SewBaby News

Valentine's Day Treats from SewBaby!

2012-02-09T10:10:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day from SewBaby!
We can't help our love for our SewBaby Sweethearts!
We've got so many V-Day treats for you!
Please be our Valentines by enjoying 14% off your entire order!
Use coupon code LOVE14 at checkout.

That's not all.....
-If you order fabric, we'll give you a FREE Fat Quarter (of our choice).
-If you order e-patterns, we'll give you a FREE E-pattern designed by our talented in-house designer, Jonathan!
-Order fabric AND e-patterns? THEN YOU'LL GET BOTH!

Here is the brand new, unisex, and free e-pattern you'll be getting if you order e-patterns!

We love you THAT much!
Thanks for shopping at SewBaby & Happy Valentine's Day!

Hugs & Stitches,
Ann & The SewBaby Team
Sew Baby

Vogue 1283 Tom and Linda Platt Red Dress

2012-02-06T21:07:00.000-06:00

See my shrubs in the background? I woke up to a Winter Wonderland today, and decided that I had to get a picture outside. Everything was covered with the most gorgeous frost!

Patternreview.com is having a Red Dress contest for the first two weeks of February. When I saw this brand new Vogue pattern this weekend, I knew just what I wanted to make. This is from Vogue 1283 which is a Tom and Linda Platt design.

I really liked the wave ruching in the front, and the fact that it had long sleeves- a rarity for dress patterns these days. I didn't like that there were no finished garment measurements on the pattern anywhere! I rely on the finished garments to decide what size to make, and if I need to tweak it any. And you couldn't even really guess on your own, because the pattern pieces are really skewed with the ruching. So, I cut it out a size bigger than I thought I'd need, and I added 3 inches to the length. Turns out I'm glad I did. This is a CLOSE FITTING and SHORT design.

Of course your fabric choice will make a huge difference in how it fits. I can tell that my fabric was too thin. I used a lightweight rayon jersey that I got from fabricmartfabrics.com for $1.99/yd. The dress has a self lining, so I didn't want anything too heavy or thick. But it definitely needs something a little more substantial to show off the ruching- probably an ITY knit would be good.

And even with the 3 inches in length added, this is way above my knee! (I'm 5"9" for reference.)

Close-up of the wave. (I'm not really that busty- just a weird angle!)

Was the "wave" hard? No, not at all. This is where I have to give Vogue a standing ovation. Their markings were spot on, and as long as you mark the fabric, you'll have no trouble figuring out where things go.

Wow is that a BRIGHT red outside! It doesn't seem so bright inside. I'd love to wear it with a black cardigan to make it more wearable for work, but then it would hide the pretty wave design.

Anyway- I DO recommend this pattern. Just use a heavier fabric than I used, and make sure to check the length before you cut if you are tall like me!

-Ann

Leopard Print Sheath Dress Vogue 8319

2012-02-05T14:18:00.001-06:00

Sleeveless on a February day in Illinois?

I made this dress for my daughter last November, but just was able to get a photo of it today. Can you believe she's wearing a sleeveless dress outside in February in Illinois? What a winter!

Vogue 8319

This is from Vogue 8319, an out-of-print pattern that I've had for a number of years. I have always loved the lines of this design. It looks very Jackie-O style on the cover of the pattern, so it was a bit of a stretch to make it suitable for a 21 year old to wear in 2012. I chose a leopard print stretch sateen and lined it with a taupe polyester lining.

Trim and neckline details

At first, when I sewed the darts together, I could see that they would be completely lost in the print. So I went through my trim box, and found a black piping like trim with little gold accents. I undid the darts, and inserted the trim. The only problem with this pattern was the neckline gaped quite a bit. I fixed this by taking several tiny pleats around the neckline.

Exposed Zipper

I've been seeing exposed zippers a lot in RTW, and decided that this would be a good dress to try it on. I think it fits with the leopard fabric. At first, I could tell that she didn't care much for it. But after we tried it with a belt, I think that she liked it a lot more. When it was cold out, she was wearing it with a black turtleneck underneath, black tights, and boots, which looked great. I'm pretty sure that she's wearing it quite a bit now, so I'm happy! I think it fits her shape and personality.

-Ann

My Image & Young Image Magazine Spring/Summer 2012

2012-01-31T15:15:00.004-06:00

Good news! We are excited to announce that you can now pre-order the new Spring/Summer 2012 My Image and Young Image Magazines! They are coming all the way from the Netherlands, and we can't wait! So, if you are dying for summer outfits and want to get started sewing something fabulous, order your copy(ies) now! You can be assured that we will send your magazine(s) out as soon as they arrive to us.

You can see the Instructions included are in English, German, French and Dutch. There are no illustrations in the instructions. These are master patterns which means that you need to trace them to preserve the original. You will need to add seam and hem allowances to the patterns. The sizes for women include European sizes 36-44, and for children 80-164 (approximately 18 months- youth size 12).

Here is a link to the fashion shots in this issue My Image Spring/Summer 2012.

Anne Klein Pants Vogue 1200

2012-01-29T21:18:00.001-06:00

The holy grail is..... a GREAT FITTING PANTS pattern.

What seamstress hasn't searched high and low for one. It doesn't seem to be so much to ask, does it?
Yet, it has eluded me for all of these years- until now.

YES! It's true! I think I found the perfect pants pattern for my body! It is from Vogue 1200- an Anne Klein pattern. The ONLY alterations that I made were that I lengthened it and lined it. Need I say more?

Pants Back

I used a stretch wool gabardine for the outside, and a silk crepe for the inside. It doesn't call for a lining, but without one, you would have seen the outline of the pockets a little too much. I've never made a full pants lining before, but it wasn't hard at all. I read up about it in Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing book, and she recommended that you sew a smaller seam allowance in the lining, because it doesn't have much give. I cut just the front and back pieces out of the lining, one inch shorter than the outer fabric. I sewed them together except at the center front, then attached the lining to the waistband facing. Once the waistband was attached, I cut out the fly area of the lining, and just slipstitched it around the fly.

Fly Front

Here are some close up views of the details. The pattern has a real fly front, and a very nice faced pocket. The directions were great. Both of these features took some time, but I have no doubt they were worth it. These pants just feel luxurious. I am definitely going to be using this pattern again.

Faced Pocket

This is the LAST project that I'm going to get in before the end of the Fabric Stash Contest at Patternreview.com. I made my personal goal of 20 yards, which seems like a lot, but some entrants have sewn 75 yards! But I'm quite satisfied- since January 1st, I've added a skirt, a vest, a jacket, a top, a blouse, a scarf, a dress, a cardigan, and finally these pants! Not bad for one month's work.

Next up- something for Valentine's Day!

Marci Tilton Jacket Vogue 8693

2012-01-27T07:40:00.000-06:00

I was on such a roll the first 2 weeks of January, thanks to the Fabric Stash Contest, making 4 items, that I decided to tackle my most challenging project in the third week, while I still had plenty of time. It's a good thing I did. It took me a while to make this one, and I'm not sure I'd have the energy had I saved it for last!

Instead of the Butterick coat that I had planned, I made a last minute switch for Vogue 8693. It's a Marci Tilton design, and this is the first one of her designs that I've made. Lot's of people rave about her patterns- lots of neat angles, loose fitting and comfortable.
So, this jacket looks pretty simple on the face of it. But it is definitely an unusual design, and I had to concentrate on this one. My boucle fabric that wanted to ravel itself silly added to my challenge.

Lining with the points cut out.

The original jacket pattern only has you do a partial lining. My fabric was a little on the thin side, and with Illinois weather, I decided it would be better to line the whole thing. After it was done, I could catch glimpses of the lining in those points in the front. So, I basically cut out a 8 inch triangle of the lining just in that area, and straight hemmed it across.

The collar is just awesome. It is really nice and full and high. You can see it here from the back. I wouldn't need a scarf with this jacket.

Single Welt pocket

Button detail

The single welt pockets were tricky and I'm sure that I didn't get them exactly right, but they are functional. I used a girls' pony tail elastic to make a loop for an extra large button.

I did add 1-1/2" to the length, and added a little extra width at the side, which I wouldn't have needed. It's a loose fitting pattern, and even with a DD bust, I don't think I would have needed any extra room. I also made a full bicep adjustment to be on the safe side. I hate tight sleeves in jackets.

I like it! The one problem that I've already encountered is that I can't wear it with prints. I tried to walk out the door today with this jacket and a polka dot dress. I just happened to glance in the mirror, and realized it looked ridiculous. But if I wear it with solids, I think it will work. What do you think?

-Ann

National Thank Your Mentor Day

2012-01-26T08:44:00.000-06:00

January is National Mentoring Month and January 26th is National Thank Your Mentor Day.

I would like to thank my Mom, Barbara Atkinson, for teaching me everything that she knew about sewing, and encouraging me to follow my spark. I have no doubt that it was difficult at times, if not most of the time. In addition to teaching me for nearly ten years:

-She would sit with me for HOURS in the fabric stores when I was picking out my 4-H projects.
-She would spend money on fabric and patterns for me that she could have spent in many other ways.
-She would rip out my sewing mistakes so that I wouldn't have to, and she would console me when I didn't win a prize in the 4-H contests.
-For my college graduation present, she gave me my first Bernina sewing machine (better than a new car to a sewist!).

Did you have a mentor? For sewing, or life in general? Feel free to share your story here!

-Ann

An Easy-to-Sew Layered Look

2012-01-24T16:10:00.001-06:00

My easy to sew layered look- infinity scarf, shell and cardigan.

I love silk charmeuse and silk chiffon! But sewing them can be a real pain. So, in a compromise, I decided to sew the simplest things possible with them. Forget about set in sleeves, collars, etc, and go for a pullover top or an infinity scarf. Leave the tough stuff for fabrics that are better behaved.

Top from McCalls 6519

I've had this crazy animal print silk charmeuse for a couple of years. Since I bought it, I've often wondered why. It's garish, it's loud and not "me". Yet, for some reason, I love it. Now with animal prints being in fashion, what better time to sew it up!

I chose McCalls 6519- a really basic shell. I would normally have to do a full bust adjustment, but I had enough fabric to cut it on the bias, which gives it enough stretch that I could get by without one. I did add some length to the body, and used a self-fabric bias binding instead of the recommended bias tape. I love how this simple top fits and will definitely be making it again.

While perusing my stash, I noticed that I had a 1-1/2 yard cut of ombre silk chiffon that had the same colors in it. Hmmm... How about an infinity scarf? I just sewed the long edges together into a tube, twisted once, and then sewed the short edges together. Voila! A designer scarf in 30 minutes. I have to say- silk chiffon is warm when you have 1-1/2 yards wrapped around your neck! This is not just a pretty scarf, it's really practical as well.

Cardigan from Simplicity 1945

Unbelievably, I did not have a sweater or cardigan that looked good with this combination, so back to the stash I went, and found this caramel colored boucle knit. I love a waterfall cardigan, and decided that the cardigan from Simplicty 1945 would round out this look.

Most of this I got on the cheap- 2 yards of the boucle knit at $2/yard from fabric.com, the ombre chiffon was in a free mystery bundle, 2 yards @$9/yard for the charmeuse, so a total of $22 for fabric, and probably $4 for the patterns. So, $26 plus a few hours of my time is the cost for this look. And I can wear all three pieces with lots of other pieces as well!

This is one of those days that I'm glad that I have an extensive fabric stash. But I'm also glad to be sewing it up! I want my stash to be functional- just big enough to find what I need, but not so big that I let fabrics go out of style before I can sew them up.

How about you? Do you have a stash, and if yes, is it a source of inspiration or frustration?

-Ann

McCalls 6161 Dolman Sleeve Dress

2012-01-23T15:45:00.000-06:00

I wanted to make something warm and snuggly for my daughter who loves to wear dresses, and I found this great fuschia and grey sweater knit on the clearance section at Joann's. I think I paid a whole $3/yard for it!

I chose McCalls 6161 because I wanted something easy to sew, and carefree to wear. This fit the bill. I didn't have enough fabric to make the cowl the full size, so mine is quite a bit smaller than the original design.
The whole pattern is only three pieces- the front, back and cowl. Sew the side seams, sew the shoulders, hem the raw edges, and you've got a dress! The cowl is just a tube that you sew the ends together. It truly is a one hour pattern.
I just saw it on Clearance on the McCall's website, so if you'd like this style, grab it before it's gone!
My daughter's already worn this a few times, so I will probably be making more of this one.

Lace tunic from Simplicity 2195

2012-01-19T15:31:00.001-06:00

I cleaned my sewing room yesterday. This was no easy job. I'm a truly MESSY sewer, who goes from pattern to pattern, without ever putting away anything. If you ever wonder how I can whip out projects so fast, this is the reason- I just throw things over my shoulder and never look back.

Eventually I reach a point where I can't find something, and I say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!", and I break down and pick stuff up. This happens about once a month. What a bad example I am. New sewists, please don't sew this way! Look how pretty my sewing room is when it is clean. I should keep it this way always.

Anyway, in the cleaning, I actually found a top that I made, but never wore from December! WOOHOO! At least I got some reward for cleaning!

This top is from Simplicity 2195, which is another Khaliah Ali pattern. I am a HUGE fan of her patterns. They always include multiple items and are trendy, but still flattering if you don't have *uhhum*"a perfect figure". For this one, I wanted to make the handkerchief hem tunic.

I had this really cool piece of striped black and cream lace fabric that I just couldn't quite figure out what to do with it. It was a little too scratchy to wear right next to my skin, so I decided to cut out the shirt pattern twice- once out of a black ITY knit for an underlayer, and once out of the lace. I just sewed them together at the neckline, and then turned one inside the other. Both of these fabrics are knit and won't ravel, so I decided to not hem either layer at all. (Talk about LAAAAZY!)

My cat Maddie studying the hem.

Because of the weight of the black ITY knit, it hangs a little longer than the lace one, which I like. I like the length of the top. It is actually quite heavy, which is good for now, as it is cold outside. I think that I'll have to cut out the black underlayer and just wear a cami with it if I want to wear it when it warms up.

I would like to make this pattern again in something with better drape. It isn't specifically designed for knits, and I think I'd like to use a silk charmeuse or chiffon next time. I'm also going to put the vest on my list- I think it is super cute.

Thanks for reading!

-Ann

Thinkin' Spring in January

2012-01-17T12:59:00.000-06:00

All of us at SewBaby are daydreaming of fresh blossoms and pretty blue skies...But since it's only January, we have to pretend it is spring! Good thing we got these new cotton prints by Maywood Studio to help us make believe! Wouldn't these fabrics be great for so many different projects? Dresses? Skirts? Table cloths with coordinating napkins? What about some cool curtains? Or a SewBaby double duty bag? So many possibilities!

Chic Soft Blouse McCalls 6512

2012-01-15T13:36:00.001-06:00

It's January 15th and with this project under my belt, I'm done with 4 of my 8 planned projects for the Patternreview.com Fabric Stash Contest! Woohoo! Right on track.

This is McCalls 6512. It's designed by Melissa Watson, who is the daughter of Pati Palmer. Pati Palmer is one of the authors of Fit for Real People, which is a fantastic fitting reference book. It was a nice surprise when I opened the pattern that it had the directions and markings for making a bust adjustment. This makes things so much easier! I cut a 14 at the shoulders, a 16 at the sides, and then did a 1" full bust adjustment. This added a dart, and lengthened the center front about 1". I really wanted full length sleeves, and I added some length to the sleeve back and the front yoke/sleeve pieces.

This is another fabric I received in a mystery bundle from Fabric Mart Fabrics. It's a gorgeous fabric, but not one that I would have chosen on my own. I believe that it is a silk-cotton which is one of my all time fabric blends. It's light and luminous, but not sheer.

I chose this pattern because I wanted to try a tie blouse, but I didn't want the tie to be too high on my neck. This one looked perfect. Plus it had a neat design with the yoke and sleeve being cut together, which I thought made it look more casual. I like the idea of dressy fabrics made in a style that you can wear them casually too.

Close up of tie.

I only had 2 yards of the fabric, and it called for 2-5/8, so I ended up taking a lot of time cutting out the pieces individually. I barely had any scraps left, which is a nice feeling when you know that you're working with what is most likely an expensive fabric. I would have liked to have placed the paisley better, but this really the only way it was going to fit on my fabric!

Back yoke.

The pattern went together very beautifully, and I've been wearing the blouse already. It's hard to show in the photos, but the fabric has a lovely luminosity in certain lights. This picture was about the only one that captured it.

Showing luminosity of fabric.

