Fall sewing

It never ceases to amaze how when I sit down to sew something kinda hard how easily my sewing comes together.  And when I sew something that could be constructed in my sleep I end up ripping out seam after simple seam.  Why is that?

I have a very simple tunic for Ella that I have given up on (no photo).  It was meant to go with these legging.

The leggings turned out darling even though I was really starting to hate this fabric.  They were no joy to cut out and sew but I love those ruffle legs a bunch.  The tunic is a darling owl print.  Ruffles and owls.  It was going to be cute I tell you.  For now I am going to put the tunic down and walk away. 

My other successful project this week was a pair of cute corduroy winter shorts for Soren.  She loves to wear shorts over thick wool tights or leggings with boots in the winter.  So she requested a pair for back to school.

Excuse my lint!  What a joy these were to sew.  The pattern is from Japanese Pattern Book ISBN 978452904163.  I wouldn't say the pattern was easy to understand but in true Japanese style all the pieces did fit perfectly together.  It just took me a bit to puzzle through the construction. 

There is a problem with them however.  Too short!  I think my fix is going to be to take off the narrow leg binding and add at least a 1.5 inch binding...maybe 2 inches to be safe.  Soren loves them so much that I will make another pair making sure to adjust the length.  I also think this would translate really well into a skirt.  That's on the sewing list too.

Happy Sewing!

Sonja

33 Days~One Colossal Road Trip

So some people might say driving around the country with 3 children and one largish dog is not a vacation.  For me this was not only a vacation but a mental welfare trip.  Yes, there should have been concern for my mental welfare as this first winter living in the Pacific Northwest was brutal.  BRUTAL!!!  I needed sun.  Lots and lots of actually sunny summer.

For the first two weeks my lovely husband was with us as we camped at Yellowstone, explored Mt. Rushmore and then landed safely at his family lake home in Wisconsin.  Much water play, boating and frolicking in the sun ensued.  Jon flew back to Washington to continue funding our travels leaving the rest of us free to further explore our beautiful country.  And yes-oh-yes Ms. America is a beauty indeed. 

 

After leaving Wisconsin the kids, dog and I headed for Taos New Mexico.  We visited my parents and played in the land of enchantment.  Once again, the sun baked us to a dark golden brown as we laid in our mountain stream to cool ourselves.  At this point I hadn't cooked a meal or cleaned a house in a good three weeks.  I was one relaxed mama!

After about 10 days there we packed up again and headed for Colorado to visit with my brothers family in Monument for two nights.  Then we all travelled on to Steamboat Springs for a bit of summer ski town life.  We all fell madly in love with Steamboat.  Can't recommend it enough as a family vacation spot.

 

 

Whew!  Another day and we made it all the way back to Washington.  33 days, 8 mountain passes, thousands of miles, countless adventures, one speeding ticket and I managed to keep all three children alive!  I'll take my mother of the year award now.  Giggle Giggle.

Time to VOTE!

My top "MINGLE" made into Rae's Top of the Tops for Spring Top Week.  Woo Hoo!  I am seriously shocked as the pictures I took of it were soooo bad.  In any event I am so happy to have sewn something for me.  And of course there is the added pleasure of being recognized as vote worthy : ) 

So if you feel so inclined please head over to MADE and vote for your favorite top.

Here are a few more outtakes from my spring top photo shoot (me and my camera's timer feature).

Happy Voting!
Sonja

Mingle Top and Wonder Tape

In my last post I featured a couple of my wadders from the last week.  Both tops were meant for Made by Rae Spring Top Week.   Ugh!  I attempted a third top and was successful.  Not like "best top ever sewn" successful.  More like "I wore it all afternoon and received several compliments on it" successful.  Pretty good right?  I'll take it and be happy wearing it.  I photographed myself wearing it today as we finally have sun! Pictures were taken on timer so they are baaaad.

 The fabric is once again one of my mocking fabrics (if you have mocking fabric of your own join the flickr pool).  Its called "Mingle" by Robert Kaufman.  It no longer mocks me.  Haha!  The pattern is Sis Boom Dana.  I was on the fence about this pattern while making it.  But it has won me over.  I will be sewing it again as a dress with a belt or even a tunic.  It has an interesting assembly process for the little band and ruffle at the top.  You can kind of see it better in this next photo.

The pattern calls for two items that I had not used before.  Tricot fusible interfacing which I am absolutely in love with.  How did tricot escape my notice before.  The second item is wonder tape.  Wonder tape is life altering.  I used it where the pattern called for it.  But I also used it to stabilize my gathers.  Did you take that in?  Stabilize my gathers!!!  So that when I stitched them to the band they didn't move!!!!  This is huge people.  Take a moment to absorb the life altering info I have just bestowed upon you.  HUGE!

If you are in need of some sewing inspiration then head over to the Spring Top Flickr Pool.  There are some amazing tops entered by some truly gifted woman.  I am just green with envy, I tell you...green.

Happy Sewing!
Sonja

Destashaway Winner!

Lovely number one, step on down!
Ramona Burke picked via Random.org
Congratulations Ramona!

WADders and a Destashaway!

I do not usually show my Wadder sewing. 
WADder (wod'der') n.:  Sewing that turns out so badly that you wad it up and throw it in the trash. 
Oddly enough I love it when other sewists show there sewing goofs.  Though, rarely do I think other sewists wadders are truly wadders. So let me show them how to do it!
WADder One:

Awe, yes...patternless sewing at its best!  So, the top part is a really lovely Sea Island cream interlock left over from an Alabama Chanin project. There was just enough left for this and I thought I was being so very clever to use it up.  The bottom portion is one of mocking fabric prints from here.  More on that flickr group latter.  Once again I thought I was soooo very clever to finally use some of it.

The whole thing was a fail from the start.  I made the bodice way to big.  So I kept trying it on and cutting it down.  Ack!  Then I was stingy with the cutting of the print.  Why?  I don't know.  I used a strip from selvage to selvage.  Not nearly wide enough to be cute.  Stupid mistake.  And finally my gathers are so uneven.  I mean really a wreck.  I didn't bother hemming or top stitching.  I do not think one shoulder styles are even flattering on me.  So, at least I learned something good there.

WADder number two:

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Admittedly, this one is not that bad.  Its just not right for my body.  I am too bony in the center of my chest and after three kiddos my "gals" just are not what they once were.

The sad news here is that I LOVED this fabric.  Even though I can't remember what it is.  Michael Miller or Robert Kaufman?  I had a strip of this given to me a few years ago but it was missing the selvage with the info.  And now I can no longer remember.  But I love it.  If anyone has some in there stash let me buy it off you...pretty please : )  The pattern is vintage 70's Butterick 6655 from my mom. 

I did have some sewing success this morning and I will post pictures of that tomorrow!

On to the DestashAWAY!...

Japanese pattern books.  The top one is Nani Iro.  None of the patterns appeal to me but of course I bought it for the styling.  Kinda cancer ward/ insane asylum chic.  Very intriguing.  The middle one is from he 80's I think and features Mother /Daughter and some Father / Son patterns.  Useful for the number of basic patterns that you have not likely seen in your more recent pattern books.  Be prepared to make lots of button holes and update the 80's styling.  The third one is more formal recital dress patterns for girls.  Some nice accessory patterns and a really nice lesson on making kilts.  Lots of fitted dress patterns...once again not the typical pull over styling on many Japanese pattern books. 

If you would like the books leave a comment with your email and I will draw a name on Sunday over my morning coffee : )

Cheers!
Sonja