Summer Sky: Learning as I go

WIP Wednesday :: how's the sewing?

Still time for the Alphabet Glue giveaway! Don't miss out!

No yarn along this time. In fact, I ripped out the knitting you saw last week and started over 12 times already. Size 2 needles + me = do not mix.  But I’m determined, I tell you; I really want to make this sweater (plus knitting is like Tetris to me, I can't say why, but I don't mind a set back).

In the meantime, I have a little bit of sewing WIP to show. I will come back and show the finished skirt, I promise, it turned out well but I still need to hem it. However, onward and upward, sewing class schedules wait for no man or woman and I’m now taking a tailored shirt class that is making me so happy.

 

A muslin, or mock-up, of the shirt

 

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve sewed up plenty of patterns, I somehow gained quite a bit of sewing knowledge (via osmosis) from my mother (who was always sewing something with me in the room). But I still felt I could use some guidance, and I’ve recently found it in spades.

I had held off for years from taking these local sewing classes—mostly because I had no babysitting to speak of and the timing never seemed right. I also pictured sitting patiently while the teacher helped everyone thread their machines again (yawn) or else feeling like I was holding everyone else back (the more likely scenario).

Instead, the fabric store is letting the classes move forward even if there’s just one student (me!). And did I tell you I love the teacher? Antoinette is a fascinating person and if she would just get her blog up and running I would share it with you. She is just brimming with creative ideas and it is fun to talk to her about almost anything, not just sewing.

She is just the mentor I needed! She is letting me make a tailored shirt for N (fingers crossed, in time for Easter) rather than for myself; she is letting me use an Ottobre pattern; and because I’m the only one there, I can spend 15 minutes discussing very precisely how to pin the inset sleeve into the shoulder with a teeny bit of gathering but no pleats.

This is the shirt I'm making, from the Winter 2009 edition of Ottobre. It comes in a 'little boy' version, but it doesn't have all the same details, so I'm doing the little boy shirt with the big boy pockets, cuffs, and topstitching you see below.

 

I’m craving my two hours on Tuesdays now. I’m going to keep right on taking these classes as long as everyone else lets me.

And here’s one last photo of some forlorn looking fabric that I have a fun idea for. But that’s for another day…

Linen towelling. Whatever for?

 

Are you enjoying the thrill of learning something new? Please share ~

 

It's that time (again)

We are again thinking about people in need. We are thankful that our family's friends in Japan are all safe, but our hearts ache for those who have lost so much.

 

It's that time of year again--when many schools hold their annual benefit auctions to raise funds for the school. We never had school auctions growing up--so I wonder sometimes how they came to be here in the U.S. But regardless, it is fun to use them as an excuse to do a little quilting.

 

Last year, I sewed quite a bit more for the auction--I believe I sewed 8 items? Yikes! And I complained then about how few photos I take of the things I make because I'm working right up to the last minute.

For example, I made a doll quilt last year but never did post the picture of the finished quilt. I think I was being way too hard on myself because it was the first quilt I'd ever made and of course I see all its flaws! Well, I went back and looked again and I guess they weren't as bad as all that. So here is one of last year's doll quilts, front and back.

 

This year I undertook a more reasonable amount of sewing, and 'only' made two doll-sized quilts. I used fabric on hand. Again, the photo was very last minute and taken in dim light so it's been photoshopped within an inch of its life and the colors might not be quite true.

 

I do think my quilting abilities have vastly improved--but I'm not super crazy about these fabrics. The one on the left is cheery enough, but it's very 'matchy-matchy' for my taste. I like the more ecletic look of the one on the right, but the palette is a little too subdued. Anyhow, I hope you read these words with a grain of salt; I can be hard on myself and I tend to second-guess my creative choices.

I should also mention that the doll's quilt on the right contains three or four fabrics from a bunch of scraps I bought from Erin way back when. (More recently, I did try to buy some of Sally's but I think she's all sold out. And I joined in Amanda's giveaway via Alewives and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Hey, you can never have too many fabric scraps!)

The school auction was this past Saturday and I'm not sure who won these quilts. I only take one peek at the bidding sheets to make sure somebody loves me has placed a bid. But in the end, the process of sewing and quilting is for me. Though I'm hard on myself, I don't worry too much about what other people think ~ the joy is in the making.

 

 

Knitting, sewing, living

The living part first.

