curtain and I don't have to worry about long ties hurting the boys.

No I did not take the picture while dropping the camera, baby n decided he wanted in on the picture taking fun and this is the pic HE took of the curtain. Sadly, it's better than the one i took!

I decided to whip up a little fabric bin for my knit scrap fabric. I had a laundry basket but it didn’t fit in the corner very well and was difficult to lift out and actually use the scraps!

Beanbag chairs made using the Michael Miller blog tutorial. I didn’t make the inner portion of the beanbag with the stuffing material, I instead made easy to open enclosures so they can be filled with stuffed animals! They hold quite a bit, and they boys think they are great fun to fill and drag around the house. I think they are kinda lumpy to sit on but the boys don’t seem to mind and the dog likes them too. Each the pattern calls for 3 yards of fabric but I did notice that did not take into account directional fabric, so if you have a print that would look odd running sideways then get 2 yards. ;)

Duvet covers for the boys, they coordinate but are slightly different. :)

So there it is all of the dreaded sewing for the house, not my favorite stuff to sew but very rewarding (and useful!) to have it all done.

Annmarie

Dirty Laundry

Yup, gonna show ya my dirty laundry today! I know y'all are terrible excited about that! ;)

Haha, see, nothing to cringe about! Just the hampers :) I've been needing to do this for a loooong time, like 6 months. My older hamper tore at one corner and was no longer performing well as a hamper. It was also ugly. New extra large sorters, they are attached with snaps so they are much easier to get off to wash if they get icky from wet towels and gross field uniforms. Not sure how the snaps will hold up so I will just have to wait and see!

A patchy scarf for baby n; I've seen a couple of patchwork scarves for woman on etsy, and had a stack of charm squares that I thought would work well, the reverse is some textured fleece I had leftover from a hat and mitten set.


Completely impractical sewing for February, a lovely aqua blue knit dress. I love this fabric and had to have it when I saw it; I had two maternity tops in similar fabric and was very very sad when I could no longer wear them! The pattern is new look 6774, it's for wovens but it's the style I wanted so decided to make the smallest size and omitted the zip. It was still a bit big so I took in a bit (about 3" total) and it fits fairly well. I used interfacing (cause the pattern called for it) for knits and i really don't love the interfacing, it's very stiff and kinda itchy. If I use this pattern again I think I will omit the interfacing but keep the lining on the bodice.


Close up of bodice, i like that the top actually crosses in front and isn't a mock cross.

I have sewed some other items but they are secret fairy gifts so I can't share them here :)

Annmarie

New patterns, spring sewing!

Boy do I need to keep better track of the cord thingy to the camera! I have been snapping pics all week and keep meaning to upload them but kept getting distracted in my hunt for it...

First Project: Ava handbag

Lovely pattern, easy with a fun shape and reversible







Close up of the flowers are outlined in gold gild, so it's slightly shimmery



Reverse to organic avocado twill, love this fabric!

Next project is Stella Apron, also by grand revival.


I used park slope material, i think is nice and springy.



sorry the pics are funky i've been messing with the manual settings and need to work on it.

I really like this pattern and LOVE the apron! My only complaint is it calls for prepackaged bias tape and I wanted to make my own and wasn't sure how wide to make the bias tape so i just guessed.



trousers for baby n, these match the kimono jacket, the pair on the left are quite long so they get rolled up. and the pair on the right only have elastic in the back so the front looks nice and neat.



appliqued tee from target for valentine's day. as you can see baby n had already hit the frosted cookies.
Had to share this pic! little i got a toy sewing machine yesterday (which i broke straight out of the box opps) and played with it all night. He needed just two more minutes mama and I walked into the kitchen to see this!




I think I need multiple copies of this one to share with all future girlfriends!

Annmarie

Stash interview

Over on sewmamasew a stash interview was posted so I thought I would answer a few questions.

• What do you usually sew? all sorts of things, whatever strikes my fancy really. clothes for the boys and myself, handbags, stuff for the house.
  
• When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?) with no project in mind, 2 yards for knits, anywhere from 1/2 yard to a yard of wovens, but am rethinking prints for the boys, might need more as they are getting bigger.
  
• Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need? err both? i tend to look for something I need but get distracted by pretty fabric.
  
• Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it? YES! Everything gets prewashed the second it comes into the house. nothing worse than having a project ruined due to color running (turquoise based dyes take the longest to rinse out so turquoise and red are the worst offends here) or shrinkage. I didn't prewash stuff in college cause I was broke and ended up with items that didn't work out. Plus, I like folding fabric.
  
• Do you iron it? mheh sometimes. depends on my mood. and wrinkliness.
  
• How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.) color/intended project for quilters cotton. subject matter for knits (i am a geek I reorganized so all the land based animals and water based animals were all together.) by color for solids.
  
• Do you have any special folding techniques? yup just started ruler folding and it's so great! I can actually see what all of the prints are.
  
• How do you store your fabric? On shelves in the closet, 2 bookcases and 2 rubbermaids for the wool and velours. Drawers for scraps and fat quarters
  
• What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash? buy boring coordinates and don't worry about having a rainbow of color if there is a color you don't like (not much pink for me!)
  
• When do you say enough is enough? that's tough. when i spend more time picking fabric up off the floor cause the boys were 'sewing' than actually sewing
  
• What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects? lined pants for the boys. skirts for me.
  
• Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!

its from an oop line amy butler charm.

• What’s your definition of the perfect stash? when i have enough to sew but not too much that I can't move around!

quilter's cottons and a few solid knits

Knits for the boys

there is more in the closet but it is impossible to take a decent pic of!

Annmarie

Sew Much...

Sorry not feeling terribly creative with words. We all have head colds. Here's the sewing for the past couple days, I am participating in a 'Stash Game' on the sewingmamas.com forum and we get points for sewing (neg points for buying fabric) so I have loads of projects lined up.


A lovely linen spring dress for me. I lurve the style of this dress! It was big (think bag like big, not flowy big) in the torso, so I took it in by adding pleats to the side seams.

I have a cute knit (yeah that one I feel off the wagon and bought!) that would look great as a long sleeve tee under this dress. :)

Dog bed slipcover. Really it's just a pillow, but the dog sleeps on it ;) it's reversible the reverse in the same fabric as the apron I made myself a couple weeks ago.
Toy buckle carrier for baby n, he has been wanting to play with little i's and little i is usually using it, so it was not working out well. Super cute hedgehogs and numbers print.
Grey ruffle capris. This was white interlock that got accidentally stained in the prewash. Sigh. I had been looking for grey fabric and have charcoal dye so there ya go. :D The leg is slimmer than the previous pair I made.

Kimono jacket for baby n, such a fun print! It modish little birdies on flowers.

Reverse of kimono jacket.



Back.


Close up of sleeve/binding. I so enjoy this print!


Medium pressing mat, has 1 layer of insul-bright and a layer of bamboo batting (it's what i had on hand). Perfect size side by side with my cutting mat.


Annmarie

Birthday Presents

Finished these up last week and, of course, only just found the cord thingy for my camera. It was my friend M's birthday last week and her daughter's 1st birthday the week before that. I couldn't decide what to get them and procrastinated until the afternoon of M's birthday. opps. Bad friend! Anyway, decided to whip up an apron for M and a little sun dress for the baby girl :)

Tunic dress from Ottobre 1/2009, I think it's #14. I think it's very sweet, the gathered bodice was fun for something different.


Emmaline Apron, I cheated again and only used 1 yard for the straps. The print really isn't quite so florescent.

The reverse. This fabric is really thin (like voile weight) so I wasn't sure what I could do with it, works well in the reversible apron!

Better pic of the colors.

Finally finished a pair of knit longies!! After only a year of trying to knit a pair and having sizing and stitches problems, i finished a pair. This was how baby n decided to model them for action pics. The yarn is bulky weight from knitpicks, so they went pretty fast.


Wall-e tee shirt redo. This was a short sleeve tee and the neck was tiny, poor little i couldn't get his noggin to fit. It fit otherwise, so I redid the sleeves raglan and made the neck bigger. Went a head and did long sleeves so he can keep wearing it!

Lots of projects to come :)
Annmarie