Finally Sewing Again: Making A Table Topper Quilt

After a really long time not feeling creative, or having time to do anything crafty, I'm slowly finding some free moments and a bit of inclination to tackle things.  Truthfully speaking, most days I'm exhausted from dealing with my big kids, corralling my toddlers and keeping my shop running, but the crafting spark hasn't totally gone out!  

What pushed me to start sewing again was needing a sample project for my shop (so this post kind of ends up being a bit of an "advertorial", but more because this really is what I'm making right now - not because I want to get all sales-y on ya!).  

I've just started carrying digital quilt patterns, which is great for getting customers sewing asap, but one design didn't have a finished project photo or digital mock-up to go with it.  Kind of hard to sell an item without an image of it, right?  So I decided to use fabrics from a new Christmas collection I got in (called Comfort & Joy) to make this sample table topper quilt:

To be honest, I'd been a bit nervous to start it.  I've been a self-taught sewer of bags, clothes, home decor and literally every other fabric project for years, but I'm not really a quilter.  I've only made a handful of basic quilts and since I'd not sewn anything in months I was a little apprehensive of my rusty skills making a go of it.  Add the fact that two of the fabrics I was using were directional, I needed to take a little extra time to make sure I had them cut with the pine trees and text facing the right ways:

I do have to say it came together pretty quickly.  The design is the Guiding Star Table Topper Digital Quilt Pattern.  The instructions are very straightforward so a beginner quilter like me can easily make it.  It features an 8 inch focal square, so I fussy cut from my text print fabric to make a nice holiday phrase block:

The one modification I made was to make the back self-binding rather than doing a separate backing piece and binding edge.  

It saved me a bunch of time and made it easier to get a nice even binding edge on the front.  I used this handy how-to for getting nice mitered corners with a self binding, since it had been so long since I'd done them last: 

This little quilt can be used as a table topper, wall hanging finished or as a center for making a larger quilt.  

I feel confident enough to do another one (or more) and possibly piecing them to make a larger quilt, so I'm pleased I could get back in the sewing saddle and test drive a new pattern at the same time.  Plus, I've got a nice, new, Christmas-y item already sewn up early.  Boy, does it feel good to be ahead on a project for a change!

   

Maxi Dress Making Challenge!

Summer is the season of the maxi dress and I really want to make a few new ones this year.  They are my go-to look for hot days and so easy to dress up or down.  I've got some ideal multi-yard knits sitting in my stash and soon will have some beautiful double brushed poly prints for my shop (that I'll need to make project samples with), so multiple maxi dresses are needed.  I've decided to challenge myself with making several styles and would love for you to join me!

I've been on a search for several pattern styles that:

- Have easy to sew designs

- Are flattering for most body shapes 

- And, most importantly, aren't expensive

After some internet digging and analyzing I've put together this assortment of patterns I had in my stash, have now bought or are free downloads (no shilling for specific brands here).  And since I'm picky about what I like, I'm also planning to make a few tweaks to get them exactly how I want.  

Let's dive in!

The first one on my list is the Women's Racerback Maxi Dress by Seamingly Smitten.  It's currently just $4, so I figured it was worth buying.  This pattern seems to be really straight forward in assembly - you can line the bodice or band the neck & arms.  

It's also got empire or natural waist length and includes petite & tall options (which is key for my 5ft self).  My only issue is I'm not a big fan of the racerback look, so I'm going to re-draft the back to be a normal back bodice.  

I have several store bought maxis that have a wrap front bodice and comfy loose sleeves, but didn't see any maxi dress patterns that had the same look.  The Callie Wrap Dress, also by Seamingly Smitten, does have the perfect wrap bodice (and a flutter sleeve option), so I'm going to try to pair that with a gathered skirt bottom, rather than the circle skirt it comes with and see if I can duplicate my favorite bought maxi dress look.

From the big 4, I've had this Simplicity 2642 in my stash for ages and it's got several style options.  It's an oldie, so eBay, Etsy & small shops are the best places to find it.  I'm eyeing the crossover front maxi as a good additional option.   

I made the shorter halter-style a number of years back and reviewed that option here.  It turned out cute, but I had to make some fiddly fit adjustments and hated the 3 piece skirt design (who puts 2 seams right down the front of a dress & suggests using prints with that?), so I'd definitely change that bit.  I'd also commit the sewing sin of ignoring the fabric recommendations and use knit instead of woven, but I don't think that's an issue given the looser design of the first view.  

