Spring Tops

I've been sewing a lot this month.  I got sidetracked from doing Kids Clothes Week.  I partly blame not being able to find a contrasting material I liked and partly because I sprained my ankle the Sunday it started.  I had to take a few days off from sewing and limit trips to buy fabric.  BUT, I have since remedied the fabric situation so I might just have my own week.  Instead, I've been sewing for myself.  

I don't know why, but when I got this material, I was set on it being a racerback tank.  I followed Noodlehead's tutorial and copied a tank I already had.  A few issues - needs a little less arm hole in the front and a little more in the back; and the neck is a U instead of just being a scoop.  But I like it and am feeling better and better every time I sew a knit.

Approx cost: $4

I made the right, copied off the one of the left with a few less gathers. You'd think sewing for myself would mean clothes that fit but it's a little tight.  I'm still figuring fit out.

Approx cost: $11

I love this one.  I loosely copied a Lole T I really wanted to buy but didn't.  The material is very lightweight.  I had some trouble getting the neck to lie down flat.  It's still a little odd but better after topstitching with a double needle.  It's wider than I would do next time.  I don't know what's going on at the shoulder in the picture, there's no seam there.  All in all, I'm pretty happy.  It's such a pretty material, different for me.  Good different.

Approx cost: don't have the receipt anymore but less than $10

I'm posting over at the Spring Top Sew-Along again.  And guess what - my dolman made it onto Rae's blog!

Baby Tunic

I love the Tea brand but I can't justify buying their clothes very often, so when I get something on sale, why not copy it?  I bought this material for my Knits class, not paying any attention to what it was made of - 100% polyester.  Yuck.  It sticks to itself.  But, it's so cute!  I decided I'd use it to make something small, a copy of a tunic I bought on sale from Tea.  I'm mostly happy with the way it turned out.  The proportions around the waist are a little funny, but she doesn't care.  :)  I made the leggings too (tutorial).

I think I'm going to be brave and join the Kids Clothes Sewing Week.  I want to make this dress for a wedding we are going to in May.  I even made a muslin of the bodice!  I should have the material by Friday, so perfect timing!

approx cost:
tunic: $2
leggings: repurposed from a bag that jersey sheets came in

Striped Dolman

I have been obsessed with sewing clothes lately.  I've never really thought I could and I love it!  So satisfying.  And this top, oh this top.  I so love it.  I had this Dolman at Make It Love It saved since it was first posted, obviously the fabric captured me as well as the top itself!  And then I stumbled on this one so I combined them and used a sweater I have to help with creating the shape.  I never would have had the confidence if not for the Knits class with Whipstitch.  Oh, and I'm posting on Made By Rae's Spring Top Sew-Along!

approx cost: $3

Curved

My Curves class is long since over but I'm still plugging away.  These online classes work really well for me, for the most part.  I can work at my own pace but still feel motivated enough by being part of a group.  I was keeping up until about halfway through, but I'll still be able to finish the projects I want to finish.

Scalloped Bunting, hanging in baby's room 

Clamshell pillow, to go with the one I made in Essential Sewing last year

Drunkards Path Pot Holder (besides the curved piecing, I actually machine quilted!)

Recent Projects

I have been sewing up a storm lately, with the classes I'm taking as well as other projects.  It feels really good.  I'll post my projects from the classes later.

I have been wanting to get a little more sustainable in our house and use less chemicals in our cleaning products.  And besides the health factor, sometimes I get to the end of the day and I want something tangible to hold onto.  Something I can say, there - I did that.  Stay-at-home-parenting makes me really happy but it can feel a bit like you're in a tunnel sometimes.  So.  I spend naptime and evenings in the sewing room.  (And sometimes awake time too, but that results in it looking like a bomb went off in the sewing room thanks to my dear toddler).  Thanks to this tutorial, I made my own reusable swiffers, some for dusting out of flannel and some out of terry.  I use a vinegar/water combo, squirt it on the floor and swiff away.

flannel for dusting

terry for wet swiffing

handy little squirt bottle, idea courtesy of my sister

And I just can't stop making baby towels.  A friend just had her second little girl.  I made her first girl a towel a when she was born in 2010 so I made the newest one a towel and some additional washcloths for the older one.

to go along with this towel

And we're back!

I kinda forgot this thing existed.  But I signed myself up for another sewing class (actually 2) so here we are.  I have actually gotten a few things done this past year.

I love making towels for new babies.  These were for an old friend from high school who had twins last summer.

Used the hooded baby towel and washcloth tutorial at The Purl Bee

Dress pattern from Made
Elastic thread is really cool stuff!

I love this hat from Oliver + S; I'm going to have to make her another one this summer
I added snaps to the strap so she couldn't pull it off and an extra inch to the brim

high chair cover made with PUL

Finally made cushions for the rocking chair in the babies room!  (We've been sitting on very flat pillows)
I used this tutorial to figure out how to do "gussets."

I'm going to try to keep up with this a bit better, and do a better job documenting projects.  I really struggle to remember to take pictures of the process, but the end result is better than nothing!  The classes I'm taking are Curves over at Stitched in Color and Sewing with Knits with Whipstitch (I took Essential Sewing through Whipstitch last year).  Obviously I'm feeling a bit ambitious; we'll just have to see how it goes!