Ah well, you win some, you lose some. The friend was still happy to receive the gift despite the flaws, and I do still think it's a cute design! Definitely a make-again, but next time I will read the instructions more carefully.
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Journey to the Nether (and better reading comprehension)
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Surprise Snack Hop 'til you Drop
For our first Disney trip, I ordered a ton of fabric and then... didn't actually make anything for the trip. Oops. Over the years, the Disney makes trickled out, but I vowed that the NEXT time we went to Disney, I would be more prepared. So I stashed up. A lot.
So much, in fact, that when a friend went to Disney, I had extra fabric just waiting for a home! This is another Patterns 4 Pirates Basic Tee, sewn up literally overnight. My friend loves to Snack Hop, so she got a big kick out of the shirt the next morning when she picked her daughter up from a sleepover.
And I got the satisfaction of a new make, well placed.
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Sidekicks Patronus Pajamas
It's not very often that I do a selfish sew, and I'm still on a quest for some patterns that reliably fit and flatter my figure. Pajamas, however, don't need to be flattering. They just need to be comfy! This sidekicks print was a "Round 1" offering from a host that was just starting up, and I was pleased that it came it looking (and feeling!) great. Sometimes there's a learning curve on custom hosting.
Monday, December 20, 2021
Rescuers Tee
Speaking of once upon a time, I ordered a panel from Japan for my Rescuers-loving (local) nephew at the start of the pandemic. Through fits and starts, it took almost 6 months to get to me.
But once it got here it made a great tee! I did something I never do: flat-out raided another panel in the 3-panel set for enough "background" print to make the sleeves and back match the front. And it was so worth it. I loved the result.
This tee is made from the Tie Dye Diva Zee's Tee pattern (4T), and I added the ringer sleeves myself to help Wilbur pop. There isn't a lot of Rescuers stuff on the market out there, so this was a well-timed (and well loved!) addition to his closet.
Thursday, December 16, 2021
DC Hero Capsule Wardrobe
From the panels, I managed a 6m Onesie (Robin), a 9m Onesie (Superman) and the back of a 3-12m Grow-with-Me Cardigan (Batman).
From the yardage I got the front and sleeves of the cardigan, a pair of 3-12m Grow-with-me pants, a pair of 3m bummies, and a very adorable 3m hat. This was my first shot at a true capsule wardrobe, and I am pleased at how it turned out. It was gifted at the shower in July, and I can't wait to see it on my nephew!
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Bob's Burger and some Fuzzy Future Rulers
When I'm *not* looking, I can always find tons of fabric I do not need. But once I start looking...
This spring, we received a very exciting announcement; my husband's brother (one of seven) and his wife were expecting! Out of an abundance of caution, they waited until pretty far along in the pregnancy to make it public. Which was great for the excitement - soon! soon! But also... cut into my shopping window. Plus, when it comes to blankets, I've become very picky.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Pride Rock Bowling Raglan
One of my favorite fabric shops has started a yearly "Blank-a-Palooza" where they sell toddler toppers, ostensibly to be made into blankets for Christmas gifts. But, they don't limit themselves to the traditional blanket bases (Minky, Double Minky) for the event. And while browsing, a thought occurred to me - what IS a toddler topper, if not a panel-plus-fat-half rapport by a different name?
This particular artwork caught my for my brother, who never can have enough handmade Disney shirts in my opinion. I picked up a blanket topper in CL, and the picture panel was almost perfectly sized to make a men's raglan. It took me a while to find the perfect shade of maroon for the sleeves, but finally I did and then we were off to the races.
This garment is, as usual, made from the Cole's Creations Jerry Raglan. I used the panel for the front and the backing for, well, the back. This a quick, fun sew - and quite the stashbuster when you're sewing in a men's size 42 as I was.
According to my mom this shirt was a big success, and now my brother has another Disney raglan to go out on the town (or lounge around home) in!
Thursday, December 2, 2021
A Tradition Broken
One of my most honored Christmas Traditions for... the past decade, as it turns out, is to *dream* about finishing my Christmas Traditions quilt but then... not actually do it. This quilt sprang to a start in 2011 when I sent my sewing machine in for service, and then caved on the fabric for this pattern in a Best Quilts for Christmas Magazine.
