Monthly Roundup: September 2014

September was a very productive month for me sewing-wise, but I didn't get much blogging in. In the early part of the month I was pattern testing and keeping things under wraps, then I sewed some basics that I just didn't feel like blogging. How many raglan sleeve nightgowns do you really want to read about anyway? I got out of the groove of taking pictures and writing, and it's been hard to get back. I will though. I have some fun things to show you.

For September, I sewed:
1) LouBee Hosh Pants x3 for Myra
2) Kitschy Coo Dolman Tee for Myra
3) Kitschy Coo Comino Cap top x2 for me
4) Kwik Sew 526 PJ pants for me
5) Plunging neckline dress for Barbie
6) Cole's Creations Neverland Shirt X2 for Myra
7) Ottobre 04/2013-12 tee shirt for Myra
8) Simplicity 4719 tee shirt for Barbie
9) Urban Vita coatdress for Barbie
10) Ottobre 06/2009-36 nightgown X3 for Myra
11) Ottobre 06/2010-15 raglan tee x2 for Duncan and Emma
12) Ottobre 06/2012-13 leggings x3 for Emma
13) Ottobre 04/2014-16 tee shirt for Emma
14) Ottobre 0/2013-12 tee shirt for Emma
15) LouBee Hosh Pants for Duncan

That totals up to 24 garments and 23.5 yards sewn. I made a lot of basics, like PJs and tee shirts. Fall has started to make an appearance and the kids are all in need of basics. I also stocked up on mid-weight knits and stretch bottom weights for some more fall sewing for the kids and for me. I added 40.5 yards of fabric, which puts be at a total for the year of 140.25 yards sewn and 111.5 yards purchased.

It was a fun, colorful month! I got to sew for Myra and for my sweet niece. They both love pink and bright colors. I didn't do much sewing for Barbie and her friends, which I plan to rectify soon.

The most exciting part of my month was the addition of my new sewing machine! She's up and running well, and I've been stitching with her. She's an absolute dream to sew with, and so quiet! I love her so.

Monthly Roundup: August 2014

August was an odd month. I had spurts of motivation and then crashes of lost mojo. My sewing was pretty random. Between a bit of testing, Pattern Parcel sewing and some refashions it felt very unfocused. I did still manage to get some things done.

I sewed;
1) Simplicity 4702 skirt for Barbie
2) Cole's Creations Spirit Jacket for Myra
3) Simplicity 5861 pleated skirt for Skipper
4) Lovely Lolita Blythe dress for J-dolls
5) Simplicity 5861 knit pants x3 for Skipper and the J-dolls
6) Burda 08/2010-108 pants for me
7) Blank Slate Zippy Jacket for Logan
8) Ottobre 04/2013-12 tee for Myra
9) Simplicity 4702 tee for Barbie
10) Capital Chic Bellini for me
11) Dolly Bureau PJs (x4) for J-dolls

Quite a few of those haven't made it to the blog yet. Mostly the dolls clothes, as I'm sewing in themes and wardrobes, so I want to finish collections before I photograph them. It does add up to a total of 20 items, but only 7.25 yards. So much was kid clothes and doll clothes. They just don't use up the yardage. Still, I only bought 7.5 yards, so that's pretty neutral. My yearly totals are 116.75 yards sewn and 71.375 yards purchased.

Here's my collage, including a few doll clothes I haven't blogged. I''m kind of bummed out that I still haven't made the Oonaballoona inspired outfit that has been rattling around in my brain! I think I'm psyching myself out and making it into a bigger thing than it is. I should just sew it and have it done.

Monthly Roundup: July 2014

Well, July was definitely not my most productive month. Since I spent several weeks unpacking and settling in before I could get my machines humming, that's not too surprising.

I made:
1) Advance 9938 dress for Barbie
2) McCalls 658 dress for Barbie
3) Ottobre 03/2011-30 swimsuit for Myra
4) Goodnight Sweetheart PJs for Duncan
5) Katy Panda Dress for Myra
6) Ottobre 04/2014-21 undershorts for Myra
7) Ottobre 04/2014-16 tee shirt for Duncan
8) Goodnight Sweetheart PJ pants for Duncan

That is a total of 9 items, and 6.75 yards sewn. My fabric buying moratorium is at an end, but I'm trying not to go crazy! I did add 17.75 yards of fabric to the stash, but that still puts my yearly total at 109.5 yards sewn and only 63.75 yards purchased.

As you can see from the collage, Myra and Duncan were the winners this month! I really wanted to sew for Oonapalooza, but I just ran out of time. I have a super fun look in mind though, and Marcy's birthday is actually in August, so I'm still going to make my Oonapalooza pieces happen. It totally counts for the August Tribute month!

Monthly Roundup: June 2014

Whew! June was a crazy whirlwind around here! With the prep for the move, I wasn't sure I'd get much sewing done, but I did manage a fair bit. Of course, with most of my sewing equipment on a big truck wending its way across the United States, it may be a few weeks before I'm back to normal.

