Dawn Jeans - Cone Denim

Another pattern, I have been meaning to make and finally it has happened.  The Dawn Jean in Cone Denim, the second to last piece in my stash.

Green Tencel Megan Nielsen Flint Pants

This summer I have been making multiples of patterns and this blog post is my second pair of Megan Nielsen Flint Pants

Megan Nielsen Flint Pants

Culottes, yea or nay?  I am in the yea category and it is getting a bigger YEA each time a make a new pair.  I tried a new pattern for this pair.

Dove Blouse in Red and Navy Flannel

My Dove Blouse is finished and it is so comfy and warm

Sewing For My Daughers

The week of August 7th, sewing for my youngest two - aka the twins!  Meredith received more than Kaitlyn but it is all good.  The above top is a Deer and Doe Plantain Tee for Meredith.  The fabric is a knit from My Fabric Designs.

Briar Shirt and Maritime Shorts

I know Labor Day is only a few days away but I am feverishly sewing up some of my summer fabric.  With Kaitlyn's wedding and several other family things this summer, June and July saw limited sewing from me.  I am making up for lost time.

Briar T-Shirts

Fabric Mart's recent sale on knits was too good too pass up and I filled the cart up with some new knits.
This lovely stripe rayon was turned into a Briar T-Shirt

I love this fabric and the style of the shirt.  

Best of 2012–for my Family

Let me start by saying I sewed many garments for my youngest 2 girls this year, the majority was maternity.
1,McCall's 5525 – Leopard trench and winner of the Best 2012 Pattern Contest at Pattern Review.  I heart this jacket, Meredith wore it just the other day and hubby was amazed that I made this.  I not sure where he was the entire time I was sewing it and Meredith modeled it


2.  Burda – 7318 – Maternity coat, I have seen this on Erin several times and it looks fantastic.  A perfect style for pregnancy
.
3. Simplicity 2226 – made twice and will be made again, a great pattern

and

4.  Simplicity 4281 – a knock-off of an Express jacket for Erin.

5. Megan Neilsen Ruched Maternity Shirt – made six times for Erin.

and

and

and

and

plus one more I didn’t get a picture of.
6.  Vogue 1224 for Erin

7.  Simplicity 2512 – made 3 times and have fabric for one more
 
8.  New Look 6648 – the fabric makes this top

9.  Simplicity 2362 – for Kaitlyn and it looks great on her

10.  Butterick 5497 – made twice for Erin, looks great on her.


11.  Ottobre 5/2008 – a pattern I wanted to make for along time and finally got to it.  Erin had this on one day and it is a perfect maternity style

12.  I HAVE to include one outfit for my grandson (due in March) link here

I went back and counted the number of maternity garments, it was 26, now I know where all my sewing time was spent!
Tomorrow, the top 12 of quilts and bags.

Last Four Maternity Shirts

I am putting them all in one post, they are all from previously reviewed patterns.
First up Megan Neilsen’s Ruched top.  Blogged here and here and reviewed here
The first one is a stripe knit from Joann’s

close-up of neck binding on the bias


Then a thin off-white from Joann’s, Erin will have to layer it but it will be a good basic.  Shirt is stuck on the pillow bump pretty awkwardly!

Gathers on the side:


#3 is SImplicity 2804
blogged here and here and here (wow I look young in that one)
and finally reviewed here
For Erin’s version, I omitted the bottom band, lengthened the entire top by 4”.  Then added 2” to the front curving to side seams.  This is from a sweater knit from Joann’s.

This is one of my favorite tops, it just looks so cute on the dressform.
So the neckline wouldn’t stretch out, I used some lycra binding.  I sewed this as binding at the neckline and then turned it completely to the wrong side.  I did turn it in a bit more, so it would not show at all.
Picture:

Finally, Vogue 8597
Here is the review and the blog post and another blog post
This fabric is from a mystery bundle at Fabric Mart.
I made view C with alterations

• Altering the side seams, but cutting at the seam to the bust dart, hinging this out 2” at the bottom.
• adding 2” to the center front and tapering to side seams
• this Vogue pattern is very fitted, lots of curves at the waist.  I straightened the pattern allowing more room for the belly.

neckline:


One thing to finish for Erin and I think her maternity wardrobe is good.  I can see her wanting something new and different at Christmas and then toward the end of the pregnancy. 

Pina Dress and Top–Megan Neilsen MN 1002

I

This is an old picture from the internet, the pattern is now $20.00
Description: Sewing pattern for this incredibly comfortable maternity & nursing dress or top. It has a gathered v neck, gathered sleeves and a gathered empire waist.
The pattern includes instructions on how to make a top, a dress with ruffled hem or a dress without ruffled hem, short sleeves, 3/4 length or long sleeves. It’s an entire wardrobe in one pattern! The waistline is generous, allowing ample room for your growing belly.
Sizing: XS to XL
Instructions:  Megan’s patterns come with the best little booklet of instructions and pattern variation ideas.  This pattern can be for the beginner to more advanced.  One thing I really liked is how she has you lay out the bodice pieces before sewing.  A nice visualization for constructing a raglan sleeve type bodice. 
Changes:  I lengthened the sleeve to 3/4 per Megan’s instructions in the booklet.  At the first of the booklet, she has illustrations with all the variations.  Under each illustration, she lists how you need to cut that particular garment out.  For example, if you want a 3/4 sleeve, lengthen by 9 inches (only short sleeve is included in the pattern sheet
Likes/Dislikes:  I like everything about this pattern, from the instructions to elastic placement to the finished product.
Fabric:  Cotton lycra knit from Needle Nook, it is a wonderful print.
Conclusion:  A great pattern with many possibilities for changing it each and every time.  I think this one will be worn quite a bit

Elastic at the neckline, empire waistline


Close-up of eleastic

Back

Front:




I hope you are not tired of maternity sewing, because I have about 8-10 more items to do!

Ruched Top Again

After I made this Megan Neilsen Ruched top for Erin, it was quickly one of her favorites.
Using some fabric recently purchased from Needle Nook Fabrics, I made this version


Neckline and close-up of fabric

I saw it on her today with black pants and it looked very cute on her.
Then I pulled out a sweater knit, purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics last year.  I bought it to make myself a cardigan but the sweater knit really was just a stamped onto some thin sweater knit.   Not something I wanted for a cardigan when the wrong side might show but perfect for this top.


I am going to try some of these with some sleeve variations and neckline variations (mainly a v-neck)

Megan Nielsen- Ruched Maternity T-shirt

Description:  This top is the ultimate maternity basic and is designed to grow with your growing belly.
The ruched sides mean that it will fit and flatter your baby bump, right up until your baby is born - and unlike most maternity tops, is long enough to always cover your bump.
Sizing: XS to XL
Instructions:  This pattern comes in the nicest packaging.  A beautiful envelope with a velcro closure.  Pattern on heavy paper, great for tracing and a booklet with complete instructions.
I did change the order of construction and some of the instructions;

• I sewed the shoulder seams
• Measured the neckline and cut self-binding for the neckline (the pattern has you turn under the neckline and topstitch)

• Gather the front for the ruching
• Sew the sleeves in the flat (instructions have you sew these in the round)
• gather the ruching and pin to the back, sew sleeves and side seams in one continuous seam

Fabric:  ITY knit from Joann’s
Conclusion:  A easy pattern to make with fantastic results.  I liked the design and the ease of construction.  The fabric makes it very trendy.  I think this is the first of many shirts from this pattern.
I was pleased with the side seams:


Here is the front:

My pillow taped onto the dressform doesn’t give the best look for the shirt
Here is the back:

Here is site for all of Megan Nielsen's patterns.