Lazy Daisy Tunic


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It’s hard to believe that the KCWC, hosted by Elsie Marley, is coming to a close. Unfortunately, all I have to show for it is a single garment. Actually, I’ve done other sewing this week, but this is the only piece I finished. (I’m such a busy mama :) ).

I call this the Lazy Daisy Tunic. Why? you ask. Well, let me tell you.

I made a flat pattern for the bodice from an existing garment. Unfortunately, I forgot to include a seam allowance. While some prefer to add a seam allowance when tracing the pattern onto fabric,  I find it easier to just include the seam allowance in the pattern itself.  I’m also not big on muslins or test garments (although they REALLY help alleviate the pain of the drafting error blues)  because I’m usually short on time and I don’t like to waste fabric. You laugh? Yes, I would laugh too because when creating a pattern (any pattern), it makes good sense to test out what you’ve drafted. The Lazy Daisy Tunic is what comes about when one is too lazy (or stubborn) to start over and figures out a way to work with what you’ve got.

I didn’t realize until after I’d cut out my fabric that I’d forgotten to add the seam allowance to the shoulder area and back pieces of the pattern, and of course, I couldn’t throw the fabric away, so taking the contrasting yellow linen fabric, I added 1 inch to each shoulder piece and one inch to the inside back pieces. Instead of making the same adjustment to the lining, I opted to attach the lining pieces directly to the bodice. I then created bias tape out of the yellow linen and used it for the neckline and arm holes. I loved the way the contrasting fabric looked on the back piece, so I cut the front bodice in half and added contrasting fabric there as well. I left about a 3 inch opening in the front neckline and added a zipper to the back.

Finally,I added pleats (my favorite part of the garment) and hemmed the bottom.

This trial and error process was ABSOLUTELY worth it. I’ve already adjusted my pattern and look forward to making this piece again.

Keep doing what you love,

Shannon

 


Pillowcase Top


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Here’s my entry for this Project Run & Play (week 3) sew along competition. The theme for this week was to “Go Green”. We were to use either all natural materials, upcycle, recycle, or well, you get the picture. I decided to go with the recycle. I used a pillowcase from a thrifted cotton sheet set to make a pillowcase top. I wanted to do something a little different than the standard neckline, so without changing any of the seams of the pillowcase, I cut off the top portion and drafted little “flutter” sleeves. That’s not exactly true. I actually had another sleeve in mind but accidentally sewed the sleeves in upside down. I thought it was cute, so I went with it. Ha! Ha! Just go with the flow I always say. My daughter has already worn the top three times this week. Dare I say, “She likes it!” Yeah.

 

Keep doing what you love!

Shannon

 

 


Project Run & Play Sportswear Challenge


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It’s week 2 of the Project Run & Play sew along challenge. This week’s challenge is sportswear. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do this time around, so I thought it would be neat to come up with a Mix & Match ensemble. What do you think about the stripes and flowers? I think they make a pretty cute combination :)

All of the pieces were self-drafted. The first piece is the Reversible Vest. It has a single button closure and can be worn inside out or front to back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my second piece I decided on a tunic.   I used a facing instead of fully lining the bodice. I also shirred the bottom to give it a more sporty look. I’m all for flexing my sewing muscles, so I tried a new skill: Invisible Zippers! Initially, I wanted an exposed zipper with a circle pull tab. I didn’t have one in my stash, and I didn’t feel like going to our neighborhood Joann Fabrics, so the next best thing was an invisible zipper. I’m glad I made the switch. I like the way the top looks when the zipper is fully closed. The zipper installation was almost painless. I accidentally sewed the wrong side of the zipper on the garment on my first try (love my seam ripper!).

 

My third piece was a panel skirt. I used Ikat Bag’s tutorial here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


My final piece was a pair of shorts with front hip pockets, flat front waistband/ elastic back.

 

As always this was great fun. My pics are sans models again this week. The family is down with an icky stomach virus and mommy is playing nurse.     The family is feeling better today (Yay!) Here’s a shot of the girls wearing the reversible vest and tunic.