In June, I sewed:
1) Sewaholic Gabriola skirt for me
2) Simplicity 4719 blouse for Barbie
3) Teresa copy pants for Barbie
4) McCalls 658 bustier for Barbie
5) Jalie 2105 bodysuit for me
6) Ottobre 04/2004-17 pants for Duncan
7) Daniel Bingham Hostess blouse for Barbie
8) Simplicity 4702 skirt for Barbie
9) Simplicity 5755 maxi dress for Barbie
10) Simplicity 4719 sundress for Barbie
11) Simplicity 4702 top for Barbie
12) Yoga maxi skirt for Barbie
13) Simplicity 8281 maxi dress for Barbie
14) Ottobre 06/2012-13 pants for Logan
15) Kitschy Coo Dolman Top for Logan
16) Kitschy Coo Bustier Dress for me
17) Kitschy Coo Skater Dress for Myra
18) Jalie 2921 top for me

I haven't blogged all of that, so stay tuned for the highlights. A few of those items are still in the pattern testing phase, so I'll show those to you once they've been released. Anyway, that totals 20 garments, but only 13.75 yards. Barbie clothes, even lined ones don't take much yardage. I stuck to mostly simple basic garments this month, since my time was limited, but I really had fun. I didn't buy any new fabric this month, so yay for that! Today we will be closing on our new home, so once things have settled and I have unpacked the stash I may consider adding to it, but the fabric fast has been a good thing, so I will definitely keep it going, on a less restrictive basis. I have some lovely fabrics just waiting to be used. I need to sew them.

Here is my collage for the month. It really was an excellent month! I'm pleased with everything that I made. The kids are wearing their items too, so that makes me happy.

I was also thrilled to be a part of the unveiling of a brand new pattern company - Capital Chic Patterns! I think Sally has put together an incredible line, and I'm confident that we are going to see amazing things from her as she moves forward. I hope that you've taken a moment to look over her pattern offerings. They really are stellar.

For July, I have a new sewing room to settle in to and set up! I hope you all don't mind a "new space" post or two. I'm pretty excited about it. :) I do have a few things left over from last month to share, so it actually may be a little busy here on the blog.

Monthly Roundup: May 2014

Y'all. How is it June already??? This month has flown by. It was a good, productive month, despite the impending move.

I sewed:
1) Ottobre 03/2009-23 shorts for Logan
2) Simplicity 4702 tops x2 and jeans x3 for various Barbies
3) Simplicity 4719 top for Barbie
4) Simplicity 5785 blouse for Barbie
5) Simplicity 3678 dress for me
6) Burdastyle Liz blouse for me
7) Sewaholic Gabriola skirt for me
8) Advance 9938 dress for Midge
10 & 11) TBA!
12) April Rhodes Staple Dress for me

That's a total of 18 items, which is pretty good. I sewed up 15.25 yards, which puts me at a total of 89 yards sewn this year. I made it through the month without and fabric purchases! Yay! That is two months in a row, and only one month to go before we move. Then I'll have a new sewing room to stock!

My collage makes me pretty happy. It is missing a couple of pieces that I can't show you yet. I'm really excited about them though, and I think you will be as well, once I can reveal all...

June will be ... interesting to say the least. We're moving to Tennessee at the end of the month, so on the 23rd all of my patterns, fabric and machines will be packed up and loaded on a big 'ole truck, not to be seen again for a couple of weeks. Our moving company has a firm delivery policy that includes late fees for them if they don't arrive within 10 days of loading up, so I won't be waiting a month this time. Still, it will probably be several weeks before I can sew again, and it'll likely be quiet around here. I'll keep you posted though, as things unfold, and I'll definitely give you a virtual tour of the new sewing room!

Monthly Roundup: April 2014

Y'all, I have been very bad about keeping up with my sewing output this month. I have an excuse though. Early this month, my computer's monitor died. It's a laptop, so that is pretty much endgame. Anyway, I sent it off (still under warranty, whew!) and when it came back a couple of days ago, I found that they had wiped the hard drive. Now, I am no computer genius, but that seems excessive for an itty bitty monitor replacement... Anyway, no biggie, I had all my files backed up, but it's online (Thank you, Carbonite!!) So it's taking a while to download them all back onto the laptop. Especially since my internet service can't seem to keep me online this week. My signal has dropped 3 times since I started typing this. Very annoying...

Anyway, since I upload all my work to Flickr, I still have a pretty collage to show you, even if I can't share the raw numbers just now.

Was it month of the frou-frou or what?? So. Much. Pink. It was so fun, y'all. Barbie got dresses and dainties, Myra got all the pink satin her girly little heart desired, and even I got a swirly dress. Good month. On top of that, I BOUGHT ZERO FABRIC!! Woo-hoo!!I am determined to make it to the move with no more fabric purchases. I have 2 months (May and June) and I think I can do this.

Monthly Roundup: March 2014

March was a personally very trying month, and I definitely didn't have the time I would have liked to sew. I did a lot of quick projects and I sewed a ton for Barbie. My mojo kind of crashed (mostly from sleep deprivation) in the middle of the month, and about the only thing I could convince myself to sew were teeny weeny dresses, so that's what I did.

