Blossom Quilt

Thanks for all of the nice comments about the Bee quilt. After finishing that quilt, I just couldn't stop quilting. I decided to finally finish the Blossom quilt that I started last May.

As you may remember, I was inspired to make this quilt after seeing this lovely version. I pieced the top using a jelly roll and charm pack of the Blossom by Urban Chicks fabrics.

I used fabric from the same line for the back. I love this fabric.

I've got another quilt or two in the works. I really can't stop (and I'm ok with that)!

Bee quilt

There may be a blizzard outside, but we're cozy inside under our bee quilt.

As you may recall, I finished quilting this two snowstorms ago (three storms in less than three months = wild!). It was a beast to quilt, and that was just doing horizontal lines. I'm not sure I could have handled any other type of quilting. I love the horizontal lines though. I really do.

Let's talk a little about this blue. I originally wanted to use something a bit brighter (ala Amy Butler lotus blue) for the back, but my local fabric store is sadly lacking in solid colors these days. So I "settled" for this pale blue. After living with it for a little while though, I now think it's perfect blue for this quilt. A brighter blue would have been too much.


Thanks to all the participants of the Pieced Together Quilting Bee for helping me create this beauty!

Raaaaaahhhhhrrrr!

Uh, or whatever a shark says.

I made this shark towel for my nephew's second birthday. It's a little big, but he'll grow into it. (Note: that's him in it above. My five year old niece is modeling it in the picture below.) The design is heavily based on Oh, Fransson's shark towel. Many thanks to her for the great idea and also for so kindly sending me instructions on how she made hers.


I ended up using this tutorial for the basic construction. Imagine all the possibilities you can turn a towel into...bears, bunnies...(ok, I'm sure there's more but I can't think of any right now). You get the idea though. The present was definitely a hit, especially when I put it on and chased the little ones around the house screaming, "Raaaaaahhhhhrrrr!"

Brown baggin' it

Well, not quite. More like fabric baggin' it.

This is my contribution for Oh Fransson's Lunchbox swap. I used her tutorial for the Little Shopping Bag, and let me tell you people, EASY PEASY! The hardest thing was deciding which fabric to use (I'm having major issues with indecision lately, but I digress). Even the grommets were easy, though it did take a little time to cut out grommet sized holes.


I'm envisioning many more of these. I think they'd be perfect for little presents or even as the gift wrapping for presents.

My Amy Butler Inspired Barcelona Bag

If you've been reading my blog for a while, it will come as no surprise to you that I am a huge fan of Amy Butler. I'm constantly inspired by her fabrics and patterns, and so when Craft magazine announced their Amy Butler Inspired Bag contest, I had to jump on the opportunity to let Amy inspire me yet again (but really, when am I not inspired by her?). Browsing her site, I was drawn to this picture of her Barcelona skirt:

I was really drawn to the lines of the skirt and how it shows off three of her fabrics. I thought the design would translate really well into a bag. So I designed a bag using her Barcelona skirt as my inspiration. I call it my Barcelona Bag. I used fabrics from her Nigella and Lotus lines.

Amy's bags are not only beautiful, they're functional too. I wanted a larger tote with many pockets to easily find all the things I carry around every day. Both sides have "hidden" pockets. One side has three smaller pockets:

The other side has one larger pocket for magazines or sketchbooks:

I made sure the inside was super roomy and added a zipper pocket and two slip pockets.

Can I just say I love this bag?

Many thanks to my sister Kathy for taking these pictures. I had a lot of fun on this photo shoot.

Up to my neck

It's been a little quiet lately because I've been up to my neck with non-crafty stuff. It's all good though. I apparently thrive when I'm super busy. I don't really like having a lot of time on my hands. Can anyone else relate?

Speaking of being up to my neck, here is my finished Simplicity 4111 top with a raised neckline. I wanted to make this top since last summer but just got around to it. All of the reviews I read warned about an extremely low neckline. I decided to raise the neckline so that I could wear it by itself without flashing my goods to the outside world.

I'm happy with the neckline but I'm not sure how I feel about the shirt overall. I think it just needs to grow on me. Anyways, here is how I raised the neckline:

First, tape your bodice pattern to some paper. Measure the amount you want to raise and mark a dot. Then draw a straight line down to the original point. Here I've raised it about an inch.


Next, draw a curve from the dot you just made to the side neckline using a french curve (like the one pictured) or do it freestyle.


Make sure you transfer all markings from the original bodice neckline to the new neckline. Once that's done, it's time to adjust the neckline facing. If your bodice pattern doesn't have a facing piece, then you can skip the next step. Remember to use your new bodice pattern piece for the lining if applicable.


