Results of my Capsule in a Week

for now...

I didn't get it all done.  Wasn't really expecting to as I had to prepare for a visit from my mom, oral surgery for my oldest and the myriad of random tasks that make up a stay at home mom's life.

I did however get some done and have even worn at least one outfit! I'll start with that one, I actually modeled it last post but here it is with the Jalie Jeans I made in the fall.  I love this look and got lots of compliments on it.  I may, however, move this outfit to my Fall Wardrobe.  The colors say Fall to me.

 

Then the Ottobre leopard print top.  I wish I'd had another inch or two in length on this top.  I wonder if a band would look good?  Maybe I'll play with it this week after mom leaves.

My AnnTaylor Copy Cat.  I know I'll be wearing this top this week (with a cami!) so I'll update with a better picture then.

And the unfinished Library Cardigan.  I'm not loving this design as much as I thought.  I have to finish it and wear it but I'm not sure it will have a permanent place in my Spring Wardrobe.

So that leaves me with the Jalie Jeans and Ottobre top still to go.  I'll sew up the pants this week and the muslin for the top.  I want to make sure it works for me before I cut up my hoarded fabric.

Well thats my- more than a week Capsule.  I love the week concept so I think after sewing our Easter wear and the dresses/romper for the wedding we're headed to in April, I'll come up with another capsule plan.

The Weekend's Results

Okay, the weekend was supposed to be a marathon of printing and/or tracing patterns and then cutting fabric.  I did do those and a few extra things.

I had to make a substitution.  After tracing and sewing up a too small muslin for the Sew Straight and Gather Legends Top, I went to cut it out of my leopard print and realized I did not have enough fabric!  So I found a top in my trusty Oottobre issues that would work with the amount of fabric I had.  I used #16 in issue 2/2011.  I've made this top a few times- I actually have 2 in my closet right now.  It was a super quick sew; I just need to hem it.

I also cut out and started on the Little Lizard King Library Cardigan.   Turns out though that this is not as quick of a sew as it looks.  I got it to the point where I need to topstitch the neck band.  I'm going to do it on my cover stitcher but need to do the hems on the leopard print shirt before I change up the colors.

Since my coverstitch machine was upstairs, I was sewing in my basement and between the two were three children that would need me, I decided it was safer to remain behind the locked door!   So I moved on to my modified Day Tripper.  

The strange thing is that I actually dislike this pattern as is.  It made me look bigger than I am and just didn't suit my figure.  I was tempted to just buy a new one.  I've been seeing such cute versions of the La Bella Donna and almost caved.  Its more along the lines of what I wanted.  Then I remembered I had adjusted the Day Tripper quite a bit already.  I made this black one a few months ago and really liked the shape.  

I had added the cowl and neck line from the Halifax Hoodie pattern.  For the new one I added a little extra height to the cowl.    

I wish I had been able to put the flowers just a little higher but I was working with a panel I bought in Japan- so it was sized for someone shorter than I am.  I've had it for a while but never quite figured out how to use it.  The back is actually french terry and so cozy.  Its supposed to go with my olive pants in the capsule and I'm loving the way it works with the burgundy I was wearing yesterday too.  Yeah! 

I also found the Ann Taylor copy pattern and cut that top out.  Unfortunately I misplaced the other Ottobre issue I need for my capsule.   Funny enough I have the pattern sheets so I was able to have a sewing friend give me the page and lines I need for the top.  I'll trace that today.  Hopefully I can find the issue though as I think I need the directions!  

I'm trekking along.  We'll see if I make the deadline, this week is crazy busy for me.  I'm actually going to be sewing at night which is usually only a holiday sewing thing.  

Its On!

Really it is!  So Becca our illustrious leader over on the FB Capsule Wardrobe Sew Along issued a challenge to sew up a Spring Capsule in a week.  She wrote about it on her blog, go check it out, I'll wait.

The idea is to pick stash fabrics and easy to sew patterns so that you can put together your capsule in a week.  Really its two, but the first week has just been about pulling fabrics and planning.  She came up with various Sudoku style capsules as a jumping off point.