I managed to sew:
1) Ottobre 04/2013-12 tee for Myra
2) Kwik Sew 526 PJ pants for me
3) Kitschy Coo Trifecta Top for me
4) Simplicity 3949 apron for a school raffle
5) Barbie bed & Bedding  for Barbie photo shoots
6) Ottobre 06/2012-3 tunic as a baby shower gift
7) Ottobre 06/2008-2 leggings as a baby shower gift
8) **TBA**
9) **TBA**
10) McCalls 658 bustier for Barbie
11) Self drafted pencil skirt for Barbie
12) McCalls 658 corset for Barbie
13) Simplicity 8333 peasant dress for Barbie
14) Mini Penny Pinafore and shorts for Myra
15) McCalls 658 negligee for Barbie
16) Kitschy Coo Trifecta Top for me

That is a total of 19 items and took 15 yards of fabric. Barbie clothes are small, and don't take much yardage, so they aren't very impressive for stashbusting. I did buy some fabric this month. I added a total of 21 yards to the stash, so my yearly totals are 59.75 yards sewn this year and 49 yards added to the stash. At least I'm still 10 yards ahead, so I'm not going to beat myself up over it. But I am going to earnestly endeavor to do better next month.

April is going to be dedicated to recovery and preparation. We're starting to get ready in earnest for our big move at the end of June. I hate moving, so I'm really dreading it, but I am very much looking forward to settling in to our new home so I'm trying to keep my focus there. I'm not going to make any firm plans for the coming month, but I did cut out a pair of jeans, so maybe a recovery of the mojo is in progress. I also have a super fantastic Barbie gown to photograph. I can't wait to show it to you!

Monthly Roundup: February 2014

What to say about February? It was a productive month for me, although I did some sewing I can't share with you yet, so you'll just have to take my word for that. There are still a few winter projects I want to tackle, but here in the Salt Lake Valley, it's starting to act like Spring, and I'm having trouble getting inspired. We'll see...

So, for the month of February, I sewed:
1) Simplicity 6208 jumpsuit for Barbie
2) Ottobre 06/2010-15 tee shirt for Logan
3) Kitschy Coo Boy Cut Briefs x8 for Logan
4) Ottobre 01/2010-24 tee for Logan
5) Ottobre 01/2014-25 dress for Myra
6) Advance 9935 dress & coat for Barbie
7) Barbie gloves for Barbie
8) Iconic Sammy Cami for me
9) Ottobre 06/2010-14 pullover for Logan
10) Vogue 8919 top for me
11) Pattern in testing - to be revealed
12) Vogue 1378 pants for me
13) Batgirl Twirler for Emma
14) Barbie Retro Separates for Barbie
15) To be revealed...
16) Simplicity 5755 one shoulder dress for Barbie
17) McCalls 658 jacket for Barbie

That was a total of 26 items!! Of course, some of those were super quick pieces like underwear or Barbie items, but still. I'm happy. I sewed up 16.25 yards, which isn't a lot for me, but I managed to buy NO FABRIC AT ALL this month!!!! I'm pretty thrilled with myself about that. I'm hoping to keep up the trend, although I will need to make a fabric purchase soon, to get materials for a Queen Elsa dress.

Here's my February collage. I've blacked out a few things, since they are yet to be revealed, and I haven't yet photographed my last several pieces. They're coming up soon.

For March, I'm looking forward to March of the Shieldmaidens! I'm not sure if I'm going to make a dress for me or for Barbie. Those dresses take a lot of yardage in my size, but no so much for her. She also has a much more Nordic look than I do, and it might be fun setting up a more Viking-esque photo shoot for her. There are a few other fun things coming up in March, and I'm hoping to wind up my Winter sewing and maybe even start sewing for Spring.

Monthly Roundup: January 2014

Well, here we are at the start of 2014. This month has been kind of awesome, both on the sewing front and on a personal level. I hope 2014 continues to be great!

So, I sewed...
1) Jalie 2908 jeans for me
2) McCalls 6232 dress and coat for Barbie
3) LouBee Hosh Pants for Myra
4) Sewaholic Renfrew for me
5) Ottobre 05/2009-5 top for me
6) Jalie 2908 pants for me
7) Simplicity 8333 top, pants and jacket for Barbie
8) Burdastyle Magazine 04/2011-105 blouse for me
9) Sewaholic Renfrew for me
10) Ottobre 04/2004-12 dress for Myra
11) Deer and Doe Plaintain tee for me
12) McCalls 6232 gown for Barbie
13) Kitschy Coo Penny Pinafore tunic for me

That adds up to a huge (for me) total of 18 items! I'm so thrilled! I sewed up a 28.5 yards of fabric. Now, I bought a bit of fabric and won a fabric contest before I made my pledge, so I did have a bit of yardage in - 25 yards. But that means I'm actually still negative for the year stash wise, which makes me pretty happy. Next month I'm going to try for a fabric no-hitter. I have not given  myself a pattern or notion buying restriction, so that's keeping the shopping demons at bay.