I pieced it in 2013 and 2014, and I don't even *know* when I started quilting it... but I do know my Mom has been on me to try out her Handi-Quilter for a couple of years, and I have resisted. This year, however, when we were packing for that June trip I discovered I had extra space in my checked luggage and so, in true last-minute fashion I caved and I brought it. Yes, I submitted my massive multi-year quilting effort to the whims of Airport Luggage Personnel. Twice, even. Fortunately for me, United Airlines brought me and my bags out AND home safe.
I'd already done maybe 2/3 of the quilting on my regular machine at home, but the idea of finishing it in one sitting proved too appealing to resist. I'd never worked with a "Medium-Arm" machine, but it does seem like a practical way to marry the spaciousness of a long-arm with the freedom of free-motion quilting. All I had left to do was the outer third. I used my mom's technique of putting dry-eras marker on sheet protectors to "try out" my design, and I settled for loops and squiggles.
Here I am working the quilt. The handi-quilter is definitely nice to work with: it's got lots of space and good speed control. There was definitely a learning curve on threading it - I'm glad Mom was there to help with that - but overall it went WAY faster than quilting on a traditional machine, and with a lot less wrestling of the fabric. Here's my mom's account of the adventure.
It only took me a few hours (well, maybe four or so) to finish on the Handi-Quilter. Below, you can see my final design:
Next up is binding this creation; and this year, I'm actually optimistic that I will have it done by Christmas! Wish me luck...
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Runaway Railway Or the Triumphant Return Home
I've been trying to do at least one shirt a year for my Dad. I don't always succeed - the Peekaboo Yukon is pretty labor-intensive and it can be hard to fit it in. But every shirt I have made him he has worn enthusiastically, to all his most favorite events, and reliably reports back any compliments he receives with pride. So, I have lots of incentive to keep him smartly dressed :-)
He's a big Potter, Disney, and Train fain, so past years have been Harry Potter, Harry Potter, and Christmas Trains. But a Christmas shirt can only be worn so often! So when I saw this Classic Mickey Train Cartoon Print, I knew what I had to do.
I think I bought it mid-2020, but the real excitement came in May 2021. It was then that - with my parents vaccinated against the Coronavirus and the kids out of school - we were able to book a trip out to see my parents: the first time I'd seen my dad in person since our Multi-Family Disney Trip in September of 2019.
So - wanting to make a big splash on this much-anticipated vacation - I burned the midnight oil HARD for this creation. I started 2 weeks before the trip (usually I plan on three for a Yukon) and literally, I was finishing it up and sewing the buttons on the night before we got on the plane. Fortunately, I did have a backup in that my mom is a sewist and I could have used her machine, but... that would have spoiled the surprise (and the enjoyment of my own machine) just a bit.I'm pretty sure that mostly, he was just happy to see me, and my husband, and the grandkids. But it certainly did not HURT that while we were there he got to look this dashing for all to see. He even wore it to the airport as he bade us goodbye.
Friday, November 19, 2021
A Few Sus Hoodies
My daughter has slowly been gravitating away from custom makes (sigh...), but she's a huge fan of Impostor. My son is crazy about it too, so when this fabric came, I jumped in so quickly I forgot to take pictures. My son is very much a hoodie man, so that was an easy pattern choice. I had all sorts of visions of a CKC Delaney (bow back version) or a Girls' Fun Puffed Sleeve Tee for my daughter, but alas, she declared she wanted a hoodie too. Well, OK.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Disney Trip... do the Princess whip!
I'm a huge Disney fan, but the truth is, living in the midwest we don't get to go the "Kingdom of Mouse" nearly as often as I would like to. I accumulate a lot of vacation fabric, but then in the throes of vacation planning, I don't get to sew nearly as much as I would like. However, when my *friends* go to Disney Land or Disney World...
In March, a friend booked a last-minute trip to the Magic Kingdom. Her daughter was aged three, the perfect size for a little scrap busting. So, on a lark I made a copy of the Happiest Dress (Details in the linked post) with leftover scraps.
And when that was done, I still had time for another. So I tried a new, more princess-y look based on the SLPCo Isla, and using scraps left over from a shower gift for my husband's coworker.
To create this look I started with the Isla Bodice and added an inch to the bodice height, then added 1/2" to the sleeve length. This was mostly so the double skirt would not have to be so long, but also because the wearer is long-waisted. Then for the bottom I cut out two circle skirts - a plain one that was regular length (minus one inch to compensate for bodice height) and one that I mathed out to be 1/3 of the first skirt's length. This "golden ratio" keeps the skirts looking proportionate.
