Gifts

For Mother's Day, I made this tote for my Mom. The pattern is "Amanda's Bag" from Marlous Designs. Marlous happens to be a special family member of ours, so I think that made the gift even better for Mom. The main fabric is a home dec weight I thought she would like. The lining and contrast are quilting fabrics. All were found at my local Hancock Fabric. The pattern calls for the bag to be quilting with a layer of batting. Since I am not a quilter, I just added a layer of fusible fleece. Now that it is finished, I don't know if that was a good move, as the bag is a little floppy. I may have to revamp the bag and add some rigid interfacing (...or just learn to quilt). The pattern is great and gave me a nice challenge adding a zippered pocket. The zipper pocket is hidden behind the front pocket panel. It should have been visible on the outside of the front panel, BUT I had a mishap with a very hot iron and reversed the outer pocket panels to hide a lovely scorch mark. I like the contrast that the green floral fabric adds. Behind all of those diagonal trim pieces lies a pocket, so in total there are five outer pockets and also a row of inner pockets in the lining bag. The bag is quite roomy. All in all, a success.

My sister-in-law's birthday is approaching and she visited us over the weekend from Toronto. Since she is working on her vegetable garden again this year, I thought a gardening apron might be needed. I just made up this design as I went, knowing that I wanted the apron to have lots of pockets, with some expandable ones for garden gloves, clippings, etc. The floral pocket panel is made from a thrifted kitchen towel sewn in half lengthwise. I then made some inverted pleats to make the two center pockets gusseted. The main fabric is a home dec weight gingham. I used pre-packaged bias tape to finish the top seams and make the ties. Although the colors of the gingham aren't exactly dirt friendly, I like the cheery combination!

Are buttonholes really that difficult? aka ... the Tale of the Unfinished Top

So, I started a top for my daughter many months ago from the that*darn*kat pattern. It is super cute and...unfinished. I just keep avoiding figuring out buttonholes. (sort of like avoiding finishing our taxes after filing for an extension...I am a procrastinator specializing in avoidance) On my machine, you just use a zig zag stitch and then cut the opening. I tried it once, briefly and unsuccessfuly, and haven't gone back to it. My daughter tried on the top and everything and it fits (for now).

Ugghhh. I must stop dragging my feet. It feels good to get that off my chest :)

Everything Tote in Orla Kiely

My second finished project from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing is the Everything Tote. I wanted to make a tote perfect for summer trips to the park and farmer's market, so the pear print seemed perfect. Some may recognize the pear fabric - it is the Orla Kiely dishtowel everyone scooped up at Target a month ago. I used the solid green towel for the handles, bindings and pockets. The lining is an unfinished cotton I had on-hand. To give the bag more body, I added a cotton flannel layer inside. I decided not to add gathers to the bag; it was just too difficult with the extra flannel layer and I just wanted to move ahead with the project!

Because the towels were a bit small to fit the pattern, I redrew the main pattern piece to reduce slightly. Even with the pattern reduction, the bag is still huge! I should mention that I ripped out all the seams on the pear print towel (yes, it took forever) to add about 3-4 inches of width and length. Also, since the pear pattern is directional, I had to cut the main body panels as two separate pieces.

As many have commented in the flickr group discussion, the instructions for the binding and handles are a bit curious. I will say that to achieve the look shown in the book photo, with inch wide bindings, you cannot follow the book instructions. The instructions call for the bindings and handles to be attached similar to bias tape. If you do that, your finished binding will only appear about half an inch wide. For my binding and handles, I just pressed the pieces in half and sewed on. It was tricky sewing, but I like the outcome, where you can see a little of the lining along the edge of the binding. As you can hopefully see in the picture, I sewed the handles in half only just past the body of the bag and left the rest open, so the lining fabric will show and so the wide handles will be comfortable on my shoulder.

For the interior, I added two large pockets, one divided. I also added a loop of fabric with some elastic sewn down the middle. It is hard to see in the picture, but the fabric loop is just sewn perpendicular into the side seam of the lining bag. What is the purpose, you ask? I want to carry a refillable water bottle or coffee tumbler upright in the bag. Let's hope it works.

My daughter thinks it makes a great messenger bag!

Spring Ruffle Top

This top is made from the Spring Ruffle Top tutorial from made by rae. The fabric is Midnight Kisses by Heidi Grace Designs at JoAnn Fabric. I made no adjustments to the pattern. I chose to shape the sides (as rae includes as an optional step) by bringing in the side seams by about an inch on both sides. The shaping made the shirt more flattering and less maternity-like. I hemmed the shirt as is, leaving it almost tunic length. I added the optional divots to the armhole which helps with the overall fit and comfort.