I like this blouse a lot, and I wouldn't hesitate to make it again. I've got a few cotton voiles in bright colors that would be pretty for summer.

Have a great Martin Luther King holiday, everyone! I'm sure I'll be sewing.:)

Ann

Simplicity 2344 Wool Skirt

2012-01-13T17:35:00.000-06:00

This is the skirt from the Simplicity 2344 pattern. This is using 1 yard of a black wool tweed that is just gorgeous. It's so basic, that I'm afraid this will be the most boring blog post ever, but you know, I'm really glad that I've got a black straight skirt in my wardrobe now!

This takes just 1 yard of fabric, and it will go with just about anything!

I did make several changes:

1. Lengthened it 5 inches. This is a lot. I'm tall, but not that tall! It hits me just below the knee now.

2. Lowered the top of the front slit by 2 inches. It was a little indecent when I sat down initially. I work at a school, so I need to look somewhat respectable!

3. Added a lining and interfaced the top of the lining.
The original pattern calls for you to stabilize the waist with twill tape, instead of a separate facing or waistband. I've done this method before, and it's not my favorite. It's a shortcut that will work in a pinch, but if you've got another 30 minutes, it's much better to actually add a facing. Because my wool was scratchy, I didn't want the facing next to my skin, so I decided to line the whole thing, from top to bottom. To stabilize the lining, I ironed on a 2" strip of interfacing to the upper edge of all of the lining pieces.

4. Made a more substantial french vent. The original pattern has you just narrow hem the vent. Again, that's okay, but if you've got enough fabric, it's better to cut out a wider vent and turn it back. I think that the reason the pattern didn't do that is because you are adding the extra fabric just to one side of the center front, and to one piece of the side front. It's tricky, and you have to think about it. Here's a photo of mine- not my best work at all, but I wanted to show you what the inside looks like. You have to turn back the lining, or else it will show when you walk.

The top is Vogue 8771. This has turned out to be a great addition to my wardrobe. I think I'll be wearing this pair a lot!

The bad news/good news, is that I went to Hancock fabrics today, and got three new fabrics to replace the stash that I've been using up. Got some GREAT deals!! If you have a Hancock's near you- check out their "fashion value" group which is now 40% off for MLK weekend.

-Have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!

Ann

Simplicity 2344 Metallic Tweed Vest

2012-01-12T14:22:00.001-06:00

I have decided that I LOVE vests! Today it is chilly in my office, and as soon as I put this vest on, I felt fine. Jackets are too restricting to me because of the sleeves, but a vest adds warmth where I need it, and adds another layer of interest to an outfit.

This vest is from Simplicity 2344. It is a Khaliah Ali pattern that includes multiple cup sizes for a better fit. The pattern also includes a straight skirt, a jacket, knit blouse, and wide leg pants. Quite a nice selection, and I do plan on trying out the other pieces.

I did make one significant alteration- I felt that the collar of the vest was going to get in the way of some of the collars on my shirts and dresses, so I redrew the neckline so that it just curves down from the shoulder.

I made mine from a metallic tweed that has just a subtle golden shimmer. I'm pretty sure this was in a Fabric Mart mystery bundle. What I like about mystery bundles is they force me to try new fabrics. I probably never would have purchased this on my own!

I ordered black rose frogs from Hong Kong off from Ebay store Accessories by Richland. They were only $4.00 for 10 plus $2.50 shipping and arrived in less than 10 days! I think that they really make the vest.

The lining is a pretty taupe paisley.

The back of the vest has a shaped waistband, and there are pockets in the princess seams.

I'm hoping that even though this is fairly dressy with the gold shimmer, that the neutral color will let me wear it with lots of outfits. I'm really thrilled with how it turned out!

Subtract another 3 yards (1-1/2 for the outer vest and 1-1/2 for the lining) from my stash. I'm on a roll now!

-Ann

Win A Yard Wednesday!

2012-01-11T10:02:00.000-06:00

This Contest is now over. Thank you to all of our entrants! Congratulations to Katja for giving this nameless knit a name!

Jellybean Giraffes Jig In The Garden
on White Jersey Knit

(say that tongue twisting title 5 times fast!)

Introducing Our Win A Yard Wednesday Contest!

This is our special new contest that will happen on one Wednesday of each month.

We'll have a different contest each time, and you'll have the chance to win a yard of fabric!

That's right, a WHOLE YARD!!!!!

All you have to do is come up with a creative name for this cute jersey knit fabric. Continue down for full contest rules.

Here's How You Can Win

1) The fabric name must include the main description & color(s) of object, shape, design, animal,etc.

2) The fabric name must include the main background color (ex: WHITE)

3) Comment on our Win A Yard Wednesday Facebook Post or SewBaby News Blog Post with your creative, cute, super fancy fabric name.

Example Name: Multi-Colored Mini Giraffes & Flowers on White This is a very boring example name: We want you to get creative!

We will pick a winner TODAY (Wednesday) at 2pm!

The winner will receive a FREE YARD of this fabric, and the name will be the fabric's given online name! You'll be famous!

Simplicity 2337 Princess Pleated Dress

2012-01-10T15:59:00.000-06:00

This is the first project for my Fabric Stash Contest! I am sooo thrilled with this dress. It turned out better than I expected.

The pattern I used was Simplicity 2337 which is one of the older Project Runway patterns.

It has several views, and I made View A which has the front that overlaps with pleats over the midsection. I tell myself that this is tummy camouflage.

I made a Full Bust Adjustment on the front pieces, using Debbie Cook's wonderful tutorial on her blog Stitches and Seams. My high bust measurement is 36, which matches the pattern size 14. My full bust measurement is 39, so I added 1-1/2" to the bust area on the side front, then added length to the center front and facing pieces. I ended up needing to add an extra pleat to match the lengths, so I don't know if I calculated something wrong, or just made the other pleats too small. Either way, it was an easy fix.


Close-up of fabric

My fabric had a little stretch to it, so I decided to forgo the zipper this time, and it was fine. The back facing ended up being quite large, and I took out 2" out of the center back to get it to fit. I don't usually have to do this, so that could have been my fabric just had too much stretch, or I am developing a round upper back. (I'm going to have to start working on my posture!)

The sleeves called for it to be turned up into a cuff. I felt like I liked them as they were, and just hemmed them regularly. I didn't add any length to the pattern, other than that needed for the full bust adjustment, and it hits me right above the knee. I'm 5 feet 9 inches, so someone more petite may want to shorten this quite a bit.

I just had to show you my new shoes! These are the Kennedy Patent Bow shoes on Shopruche.com They are actually very comfortable!

Now that I've got the fitting figured out with this pattern, I would definitely like to make it again. Maybe in a RED for Valentine's Day!

Now to get busy sewing more for the Stash Contest!

-Ann

Choosing Pattterns for Winter Wardrobe

2012-01-02T10:08:00.001-06:00

Picking out the fabrics for my winter wardrobe was the first step. Now, comes the patterns! There are so many gorgeous options out there, but I think that I've narrowed it down.

For the black skirt and metallic vest, I'm going to use the Khaliah Ali wardrobe pattern Simplicity 2344. I like the front walking slit for the skirt, and the princess lines of the vest. I also like that this is one of the patterns with the multiple cup sizes, so I don't have to worry about doing a full bust adjustment on my own.

For the paisley silk blouse, I'm going to use the brand new McCalls pattern 6512. I like several things about this pattern- the interesting yoke that becomes the sleeve, the low slung tie, and the curved hem.

For the black and white honeycomb stretch wool, I'm going to try the Project Runway dress pattern Simplicity 2337. I'm not sure which version to make yet. I'll probably make View A with the center pleats in hope that it will provide a little tummy camouflage.

I want to make the Ann Klein pants Vogue 1200 out of both the gold wool and the ivory wool. If I can get the fit right, I think that this will be a classic style that won't go out of fashion. These are both super nice pieces of fabric, so I'm going to definitely need to sew up a sample in a cheaper fabric before I cut into them.

For the animal print silk charmeuse, I'm going to try the simple top in McCall's 6519. This is such a busy print, that any seaming would get totally lost, so I might as well go as basic as possible. I like the other pieces in this pattern as well, so will hopefully try some of the other views out when I get this initial set of fabrics completed.

And last, but not least, is the jacket for the black and cream acrylic boucle. I'm going to go for the middle length version of Butterick 5685. I like that this one also has the princess lines and the multiple cup sizes. Plus pockets! You'd be surprised how many otherwise good jacket patterns don't have pockets.

So now off to begin! 30 days to go! Anyone else participating in the Fabric Stash Contest? Join me if you can. We'll all be winners just by completing projects!

My 2011 in Review

2011-12-30T20:40:00.000-06:00

Well, 2011 was an emotional year for me. My youngest daughter graduated from high school, my mother went into a nursing home, various other problems that I won't mention here, and I did a LOT of reflection. Where have I been, where do I want to go, etc, etc. I'm sure all of you have had similar times.

With a now empty nest, I took on a lot of new roles- a new job as a mentor coordinator with the school district, teaching sewing lessons for community education programs, and tutoring reading. I even took a short lived job at a local bridal store as a seamstress. (What a nightmare job that was!)

My husband has been wonderfully supportive during this transitional period, even though I'm sure that he misses having home-cooked meals like we used to have. I hired several new people at SewBaby.. (And they are doing a great job- thank you Shirley, Elise, Jonathan and Christopher!).

I can't say that I'm any closer to answering any of those big questions. I really love my new job, I love teaching sewing, I love tutoring, and I still love SewBaby! Certain things that used to be a priority have taken a backseat- my sewing, exercising, and reading. My 2011 sewing was mostly for my daughters and easy to make Christmas presents. My exercise buddy moved away, and I haven't read a single book for my book club this year! I hope to be able to balance things out better in 2012, making time for those things that I truly miss and enjoy.

Now that I'm working outside the home, I really do need some nice quality career wear, and I think that will be my sewing focus for 2012. I don't think that I'm going to get any more specific than that. If there is one thing that I've learned from 2011, it is that life changes directions when you least expect it to, and have to embrace the people and possibilities that you have at that moment. To everything there is a season, and eventually I'm sure I'll be sewing for weddings, grandchildren, and school dances in the future.

Here's to the end of 2011 and to a bright 2012 for all of us!

Kind regards,
Ann

Winter Wardrobe Sewing Plan

2011-12-28T16:05:00.001-06:00

I think that my favorite part of sewing doesn't have anything to do with the actual sewing! It's the PLANNING. I could look at patterns and fabrics for hours and hours, imagining what to do with them. It's pretty easy to spend more time daydreaming about what I can make than actually making it. Here is my latest sewing plan.

The fabrics have been in my stash quite a while, so I am going to use the Patternreview.com Fabric Stash contest as an incentive to actually follow through with my plan. It's only a month long contest, so I'm being rather ambitious- that would equal two garments a week, but I think that I can do it.
I bought some shoes and necklaces to go with these things too, so I really have committed myself to this!
The last time I followed through with a plan was about two years ago when I did another wardrobe contest. It really helped me to expand my wardrobe, and I'm thinking it's about time to do it again- this time in more neutrals- black, cream and gold.

First up will be a pencil skirt made from this lovely black shetland wool:

I got this gold wool gabardine in a mystery bundle a few years ago, and really thought it was awful. Now I can't wait to make a pair of wide legged trousers from it. I think it will look fantastic with any of my solid cream or black tops.

I need a couple of new blouses. I have two pieces of silk that have that pretty gold shade in it.
First is this lovely paisley chiffon:

Then this animal print silk charmeuse with a little turquoise in it too

Both of those tops should also go with the black pencil skirt, or another pair of pants from this fantastic cream stretch wool:

And to add a little layering interest, how about a vest in this metallic linen tweed:

I think I need a basic sheath dress in this black and cream stretch honeycomb wool:

And lastly, a coat or cape from this acrylic plaid boucle:

I haven't picked out the exact patterns yet, but can't wait to get started! What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

-Ann

Vogue 8771 Striped Knit Top

2011-12-27T12:36:00.000-06:00

Boy, it has been a while since I posted anything that I've made for myself! I've been sewing a lot, but mostly Christmas presents like pajamas and pillowcases. Now that Christmas is over, I am dying to try out some of the new patterns that I've bought in the last couple of months! I've picked out quite a few fabrics in the black, cream and gold color groups to make a group of separates that will coordinate. This top is the first of many in this plan to come. These photos were taken today- our first snowfall of the season!

I bought Vogue 8771 when it first came out, but hadn't found the perfect fabric for it until just last week. The pattern is just 4 pieces- front, back, sleeve and cuff. I made View C which is the longer version that has a curved hem- shorter in the front than the back. It was super easy to sew. The neckline is narrow hemmed, so there aren't any fussy bands to fiddle with.

Vogue 8771

Here it is without the cardigan so you can see the hem better. The scarf is a separate piece- an infinity scarf from the Limited that I bought last year. I cut the sleeves in the opposite direction that the pattern indicated, because I wanted the cuff stripe to clearly be different. Other than that, I didn't make any changes to the pattern. I made the medium and it fit great. You can't see the neckline in the photo, but it is fairly wide, and definitely needs a scarf or a turtleneck underneath to keep warm in this weather.

Close-up of fabric.

I got this tiny black and ivory cotton jersey with gold lurex threads from Fabricmartfabrics.com for $1.99. It was just I thought this pattern would be perfect to play with the stripe direction. I'm pretty sure that I will make this one again, as it's comfy and unique. I definitely would recommend it to even a beginning seamstress!

-Ann

10% Off All E-Patterns!

2011-12-15T12:48:00.001-06:00

Any last minute sewing projects you want to do before Christmas!? Well, try a downloadable e-pattern! All of our E-Patterns are 10% off right now, and they are quick and easy to download so you can get started right away!

New Ellie Inspired Patterns!

2011-11-29T13:20:00.001-06:00

Do you love knit fabrics? Do you love patterns? Do you love sewing? Then these patterns by Ellie Inspired are perfect for you! They are exclusively designed for knits!

With the wide selection of styles, you'll be able to create a super cute outfit for your little ones. Plus, the knit fabric and easy wash & wear care makes it an instant hit for moms.

Snap Sale at SewBaby!

2011-11-02T16:13:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again! No, not Halloween or Thanksgiving, but time to stock on snaps with our biannual Snap Sale! Take 20% off of any snap product with the coupon code SNAPS20 through 11/8/11! In addition to the coupon, if you order 6 packages of snaps, you will qualify to get an additional $3 off for a quantity discount! Why snaps? They are faster than buttons, easier than zippers, and don't damage your clothes like velcro. What is not to love?

Our line of snaps is from the Snap Source, and we carry a HUGE range of their products. If you are unfamiliar with the Snap Source- here are just a few of the MUST HAVE items that they manufacture.

1. THE Snap Setter. (Yes, I meant to capitalize the THE, because it is the only snap setter that I use!)

The snap setter is a three part high impact plastic tool, that magically sets your snaps with just a few hits of a hammer. The snaps come out perfect with this tool, unlike plier type tools that can let the snap parts shift in the process. The snap setter comes in several sizes, according to what size snap you are setting.
Each snap has 4 parts- the top (which can be a cap or a ring), the socket, the stud, and the bottom ring. The snap setter comes with instructions on how to put all of these pieces together in the right order.

2. Open Ring Snaps. These are the kind that when applied, look like a ring, with fabric filling in the middle. They come in a dozen different colors, and are perfect for leg openings for baby clothes, baby bibs, pacifier holders, or anything else that you need a simple closure.

3. Capped Snaps. These are the kind that are solid circles, they come in a couple of dozen colors, and 5 sizes! Size 14- the smallest- for baby and doll clothes. Size 15- for infant and toddlers. Size 16-the most popular size- for toddlers and up, size 20- when you need a larger snap, and size 24- the largest- great for adult fleece coats!
There are so many colors to choose from, that it can be overwhelming. That's why we have them in assortments so that you can try several colors from just one package.

4. Pearl Snaps. These have a metallic outer ring that is filled in with a pearlized center Beautiful! You see these on Western wear a lot, but I think think they look great on girls' clothing as well.

So, take advantage of this great sale and stock up! Remember, the coupon code is SNAPS20 and it is good only until 11/8/11! Our experience is that some colors do sell out quickly, so don't wait until the last minute if you have a particular color preference.

-Ann

A Dirndl for Oktoberfest: Burda 8448

2011-10-31T15:07:00.001-05:00

Burda 8448

My daughter went to Germany as a foreign exchange student several years ago, and ever since, she has been asking me to make her a dirndl for Oktoberfest. I finally succumbed this year to her request. A dirndl is a traditional German folk costume that includes a dress with a very full skirt and a very fitted bodice, an apron that goes over the skirt, and a peasant top to go under the bodice.

