Monday, June 30, 2014

Upcoming Anniversary Giveaway #5

I looked at the calendar today and it is the end of June, which means  2014 is halfway over.  Please tell me how that happened?

This summer has been wonderful with some of  the best weather.  I have been enjoying my bike, evening walks, dips in the pool and playing in my flower gardens.  I have found quite a bit of time to sew and  just completed a quilt that has been one year in the making (Hurray! and pictures after I have it quilted).  The one thing that I have been not keeping up is blogging and reading blogs.

So I need to announce what the giveaway #5 is for my blogging anniversary.  In August, it will be my 8 year anniversary of blogging.  I have had 4 previous monthly giveaways to celebrate this milestone.  There will be one more giveaway in August for the 6th and final giveaway for the 8 year anniversary

A Girl Charlee gift certificate in the amount of $25.  In fact, my polka dot top was one of the garments  featured on their Knit Picks for June.  Thank you Girl Charleed


I will draw the winner on July 14th.  

Let's see to enter, leave a comment about your plans for the second half of the year, or your plans for the 4th of July or your plans for the second half of summer.



Thursday, June 26, 2014

Red Maritime Shorts - also known as the Picnic Shorts


After making the houndstooth Maritime shorts, , I knew I needed another pair soon.  I had some fabric left from these Burda pants and it was in my red theme of late.


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Happy News

If you have read my blog for awhile you might remember this

  February 2012 post - Strength

Well, today there is happy news, my son-in-law is 2 years cancer free and officially in 

REMISSION!!!!!!




Yes, I cried many happy tears!  Thank you God.



Monday, June 23, 2014

Vogue 8950

I am a seamstress that likes to sew in colorways, which means I do not have to change serger thread.  The other thing I like, is to use up all the fabric.  So, I decided to make Vogue 8950 with the leftover fabric from my Plantain t-shirt and from my Jorna Top

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Jorna Tank

I purchased the  Perfect Pattern Parcel #3
and the first garment I made was the
 Jorna Dress/Tank



My fabric is Mood Fabrics' Red Jersey

Friday, June 13, 2014

Plantain Tee with Short Sleeves

Separates is my word for the month of June, in I need them in my wardrobe.  The emphasis of my separates is tops, more and more tops.  I went through my pattern stash and pulled out several I wanted to make again, the Plantain Tee was my first choice.  I made it before in a long sleeve version.



I love this shirt and I have seen so many on blogs and Instagram which I love too.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Dixie DIY Summer Concert Tee and Indie Sews

I just love this online sewing community, new things are always happening and more resources available to us.  Take this new site,  Indie Sews, it has so much right in one spot  for us.  Yes, you can buy Indie patterns there, like the Summer Concert Tee which  I purchased and downloaded this week.    I like you can read more about the pattern, see the details and find reviews about this pattern right on one page.



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Lattice Quilt with Simply Style Fabric

I have been working on some baby quilts to keep around for gifts.  My supply was down to one quilt and that is just too low!
V and Co. Simply Style fabric in Lattice Quilt



This quilt pattern is from a Missouri Star Quilt Company's video tutorial and fabric from V and Co's line called Simply Style

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Winner of Giveaway #4

Today is the day for the announcement of the winner of giveaway #4

28 comments and Random.org says

and #22 is



Erlinda email me your mailing address and the quilt and pattern will be on the way to you.



Monday, June 09, 2014

Navy for Summer

   



  I don't know about you but for me navy and white just seems like the perfect summertime colors.  It might just be me as  I do have a thing for blues, it is my favorite color.  After participating in Me Made May, I realized I needed more summer clothing.  It is heating up here in Missouri and if you spend anytime in the humidity here, natural fibers do help to combat the heat and humidity.  Mood Fabrics'  Navy and White Stretch Cotton (which is sold out but here is a blue stripe )  is just so perfect for my Grainline Studio Maritime Shorts.  This fabric is a nice lightweight cotton-lycra blend, another plus for summertime.  Note on the houndstooth - I wrote this blog post on Thursday night (it went on MSN Friday) and the houndstooth was available in navy-white and red-white.  Friday morning I checked the links and the fabric was sold out, I knew I should of ordered that red-white houndstooth!



