Backward and Forward

It seems I am late in the blogging world with my "year in review" post, but whatever. Obviously I have been silent for a few months (longer than I realized). Our life is in crazy mode right now as we are waiting to find out if we will be allowed to adopt our foster son and all the meetings and emotions that entails. Not that I'm trying to use that as an excuse for not blogging...but it is a good one. Another reason I didn't blog much this autumn was that most of my projects were failures. Everything from sizing weirdness to fabrics falling apart after a make was finished. Really frustrating! So I kind of gave up and spent some time thinking about what my purpose in sewing is and what I want to get out of it. Also, I spent a fair amount of time watching Netflix and crocheting under a blanket in a sulking state of "I suck at sewing". I got over it.

So 2012 was a big learning curve year for me. I started following a few professional sewing blogs as well as non-professional experienced seamstress blogs. I have learned a ton! Some of the highlights that I am choosing to focus on this year are:
     1. Trace patterns, don't cut them. This does add extra time to the process but it is worth it because it is so infuriating to have cut into a pattern, only to find that if you had made the size your instincts told you to then you would not now own a too small pattern and a too small garment.
     2. It is much easier to fuse cut fabric pieces to interfacing and then cut the interfacing, rather than cutting the interfacing from the pattern piece and hoping it matches up with the fabric. I have found that a tea towel works wonderfully for this.
     3. Full bust adjustments are a necessary evil. Hopefully they will become less evil as I perfect this skill.
     4. Slow down and enjoy the entire process of garment construction. Before I started making clothes I made a lot of quilts. My favorite part of the quilting process is the cutting of the fabric. There is something so exciting about using the rotary cutter, watching the squares piling up, and beginning to see the quilt's potential. Cutting fabric for garments is my least favorite and the most frightening part of garment making. I suppose this is because a quilt doesn't need to be exactly perfect in dimensions when it is finished, it still will serve its purpose but if garment fabric is cut incorrectly it is a waste of both time and money.
     5. Don't sew when I'm tired! Staying up late to finish a project that night just to be able to put the sewing machine away is not worth the mistakes that are inevitably made.
     6. Do not obsess over sizing! Part of the cause of so many failures this year is that I have not been honest about my body shape. For example, I have larger than average upper arms (made much bigger from carrying a 27 pound 10 month old). Patterns are not made with this consideration so I need to check the sizing and allow for it in the construction.

2013 is shaping up to be an exciting year for sewing. We have three weddings this summer which will all need to have a dress made. There are at least two baby quilts on the horizon. I will hopefully need to make a tiny little Easter suit! as well as my dress. I am determined to give more thought to my wardrobe and create garments I love and will wear. I hope that by the end of the year most of my wardrobe will contain clothes I have created, enjoy wearing, and reflect my style. I'm starting off with my two favorite designers: Colette and Sewaholic, and will be looking into Lekala's revolutionary and amazing approach to pattern design.

I am off to a good start. I just finished this top. Post coming soon!

Happy 2013!!

Iris x2

Finally, I have found the perfect pair of shorts!

Colette's Iris

I honestly have searched for years to find a pair of shorts that really fit me. Pants are a problem in general, but shorts seem to be especially difficult. When Colette Patterns released the pattern this spring I had to try them out. I had already made the Clover pants and loved the fit. These shorts are very similar in fit and style. The night I finished them, I rattled off an exuberant email to Sarai at Colette raving about the pattern. It was late...

I wanted a simple, nice looking, easy to wear piece for summer. I definitely got what I wanted! I even wore these as much into fall as I dared since they match a few of my sweaters. Alas, it's too cold now for shorts wearing so they will wait until next year when they will probably be joined by many siblings.

What you can't see are the totally awesome buttons, a spool of thread with scissors! Yay for cheesy!

This was my first/muslin attempt. I didn't need to change anything about the pattern. I did, however lose about 10 pounds between this photo and the above. (Which is why it's last. I'm hoping you won't remember this pair!) The dots were fun, but I wasn't in love with them, so when I somehow managed to get a bleach spot on them it didn't hurt my feelings. It's nice to have something to garden in.