Burda magazine always features a dirndl in their September issue, and the Burda pattern book had lots of styles to choose from- from sexy St. Pauli girl type outfits, to long covered up ones.

My daughter chose 8448, which is one of the more covered up ones. I used a black striped linen for the skirt, a pretty blue cotton for the apron, a black stretch corduroy for the bodice, and a lovely white batiste with little pink tufts of embroidery for the blouse.

The pattern takes a TON of fabric- it called for 3-3/8 yds just for the skirt. My daughter is petite and I knew that she would just be swimming in fabric if I used that much for the skirt, so I improvised. I used a 2 yard piece of fabric, cut it in half, so that there was one yard for the front, and one yard for the back. I pleated it until it was the same size as the bottom of the bodice. This was plenty of fabric for her as you can see!

I shortened the length of the apron pattern piece, so that it wouldn't be longer than the skirt. The pattern also called for some shirring on the apron, but I chose to just gather it instead. The top pattern was designed to hit just below the bust. I added 10 inches to it, to make it full length, so that she can wear it alone as a top, which she has been doing.

Burda instructions from their paper patterns are horrendous. They are done in about 6 point typeface, printed oh so faintly on newsprint, and several columns in different languages. I also don't like that their layout diagrams are printed on the pattern tissue, not the instructions. But if you've got good eyes, or a good pair of reading glasses, you can make it through them. I am so spoiled by the quality of American pattern company instructions. It's good to sew a Burda patten once in a while, just to appreciate our homies so much more!

However, my daughter is very happy with her dirndl and has worn it to a couple of events already. I think she will get lots of years of use from it, so I'm happy with the results.

One Pattern, One Afternoon, 4 Looks!

2011-10-25T16:10:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited- I think I just found my new go to TNT (Tried-n-True) pattern for a draped neck t-shirt! The pattern is from the Fall/Winter issue of My Image magazine, style #1152. A mere 3 pattern pieces, and a Saturday afternoon sewing time, and I was able to whip up 4 completely different looks.

Version #1- work top

My one tip with this pattern- eliminate the back neck facing- you don't need it! Just turn under 1/2" and topstitch in place.

The first is a work look- I used a poly/lycra jersey knit in a crazy black, cream and red animal print. This one went together so well, and fit so perfectly, that as soon as I was done, I said, "okay, what else can I make from this pattern?"

Version #2 Casual top with jeans

So, my next version is more casual- it's a grey and white geometric rayon lycra knit that I thought I could wear with my grey jeans. Again, my growing addiction to this pattern left me hungry for more! So, I thought "Hmmm...let's try some completely different fabric...."

Version #3- Short dress with leggings.

Which is where this one version came in. I'm going to call this one my "blue giraffe" dress,as the print looks like a giraffe skin, but of course, in blue. This one is a thick, heavy double knit, that will be so warm in the winter. I lengthened the pattern 15 inches to get above the knee length to wear with tights or leggings.

I still was riding high from 3 good rolls of the dice, so I thought I would really play a wild card on the next version.

Version #4- Dressy Party Top!

Which is where this last top came in. This is a sequined mesh knit- very little stretch, so I made the seam allowances just 1/4 inch. I LOVE this one! It will be perfect for holiday parties!

The sequins are hard to photograph, so Elise, my photographer, took a video to catch how the sequins light up when I move.

And the best part of this- the fabric was part of a FREE mystery bundle from Fabric Mart! As I always say, you can't beat FREE!

I stopped here, but I swear that the possibilities for this pattern are endless. It went together so easily, and fits so nicely, that I can see making this for holiday gifts, with short sleeves for spring, and sleeveless for summer.

You can still buy this issue here! It is absolutely worth it even if all you make is this one pattern!

Happy Sewing!
-Ann

Win A Free Pattern!

2011-10-20T12:24:00.001-05:00

Guess what!? You could win a free pattern!

Just follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook

Follow and Comment on our newest blog posts right here!
Or, do all three!!!

10 Winners will be chosen next Tuesday 10.25.2011!

My Dear Watson- It's a Cape!

2011-10-18T23:33:00.002-05:00

I'm giving a nod to Sherlock Holmes' style in my latest sewing escapade. This plaid wool cape is for a friend of mine who is preparing for a life of excitement and adventure. She is expecting a baby in late January: the COLDEST time of the year in Illinois! Coats are my specialty, but I wanted to make something non-maternity, that she could continue to wear anytime after the baby is born. So, voila, a CAPE came to mind! I've never owned or made a cape before, so this was a journey into the unknown for me. Here is my pattern review for Simplicity 2285 that I posted on Patternreview.com

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, but the pocket area is a little tricky and you have to think through that. When I was making it, I forgot that I was making a cape, not a coat, and was thinking "These are the craziest pocket instructions I've ever seen!!! How did these ever get approved!!!!". Then I realized that the pockets are accessible from the INSIDE of the coat, AND that the same opening is used to put your hands through to get to the outside.

Inside pocket with opening to front for arms.

Close-up of gun flaps and buttons.

back pleat detail

Fabric Used: A Woolrich wool plaid in burgundy, plum and grey. I bought it on Ebay- 2-1/2 yards for $17! I also found the buttons on Ebay. They were definitely vintage- still on the cards, and I was so happy because I got them for a fraction of what new buttons would have cost, PLUS they are THE perfect color!

front welt pocket detail

Cape on hanger

Would you sew it again? Yes, I think that I would like to make one for myself, now that I've figured out the ins and outs of this pattern. They say that capes are "In" this year. I have yet to see that in central Illinois, but me and my pregnant friend may be the first.

My Image 1157 Princess Seamed Dress

2011-10-17T12:31:00.002-05:00

I'm excited to make my first item from the My Image Fall/Winter 2011 magazine! I love this pattern magazine because its designs are so wearable and they include a lot of designs for knits. This one is style 1157.

Pattern Description: Long sleeved princess style dress with a gathered front inset.

Pattern Sizing: European sizes 36-44. I made size 42, which is about a US size 12 in RTW.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? No, I don't think that the line drawing portrayed the center front correctly. It's only gathered on one side, and the line drawing looks like it is gathered on both sides.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The only problem that I had was with where to match the notches on the front panels. There were too many notches!! I originally must have chosen the wrong ones to match the center front panel with the side front panel, as the neckline came to below my bra line. I actually thought about just turning it around and wearing it as a dress with an extremely low back. But, modesty got the best of me, and I decided to rip it out, and place it about 6 inches higher this time.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I thought it was figure flattering, but appropriate for work.

Fabric Used: A violet rayon jersey. A difficult fabric to work with because it is so stretchy.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I lengthened the dress 3 inches, and the sleeves 2 inches. I also raised the neckline higher than intended.

I also eliminated the back facing. I ironed a fusible bias tape interfacing to the back, and just turned under and topstitched it in place.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, but I would just ignore the notch markings on the center front panel, and use your own judgement of where to gather, and where to place it on the side front panel. But overall, I love the fit from this company, and recommend them.

You can order this issue from this here.

Bundle Sale at SewBaby

2011-10-13T10:35:00.003-05:00

If you have a tendency to want every fabric because they are all so beautiful, but don't have the space to keep yards and yards, then you will love our fabric bundles! We've selected several fabrics that all go wonderfully together, and packaged them in bundles that contain 1/2 yard of each fabric. These are wonderful to help you get creative! Use one fabric for a collar, another fabric for a hem band, perhaps another for the bodice and another for the skirt. Or if you are making home dec items, piece together the pieces for valances, pillow tops, aprons, etc. The possibilities are limitless!
Another wonderful thing about our bundles, is that they are always 10% less than you would pay regularly for them if you were to buy them individually. And to entice you to try them out, we are offering a special coupon for an extra 15% off the bundles until October 17th!
Just type in the code BUNDLE11 when you check out to get this extra discount.
Visit our bundles here!
Happy Bundling!
-Ann

Sewing 101 Class Projects!

2011-10-06T12:23:00.001-05:00

I took on a new adventure this September. I decided to teach sewing classes for our local community college, Parkland College, and for the Urbana Adult Education program. I've taught private sewing lessons before, but not a group, so I had to think about how to go about it. I, myself, am a project based learner- learning through actually making something, not by listening to a lecture or reading a book. So, Shirley suggested that our Double Duty bag pattern would be a great project that would appeal to a wide variety of people, and could be used in many situations- knitting bag, diaper bag, beach bag, etc. Shirley has made over 50 of these bags herself, so I invited her to be my teaching assistant during class.

The students were amazing and very patient with us as we learned what worked and what didn't with our set-up. They did a fantastic job, and here are the pictures to prove it!

We held the class here at Sewbaby because I had collected enough Bernina sewing machines over the years, and I knew that if something went wrong during class, that I could fix them. Also, we set up a cutting station and two ironing stations to be shared among the six students per class. I have new respect for home economics teachers who somehow manage to coordinate 20 or 30 students and their sewing projects!

We had a lot of fun teaching and are planning on Sewing 102 in the very near future. If you are in the Champaign-Urbana area and would like more information, you can contact either the Parkland College Community Education or Urbana Adult Education programs for our next offerings!

-Ann

My Image 1115 Asymmetrical Neckline Dress

2011-07-28T17:30:00.000-05:00

Line drawing from magazine

The dress on me.

When the My Image Spring/Summer issue came out, I knew that the first thing I wanted to make from it was M1115- the Asymmetrical Neckline Dress. I just didn't know that it would take me this long to do it!

But before the summer got away, I managed to trace the pattern, and I chose a gorgeous rayon knit print to make it with.

I eliminated the back center seam, but otherwise made a straight size 42.

The front ruching is done with a length of elastic, but the instructions were pretty vague about how much to use, and where to put it.

I measured the front seam, and cut a piece of 1/4" wide elastic 3/4 the length of the seam.

Then I zigzagged it to the seam starting just below the facing, and ending just above the hem allowance. It seemed to work pretty well.

You can see the final results on me here.

On me, the neckline dipped below where my bra shows, so I would have to wear it with a cami.

If I made it again, I would make a size smaller at the shoulders to try to prevent that.


The dress on Mariah

My assistant, Mariah, tried it on too.

It fit her perfectly throughout, and I thought she looked amazing in it.

The front neckline didn't dip so low on her, and the dress really showed off her curves.

Even though Mariah and I have different body types, I think that this dress looks great on both!

Mariah has an upcoming wedding to go to, so I decided to give this dress to her, and I'll have to come up with a different fabric for one for me

The dress took me about 1 hour to trace the pattern and cut, and two hours to sew, so it is a quick and fun project to do.

The pattern magazine is currently on sale at SewBaby, so grab it while you still can!

Mariah and I together.

Ann

Simplicity 2178 Cynthia Rowley Dress

2011-05-19T16:57:00.000-05:00

I wanted to make myself a dress for my daughter's high school graduation party next week, and chose Simplicity 2178 which is a design by Cynthia Rowley. I originally chose to make the longer maxi-dress, but the consensus from my family was that it looked too costumey- too much like a Roman, so I shortened it to knee length.
The fabric that I used was a silk-linen blend- very vibrant in color with a nice weighty drape.

The pattern features a side invisible zipper, a faced front, pockets, and a shoulder tie. I really love dresses with pockets! The shoulder tie is a nice touch, and the other side with strap allows you to still wear a regular bra. I would advise that you use a fairly thin fabric if you are doing the version with the shoulder tie, as by the time you knot four layers together, it can get thick and heavy, which isn't the look you'll want.

I had to shorten the length of the shoulder strap by 2 inches. I also did a full bust adjustment and added a couple of inches to the waist. From the back view, I can tell that the back bodice was a little too long, so I'll shorten it, if I make it again to get rid of that fold in the back. Overall, I'm really happy with the fit, and the adjustments were easy enough. I now can't wait to part-ay!

Simplicity 2252 Formal Dress

2011-05-16T13:48:00.001-05:00

This is a great new pattern from designer Jessica McClintock for Simplicity 2252.
I made a slight variation on View A for our friend Colleen's senior prom. She wanted a one shoulder drape, instead of a halter type top.
Colleen found this great chiffon type fabric that looks like water with silver sequin like discs that sparkle. It's really a gorgeous fabric, and I bet it looked great on the dance floor. The pattern had called for a stiffer fabric, so what I did was underline each piece with a polyester lining in blue, to give it the stiffness that was needed to form the pleats in the waist area.

The bodice is completely lined and supported with boning. I cut the size 10 which matched Colleen's measurements exactly, but it was too tight. I had to let it out a bit, so if you make this, I would recommend making a size bigger than your measurements to be on the safe side.

Here is the back view.
It has a small train on the back. The wind was blowing when we took these photos, so it is hard to see how it should lie.

Overall, this is a fantastic pattern and I wouldn't hesitate to make it again!

Vogue 7521 Fit for a Queen

2011-05-15T16:16:00.000-05:00

Vogue 7521 Dress front

It's been a while since I posted anything that I've made myself. I haven't been sewing too much lately, and what I have been sewing has been a lot of odd jobs for other people. But I always love sewing prom formals, and I've sewn two this season, which may help me get my sewing groove back. This one is Vogue 7521 which my daughter chose for her senior prom.

Dress back

This is a really nice classic pattern. It has both a halter and criss-cross back option. This took 3-1/2 yards of 60" wide fabric, and with my zipper, pattern, fabric, I made it for under $20!

Dress front close-up.

It went together quite easily, and had I not tried to insert bra cups in it, it would have taken me just a few hours. I had originally inserted some gel type bra cups in it, and just as I was nearly finished with the dress, I inadvertently stuck one of the cups with a pin, and oil came oozing out all over! Horror of horrors! You should never wash satin, as it spots easily, but I had no choice. I removed the punctured bra cup, and threw the dress in the sink with some Dawn dishwashing detergent. I hung it to dry overnight, praying that I hadn't ruined the whole thing, and luckily, the next morning, there was no sign of the disaster. I would not recommend using gel cups ever!

Dress side- held in place with dress tape.

Be aware that this dress is not designed to be worn with a bra. So, we purchased dress tape to hold it in place at the sides. It worked, and she had a wonderful prom, culminating with her being crowned Prom Queen!


Prom Queen Alyssa in her Vogue 7521 dress

At the Prom with a handsome date.

The only issue that I had with the pattern was that when it came time to hem, it was really too short! My daughter is just 5 feet 6 inches, which is supposed to be the height that patterns are designed for, so I didn't think to even check. The hem was longer at the sides, and I had to trim off about 3 inches at the sides to get it to match the front and the back. I'm sure that was related to the weight of the satin on the bias.
She would have liked to have worn high heels with it, as her date is quite tall, but it wasn't to be this time. If I make this dress again for her, I would add 4 inches to the length.

The Queen Mum with the Queen

Comfortable enough to bake brunch in!

I think it's a great dress pattern, and easy to sew if you avoid the pitfalls that I've mentioned above. The dress looked great the whole night, and was comfortable for dancing. I would highly recommend it!

My Image Pattern Magazine Interview and Giveaway!

2011-03-16T11:22:00.003-05:00

I am happy to introduce you to the creators of My Image and Young Image pattern magazines- Martin and Jet. They were kind enough to answer a few questions, and to offer a giveaway of 1 each of their Spring/Summer women's and children's issues. SewBaby is the exclusive US dealer for both magazines.

You have three ways to enter the giveaway- you can enter up to three times if you enter all three ways. The Giveaway will close on Sunday, March 20th, and we will announce the winners on Monday March 21st! Good luck!
1. Leave a comment about which magazine you would like to win most.
2. Post about the giveaway on your own blog. (also leave a comment linking to your blog.)
3. Become a SewBaby News follower or a facebook fan of SewBaby. (also leave a comment letting us know which one)

Design from My Image Spring/Summer 2011

I know that there are two of you. Please tell me your names, and your roles in the business.
We are Jet and Martin. Jet is making patterns for 20 years now. Martin is graphical designer and creates the design of the magazines. We work together for 6 years now.

Design from My Image Spring Summer Issue 2011

Where do you live?
We live both in the east of Holland, about 1,5 hours from Amsterdam.

Design from My Image Spring Summer Issue 2011

What inspired you to start My Image Magazine?
We have both worked for years for a number of other home-sewing magazines. Because the cooperation between us went very well, we decided to start a magazine for ourselves with our own modern twist.

Designs from Young Image Spring Summer 2011

How do you choose the designs for each issue?
A long time before we make new editions, we find inspiration by looking at the fashion of next season. We visit big fashion fairs and we look carefully to the colours, models and details of the clothes.