The pattern was easy to follow. I did have to adjust the strap placement several times before sewing. I advise spending some time making sure the strap placement is just right (maybe even baste stitch) prior to sewing the straps to the chest band. I marked the placement in the beginning as the pattern instructs, but found that after I sewed the ruffle to the straps that I needed to adjust the placement all over again.

The shirt is cuter in person than in the photo! Again, it is nothing I would ever try on or purchase off-the-rack. I bought the necklace last year and had nothing with which to wear it. Don't you like how things come together sometimes?

Next time, I might adjust the size of the back panel piece so it doesn't require pleating. The pleating adds weird puffiness at the back...which I don't necessarily need back there! This shirt would be great for maternity wear. Another sewer on the flickr group made the pattern as a little girl's dress. I may just have to try that!

Summer Blouse

Here is my finished Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. I have a few works in process from the book, so it feels good to finally finish one! After reading everyone's blog posts and viewing finished blouses on the flickr group, I knew that I would need to make some adjustments to the pattern and didn't want to use the "good" fabric on the first try. I used what I had on-hand with enough yardage, which happened to be a heavyweight cotton curtain panel from the IKEA as-is section. (I guess this is where it might be helpful to have a thrifted sheet or two or some muslin onhand.) The facings were made from a paisley home-dec remnant. Unconventional fabric choices, right? Somehow, though, they worked out!



I made a few alterations to the pattern. The neckline was lowered about 1.5" and hits just at the collarbone. I brought in the sides quite a bit and added an inch or two to the length, but unfortunately, I cannot remember how much. The book calls for a button and loop closure, but with my lowered collar that feature would not make sense.



I liked applying the facing along the neckline so much, that I went crazy and used facings to finish the cuffs and hemline. It is a nice method for hemming, especially with a heavier fabric like this. I was not looking forward to turning up the hem a couple of times and then trying to stitch through all the layers! Disclaimer: the flipped-up hem in the picture is soley for demonstration purposes! I don't plan to walk around with it flipped. I think I could pull off the flipped cuffs, though!

Today I ordered some great cotton lawn to make another version of this blouse, probably with 3/4 length sleeves and a v-neckline. It will be interesting to see a more relaxed shape using the lawn, since this finished version is so structured with the heavyweight cotton.

A summer top - Simplicity 2892

My first garment is finished! This is made from Simplicity 2892, the first commercial pattern I have used since junior high school. The fabric is off the quiliting wall at JoAnn's. I like the outcome and will definitely wear the top this summer.

Just a couple adjustments were made to the pattern. I shortened the body of the top by about an inch. (I'm 5' 3"). Determining the size was a little tough, as commercial pattern sizes are nothing like off-the-rack sizes. After measuring the pattern envelope told me I should wear a 12 or 14. After cutting the 12, I reconsidered and sized down to a 10. For comparison, I normally wear a small or medium (6 or 8) off the rack. After sewing the side seams, I decided the shirt was too wide and narrowed it a bit. To do this, I found a shirt in my closet that fits well, laid it on top and traced the shape. Initially, I planned to hem the shirt (view D), but decided to add elastic instead (view F). It seems to work better with the style and print and feels more finished this way.

The neck is quite detailed with a gathered yoke and ruffle (front and back). It took some time to gather the entire yoke and then the ruffle. Also, the yoke must be handstiched to the inside of the top. I suppose you could just topstitch the yoke to close the seam, but that would change the look with the topstitching visible on the outside. Although time consuming, I have found that I like this type of detail work that requires some handstitching and fussing.

It's funny - I would never try on this style or print at a clothing store, but I like it! I see myself making more from this pattern. This will be my first entry for made by rae's Spring Top Week.

Charming Handbag Received

I received my Charming Handbag from my BTRS Swap partner...and it's perfect! My partner also made a coordinating zip pouch. You can view it here also.

I was touched that my partner considered my "likes and favorites" information she received at the beginning of the swap. In her blog she mentioned cutting the bag in a different fabric, then scrapping that idea and buying a different fabric at IKEA (which I mentioned as a favorite). The lining is orange (also mentioned as a favorite color). I've actually had my eye on the print she chose at IKEA - it is so fun and perfect for summer. A few weeks ago, I bought a navy spring jacket and was just thinking that I need to make a bag with some blue touches. Now I don't have to, because my partner made me the perfect bag :)