N has a sore throat, but no fever. He says his legs are all wobbly and he only wants to lie down. I sat down next to him and stroked his hair while he noticed the silence. I brought him a pillow and a blanket so he could curl up on the sofa, and he said, "All I want is you. You are the cuddliest thing in the house." (Although my heart melted, it also reminded me of why I signed up for the Y yesterday.)

Now he's sound asleep.

 

The sewing part.

I haven't sewn a stitch since the end of October. I sort of rebelled. You see, I sew at our family dinner table. We don't have another. I have a small cabinet to store all the sewing stuff away, but I get a bit tired of doing that. Actually, I'm not tired of putting things away; I'm tired of letting everything sit out and just pushing it aside and three weeks later finally putting it away.

One day I hope to have a little sewing room, but for this month, I decided to take the sewing elsewhere. I signed up for a sewing class with a local fabric store.

Although I've sewn from many a pattern, I have no formal training. Everything--almost everything--I know about sewing I learned from my mom. (I didn't sew that much growing up, either. But I have lots of memories of her sewing. Something sunk in.) To tell the truth, my eventual goal isn't to sew from patterns. It's to either alter patterns or to draft my own. Not just for me, but also for our kids (as long as they'll let me). I don't expect to be a designer or to make anything original. I just don't feel like paying through the nose for cuteness.

Our first class was Tuesday. We are making skirts. They have to have zippers (the teacher won't let us use the 'invisible' kind).  I'm going with a metallic zipper--only later did I realize I was channeling Amy from over a year ago.

We chose our patterns and fabric, cut out our skirts, and ironed the paper with a steam iron (learned something new already). The teacher very helpfully showed me how to alter my pattern to better fit my current shape (another reason I'm glad I joined the Y).

 

Last but not least.

I finished another stella pixie hat.

Three Irish Girls Galena Merino in their Kate colorway.

I would've posted sooner, but I dithered over how to make a pom pom (all previous attempts in my life at making pom poms being utter failures; this tut did the trick). I also debated how to do the neckband, and in the end I went with Meg's idea of an I-chord. I used this YT tut.

This hat was meant for a toddler (and it fits), but it is so stretchy that it also fits E.  She begged to have it. I was pleased enough to give in (although I would've made the pom pom a little bigger if I'd intended it for her). I hope my friend C, whose toddler is not going to get this hat, will forgive me. Another hat is in the works.

WIP Wednesday

Why, hi there! I managed to show up for WIP Wednesday!  What I've been up to:

1.  Ever since I saw Mary Beth knitting up company dishcloths, they've been on my mind. I bought some 100% cotton yarn at Michael's and I've had a dishcloth going on my needles ever since.

Now that I look at this photo, and back at Mary Beth's, I think I bought some of the same yarn! But her dishcloths look quite a bit neater than mine~

 

When I posted about tips I've picked up as a beginning knitter, one commenter asked for a pattern that took her beyond scarves. Dishcloths fit the bill! 

A person can only wear so many scarves, but anyone can put a dishloth to use.  Plus, dishcloths are a great way to practice new stitches, switching colors, most anything.  No one's going to wear it, so it's okay if it isn't the prettiest thing you've ever made.

The pattern is from the book Knitting Pretty.  As usual, I recommend checking the book out of the library first before buying it.  (You can find other knitters' versionsof the company dishcloth if you register on Ravelry; one clever knitter kept on knitting and made hers into a baby blanket.) 

2.  I'm finally getting started on making a dress or two out of the beautiful Japanese pattern books I bought recently.  I dithered about and finally bought some real pattern paper; tissue paper gets so beat up after one use.  Just before I paused to take this shot, I threw down the gingham I'm planning on using.

I had the best time tracing and cutting pattern pieces on the porch this morning.  The air was cool and the birds were singing away.

Any projects, big or small, that you're working on?  Feel free to share!

All I have to show for it.

So, I know that the Kids' Week sewing challenge is officially over.  But, I thank Meg (of elsie marley) for hosting such a great challenge, and for supplying so much inspiration, and for the participants who posted to her flickr group.  It was all enough to encourage me to keep on plugging away on my own personal challenge (but as usual, don't hold your breath).