I've been in a sewing funk.  I've been sewing but not feeling all inspired so I figured why not?  I also decided to give up fabric shopping for Lent- its hard!  Two reasons I decided to jump on board.  Oh and lastly my mother will be taking over my sewing room in a week for a short enough visit that I'm not going to set up elsewhere but long enough that I'll get withdrawals!  (9 days)

I started by pulling fabrics.  I decided that I would use the Jalie jeans that I cut out a while ago but haven't made as one of my bottoms and sort of based the rest of the fabrics on what went well with those.

I then tried to look for patterns I'd already made to make things easier.  Tried is the key word as I ended up with 3 new to me patterns.  Oh well.  Since I was using a few new patterns I did throw in RTW pants to make my life a little easier.  The wool sweater also is a nod to the fact that its still in the 40s around here.  Ugh...  The process was fun and I'm inspired.  I can't wait to start sewing all these up!!

Stay tuned!

January got a way from me....

Oy!  I got steamrolled in January.  I started off strong but then THE blizzard of the century hit us!  Really!  Did I ever mention I grew up in sunny California?  What that meant is that my kids got a second Winter Vacation.  Between the snow days, the teacher workdays that were already scheduled, some holiday and weekends they had 14 days off.  I was ready to snow shoe out of here!

Of course that doesn't mean I didn't sew.  I sewed and sewed and sewed, just to be able to hide away from the madness.  But it does mean that I didn't do any sewing that involved thought.  With kids busting in all day- mine, their friends, random neighborhood kids!- needing food, water, dry clothes, and whatever else children need, I only sewed things that were quick and easy.

Each of the children got a Hey June Hatteras Hoodie.  This one is for the oldest, he got the hoodie version.  The girl child ended up with 3 of view B, one was too small so its gone and the other two are in rotation but for some reason I didn't photograph them.  The little one got 3 also but without hoods.  And then I used the Field Research pants pattern to make a pair of flannel lined pants for both the younger ones.

And here it is almost the end of February!!!  I ended and began January with some pattern testing that I really should blog about.  Both patterns are adorable.  I also tested another pattern in February and sewed random bits of things.  Which brings me to my latest adventure.

I love having a plan with my sewing but seem to seldom actually do it!  I'm finishing off February with a bang- hopefully.  I'm going to join my fellow sewers on the Capsule Facebook page in a quick capsule sew along.  Yeah!  We're not all sewing the same things but the challenge was to come up with a quick sew capsule AND sew it.  Since I've gone on long enough here, I'll write up a post all about my plan tomorrow.

New Year, New Projects!

I was going to do a holiday wrap up and show off all the lovely sewing I did.  Well, that didn't quite go as planned- no surprise really.  I did sew and gift and they were all well received.  The problem was that I spent most of my holiday in bed sick with three children rampaging through my house!  My husband and my mother, who was visiting, also managed to get sick.  But of course the screaming hoards that brought the plague upon us were just fine.  Life with children.

So no wrap up, which really is good.  Better to start the New Year with a clean slate!

January kicks off another round of Just for Me January on the Scientific Seamstress Facebook page.  Last year I made January all about the Sis Boom Patricia pattern.  I made a couple of different versions.  The Cozy and Chic version has become a favorite in my wardrobe.  I had a lot of fun playing with that pattern past year.  I've decided to do the same this year but with a different pattern, the Rebecca.

I've had the Rebecca in my stash for a few years- almost as long as the Patricia!  The first time I pulled it out however was when I made the vest for my Firefly inspiration in November.  I love how that turned out.  While the vest is pretty heavily modified, I like the princess lines and the shape of the dress.

I think I'd like to make the pattern almost as is- there are some super cute ones over on their Pinterest Board.  I say almost because, well what fun would it be to crank out 4 of the same thing.  So thats my plan for January.  I'll likely sew other things too but right now I'm just enjoying the quiet that is a house free of children- at least for 4 hours a day.

Tune in later this week for the first installment.

Its my turn and Its time to Dance!

