Cranberry Renfrew.

I've done a bit of sewing for myself recently, but I haven't shared it because of photography challenges.  Aside from the most obvious challenge --dealing with personal body and fit issues, and putting every unflattering bit out there for anyone to see-- I find that it's hard to get good photos of my clothing when I cannot take the pictures myself.  Maybe I need to invest in a tripod and remote control or something.  But even that won't solve the problem of such limited daylight during my time to play around with photography. 

I feel like everyone out there in the blogosphere has made a Sewaholic Renfrew, so the awesomeness of this shirt is old news.  But, hey, it's really an awesome pattern!  I made the cowl-neck version.  And I made it ages ago, before it turned hot in Texas.

 

I used a jersey knit that I bought someplace when I first started buying fabric.  It's been sitting on my shelf for years now, just waiting for the right project to come along.  The fabric is a bit thin, and the edges curl up terribly, but I love the colors and made it work (thank goodness I didn't have to hem!).  Funny thing -- I swore up and down that I'd prewashed it, but when I started pressing during construction, it definitely smelled unwashed.  So I was very afraid that it would shrink and I'd only get one wear out of it.  I've been careful not to dry it, and I've had no shrinkage problem.  Whew.

 

This is what I'd look like if I were a giant, wearing a giant Renfrew shirt:

 

 

I made this according to the instructions exactly, even sewing seams on the sewing machine first before finishing with the serger (made those curling edges much easier to deal with).  Size 4 was just right for me.  There might be just a bit of extra fabric in the waist, especially at the back, but I think it's fine for this style of shirt, and especially in knit fabric.

 

I wore it to work a few times.  This is what it looks like after a long day of work, from the perspective of a six-year-old photographer:

 

I'm pretty sold on the Sewaholic patterns.  I've got a Hollyburn skirt I need to photograph, and I'm hoping to sew a Cambie dress soon.  I'm already eyeing the newest pattern, Tofino PJ pants, and I can't wait to see what Tasia (who really is as cute and inspiring as it gets) comes up with next.

 

Happy Skater Dress.



I was embarrassingly impatient to get my hands on Kitscho Coo's skater dress pattern.  Amanda, who does fabulous things with knits, kept teasing with photos of skater dresses she'd made for her too-cute-for-words daughter.  Then there were teaser photos from pattern testers.  It was almost more than I could bear.  But now I finally have the pattern in hand, and it's every bit as great as I expected.

 

It pains me to buy a pattern that Big Sister is already at the top of size range in, but there was never any doubt that I'd buy the skater dress pattern the day it was released.  After all, this is exactly the sort of comfortable and fun dress that every girl loves.  And because it goes together so well, it's exactly the sort of dress sewing mamas love. 

 

 

I made the size 7/8 for my big kid, and I'm relieved to say that it fits well.  It's also really nice that Amanda included a line and instructions for lengthening, to help make the pattern last as long as possible.  Rest assured, though, that I'll be experimenting with sizing up, because I know we'll need more skater dresses as this kid grows.

 

Note that I made one change from the pattern.  Inspired by Emmylou Bee Doo's waist detail, which looks almost like piping, I sandwiched a little band of white ribbing between the bodice and skirt.  Then I stitched that white band down with a narrow zig-zag stitch so it will lay nice and flat.

 

That fun floral jersey fabric is from Ixat, which I've mentioned over and over on this blog.  Unfortunately, I'm not seeing it for sale anymore (though there are lots of great fabrics that would make lovely skater dresses).  It's got a bit of a Boden look to it, doesn't it?

 

The skater dress is a big hit.  I'm not sure this kid will ever skate in the dress, so I'm thinking of renaming it the Happy Dress.

Heidi & Finn PlayDay Dress.

This time of year, my kids seem to want to play outside all day.  So when I found a new Heidi & Finn pattern in big girl sizes (love that!) called the PlayDay Dress, I knew I had to buy it.  Although most of the examples I could find of this dress were in solids or very minimal prints, I pulled some Chez Ami knit fabric out of my closet and decided the pattern style was perfect for a 1960s retro look (Mad Men, anyone?).

