My Artists (again)...

We got a note earlier this week letting us know that the Big Girl would have a piece of art displayed at a downtown festival. Of course, we had to go check it out!

First we checked out the BG's work:

Then, it was time for us to play:

The LM drawing a rocket:

BG at the watercolors booth. She was told to paint something from the display table:

One more shot of her work on display:

Book Review: Vogue Easy Sewing

Vogue Easy Sewing by Lynn Ferrari and the Butterick Company, Inc.

Published 1985

ISBN: 0-06-181128-9

Some Chapter Headings:

• Easy Wardrobe Planning
• Fabric Dos and Don'ts
• How to Press
• How to Sew by Hand

I liked:

• A great detailed "Needle and Thread Chart" on Page 31.
• The chapter labeled "How to Press", which had good guidelines, but even better pictures and diagrams! This section included fool-proof instructions for pressing darts, gathers, pleats, sleeves, hems, and seams. Probably the best pressing instructions I've seen.
• The chapter labeled "How to Sew By Hand", which included only a few stitches (back stitch tacks, slip stitch, blind stitch and thread chain), all essential to any sewer.
• The last section "Easy Sewing Techniques" that is broken down into chapters based on the techniques that "scare" some sewers, including bands, buttonholes, darts, pockets, sleeves and zippers.

My dislikes:

• There is no information on invisible zippers or collars with a stand.

Conclusion: This is a great reference for any sewer that has progressed past pillows and PJ pants and is now ready to tackle garments. The book is really easy to follow and has great illustrations for the techniques. I'll tell you again--I love the pressing chapter! One small warning--you'll have to look past the mid-1980s photos in the middle of the book. Gotta love shoulder pads!

Would I buy it for myself? Absolutely. I've already looked it up on Amazon.

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer? Maybe.

Good-bye Simplicity 4020!

I think I'm done with this pattern (and I think it's out of print):

Oh, I've enjoyed making it up. So quick and easy. And, such versatile tops. I still wear all of them. I do prefer the 3/4 quarter length sleeve version to the sleeveless. I don't necessarily love the neckline on the sleeveless version. Another problem--finding cute knits locally. There are none! And I don't enjoy ordering fabric online. I need to touch it first. ;)

Here's my first version:
My second version was an integral part of my wardrobe contest entry last year.

I made this version for my sister (as a very, very belated gift):
And, the latest version. This time I added a tie around the neck like a ready-to-wear I'd admired recently.Okay, so maybe I'll just file the pattern away for a while. If only I could figure out how to

do something different with the sleeves...

Who knew?

Who knew you could make a tie? Well, okay, I figured you could. But, until I googled it, I had no clue where to find a pattern. Certainly not in my stash.

I found a tutorial at Ottobre Design. The tie was super quick and easy--but I needed to make it much, much longer! I also had trouble printing to the scale they suggested, but that was probably the difference in European paper standards and ours. If (When) I make the LM a tie for his own I will use a lighter silk-type fabric. The left-over taffeta from his sister's Easter dress was a bit thick.

So now a question for any of you that sew: Do you like Ottobre patterns? I was browsing their on-line pattern magazines and wondering just how easy they are to use. How well do they fit? Do you have to add seam allowances?

McCalls 5309 with a few tweaks

Here's the Big Girl's Easter Dress:Pattern: McCall's 5309
Fabric: Polyester Tafetta from the Clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby
Lining: Broadcloth
Trims: White Satin-y ribbon
Changes: I used the yoke from View B, but didn't use a contrasting fabric. I preferred the wide shoulder straps to the 2 spaghetti straps. I also shortened the skirt to make it a little less formal.
Process:

• My Big Girl has a slim build, so I started by paper-fitting the pattern to her. I had to take out some of the yoke so that the shoulder straps would actually fit on her shoulders! (Note: Obviously, from the pulls, I over fitted the dadgummed thing. Oh well!)
• I hate stitching on trims across the yoke. I always, always, always mess them up! This time, I used a little heat-n-bond to tack the ribbon first. That worked much, much better.
• I used a 2 inch white satin ribbon for the back tie as opposed to making one from the taffeta.
• I used ribbon for the hem, based on the method used in this skirt pattern. It worked like a charm and I have a beautiful ribbon hem with all my raw edges completely enclosed.
  