I also had good results with McCalls 7405.  It's a quick sew and very flattering, so I may pull this one out again too.  You can see my original review here & the shortcuts I used to make it even faster.

On the freebie front, I'm really interested in making this Striped Maxi Dress by Melly Sews.  It looks so polished and the elasticated empire waist looks comfortable too.  It also looks like a super quick sew, which I really need these days.

The ultra simple sew aspect of this Easiest Ever Maxi Dress from Kojo Designs also intrigues me, since it looks really stylish. It's literally just putting to rectangles of fabric together.   Sew easy, right?  I'm not a fan of the seam smack down the front though or the dependence on a perfect-fit belt to keep it from looking like a shapeless sack.  Another tutorial showed this with side seams and just cutting to make the neck area...I'm a bit on the fence about making it....but it's so simple it might be worth it.

I'm jumping into a couple of these right now and will share my finished dress reveals & reviews as they get done.  If you have a favorite maxi dress tutorial or pattern to share, please add it in the comments - I'd love to add my options to the list.  

I'd also LOVE if any of you wanted to sew some of these with me and share your findings too.  

Being A Sewing Maniac aka 11th Hour Baby Dress Pattern Hack

 

Today's sewing project proved that I am a sewing maniac.  As if you didn't already know!  There have been a number of things over the years, fabric hoarding, getting insanely excited about sewing gear notions & patterns and well, this blog, that all pointed in that direction....but this latest one confirmed it for me.  My littlest one's first birthday outfit:

 

A sweet little dirndl-style knit dress covered in cute colorful ponies and coordinating French terry leggings.

 

 

I got the brainstorm to do it the day before her family party.  I realized she didn't have a little dress she could crawl around in for the big day.  The few winter dresses she wore at Christmas are a bit longer so they get caught on her knees and impair her mobility.  This one is just the right length to keep her moving:

 

So there I was, cake & food were all set, house was decently tidy, present wrapped and I had NOTHING planned for her to wear less than 24hrs later.  

 

So I did what a sewing maniac does - I quickly found old fabrics in my stash that serendipitously went together, spent 10 minutes sifting through my patterns to find something that could work with her size and my amounts of fabric, decided I'd have to modify one's style a bit and then sewed everything up (while homeschooling two big kids, wrestling with two small ones throughout the day).  No birthday stress for the first time EVER so why not tack a potentially massive stress inducing last minute sewing project on?!?  Crazy lady behavior, that's what it is.   

 

I used Ottobre Design's Muksis Top/Dress pattern (issue 1/2009) and their Lola Leggings pattern (issue 3/2009).  I'd used both years before, but never paired together.  Here's one of the Muksis tops I'd made over 10 years ago, for my oldest daughter.  My littlest lady also wore this outfit, but got too small a few months ago.

 

 

I really like the pattern's fit, but for this one I wanted more to the dress than just an A-line shape.  So I decided to turn it into a build-on-it bodice by cutting across the pattern two inches below the armscye and straightening the sides (since they normal flare).  I cut a skirt section that was a few inches more than double the bodice width and made it 11 inches long.

 

 

 

The top has a lap shoulder design so I followed the pattern directions to attach the neck bindings and overlapped the shoulders. 

 

 

The French terry I was using for the leggins was very stretchy and lightweight so it was ideal as my binding & cuff fabric. Especially since the very reason this adorable pony print was still in my stash after a number of years was that I'd been dreading to sew with it.  It was an interlock knit from JoAnn's which means fairly cheap in price and quality.  Even though the fabric weight is good, it sometimes stretches when you don't want it to, thread gets caught, binding can be tricky to stitch, etc.  I've been sewing with knits for a LONG time and have tried almost every trick and have concluded their knit is just okay, so you have to expect it to give you a hard time.

 

After I attached the sleeves and sewed the sides it was time for the skirt portion.

 

I sewed up the side seams and then did my easy technique for gathering along the top:
 

 

Along the top raw edge I basted a wide zigzag stitch, capturing some thin crochet yarn between the stitches.  I always do a separate piece for the front & the back sides so there are two raw ends at each seam. 

 

Then it's super easy to pull those ends and create gathers that are easy to even out and adjust. Then all that was left was to pin the skirt to the bodice, stitch them together and do the skirt hem.  The Lola leggings were really simple since each leg was a single piece - just stitched up the inside leg seams, crotch seam, waistband and leg hems & done!

