Vacation clothes

I don't know what it is about me but I always seem to need new clothes to go on vacation. Truthfully I dress better on vacation- weird. I'm thinking that I will be going through my closet this Spring with the idea that if I would not take it on vacation, I should not have it. Uhm... I wonder if that would help my wardrobe?

Anyway, so before I left for Sunny California, I decided to make a shirt for myself and embroider some tops for my little one. The funny thing is that while I was planning for 50s/60s, it turned out to be in the 60s/70s while we were there. I ended up at Target buying short sleeve shirts! Oh well.

This fabric is sort of velvety, the top turned out really nice but I think next time I would make it a tad longer, I didn't have enough fabric.

I also made the cardi-wrap from Threads/Sew Stylish, it turned out okay. I cut the armholes too big and too wide but it was just a muslin anyway.
The pic isn't great but I still hadn't packed so I just snapped these quickly.

Scrapbooking Tote

So I gave my sil and her girls a bunch of handbags and totes that I was bored with. Yes, I'm terrible about these things- I love to make them but then I'm over them. Anyway my sil liked one of the bags I made last spring for my trip to Australia. It was a modified version of McCalls P377 (renumbered 4851), I had made it smaller and changed the straps/pockets. She actually wanted the bag bigger in every direction so she could use it for lugging around her scrapbooking stuff. Cool, fun!

So, of course, it started with a trip to JoAnns for more fabric. Okay, it didn't have to but I have no willpower- they were having a 50% off all clearance fabric. The only good thing I can say about that trip is that I have used 4 of the fabrics I bought. If you really want to know thats 1/5th of the total fabric purchase.

One of the fabrics was the one I used on this bag. Its lined with a Bratz fabric that she actually gave me a few weeks ago, left over from her younger dd's room. I embroidered her initials and a surprise snowlady on the inside (she loves snowmen). I did change up the handles, wanted to try that technique- saw it on Sewing with Nancy while I was cutting out this bag.
Enjoy.

Yes, I have been doing something....

Not much sewing in the first few weeks of February. I wasn't motivated and time was a bit limited, munchkin was going through a growth spurt that made him particularly cranky. And I thought that only happened to babies! Plus dh was finishing up his semester, so it was all in all an unproductive time.

But not all was lost. I was able to finally- again- set up my sewing room, organize and fix my fabrics. Here are some befores of the fabric-



Yeah, pretty bad. When we moved here I thought it would be great to roll the fabric like they do the remnants at JoAnns. I even measured and labeled. In the end I found it harder to really see my fabric.

So, of course, I came across the infamous ruler folding instructions and had to try it. I don't think she created the technique but she definitely brought it to my attention.

Check it out!




Doesn't it look pretty? I just love it.

And, just in case you're curious, here's the rest of the room, almost. I forgot to upload the pics of my machine corner, oh well.

McCalls 4471- swimsuit

So this swimsuit was a UFO, I'm not sure if it was on my list from before but it should have been. Anyway, I actually really enjoyed making this and cannot wait to make another despite its not an ideal fit. Funny.

The pattern is for a two-piece but the top was too short so I just sewed it to the bottom to make it a one-piece. I love the halter and the fit of the top. It has elastic on both sides of the bra top so it really stays put. I actually tested it out today. I played with the munchkin in the pool and even swam some laps. The only serious fit issue I had was that the bottom is a bit too narrow at the bottom of the bottom (rides up).

I'm definitely going to make this again. I was thinking of doing something like those that they had in the Land's End catalog that are "adjustable." Yup, I'm going to be making a swimsuit real soon!

UFO wrap up

I know its already almost 2 weeks into February! Well, the UFO contest went well, I finished 12 items, yipee!!

Unfortunately, I still have 12 more sitting around. What can you do? I'll save them for the next contest. I did end up throwing away the baby carrier, I don't need it and don't know anyone right now who would use it. Just needed to get it out of here.


This shirred shirt was my last project- I used my cording foot on my coverstitch machine to put the elastic cord then stretched the cord and sewed the seam. I just had the stretching and seam to do. I had already done the rolled hem on top and bottom as well as having stitched the rows- totally mind-numbing. Won't be making one of these again anytime soon.

Shirt for PG Sil

Yes more procrastination from UFOs over the weekend. I embroidered this shirt for my sil who just had a birthday. I just love the design and was itching to use it. Both the design and the font are from the wonderful digitizers on SewForum.

the Sock Bag

I'm not entirely sure why I had to make this bag- a friend on ivillage posted about it and, of course, I couldn't help myself. It is so cute and small. I'm not sure what I'll use it for since I don't knit, which is its intended purpose. Oh well.

The tutorial is from CrazyLanea and she also sells them, check out her site for the details. Its a great little project.

I'm thinking this one will end up as a birthday gift for the niece that got the matching spiral skirt.

6 UFOs down, 7, 8, 9 to go

Well I'm half way done with the UFOs I found earlier this month. Unfortunately I've definitely found a few more since then. What can you do? I'm actually excited about the cut out swimsuit I found a couple of days ago. I bought the pattern and cut it out last year when I was having fits about RTW swimsuits. The fabric is this denim print, very cute and really intended as a working muslin. Anyway despite my trying to out-think the instructions the suit is turning out nicely. Hopefully I'll finish it up tomorrow.

So I have 4 more days to finish up my UFOs for the contest. Wish me luck.

Overalls

Love it! More UFOs off the radar. I just love this bright orange car fabric for going to crowded places with the munchkin. Easier to spot in the crowd.

Now the second set of overalls were originally supposed to be Christmas pjs but since I cut them last year there was no way they would fit. Turns out that just the sleeves were too short so I turned it into overalls. I may go back and narrow the shoulder but then again, my dh has said- in no uncertain terms- that his child would not be allowed in public in those "clown pants." Oh well.

Christmas Apron

I am on an UFO roll! Woo Hoo! I finally, almost a decade later, put together the Christmas Apron. Looks good. I'm thinking I might embroider something for the back so I can use it now. We'll see, I'm just happen that its out of my to-d0 pile.

My IJ Hobo Bag- UFO

So I finished the bag- reworked the straps. Still not that in love with it but it works better than it did.
I'm so in the mood for a new bag but don't really want to put in the work. Uhm... I did help my niece make a bag last weekend, she was so thrilled with it. Gotta love that feeling. She did really well for her first time using a sewing machine. I didn't take a pic but maybe I'll do that tomorrow when I see her. Anyway I have to make arrangements to have her come out once a month- trading baby care for sewing lessons. Unfortunately she's too young to do real babysitting but she could entertain the little one elsewhere in the house while I work, that would be great. Well off to do the laundry, yeah fun, fun!