Here is a little collage of my makes for the month. I'm pretty pleased with the variety overall. I made a lot of tops, but both knit and woven. I also made several pair of pants and a couple of dresses. I used some much beloved patterns, like the Penny Pinafore and the Renfrew, but also tried some new ones. You'll also likely take note of my newest obsession - Barbie clothes! As many of us did, I sewed for Barbie when I was a kid, and for some reason I've picked up the desire again. Barbie clothes are really fun! They're small, so they use teeny scraps of fabric, and since they aren't worn by humans, finish work is pretty minimal, so they're super fast to whip up. And Myra loves them!

For next month, I'm looking forward to the Sewcialist Blue February theme! I really love these theme months. They give me a focus, but allow enough creative freedom to do what I want and need to do. Speaking of themes, the Stashbusting Sewalong also has a great theme for February, which is Sewing for the ones you Love! This is a great theme, as I enjoy sewing for my loved ones. In fact, I already have a piece cut that fits both themes. Woo-hoo! Getting February off to a fabulous start!!

2013: Top 5 Hits and Misses

2013 was a fun sewing year for me. I let myself mostly just sew for fun, and I got a lot of great projects made. It was pretty hard to pick out just 5 favorites, but here they are, in no particular order.

1. Burda magazine 08/2007-112B coat

I love this coat so much. It goes with 90% of my wardrobe, and I wear it constantly. I feel instantly chic in it, even if I'm just wearing a tee and jeans.

It was also my first attempt at machine tailoring. I loved how quick it was, and the results are holding up really well.

2. Lolita Spearmint coat

I know, another coat, but I wear this one constantly as well. It has tons of wow factor and the winter white color is an excellent neutral.

I learned an amazing lining technique from this coat that I will be using on all coats and jackets going forward.

3. All the Penny Pinafores

I wear these tunics constantly and the dress is rapidly becoming a go to dress any time I want to be polished and posh, but still comfortable.

It helps that this pattern whips up in a flash, but it is so versatile. I love it.

4. Simplicity 3503 maxi dress

This dress gets worn constantly. It is absolutely my favorite dress. Comfortable and cool, but also completely classy.

I get compliments whenever and wherever I wear it. And I wear it everywhere from grocery shopping with the kids to a posh dinner date with my honey.

5. Closet Case Files Bombshell swimsuit

Obviously, I don't wear this one to the grocery store, but I am so thrilled with this suit!! It looks like a million bucks and fits like it's custom - which it is! I love it.

Of course, where there is a top 5, there have to be a bottom 5. So, my 'top' 5 misses for 20013 are...

1. Anne Adams 4799 dress

There isn't actually anything wrong with this dress. It fits well and is comfortable. It looks nice. But somehow, it isn't something I grab in my closet, so I think it's only been worn once. Maybe I should shorten it or something.

2. Shirred Bess top

This one is purely a fabric fail. I love my other Bess top (made from charmeuse) but this one I made from swiss dot and it doesn't drape well. The top makes me feel big, so I don't wear it.

3. Burda magazine lace tee

I LOVED this top, and I really want to remake it. It's a fail because the lace was poor quality and started to shred after being worn only a couple of times. It's already had to be trashed. And I miss it.

4. Jalie 2908 jeans

Alas, they look great on, but I can't breathe in them. They've been donated and I've since made 2 pairs of Jalie 2908 jeans in a size larger that I love and wear often.

5. Casual Lady top

This isn't actually a total fail, since I still wear it on occasion, but my fabric choice wasn't ideal. The rib knit is a little thick, so the facing area is a bit bulky, especially around the sleeves. It's still wearable, just not my favorite. I like the pattern, but it would be better in a thinner knit.

I feel good that it was difficult for my to choose 5 fails, but I had a very hard time narrowing down my top 5. I made a lot of things this year that I love, and that makes me happy. I've made a lot of things this year that were successful and get worn often. I'd call that a good year!

Monthly Roundup: November 2013

I can't believe 2013 is flying by so fast! November is always a crazy month, leading in to the holiday season, and this one was no exception. It was a good month though, and I did get quite a few things done.

I sewed:
1) Lolita Spearmint for me
2) Go To Patterns Tree Climbing Trousers for Duncan
3) Johnnie B Good shirt for Duncan
4) Sewaholic Renfrew for me
5) Ottobre 06/2008-17 coat for Myra
6) Simplicity 8170 nightgown for Myra
7) Sewaholic Renfrew sweater for me
8) Jalie 2908 jeans for me
9) Ottobre 02/2007-3 tee for me
10) Kitschy Coo Panelled Pinafore Tunic for me
11) Kitschy Coo Panelled Pinafore Tunic for Myra

I made a total of 11 garments, although several of them are still in the pattern testing phase, so I can't show them to you yet. Soon, soon! And you'll love them!! I sewed 24.5 yards this month and only purchased 11.5. Woo hoo!! I'm still cleaning out the stash, so I also culled out 22 yards to donate. I was gifted a large amount of fabric by a friend, but I haven't yet had a chance to sort through it all. It won't all stay, but most of it is really lovely. Without including the gifted fabric I haven't measured yet, my yearly totals are 329 yards in and 335 yards out. Pretty close to even! However, since we'll be moving in 6 months, I need to get a little more aggressive about sewing up what I have, so I don't need to move it all. Fabric is heavy!

