March Makes

I think did ok this month.  I made almost everything on my list.  I have two items left to take pictures of and two work in progress.  Besides that I think March was great.

Floral Off Shoulder Top

2 Bibs



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Hooded Jacket














Trinity Dory Dress

2 skirts















Simplicity 8304 Lily Dress

Pillowcase for my little one.

 

April is going to be awesome!  Stay tuned!!!~~

Pretty baby flowers Simplicity 8304

Hello world!!!

This fabric of pretty baby flowers is now an adorable dress for my 9 month old daughter.  I envision making many different dresses with this pattern. Let me start by saying my daughter is very tall for her age; so I decided to cut a size large. I figured if the dress was too big on her that she would grow into it. Man was I wrong. The size Large bodice fit just right and the skirt is super long.

Did I mention that there's also a headband?

Pattern Description:
Create cute and unique sportswear for babies! Pattern includes dress with heart shape elbow patches, top, leggings, headbands and stylish bibs.
Pattern Sizing:

I cut the size Large

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

It looks like the photo

Were the instructions easy to follow?

The instructions were very easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

There is nothing to dislike about this pattern.  It's truly an easy make.

Fabric Used:

Blended cotton

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I did not make any changes to this pattern. Maybe next time.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

 Yes. I am thinking about making one in denim.

Conclusion: 

The instructions was superb. I was a little worried how to sew the bias tape around the neckline but the instructions and photos were detailed. Thumbs up to the writer.

I am planning to make a few more dresses like this one.  Next time I will add a half of an inch around the bodice and shorten the skirt by 2 inches.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Jacket Burda 7734

Howdy Howdy Howdy

Went to my local fabric store with my son, which should be a no no.  Why should going to the fabric store be a girl thing?  Well, that's a later discussion.  While there, my son found this great fabric ,that would made him a killer jacket.  This fabric makes me think of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

My son is 9 years old, so I needed a jacket in children's size.  So many questions came to my mind as I was deciding how to make this jacket.  But first I had to find a pattern.

This jacket is overdue. I started planning this project a few months ago but I couldn't find a bomber jacket pattern for boys.  So I settled for a sweatshirt pattern. For some reason, I was not happy with my selection.  I couldn't bring myself to cut the pattern.

One afternoon I was organizing my pattern stash and found this...Burda 7734. I looked at the line drawing on the back and kicked myself. I had a jacket pattern all along.  I ran to grab a pair of scissors; walked back to my table with my scissors (safety first). My son was so excited that he helped with the cutting.  He's such a sweetheart!

I did not know that Burda pattern company offered so many variations of children's clothing.   However the jacket I choose is a men's pattern cut in a size 36.  The pattern did not have finish sizes or a size chart on the envelope.  To determine the best size to cut, I laid out the pattern and measured the width of the front and back pieces.  Then I found the measurements on the pattern piece.   Why didn't they add a size chart on the pattern envelope.  Se Lavi!

This is my second time working with a Burda pattern. The first time was a simple dress that I made for my 3 year old.  It took a little longer to work through the directions because this pattern is not catered to the beginner.  However, it was easy once I stopped and looked at it.

I interfaced the zipper seam allowance so that it look straight and professionally done. 

The sweatshirt fabric was not easy to cut, even with a sharp pair of scissors.

Ankleband???  Am I making a jacket or a pair of pants? 

This has been a unique sewing experience.  I think I am so spoiled by the Simplicity instructions that I was shocked when I started to read the instructions for this Burda pattern.  Every company is different and I am intrigued.  After this experience I am ready to try another Burda pattern. 

All was well.  Until I had to work on the hood.  I did not have enough fabric to make a hood.  The following day I returned to my local fabric store.  I walked around and around the store but I couldn't find it.  As I'm about to leave (thinking of a way to incorporate a different color fabric). I saw something in a bin,  it was the fabric with only half a yard left. I was ecstatic!!!  Like a kid in a candy store.

The zipper was really long.  I was frustrated because I was almost at the finish line and then I had to figure out how to adjust the zipper.

When I was on the last step, I realized the inside of the jacket looked horrible.  What if my son takes off his jacket and his friend sees my mess.  To make the inside look a little more presentable, I bias binded the seams.  I used a little under 2 packs of store bought "Double Sided Bias Binding."  Then I made a facing for the zipper area.

This was an easy sew for the most part.  This project had a lot of "firsts for me. 

First time:

• making a hood
• sewing an exposed zipper
• topstitching
• cleaning up the seams
• using bias binding for the seams
• making a jacket facing for the zipper area

Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

Sweat jacket with knitted waistband, cuffs and pouches, available with hood, stand-up collar. These are popular layering items. The shirt with the polo panel and stand-up collar have excellent fashion potential

Pattern Sizing: 

34 to 36, I cut a size 36

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes.  Thank goodness.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

This pattern was somewhat easy to follow.  Carefully read the instructions to not miss any steps.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I did not like that the size chart was not display on the envelope back.  Other than that this was a really good pattern.

Fabric Used:

Heavy weight Sweatshirt fleece

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I made a facing for the zipper area and used store bought binding to conceal the seams.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes I will.  My husband and my brother loves this jacket so much.  I have some work to do.

Conclusion:

The instructions for the hood was a little confusing.  From the instructions, it seems that you're supposed to sew down the front tab of the hood.  I did not like how it looked.  I removed the stitches and then hand stitched the front tab down.  I am accustomed to the directions number by each step while the Burda instructions grouped several instructions under each number.  So read your instructions carefully. 

One seam skirts and dresses

In Hobby Lobby the other day, I was looking for a light weight poplin and instead I found this hidden jewel...pre made skirt fabric.  This fabric has an elastic waistband pre attached.

