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?

Little Man's Hat

Mr. Baby needed a sun hat.

I used Butterick 5056 size Medium and quilting cotton for both the hat and lining.

This little button has been hanging out in my button box for years. I can't even remember where it came from now. Obviously it was waiting for just the right thing.

I'm sure I will be making more of these, it was a fairly quick sew although making this hat felt like sewing in 4D. It was hard to visualize what I was supposed to be doing as I followed the instructions. The only thing I would change for next time is to cut the lining pieces a bit smaller than the outside pieces. It was difficult to get them to line up properly and it bunches a bit in a couple places on the inside, but you can't see that.

It looks even cuter on!

Two Dresses in One Day

I keep hearing Mickey Mouse's voice in my head when I say that. He actually said, "Seven in one blow". It's from Mickey and the Beanstalk. Anyway... Here are my dresses.

I got the sundress itch recently, which was weird because it's still too cold here in Seattle to justify wearing them. I need to find some light weight cardigans to match and extend their wearing time. I sort of cheated with these dresses. I bought this fabric pre-shirred and hemmed. I had planned to make a dress like this doing the gathering myself, but then I saw these fabrics that were so pretty and already done that I just bought them. I got one yard of each, washed them, made a seam up the back, and placed ribbon as the straps in the appropriate places. Ta Da! Told you I cheated. I wish all my sewing could be like this now that Mr. Baby is here.