December is generally devoted to holiday projects, but I'm actually not doing much holiday crafting. Of course, I say that every year... I do plan to make Myra and her cousin Emma a couple of matching winter themed nightgowns. Myra saw some pink print penguin interlock when I was browsing Nature's Fabrics and asked me if I would make them to match.

I also need to finish my outfit for the Grunge Sew Along. I just need to put together my flannel shirt. It's all cut out and ready to go.

Of course, there is Green December to have fun with as well! My flannel shirt has green in it, so I'll be coving both bases with that, but I also have several other green projects in my head. We'll see how many of them I get to.

We'll be out of town for the last 10 days of the month, so it will probably get a little bit quieter around here. I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable December. I can't wait to see what you are sewing!

Monthly Roundup: October 2013

October was a pretty productive month for me, although a lot of what I made was quick and easy. It still always feels good to have a nice busy sewing month.

I sewed:
1) Ottobre 04/2011-20 jeggings for Myra
2) Ottobre 04/2004-38 capris for Emma
3) Ananda pony pants for Myra
4) Bimaa sweater hoodie for Myra
5) Kitschy Coo Lady Skater dress for me
6) Ottobre 01/2010-22 tee for Emma
7) Ottobre 01/2010-19 jacket for Emma
8) Ottobre 01/2010-13 pants for Emma
9) Ottobre 06/2008-19 turtleneck for Emma
10) Ottobre 04/2006-19 wrap sweater for Emma
11) Kitschy Coo Panelled Pinafore for Emma
12) Kitschy Coo Panelled Pinafore for Myra
13) Ottobre 01/2010-22 tee for Duncan
14) Ananda Pants for Duncan

That's a total of 14 garments. A couple of those are yet to be blogged, as patterns are still not released. I'll tell you about them when I can. I've sewn up 23.5 yards this month (including muslins), and added 42 yards of fabric to the stash. There was a very generous fabric gift in there, but I've also been stress shopping. Gotta stop that. My total for the year is 317 yards in and 289 yards out.

November will have some more super secret sewing, so the blog may be a little quiet, but there will still be lots to talk about. Have you heard about this?

I'm pretty stoked about this one. I'm contemplating how to reframe the grunge trend to fit my current age and life. I wore grunge the first time around with a vengeance, so I definitely am going to have to interpret a little so that it doesn't look like I just fell off the fashion train in High School. I'm imagining a distressed denim skirt with tights, logo tee and a more tailored flannel shirt. Maybe Mary Janes instead of Docs? Can grunge be grown up? I guess we're about to find out...

I've also got a blazer that is in the muslin stage and another big project that is still a secret. I'm pretty excited about both of those, too. So much to do, so little time...

Monthly Roundup: September 2013

September had a few really fun sewing moments and I got a reasonable amount accomplished, although there are a few pieces yet to blog about.

I sewed:
1) imagine gnats Bess top shirred version for me
2) LouBee Bimaa sweater for Myra
3) Goodnight Sweetheart PJs for Logan
4) Ottobre 03/2013-17 dress for Myra
5) Butterick 7238 dress for me
6) Ottobre 06/2012-13 pants for Logan
7) Kitschy Coo Reversible Zippy Hoodie for Myra
8) LouBee Bimaa hoodie for Duncan
9) Ottobre 03/2013-22 jeans for Duncan

That's a total of 10 garments, and 22.8 yards sewn up (including muslins). I have started a gradual stash clean out, and also donated 83.5 yards out of my stash. On the other side of the tally, a friend of mine cleaned out her mom's attic, and brought me 3 garbage bags worth of fabric (!!!), in addition to several purchase I made, so I added 83.4 yards to the stash. For the month, that totals up to 83.4 in and 106.25 out. For the year, that puts me at 275.7 in and 265.25 out. I'm only 10 yards positive and I'm not done purging so, yay! I sewed up a vintage pattern and quite a few indies as well. Poor burda is still getting the shaft, but I've got some upcoming plans...

Next month should be pretty fun. The weather has finally started to change, and the mountains are capped with snow. My kids all need some new gear, particularly Myra and Duncan. I'm planning a for real coat for Myra. Her hoodie is cozy, but it's not going to be enough for the snow. I've got some fun wool and we've picked out a pattern together, so that one is high on my agenda. She also needs leggings and pants. She's starting to branch out from her all dresses all the time method of dressing, and her one pair of RTW jeans is getting heavy rotation. Duncan could also use a few pair of pants and some long sleeve casual shirts.

I'm really looking forward to sewing for Red October with some Twitter buddies. Although I probably won't get to both items IN October, I have both a red ponte blazer and a red camel hair coat on the books for this winter. I'm really looking forward to sewing and wearing them both.

