KCWC Day 6

Yikes, I'm a little late wrapping last week up. I don't know where this week has gone. Mostly into pots of chili, pumpkin farms, hanging out with good friends, enjoying the Walking Dead premiere, keeping up with a scooting babe and delving once again into sewing hell. (I know, I said never again. They pay pretty well, what are you gonna do?)

I made this little Amelia top on Saturday, which ended up being my final KCWC garment. Sunday was just too perfect not to go to the farm... So I made something 5 out of the 7 days, which I'm really happy with. I usually sew at least a little every day, but trying to finish something every night really is a marathon. A fun one, nevertheless.

I really adore how this pattern turned out. I just need to find the right color onesie for Elsie to wear underneath. I added the piping detail around the neck and under the bodice, and used it instead of the fabric trim suggested around the bottom. I'm mostly just a huge fan of piping. It makes most everything better. But putting it one the corners of the neckline was pretty tricky. I'm pretty sure knowing how to bind a quilt helped me with that one.

The button is from my mom's vintage collection. I just love the pop of brick red, very fallish don't you think?

I'm entering into Celebrate Color this month. I hope to scrape together a couple more entries, but October is disappearing way too fast. How did that happen?? I still have to start Halloween costumes and make my LTTSA aprons- I still haven't got past the cutting!

Speaking of the sew-along, if you are waiting on your leader to get her crap together, just check out Jenny's post. She links to a great bias tape tutorial, and gives awesome tips for sewing with laminates. Love it. And don't forget, if you link up this month you might win a couple Mama Stellato patterns- including this Amelia top if you want. Yay for sew-along sponsors.

WARNING! Totally unnecessary and gratuitous kid/pumpkin pictures ahead...

KCWC Day 4

Last night I made pants. I realized I've made lots of pairs of shorts from Dana's pattern, but this is the first time I actually used it for pants. I made them from an old pair of cords I've been saving for this very purpose. The best part was that I managed to cut them so that I didn't have to hem, just used the original hem. It's a really wide hem, which I thought might look too girly, but I think it's super cute on him. 

I also added knee patches from this funky waffle knit. They turned out to be slightly too far to the inside, but they will do. I had meant to add pockets, but the pants were already put together before I remembered that. Whoops. Sometimes this KCWC can really rush you thru your vision for a garment. You know, it's probably exactly what it's like to be on Project Runway :)

I couldn't resist putting another Echino piece in for a tag. Now that I think about it, I probably should have used the rest of this particular square for those knee patches. See, late night sewing really lacks that kind of clarity. 

Speaking of Project Runway, I'm hoping to muster up a PR post tomorrow, since we are nearing the end of this very lackluster season. I just can't get too excited about any of the contestants, and a lot of the goings-ons this season have been slightly more ridiculous than usual. Plus if I wait a couple of days past watching an episode, I just don't have anything to say about it. Lately, I forget to even watch it right away, if that tells you anything. So sorry to that small percentage of you out there who look forward to those posts.... am I alone in my looking forward to this season being over already? Yeesh.

Nick got off very early from work tonight unexpectedly, so no Project KCWC here tonight. I'd like to get two more things done by Monday, but even if I don't, it's been very fun and I'm so happy with what I've done. Now, it's wine and movie time.

KCWC Days 2 & 3

So remember how I said I was hoping to get both of these LBB hoodies done on Tuesday? Well that was dumb. Since I already had all the pieces cut out, I thought I might do each step to both at once. But then I realized I needed to use different color thread on each, so that was out. I also forgot about the extra time you need to spend spray starching the t shirt knit and doing extra careful pinning. But I was at least happy to get one done each night.

The Beatles are from his dad's old shirt that had a stain on the bottom. I really love the teal and gray with it. I made him the size 4, since that is what he has been wearing lately, and it fits well other than the sleeves being a little long and the hood being gimungous. Probably should have cut the size 3 hood. He was really excited to put it on when he saw it, which as you know, is the best thing ever when it happens.

This one also came out a little large in areas, but I still think it's super-cute with some pink leggings. It was an old Threadless shirt of mine. And yes, it had already been spit up on in that last picture.


I really love this pattern. I love that it is such a comfy wardrobe staple that I can make them year after year. (Last year's version here.)  I also love that it's made from old shirts and cut in a way that you don't have to hem it. It's an awesome one to try if you are nervous about sewing with knits. Check it out here, along with loads of other cute LBB patterns.


Tonight maybe a pair of pants, maybe a girly top, maybe a grandpa cardigan. Who knows, I'm leaving my plan and going rogue.

KCWC Day One

So if you don't know what Kids Clothing Week Challenge is about, let me explain just a little. Meg of the blog Elsie Marley runs it in spring and fall and challenges everyone who would like to join in to spend one hour a day sewing for your kids, for a week straight. Then we all add our creations to the flickr pool and blog about them and tell each other how awesome we are. Well, that's what blogging is always like, but this week is intensive and all about kids clothes.

So yesterday was the beginning- I think. Lots of people already had stuff made and blogged yesterday, but I didn't do my 1-2 hours until late last night, as usual. It's the blogging about it every day that might get really tricky...

Anyway, I made a fall dress for Elsie, who is nearly 6 months(!):

The pattern is the Charlotte Dress from Mama Stellato. I love this pattern. It's super quick to go together, but the options for details and embellishments are endless. If you have a daughter to sew for, this basic peasant dress pattern is a must. I know I'll use it over and over. 

I used fine charcoal corduroy left over from the penguin backpack, some AMH Innocent Crush for the sleeves, and bright pink 1/2 ric rac. Loving ric rac lately. It's funny how important finishing details have become to me in my clothes sewing. When you first start sewing, you are happy just to get through a pattern without puncturing any fingers or throwing your machine out the window. It's nice to feel comfortable making a pattern your own.