 

    Now for the top, I used Mood Fabrics' Marc Jacobs Ensign Blue Cotton which has the look and weave of linen.  The cotton was just the right weight for a blouse and I used McCall's 6436.    I am just so happy to have summer here and I can enjoy the outdoors, especially after this past winter.  The only downside is a bit of limited sewing time, I am like a kid in the summer.  No, I am not coming in, it is still light outside.  This shirt was a perfect summer sew, I was able to set aside an hour a night for three nights and I had a beautiful summer shirt.    I did lower the bust dart and take 1" off the length.  Now that is saying something about the length of this shirt as I usually add 1".  I left the shirt out for the above picture, just so you could see the details and the fabulous fabric.  Here is more details, check out the epaulets, the loops on the epaulets and nice pleated pockets.



  The Marc Jacobs cotton pressed and sewed beautifully.  I used the fabric for the bias binding for the armhole finishes.  I just am amazed it isn't linen, it has so many similarities.   Now to that houndstooth, my first thought was a skirt but Paige (my oldest) said, "Mom, this fabric needs to be shorts."  She was so right plus that was perfect for my need for summer clothes.  I really do wear shorts quite a bit in the summer and it helps me stay cool and keeps me from being grumpy in the summer!  I had seen so many great versions of the Maritime shorts, I knew I had to try that pattern.   My first change was to lengthen the shorts to my go-to length, which is 6", I am a Nana and that seems more appropriate for me.



    I went down a size after making a muslin and I did have to take in almost 1" in the center back just below the waist.  On this pair of shorts, I did a bit more tweaking in the size.  The cotton-lycra blend has nice stretch and I took in a bit more on the side seams.    I can't wait to make more of these shorts, each pair can be a bit different.  Adding more topstitching, belt loops, different back pockets or embellishements on the pocket, to name a few.  This pattern does have the most unique way to sew the front zipper but it gives great results.  Another thing to point out is this a quick pattern to sew, I made these Wednesday night in about 2-1/2 hours (I did have these shorts cut out).  There is a tutorial for the Maritime Shorts available at Grainline Studio.


 I could not ask for better fabrics for summertime in Missouri, Mood Fabrics' has great selection of cotton-lycras and linens for natural fibers to beat the heat. I plan on sewing, enjoying the outdoors and hanging by the pool this summer (of course, work, too).




 What are your summer plans?




      Whatever your summer plans and summer sewing plans, I hope you have a very fun summer.





Friday, June 06, 2014

Navy Houndstooth

Hot weather calls for a cool outfit made from natural fibers.

Check out my newest Mood Fabrics' outfit over at Mood Sewing Network.

I used this cotton for a top

and a houndstooth for a pair of shorts

Also, only a few days left on the anniversary giveaway, so don't forget to leave a comment.



Monday, June 02, 2014

Me-Made-May - last recap


Here is the second and final post for the
Me-Made-May 2014
the first half of the month is here

Row 1 - Red Burda Pants, Dolman top , Stripe Dress
Row 2 - stripe tank, Woven Scout T-shirt, Shirt and Skirt
Row 3 - oops repeat (didn't want to redo the collage!), denim shirt. Print-mix shirt

Let's do columns with this one
Column 1 - Archer shirt (repeat), worked in the yard all day, so flannel pj pants not blogged and never will be!, Simplicity top (forgot about a picture until too late, so picture on the floor at the end of the day)
Column 2 - Simplicity dress (part 1 of Sunday), Simplicity jacket
Column 3 - Maxi Dress (part 2 of Sunday), Top and Skirt


Day 30 - Sunshine top just completed and will be blogged this week
 And then day 31, Renfrew top again and a merry-go-ride with the Little Guy, he loved the horses.  And I love him.

What I found from this experience.  I need to make some more separates.  A few tops not from knits, a basic pant or two, sleeveless tops for hot days and when I do make anything, check and see how well it goes with items in my closet.

I did eliminate things in my closet, more on that later.

All in all I did really enjoy participating in MMM 2014, although I did miss some of my favorite RTW garments!  The month long challenge is a great way to evaluate your sewn wardrobe. At the beginning, my daughters thought I was crazy with all those selfie pics on Instagram.  What are you doing, Mom?  When I explained what was going on, it was okay I was posting pics of me!


Oh, yes, don't forget the Anniversary giveway and leave a comment to be entered.

Hot Patterns Sunshine Top


The Sunshine Top has been around  and many sewing bloggers have made some fabulous tops from this pattern







I finally purchased it when the pdf option became available.  I seem to be doing that quite a bit lately, those pdf patterns are so convenient to order. What do you think?  I know the taping is a chore but not to leave my house or office and I can have a new pattern is so amazing.