Designs from Young Image Spring Summer 2011

What is the process of turning a design into a pattern?
First we work out our ideas into drawings. Then we test out all models to see which ones are suitable for our magazine. We make the selected models in the sizes we believe are appropriate for that certain pattern. Example: Cute children dresses aren’t quite suitable for teens, so sizing them in 164 of 176 is useless. Same with harem pants in size 44 and bigger. Because we have a limited budget and we’ve chosen to price our magazines low, we must think of these things carefully.
After sizing the patterns, we make fabric diagrams, pattern sheets and work instructions. Finally, Martin will make the total design of the magazines.

Designs from Young Image Spring Summer Issue 2011

What is your favorite part of running your business?
We are thrilled to turn ideas into patterns for people all over the world. It’s an big challenge to make appealing patterns for the majority of the market. The combination of creativity and translating this creativity into a magazine is very challenging. We believe that home sewing has plenty of future, when the pattern designs are mostly following the latest trends of an upcoming season. There are already thousands and thousands “old-fashioned” patterns available where people can choose from, we’re trying to make “new” fashion, so people have the possibility to choose.

Where do you find your beautiful fabrics?
We work together with a great fabric supplier in Holland, which is known for its beautiful fabrics. We carefully choose the fabrics which will do justice to our pattern designs. We also try to create sets which match colourwise with each other to create the right “image” for our magazines.

How did you learn to sew, and what advice do you have for beginning sewists?
I’ve learned to sew at 16. I followed a few sewing classes in my spare time. After several years I began creating designs for friends and family and discovered that this is what I love to do.
My advice for beginning sewists is to learn which way of sewing and what style suites you best. I recommend to take a few sewing lessons to get the basics right. Start with nice and simple models, this way sewing remains nice and relaxing, like hobbies should be ;-)

Thank you for sharing! We adore your magazines!
-Ann

They're Here! New Pattern Magazines

2011-02-22T13:58:00.001-06:00

Yay! After 6 weeks of waiting, we finally got our shipment of Young Image and My Image magazines from the Netherlands! They look just great, and I cannot wait to start sewing something. I've kind of lost my sewing mojo lately and this is just what I need to get it back!

If you've already ordered your copy(ies), we will be shipping out your orders tomorrow. If you've been waiting until we actually got them in stock, now is the time! You can order My Image here, and Young Image here. Please help us spread the word! If you have any newsgroups that you belong to, let them know that we are carrying these new magazines!

And if you would like to know more about these magazines, here is my first blog post about them.
Now, I'm off to browse my copies!!

Ann

Spring Kids Patterns

2011-02-02T12:23:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness! I think this just may be the most gorgeous Spring dress that I've ever seen! This is the new Miranda dress from Olabelhe designs. It is an e-pattern for sizes 2-8. An e-pattern is one that is downloadable from your computer, so you don't even have to pay for postage! It comes with a tutorial with tons of photographs of each step.
Do not be scared off by the embellishments! This spectacular dress pattern is designed with every sewer in mind. If you are new to sewing or a seasoned pro you will find this pattern fun and easy to put together, and this dress is well worth the time needed for the embellishments! Easter is on April 24th this year, so you've got plenty of time!

Of course, there are 16 other Olabelhe e-patterns that you might like as well!

Looking for Spring playclothes? Then the Spring 2011 Ottobre children's magazine might be more up your alley! This Finnish pattern magazine includes infant- youth sizes for both boys and girls. Here are the line drawings of everything that is included:
Ottobre patterns are so stylish, and our customers rave about how great the fit is. You do need to trace these patterns, as they come on a master pattern sheet. What I use for tracing is a roll of painter's plastic dropcloths, plus a permanent marker. Since the plastic is clear, tracing is much easier. Scissors glide right through the plastic like it was butter, so once it is traced, just trim your pieces, making sure to leave extra for seam allowances and hems.

I made our Petal Jacket pattern in the Sunny Daze Laminated Cotton by Alice Kennedy. The reverse is the Darling Clementine very fine cotton lawn, plus a little orange ribbing around the hood, and lime green snaps. I think it turned out pretty darn cute!

You can also get this laminated cotton print in Blue and Green if you prefer that color palette.

Laminated cottons are becoming more popular, and here is another idea for using them. This laminated cotton was made into our Hug Me Bib pattern. A unique design that wraps around the back waist to make sure the bib stays put.

Sure hope this brings a little breather from the winter weather that most of us are having right now! I'm going to be snowed in for a couple of days at least, but that's not all bad- I might actually get some sewing done!

Helping a Busy Mom Find Time to Sew

2011-01-26T17:43:00.001-06:00

I am excited to introduce what will hopefully be a regular feature here on SewBaby News:

The Ask Sewfie advice column, written by Jen Lopez, the owner of SewFun patterns. Jen has a great sense of humor and as a sewing mom of 3 children, ages 2-20, she has a lot of wisdom too!

Ask Sewfie... advice for the sewing obsessed, because you know you need help.

Dear Sewfie,

I’m thinking of putting my sewing machine back into storage. Although I really love sewing, I live in an small apartment and with two young children, I have no time or space for it. What do you think?
-Xina

Dear Xina,
No! Storage is no place for a sewing machine! Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need alot of time or space to enjoy sewing as a hobby. Instead of thinking you need a block of 5 hours to execute a sewing project (which, as a busy mom, you will never have… but you already knew that) all you really need is a small corner to set up your machine and little blocks of time here and there. I call it “micro-sewing”. Here’s how it works:
Set up your machine in a corner of your home that is near where all the action is. You’ll want an area that the kids are usually in or nearby, this way you can keep an eye on them while you work. You know that little wierd section of countertop by the fridge where the mail collects? That is perfect. Or a small writing desk in the corner of the family room will do just fine. Put all your sharp baby-hurting things in a storage container with a snap top. Keep that up on a shelf or in a closet nearby. Cover your machine with a hard case or a soft quilted cover. If the kids can’t see it, they’ll be less likely to get into it. Keep it unplugged – just in case.

Now you have a ready-to go sewing station! When the opportunity to sew presents its self, you will be ready! Simply whip out that storage container and plug in your machine – you are good to go! But how to find the time… read on.

Take advantage of little windows of opportunity to make incremental progress on a favorite sewing project. For example, got spagetti cooking? That’s 9 minutes, you could have a quick sit and sew the side seams on some toddler pants. The little guy is not a good napper? Even a short 20 minute nap is enough time to slip over to your sewing station and stitch up the handles on that adorable purse you’ve been dying to make. Husband watching the game? Jackpot! Set the baby up with some toys and give Dad some snacks. Now you’ve got 3 hours… you could make a whole baby quilt top!

They key is having your sewing “stuff” easily acessible so you don’t have to spend 20 minutes finding it and getting it all set up. That’s enough of an obstacle to discourage you from even starting.

There are many windows of sewing opportunity through the day if you just look for them. You need only get Zen with the fact that its going to take a bit of time to finish. Set realistic goals of accomplishing one or two small steps per day. By the end of the week, you’ve have a completed project. How good will you feel then?!

Friends, leave a comment and tell us what’s your favorite sewing opportunity!

Warm Stitches,

Sewfie
If your question is selected for the next column, you'll win a FREE Sew Fun pattern of your choice! E-mail "Ask Sewfie" today at sewfie1@sewfun.com.

Ask Sewfie is a humorous sewing advice column written by Jen Lopez - sewing enthusiast, pattern designer and owner of Sew Fun, www.sewfun.com. Jen always has little bits of fabric stuck to her socks.

My Image and Young Image Pattern Magazines

2011-01-23T11:00:00.005-06:00

Young Image Summer 2011 cover

My Image Summer 2011 cover

We are excited to announce that we are going to be the US dealer for the new pattern magazines, My Image (for women) and Young Image (for children)! These pattern magazines from the Netherlands each include 16 patterns in the most fashion forward, yet very wearable styles!


Line drawings of patterns included in My Image Summer 2011

Line drawings of pattern included in Young Image Summer 2011 magazine

We are expecting the magazines to ship out to us this week, but I'm not sure when they will arrive here in the US. Our last experience with shipping was rather lengthy, but with the holidays over, and if there are no more blizzards to contend with, I am hoping they will arrive by mid-February, which will give you plenty of time to sew up these adorable styles by summer!

We are taking preorders for the magazines now, so if you'd like to order your copy(ies) now, you can be assured that we'll send your magazine(s) out as soon as they arrive to us. I'm sure that I'll be blogging about the new patterns as soon as I get my copy out of the box!

Happy Sewing!
Ann

Whimsy Couture Interview and Giveaway!

2011-01-19T13:15:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Jansie, who is the winner of this Giveaway. The giveaway is now closed.

This week we are happy to introduce you to a wonderfully talented new PDF pattern designer, Denise Knapp, owner of Whimsy Couture! We are carrying 30 e-patterns from Denise at SewBaby. Denise was kind enough to answer a few questions about herself and offer a giveaway of 3 of her patterns of your choice!

Where did you grow-up, where did you go to school, where do you live now? Tell us about your family.
I was born and raised in Germany and moved to the States over 10 years ago. I live in the outskirts of Washington D.C. with my husband, two kids and a dog.

How did you learn how to sew, and what inspired you to start your own pattern line?
I learned sewing in school when I was 12 and loved it ever since. Years ago when my little boy was born I discovered how fun it was to make baby clothes and slowly went into drafting patterns. My own pattern line started around Summer of 2009 with only 2 girls dresses. I went to a pattern making class and got the hang of it. Then more and more patterns came out. My goal is it to offer patterns for everyone, kids, adults, pets etc.

What advice do you have for beginning sewers?
It's very important no matter what pattern you buy but beginners want to read the entire pattern and instructions before beginning. Most questions can be eliminated by understanding it beforehand. Then, my next advice would be "practice, make mistakes and learn"

What makes your patterns unique?
I offer downloadable patterns which on most sites will be emailed. The customer can sewing start right away. I try to keep my patterns as much "handmade" as possible so the commercialization will be at a minimum. Although a commercially produced or printed pattern looks more professional but I like it more handmade and personal. I also offer great customer service with help and advice for newbies.

Thank you, Denise, for sharing your creative skills with all of us. You are a great inspiration for beginning and advanced sewists alike!

Tunic M1011 from My Image pattern magazine

2010-12-28T12:25:00.005-06:00

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We escaped the winter weather here in Illinois for a week in sunny and warm New Orleans. If you haven't been, it is definitely worth a trip- delicious food, beautiful surroundings and great jazz! We luckily avoided all of the airport delays that the news is reporting.
But now we're back to the frozen tundra, and I'm happy to be sewing again!

I'm still loving all of the knit tunic patterns in the new European pattern magazine- My Image! We are expecting our second shipment of this pattern magazine to arrive any day now. All of this upcoming shipment has sold out. They were ordered back in early December, but with this crazy winter weather, things are taking a long time to get here from Europe.

I made M1011 from a plum wool jersey with a tiny gold grid when you see it up close. Wool jerseys are hard to come by, but so much nicer to wear in the cold winter than cotton or poly knits- so grab them whenever you can find them!

This style has a unique pleated neckline joined to a cowl neck and button tabs. The skirt is seamed, and there is a waistband, so there are a lot of pieces, but they went together quickly. The only thing that wasn't particularly clear to me was where to attach the tabs, so I just looked at the photo and attached them at the uppermost pleat.

I didn't make any adjustments to the pattern, and you can see that it fits perfectly in the bust area. I normally do a FBA (full bust adjustment), but didn't need to for this pattern. Boy, is that nice!

I think that you can fold over the cowl if you wanted a more open neckline, but since it is still cold here, I'm keeping mine unfolded.

Like Burda magazine patterns, for any pattern piece that is just a standard square or rectangle, measurements are listed, rather than a separate pattern piece provided. So the cowl piece is one that you need to create from the measurements because it is a rectangle.

The measurements are given in centimeters, which none of my measuring tools are in! So I'm going to have to print out a conversion chart to keep handy when I'm sewing from this magazine.

I'm wearing this with my leggings from Vogue 1214. I think these are my most used garment that I've sewn from 2010!

This pattern would easily make a nice dress- I would add about 6 more inches to the skirt pieces. I think it also would look better with a belt to give it a little more waist definition, so I'll do that next time.

I'd like to make this one up again in a pretty Spring shade of knit as well- with the 3/4 length sleeves, it will transition to warmer weather nicely.

Here is the post for the Wrap Tunic and Vest that I made earlier this month from this issue.

Giveaway Day!

2010-12-12T21:30:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Genevieve P! She is the winner of the SewBaby News Giveaway prize. This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who made such nice comments!

The popular blog SewMamaSew is sponsoring a Giveaway Day! We are participating and would like to offer a prize of 3 SewBaby patterns! If you are new to us, we offer over 45 patterns for baby and children's clothing, accessories and toys. Below is just a sample of what we offer. Please visit our webpage to see our complete selection, as well as our great selection of children's fabrics, snaps, and other unique children's patterns from independent designers.

To enter, just leave a comment about which SewBaby brand pattern you would like to win the most. (Please note that although we carry other brands, this giveaway is for our SewBaby brand patterns only.) We will ship internationally, and the prize winner will be selected randomly on December 17th. Make sure to leave a way for us to contact you if you are the winner! You will get to choose which three patterns are your prize!

Sampling of SewBaby patterns

McCalls 6242 Iridescent Knit Tunic

2010-12-11T16:36:00.002-06:00

I received a very unusual fabric in my last FabricMart mystery bundle. It looked like a black mesh sports fabric in one light, but if you turned it another way, you could see royal blue sequins.

I wasn't sure what to call it, but I found this definition and thought it fit the fabric:
"Iridescence is an optical phenomenon of surfaces in which hue changes in correspondence with the angle from which a surface is viewed."

I wanted to make something for parties that myself and my daughters could all share, and I thought my daughters would like McCalls 6242. This is a real sleeper of a pattern, as you cannot tell from the cover photo how neat the construction is for the sleeves.

McCalls 6242 with Iridescent Knit

Sleeve gusset from the inside.

Sleeve gusset from the outside.

The sleeves are two pieces and they have a hidden gusset underneath, so that you can wear the top without your bra showing under the arm. I love this feature. I am wearing a cami with this one though, just because my fabric is a little sheer. It's also a little itchy. I do like this fabric and I would buy more if I can find it, despite the itchiness. It's just too cool!

The shoulders are pleated and connected with what they call shoulder yokes. This looks a little like an epaulette. This part is a little tricky. The pattern is rated Easy, but I think a beginner would be confused at this part.

I think the neckline is a little lower on me than on their photo. I will make a size smaller in the neck area if I make it again. I would like to make it again if I can find an equally cool fabric to use. This is one of those patterns that lets the fabric do the talking. This was really the devil to get it to photograph so you could get glimpses of the sequin like effect. I hope you can see the sparkles!

So, my daughters and I have a neat top to wear for holiday parties. Just crossing my fingers that our parties aren't all on the same night!

Why My Jacket Became a Vest- A Lesson in Pre-shrinking

2010-12-10T08:54:00.001-06:00

I was anxious to try out the Colbert Jacket Style M1006 pattern from My Image magazine, and knew I wanted it to be black, after Dei at SewHotMommi blog wrote a post about every woman needing a LBJ (Little Black Jacket). I had a pretty loosely-woven basket weave black wool in my stash that I could envision as a jacket.

So excited to make this jacket, I didn't want to take the time to preshrink the fabric. After cutting, I decided that ALL of the pieces needed to be interfaced, as the fabric didn't have the substance it needed by itself, and would just be a wrinkly mess without completely interfacing every piece.

At this point, a little bell went off in my head. "You better not use any steam to fuse this interfacing, as this wool is too loosely woven and is going to shrink like crazy." So, I did "dry" fuse the interfacing, and could clearly see the interfacing bubbling where the fabric had already begun to shrink underneath it, even with no steam, just heat.
In complete denial, I forged ahead sewing with the regular seam allowances. After all the major seams were done, I tried it on.

HAHAHA! The sewing gods were laughing at me. This was now two sizes too small. I thought about stopping right there and pitching the project. But, the fabric was really beautiful, so I ripped out every stinking princess seam and sewed them back up again with the teeniest seam allowance that I could get away with. The fronts now met. There would be no overlap, but I figured I could put a jacket hook and eye for a closure instead.

The teeniest seam allowance on the sleeve was still not enough to get it to fit. I could barely get my arms in it. So, it was either cut a new sleeve out of a different black fabric (I had no sizable scraps from the original), or forgo the sleeve altogether and make a vest.

