Not Your Average Tote Bag

 After 4 years I am a little bit over my old, rectangle tote bag. It is still my favorite thing to simply throw my wallet, phone and keys into when we venture out of our house on foot to enjoy our neighborhood. But the style is super boring and one side has a small hole in it where the lining is showing through. So I endeavored to make a new bag that suits the same purpose, but has more style.

Thanks to the wonderful Memorial Day sales, I was able to add a few new fabrics to my collection, including 4 new prints from Peackock Lane by Victoria Craft for Michael Miller. I got these for $4.99 a yard at The Quilted Castle. And you haven't missed anything; they are still having a "Blowout Sale"...and what fabric hoarder doesn't like the sound of that?!

But back to the bag. I found a nice pattern in One Yard Wonders called the Flouncy Bag. I used the fabric measurements but the instructions totally lost me, so I set the book aside and simply did it my way. Everything worked out as I had hoped as I constructed the bag. The flouncy body of the bag is really cute. The lining is not flouncy however, so nothing will get lost inside. I sewed a simple button onto the band so I can tell which side is the front (not that it matters). The strap is attached on both sides through a D ring. This adds some hardware to the bag, but the straps isn't adjustable. It's sewn to the rings on each side with a pleat in the middle because I wanted the strap to be wide for comfort over the shoulder and to show off the elephants and peacocks on the fabric. You can't see the elephants in the pictures above because I folded up the strap for the pictures (my dress form is a size 2 toddler). At this point, you should click through using the Peacock Lane link above to see how really beautiful this fabric is and to get your own before it's gone!

And the bag just happens to match my favorite Pumas!

June 2012 Sewing Socials

Monday Nights, 7:30pm - whenever:

Below are the June Sewing Social Dates. Not meeting on June 11th!

June 4: Open project night: bring what you've wanted to work on.

June 18: Fabric cuffs.  Bring any special ribbons or lace you want for embellishments, I have scrap fabric to use and interfacing.

June 25: Glue Gun night. Fire up some hot glue to make fabric flowers and hairbows, etc. - OR - Sewing open project night: bring what you've wanted to work on.

The Details..
Come as you are, beginners and experts alike.
Bring your own machine.
You can bring a few bucks to cover the cost of any of my fabric you use or you can bring your own.
Please RSVP.
Please enter through my side/basement door so as not to ring the doorbell and wake up sleeping kids.

Banded Tank Top for Mommy

Following the idea of the banded tank top in her book for kids: Sewing ModKid Style by Patty Young, I made a Mommy version.

 

The Mommy version doesn't have a second band down at the hips. This makes the body of the shirt fall straight instead of poofing in the midsection (only kids get away with that). I added some rolled fabric flowers to the band to add something a little extra special. I like the way that distracts a little from the circus clown stripe. I love the fabric in the body of the shirt. It's a Tina Given's quilting cotton. Next time, a voile might have a better drape, but this fabric from Tina is really soft as far as quilting cotton goes. I made this all on a regular sewing machine using a ball point needle and a straight stretch stitch for sewing up the jersey.

Baby Shower Gift Set - For the Whimsical Mom

Often when a friend asks me to make a baby shower gift set (for them to give as a gift), I ask them to describe the expecting mom. Is she classic, modern, retro, whimsical, earthy? Is she having a boy or girl? Does she like things to be simple and clean or big and bold? This set of a nursing cover and a pair of burp cloths are for a mom who likes whimsy and is having a girl. My friend wanted her to have something fun!

May 2012 Sewing Socials

Monday Nights, 7:30pm - whenever:

Below are the May Sewing Social Dates. Not meeting on May 28th for Memorial Day.

May 14: Skirt refashion (drawstring waist skirt from a men's polo style shirt). If your husband doesn't have a polo he is willing to part with, don't worry, I've hoarded a few.

May 21: Scrappy Bathmats. Bring a towel to use as a bathmat. We will dress it up with scrap fabric.

The Details..
Come as you are, beginners and experts alike.
Bring your own machine.
You can bring a few bucks to cover the cost of any of my fabric you use or you can bring your own.
Please RSVP.
Please enter through my side/basement door so as not to ring the doorbell and wake up sleeping kids.