I love the bright blue color. This project (two skirts for my daughters) took less than 5 minutes.

Guess what's funny!  A few days later, I was shopping in Joann's and I found the cutest fabric...a mini dress.  For some odd reason it was sold by the inch instead of by the yard.  Why????




















Anywho, I found this one with Dory print. I had to have it for my 3 year old,

"Just keep swimming just keep swimming just keep swimming swimming swimming.  I mean. Just keep sewing, just keep sewing, just keep sewing sewing.

 

One seam dream!  Woohoo!

I couldn't give my three year old a strapless dress.  I made straps using store bought bias tape.  I made a cute little design in the back.

 

 

Bib Drawstring Simplicity 8110

In my previous post, I mentioned closing the tip of a drawstring.  Sewing patterns skip these instructions because it is assumed that the sewist already knows how to do it.   I, the beginner, did not know how to close the tip and I was disappointed the first time I made Simplicity 8110. I was sitting down trying to figure out how to make the drawstring look RTW and this is what I came up with.

Step 1: Fold the tip of your drawstring 3/8 inch

Step 2: Stitch the tip of the drawstring 

Step 3: Fold drawstring in half. Topstitch the tip of the drawstring.

Step 4: Stitch the length of the drawstring.

 That's all to it!  

Now you have a professional looking drawstring.  I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have a different technique to close the tip of a drawstring.

Happy Sewing!~

Bibbing It Simplicity 8110

Happy Monday!!! Soooo what did you do this weekend?  I had the weekend off Ooo Yea! (And the crowd goes wild)!  Lol! I had time to get some stuff done around the house.  Plussssss some sewing.  Now I didn't get to cross off much from my sewing plan, but it's better than nothing.











My weekend started with Girl Scouts Thinking Day!  We had an awesome time!  For Thinking Day every troop selects a country to represent.  Our troop selected India. 

Aren't my girls cute!

Did you know mango is India's national fruit?  There's hundreds of types of mangos. 

Mouthwatering,  Sorry for drooling.

We sampled food from different around the world England, Italy, Haiti, Jamaica, and many more.  After stuffing our faces, we headed over to Joann's.


Babies
What's the one thing that babies have to have, other than formula and diapers?  bibs.  My eight month old has a new love, baby food!!!  Without a bib, every outfit in my daughter,s closet would be ruined.
All of the bibs I purchase have suffer from baby food attacks.  The only bib that's withstood the baby food battles is the one that I made last year.  You can find it here.  Since I had some more PUL fabric left over, I decided to make Two more.

This fabric is very easy to clean.  I am tempted to buy more.  We will see!!!

Bias Binding

Modifications:  I made the front pocket bigger.  I'm not sure if I like the pocket's bigger.

Other Modifications:  No front pocket.  I was running out of fabric and I didn't want any scraps so I made a second bib without a front pocket.  Aren't they cute!!!

Simplicity does not explain how to close the tips of the drawstrings.  In another post, I will show the steps I took to close the tips of the drawstrings.



Disney Beauty and the Beast

 

It's spring break time and all I can think of is vacationing.   I think I need to start a count down!

Enter for a chance to win a stay at Duns Castle!

To celebrate Disney's Beauty and the Beast, we're giving you a chance to win a stay at Duns Castle for you and 20 guests. Plus, five runners-up could win a HomeAway® vacation.

Click on the link above.

No purchase necessary. Competition opens February 9, 2017, at 05:59am CST and closes March 31, 2017, at 4:59pm CST. Competition is open to residents of the UK, USA, France, and Germany. One entry per person. See Competition Rules.

Did you enter yet?  What are you waiting for?

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Feeling backwards--Vogue 8898

Last year I bought Vogue pattern 8898.  I made this pattern around August of last year. dress together.  During the construction, I was having issues.  First the armhole was too large.  Check out what I went through last year with this dress.  Then I had to figure why the front bodice looked frumpy.  Keep in mind, I made this dress before I knew what a full bust adjustments was.  Without that valuable piece of knowledge, I was lost.

The other day, I was getting ready for church and I couldn't figure out what to wear.  I wanted to wear something that I have not worn to church before.  Hanging there, sad, in my closet, was Vogue 8898. I had to figure out how to make my dress Look Ready to Wear-ish.  When in doubt wear a belt.  Shoot how bad can it be.

Unfortunately, I do not have any clothing tags, which makes getting dressed a little confusing.  I looked in the Mirror and stood there in shock. My dress didn't look bad after all.  Why was I so worried.? Then it hit me!  My dress is on Backwards! Rofl!!!!

I decided to wear it was backwards and it looked gorgeous.  I'm not sure how to correct the Bodice issue without buying more fabric, doing a FBA on the pattern piece and then cutting out a new front piece.

It's not perfect but what do you think.

Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

Loose-fitting, pullover dress has right shoulder pleats forming drape, and narrow hem. B: Shoulder tie. B, C: Self-belt, right side opening C

Pattern Sizing: 

16 to 26

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes for the most part. 

Were the instructions easy to follow?

This was my first dress. For me, a beginner, everything is difficult. 


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

This pattern is rated easy.  It was pretty easy to follow. There was nothing to dislike

Fabric Used:

Burgundy Ponte Knit

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

No alterations made.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes.  I have to get this dress right.  Definitely recommend this pattern.  I have seen some beautiful versions of this dress. I wanted to have some options for this dress, so I made the shoulder tie and the self belt.  

Conclusion:

Stay toned for the second version of this dress, with a FBA.  I cut a size 20 for my bust and had to remove 4 inches from the waist.  it is still big and I have an issue with the armhole.  Next time I will cut size 16 and do a FBA.