As you can see, I opted for the vest, and I'm actually really happy with it! I don't own many vests, and now I'm wondering why. It actually warms you up quite a bit, and isn't nearly as formal or restrictive as a jacket. I'm wearing this one with the wrap top from the same issue.

Lesson learned- if in doubt, pre-shrink! Most wools won't shrink this much, which is why I rarely do it, but from my experience, the more loosely woven they are, the more they will shrink. Pendleton wools come "ready to sew", which is one reason why I love their wools so much- no worries. There are lots of ways to pre-shrink wool, but unfortunately, they are all time consuming.

Closer view of notched collar.

I am going to have to go back and try this jacket pattern one more time before I can give an accurate review. The only problem (not of my own making) that I encountered was that there were no markings for where to place the pockets. I just placed them at the high hip level, as that felt comfortable to me. I think that this is a great basic pattern that you could make a little different each time by substituting some pocket variations, as well as length variations.

Here's a closer view of the notched collar, and you can see my fabric texture here better too.

In the long run, this all worked out, as I'm going to love this vest! Have any of you ever had this problem?

Sew Forth Now Podcast

2010-12-08T12:50:00.000-06:00

Lori V from the wonderful blog, Girls in the Garden, has a monthly podcast, Sew Forth Now, where she talks about sewing news on the web, what she's sewing, and interviews people in the sewing world. This month, she interviewed me!

If you've not heard a podcast before, it is like a radio talk show that you can download to your computer or any type of MP3 player and listen to while you exercise or commute or even sew! It's a neat idea, and if you'd like to listen to the episode with our interview about how I started SewBaby and the changes I've seen in the sewing business, you can find it here.

Thanks, Lori, for putting together these fun episodes!

Vogue 1198 Wool Jacket

2010-12-05T10:18:00.000-06:00

Vogue 1198 pattern cover.

If there was a Hall of Fame for patterns, I would be nominating Vogue 1198. This is the pattern I used for my Leather Jacket which everyone loves, including my 17 year old daughter, who was constantly "borrowing" it. We decided it was time for her to have her own Vogue 1198, but with winter in full force here, she decided to choose a wool.

I had about 10 options for her to choose from in my stash, not thinking that she would ever choose my favorite. It was a blue-grey wool from Ralph Lauren- very high quality. I had earmarked that one for ME. But, what can I say- the girl has good taste. She chose that one. When I told her that I really didn't think she was "ready" for it, that she needed to be older and more responsible, and that I really wanted that one for myself, she said "But I REALLY want it, Mommy". Oh well.

Front view showing asymmetrical collar.

How do I love thee, Vogue 1198? Let me count the ways.

Back with awesome belt.

1. Back double elastic belt. This is everyone's favorite part of the jacket- this belt is the best.

Close-up of zippers and collar.

2. Zippers. Bad-ass angled front zipper. Adds attitude. Don't mess with me, can't you see my zipper isn't straight? Zippered pockets. Great for keeping things safe.

Front view

3. The perfect size asymmetrical collar. Not too big, not too small, just right.

Side view

4. The fit. So comfy. I added 2 inches to the length, but that is the only change.

Plenty warm for snowy days.

5. Princess seams. So flattering to every figure.

Happy daughter!

Really, if you don't have this pattern yet, run to your fabric store and buy it! It includes bust sizes from 32-55. Doesn't take much fabric. Between 2 to 2-5/8 yards for the smallest to largest sizes. I won't say that it's easy, but Sandra Betzina's instructions are really good and will walk you through it.

And no, I am not getting any commissions from Vogue or Sandra Betzina. I just love this pattern! I'm sure that I'll be making it again, and again, and again.

Ann

My Image Magazine 1003 Wrap Tunic and 1005 Vest

2010-12-04T10:11:00.001-06:00

When I first got my sample copy of My Image magazine, I was anxious to try out some styles to see how the fit was. I decided to try the designs for the Wrap Tunic and Vest. I cut size 42 which is my standard European pattern size, and the fit was perfect.

I used a printed poly knit for the wrap tunic and a brushed microfiber jersey for the vest. These went together so easily. I had them both made within an afternoon. The wrap tunic is just 4 pieces- sleeve, back, right front and left front. The vest is just 5 pieces- sleeve, back, pocket, front panel and back facing.
I did find the translated instructions to leave a little bit to be desired as they use terms that aren't familiar to me, but these are pretty basic so that if you have some sewing experience, you can decipher them.

Wrap Tunic alone

This is the first wrap top that I've made that I haven't had trouble with gaposis in the front- it fits very nice and snug, and I didn't use any extra elastic to get it that way. The center front is high enough that I don't need a cami underneath it either. I will definitely be making this one again. I did lengthen the sleeves, but that was my only change.

Close-up of wrap over part.

The vest is designed to be a few inches longer than the wrap tunic which looks nice. I probably would recommend interfacing the pockets, as they do tend to bag out a bit in a knit. The pattern originally calls for the buttons to go all of the way up the front facing. I didn't have enough buttons, so I just used them in the section that I would actually button.

This brushed microfiber knit is fabulous! I got it at fabric.com last year when they had a bunch of activewear fabrics. I haven't seen it since, but it is sooo nice! It is so light, I doubt that this vest weighs more than a few ounces, but it is somehow warm, doesn't pill, doesn't snag. I used it for my cowl neck tunic as well. I used to be a fiber content snob and only buy natural fiber knits, but I have to say, I have completely changed my mind. I would prefer this knit to a cotton knit any day!

Our shipment of the magazines hasn't arrived yet, so for those of you that have pre-ordered it, please be patient a little longer. It will be worth the wait!

If you haven't ordered a copy yet, we are still taking pre-orders for a second shipment.

Ann

Zippy Bunting Sample and Pattern Giveaway

2010-12-01T13:22:00.002-06:00

To celebrate the first snowflakes of the year, we're giving away one of our Zippy Bunting sample garments and a copy of the pattern so you can make your own!
This sample will fit infants up to 18 months and is great for a boy or a girl!

Here is what the designer, Heather Jamison says about this pattern:

    I first had the idea to make this pattern while making clothes for my daughters’ dolls. The first one was a 12” doll and it turned out so cute that I soon enlarged the pattern for their larger dolls. When our youngest daughter was about 7 months old, it was wintertime. I found that it was a hard age to keep blankets on while going out. That was when I decided to enlarge the pattern once more and make a bunting that would fit her. We got many comments on her “coat” and how she looked so “warm and cozy”.
     There are several things about the Zippy Bunting that I really like. It is very easy to put on a baby since there aren’t any legs in it. It is made wide enough at the bottom that there isn’t a need for a seatbelt slit for carseats. There is enough fullness that you can also sit your baby in the front of a shopping cart with enough room remaining for their feet.
     The Zippy Bunting is quick and simple to sew. You can make one in less than an hour once you are familiar with the pattern.   I recommend using polar fleece fabric as it is very warm and you won’t need a lining. This is also an excellent idea for gifts whether it be for a new baby or a little girl’s birthday or Christmas.

Give-Away Guidelines:
Three ways to register for the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment. (Please make sure there is a way I can contact you- such as enabling the e-mail contact info on your profile.)
2. Sign-up to be a Follower of this blog or Like us on Facebook.
3. Link to us from your own blog! Please post a comment letting me know where your link is. Here's a sample link for you to use: SewBaby News

Update- 12/3/10. Congratulations to our winner, KID MD!

Ann

Alice + Olivia Vogue 1214 Top and Leggings pattern

2010-11-29T10:21:00.001-06:00

I bought this Vogue designer Alice + Olivia pattern for a top and leggings when it first came out- I think in August. I thought it was cute, and made it up, but never really felt comfortable with the back godets or with wearing the top/vest as a top without another top underneath it. I've been struggling with this one for a couple of months now! About the time that I made it, there was a thread on Patternreview.com about "Tights are not Pants", with a plethora of venting about people wearing this type of legging without a top long enough to cover up the rear end area. This pattern combination was definitely in the grey area. If I was 20 years younger, I would have worn it, no problem, but to be on the safe side, I decided to remove the flaps in the back, and to not wear the leggings with the vest.

This is the version of this pattern that I ended up with after a few modifications:

What I really liked about the pattern was the curved lines in the back and the in-seam pockets in the front. I could remove the godets without effecting these features, so that's what I did!

So, to show you the changes- here is the original back with the leggings. I actually don't think that the leggings show too much. They aren't super tight, and they are really very comfy. The bottom of the leggings are ruched for a nice change from the ordinary. I made them from a nylon lycra jersey knit and they are great. I have been wearing them with all kinds of tunic length tops- just not the top/vest in this pattern!

Before removing godets. With leggings from pattern

After removing godets and stitching down center back belt

After I removed the top snap

Before I removed the top snap.

I used a wool herringbone for the vest. At first, the armhole area was too large, and was showing my bra, so I took up the shoulder seams by about 1/2", angling to nothing at the neck. The pattern calls for 3 hidden snaps for the front closure.

You can see in the picture on the left with the black skirt what the original version looked like from the front.

After I decided that I wouldn't wear it as a top without a shirt underneath, I took off the top snap, and it lays much nicer and will show a little more of whatever top goes underneath.

This version is pictured with blouse to the right.

In the end, I do recommend this pattern. Maybe not as the designer intended, depending on your own comfort zone, but the pieces are great separates and will work with lots of things. I think that is how you have to look at designer patterns- as a starting off point and modify to your own world.

So, what do you think? Godets versus no godets? Better as a vest or stand alone top?

Vogue 1197 Sandra Betzina Tunic

2010-11-26T16:29:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! While my daughters and husband braved the Black Friday shopping crowds, I opted to stay in and sew! I'm not much of a clothes shopper these days- just prefer to the challenge of making my own.

It has turned cold here in Illinois, down to 21 degrees this morning, so I wanted something warm. I had 2-1/2 yards of this brushed microfiber knit in a pretty cranberry, that I thought would be fun for the upcoming holiday season. I liked Vogue 1197 from Sandra Betzina for the long large cowled tunic version.

Vogue 1197 cover

I also like the short sleeve top in this pattern, but will have to save that for next summer. The leggings are just one pattern piece, and I definitely will be giving them a try too.

I like the huge drapey cowl collar. But, I would be careful with the fabric choice. My fabric is very thin, and I think that is good for this style. This pattern is perfect for thin rayon jerseys. I think that if you were using a beefier cotton interlock or even a poly jersey, the cowl and the sleeves would get too thick. The short sleeve version of this shirt shows a modified collar that isn't as big, so if I were to make this pattern with something thicker, I would probably use that collar instead.

Extra Large and Drapey Cowl

Ruched Sleeves

I also liked the extra long ruched sleeves. Here's the inside where you can see the clear elastic that I zigzagged to the seam allowance to create the ruching. Take a look at the tissue for these sleeve pieces- they are shaped like a big hook. Very neat- I never would have imagined the pieces like that, but it sure works!

Sleeve from the inside with clear elastic for the ruching.

Sleeve pattern pieces

I didn't add any length this time, and it seems plenty long enough. I think I'll probably wear it with a belt to give it a little more shape at the waist, but I LOVE this pattern. Another winner from Sandra Betzina.

A New Pattern Magazine! My Image

2010-11-22T13:47:00.000-06:00

One of the Patternreview members, GlobalMom, picked up a new pattern magazine when she was in Germany, and got several copies to share. I was lucky enough to get one of her copies. I fell in love with it as soon as I got it.

The magazine name is My Image, and it is from the Netherlands, but includes instructions in German, English, Dutch and French. The format is similar to Burda, where you need to trace your design from a pattern map, but this map is much less dense, as there are fewer designs. This issue has 16 designs- 11 of them are for women and 5 for girls.

What is really neat about this magazine though, is that they show each of the designs made up several times in lots of different fabric choices, so you can really get a good feel for what is possible for the design. Their fabrics are gorgeous!

I can see making up every one of the 11 women's designs,and that is a whole lot more than I would ever make up from a Burda. Usually, I can see myself making 2-3 things from a Burda issue, (and then actually making 0-1!). There are a lot of designs for knits, which is great, because I'm much more likely to sew something from a knit than anything else. There are 2 pants, 2 skirts, 3 tunics which could be dresses, 1 cardigan, 1 coat and 2 jackets- a nice mix of separates. Here are a couple pictures from the issue:

Wrap dress and jacket pattern

I contacted Martijn at My Image to see if we could get some issues for SewBaby, and they are sending us 20 copies. So, if you'd like to try it out, you can preorder this issue from this page.


Coat pattern

I can't wait to try some of these patterns out! I'm going to try to sew up some of the designs this weekend, so I'll let you know how the sizing is compared to Burda. The instructions are very brief, but the designs look pretty straightforward, so I don't think I'll have any trouble. I'll keep you posted!

Hogwarts School Uniform Skirt

2010-11-18T16:39:00.001-06:00

Ready for a day at Hogwarts.

The Real Ginny Weasley

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, premieres tonight!

My youngest daughter is completely crazy for Harry Potter, and has gotten so crazy that she wants to be a Weasley- Ginny Weasley, to be specific, and go to Hogwarts School. She's got the whole ginger haired, freckled look going on, and could be a dead ringer for the actress in the movie- if she only had the Hogwart's Uniform!!

So, she ordered a sweater and tie in the Gryffindor House colors from an online site for an outrageous amount of money. At first they sent her the Slytherin House colors, which just was a horrendous affront to her sensibilities, but they exchanged it at no charge, next day air. They know you don't want to tick off Ginny Weasley!

The price of this get-up was so high that they should have included a skirt and blouse, but they didn't. We checked every major store for a pleated grey skirt, and just couldn't find anything close to what she needed to complete the look.

So, to my pattern stash we went to find the perfect pleated skirt pattern.

Line Drawing for Burda 8-07-116

Burda's Plaid Version

We liked this one from the August 2007 issue, style 116. Their picture is in a red plaid which shows off the bias cut panels better.

Close-up of Front

It's got a faced waist instead of a waistband, and pleats both in the front and back. It's got really nice lines to it, and sewed up beautifully.

Close up of Back

We made the size 38, and it fit her like a glove. I used a really primo cut of stretch wool for this skirt, so she better wear it more than just for dressing up as Ginny Weasley! She's hosting a Harry Potter Christmas party, so the whole outfit will get worn again in a few weeks.

After a long day of witchcraft.

When she tried on the whole ensemble, she was jumping up and down with delight, "I feel like I'm at Hogwarts! I feel like I'm at Hogwarts!". How old is she? Seventeen. But Harry Potter will do that to you. :)

Vogue 8522 Cropped Jacket- A Near Wadder

2010-11-15T14:49:00.001-06:00

I wanted to make a unstructured jacket out of this gorgeous boucle to go with my Plum Tencel dress. The problem I've had with boucle in the past though is that it that the more seams the garment has, the more likely the boucle will unravel, so I wanted a pattern that had a minimum of seams. I found Vogue 8522 in my pattern stash, that I thought looked like it could fit the bill. I decided to make View B which is cropped with a shawl collar.

The jacket was super easy to make. The button in the front is just for show. It really closes with a snap. It is lined edge to edge, so you there is no fussing with hemming both the lining and the outer layers.

It's really comfy, but alas, it doesn't do ANYTHING for my figure type. I think you need a waspy waist to show off this short jacket. It just looks kind of big and baggy and makes my shoulders just slope. But lesson learned.

If I had ONLY made View C- the longer one with the pointed collar, I think I would have liked it a ton better.

You can see in the full length view that the proportions just are off on me. I'm not sure why, but I've tried it with a top and pants combination too, and it wasn't any better.

So, I'm calling it a near-wadder. (A wadder is a failed sewing project that ends up in the trash can). I will keep it to wear around the house when I'm chilly, because I really do love the boucle.

I've had plenty of wadders- mostly due to wrong fabric choice for the pattern or wrong pattern choice for my body, but I still like to try new things and take the risk, because you just never know!

Cynthia Rowley Dress Simplicity 2305

2010-11-12T11:02:00.000-06:00

Pattern Description:
Simplicity 2305 includes Misses Dresses and Skirts in two lengths and purse by Cynthia Rowley. I made the dress which includes a waistband and a side zipper that you can't really see in the picture.

Pattern Sizing: Misses sizes 4-20.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? I made view A with the higher neckline, and it does look like the illustration. The one on the model has a much more open neckline, and I wish that I had made that view instead.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, this is a really easy pattern to make. The neckline is bound with a self bias binding.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I was intrigued by the quilted sleeves. The sleeve band has a layer of flannel in the middle that you machine quilt to give it more dimension. This sleeve hits me right where the elbow bends. I thought that it might be uncomfortable, but it isn't. I cut this part larger just because I knew it would drive me crazy if it was too tight.