Kwik Sew 2076

It seems like most of the fabric I have in my stash now is from Mom's stash. I think I've raided hers twice, it's so handy to have all the fabrics that are back in style in Mom's closet! Although I'm sure I will feel old when my future daughter raids my stash exclaiming how cool all my fabric is and why didn't I use it? Sorry Mom...

 This Strawberry Shortcake print is one that I love and I remember it being around for a long time. It must have been purchased with the intent of becoming a nightgown for me or my sister (probably me). I'm not sure exactly what the fabric is, it's slippery with a flannel-ish back side.

It has fulfilled its purpose with this pattern:

Kwik Sew 2076

 I searched for it on the Kwik Sew website, but it is now out of print. I did find a few places to purchase it on Etsy and EBay. I found the pattern at my local thrift shop. I've found a gold mine of patterns there and try to look through them as often as I can.

This was a very easy make. I probably spent less than a day on it altogether. The only change I made was to  make a casing  for elastic instead of using elastic lace. I couldn't find elastic lace anywhere when I needed it, but I have found it since and bought a lot of it. I kind of wish I had waited to find the lace since the elastic on the arms is too snug and sometimes my arms go to sleep at night when I wear it. But, I really do love the nightgown and wear it often.

I am sure there will be more of these in my future.

Audrey's Birthday Dress

My niece, Audrey, turned 3 this summer and I thought a little dress would be the perfect thing for the only girl in a bunch of boys. Looks like I guessed right! Her Mom says she loves it, yay!

This is another cheating dress like the two I made for myself. This time I made the ribbon straps able to tie in the middle for adjustment as she grows. I found the fabric for all these dresses at JoAnn, where I don't normally like to shop, but they are so quick to make and are great summer dresses.

Erin's Red Birthday Bowl

Wow! Apparently I'm much further behind in my blogging than I realized! I crocheted this cute bowl for my BFF for her birthday in May. I've made a couple of these before, but I like this one the best. It's very delicate but quite sturdy, too, with the sugar/water solution I used to harden it. I also used a taller, narrower bowl than the others I made to mold it over which gives it a nicer shape. I never noticed the hearts that are made from the pattern, either. Fun! Just goes to show how you can look at something for a very long time and not really see it.

Holly, it seems, took to it right away and had to decorate with it immediately. (Sorry for stealing your photo, Erin!) I'm glad she likes it, too! Maybe I can bring her over to the crochet side. Bwaa ha ha... 

First Sorbetto Top

First off, I must apologize for this photo! Maybe someday I will have a proper camera, but until then you all are stuck with pictures taken with my phone (or John's, which is a little better).

A few months back I started following some sewing blogs for a bit of inspiration. All of a sudden, everyone was talking about Colette Pattern's Sorbetto Top. A free pattern! I had already been following the Colette blog but must have come in too late to see this pattern. I loved her patterns but was hesitant to spend so much for a pattern when I wasn't sure of the cut or fit. This was the perfect solution! So many cute versions had been made and I decided to join the bandwagon. I'm not sure where this fabric came from (probably either Mom's or Grandma's stash), I've had it a long time, though, so in the spirit of cleaning out my stash I used it. It's a slicky fabric, probably a polyester or rayon or a blend of the two. It was just the right amount for the top. I used a prepackaged white bias tape for the neck and sleeve edgings. I'm fairly pleased with the fit, though there are a few adjustments I have in mind to make for the next one. I'll talk about that when I actually make it.

Right now, I'm going to take advantage of what's left of nap time!

Peaceful Apron

I do occasionally forget to take pictures of things I make. (I know, shocking!) In these cases I have to rely on the gift recipient to take the photo for me. This is what happened for my sister's birthday apron, so this is her photo texted to me after the fact. To be fair, I finished it the same day we were packing to leave for my grandfather's funeral. This being about a week after bringing home Mr. Baby.

Nat told me that she wanted an apron for her birthday, so I kept a lookout for the right fabric for her. I found the perfect peace sign fabric! It's totally right for her. I traced my favorite apron for the pattern, which is handy because now I can make it again (and again, and again, and again...). I made it double sided for thickness, absorbency, and wear, and trimmed the pocket and neckties in purple bias tape. It's cute on her.

Happy Birthday, Sissy!

What shall I do with the leftover fabric?