Tools: (Of course my Janome 9000 and my beloved seam ripper are not shown.)

Would I recommend this pattern?: Maybe. It was easy to follow. All the pieces were there. It did run a bit big, or maybe my child runs a bit slim. Who knows? Anyway, I probably won't make this again, but it did make a pretty dress.

Easter Finery

His: Walmart and a tie from this tute.
Hers: McCalls 5309 (review tomorrow)

Happy Easter!

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the world." John 11:25-27

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

St. Paul's Day School hosts a precious Easter parade every year.




This year, the Little Man had very definite ideas about how his hat should be decorated. He wanted:

bunny ears, Easter grass and eggs to hide in the grass.

I hit the dollar store for a baseball cap and bunny ears (on a headband). I found smaller plastic eggs for $0.33 at Hobby Lobby. And then, I pulled out some plastic Easter grass.

LM: No Mom. Not that stuff.
Me: I thought you wanted grass.
LM: Fabric grass.
Me: Fabric grass? Uhm... (Frantic searching through the small scraps.)
Me: Aha! (Pulling out the trims.) Will this do?
LM: (After carefully examining the green ric rac.) That's awesome!

A New Baby, A New Quilt

Welcome to the World

Thomas William!

Sorry, I have no pictures to show, but I didn't take my camera to the hospital yesterday. Thomas is the new son of a very close friend. His Mommy has loved my kids and cared for them like family. I gave her a few hand-made things, but none of my gifts came close to the beauty of this quilt my mom created for her.

Do you recognize these characters? That's right. Those are Eric Carle's illustrations from Bill Martin, Jr.'s Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Mom found this fabric and decided it would be perfect for Thomas's Mommy (an Early Childhood Educator). She pieced the quilt and my aunt quilted it. The quilt is truly incredible!

*Thanks for letting me show off Mom's work again! *

Book Review: New Complete Guide to Sewing

New Complete Guide to Sewing:
Step-by-step techniques for making clothes and home accessories
Published 2002 by Reader's Digest
ISBN:0-7621-0420-1

Some Chapter Headings:

Sewing equipment and fabrics
Neckline finishes and collars
Fastenings
Tailoring

I liked:

• The format! It is very easy to open this book to the contents and quickly identify the chapter I need.
• The great fitting section. There were lots of photos showing how and where to measure for 16 useful measurements.
• The great diagrams showing fit alternations on pattern tissue.
• The diagrams showing common "wrinkles" and how to adjust fit for each.
• 14 pages of hand stitches!

My dislikes:

• Only one-The extensive list and descriptions of fabric has pictures, but they aren't complete or labeled.

Conclusion:
I refer to this book at least once a month. It has more information than I could ever list. In fact, it would be easier to list what's not included than to tell you everything that is! So far, every time I've need information, I've found it here! I use the fitting chapters more than anything else!
This book has 20 projects throughout that use the techniques covered in each chapter. It also has a quilting chapter, but you should note that it consists of only 2 projects and no additional diagrams or explanations. The book also contains a 4 page glossary.

Would I buy it for myself? It's the most used book on my shelf!

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer? Absolutely.

Have you read this book?

Have you read this book?

I highly recommend it. It is the (fictionally) fleshed-out story of Queen Esther. I happen to love the story. It has everything you'd expect to see on prime-time TV--drama, intrigue, lots of women living in one house trying to earn (catch) a husband, murder, politics. It's all there!

Actually, it's all in the book of Esther too. Reading this fictional book, always makes me pull out my Bible and read the historical account.

I like Esther. She's graceful, elegant, courageous, obedient, and willing--even when nothing makes sense. More importantly, I love what I learn from the Word through her story: you never know what He has planned for you or how your actions and decisions can change the world. But, if you're willing, He will!

"Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14b

New Vogues are Out!

The new Vogue patterns are out. Many of them are very "artistic". There were just a few that caught my eye.

Like I really need a dress. But if I did, do you think this design would give me a waist? (I'm a rectangle according to Bradley Bayou.)

Another dress. I think this one might be too scoop-necked for my taste, but it is so cool and summery.

This shirt is not flattering! The pants-however-are very crisp and sharp. And I'm always looking for cute pants.
So, like I said, nothing really floats my boat with this batch of patterns. That's one pattern sale at Hancock's I can skip!