I'm still not sure that I'm crazy about the look of it. I mean, who wants their arms to look fatter? But I do like the texture that the quilting gives it, and it is nice and warm. If you didn't want to add any bulk, you could use just a layer of thin interfacing instead. You just wouldn't get as much of the dimensional effect.

Fabric Used: Plum Tencel. This is a wonderful fabric with a beautiful drape. It feels like a heavy weight silk. In fact, I do have some 4 ply silk, and I would say that I like this better!

I did some research on it, and it is apparently a type of rayon, but the manufacturing process is more environmentally friendly. Here's some more info on it.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I lengthened the dress a couple of inches. I didn't do a Full Bust Adjustment because the flat pattern measurements seemed to include enough ease for me. From looking at the photo though, I do think I needed it. It would have looked better with more gathers.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I do like the dress, and have gotten a number of compliments on it. It fits that need for a casual comfy dress that you can wear to places where you don't want to be too dressed up or dressed down.

The belt is from Fossil. I just discovered that they made belts- some really neat ones too. I bought this one at a store, and within a couple of weeks, I got the Fossil catalog in the mail (I didn't ask for it!). Is that a coincidence, or are stores possibly selling our information to particular manufacturers????? I don't mind, as I really like their catalog, but I'm just wondering......Anyway, this dress needs a simple dress to frame it well, so I'm happy to have this dress to work with it.

Double Duty Bag pattern

2010-11-10T13:22:00.000-06:00

One of our most popular patterns at SewBaby is our Double Duty Bag. When designing this pattern, we wanted a pattern that could function as a diaper bag, but still be usable later on for any reason. It is completely reversible, has pockets, and is very easy to sew.

One of our customers, Cathy from Washington State, shared these photos of her Double Duty bags and said this:

I have also attached some photos of the Double Duty Bags that I made. I love that they squish into just about anywhere, unlike the hard-sided kind. Everybody I have given one to just loves them. I have made them for all kinds of gifts, not just as diaper bags. Thanks for such great patterns. Keep them coming!

The bags with the school/alphabet theme went to the staff at my daughter's auditory therapy unit as a "ThankYou" for all of their hard work. These also work great as a tote for groceries. Grandma uses hers for her laptop and my sister fills it up with all of her knitting.

21 completed bags! I think I have 2 left.

This one is ALL MINE!

Thanks, Cathy for sharing these photos- what fun! They are inspirational!

Ann

Ottobre Softshell Hoodie Pattern

2010-11-08T15:45:00.000-06:00

I started running last May using the Couch Potato to 5K plan. If you have any desire at all to run, try this plan- it works! I really look forward to running, and I never, EVER thought I would say that!

But going into my first winter running has me a bit scared about staying warm. I live on the edge of town, and the winds can get pretty strong. Ready to wear running jackets for winter are really pricey if you get high tech fabrics. So, when I saw this hooded jacket (named Ginger) in the latest Ottobre Pattern magazine I thought that with the right fabric choice, this could be a great running jacket for winter.

Then, with luck, I found some high tech wind block fleece for $2/yard. This fabric was light blue on one side and plum on the other. Kind of a weird color combo, but I was only planning on using one side on the outside, so it didn't matter. You also need 4 zippers, and a lightweight poplin fabric for the inside pocket.

The jacket has a kangaroo pocket on the inside, perfect for holding my keys and cell phone. The pockets are zipped, so I don't need to worry about things falling out of my pockets while I'm running.
There are also 2 zippers in the raglan sleeve seams by the neck. This is great for unzipping when you want to cool down after your run. Normally, zippers are one of my least favorite things to do in sewing, and this was no exception. But I have to admit, that they were worth the effort in terms of functionality of the garment.

The original hood turned out to be too small for me. Luckily, I had enough fabric left to cut a new hood and facing. I added 2 inches to the height and that was probably a little much, but now I can pull it down over my face if it is snowing. I think that the original pattern would have worked if my fabric had been stretchier, but my fleece just has a tad bit of stretch to it.

The temperature dropped into the 30's last week with winds, so I got a chance to try it out, and it worked great! I was warm and not bothered by the winds at all. I will definitely make this again if I can find some more windblock fleece at a good price.

Here I am ready to go for a run. The leggings are made from Dry-Flex- another great sport fabric. I do recommend this pattern, but try on the hood before you sew it to your jacket, just in case:)

Double Layer Knit Tops McCalls 6244

2010-11-06T14:22:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been almost a month since my last blog post! I have been sewing, just not posting, so I'll have lots of posts coming up. I've had a couple of sheer knits in my stash for a few years, and never knew what to do with them, so when I saw this double layer top pattern from McCalls, I couldn't wait to sew it up with my sheer knits! This is McCalls 6244, and it includes 4 different tops and two vests that you can mix and match to wear however you want. I really want to make the vest too, but I haven't decided on a fabric for it.

My first try was a dark brown matte jersey for the underlayer long sleeve top, with a snakeskin sheer layer tank over it. I made the medium straight from the envelope and only lengthened the sleeves by about an inch. Otherwise, no changes to the pattern, and it fits great.

The tops are finished by narrow hemming all of the raw edges. This sounds simple, but you really do need a couple of things to make it look good. The first is a stretch needle. I used a 75/11 stretch needle from Schmetz. Otherwise, you will likely have skipped stitches if you use a regular sewing machine needle.

The second thing is that I used my walking foot. This evens out the pressure on the top and bottom, so that you don't end up with wavy hems. I can see in the plum tank that I do have a little bit of a wave to the hem, but I can guarantee you it would have been much wavier without the walking foot. I resisted getting a walking foot for years, as they are pricey- but it was worth every penny, because without it, narrow hemming knits like this would be an exercise in frustration.

My second try was a lavender matte jersey for the underlayer with a plum sheer layer tank over it. I absolutely love this combination. The neck is open, so if you live in a cool climate like I do, a scarf can keep you warm. I combined it with organic jersey cotton leggings that I made, and it is really comfy!

I highly recommend this pattern, as it is super easy, super stylish and super comfy. The tank just takes 1 yard, and the long sleeve top takes 1-5/8 yards of fabric. I think it should look good on just about any figure type, so there is nothing to dislike. Thanks McCalls! You made my day.

Pleated Collar Corduroy Jacket

2010-10-12T12:21:00.003-05:00

I'm not quite sure what style to call this jacket. With all of the tabs and buttons, it seems to have a military feel to it, but add in the pleated collar and sleeves, and it suddenly becomes very feminine! I made this jacket for my daughter's 22nd birthday present. She loves green and she loves corduroy, and I found a gorgeous hunter green knit backed corduroy in my stash. I'm pretty sure that it is all polyester, and it's the only time I've ever seen this type of fabric! It should be warmer than a cotton corduroy and less likely to stretch out of shape. She picked out the pattern Simplicity 2313, View C.

This pattern has some really cute features, such as the pleated collar and sleeves, the curved in-seam pockets, and the zippered front with overlaid button tabs. I think all of the other options in this pattern are cute, so I might make another view of it as well.

The hardest part of this was the curved pockets. You have to be pretty exact in your marking to get them to lay right. At first, I cut them out of lining fabric because I thought it would be too bulky to have multiple layers of corduroy right at the abdomen. However, when I sewed them in place, the lining was too visible. So, I went back to the cutting board and made them out of the corduroy. I don't think it is too bulky after all.
For the lining, I used a leftover piece of silk charmeuse in a tropical print. I thought it might make her think of warm sunny places on a chilly day.

Here she is with her proud Papa wearing her new jacket. Can you tell she likes green?

Happy Birthday, Ariana!

Ann

Vogue 1198 Sandra Betzina Leather Jacket

2010-10-09T18:15:00.001-05:00

After my venture into sewing leather with a basic purse, I tackled sewing an actual jacket! This one is a Sandra Betzina pattern, Vogue 1198. I love sewing with Sandra's patterns, as they fit me so well.

Sandra writes great directions, and I always learn something new whenever I make one of her patterns. This time I learned her technique for inserting a sleeve lining that was different than I've ever seen before

I used copper metallic goatskins that I bought years ago at a very good price. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I think if I wear this at night, it won't be quite as loud!

I made a scarf to go with it from a length of chiffon that I had. I just cut a rectangle 2-1/2 yd long by 14 inches wide, and then narrow hemmed the unfinished edges. Do you think the leopard is too much with this?

This jacket went together very well. I used binder clips instead of pins to hold the pieces together. And since you really can't press the seam allowances open, I topstitched on each side of the seams 1/4" away from the seamline to flatten the seam allowances. I used a size 14 leather needle, regular polyester thread, and a walking foot whenever I could.

Using binder clips instead of pins.

Topstitching to flatten seam allowances.

The jacket has 5 zippers- one front, 2 pocket and 2 sleeves. I used metal ones to go with the metallic copper finish of the leather.

The belt in the back is just two 1 inch width elastic lengths sandwiched between a layer of leather and a layer of lining. I love this belt! I think it is my favorite part of the jacket. Overall the jacket is fitted, yet extremely comfortable. The only alterations that I made to the pattern were lengthening the sleeves 1 inch and the body 2 inches.

For the collar, I interfaced it with fusible fleece on a wool setting for 10 seconds, and then used lining for the underlayer. It has a good solid feeling to it. You can see it better in the picture where the jacket is open.

My daughter just walked out the door wearing this. I didn't think it would take long, but I thought I would at least get to finish my blog post!

I will definitely not be scared of sewing leather anymore. It is really wonderful to work with. Just go slow, get the right tools, and have fun with it!

Ann

Ellie Inspired Interview and E-pattern Giveaway!

2010-10-06T14:23:00.003-05:00

School Girl e-pattern

I'm happy to introduce to you, a new and very talented pattern designer- Laura Johnson from Ellie Inspired patterns! Laura has just released several new adorable designs, and she has graciously offered our readers a chance to win TWO giveaways! Instructions on how to enter are at the end of this post.

One winner will get the complete collection of Nursery Rhyme e-patterns for sizes 1-5 (Pocket o' Posies, Lucy Locket, Sugar Horses, Daisy Bell, Dancer, and Daddy's Girl). One winner will get the complete collection of It's a Girl Thing e-patterns for sizes 4-12 (Sweet Daisy Girl, Twirl Girl, School Girl, and I will also include Dancer since it goes up to size 8). Both winners will also be able to add to their prize two new patterns not even released yet! Lil' Bluebird (sizes 1-5) and Nanny Etticoat (sizes 1-12!!!!) will be coming out next week but you will be the first to receive them!

Where did you grow-up, where did you go to school, where do you live now? Tell us about your family.

I am also in Illinois in a small rural town not even on the map. I actually live just down the road from where I grew up so my kids get to ride their bikes to Grandma's. My husband also is from the area so our kids are very fortunate to have both sets of grandparents living so close to them as well as cousins and aunts and uncles.

I am married to my high school sweetheart. He has been so supportive of me starting Ellie Inspired. He is my pattern-packer, my dress stand builder, and my encouragement. We just celebrated 11 years of marriage and have four children. Of course I'm biased but I feel so very blessed with the sweet children I've been entrusted with. Our oldest, Nathan, is 7 and in second grade. Our next son, Jacob, is 6 and in 1st grade. Our third son, Seth just turned 5 and will go to school next year. And our youngest, Elisabeth, is 2 and somehow managed to beat the boys to the emergency room by being the first one to break a bone. You can read about it on my blog!

We moved into our home about 3 years ago after dreaming for a long time about building it. I couldn't wait to have my big garden and my chickens! Once we moved in, I started decorating. Home dec sewing is definitely NOT my favorite! But very shortly after, I was very surprised to learn I was pregnant. Our fourth child, Elisabeth was added to our family and I finally had the chance to sew for a little girl.

I have lots of memories sewing with my mom and lots of pictures of dresses that she made my sister and me. I also remember my grandma making doll clothes for me when I was little and teaching me to love sewing as well. It is such a beautiful thing now for me to pass that legacy down to my daughter.

I describe my patterns on my site as "love clothes" for your little blessing because that is truly what it is when you sew for a child. Love is wrapped in every stitch.

How did you learn how to sew, and what inspired you to start your own pattern line?

I learned to sew when I was very young. I remember trying to imitate my mom by weaving yarn in and out of paper and thinking that I was pretty awesome! I continued to learn as I grew older through my mom, grandma, school programs and community sewing guilds but my sewing really started to take on a new life when I had Elisabeth. A good friend invited me to a sewing forum where I encountered sewing like I had never seen before. I remember just being amazed and soaking up all the heirloom sewing skills as fast as I could. I learned to smock and fell in love with it. The more I learn, the more I realize that I have yet to learn and that is what makes sewing so exciting to me.

I never set out to create patterns. I feel that it is a path God has led me to and it is an incredible blessing to me. I have met so many amazing and talented women through this journey and I am very thankful for it. I started sewing samples for a fabric shop at the beginning of this year and when she found out that I rarely used a pattern when I sewed dresses for Elisabeth, she asked me if I had any patterns that were written down. She offered to sell them in her shop if I ever decided to start creating patterns and with excitement and a great deal of fear, I decided to go for it.
I found out that I love it! I had such a wonderful and tremendous response to my first two patterns that I kept adding to my collections. After time, they fell into two collections for two size ranges: the Nursery Rhyme collection is for sizes 1-5 and the It's a Girl Thing collection is for sizes 4-12. After less than a year of creating patterns, I am excited to say that I have 9 patterns currently out and at least 7 more in various stages of testing and writing that will be out before the end of the year! I also have several free patterns available on my site.

What advice do you have for beginning sewers?
My advice to beginning sewers is to just soak up all that you can. We have so many wonderful resources available for learning from sewing magazines and community sewing guilds to sewing forums and online classes and correspondence classes. Try new things and if they don't turn out the first time, don't worry about it! We all have our share of "wadders" or garments that will never really ever be worn! That is how you learn. Buy the best fabric that you can afford because it makes such a huge difference in how your garments turn out. Take your time and enjoy the process.

What makes your patterns unique?

I thought a lot about this question and it is something I have given a great deal of thought to all along trying to establish my business. At first, I just created patterns that felt like me. I discovered my style is "classic". It has been interesting when I have heard others describe my patterns in the same way. I try always to deliver a fresh take on a beloved classic.

Some specific things that make my patterns unique are: my Nursery Rhyme collection always feature a Nursery Rhyme on the back and follow that theme throughout the pattern. Every single pattern of mine includes either smocking or a simple hand-embroidery design and sometimes both. These are always optional but they are things that I love and things that give a garment something extra special. My new "It's a Girl Thing" collection for sizes 4-12 all have titles that end in girl such as Twirl Girl, School Girl, Sweet Daisy Girl (the older sister to Daisy Bell), and soon to be available Urban Girl and Sassy Girl. These are trendier to appeal to older ages but still based upon classic styling.

My pattern collections overlap in size slightly for a reason. In the Midwest, at least where I live, there are not a lot of heirloom sewing resources and so, it is not something that is seen very often. When little girls are born, they are given cute little jumpers instead of smocked bishops to wear. A smocked Pocket o' Posies outfit with shorts or bloomers for a 5 yr old would be perfect in some areas of the country but not in others. So, my It's a Girl Thing collection of patterns which are a little trendier start at size 4 instead of size 6.

My patterns are tested and edited extensively and you can be confident that the instructions will be clear and easy to follow with many diagrams to help you along the way. I spend a lot of time on my diagrams and have improved the quality of them dramatically from my first patterns. My patterns now are in full-color with fun graphics and an easy layout but I always check that they print clearly in gray-scale as well in case people want to print them that way. I am very mindful of keeping my patterns short without sacrificing any content. All of my patterns are available as instant downloads. A few of the smaller sizes are available in paper patterns and all of them are also available as CD's. My plan this fall and winter is to get all of my patterns printed as paper patterns for those who prefer that format.

Thanks so much for inviting me to be a small part of SewBaby and taking the time to ask me questions. It was fun! Good luck to everyone on the Giveaway!

Laura

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulatons to the winners- D'Andra and JuneBug!

You can see all of Ellie Inspired patterns on our website here: Ellie Inspired patterns.
Ann

Sewing with Leather- a beginner's experience

2010-10-04T13:03:00.001-05:00

On a whim, I bought some metallic copper goat leather skins online a couple of years ago. Never having sewn with leather before, I bought them mainly because they were a cheap price, and I wanted something to experiment on. When I got them, the metallic finish was *WAY* more metallic than I had anticipated. They also smelled pretty strongly of chemicals. I aired them outside for a few days, and then put them away until now.