Put tracing paper over your new bodice pattern. Measure the width of the original neckline facing pattern piece. Here, the amount I raised the neckline happens to be the same amount as the width of the facing pattern piece. On your new curve, measure and mark that amount along the entire neckline (represented by the dotted line in the picture above). Connect the dots and you have your new facing piece. Prepare your garment following the directions with your new pattern pieces.

There might be a more professional way of doing this, but this is the method I used which worked for me. I hope this helps at least one of you out there.

Amy Butler Anna Tunic

Check out my review of the Amy Butler Anna Tunic today at Sew Mama Sew. I was really excited to be able to do a review for them.

I had a lot of fun making this tunic and definitely plan to make another one.

My favorite part of this tunic: the buttons on the back!

Mama's got a brand new skirt...

...and it's fire engine red.

Materials used: red corduroy, big black buttons.

I'm currently toying with the idea of selling some skirts on etsy. I'll keep you posted.

In Stitches Apron

This is a late birthday present for Peter's mom. Better late than never, right? It's my first apron. The pattern is from Amy Butler's In Stitches with a few modifications: a shortened waistband width and shortened overall length. The pattern was very easy to follow. I used fabric from Heather Bailey's Freshcut line. At first I wasn't sure about these two fabrics together, but now I love the combination. I'm almost jealous that this apron will be headed down to sunny Sarasota while I brave out the freezing weather here. Spring will be here soon though. I can't wait.

First dress of the new year

How is it possible to feel va-va-voom yet warm and cozy in these cold winter months? By wearing this dress, Burda 8771, that's how.

This dress might look very familiar to some of you folks. That's because it's an almost exact copy of Christina's awesome dress. I was floored so much by hers that I wanted to make one of my own. Christina graciously lent me the now out of print pattern so I could make it happen. I even used the same fabric but in a different color (I didn't want to seem too much like a copy cat). It's a washable organic wool from Fabric Mart. Any wool that can be washed and looks this amazing is a keeper in my book.

I'm still amazed at how easy this dress was to sew up and how great the end result is. I feel like this is a dress that will never go out of style and one that can be slightly modified for many great looks.

Handmade Holidays Recap: For the girls

Puppet theaters for my nieces using the pattern in Amy Carol's Bend the Rules Sewing:

These were so much fun to make. My sisters tell me the girls think they are so much fun to play with. A win win situation, no?


For my friend, Catherine, a crochet scarf. She kept telling me how much she loved my scarf so I crocheted one for her too. This was super easy and relatively quick to make. I just did double crochet using Lion Brand Homespun yarn. It's so soft, just like mine. I've had mine for three years and love it:


For my Mom, the crocheter, a crochet hook holder made from linen and Heather Bailey's Freshcut fabric:

Handmade Holidays Recap: Applique Skirt

My sister gushed about the applique skirts I made last month so it was pretty easy deciding what to make her for Christmas. This is my favorite of the skirts I've made so far. I almost couldn't give it away! It's made of burgundy denim. I think I have enough fabric to make another one to keep this time.

Handmade Holidays Recap: The Boys

It was a lot of work, but it paid off in the end. I was proud to give something I made to people I loved and the gifts were well received. The only people who didn't get something handmade were the adult men on my list. The men in my life are hard to buy stuff for, let alone make stuff for! Maybe next year when I'm a knitting machine, (yeah, Katie!*), they'll get something handmade. Fortunately, my nephews are young enough that I was able to think up stuff I could make for them.

Nathan's mommy plans to do a nautical theme for his room, so I painted some canvases to add to the decor. This was actually Nathan's birthday present. Since he is also a December baby, his birthday present made it onto my handmade holiday list. I haven't painted in a while and I forgot how much I enjoy it. I am thinking about taking commission orders to sell. Let me know if you are interested.

For Christmas, I made the boys some personalized bunting to decorate their rooms (Ryan's is not shown here). I got this idea after seeing Jennifer's beautiful baby bunting. This was a quick and easy project and so cute in the end.

Besides being well received, these gifts were also great because they were made with materials I already had on hand.

*Katie and I are going to take knitting lessons in 2008.

Edited: Just when I was starting to wonder why there were no comments on this post, I realized the pictures weren't showing up. I've uploaded the pictures again so now I hope you'll be able to see the gifts I made for the boys.

