Alabama Chanin Poncho Finished!

Today I tooled around the Ballard Locks in my snazzy finished Alabama Chanin Poncho. It really is a great layering piece.  It effortlessly dresses up a t-shirt and jeans combo.  What mom doesn't need that?

I really feel good wearing it too.  I was afraid it might be cumbersome, but it isn't.  At least it isn't when your just tooling around.

Cheers!
Sonja

Alabama Chanin Tunic + Bolero

Finished an Alabama Chanin Fitted Tunic & Bolero from the book Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin.  Pictures taken by my 5 year old are not shot at the most flattering angle and a bit fuzzy to boot.  At this moment that's what I have to work with!

Double Layer Tunic
Fabric: Chanin cotton jersey ordered from the Alabama Chanin website
Size: Medium (I am 5"10 and 140 pounds)
Embroidery: Cretan Stitch

Double Layer Sleeveless Bolero
Fabric: The same
Size: Large.  I cut out a medium first.  I felt the fit was too "shrunken" looking.
Embroidery:  Cretan Stitch

These pieces were wearable muslins for me.  I am always weary of fit.  So to save my valuable time I machine stitched the seams and felled them on to check fit.  Machine seaming makes this a speedy project and I was able to complete both pieces with only about 4 hours of hand stitching.  I prefer the look of the hand felled seams but don't see much of a difference in the machine seaming if felling is to follow.

Happy Stitching!

Sonja

West Hill Picnic Top

The lovely Heather of Featherty Sews sent me a precious yard of Heather Ross West Hill Riding Clothes for my horse loving daughter Soren.  I held on to that yard of fabric for a year and a half waiting for the perfect garment pattern to come along.  Now that Soren is moving into a size 10, try as I might I just couldn't squeeze something to wear out of it.  Something worth cutting into that fabric.  Does that ever happen to you?  You hang on to a piece of fabric because you feel it has to be used in a special way.  Or you don't want to risk wasting it?

So where my fear and indecision slammed the window shut on sewing for Soren there was still a crack in Ms. Ella's window. Ella won the lottery on this fabric and luckily she is horse crazy too.

I have to admit I was racked with fear after I measured Ella, selected the corresponding size and started cutting. Kicked myself for not making a muslin. Then decided that if it didn't fit I would donate it to a charity auction. All turned out fine. I think the fit is cute and a bit reminiscent of the 60's.

 I added black maxi piping to the front bodice seam as I have seen a few other folks do.  It really is a nice touch.

Pattern:  Oliver & S Picnic Top
Fabric:  West Hill by Heather Ross
Size: 6 with no pattern modifications
Trim: Black maxi piping
Ella: 47" Tall and 45 pounds with a chest circumference of  22"

Cheers!
Sonja

Fall Sewing!

I know!!!!  It is entirely too early for starting fall sewing.  In most of the US that is probably the truth......ahem.  But here in the great Pacific Northwest it is only in the 60's.

Brrrr! 

These fleece coats are just the ticket for our chilly mornings on the coast.  Fleece is our year around friend.

Ella's Black & White Polka Dot coat Stats:
Pattern: Farbenmix Jade
Fabric: Fleece
Trim: velvet, lace and ric rac
Size: 128/132
Ella is 5 1/2 years old, 47" tall and 45 pounds

Soren's Grey Coat Stats:
Pattern: Farbenmix Jade
Fabric: Fleece
Trim: embroidered, velvet, lace and ric rac
Size: 134/140
Soren is 8 1/2 years old, 53" tall and 60 pounds
I made the pockets much deeper on this one and also added a Parka Zipper (it can unzip from the bottom up).

I love this pattern!  It goes together quickly and I think the results are charming.  The fit is super cute and very comfortable.  This pattern has a big sister called Jadela which is sized from tween to adult.  I am on the hunt for it! 

Lusting over Union Jack

I love flags in general.  But there is just something special about the Union Jack.  I have been collecting images of them on Pinterest and really wanted to work one into my son Dunn's room. Our dog Max has recently decided to be roomies with Dunn.  The perfect time to make a new dog bed to match his room. 

The Union Jack Dog Bed

 This is a pretty big bed.  32x46 inches.  It is stuffed with 4 standard bed pillows.  The perfect way to reuse older pillows instead of throwing them away.  Also you can wash them unlike most large dog bed inserts.  I used denim & twill fabrics and I left all my applique edges raw as I want them to fray a bit in the wash.