I've been noticing a lot of metallic finishes in fashion this year, so I decided this was the time to take the plunge. I bought enough for a jacket (which I have already cut out) and I had enough left to do a purse. I thought I would start with the purse, and then work my way up to the jacket.

Burnt leather

The purse pattern I chose was Vogue 8310 (now discontinued)- basically several variations of a hobo bag. The first thing that I had to do was interface the bag. I chose fusible fleece to give it more body. Here is my first attempt at fusing for 20 seconds at the cotton setting. It took the finish off, burnt the leather and made it stiff as cardboard! Lesson #1 learned- leather doesn't like heat. The next time I fused the interfacing for only 10 seconds at the wool setting, and it didn't change the leather at all.

Pieced together from remnants

This was a pretty big piece of leather that I had now destroyed. I didn't have enough leather in one piece to fit the pattern piece on, so I pieced some of them together. I used a size 14 leather needle and it sewed through the two layers beautifully.
I actually really like the pieced look!

Tough area to sew- zipper meets straps

This purse design is very basic- just 3 outer pattern pieces- a strap, a side piece, and a front/back piece. The difficult part of this piece was where the straps meet the purse. There are so many layers there that I broke 3 leather needles trying to get this part done. Although I had used an upholstery weight thread for most of the construction, when I switched to regular weight thread, I was able to get the stitches to hold in this area. I had to hand crank the wheel on the sewing machine, but it worked. If I were to choose this pattern again for a leather purse, I would use the rings in this section, so that you aren't sewing sew many layers together.

I have to share where I found the zipper- www.sewtrue.com. They have all lengths of metal separating zippers for about $.50, and if you've ever priced them in a fabric store, you will know that this is a steal. I didn't need the separating aspect of it, so I just hand sewed a few stitches above the separating end, so that it will stay together.

Funky blueberry print lining

The purse is lined with a pocket with two compartments. My lining is a polyester charmeuse. It is one of those fabrics that I ordered thinking it was little blueberries, and when I got it, the blueberries were HUGE. Blueberries have a personal significance for me, and you hardly ever find fabrics with blueberries, so I kept it. I would never wear it, but it works fine for this lining!

The strap length was really long- I think it was probably meant to be a cross-body bag. However, when I tried it on, my 17 year old daughter said that length was "fine if you are 13". In other words, "Mom, you are too old for a cross body bag." So, I cropped it about 8 inches to make it hit at my high hip.

My 19 year old daughter came home from college the same day, and said "You made that? I would totally buy that. Can I borrow it tonight?".

I call that a home run! Now, wish me luck on the jacket.:)

Ann

Sew Tina Giveaway and Interview!

2010-09-30T00:11:00.005-05:00

Tina Givens has written a great new book, Sew Tina, for projects for clothing, accessories and decor for kids! I am just in awe of Tina's creativity. She is a great artist, who has designed fabric lines and stationery in addition to her own sewing pattern line. Her style is fun and whimsical, and totally Tina!

We are so happy to be a stop on Tina's blog tour to announce her new book. We are giving away to one lucky reader a great gift that includes the book, 4 yards of fabric, 2 boxes of stationery, and 2 extra sewing patterns! The book is 144 pages and includes a gorgeous set of full size patterns. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment at the end of this post Good luck, everyone!

I was able to ask Tina a few questions, and I think you'll find her answers very fascinating! I'll intersperse from photos from the book along with her answers.


This is what the patterns look like from the pull-out section.

Where did you grow-up, where did you go to school, where do you live now? Tell us about your family.

I grew up in a far far away world... in Zimbabwe, Africa. It seems like a whole life time ago and practically is. I was born there and left when I was 17 years old. Life there was slow and very beautiful with a sort of tropical current in weather and palm trees even though we were not on the coast. I grew up within a large extended family made up of many cultures and creative personalities. The women ran the family on the Greek side who were eccentric, ambitious and outspoken. I inherited a little of that!
At 17 we immigrated to Canada where I went to college and experienced a culture change so drastic that my sister and I held on to each other for dear life. We spoke differently, we dressed differently and we nurtured ourselves into the fast paced Toronto big city life but quick! I fell into a corporate world after graduating into sales and marketing in high exposure advertising at the down town offices of DDB Needham where accounts including Maybelline, Porsche and Volkswagen. I always thought I'd be on the creative side of the agency but with my degree in economics and business management I was a junior account executive managing budgets schedules and strategic branding.... Life went on and years later found myself on client side as marketing director. Met my American husband in Canada, and we moved around until we settled in Cleveland for sometime, and then where we live now, Raleigh North Carolina.
We have 3 children, Alex who is now in college, Freshman.... and the twins who are 8, girl and a boy who inspire many outrageous characters I paint and projects I sew.

Chef's Hat

How did you learn how to sew, and what kinds of things do you like to sew now?

In Africa, many women sewed and my mother and grandmother taught me to sew at an early age. We had a dedicated sewing room and enormous ping pong table I cut out on. Perfect cutting table by the way. The room was under the house with walk out doors and loads of windows into the garden, so it was a spacious and light filled room. I spent many hours in that room. If no one could find me that's where I was... creating my own doll clothes, and moved onto my own clothes. I don't remember ever using sewing patterns. When my mom first taught me we cut from sewing patterns but that's the last I remember. I would have an idea for an outfit, pants, a dress.... and I'd lay the fabric down and cut out the basic shapes. If I made a mistake it became part of the outfit!
I still do this. My sewing studio is now in the house, and I have what I call a 'sewing bar' where my machines are set up and I have the luxury of cutting on an old buffet which is the perfect height for cutting and depth for the folded fabric width. Drawers hold my tools and bits and pieces... I sew a lot... I sew for my kids and myself and of course the house. I love to slip cover things, make drapes and cushions... but I also sew quilts for each fabric collection I do, and create a 'story' around each fabric collection at market. My most recent was Opal Owl in vibrant colors. I created much of what's in the book in Opal fabrics, but also my sewing patterns, new kids patterns and of course slipcovered an ottomon made crazy pillows and applique wall art!
I like to sew my own clothes in linen and unique upholstery fabrics. I love velvet and make loads of scarves and wraps. Yummy... I just made a pair of fall baggy pants to wear with a fitted jacket and oxfords..... oh, and I love making hats!

Sweet Dreams Canopy

What advice do you have for beginning sewers?

My strongest advise is to relax and don't take it so seriously. Follow the instructions but if you mess up, find a way to incorporate it. Be creative and have fun with your sewing projects. And always, always use fabrics you love. Sharp pair of scissors, press all seams as you sew, and again enjoy the process and journey of sewing. You'll be constantly learning new techniques, and always be inspired by what you have made!

Annie's Top

What makes your patterns unique?

I'm not sure. At first I was disappointed that they were not crisp and clean and perfect like many other designers out there, but then forgave it and grew a little confidence in that the designs are mine and have a signature to them. I embraced that and celebrated that I seem to have my own style. I should be happy about that! And it's still being refined.. we all grow in any capacity of life and mine among many others is as a painter, illustrator, seamstress and fabric designer. I love color, and I enjoy mixing colors to create unusual palettes to bring the unexpected to life. I think my fabric collections each tell a story, from Zazu, Annabella, Chloe's Imagination, Olivia's Holiday, Treetop Fancy and now Opal Owl. I just approved a new floral collection which is called Haven's Edge, and wow it is an eclectic and eccentric group of patterns.... My next collection is inspired by a childhood book, Miss. Z. and I am painting green lions, beautiful unicorns and fanciful fountains with colorful parrots... Maybe simply my imagination is what sets me apart, what do you think?

Dude Tunic and Shorts

Ann, thanks so much for having me.
All the very best,
tg

Thank you Tina and Lark books for sponsoring this generous giveaway! This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Linda Armenti who is the winner!

Ann

Butterick 5527 Border Print Tunic

2010-09-26T17:38:00.000-05:00

Finally it's cool enough to wear this top! I made this last month, but it had stayed in the 80's and 90's almost all of September.

This is a great rayon knit border print that I got from Fabric Mart. I was constantly on the lookout for a pattern that could use a border print. Finally I found Butterick 5527 .
This is laid out on the cross-grain, which means that the stretch of the fabric actually goes up and down.
It takes a lot of fabric for a top- 2-3/4 yards is the recommended amount for the medium, so the lighterweight the fabric the better. I would like to make it again in a cotton jersey knit, maybe as the top length.

This is one of their patterns that can be a short top, tunic or dress. I cut out at the tunic length. Because the pattern was curved, and my border was straight, I just straightened out both the hem curve, and the waist curve.

The waistband is two 3/4" elastic strips inside a casing. I had just enough of my border print left to use it in the casing to break up the print.

The sleeves are banded with a straight strip of fabric, with the length of the fabric becoming ties. I used the dark purple part of my border for this.
This is a super comfy top that I think I'll get a lot of wear out of. Great for a border print knit too!

Surgery on Vogue 1119

2010-09-24T17:35:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry, Ms. Karan, but to save the life of this dress, we are going to have to amputate.

I often think that I should have been a surgeon. It would have been a way to use my sewing skills for the greater good. But alas, I don't like being in or even near hospitals, sick people, and especially hospital food. Thus, surgery on my clothes is about as close as I'm going to get.

In culling the herd in my closet, I came across this dress that I made last September. It is Vogue 1119, a Donna Karan pattern, and only wore it once. Why only once? I'm not sure- the print was pretty ugly, and I'm not sure that the fit was right. The asymmetrical waistline seam hit me at my widest part. But the fabric was a silk knit, the only silk knit dress that I have, so I decided I must try to save it.

So, I cut the skirt off of the top to make separates. The top is really short now in the back, so I could only serge the edge to finish it. The skirt needed to be pulled up to my waist to get it to fit, so I made one more pleat in it, and secured it with two snaps from the Snap Source. Luckily, it still isn't too short on me.

What do you think? It certainly has a lot more possibilities now. Here is the top with a black skirt.
Here is the skirt with a t-shirt and cardigan. The print is still ugly, but there is less of it to deal with all at once.

I think I like it a lot better, but only time will tell. At least, I've given it 6 more months to live.

Vogue 1176 Michael Kors Dress

2010-09-19T14:54:00.002-05:00

It's done! My entry into Patternreview.com's Little Black Dress Contest.
I don't know why I waited so long to make a LBD, but I'm very happy with this one. I used Vogue 1176 which is a Michael Kors design. I love Michael Kors on Project Runway, so it is really kind of fun to be able to make one of his designs. The fabric is a black floral jacquard satin that I got in a mystery bundle from Fabricmartfabrics.com.

Here is the bow close-up. It looks hard, but as long as you mark everything really well, it goes together like butta. I was pleased as punch with this one. The directions and the fit were wonderful. I recommend that you make your retail size on this one. Usually, pattern sizing is completely different from retail sizing, but this one wasn't. Make a muslin (sample from inexpensive fabric) before you start to make your life easier.
The back is pretty plain, but flattering. It has a vent for walking, as the skirt is pegged, so it tapers in. This baby isn't made for bending over or doing any knee bends. If I drop something when I'm wearing it, somebody is going to have to pick it up for me! It would be nice to make this in something that has a bit of lycra in it.

The dress is fully lined, and has a side invisible zip to get it on/off. Here is a view of the vent from the inside:

And I did have some problems with the shoulder straps falling down, so I added some lingerie guards. To make a lingerie guard, sew the socket side of a sew-on snap to the inside of your garment Then sew the stud side to either a piece of ribbon, or in my case I used black twill tape. Sew the end of the twill tape to the opposite side of the strap( still on the inside of the garment). Then when you are getting dressed, just fasten this around your bra strap to keep it in place. Here is a close-up of mine.

I opted to skip the pattern for the belt. Didn't think it needed it.

When my daughter saw that I was making this, she said "Mom, where are you *ever* going to wear that?". Well, our 24th wedding anniversary is next month, so I think this will be perfect for a celebratory dinner.

Ann

Little Black Dress contest

2010-09-13T12:19:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, I have never owned a LBD (Little Black Dress). Unfortunately, my lifestyle has never included cocktail parties or formal dinners where I would ever need one. However, now Patternreview.com is sponsoring a Little Black Dress contest which is tempting me. As I become an empty-nester next year, perhaps, just perhaps, an occasion to wear a LBD may arise, and wouldn't it be nice to have one all ready to go?

So, after my last foray into Vogue's designer patterns, I'm feeling sassy and would like another challenging design. So many to choose from, but I'm leaning heavily towards this Vogue 1176 designed by Michael Kors. It has a great integrated bow that you can see better in the line drawing.

I'm thinking of making it out of some solid black silk shantung. I'm sure that bow is going to be a little tricky, but I think that the dress is age appropriate for me, and hopefully a good shape for my body. It would be fun to accessorize too. Maybe a little clutch like the leopard one from Vogue 8527?

And maybe a nice wrap from a flocked sheer silk chiffon from Vogue 7161? Now, I'm just getting ahead of myself here. Let's see if I can get the LBD made first!

Anyone else interested in this contest? It runs from September 15th-October 14th.

What patterns do you think would make a great LBD?

Sleeve Saver Smock sample giveaway

2010-09-08T17:03:00.002-05:00

If you have a child who likes to do messy art projects or cooking projects, then you need our Sleeve Saver Smock pattern. The beauty of this design over an apron, is that the sleeves are covered. And the beauty of this design over a traditional smock is that it pulls over the head like a t-shirt, so there are no ties! Don't you wish it came in adult sizes too?

We are giving away two model garments used for our pattern cover. One with dinosaurs (a size 3-4T), and one with cupcakes (a size 5-6X). We'll also include a copy of the pattern with the sample, so that you can make your own!

Give-Away Guidelines:
Three ways to register for the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment. Tell me which sample you would like best to win. (Please make sure there is a way I can contact you- such as enabling the e-mail contact info on your profile.)
2. Sign-up to be a Follower of this blog or Like us on Facebook.
3. Link to us from your own blog or Facebook page! Here's a sample link for you to use: SewBaby News Sleeve Saver Smock Giveaway!
(For 2 and 3, please leave a comment telling me what you did.)

This Giveaway is now closed, and the winners have been contacted. Congratulations to the winners!

Pushing my limits- Vogue 1154

2010-09-06T18:14:00.001-05:00

My niece got married this past weekend, and I wanted to make a festive dress for the occasion. I decided on this Vogue pattern 1154 by Badgley Mischka thinking that it looked like a fairly easy project. Hahaha! In my nearly 40 years of sewing, this was my most difficult project to date.

When I opened up the instructions, I was a little overwhelmed. Thirty pattern pieces and 88 steps! Should I turn back at this point? Of course not, I won't let any pattern intimidate me!

The jacket was no problem- it is lined, but I'm used to that. The dress on the other hand.....The dress has a full boned foundation, a lining, and an interfaced interior lining as well- 8 layers of fabric and interfacing for the bodice. I eliminated the interfaced interior lining, but the rest of the layers really do need to be there.

I had chosen a stretch cotton brocade for the outer fabric. The pattern called for china silk for the lining and the foundation layers, but I was afraid it might be 95 degrees at the wedding, and the china silk might be too hot. So, I used cotton voile instead. I really liked the pleated bodice. You can see it more clearly here without the jacket. And the back pleats mirror the front pleats. What is with those tan lines (shaking head).

The top picture is what the foundation layer looks like with the sewn in interfacing and boning. The second picture is the foundation completed with the facing and the ribbon hangers. This is then sewn to the dress body.

The original design has one set of pleats that overlap another in the skirt- creating more bulk at the tummy area which did me no favors. So I redrafted the skirt to just have two sets of small pleats that didn't overlap. I also added two inches to the length, but those were the only changes I made.

I had some problems tweaking the fit. Once the foundation is in place, this dress will stand up by itself, and even though I had thought the muslin had fit, the final bodice ended up standing about 1/2 inch away from my body- just enough that someone taller than myself could have a nice view of my strapless bra, if they so wished. I had to rip through all of those layers and took it in on the side seams enough to get it to hug my chest.

I alternated between thinking this pattern was totally crazy, and realizing how much I was learning in the process. I wouldn't want to sew something like this everyday, but it's a pretty sweet dress, if I do say so myself. I had no problems with it slipping down at the wedding, which was my fear. It was comfortable and secure. This dress cost very little in supplies, but a lot in time. In the end, I think it was definitely a good investment in my sewing education, all 88 steps!

Ottobre Love

2010-08-30T12:29:00.000-05:00

We just got the new women's Ottobre issue in stock, and I think it is one of their best ever! Their designs are so wearable, and I love how they show them on real people of all ages and sizes. Ottobre magazine is designed and printed in Finland, but is written in English. We also have the new children's issue which is amazing as well.