Putting it all together, I had a big, "fluffy" dress that took a little while to hem, but otherwise was pretty darn quick. It was a huge hit at the park, and even though my family wasn't going, my friend got to give this lovely princess fabric the "park tour."
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Sonic Boo-ty
After the Pac-man Pants of Christmas, I was eager to try the Apple Tree Bunny Bottoms again, this time with the most visually appealing option set rather than the fastest. So with the scraps from the Sonic Cardigan I created these little cuties
I had worried that the drawstring would be hard, but it turns out it was just a faux drawstring that, while not functional, looks pretty good and only took minutes to construct. The pockets were also a nice feature, and although my timing was off in making pants right as the weather warmed up. But these went to my local nephew, so perhaps I will see them again as the fall weather cools off. That's one perk of Grow-with-me apparel: it works for multiple years.
Thursday, November 11, 2021
This is the Wardrobe
My husband is a serious Star Wars enthusiast, and so when "The Mandalorian" premiered on Disney+, of course we had to watch. And when "Grogu" (AkA "Baby Yoda") appeared on the screen my kids were hooked. So when I saw a baby Yoda print-and-panel-set on offer, I just *had* to take the plunge.
Of course the panel set had *three* panels and I only have two children, so... just for fun we brought our local cousin in on the action as well.
My daughter insisted on a long-sleeved shirt (a "regular" one, sigh...), so for her we used the Girls' Fun tee, one of my favorite patterns ever. My son got a MegaMax Raglan (I usually size up one from RTW size) and my nephew got a t-shirt based on Zee's Tee from Tie Dye Diva (I usually lengthen the sleeves a bit to make it more masculine for boys).
I did have to go to the dreaded B/S/Ts(Buy/Sell/Trades) for the Yellow sleeve fabric, but it was totally worth it. Because for three go-to quick-sew projects, I got three very happy kids!!!
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Fireflies for my Little Niece
After completing the Cardigan in my last post, I was on to what I *really* wanted to use this fabric for - a fun set for my newborn niece in California. I've long been in love with the SLPCo Hampton for a while, and despite the scale, this fabric just *looked* like it wanted to be a fun baby set. I picked up the SLPCo Sarah Anne Leggings to complete the outfit.
The Fireflies and the Rainbow Watercolor were from Kammie Lou Lou, and the magenta sparkles were from Wanderlust. On the Hampton (top), I did stray from the written pattern when it came to the cuffs on the sleeves, because when I followed the directions the looked WAAAY to tiny - and even my modified, 1" bigger cuffs were still an adventure to work through on my machine. The 3-6m Sarah Anne leggings went together easily and looked cute, even if they did seem a bit big to go with the 3-6m top from the same pattern maker. Fortunately, it did not matter, because the shorties from last year's Care Bear set fit when the top did! So my niece had rainbow shorts to go with her outfit either way.
And I got cure pics of her to coo over from my SIL. definitely a win!
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Firefly Cardi
This firefly fabric is an oldie but goodie - and it's become ubiquitous in the custom fabric world. That said, it's also one of my first custom fabric purchases; because I loved it so much, I held onto it for 4 years without ever really working up the nerve to cut into it.
That all changed when my newest niece was born, but that's actually a story for another post. You see, I'd bought this fabric for a selfish sew for me, and if I was going to get two things out of it... well, the big things needed to be cut out first. So it was time to take the plunge.
After much debate, for the pattern I chose a Halla Cozy Wrap Cardigan... the open-front version. I liked the silhouette, and although I don't wear my Essie Much, I do like the way Halla patterns are drafted, with rulers to help with sizing and grading.
Both Fabric and Coordinate came from Kammie Lou Lou (My favorite shop).
I remain a little surprised at how long these adult patterns to take - to cut out and to sew up, but this time I was much happier with the result. I chose the open version, and found that while custom CL was a bit warm for spring, fall was the perfect time to wear this creation.
Clearly, I need to try this again!
Thursday, September 23, 2021
2020 Completions
Well, 2020 was the year of the pandemic, I think the pandemic plus general learning/increases in speed led to my most productive sewing year ever, even if you don't count all the masks. And oh, were there a lot of masks. But also, plenty of other fun things. It was a year where ambitious projects took a backseat to comfort sewing - and the year my daughter started to lose interest in custom fabrics, sigh - but I did still get a lot done.
So without further reminiscing, here are my completions from 2020:Kids vs Adults: 31 vs 5
Garment Sets: 5
Baby sets w/ Blanket: 2
Other projects: 6 (blankets)