Of course, it wouldn't be October without Halloween sewing! Logan went for a storebought costume this year, but Myra wants to be Trixie Lulamoon from My Little Pony. I have some ideas for how to make that happen. I'm totally in the dark for Duncan. He doesn't talk yet, so he can't express a preference. I just have to decide make or buy, and what. I'm on the fence. I like making my kids' costumes, but I'm kinda swamped with things to do this month. We'll see how it plays out.

Monthly Roundup: August 2013

So, August is over. That's all I have to say about that.

I made some stuff:
1) Ottobre shorts for Logan
2) Goodnight Sweetheart PJs for Logan
3) Simplicity 1595 "wedding" dress for Myra
4) imagine gnats Bess top for me
5) Jalie 2788 twist top for me
6) Ottobre 03/2011-20 shorts x8 for Myra

A few of those have yet to be blogged, and a few were to boring to blog, so I'm sorry it's been a little slow here this month. I've also been having some internet connection issues that have made it hard to blog, and really decreased my motivation. Hopefully, September will be better. I did manage to sew up 15.25 yards of fabric this month, which is more than I thought I'd be able to, so yay for that! Of course, I bought 20.5 yards, so I'm still positive for the month. For the year so far, I have 192.25 yards in and 159 yards out. That's 33.75 yards positive for the year. I have managed to use a few new patterns, including a Jalie I hadn't sewn before and a new Indie pattern that I can't wait to tell you about. Stay tuned for that!

Another bright spot this month was this lovely package from Marjie! I just LOVE 70s patterns, and there are some superfly ones in this bunch! I'm definitely going to be making one of these blazers soon, and the 60s shirtwaist on the middle right is calling to me as well. Seriously great haul! Thank you so much, Marije!! I've also gotten a few shipments from Vintage Martini over the last few weeks. So much lovely vintage goodness!

One of those recent acquisitions is going to get sewn up for the Fall for Cotton sewalong hosted by Lucky Lucille and By Gum, By Golly. Isn't this adorable?! The fabric is a quilting cotton my mother gave me for my birthday. I'm planning to make the far right dress (modelled by the smug redhead) with the contrast in solid black.

I am also starting to get fired up for Fall sewing. I have a list of fun things that I want to sew up, including a couple of blazers and several pair of jeans. I probably won't get it all done in September! My first project for the month will be sort of a last nod to summer. I've been working on the fit for the By Hand London Anna dress. When this dress first started appearing on blogs, I knew I had to make it. It's just so me. I'm working on some fit issues right now, but once I get all that worked out, it's a quick sew. Hopefully, I'll be able to show it to you soon.

Monthly Roundup: July 2013

July was a pretty crazy month around here. The trip to Tennessee took a lot of my time and energy, not to mention the week away from my sewing room. Still, it was a reasonably productive month.

I made:
1) Kitschy Coo Skater Dress x3 for Myra and Emma
2) Kitschy Coo Lady Skater Dress for me
3) Logan's sensory tent
4) Ottobre 02/2006-11 pants for me
5) McCalls 6035 blouse for me
6) McCalls 3830 knit skirt for me
7) Simplicity 3503 dress for me
8) Kitschy Coo Dolman Top maxi dress for Myra

That is a total of 10 items. As I look over the list I realize that all but one of the garments was sewn from a pattern I had used before. That's really not like me, but it sure made for faster and simpler sewing. I am starting to see the benefit of having a TNT or two to just whip out garments! So, I sewed up 22.5 yards, which brings my total for the year so far to 143.75 yards sewn. I brought in 31.25 yards. A large chunk of that was gifted and two of those pieces have already been sewn, but still... The yearly total in is 171.75, which puts me over for the year nearly 30 yards. I'm a stashbusting failure.

The month of August is likely to be a crazy one for me personally, so I'm not sure how much sewing I'll get done. I also have a lot of boring sewing I need to do, so it may be quiet around here. I won't inflict another set of flannel PJs or the 14th pair of knit shorts I've sewn, but I'll share when I come across something interesting and new patterns I use. I've been slacking off on my goal to share a sewing tip with each post, partly because of busy, but also because I'm never sure what y'all would find interesting and instructive, so if you have anything you've been wondering about or something you'd like me to address, please leave a comment and I'll be sure to talk about it.

Along with the kid sewing, there are a few things I'd like to make for myself. Topping my list is a pair of white jeans as suggested by Carolyn. I ordered some white twill from Mood and once it arrives I'm going to sew those up. I'm on the fence about style though. Initially I thought I'd make skinnies, but would straight leg or a slight flare be more useful? My last pair of white jeans were wide legged and I wore them to death. Tell me what you think! Is the skinny jeans fad on the wane, or should I jump on it while it lasts?

Monthly Roundup: June 2013

June was a fun month. SwimAlong went well and I did some fun sewing. I got another year more experienced too, so that was good.