I did manage to sew something--so here it is!  And I only broke one needle and ripped out three seams to make it.  I think I was very distracted today, for no good reason! I cut the first fat quarter the wrong way for the directional repeat, then I sewed the right side of one piece to the wrong side of the other. I had used very tiny stitches (still getting used to the Bernina) and ripping out those seams was a BEAR, let me tell you. So that's why it took two hours to sew together a pattern I like and that I've made before. Leave it to me!

 In case you were wondering, those are kitties playing around on that fabric.

Despite all my mishaps, this is really a great ways to use up a fat quarter or two.  You may recognize it as Jane's headscarf from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing.  My friend-via-blogging, Larissa of Stitches in Play, came up with a cute variation--make it smaller so it fits a child, and make it reversible.  This is now my go-to for a quick girl's gift (believe it or not).

Here's the reverse side of the very same head scarf.  D, my husband, helped me out with this mini-photo shoot by telling E some very funny jokes.

I don't like the fabric very much, but it wasn't for me. I was with my close friend M when I picked it out; we wanted to get something 'girly' so our two daughters could have matching headscarves. We live so far apart, it seemed like a sweet connection to have (and they both adore kitties).

Ah, well! Better luck next time--in more ways than one!

P.S. Yes, the Bernina sews like a dream, and I can never go back now. Spoiled rotten! (Thank you, Robbie!)

A sewing challenge for WIP Wednesday.

Before I say anything, you must visit Molly ~ she's having an amazing giveaway week.  Today she's giving away an Ergo *with infant insert* to some lucky duck, but check back with her because it sounds like there's more to come (and not all for parents).

 

See that fabric? I turned it, and 11 more like it, into napkins about nine months ago. I just need to hand-sew the openings.

My WIPs are reaching a critical mass.  As in, Local Woman Found Alive, but Unable to Move, Under Mountains of Fabric. 

Meg at Elsie Marley is hosting 'kids' clothes week,' a sewing challenge.  The goal is to sew one hour a day for the second week in May, and to get all those back-burner kid projects over and done.  Accessories count, by the way, so don't cry foul if that's all I end up finishing.

I might sneak a few other WIPs in there too (at least, that's my hope) because D may be traveling some of that time.  We shall see. 

There's a bunch of other people playing along, so go ahead and join in if the mood strikes. Here are some links to five other participants, looking forward to being introduced to some new blogs while I'm at it!

Jenna's Egypt

Three Dancing Magpies

Our Old Southern House

Hickety Pickety Handmade

At Home in Albuquerque 

What kinds of projects do you have lying about (sewing, or not)? Feel free to share!

WIP Wednesday

The weather is crazy here.  I peeked out the front door this afternoon to see this sight:

Yes, they were running through the sprinkler today, and then eating Italian ices, because it was that hot.

This is not good! The daffodils are nearly spent. The azaleas and irises are starting to come out. The magnolias are past their peak.  And it's the first week of April!?  Way too fast.

But it's WIP Wednesday and I have something to talk about.  Here's what's on my needles--another Stella Pixie Hat, this time I'm trying to size it up to fit E this fall. (I still need to finish the other one but I need some time entirely alone, just me and the kitchener stitch.)

Have you seen the little dresses that Alicia P. is sewing up? Each one is more darling than the last. My mom sewed many of our dresses growing up, and I'd like to make some for E while she is still small.

I bought these two darling Japanese pattern books recently to get started.  I don't know any stores around here that carry them, but I do happen to have a Japanese friend here, so perhaps I should investigate further.

Here's the first book--every one of these little dresses and shirts is simply adorable.  I have some Darla red gingham I've saved (I lovethat gingham), some Joel Dewberry, and some Nicey Jane to get me started.  If anyone ever finds a store in the D.C. metro area that carries fabrics this beautiful, let me know. I'm still searching.

 

And here is a little dress from the second book that I'd hoped to make for Easter--but the pattern book didn't get here in time. I chose this AMH voile for the dress--such beautiful fabric; you really must feel it in person.

 

I also found (on Etsy) some yardage of My Folklore that is my very favorite--wouldn't it be sweet turned into one of these dresses?  Maybe for fall.

I hope to show off a couple of small sewing projects that I'm finishing up...but as per usual around here, don't hold your breath.

Any sweet sewing plans in your future?

What I sewed : : oven mitts

I talked a lot about all the sewing I did for two (!) school auctions, but I've yet to post any photos.

One reason was, I worked right up until my deadlines, then didn't get a chance to take good pictures.

