Sewing Famous, Kitchen Curtains and a Sweater!

Not much sewing these days, I think I'm not inspired to make anything aside from the dress for Julia Bobbin's Mad Man challenge.  And my pattern has not yet arrived.  Should I be worried?  I suspect it will be here this week.

In the interim, a few things have been happening, including this!

Yes, that's right, my birthday cardigan for the Mr. was featured as Project of the Week on Burdastyle's front page!  Woo, it sure was odd to go to the site and see ones husband staring back at you!  Pretty cool I say, and I believe I may have a few new followers because of it (welcome!)  I think I may just have to make more things for the Mr., and I have ideas a brewing!

In other sewing news, I finally whipped out these curtains for my kitchen cart to hide some of the clutter.  Sooo dead simple, and yet it's surprising how long it takes to finish such simple things!  Fabric is Alexander Henry's Farmers Market.

Lastly, I finally finished knitting my first sweater!

Turned out ok, although I'd make some changes in hindsight.  It's a bit too short for my taste (although its supposed to be) and I think the shape may make my shoulders look wide.

But I learned a lot!  It's super warm and cozy (maybe too much) as it's made from wool.  But it was a relatively quick knit being soo chunky.  Pattern is the One Button Wonder from Sirdar's Big Softie Knits for Beginners.

Now I think I might go back to spring sewing project planning!

Brooklyn Hipster Hoodie

Sewing kids clothes is awesome.  After sewing a few adult things and a somewhat tricky backpack, sewing up this hoodie was soooo speedy!  It reminded me of why I love sewing kids clothes, small, quick and super cute!

I've had this hoodie cut out since KCWC last October, but for whatever reason never got around to finish sewing up till last weekend.  And thank goodness I did, it reminded me why I love this pattern (previously seen here and here!).  It's cute and quick and a great way to up-cycle t-shirts.   It's Jessica of Running with Scissors Hipster Hoodie Pattern, made using stash green knit (also seen in both previous versions!) and a XL women's long sleeve t-shirt.

I wasn't sure about the colour of the stripped shirt at first, but I love it made up.  Mr. Ohm says it makes little M look like a Brooklyn hipster with it almost neon greenness.

It's made up in the 2T size, and it fits my teeny 21 month old with some room (but not too much) I see even more of these hoodies in his future!

I'm inspired to cut out a bunch more kiddy clothes again.

But I've also been motivated by Julia Bobbin's Mad Men challenge!  My plan is a bit ambitious, and not my normal style, but I've loved this dress since first seeing it on the show, and I think it just might turn out awesome.

The plan is to use this fabric

with this vintage 1963 pattern (currently in the mail)

to copy this dress!

Wish me luck.

A cozy dress for February

I admit that I love wearing dresses.  They are super easy to wear, and look super cute.  I love not having to find matching pieces, they are outfits in themselves!

So I've decided I'm going to make a dress a month for 2012.   I've already made two and its only mid February, so I figure it's a goal I could actually achieve!  And I already have the pattern and fabric for my next one.

But back to this month's dress then

It's soft and cozy, being made from kind of a brushed cotton I guess, not sure what else to call it.  I bought a bunch on super end of season clearance sale, after using it to make Mr. Ohm (that's my new name for the Husband) a cowl from the fabric for Christmas.

I knew I wanted to make a wintery dress, something with longer sleeves and a high neck.  I almost made this dress, but realize the fabric probably was going to overpower the details and it wasn't so much my style, so I went with the simpler Simplicity 2444 instead.  I had previously pinned this version of the dress and hoped a sleeved version would work with the fabric.

I have to say its probably not the best fabric for certain aspects and the fabric is pretty soft, with no really body or stiffness.  But I think that really just means the pleats in the skirt aren't so obvious.  With interfacing the collar is ok, but it would likely look better being more standupish, but I still like it.

I also attempted to resize the pattern in advance.  In my previous dress making attempts I would just make the closest average size and take side seams in as necessary.  It's worked before, but I thought I'd be more proactive this time.