I sewed:
1) Kitschy Coo Skater Dress Peplum top for me
2) Kitschy Coo Skater Dress for me
3) Ottobre 03/2013-10 shorts for Logan
4) Ottobre 03/2011-30 swimsuit for Myra
5) Anne Adams 4799 dress for me
6) Closet Case Files Bombshell swimsuit for me
7) Sewing Cake Hummingbird Top (x2) and skirt for me
8) Ottobre "Funky Stripes" shorts for Myra
9) Ottobre 03/2013-10 board shorts for Logan
10) Ottobre 03/2006-10 board shorts for Duncan

That's a total of 12 garments, which is average-ish for me. I'm pleased that I got swimwear sewn for myself and all my kids. I sewed a total of 15.75 yards, but managed to acquire 37 yards. Whew! 20 yards positive is a lot!! So far for the year, I've sewn 121.25 yards and brought in 140.5, which pretty much tells me I was doing fine up until this month. D'oh! Sounds like a fabric fast is in order. As for patterns, I did sew a vintage pattern this month, so yay for that! I also sewed up almost all indie patterns for myself and all Ottobre for the kids. No Big 4 patterns, which is pretty unusual for me.

The biggest sewing action this month by far for me was for our SwimAlong! I had an absolute blast working and playing with Leila this last couple of months. I also learned a lot, sewed a bunch of swimwear and met a ton of awesome sewcialists who also participated. If you haven't checked out the linky party (or if you haven't linked up your swimsuit!) head on over there. The linky party will stay open all summer, so if you are still working on your suit, no worries. Come on over and link when you're ready.

In other sewing news, Myra now has her own machine and is very excited about sewing "all by herself". The machine is a great little vintage number that matches my Singer 603E Touch & Sew. It actually makes a really lovely lockstitch and is really easy to use. Myra's taking to it like a duck to water and has already made a ball gown for Princess Celestia.

I'm sure her love of sewing will wax and wane (as mine has over the years), but it's been really fun sharing my passion with her, and seeing the joy of creation in her eyes.

Monthly Roundup: May 2013

I almost forgot to post this! May has been an utterly wretched month and I'm glad it's over. And that's all I have to say about that.

I did a bit of sewing.
1) No Sew Tutu for Myra
2) Tote bag for Logan's class
3) Maria Denmark Kirsten tee for me
4) Sewing Cake Tiramisu dress for me
5) Simplicity 2377 top for Myra
6) Jalie 2908 jeans for me
7) Jalie 2105 leotard for Myra
8) Ottobre 03/2013-10 shorts for Logan
9) McCalls 2423 dress for Myra
10) Go To Patterns gift bags x3 for the kids' teachers
11) McCalls 2434 dress for Myra
12) McCalls 6612 x2 for the Big 4 experiment

I am so behind on blogging, and I do apologize for that. I have lots of fun things to show you, including the results of my Big 4 experiment.

Anyway, as far as productivity goes, May was pretty average. I sewed 15 items, including a couple of bags - unusual for me. I sewed up 17.75 yards of fabric, but managed to acquire 29.5 yards. Stress shopping anyone? Yeah. I didn't sew any vintage or Burda patterns, but I did try the Maria Denmark Kirsten tee and made a Cake pattern and a couple of Jalies, so at least the Indie pattern companies were represented.

I have been really excited about the response to the SwimAlong that Leila and I are hosting. We're starting to see some pretty awesome swimwear shaping up. We still have lots to share with you this month, and we'll be getting pretty heavy into sewing techniques and tips. Stick around for the fun!

My other fun project this month is the Big 4 experiment. I've already sewn the two tops, but I still need to take some pictures. I really want this to be a fair comparison, so I'm waiting for a good photo opportunity, and a new camera that is coming my way. I've been really blown away by the response the original post had. So many of you are frustrated with the results you've had from the Big 4 patterns, but there are quite a few of you that also are happy with the fit, or are accustomed to the fit model and would have to relearn the adjustments you need if changes were made. There is a lot to talk about... Stay tuned!

Monthly Roundup: April 2013

Somehow, typing "April 2013" just now made me realize how much of this year has already flown by! It's practically summer! Anyway, April wasn't my best month ever.

I sewed:
1) Ottobre 06/2012-13 pants for Logan
2) Casual Lady top for me
3) Simplicity 2814 top for me
4) Burda Magazine 10/2005-132 pants for Mitch
5) Kitschy Coo Skater dress x4 for Myra, her BFF and my niece
6) Kwik Sew 3167 camisole for me
7) McCalls 6563 skirt for me

That totals out to 10 garments. Not too shabby considering the man pants that took me nearly 2 weeks. I sewed up 18.5 yards of fabric and only purchased 3 yards, all of which I used this month! I'm kind of thrilled about that. I also sewed a Burda Magazine pattern - the man pants. Since I was so negative, I'm going to put my max fabric goal for this month at 18 yards. I think that will get me back on track for the year.

My big blog accomplishment this month was actually managing to produce a little pattern to share. It's just a sleeve, but I'm pretty pleased with it. Did you see this cute one @jm_subrn posted on Instagram?? Seriously, orange and tie dye! Love!!