Hanging above the dog bed is a vintage poster from 1975 by Ken Dallison highlighting Charles Lindbergh's achievements. The drawings are done in pen and watercolor which gives them a wonderful times gone by charm.   Perfect for a little boys room.

Cheers!
Sonja

Men's Shirt Refashion

They are all over Pinterest.  Men's Shirt Refashions.  I have a lovely stash off men's dress shirts that I buy for my hubby but he refuses to wear : (

After seeing a girls dress on MADE sewn by Dana I decided to give it a try.  Excuse the wrinkles as Soren wore it to school today!

The shirt was from Boden : (
My husband didn't like it.
Soren loves it : )
Soren wears a size 8
The shirt was a size 17 neck  34/35 sleeve

I used one of my Japanese sewing patterns for a peasant style top.  I used the existing hem of the shirt.  I cut out the dress in a very exaggerated A-line shape using the entire width of the shirt towards the hem.  I think it turned out great.  It is really very flattering on her and I will be making more dresses in this style from yardage and shirts alike.

Cheers!
Sonja

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

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

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

Sewing Something

Well...I sewed something.  And I must say getting one project complete has sort of lifted my sewing block.  I feel freed and less fretful.  There are possibilities once again.  It was too cool and rainy yesterday to have the wee Ms. Ella step out side for a photo op.  I'll photograph the top on her when I complete the pants I have planned.




Fabric: Heather Ross Tadpoles gifted to moi by this lovely lady.
Trim: Vintage rick rack in the most perfect shade of green ever! and jersey also in the most perfect shade of green ever!
Pattern:  Let's Go Out Girls Clothes ~ Japanese Pattern Book purchased here.

For the pants I will be using Burda Kids 9519 view B.  I can not tell you how much I love these pants!  My only moment of hesitation is that I will be using the green knit jersey from the above top.  This pattern calls for a woven.  I wonder is some of the gathering detail on the pant legs will be lost by the drape of the jersey. 


Last night I played around with a Marfy Pattern.  So the no directions or seam allowances part is a problem.  I cut out a practise run without adding any and it looks like its worth the effort.  Cross your fingers for me : )
Cheers!
Sonja
PS: My Farbenmix Pattern Giveaway is here : )

Stash Busting Sunday

It was a good sewing day. 
Lots of scrap fabric used up.
My first hat ever successfully fitted and sewn....Yippie!

I love help pinning pattern pieces and cutting on the lines.
Sitting at the sewing machine with my cutie pie. 
Her weight heavy in my lap and heavier still on the sewing machine foot peddle.
I love sharing what I love doing with the ones I love.

It was a really great day.

Hat pattern: Vogue 8440

Cheers!

Sonja

Run away with me

The best is yet to be.

This is the "Double Layer Skirt" from Ottobre 6/2008.  I was inspired to finally sew it after seeing these skirts here.  I would kill to have those Heather Ross equestrian prints as that would have made my horse loving Soren a happy camper.

The top layer fabric and trim was purchased from here.  The tiny dot fabric on the bottom was in my moms stash that I have since inherited.  I will be making another one of these soon as baby sister Ella apparently can not live without.

Happy Sewing!

S~

Spring Sewing

I am happy to report that we have a bit of sun today!  Yahoo!!!

OK, now on to the sewing.  It has been a year since I sat down and sewed something on my machine.  A whole year!  I think maybe this cross country move took more out of me that I realized.  I feel like I am over the big hump of getting the sewing machine and serger set up.  My first two projects were good getting back in the saddle kind of projects.  Nothing tricky.

First up was a little nightgown that Ella has now decided is a dress.  I used a dress pattern so maybe that's why.

My first rolled hem on my serger.  Kind of proud of myself for trying it.  SCARY!

Next up was a vintage Butterick pattern that I have wanted to try forever.



I just love the little sailor detail on the pants.  I also thought it was fun that there is only one pattern piece for them.  Talk about a quick sew!

I made them in the pedal pusher length and used vintage fabric of my mothers.  Unfortunately, I didn't look for buttons before I started and found when they were complete that I didn't have enough of any of my buttons that we suitable.  I got crazy and used knotted twill tape which I think turned out kinda cute.  It made them a little more girly anyway. 

The only change I made on this pattern was to lower the waist band by about two inches.  Those vintage pants patterns have some high waists!

If i sew them again I will remember that vintage patterns also have much wider seam allowances.  I just serged my seams which was no where near the 5/8 inch seam allowance.  They would have been a bit more slim fitting had I done it correctly.

Cheers!

Sonja