Here are the line drawings for all of the patterns in this issue.

I'm planning on starting with the Mildred wrap- it looks so stylish, yet will be so easy to sew. I like how they've used two of them together in this outfit. I love the simple dress on this page too. The black dress underneath it is an adaptation of the Creative Workshop t-shirt pattern for women too. They use this base pattern in just about every new issue.

I've been starting to run lately, and as soon as the weather turns cooler, I'm going to need some new workout wear. All of the outfits from their workout wear page look fabulous:

I picked up some Dry-flex fabric a couple of months ago that will be perfect for these.

Then this Pea Coat is really jumping out at me! It has all of the features that I would want in a jacket. I have some magenta wool tweed that I can see making this up in. But, that will have to wait.

What pieces do you like in this issue?

Ann

Butterick 5493 Sleeveless Top Pattern Review

2010-07-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

Butterick 5493 Pattern Description:
Sleeveless tops with four neckline variations- draped, asymmetrical drape, cowl, and ruffle. The ruffle variation is for a knit. The other three are for wovens. The top has bust darts.

Pattern Sizing: Misses 8-24.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, I made View C which has the asymmetrical front drape. The pattern of the fabric on the neck drape somehow managed to line up almost perfectly with the top piece, so you have to look closely at the photo to even see the extra piece of fabric there.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, it was quite easy to sew.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I just love each and every style in this pattern! I think each one is a great unique variation on a standard tank top. The pattern calls for stretch wovens or crepe for views a-c. I did not use a stretch woven, but my fabric did have a lot of "give".

Fabric Used: A wild jungle print silk charmeuse. Luscious to wear. I've worn it several times already this summer. The only problem with it, and you can see this in the photo, is that the charmeuse is weighty enough to pull the neckline down further on the one side that the drape is longer. It doesn't bother me, but if you want the neckline to stay symmetrical with this view, you'd need a lighter weight fabric to pull it off. You will need something that you can narrow hem fairly easily if you want to make one of the views with the draped fronts.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did a 1-1/2 inch full bust adjustment at the dart level. I also lengthened it 2 inches. The pattern calls for prepackaged bias tape to bind the armholes. I made my own bias tape from the charmeuse for this purpose. I couldn't see using that stiff prepackaged stuff on such a fluid fabric.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, and yes. I want to make each and every view in this pattern. As LynnRowe says that knit tops are her sewing "snack", I think I will make this one my sewing "snack"- something to use up those short cuts of fabric that I can finish in a couple of hours.

Conclusion: Love this pattern! Quick, unique and fun to wear. My fabric was $10/yard, and the pattern calls for 1-5/8 yards of 45" fabric, so with pattern, fabric and thread, the top cost under $20.

Pendleton Wool Toddler Jackets

2010-07-13T20:12:00.000-05:00

You would think that the last thing you'd want to do on a hot July day is sew with wool, but with Fall coming up before you know it, that is exactly what I did today!

Julie from the Pendleton Woolen Mill store in Portland, Oregon, sent me several pieces of some beautiful Pendleton wools to make models for their store of our Petal Jacket and our Wonder Jacket patterns. This first one is the Petal Jacket made from a floral wool stripe called Rosalita Lisere and lined with a rust wool flannel. This jacket is completely reversible. It only has partial sleeves, so it is easy to put on and like a poncho.

The next jacket- a Wonder Jacket, is made from a Native pattern, an exclusive Pendleton fabric called Rio Rancho. It is stunning!

If you like any of these fabrics, you can order them from the Pendleton Woolen Mill store.

Take a look at the back. I folded the fabric so that this pretty starburst pattern would be in the center of the back.

The Wonder Jacket is a neat little pattern that has the front, back, and collar all cut in one piece! It can be made lined or unlined. I made this one unlined, and I left the edges raw, just topstitching with some gold topstitching thread around the edges.

I used the size 24 brushed gold snaps from the Snap Source for both jackets. Here is a close-up picture of one of the snaps. They are really easy to apply, but it does require that you use a size 24 Adapter to the base of the size 16 Snap Setter.

Also, I got a new camera! My last camera was purchased in 2001, so I'm excited to see what this up to minute technology can do, especially when it comes to taking good close-up pictures of fabrics. I've actually got quite a backlog of projects to share with you, but have just been waiting on this new camera.

Ann

The Perfect Summer Sundress

2010-06-23T11:18:00.000-05:00

This post is by Emily from Illinois.

I was inspired to make the SewBaby Reversible Sundress for my daughter after finding the quirky Ivy League Bees print by Jay McCarroll (of Project Runway fame) for Free Spirit. For the contrasting side we found some gorgeous Kaffe Fassett fabric in a bright garden print. This is a medium weight woven, not quite a home dec weave, but pretty sturdy. I was a little nervous that it would make the dress too heavy, but I think it gives the finished product some nice body and helps with skirt swing out.

Technique wise, I used a walking foot for sewing the front and back together. This made it easier for me to keep the pieces lined up perfectly, but a walking foot definitely is not required for this project. Before cutting the fabric I traced the 18 month size of pattern using Swedish tracing paper, so I can reuse the pattern for making gifts or larger sizes. I used 2 buttons back to back on both sides of the dress so it is truly reversible. Just be sure not to sew the buttons too tightly together. Leave some slack in the thread as if you were sewing on a coat button.

My daughter is 15 months old and I found the 18 month size to be generously sized. She'll be able to wear this dress well into the fall. It will look cute with a little long sleeve tee when the weather cools down. The pattern couldn't have been easier to follow and it sewed up in no time at all. The SewBaby Reversible Sundress is a perfect project for new sewists or for anyone who just wants an easy super cute dress!

-Emily

Summer Tops: Burda 7486 and 06-2010-140

2010-06-17T14:00:00.002-05:00

I bought this lovely Prada silk cotton voile and hunted for a loose fitting tunic top pattern to make it into. I found Burda 7486 and thought it looked like it had interesting lines. Although I'm a Burda magazine subscriber, I hadn't bought one of their envelope patterns in a while, and was surprised at how confusing I found it to be.

First of all, the printing was terrible- very, very faint, and nearly unreadable. The type face is extremely small- maybe like an 8 point. There are three columns of instructions- a column each for French, English and Spanish, and then one column of illustrations. Second, the illustrations were severely lacking, and weren't lined up with the instructions that they correspond to (although they are numbered, so you can figure that out). There is an option to put this on the bias, as in the striped view, but no layout diagram to guide someone who would not know how to do that. And when I saw both grainlines on the pattern pieces, I really had to scratch my head to figure it what they wanted. For all of the flack that the American pattern companies get about their patterns, I have to say that this experience makes me appreciate all of the effort they put into their instructions a whole lot!

Anyway, enough complaining. This is the top that I ended up with. Not the best, but not the worst either. I also made the same top out of a tiny lavender printed voile on a white background, that I will not show you. My daughter said it looked like a nurses' smock on me, and she was right. The fabric print was just way too small for my large frame. I gave it to my oldest daughter who is teeny tiny, and it looks nice on her 21 year old figure. If I can get her to model for a photo later, I will add it.

My next Burda experience is a good one! I liked all of the Plus section in the June 2010 issue of Burda Style, and decided to try out this one for the off the shoulder peasant top- it is #140 and comes in sizes 44-52. I had a hot pink silk linen blend that struck me as something that would work, and this is what it ended up looking like on me:

I'm really happy with it! I added a couple of inches to the hem, and it is still a little shorter than I'd like, but other than that, I'd love to make it again. The instructions in the magazine, although unillustrated, were perfectly fine! I did shorten the elastic around the top by about 6 inches, because it just didn't look very gathered at all, at the length that they had recommended. However, I may go back and add those 6 inches back in, as it wants to creep back up to my shoulder, and maybe if I had a little more elastic, it would stay on the arms as intended. So, I highly recommend this pattern if you have the June 2010 issue.

Ann

Timeless Treasures Sample Giveaway

2010-06-09T15:17:00.006-05:00

Timeless Treasures has several new fabric lines out. They are so pretty in person. The colors are rich and saturated, and the hand so soft, that we couldn't resist playing around with them.

Shirley, my assistant, loves to make bags, and she chose the Purple Berkeley line to make a sample of our Double Duty Bag above.

Shirley's mother-in-law, Ruth, made several samples from the Momo line: The green booties are from our Snap Happy Bootie pattern, the yellow backpack is from our Totpacks pattern, and the black bib is from the Hug-Me-Bibs pattern.

I chose the Berkeley Blues collection to make this Easy Pieces Jumper and Easy Pieces Pants sample outfit. It's a size 4T.

The great folks at Timeless Treasures displayed these samples at the Spring Quilt Market, but now they are back in our hands, and we are ready to give them away! (Just the samples, not the fabrics!)

Give-Away Guidelines:
To register for the giveaway, just leave a comment on my blog, and sign-up to be a Follower of this blog or Like us on Facebook! Tell us which sample you would like best to win. (Please make sure there is a way we can contact you.) We'll also include a copy of the pattern with the sample, so that you can make your own!

Comments will close on Tuesday, June 15th at 10 pm CST. We'll choose the winners on Wednesday, June 16th!

In addition, take 10% off any of our Timeless Treasures fabrics until June 15th, using the coupon code TT10.

June 17th- Congratulations to our winners- Lanie, Juanita, Faye and Jenny! Faye- please contact us, as there was no contact info listed.

Kind regards,
Ann

Summer Dresses Vogue 8645 and 8647

2010-05-29T10:17:00.001-05:00

I've been in a dress sewing mood lately, although I haven't had much time, so I've been trying to pick patterns that are simple and quick. I've found that Vogue usually does this really, really well with their Very Easy Vogue pattern line. This first dress is from Vogue 8645. Their description: loose-fitting, pullover, lined dresses A, B have front and back v-neck, removable shoulder ties, side seam pockets and sash.

The fabric I chose is a sheer silk cotton blend from Vera Wang, and I lined it with a very lightweight dark grey lining. It feels scrumptiously lightweight- like wearing a butterfly. And yes, it was Very Easy! I will definitely be making this one again if the right sheer fabric comes along. It does take quite a bit of fabric. I had 3-1/2 yards of this fabric which was just enough, as it is a very full skirt. I cut the hem right in between the two versions as my fabric wasn't quite wide enough to get the full length of the long version.

My next one was Vogue 8647- Pullover dresses A, B are straight, fitted with front pleats, back slit and stitched hems. B: short sleeves with stitched hem. A, B: 2" above mid-knee length.

I chose this one because my fabric had this gorgeous large paisley design that I didn't want to break up. The back does have a center seam so that it can have a walking slit in the back, so I did have to carefully layout the pattern to make sure that the paisley matched up at the center back seam.

This one uses single fold bias tape to finish the neckband, which I love. A more traditional pattern would have used a facing, which would require a bunch of extra steps and time. From these pictures, I wouldn't say it's the most flattering design on me, so I will probably add a belt to it, to give it a little more shape. But I would definitely recommend this pattern too, if you have a large print to work with.

I did do a cheater's full bust adjustment on both. I call it a cheater's adjustment, because it technically falls short of a traditional full bust adjustment in that I don't make a dart or add length to the front. I got this method from a Burda Plus magazine article, and it just works great for me because it also adds width to the waist which I need. You basically slash a couple inches below the armhole towards the bustpoint, and then slash up to the center of the shoulder seam. Then separate this as much as you need- I usually do an inch for a DD cup size. Fill in the open area with extra tissue. Then I add extra width to the side seam below so that it blends. You'll notice that there is an additional inch of length now at the side seam. What Burda recommends is to take half of that measurement and raise the back underarm and lower the front underarm each by that amount. What I usually do is to just add the extra inch to the back length. This might not work for everyone, but it works for me, and is really a breeze to do.

More dresses to come!

Ann

Prom Dresses!

2010-05-23T20:34:00.000-05:00

For sewists, I think that sewing prom dresses is either the most fun that you can have, or the most intimidating. You want everything to be just perfect for the big night which can be intimidating, but the fabrics and styles that you get to sew with are amazing. This year, I made two dresses and had fun with both. One for my daughter, and one for one of her good friends. Luckily, both girls chose simple designs and I didn't have to do any significant alterations, so this was a fun year for sewing prom dresses.

Choosing the pattern is half the battle. My daughter likes simple and classic, and she ended up choosing one from the December 2008 Burda magazine- style 104 . This is such a gorgeous yet simple style, that I think it would work for just about anyone. The key to it is to find a beautiful fabric. I had bought some Vera Wang Silk Satin from fabric.com when they had it on sale for $2/yard. Unbelievable! This should be $40/yard fabric. It was heaven to work with. Here is a close-up of the bodice:

The pattern had a pattern for fabric straps, but I saw these pearl straps at Joann's and thought they would add a nice touch. They are strangely elasticized though, so don't help at all in holding the dress up. She used the sticky tape that night just to be on the safe side. Here is a view from the back:

Her friend wanted Butterick 5542 which is one of my favorites. I've made this one before, and it obviously is a popular pattern as it has been in the Butterick book since 2001. Right after I made this, I went out and bought two more copies of it, so that I will have spares just in case they discontinue it. This is absolutely the only pattern that I've ever bought 3 copies intentionally for, so you know I must be crazy about it! The back is the stunning part of this dress.

My daughter's friend chose a very pretty blue polyester stretch satin. It wasn't as easy to work with as the purple silk satin, but the trade-off here was the stretch factor. The stretch satin is very easy to fit and comfortable to wear. We only had one fitting session, so I really was relieved when she tried it on, and everything fit so well. She is 5 feet 10 inches, and I didn't add enough length for her to wear high heels, but that didn't seem to bother her one bit. As you can see from this next photo, both dresses were just fine for dancing.

My daughter and her date went to a formal store are were able to get a perfectly matched vest for his tux. Here they are before heading out to the big dance:

That's all the prom dresses this year!

Ann

Paint Splash Shirtdress- Simplicity 2996

2010-05-18T13:47:00.000-05:00

My daughter, Serena, loves dresses, and she loves bright prints, so when I got this Paint Splash fabric in a Fabric Mart Mystery Bundle, I knew just who it was going to. She wanted a shirtdress, and we searched through my pattern collection and found Simplicity 2996. We liked the princess lines, 3/4 sleeves with the petal cuff, and the inseam pockets. It had the added bonus of being one of the multi-cup size pattern so that I didn't have to do a full bust adjustment. Yay! Overall the pattern is great, and I would highly recommend it.

Here is a close-up of the petal cuff sleeves:

And the in-seam pockets:

And the back view:

She only wore this a few times in the semester, because she said that it was so recognizable, she didn't feel like she could wear it more than once every couple of weeks. I think she had a lot of fun with it, and so did her friends teasing her about it. One said that he would like to take a painting class with her. Then she also got the old, "what did you say? I can't hear you- your dress is too loud!".
Hahaha.

Garden in full glory

2010-05-12T16:04:00.001-05:00

I have been sewing for some very special occasions, and will eventually get pictures of prom dresses and graduation attire to post, but for now, I just had to share the garden again- just blooming it's heart out! We're having a party this Saturday, so I hope that it will stay this picture perfect until the weekend! Click on the
Slide Show to see all 14 photos (it's quick, I promise). If you click on the little symbol in the bottom right hand corner, it will enlarge to full screen.

Here are a few of my favorite shots:

We started this garden from scratch 9 years ago, and I used to know every variety by name, but can't pull it out of my brain like I used to! It's fun to watch things spread and grow.

Ann

For our Australian sewing friends

2010-05-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

We are happy to announce that you can now buy SewBaby patterns in Australia! For those of you who live down under, www.theozmaterialgirls.com and www.patternsonly.com are now carrying a large selection of our patterns on their website. Please give them a visit and check out their huge selection!

Ann

And the Winners are....

2010-05-03T13:31:00.000-05:00

Choosing a winner for our Sweet 16 SewBaby anniversary contest was fun, but not easy! After much deliberation, here are the winners:

First Prize: Charla McCaw for the McKenna Pattern by Bonnie Blue Designs for this fun birthday top and made the ruffle pants from the SewBaby Twirl Top and Pants pattern.

Second Prize: Julie Lundquist for Faith double-layered dress top from SewSensible (with appliqued pants with ruffled hem).

Third Prize: Kathy Hood for Izzy and Ivy Beverly Belle Top:

Aren't these great? We had over 50 fantastic entries. You can view all of the entries on our Facebook Sweet 16 Album. Thank you so much to everyone that particpated!

Ann