So Good to Sew Again

 It's been a while since I've blogged anything. I guess I haven't been in the mood to share.

Another thing I haven't done in a while is do any sewing. In the past, knitting was my preferred hobby because it was more portable. However, the other day I happened to be at Jo-Ann fabrics and the sewing bug hit, haha.

This also coincided with a recently canceled order from Zulily. (As in, I put lots of adorable outfits in my shopping cart, and then Reason/Economy stepped in and made me dump them all back out again.) So, in that dangerous state of mind hovering between self-satisfaction from having saved myself about $100 and a tinge of sadness that I hadn't splurged $100, I stepped into JoAnn's.

Isn't this fabric pretty? 

I was talking to a friend recently, and she reminded me of when we were kids and her Home Ec Guru mother was horrified that I preferred to sew without patterns. (I can sew with a pattern, but I usually can't be bothered. Too time-consuming). 

Anyway, I guess-timated, and purchased 2 yards of fabric, which was just about the right amount for a cute skirt for my youngest. 

She's nine, now, can you believe it!?

I love that my Viking sewing machine has a variable speed setting. It made me a little less anxious about letting Ella have the controls. She likes to sew like she does everything else . . . fast, fast, and faster. Still, she did a pretty good job.

To finish the ensemble, I took one of her solid-colored, long-sleeved tees and appliqued a heart onto the front with some leftover scrap fabric.

She likes it, I like it, and best yet, I got three outfits for under $20, and we got to spend time together making something even more special than clothes - memories.

New Gnome Dresses

It has been a long time since I felt like sewing.  My schedule is usually so busy that finding the time to sit and accomplish something  isn't possible very often . 

I prefer to purchase my fabric through a small online store called fabricworm.com. The quality of the fabrics is excellent and they have such unique patterns!

For this dress I actually used to pattern. (Usually I don't because I am impatient and want to start sewing right away!)

I made a similar dress for Breanna, but this time I just winged a pattern.

They look so cute together!

Ella's Dress

I have recently discovered my favorite online fabric store called FabricWorm, and this discovery has led to several too many a few fabric purchases.

This is a little dress I made for Ella.  It's sleeveless so that it can transition from warm weather to cold (with the addition of a turtleneck or onesie underneath).

As usual, I didn't bother using a pattern.  I like to live dangerously.

For the back closure I used a vintage plastic button from my stash.

 Ooooo, just look at those blond curls!!!! 

 

You can tell from the background in the pictures that I spend much more time crafting and sewing than cleaning . . . .

Little Lacy Lady

My Oma was in Saba when my daughter Ella turned one, and when Oma asked what to get Ella for her birthday, I knew right away what I'd like for her - a piece of handmade Saba Lace to use on a dress.



(I had previously blogged about Saba Lace here, if you'd like to read more about how it's made).

I had a half of a yard of beautiful white cotton embroidered fabric in my stash, and I was just waiting for the perfect piece of lace to sew onto the bodice.

I made the dress without a pattern, and lined it with a lightweight muslin.  The back has two pearl buttons, and I sewed three pintucks around the bottom hem.

 

I'm not sure how long it will stay completely white, but I hope that this will be an heirloom someday!

 

Fashionista Baby

I love sewing for Ella.  I mean, really, girl clothes are just so much more fun to make than boy clothes.  Don't believe me?  Next time you're at Wal-mart, just notice the amount of space given over to baby girl clothes versus the space for boy clothes.

I rest my case.

I've noticed that this season minty/green and peach seem to be the fashion colors of choice, and for once, I also like it (I'm soooo glad the yellow and gray combination is over.  *Ick, shudder, cringe*).

I found some fabric at Joann's and decided to make a quick little peasant style dress for Ella, complete with extravagant bow that can double as a chew toy.

 

 

Bottom's Up!

I use cloth diapers, and when my SiL Kathy mentioned that she couldn't find any cloth diaper covers big enough for her son Ikey, I was so happy to sew a pair for her, as I've already sewn quite a few for my Ella.  (Ella has sensitive skin and reacts to wearing disposable diapers - and yes, I've tried different brands).

I've used a lot of different styles of covers, including wool knit covers as well as purchased diapers from several different brands.  This style is my favorite, and best yet, the pattern is free online as a really well-written tutorial.

I use Velcro as a fastener because the cost for investing in a plastic snaps kit was just too much for me to justify. 

The Velcro works just as well, perhaps better, but I do have to remember to refasten the diaper before washing it or the Velcro teeth can snag onto other clothing in the wash.



The pattern printed only goes up to a size large (which in my opinion should be more like a medium, as it perfectly fits my average-size 7 month old), so I copied the pattern pieces on my printer at 130%.

This meant that I also needed to adjust the length of the elastic in the legs, front, and back.

 

 The pattern can be somewhat overwhelming at first if you're new to cloth diapering.  I chose to sew the "sham" pattern, which simply means that there's a pillow-sham like opening inside where you can slip the absorbent lining if you don't want to mess with a pre-fold diaper and snappis.

The fabric used for a diaper cover is very important, as it is the final line of defense between disgusting-ness and your unsuspecting self.  The lining inside is a microfiber fleece that doesn't absorb moisture very well so the uh - stuff - travels where it's supposed to, the absorbent insert.  There's also the added benefit of it being ultra soft on baby's silky smooth bum cheeks.



Finally, the outside fabric is called PUL (poly-laminate something-or-other) that is waterproof and lightweight.  There are lots of cute design options out there, but when I purchased the fabric I knew I needed something that was unisex in case I sewed diapers for a baby other than Ella.  I got mine on sale at Joann's with a 40% coupon plus free shipping, so I've estimated that the final cost for each diaper is around $3 (not including time spent sewing it, of course).

Not too bad, considering that they will last through baby's diapering cycle and is much better for the environment AND your pocketbook!

Do you use cloth diapers for your kids?  What brands do you prefer?

Ella's Christmas Dress

 

I got this fabric this summer and I didn't get around to making anything with it until this weekend (procrastination!)  I only purchased half a yard, so I had to use every bit in order to get a wearable outfit from it.

My MiL Diane picked up a handful of sewing notions from a thrift store, and in the bunch was a red binding that matched perfectly!



I added a bit of lace at the cuffs and the bottom hem, but this time I was able to restrain myself and didn't get too wild and crazy . . .

 

Due to the limited amount of fabric I had to work with, I decided not to use a pattern but just made a simple peasant dress using a shirt Ella wears as a guide for sizing.  The dress won't fit her for long, but as it's a seasonal item anyway I wanted something that fit her perfectly right now.



I love adding a tag.  It makes me feel important and designer-ish.

For the back I did my favorite little cut opening and added a button closure.  The binding made this so easy to do.  Hopefully I can remember what I did the next time . . .



I had bits and scraps left over from the dress, so I made two little fabric shoes to match. 



I found the tutorial online, and it's my favorite bootie pattern for babies. They fit so well and don't take long at all to put together!





Kaffe Fasset Skirt

I purchased this fabric awhile ago from Fabric.com.  Kaffe Fasset is a designer who uses some pretty extreme color combinations, and this particular fabric really appealed to me.

I used some purple crushed velvet from my stash as a contrast.

I'm hoping that with a plain white tee and my knee-high brown boots this will look nice!

Pattern: New Look 0136
Fabric: Kaffe Fasset Lotus Leaf