 

 

And by some miracle everything turned out exactly right, which almost never happens (especially when rushing to hit an insane deadline).  

 

I just love how it turned out and she's already worn in several times.  I line dry these sorts of outfits to keep them from shrinking or piling too.  Which works well since the cuffs turn down and the loose fit mean the dress can be worn a long time - even as a tunic top a year from now.  Maybe that means I've got next year's birthday outfit covered already....;)

Sewing Play Clothes For Active Toddlers

It's feel like forever since I had new projects to share.  The holidays, being sick for weeks and the tail end of a tiring pregnancy had zapped me of most sewing interest, energy & time.  Luckily nesting mode has kicked in and I'm finally finishing sewing projects that have been sitting partially done for way too long.

First up: Comfy Play Clothes for Toddlers.  My little guy is edging towards 2 and with it his baby ways are ending and he's become a super active boy.  Climbing, running and growing like a weed.  

It means when I sew up clothes I need them to be able to take a beating and fit for a good long time - easy to put on & take off and, of course, worth the time it takes to make them (translation: non-frustrating and thrifty).  Enter these lovelies:

This pull on raglan top and jogger pant are made from patterns in the book Kwik Sew's Sewing for Toddlers by Kerstin Martensson.  It's an oldie (1992), but a goodie.  I bought my copy a few years ago, and you can get a used one for around $10 online with a quick internet search.  It's a real find if you like having access to a lot of patterns and learning how to do lots of variations to add even more looks.  Buying the same basic patterns separately would cost way more and not give nearly as many bonus options.

Don't let the dated cover of the book scare you away!  It's an early 90s publication, so the fabrics and styling of photos are super cringe-y.  Most of the designs have a slouchy design, but not only is that ideal with toddlers for fit, but when paired with the right fabrics, they totally have a modern European look:

The instructions are really straightforward and full size, pull-out, traceable patterns are included for 4 toddler sizes - in all the separates a little person could need: sweats, shirts, jackets, pants, shorts, rompers, overalls, skirts & dresses.  There are also lots of ways to do them with various closures, lengths, necklines and styles - even color blocking & appliqués.  This raglan top features a pullover rib knit neckband and cuffs, so very beginner friendly.

The jogger pant features an elastic waistband and also has fold over cuffs so there's extra growth room:

I got this fun sloth print interlock knit fabric at Jo-Ann Stores.  It was pretty inexpensive on sale and a single $7.99 yard made both pieces so it was cheaper than buying a store made outfit, which always justifies making clothes in my mind.

I made a second set with this other knit fabric (also Jo-Ann's),  with this cute dragon/castle/knights motif.

Everything can be sewn up on a regular sewing machine or serger, which is handy.

I used the bib overalls pattern from the book to make this cute outfit for Christmas too:

The sizing is also nice & true, so the fit is ideal and gives plenty of room.  I made the T1 size for my guy which translates to about 18-24 months.  

I'd cut out both sets back when he was 18 months, but only finished one.  Now 4 months later, the fit is still great for both outfits so I'm confident he'll be able to wear it through to spring:

The real challenge is taking actual photos of him wearing things I've made.  These days he's usually just a blur of movement and my giant baby bump prevents chasing after him with the camera.  Thankfully, in these outfits he can stretch out & live large, which he loves.  And it makes it easier for me to take a few lounging pics:

I'm definitely going to make some more things from this book for him this spring & summer and love that we won't size out for several more years.  Added bonus, when the next baby is a toddler I'll get even more use out of it!

Ottobre Design Pattern Magazine Giveaway!

Since it's still the season of giving, I've decided to do a few giveaways early in the year for my crafty friends.  Today's giveaway is all about the patterns!

I have two mint condition Ottobre Design women's pattern magazines from my personal collection that will go to one lucky winner.  For anyone unfamiliar with Ottobre Design, these thick magazines are entirely patterns - big pull out full size traceable patterns and all the directions for them plus lots of beauty shots of the finished items.  Their European designs are timeless and flattering for all shapes.  Each issue contains over 20 individual women's fashion patterns in sizes 4-22 (eu 34-52).

There are all these designs in the Autumn/Winter 2009 issue:

And all these in the Spring/Summer 2010:

Lots of timeless looks to sew up!  The winner will receive both pattern magazines.  Given the ridiculously high cost of shipping these days, I have do have to limit the giveaway to US only.

Good Luck Everyone!

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