Spring sewing with a plan (SWAP)

Ok, here is my Spring sewing plan!  Wish me luck! I'd love any suggestions or additional ideas.

I've actually already finished the rain coat (it was a necessity in Houston). I was planning to do one for myself as well, but this fabric was really a pain to work with (laminated cotton). So I really can't do it until I get a teflon foot for my machine, but since I got in trouble with Loren for the credit card bill last month...maybe I'll wait another month:) Hey, we were moving...what did he expect?!?

Fall sewing with a plan

I've decided to try to make up a sewing plan for the fall. This way, I can get a fairly coordinated wardrobe for Kate and be a little more efficient at utilizing my fabrics. Most of these patterns are from Ottobre issues 03/2010 and 04/2010 or they are Farbenmix patterns that I have or from the Farbenmix book "Sewing Clothes Kids Love." I'll keep everyone posted on the progress (or lack thereof!). August and September will likely not be very productive because I have interviews at Iowa and Penn and I'm taking the real written perio boards and doing a teaching workshop and need to work on turning in my portfolio to graduate (hmm...doesn't sound like so much time to sew, but I'm sure I'll find it! It really helps me relax and let go of the stress of everything mentioned above).  Remember I can only work on this after about 8:30pm each night!!

So far, it has cost me actually calculated $65 to gather probably about 90% of the materials, notions, etc. Not bad, considering how much this would cost to purchase at the store!!

Any volunteers to help :) I'll send you my fabric and patterns!! Wish me luck!!

Here is the plan: (click to enlarge)

Mothers Day Apron

Here is the apron I made for my mom for Mother's day--one side is Hungry Caterpillar which was Alex's favorite when he was little, and the other side is Beatrix Potter, which was a favorite of Beedoh's and mine. It was tough to find a coordinating fabric that matched both of these two!

And more projects...

 I've been busy! Not that I'm ever NOT busy, but recently I've had the sewing bug or a transient "obsession" as Loren so lovingly refers to it. Our dining room table has been filled with my Bernina, my (relatively) new serger and lots of fabric. Most are for gifts, so hopefully those of you on the receiving end have either already received the gift or don't read this so the fun isn't spoiled!! So that means you, Lindsay Cashen, Jillian Wehmeyer, Baylie Brooks, Josephine Valgus and Alison Biggs don't read until you get my package!!

For real, please don't:)

Here is a skirt for a niece with a pattern I just made up:

this pretty rolled edge is courtesy of the serger!

And these are some more dresses made from old men's shirts, but using a different tutorial, found here.

And a newborn gown from this tutorial...

T-shirt before:

...and after

Last for today, pillows I made from a bridesmaids dress...roughly following this pattern

 

So now I need to work on my case presentations for school. So hard when there is pretty fabric calling my name...sigh...

Projects

Here are some of the things we've been working on...

This is a dress I made from one of Loren's old dress shirts

Here are some pants I lengthened by adding a ruffle to the bottom

This is the latest in my knitting adventures...I've graduated from dishcloths and swiffer covers to leg warmers! I used this tutorial. My skills are improving! It was knit in the round on 4 double pointed needles AND has stripes!! I'm working on a dress for Christmas now...we'll see if I can finish!!

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween! This year Kate was Cinderella. She had been asking and asking for a Cinderella dress, so I broke down and made one for her. It was quite a project, when I realized half way through that the fabric store had cut my fabric short and I didn't have enough. When I went back, they were out of the original fabric, so I got one that was close and got a sparkly organza to overlay and hide the color mis-match. I think it actually turned out even cuter with the sparkles! Plus, Kate loved the "sprinkles" on the skirt.

We went to playgroup on Friday wearing Cinderella and then on Saturday we went to a neighborhood parade at a friends' home and then to church for Trunk or Treat. Kate wasn't quite sure at the beginning, when people reached for her treat bag, she was pretty sure they were trying to take it from her. It took a few trunks for her to realize that people were actually giving her candy! Then she decided it was ok:)

Project update

This is the dress I made for Kate to wear to Beedoh's rehearsal. The pattern is called "Feliz" and I am absolutely in love with it...so I'm sure it will be replicated many many times!

and here is my first "sale"...a friend had me make this apron for her and actually paid me! Wow! The pattern is "Emmaline" by Sew Liberated and the fabric is Amy Butler.

Here is Feliz #2...this will be for a photo session we are doing with Andrea Roberts while we are in IA City. I can't wait!!

Projects

Here is what has occupied my evenings after Kate has gone to bed!

A reversible apron and matching oven mitt for my sister's bridal shower this weekend:

and the "Itty bitty baby dress" for a baby shower

and some bigger Itty Bitty dresses for birthday girls:



I've knit 4 dishcloths so far to use in our kitchen. I've been working on these while I'm on the bus, which is wasted time otherwise! I started with a very simple pattern and have been gradually getting more adventurous

Catching up

We had such a fantastic visit with all of the cousins-it was quite busy with us all staying in 1 house! But it was wonderful. I've finally stolen a moment to post a bunch of the photos from the past 3 weeks...hope you enjoy them!!

The cousins all piled into one chair

Ryder what are you teaching Kate?!?! Guitar Hero.

Put those kids to work!!

Nana reading to the gang

Colby's main activity

Pigtails!!

Ready for action

Popsicles:) Look at these skinny little ones...think they are related?

An indoor picnic

Kate on the slide, but what she really loves is the swing!

Pretty hair!

New crayons introduced to us by Lisa- thanks for the tip! These twistable crayons don't break into millions of pieces and they don't lose their wrappers. Kate is really into coloring right now, so this was a great find.

My project! Lisa taught me how to knit:) I've been wanting to make this re-usable cover for my swiffer for a while. I had planned to teach myself how to knit, but I had to keep pulling it all out, so all I ended up with was a ball of unwound yarn. Lisa finally helped me get the hang of it and I finished my project! It only took me a month (yikes!)...

Here is Kate's new tower. Now she can stand at the sink and play and not fall off the chair!

Phew! What a busy month! Our house is so quiet now...I'm a little lonely. Anyone want to come visit???