Pattern Testing Again

 With the face of an angel and the temperament of an...

... well let's just say she has the temperament of a 2 year old. Grace is pictured here showing off the latest modkid dress pattern. The fabric in the dress is designed by Patty Young for her Andalucia and Lush collections. Perfect colors to make spring and summer days bright and sunny.

I always learn a lot following a modkid pattern. This is the first time I've put in a collar. I got some needed zipper practice. This zipper was more tricky because there was a fabric seam to line up in the back, half way up the zipper. Mine is not perfect, but close enough. Nice touches on this dress include ruffle edged sleeves and a darling belt with belt loops to keep it looking smart.

One thing the modkid patterns do well are unique pockets. I love these teardrop shaped pockets that get seamed into the side seams of the skirt. Darling to look at and fun for kids to tuck their hands and treasures into. I found myself telling Patty that I'd love to have an adult version of this in a skirt... with the paper bag waist, tie front belt and those awesome pockets. I wanted the same thing for myself when I sewed up her Chloe dress.

In case you haven't been...

...you need to visit: handmaderyangosling.tumblr.com.

Beautiful Blue Baby Gift Set

A stroller blanket and ribbon lovie. The quilting cotton fabric is from an older Patty Young collection, Mezzanine.

 

Sewing MODKID Style

Today was a sewing whirlwind in my basement. Two sewing girlfriends came by to pitch in for a babysitter for all our little girls and we sewed up a s storm. I focused on 2 new projects from my Patty Young book, Sewing MODKID Style. This book has patterns intended for knit fabrics. The one shown is the banded Tank Top. It features rib knit for the top and straps and a band of rib knit at the bottom. For the middle section I used a quilting cotton to give it a lighter weight summer feel. Two snazzy buttons really dress up the bodice. I made it in a size 6 for my oldest daughter. This dress form is more like a size 3, so in real life there are longer straps and the bottom section shows more. It's adorable.

I made a second one just like this using a melon color rib knit and a chevron stripe cotton print in the middle. I love them both so much. This isn't the first time I've made a Patty Young project and wished I had the pattern in an adult size.

I also knocked out a pair of the Yoga Pants from the book. The design did not disappoint. The fold down band at the waist fits my daughter perfectly and the legs are just the right length and width to really flatter. Again... need this in my size... sigh.

Now I just need to buy more knit fabric!

April 2012 Sewing Social - NOT MEETING IN APRIL

DISREGARD THE DATES BELOW. NO SEWING SOCIALS IN APRIL. WE'LL GET BACK TO IT IN MAY.

Monday Nights, 7:30pm - whenever:


Apr 2: Knit shorts for girls or pj bottoms for yourself.


Apr 9: Fabric coasters. OR work on incomplete projects.


Apr 16: Skirt refashion (drawstring waist skirt from a men's polo style shirt). If your husband doesn't have a polo he is willing to part with, don't worry, I've hoarded a few.


Apr 23: Scrappy Bathmats. Bring a towel to use as a bathmat. We will dress it up with scrap fabric.


Apr 30: Sewing accessories - Pin cushion or sewing machine dust cover.


The Details..
Come as you are, beginners and experts alike.
You can pitch a few bucks in the tip jar to cover the cost of any of my fabric you use or you can bring your own.
Feel free to invite a friend.
Bring your own machine or use my guest machine.
Please RSVP.
Please enter through my side/basement door so as not to ring the doorbell and wake up sleeping kids.

Home Ec. Meet High Tech - Quilted iPad Cozy

iPad is now happily snuggled against Anna Maria Horner's velveeteen on the inside and sporting a randomly quilted cushy exterior of my favorite print from LouLouThi (also AMH). Closes up soundly with a silver metal sipper and custom pull.

My Endless Love - Infinity Scarf

 I thought that with spring here, my love of scarves would take a brief respite. Wrong. I picked up a bargain fabric at JoAnns last night and found its perfect soul mate in an Anna Maria Horner voile that was already in my stash.

 The JoAnn fabric is a striped Ikat design. The AMH is the Triflora from her LouLouThi collection. The color name is Perfume. Just right for adding a bit of romance to my spring wardrobe.