That meant I had to scale the pattern from a size 12 at the shoulders and for the bodice length (I have broad shoulders for a skinny gal and a long torso) down to a 4 through the bust and bodice, back to a 10 for the waist and for the skirt.   In the end I had to take the bodice and waist in a teensy bit more, but it was pretty close over all!  12 was the largest size and my shoulders just fit, it actually pulls a bit across them, but it's ok (hmm or maybe the sleeves were to skinny?).  But I think the 12 also made the collar too wide for my skinny neck and so it can't stand up like it should.  In hindsight I probably should have scaled back the collar area to an 8.

I did the pattern adjustments based on my actual measurements compared to the measurements of the pattern pieces.  The pattern allows 3 inches of ease, which to me is a lot through the bust and waist, so I only accounted for maybe 1 inch of ease and it made it fit more like I thought it should.  One thing I think I may try with future dresses is a proper small bust adjustment, I'm only an A cup (mind you thanks to a still nursing babe I'm still a tad bit larger than pre-baby) but most dresses expect you to be a B so I think an adjustment would better than just taking in the sides in future.

And with an added belt (it looks blah without it)  I like it!

So that was a longer post than planned.  I always say I'm going to try to write less with posts as I think people probably won't read everything and look at the pictures, but I can't seem to!  I suppose I like writing my thoughts on the patterns down for future reference.

So anyone else have any sewing goals yet for this year?  Anyone else up to making a dress a month?  I wonder if there is some challenge like that, that I could join somewhere in blogland...

Birthday Cardigan for the Mr.

I'm now officially a sewer of men's clothing.  Care of this little cardigan I made for the Mr's birthday.

And, thanks to the walking foot I got from my sister, I really had no issues at all sewing the knit fabric on my regular machine!

Although I was a bit confused by the ribbing, and had some trouble locating decent buttons, it turned out good I think!  And it fit him perfect! And he likes it!

It was made using the free Andrew Cardigan pattern on BurdaStyle.  Pretty easy, although the instructions definitely were not the clearest.  I did add 1.5 inches to the length as reviews indicated it was a bit on the short side.  But my main issue was the ribbing for the cuffs and bottom.  It was way to wide initially (cut using the pattern piece) but after hacking of an inch or two, it fit the bottom edge and sleeves with a bit of stretching to gave the desired effect.  I'm thinking the pattern just forgot to tell me I was maybe supposed to stretch it when cutting maybe?

Meh, it worked out in the end, and I think it will get lots of wear!

A Little Purple Backpack

Little backpacks are simply adorable!  I made this one as a 2nd b-day gift for one of M's little friends using Made by Rae's awesome Toddler Backpack pattern.  

And this cute girl loves purple.  Pretty well won't wear something unless there is some purple involved.  Oh those toddlers, they are a funny (and awesome) bunch!

So I knew that this fabric (from Amy Butler, previous seen here) would be perfect!   It is only quilting weight cotton,  so I did have to interface it, but I may have overcompensated, but it became rather tricky to sew, being sooo stiff!  I do like how it keeps it shape though!

I also lined it (in purple of course!) which was super easy and makes it look soo more finished.  I'm soo glad Rae added instructions to the pattern for adding a lining!

I also could not find a piping colour that worked (Seriously, the store only ever stocks lame colours) so I made my own from bias tape and cording. All in all, I'm pretty pleased (just ignore some of the stray threads shown in the photos!

And I've already gathered the supplies to make one for M hopefully soon!

Architectural Sorbetto Dress

When I saw the fabric used in this dress online a while ago, I knew I had to have some.  I'm an old building nerd, and well it's covered in schematics of old Paris buildings!   

It 's from the Moda Etchings collection by 3 Sisters, bought from Pink Chalk Fabrics.  The collection also includes the Paris map fabric used in this tank, which I have a chunk of as well, and may need to purchase the Wiksten Tank Top pattern for :)  

I didn't know what I wanted to make with the fabric, but I figured a dress or some sort.  I wanted something dead simple (and without the need to do too much fitting), but I couldn't picture it with any pattern I saw.  But I remembered pinning this dress, and thought, hey maybe that'll work.