I'm so excited!  And super nervous.  If you've been following along with the 6 Degrees of Separation Tour, then you've seen some great stuff already.  Its amazing.  If you haven't, take a minute, hour really, to go back and start at the beginning on Freenotion with Becca.  We are at the end today, I can't believe it.  Lots of great inspiration to take a way though so don't forget to check them all out!  Plus when you're done with that you can poke around the Sew the Show blog and Facebook page for year long fun!

The night we picked our movies, I was sick.  I crawled out of bed to go to the FB page and try to get a spot.  It was moving so fast!  I couldn't quite keep up.  Luckily for me, there was a slow down when they got to Heather's post for Leap Year with Amy Adams.   I quickly looked over the cast and who popped out?  John Lithgow.  He has a Bacon Score of 1  and wouldn't you know its for one of my favorite movies! 

It doesn't get more classic Bacon than Footloose.  Plus its full of great 80s music from Kenny Loggins, Bonnie Tyler, Ann Wilson, even Sammy Hagar.  The movie came out just as I was starting to notice music, movies, tv.  In comparison to my brother- who also graduated that year- the kids in this movie were super cool.  Don't tell him I posted that picture.  

I really had a lot of fun watching it again for this post.  If you all get a craving to see it, its on Netflix.  Oh and no, I have not seen the remake.  

On to wardrobe and inspiration.  After the movie was picked I was set on only one thing- the prom-  the maroon tux and the pink dress.  After all the tux is on our graphic for the blog tour!  

Yep that was my plan.  I already had a pretty pink rayon for the dress and ordered some maroon crepe to make the jacket.  Unfortunately- or fortunately- the maroon crepe came in more rusty than I wanted.  Plus I was anticipating colder weather when I took my pictures so the dress seemed a bit thin.  I thought about it and decided to take a more practical approach to my inspiration.  

For myself I would make a top from the pink fabric and add a ruffle somehow to the look.  I had a muslin of McCalls 6512 on my sewing table that was looking like it would be good.  Then I found the ruffled scarf from Ottobre 5/2009 (you can see it in blue and pink on their blog).  I decided to make that with the blouse and my burgundy cords from Jalie's Eleonore pattern.  The plan for one outfit down.  

Now for my date!  

via GIPHY

That was a little trickier.  I started easily with the Sis Boom Ethan shirt, its a standard button down shirt for boys.  Love this pattern, great little details but super easy to put together.  Mine was made out of a white flannel I already had in my stash.  I did find the cuffs a little small.  They fit but I have to unbutton to put the shirt on and I'd rather not with a 3 year old.  I'll fix that on the next one.   And, of course, whats a prom with out a bow tie.  Sis Boom's Freebie Bosco Tie, modified a bit here.  I didn't pleat and will sew the middle down rather than glue.  I made the largest size for fun.  Normally I make the middle or small for this guy.  

I decided to stick with SS for the pants.  I had made the Field Research pants for the the little one a few weeks back and really liked how the pattern came together.  The only problem was that they were just too roomy in the size 3t for the look I wanted here.  (I made the 12 last year and its less roomy, the smaller sizes are wider for diapers and just more movement.)  I ended up slimming them down for the look.  You can read about that in this post.  These are made out of a heavy weight bamboo denim I picked up ages and ages ago at Nature's Fabrics.  I love the weight, perfect for the weather and little boys.  The only draw back is that they end up a wrinkled mess in the dryer.  I need to take them out slightly damp and iron.  

So the last piece was the jacket.  I looked at making the tuxedo jacket but realized that other than this photoshoot, my child was never going to wear it.  I don't think my oldest has ever worn a blazer of any sort and he's 11.  So I needed a jacket that would give me the illusion of a tuxedo.  I chose the EYMM Zander Hoodie and Vest.    I already had a double sided maroon fleece in my stash.  Originally I was going to do it unlined but ended up lining it.  The only trouble I had was the darn zipper!  I ordered one and of course the color was off.  JoAnns and Walmart are sadly lacking in zippers so with the deadline looming I had to make do.  I chose a black metal zipper that was too long.  Using this tutorial mentioned in the pattern, I shortened it.  I scared my mother with the screaming I was doing trying to pry off the stop and then loosing it in the mess that is my husband's tool bench.  I did find it and all went well after that.  