 

Keep doing what you love!

Shannon

 


Cropped Spring Jacket


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A springtime cropped jacket is my sew long entry for Project Run & Plays 1st challenge this season. We were to take Dana’s Circle Skirt tutorial and interpret it to our liking.  I made a jacket because, well… it wasn’t a skirt. I thought it would be fun to use the skirt pattern  for something unrelated. This is my first self-drafted jacket. I made it for my girls (size 10) and figured if it worked then I could make a second one. The jacket is lined with a hidden closure (hook and eye).

The Project Run & Play Sew Along group has some really wonderful entries. You can take a peek here.

Don’t forget to vote for the Project Run & Play designers here.

 

Do what you love,

Shannon

 

 


Boy to Girl Shirt Mini-Tute!


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My son had some extra dress shirts that I recently used to make some cutesy tops for my girls. This is a fairly quick process if you select a shirt that is close in size to your child.

1) Select a front button shirt. Make sure that the shirt’s fullest width is at least two inches wider than your child’s hip measurement. (Once the garment is finished you will have to slip it over the child’s head or step into it to put it on.)

2) Cut out collar and shorten sleeves to desired length.

3) Hem neck line (3/4″) and sleeves (1/2″) leaving a small opening to insert elastic. For the neck, I estimated elastic length by draping it around the girl’s necks loosely and adding an inch. For the arms, I wrapped the elastic loosely around the girls arm and subtracted 1/2″ so that it would fit snuggly. Insert elastic to meeting, sew elastic ends together, then close hem.

4) Decide where you want the placement of the contrasting band to begin. Measure down from the base of the armscye evenly on both sides. Using tailors chalk or vanishing marker, draw a line between these to points. Measure this line and write the number down.  Cut along this line. You’ll now have a top and bottom piece.

FOR the BAND: Cut out two rectangular  pieces of contrasting fabric using the following measurements:

Width= width of shirt measurement that you’ve written down + 1″  (this includes (2) 1/2″ seam allowances)

Height= 6″ (This includes (2) 1/2″ seam allowances for top and bottom of band) You can adjust this band height to 4-5″ for smaller children.

Once you’ve determined the width and height of your band piece, cut out two. With right sides facing, sew both ends together using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  Sew band onto top and bottom pieces. Don’t forget to flip the band inside out before sewing it onto the top portion. Flip the bottom of the shirt inside out also before sewing onto the band.

6 (Yes, I know. I forgot the 5). With the band added to the top (and ironed, of course) begin shirring the band piece only. Replace your bobbin thread (only) with elastic thread. Wind by hand but not to tightly. Begin sewing in evenly spaced lines around the width of the band. After each full circle (Do not over lap or back stitch), pull the threads out about 2 inches and cut.  Repeat this step until you have shirring down to the bottom of the band. I spaced my shirring lines about 3/4″ apart, but feel free to do whatever you think is best. Once you’ve finished shirring, turn the garment inside out, and tie the elastic strings together. Flip the garment back over and using your steam iron, carefully steam the front of the band until it  shrinks down to its new shape. This is not a detailed tutorial, so if you’ve never done shirring before there are lots of great online tutorials for you to use for additional instruction or send me an email, and I’ll be more than happy to explain.

7. Final Touches: I made a small bow and sewed it onto the front of the shirt. If you don’t want a bow, you can change out the top button or all of the buttons. You could also add ruffles or a contrasting band to the bottom of the top as well.

8) I actually started with the panel skirt pictured above  (Ikat Bag has an awesome tutorial here.) and then decided to add a top, but of course these cute little tops can be paired with anything.

**Don’t forget to iron your seams while you’re piecing everything together and cut those extra threads off! (For a larger view, click on the picture and it will open up larger in a separate window.)

Do what you love!

Happy Sewing!