I didn't get to spend nearly as much time in the Challis Chalet as I had hoped, but I did make a blouse and a skirt, both of which I'm very pleased with. Hopefully I'll get at least one challis dress made this month. I wants it.

Next month (and June as well) the big news around here will be the SwimAlong that Leila of Three Dresses Project and I are hosting. We'll get deep into the nitty-gritty of swimwear patterns, construction and all the helpful tips you'll need to successfully stitch up your own custom swimsuit. We'll be unfolding some details on our blogs tomorrow, so be sure to check back. You definitely don't want to miss this!

Monthly Roundup: March 2013

March was an interesting month. My sewing mojo totally tanked early in the month, and I spent a lot of time fighting a pant muslin. So, I really felt like I wasn't very productive, but the numbers tell a different story...

I sewed;
1) New Look 6000 dress for me
2) Kitschy Coo Skater Dress mermaid costume for Myra
3) Butterick 4910 nightgown for Myra
4) Ottobre 03/2004-20 pants for Logan
5) Jalie 2908 jeans for me
6) Ottobre 03/2007-20 pants for Logan
7) Sewaholic Renfrew v-neck tee for me
8) Ottobre 02/2007-1 tank for me
9) Burda 7248 skirt for me
10) Burda magazine 04/2009-112 top for me (now blogged)
11) Ottobre 03/2004-20 pants for Logan

I sewed 11 items (and 2 muslins) with a total yardage of 27 yards! Yay! 5 of the projects used stash fabrics and I used a Burda magazine pattern and Ottobre Woman, so I'm pleased there. My goal for fabric purchases from last month was 12 yards, and I added 28 yards to the stash. Oops. I think April needs to be a total fabric fast, just to get back on track. I can do this.

My big focus for March was pants fitting. I'm not going to pretend I aced this one, but I did learn a few things. The biggest thing was to start with a pattern that works well for me. After multiple muslins and countless alterations, the Vogue pattern I started with was still just OK, but with only a few typical alterations and no muslin at all, the Jalie jeans pattern was a winner. I need to really explore that a bit more. Perhaps I'll take y'all along for the ride, shall we?

I'm pretty excited about the April Challis Month that Lady Katza is hosting on her blog. If you don't follow her (well, you should!!), then you should head over there now and check out all the other fun things she's been sharing about fiber and fabric, as it related to challis, rayon in particular.

I've hunted through my stash for challis and patterns appropriate to it. I have these five pieces, although I probably won't get them all sewn up in April. I really think the drape of challis is well suited to the styles of the 40s, so my pattern choices are vintage 40s heavy. What do you think?

The final "big" project that I want to tackle this month is pants for my honey. He's been very long suffering about this, but he really does need pants, and RTW really doesn't work well for him. We're starting out with this Burda magazine pattern from 10/2005. It has a faced waist and doubled darts in back, which I think will work well with his shape.

Also in April, we'll be getting ready behind the scenes for a super-fun swimwear sewalong. I'm teaming up with Leila of Three Dresses Project and we have some amazing things planned for you, so stay tuned!!

Monthly Roundup: February 2013

February wasn't my  most productive month by the numbers, but given the plague that felled our entire household for a week, and the fact the I made a coat, I'm pretty pleased with my output.

I made:
1) Puppet show curtain for Myra's Preschool
2) Vogue 8831 tunic for me
3) Butterick 4910 nightgown for Myra
4) 12" doll peasant gown for Baby
5) McCalls 6069 dress for me
6) Zipper pouch for Myra
7) Burda magazine 01/2011-130 leggings (x2) for me
8) Burda magazine 04/2011-118 top for me
9) Burda magazine 08/2007-112B coat for me

I sewed up 11 projects and used 22.25 yards of fabric. 5 projects used stash fabrics and I used 3 burda magazine patterns, so that part of my Stashbusting goal went well. Unfortunately, I added 30.75 yards of fabric to the collection, when my goal was to only add 20, so since I went 10 yards over this month, my March goal will be to buy a max of 12 yards. Well, see how that goes...

My other February project got lost in the shuffle of coat making. I was really hoping to participate in Scruffy Badger's February Polka Dot Frock Fest! I have managed to get started, but I still have a few seams yet to sew before my dress is ready for the reveal. I was quite surprised at the difficulty I had finding good polka dot dress fabrics! I ended up using a stash fabric (yay!), so we'll see how it goes. I should have it finished soon to show you.

Once I finish my Polka Dot frock, I'm going to dive into the Pants Fitting class taught by Sandra Betzina on Craftsy. I enrolled in the class several months ago and have watched a few of the videos. So far it looks great and I've already learned a few key things. Next I just need to sew up a muslin of the pattern for the class. I actually really like this pattern, and if I can get a good fit, have some fabric in mind for a real pair as well.

The other big March event on the sewing front is Easter. I'm off the hook for Myra's dress, as my mother has offered to sew her up something to match her cousin. Sweet! I'd like to sew up something spring-y and sweet for myself as well, and the boys could probably do with some new pants at least. Myra has also put in a couple of requests for dress up dresses, including a mermaid tail... Stay tuned!