I even added a cute little tag in the back. It's actually a scrap from one of my Echino squares I cut into. It was almost painful to cut that first square up, but I'm glad I did. Well, I was glad now I'm a little angry...

See, this is the little quilty project that I'm using it for. Looks nice so far right?

Well, it has this happening all around the edges thanks to a certain 2 year old who got a hold of my thread clippers while I was at work and his dad was feeding his sister. Of course it's probably my fault for leaving my stuff out, but... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! This one might have to go away for a while before I have the motivation to repair it. At least none of the Echino pieces were clipped into. 

On deck tonight for KCWC is two LBB Hoodies. I love patterns that I can use for both of them, and hope I can zip thru them assembly line style. 

Finally, some good news for those planning to make the LTTSA apron this month- Rachel from Mama Stellato has agreed to giveaway one of her pick 2 pattern packs to one of our lucky entries! And there are going to be two winners this month, I'll tell you about the other prize later this week. Anyone can join in the sew-along and link up their project to enter, check out more info here. 

LTTSA: Apron part 1 (and Winner!)

Can I just say how inspired I am by you guys? I mean, the projects everyone linked up this month are kind of mind-blowing. And I'm so encouraged that we had nearly as many finishes as last month. That's saying something, since the backpack was really a lot more work than the hats. You guys are hardcore and I love it.

Now let's get to it- who wins the Oliver & S pattern of their choice?

It's #15, Meryl! I'll email you soon to discuss your choice of winnings, congrats!

So this month when cutting out my pieces for the bias-trimmed apron, I took Sarah's advice and used freezer paper. It was GLORIOUS. I've had some on hand forever because I love using it for stenciling on clothes, but I don't know why it never occurred to me to use it for patterns. I decided to cut fabric for 3 aprons, and it took no time with the freezer paper.

Just make sure you trace the pattern onto the freezer paper with the shiny, plastic-coated side down. Then iron your cut-out pieces right onto the fabric. Since it stuck so well, I felt like I was able to cut much more accurately than with pinning.

And the amazing part is that you can peel it up and iron it to another piece of fabric, and it sticks just as well! Have you guys tried this yet? I'm really excited about it, like to a degree of ridiculous sewing-geek proportions.

I found my roll of freezer paper at Target a while back. I'm not sure if all grocery stores carry it, but I'm telling you, it's worth hunting down! It was even easier to see thru than my blank newsprint I've been using.

So here are my pieces cut for all three aprons. All of this fabric is from Ikea, you may recognize that middle print from when I used it on a floor cushion. 

I'm really glad I planned this project for October because we always like to paint pumpkins. Well, always, as in starting last year. I want to try to do more indoor painting projects with the kids as the weather cools down too, so these will be perfect for that. I thought about using laminated cottons so they could just wipe down, but I decided it would be better to be able to throw them in the wash. These are all sturdy home-dec weight fabrics too.

... Speaking of, did you hear that Ikea is going to stop selling fabrics?!?! I'm a little sad about it, and I need to get to ours SOON to clear them out. 

Anyway, next week we'll talk about making bias tape, though using pre-made is ok for this too. After making that, this project will go together like cake, which will be nice after those backpacks with 57 pieces. 

Also, I'm working on getting another prize together for this month, so stay tuned for that! What are you guys using for the aprons? 

The Quickest Path to Homemade Cuteness

... is baby legs. You've seen them everywhere, but you haven't seen them on my adorable baby yet, so obviously, it's necessary.

She really is this sweet. All the time. Even when she is fussing about something, you can make her laugh in the middle of it. And... cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeks!

These things are the quickest ever. I whipped up 4 pairs in about 20 minutes. They are made from long socks I got at target a long time ago for just this purpose. Now that the weather is changing and she's starting to scoot around, it had to be done.




I'm getting pretty excited to make her some more clothes next week for KCWC. I'm gonna kick ass this time. Last spring was the first time I tried to participate, but she was very new and sleep was still very precious, so I only made a couple of things for Hendrix. I'm hoping to gather my patterns and get a bunch of fabric cut out this weekend so that I can just zip through the sewing next week. Yay for fall weather and fall sewing!

2 Blocks, 28 Squares, 1 Winner, and a Front-Butt.

You guys, attempting to shop for new jeans this afternoon has left me totally depressed. After striking out in the junior-ish section, I actually tried on a brand called "Not Your Daughter's Jeans." Really? That was a new dressing room low. There is nothing in between the low-cut-look-at-my-tramp-stamp variety and the mom jean front-butt variety. My life is over at not quite 29. Might as well get a dog that fits in a purse, switch to decaf, and go back to the store for those mom jeans.

Ok, I'm going to stop being so devastatingly dramatic, and think about pretty fabrics instead.



... Look what came in the mail this morning!

28 perfectly beautiful 10" squares of Echino prints. These make me incredibly happy. It's just going to be difficult to land on the perfect quilt design for them. Infinite thanks to Sara at Sew Sweetness for organizing the swap!

 These are my September blocks for the do.Good Stitches bee. Diane asked for off-centered square in square blocks with orange, white, and one or two other colors. I love pink and orange together and was happy to use up some Loulouthi scraps... I really need to finish that quilt. It has a back, just needs some quick and simple quilting. Anyway, I love how both of these blocks came out, and I think the whole quilt is going to be really fun.

Finally, if you are looking for the winner of LBG Studios Convertible Clutch pattern, it's #13, my buddy Liv!  (I promise that was the first result! Screen grabs don't lie.)

The rest of you, go buy that pattern anyway, it's going to be all the rage in blogdom. Do it, do it!