So, like my inspiration, I pretty well just lengthened the Sorbetto shirt pattern from Colette Patterns (I totally want to make her Peony dress now!)  I also reversed the box pleat, lowered the neckline a bit, and added side seam pockets using this tutorial (super easy!)  I also attempted to widen the shoulders to make some sort of sleeve, but that was a fail and the arm holes almost came out too small.

Hence the sweater in the photos :)  I have plans to add in some set in short sleeves, but just haven't done it yet (and may not till it's warmer and I want to wear it without a sweater!  I also just made a little ribbon belt to wear with it as seen above.  Oh and excuse my bad hair, I was long overdue for a hair cut which has now finally happened! (and yes blog readers, that's me in the photos, I've decided to come out of hiding :)

I think I will need to redo the neckline bias finish (I admit I probably didn't pin it enough!) And in hindsight I can now imagine the fabric used with a bunch of patterns (in particular maybe a shirtdress pattern, my current obsession as seen if one visits my style Pinterest Board).  I still find it really hard to pick fabric for patterns, its hard for me to imagine what it will look like, but I'm working on it!  I thought this fabric would be a bit much as a dress, but I actually don't think it is, so next time, I think I will be a bit braver.  And I actually still have a huge chuck of this left that I think I'll make a shirt from (or something like this version of the Lisette Traveler dress pattern maybe?)

So I think I'm building back up my confidence to make some properly fitted clothes for me, which is a goal for this year.  I've made more fitted things in the past (hmm maybe I should take photos and post them here), but I was always frustrated having to take in the sides by lots despite the pattern telling me from its finished garment measurements that it should fit fine!

I'm curious, dear readers, how do you go about picking fabric for projects?  Does fabric inspire the project? or the other way around?  Any tips?

Oh and I'm excited to see that Blogger now has the ability to reply to comments! Yay!  I can now directly acknowledge all the nice comments my readers leave me, Thanks!

Bye bye 2011, I really liked you. Hello 2012, I think I'll really like you too!

So it's 2012 now.  Wow, 2011 has flown by!

But it has been fun.  Since my sister forwarded me a link to Made by Rae's Big Butt Baby Pants back in January, I discovered the awesome wide world of internet sewers, and subsequently renewed my love of sewing, and started this here little blog.

So, inspired by Sophie's lovely post here and Jessica of "a little gray"'s The Year in Sewing, here are the highlights from my year in sewing (with a little knitting added in)!

It's nice to see it all laid out, when you're just doing a project here and there it doesn't necessarily feel like you've accomplished that much, but by recording in on a blog and gathering it up in a collage, you realize you did!  And the collage above isn't even quite everything!

So 2011 made me more confident in my sewing.  It felt real nice to know my sister and mom (who has been sewing for decades and decades) were proud and impressed by the growth of my sewing abilities and my endeavours!

To sum up the year in sewing:
- I discovered the awesome world/community of sewers on the 'net
- I learned more about sewing with knits
- Got more confident with zippers
- Learned the importance of pressing and pinning and became ok with ripping out seams.
- Making handmade gifts is awesome (I love the process of finding and deciding on projects)
- Oh and I learned to knit!

So what's in store for 2012?
- Get even better at sewing, and tackle more complex patterns.
- Make more adult stuff, particularly dresses (I'm currently obsessed with vintage shirtdress patterns for example) and not be scared of altering a pattern.
- Try some refashioning (I have some of R's (aka Mr. Bear's) clothes just waiting)
- Make more cute things for M of course (aka Squiggles)
- Continue to not buy any new clothing as much as possible (and make things when needed)

So to finish this post off, I just want to add a thanks to all the awesome bloggers/sewers/pattern and tutorial makers etc out in Internet land for sharing all your awesome stuff! Here's to more lovely awesomeness in 2012!

J