 

I'd been meaning to try out Kitschy Coo's knit binding method for ages, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  It worked beautifully, and I love how it hides the raw edges and gives such a clean, tidy look on both sides.  I did find that it can create a bit of bulk at seams (mostly where the edges of the pockets fold over), but it wasn't anything my trusty Pfaff couldn't deal with.

 

I love the shoulder detail on this dress.  It's easy to do, gives the opportunity to use fun buttons without messing with buttonholes, covers the bulky seam, and seems to transform a dress that might otherwise look like a nightgown into a fun retro shift dress.

 

I made the size 8 for my six-year-old because she's enormous.  It fits just right.

 

She loves the pockets.  Actually, I do too.

 

 

Huge thumbs up for this pattern.  I definitely plan to make more PlayDay dresses.  I might even try coverstitch binding on the next one.

My first quilt!

Okay, that's a bit of a stretch.  It's actually a very small quilted wall hanging, definitely nothing like a full-blown bed quilt.  But it involved batting!  My first experience with batting!

Poor Little Brother inherited the gender-neutral farm animal wall hanging that was his sister's when she was a baby.  It hung in his room for way too long.  Time for an upgrade!

So I bought a couple of vintage Superfriends pillowcases off Etsy.

I opened up one of the pillowcases, removed the hemmed edge, and winged my way through creating a mini-quilt.

I quilted around many of the larger stars and around the superheroes.  Batman and Robin!

Superman!

Wonder Woman!

And this guy!  (There's debate in our house over whether he's Flash or Captain Marvel.  Truth be told, I have no idea who Captain Marvel is; apparently he wears a cape...?)

Although I dreaded doing binding, I found a cheater method that worked like a charm.  I followed this tutorial from Prudent Baby, featuring Rae from Made by Rae.  The backing fabric is wrapped around to the front, folded, and sewn.  I highly recommend it.

In a short time, Little Brother's room was transformed from baby nursery to preschool boy pad.

Unfortunately, I waited too long for the project.  It seems he's moving on from superheroes to bigger and badder things like transformers and Star Wars.  At least now I know how to turn a pillowcase into wall hanging, right?

Hippity Hoppity . . .

Easter's on it's way! 

Birds are singing, green is emerging from trees, flowers are beginning to bloom.  I love this time of year, as Spring unfolds and we witness the wonders of nature.  And I love Easter, when friends and family gather and hearts rejoice at the prospect of rebirth and renewal.  So, to my friends and family near and far . . .

 

I wish you the joy of new-found treasure, in all that surrounds you and in the little moments where life reveals its magic.

Big Sister in her Sara Dress.

I wish you the exuberance of a child who believes with his whole heart in Good Guys whose unflinching power will always save the day.

 

I wish you a basket overflowing with blessings big and small; may your heart be filled with gladness and gratitude for every one.

 

 

May goodness surround you, and may it refresh and strengthen your commitment to Do Good and Be Good in this imperfect world.

 

May the season provide a sweet reminder of just how special you are, and how much you mean to those around you.

 

And may you think of those who mean so much to you, and reach out to them and let them know they are loved.

May the signs of Spring lift your spirits and warm your soul, and may you be inspired to challenge yourself, to climb higher, to grow, to live each day with zest.

 

 

I hope your heart will swell with an overwhelming sensation of abundance and prosperity, and that you will remain mindful each day of the blessings of love and happiness, family and faith.

 

May Easter remind you of bright hopes for tomorrow, and may you feel renewed promise in the gift and power of love.

(my cutie-pie nephew)

 

I wish you joy, hope, and love.  On Easter Sunday, and every day.

Sewing Inspiration.

A few months ago I treated myself to something really fun.  I took a solo trip (!!!) to New York City for a sewing workshop with Heather Ross.  Although I reserved my spot many months in advance, I tried to back out in the weeks before the trip because I was struggling with the idea of spending money on myself.  In the end, nobody filled my spot or took my hotel reservation.  So Mr. Great found me some frequent flier miles and convinced me to go.  I'm very glad he did.  The trip was inspiring and empowering in ways I couldn't have imagined.

I flew into Newark, took the train to Penn Station, and walked to the Chelsea Lodge, a cute little place that's surprisingly affordable, perfectly situated in a great neighborhood, and has everything a single traveler needs in NYC (the toilet is down the hall, but that worked out totally fine).  