Shannon

 

 

 

 


Weekend Crafting


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Here’s a quick and easy craft that my daughters and I did this weekend (found it on Pinterest).  These cute little t-shirt bracelets  may have taken 10 minutes (including cutting up the t-shirt). I thought that this would be something great to teach my girls. They’ll be 10 years-old soon, so I’m learning to walk that very fine line  between *too cheesy*(you know, those blank stares that seem to say “Mom, . . really?”) and too grown-up. This was perfect. They now have new uses for their old t-shirts, and they think I’m pretty cool for showing them this trick.

The video tutorial is great. She does a great job of explaining the process and gives a few options from varying the thickness of the bracelet to painting the fabric for a different look.

Keep doing what you love!

Shannon

 

 


Whipstitch, Workshops and Sewing Fun!


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I’m so excited to share with you the amazing time I had today. I attended my first sewing workshop, and it was fantastic! I didn’t know what to expect, so admittedly I was a bit comment shy, but I am so glad that I participated.  The event was held atWhipstitch in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s this quaint little loft-like sewing/fabric/book/class store that’s full of beautiful fabrics, notions, and a delectable display of super awesome sewing books. The owner (Deb) was so super nice. I know this all sounds very syrupy, but it is true. It was definitely worth the trip (It took almost an hour with traffic and lights – yuck!).

Our instructors were Rae Hoekstra from made-by-rae.com and Karen Lepage, one part of the duo who created the wonderful book *Sewing for Boys*, Ziggy Patterns and the blogger at onegirlcircus.com. The class size was nice and small. Approximately 10 sewing divas (including myself) gathered around the table that you see in the pic and just oohed and ahhed over the beautiful kids clothing samples that they passed around. Rae and Karen made the perfect tag team as they shared sewing knowledge garnered after years of sewing for their own kids. We learned about

  • reinforcing seams
  • seam finishes
  •  best fabrics to use for kids clothing
  • supply lists
  • pressing vs. ironing
  • pattern selection
  • measuring
  • insecurity vs. over confidence in sewing projects
  • resources (books, etc)
  • sewing efficiency

It was so inspiring for me personally to see women just like me with a passion for creating beautiful clothing for their kids. The quality of their workmanship was amazing. The morning workshop only lasted an hour and a half. I could have used another hour or two just to turn those garments inside out and admire the handy work (smile).

 

 


Life Challenge


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LIFE CHALLENGE

Stop worrying about what others think of you.

Take one day at a time and remember to breathe.

Remember that GOD made you perfect just the way you are.

Tell those that you love that you love them . . . often.

Stress is NOT our friend. Tell it to take a hike!

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE everyday!

Dance . . . even when there’s no music.

Close your eyes and visualize the person that you were meant to be. (She’s still in there. Don’t give up on her.)

Freedom is not dependent upon our circumstances. Freedom is where our mind takes us!


Boy Pants


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Here are a pair of pants that I just finished for my 4-year-old son. If you’re a mom with boys then you are already aware of the shortage of super fantastically unique clothing for our little men. While commercial retailers and even pattern makers are overflowing with frilly, lovely, options for our little girls,  unfortunately, many have left us with the short end of the stick when it comes to our boys. I guess this is not such a bad thing if you have a sewing machine and some extra fabric lying around which I do, and some extra time, which I did, so, I drafted some “play” pants. They are both unlined with a full elastic waist. The brown pants have front pockets and top stitching. The green pants are without pockets. I used a bottom weight fabric for both and cut the pattern generously in the legs for movement.

Do what you love!

Keep sewing!

 


Puzzle Patches


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Holes! Holes! and more holes! My kids are pretty rough on their clothing. They like to wrestle, tumble, climb, jump, spin and fly (Ha! Ha! Not really on that last one). So, this  mom is constantly battling rips, holes, and tears in good quality pants. I knew I couldn’t keep throwing $$$ away, so lately I’ve been on a patch kick to see how many unique ways I can come up with to mend this pant nemesis. This patch was fairly simple. I used this tutorial here that I found on Pinterest for quilting. I don’t quilt, but I thought the technique was simple enough to transfer over to simple patches, and it worked (Yeah!)

Keep sewing!