McCalls 5466

Yippee, I finished another fall/winter dress! I was immediately drawn to McCalls 5466 View B when it first came out earlier this fall. I've seen several beautiful versions of View A (the pencil skirt) but I'm a sucker for flowy skirts.

I'm not really quite sure how to describe the fabric I used. It's some sort of spongy brown tweed. I found it at G Street Fabrics in their remnants section for two dollars a yard. At that price, how could I not buy it? I did a burn test and concluded that it's made of polyester fibers. Whatever it is, it's incredibly soft, comfortable and has lovely drape.

I don't normally make muslins but for some reason I did with this dress. I'm glad I did! This pattern did not fit me right out of the envelope. I had to make several alterations to the bodice. First, the pattern as drafted is very narrow at the waist. I added about an inch at the waist so I could breath when it was zipped up. Next, I lowered the dart point so it ended three fourths of an inch below my bust point rather than right at it.

I also made several sleeve alterations. The sleeve as drafted has about three inches of ease and is very tight around the arm. I read in Power Sewing that most RTW garments only have an inch and a half of ease in the sleeve cap. With that in mind (and also because I stink at easing in sleeves) I took out an inch and a half from the sleeve cap and added an inch and a half to the arm band.

I think these simple alterations resulted in a great fitted garment. I am very happy with how this dress turned out. It's perfect for work paired with a cardigan and because of the short sleeves I'll be able to wear this into the spring. I'd recommend this pattern to others but I'd stress making a muslin first. I think I'm going to make muslins more often now!

A new old bag

I had a brief stint as a bag designer about two years ago. While the bags sold fairly well for a business on-the-side, I decided to close up the shop and instead focus on my studies. I realized soon after that another reason I stopped was because it just wasn't fun anymore. I was making the same bag over and over and frankly I got tired of it. So when my friend requested the birds and the bees bag (the best selling bag during that stint) for her birthday, I dragged my heels a little.

Don't get me wrong. I love this bag. I love the fabric combination and after making so many of them it didn't take me long to make. I guess I just crave a new challenge, whether it be working with new fabrics or a new design. I seem to always be challenged when I sew clothing. Though I may feel like ripping my hair out at times because of it, I also tend to feel a huge sense of accomplishment when I finish something difficult or new to me.

My bag making days aren't over, but I don't think I'll be making this bag ever again.

How I spent Black Friday

Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing,

The days pass quickly when I am sewing.

~Author Unknown.

Yesterday was devoted entirely to sewing. I worked a little on McCalls 5466 but spent the majority of the day working on Holiday gifts. Since my mom and sister now read this blog (Hi Mom! Hi Kathy!) I can only give a sneak peek of some presents until after the Holidays. I'd hate to spoil any surprises.

I'll be spending the rest of the weekend sewing, relaxing, and going to see this movie. Can't wait! What are your weekend plans?

Tried and True

I actually made this dress a few weeks ago but just got around to hemming it over the weekend. My sewing has been pretty sporadic like that lately. It is Simplicity 3678 (View C) which is now my tried and true pattern of choice. I used a knit fabric I found at Joann's earlier this Fall. I feel a little "groovy baby" in this print and I guess that's a good thing because I love it.

This is the second dress I've made from this pattern (see the first one here). I can't recommend the pattern enough. The only change I made both times was taking in the sides. I have plans to make another dress from this pattern. Luckily, each view is different enough that I don't think anyone who hasn't read this blog will notice. Let's hope, anyway.

Groovy baby, yeah.

Leaf and vine applique skirt

The design drawing:


I just can't stop. I'm on an applique kick. I came up with this idea as I was making the circle applique skirt. It's made out of a rusty red colored denim.

What I like most about these skirts is that I've been able to showcase the "wrong" side of the fabric. Sometimes the "wrong" side of the fabric is just as pretty as the "right" side, no?

I added a single leaf on the back hem just for fun. I don't have anymore applique skirts in the works at the moment, but I am toying with some other skirt designs. I have been having so much fun imagining a design, drawing it, and then making it. My colored pencils haven't seen this much action in quite some time.

A quilt many years in the making

I spent Saturday helping my sister finish a quilt she started in the sixth grade (many years ago). My parents recently moved and my Mom found the squares buried in a box. My sister's sixth grade sense of style (very pink) is much different from her current style (more modern), but she still decided to finish it.


Corinne is glad she did. Here it is prequilted. I think my sister is relieved that it's finally finished. Corinne watched the quilt being made. She even made her own sewing machine out of wood blocks and worked on a pretend blanket while mommy was working on hers. I love that she's curious about sewing and hope she still is when she's big enough to have a real sewing machine.