I then jumped into a cab, rushed straight to Broadway, bought a hugely discounted ticket to Chicago, enjoyed a fun show that nobody in my family would enjoy, and walked around Times Square by myself.  At this point, I was already feeling pretty emboldened -- I'd found my way around flawlessly and was making the most of every moment of my time.

The next day I ventured out in the rain.  I walked all over the place, logging many miles in my very wet boots.  At one point I needed to dry off, so I popped into Barneys for a makeover.  I discovered Beauty is Life cosmetics, which are gorgeous and expensive and made me feel like the fanciest mom on the planet.  I bought the kids some souvenirs at FAO Schwarz.  I walked through wet Central Park.  I window shopped on Madison Avenue.  I took the subway.  After lunch, the weather cleared up a bit, so I hiked the length of High Line, a park along an old elevated freight rail line.  It was one of the coolest places I've ever been.  Gorgeous views of the city (and even the Statue of Liberty!), cool public art, an amazing transformation of something industrial into a beautiful public space.  I can't wait to take my family there!

Then came the sewing part of the weekend.  We began with a private, champagne-included shopping evening at Purl Soho, which was every bit as incredible as the website suggests.  There I met our lovely hosts for the weekend -- the very talented Heather Ross and Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S fame.  

And I met a bunch of ladies who love to sew and knit and create.  There were fashion industry professionals, at least four sewing teachers (Annabel of Little Pincushion Studio and three ladies of Fancy Tiger Crafts), women who had been to several Heather Ross sewing workshops, and women who aren't fazed by zippers, interfacing, patterns with more than six pieces, and advanced sewing techniques.  And, like me, there were a few moms who sew primarily for their lucky kiddos (just check out Allie's blog at Crozette for an impressive example, although she sews quite a bit for herself as well).

Saturday morning, Heather and Liesl guided us through fabric shopping in the New York garment district.  They showed us around Mood of Project Runway fame and pointed us to other can't-miss shops (Spandex World!).  Then we began sewing in the bright and cheerful Sewing Studio.

As other workshoppers jumped right into their fantastic projects, I began to wonder if I wasn't making the most of my time and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get assistance from two sewing greats.  I had not brought a project with me (after all, I had planned not to attend, and I didn't have a project in the works).  But Heather suggested some easy projects, so I tackled one of those --- slouchy winter hats using deliciously soft cashmere fleece from Mood, with yarn pom-poms, one for each kid.  I finished the hats with plenty of time to spare.

As it turned out, I was glad to have a project that did not require too much concentration and that left me with some free time because it allowed me to chat with others more than I would have otherwise.  I talked with Heather and Liesl about how they learned to sew and how they manage to fit it in with their busy careers and motherhood.  I helped a friend rip out stitches while she tended to her baby.  I helped make some extra pom-poms and breathed lots of yarn dust.  I watched Liesl modify patterns and demonstrate how to do a full bust adjustment.  I tried on Allie's Washi Dress muslin and got some advice on how to modify it to better fit me (though I'm still undecided about that high waistline, which is why I haven't moved forward on that project since).  I took time to check out what others were making, admire their skills and the beautiful things they sewed, chat about patterns, look at photos of cute kids and things sewn for them.  

In the end, I feel sure that I did make the most of my time.  It was exactly what I needed.  I left on Sunday feeling inspired and motivated, like I'd soaked up a bunch of creative energy from people who know how to create, and who make creating a priority.

My kids loved their hats and have worn them as much as any kids can wear cozy hats in Texas.  

The kids have also loved hearing about NYC.  They can't wait to go.  I can't wait to take them.  And to go back to some of those fabulous fabric stores. 

Until then, though, I'm trying to hold on to the creative energy I captured.  I'm remembering the confidence I felt at navigating NYC by myself.  I'm reflecting on the experience of learning from and getting to know Heather Ross and Liesl Gibson, genuinely kind people who are doing what they love, and doing it well.  I'm thinking about all those ladies around the country (and in Canada!) who are busy sewing amazing things, squeezing it into their hectic lives.  I'm feeling inspired, dreaming of all that I want to make, and spending more time in my sewing room.