Without further ado, my three year old's version of prom night! Aren't I a lucky girl to have such a date.

Follow me he says.  

 How can I resist.  

Uhm... not exactly the prom night I was expecting, throwing rocks in the creek is loads of fun though.  

As you may have noticed, I didn't get my blouse done but I did make the ruffled scarf.  Its great and super quick to make.  

We didn't have any warehouses to dance in but did spend some time swinging around. 

And one last look.

okay two

And really what more could you ask for from a Kevin Bacon inspired Sew Along!  I hope you enjoyed today, please continue on to check out the talented Katie at the Creative Counselor.  I can't wait to see what she's done.  

Boy Pant Sewing

I tend to mostly blog about sewing for myself and recently it has occurred to me the I do a ton of sewing for the kids too, why not talk about it.  I do enjoy my kid sewing.  So today I'm going talk about sewing up the Scientific Seamstress Field Research Pants.   I bought these in the boy pattern bundle, oh, two years ago?  Something like that.  Crazy.

I finally made the first pair last winter for my oldest to wear to Scouts.  They turned out fabulous!  I made him the zippered version.  He loved them.

 

I was a little surprised to be making him the 11/12- he was only 10 and had always measured smaller in patterns.  Still I trusted the size and they fit perfectly.  There was more than enough room to last through the Summer and into the Fall but not so much that they were oversized.  He is still wearing them these days but they are getting short, at least when he is forced to wear them with the bottom legs.

So a few weeks ago I pulled out the pattern again, this time for my youngest boy child.  I am planning on potty training him over the school break next week- wish me luck!  He is in need of easy pull on/off pants.  His current collection of thrift store pants require a little help.

I printed out the 3t and went to work.  I used the 3t with a 13 inch inseam.  Unlike the pair I made for my oldest these seem to have a lot of width.  When I mentioned it on the Facebook SS Lab page,  Jeanine explained that the smaller sizes have more room for diapers and growing/moving toddler bodies.  Awesome.  Trouble is my toddler is long and lean!  Turned out to be a blessing in disguise though as the outer fabric is thinner than I thought and I was concerned they wouldn't be good for the cooler weather.  I ended up lining these in flannel.  Super easy to do.  I did mine very similar to this tutorial.  They are perfect and these are the best pictures I could get at that time.

This pattern went together so quickly- especially without the zippers.  I love the nice big pocket on the hip and the back pockets fit little hands too!  I did omit the flaps on those pockets.  

As you may have read in the blog, I've been sewing along with the Sew the Show blog for the past two months.  Its been so much fun.  Well this month I was able to snag a spot in their 6 Degrees of Separation Tour!  If you haven't checked it out yet, go!  

I decided to use the Field Research pants as part of my look- you'll have to tune back in on Friday for that post.  Problem was I needed a slimmer fitting pant.  It turns out slimming the FR pant could not be easier!  I simply folded an inch out- so the fold was 1/2 an inch wide- straight down from the top to the hem.  Don't forget to fold the facings too, I forgot on the muslin and had recut them.  

Here are the two pairs from the slimmed down version.  They are great!  I love the roominess of the original pair too.  So I think he'll end up with a few of both.  I should also mention that the elastic on mine comes forward past the side seams.  My boys are on the thin side so they need a little extra tuck on their pants.  The ones I made for my oldest had elastic all around- which was actually a mistake but works really well for him.  On these I stopped the elastic just behind the pocket front.

Before I go I'll share one important rule for sewing for children- MEASURE them EACH time you sew.  No joke, from the time I made the muslin to the final, the boy grew an inch!  So the black pants have a 14 inch inseam.  Fun times.  Here's a quick action shot of the back.  

Do not forget to tune in on Friday for my 6 Degrees post.  You'll see the black pair, a couple of other SS patterns as well as a super cute kid.