Or, in some cases, any pictures at all.  So here is what I do have:

oven mitts. and more oven mitts.  I like my oven mitts very long so you can confidently reach into a deep, hot oven and pull out your roasting pan or brownies or what have you.  These were all made with AMH Good Folks, but you probably spotted that already if you know her fabric.

Here are the mitts I made for the second auction--only one pair this time.   My friends and acquaintances seem to really want their own oven mitts like any of these.  But I often get a funny question:  whether or not the fabric scortches.  The answer is yes, but no more or less than fabric oven mitts you buy at any cooking supply store.  I tested the insulbright with a hot oven because I couldn't believe it would work (it's so thin) but I couldn't feel the heat at all when I tried it out.

I also made a pair of children's oven mitts in some Japanese linen I had left over. They're real (they're made with the same insulation as the adult oven mitts) but they're only intended for play. (As an aside: I don't like how the binding on the cuff is so wide--I will make narrower binding next time)

 

I will post about the doll quilts another day--I'm hoping to get a photo from the winner at the second auction because I really loved that quilt--I had a terrible time parting with it. Which means I'll have to sew another one.

Thanks for letting me blather on about my sewing!

Preview of coming attractions.

 
It's that time of year again.

I wish I didn't dread school auctions so much.  It's not the auctions, actually--they are pretty fun to attend. No, it's soliciting local shops for donations that I don't care for.  The stores around here are certainly used to it, because so many schools have auctions in our town.  I also make sure to only solicit stores that have donated consistently in the past.  Still, I get this knot in my stomach just thinking about it.

So, I'd much rather donate something I made, instead.  I get the pleasure of sewing, coupled with a deadline (a nudge to finish helps around here).  The trick, of course, is to make something other people like enough to buy. 

This year, I decided to sew three or four different types of items for two different school auctions.  First up, doll quilts.  I've never made a quilt before, but I thought I could learn a lot at this smaller scale.  I also thought this was something parents could buy for their children or give as gifts to other families. 

Here is a newly-minted top for doll quilt #1 (I'm sewing 3), casually awaiting backing and binding.

I'll never get tired of Tanya Whelan's Darla line, which is a good thing, because I've bought the fabric in frighteningly large amounts.  Yes, I do have a bit of guilt over buying new fabric rather than repurposing vintage, but you'll just have to believe that it's mighty hard to find good vintage fabric around here (in any form)--and I've certainly tried.

I have lots of sewing to finish, and I hope some parent takes pity on me and buys my stuff.  The funny thing is, for reasons I can't explain, that part doesn't worry me much at all.  And if I'd never done soliciting, it probably would!

For a friend.

Back in October I was talking to my friend Elizabeth about her cute little quilted cell phone case she had bought somewhere. It was getting a bit raggedy, and she mentioned she needed a new one.

I impulsively told her I'd make one, and a few weeks later showed her some fat quarters from Lizzy House's Red Letter Day (Galosh colorway) that I'd recently bought without any specific project in mind. 

I finally got around to sewing it up right after the holidays.  It turned out pretty cute (if I say so myself) and she seems to really like it.  I screwed up the "quilting" (see how the stitching on the top and bottom halves of the front don't line up) but I don't give a fig, because the repeat lined up and is in the proper direction, front and back!

 

I used this tutorial from Katrin of sew-mad; it's actually for a camera case. However, it's not size-specific so you can adjust it to fit almost any electronic gizmo (ipods, point-and-shoot cameras, PDAs, cell phones).

My friend really liked the Baby Duckling fabric.  I knew it would present a miniature challenge because the repeat is in one main direction.  I wanted the ducks to be "up" and swimming whether the case was viewed from the front or back.

Here, the front flap is lying open so you can see how the ducks are always "up."

So--easy enough in theory--I divided the pattern into three parts and sewed them together, patchwork style:  the lower front & bottom + the back + the top & upper front.  If you can picture that. I had to add 1/4 seams to each of the three main sections in order to accomplish this.

For the lining, I used the fabric called A Walk in the Park (colorful trees) which has a repeat that's a little large for this purpose--but it contrasts nicely. 

These make such a nice little gift!  I'm sure I'll be sewing up some more.

P.S. If anyone wants more guidance on how to cut up the pattern and sew it patch-work style for fabric with a directional repeat, just let me know. I can try to write something up.  Thanks again to Katrin for a fun, useful pattern.